Tuesday, June 25, 2019 6:26 PM Local Time
Dash Dudley Crowned Champion in Event #52: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship ($1,086,967)
A new millionaire and maiden bracelet winner has been crowned at the 2019 World Series of Poker as Event #52: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship drew to a conclusion after four and a half levels on the final day. The main feature table in the Amazon room of the Rio All-Suite and Hotel set the stage for the Pot-Limit Omaha specialists to determine their champion out of a massive field of 518 entries, which created a massive prize pool of $4,869,200.
Ultimately, it was Dash Dudley from Lansing, Michigan that went wire-to-wire and claimed his first WSOP bracelet, which came with a payday of $1,086,967. Dudley was supported by a boisterous rail from Michigan including fiancé Racquel, and that support lifted Dudley on his way to victory.
His mother Kimberly was also there and Dudley credited her as the main reason to get started in poker.
"It is kind of a funny story. The reason I play cards is because of her, primarily. She used to have a game way back when I was 13, 14 years old. They played Dealer's Choice, I watched for quite a bit and finally, I decided to jump in and try it out ... and they crushed me. They were playing No Limit Seven Stud, it may be the only No Limit Seven Stud game in the country."
While Dudley started the day with the chip lead, it wasn't a walk in the park by any means for the PLO cash game specialist, and he dropped down to as low as eight big blinds in three-handed play. Two quick double ups in quick succession put Dudley back on track and every pot he raked in was met with frenetic applause from his rail.
"Last night I prepared for that actually, I really feel strongly about my short stack game and I have been short-stacked for years. People have been making fun of me, I even said 'it is no more Min Cash Dash' as I was playing for the win."
Dash Dudley and his rail
His rail featured plenty of poker players including Nick Guagenti, and they were definitely the most vocal throughout the entire final table, which in return helped to boost the confidence of Dudley further.
"I have been working on my game a lot and I finally got a breakthrough that we have all deserved and I got a lot of people in my corner, I got great support here, all my friends and a lot of people back in Michigan cheering for us. It definitely feels good when I am sure to have all those people behind me."
Dudley has been around the poker tables since he went to college back in 2002, with his first WSOP result dating back to 2010 in Hold'em Events. Since then, he has almost entirely cut out two-card from his schedule.
"I really caught on the game when it was blooming, right before the boom. It helped to be around back then and see the game evolved, how crazy it has become. The guys are really good and there is so much information out there now. You really have to work on your game if you want to stay in the lead and there are so many good players all over that are cutting the edge down."
Dudley prides himself as a PLO specialist, however, he hardly plays tournaments anymore and mainly focuses on the cash games. The rare exception to take a shot at a gold bracelet in Las Vegas turned out to be spot on, as he walked away a millionaire and latest member of the WSOP bracelet winner's club.
With a seven-figure cash and an upcoming wedding, the luck has indeed turned around for Dudley, who had 33 WSOP cashes for more than $360,000 to his name prior to his breakout win. He was also responsible for several high-profile knockouts on the way to reaching the eight-handed showdown.
"What did Stuey say, what was it?" Dudley joked when asked what the money would be used for before adding "I will definitely invest a lot of the money and it feels good to win a tournament. I haven't won a tournament in a long time, in a tough field."
He may also take another shot at glory in the upcoming Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Championship, but that rather depends on his poker friends on the rail.
"A lot of the guys on my rail are very good at that game, I could use some more time talking to them before I jump in there. However, I gonna enjoy this for a minute, take a little break and not worry about getting the low."
Dudley started heads-up with British PLO specialist James Park dead even in chips with more than 30 big blinds at their disposal, yet it only took half an hour to determine a champion. Australia's Joel Feldman finished in third and the two former WSOP Main Event finalists Jeremy Ausmus and Eoghan O'Dea had to settle for 4th and 6th place respectively.
Dash Dudley wins Event #52: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship
Final Result Event #52: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Dash Dudley | United States | $1,086,967 |
| 2 | James Park | United Kingdom | $671,802 |
| 3 | Joel Feldman | Australia | $463,814 |
| 4 | Jeremy Ausmus | United States | $325,693 |
| 5 | Kyle Montgomery | United States | $232,680 |
| 6 | Eoghan O'Dea | Ireland | $169,173 |
| 7 | Andrey Razov | Russia | $125,215 |
| 8 | Will Jaffe | United States | $94,380 |
Multiple bracelet winners, the defending WSOP player of the year, and pure PLO specialists just like Dudley filled the tables of the Amazon room throughout the four days of the event, a fact that he specifically pointed out.
"The field was surrounded with killers, some of the best players in the world and I really just focused on isolating them and trying to get them in bad. There were some phenomenal players and it was really a challenge at every table, especially when we got deep the field was very tough."
On Day 2, he sent Gjergj Sinishtaj to the rail and added the chips of Shaun Deeb, Luke Schwartz, and Daniel Alaei to his stack one day later to end the penultimate tournament day at the top of the leader board before he had to endure a roller coaster ride on his way to victory.
Action of the Final Day
Eight players remained and took their seats in the Thunderdome at noon and the first few hands provided fireworks, pointing at an early finish. In the very first hand, Will Jaffe got it in with kings against the aces of Feldman, who also had a jack in their hand. Three jacks on the flop gave Feldman quads and Jaffe could all but walk away in disbelief. Soon after, Dash Dudley sent the second short stack of the final table, Russia's Andrey Razov, to the rail and the field was cut down to the final six.
Until the first break, however, a stalemate took place with very even stack sizes and big pay jumps dominating the action. Once again in the first hand after returning to the seats, it would be Eoghan O'Dea that ran with kings into the aces of Jeremy Ausmus to finish in 6th place. Two years ago, the Irishman finished in the same position and he was railed by his father and Irish poker legend Donnacha O'Dea.
Donnacha and Eoghan O'Dea
Kyle Montgomery never got much going on the final table and had to settle for fifth place, and Ausmus would then be outed in fourth. Having previously taken over the chip lead with five remaining, Ausmus dropped back to the bottom of the counts and couldn't get there with a wrap against the aces of James Park.
Down to the last three, things looked grim for Dudley as he was decimated to fewer than ten big blinds. However, he doubled through Park with trips over trips and held up with aces against the ace-king-king-five of eventual third-place finisher Joel Feldman to take over the lead.
With sheer aggression, Dudley increased his lead in heads-up and finished the job after not even half an hour when his queens for an overpair on a jack-high flop bested the top pair of Park to let the Michigan rail explode in celebration.
That brings an end to the coverage of the PLO Championship, but the PokerNews team will be on the floor for the remainder of the summer to provide all the action from each bracelet event from start to finish.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:41 PM Local Time
James Park Eliminated in 2nd Place ($671,802)
James Park raised the next hand to 600,000 and Dudley potted to 3,600,000. Park now carefully cut out his remaining stack and made the call to go to the flop. Dudley bet the pot to put Park at risk, who shook his head with 5,875,000 behind. Eventually, the Brit made the call after around two minutes of consideration.
Dash Dudley:
James Park:
Park was in need of help, but found none on the turn and river run out to bow out in 2nd place. It is the third Pot-Limit Omaha cash for the Brit at the WSOP and comes with a hefty payday of $671,802. Dudley, who was supported by a boisterous rail, claims his first bracelet and top prize of $1,086,967.
A full recap of today's action is to follow!
| Dash Dudley | 31,100,000 | 9,500,000  |
| James Park | 0 | -9,500,000  |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:36 PM Local Time
Park Takes Some Back
Dash Dudley limped in and James Park raised the pot to 1,500,000, which prompted Dudley to ask for the stack size of his opponent before making the call. The flop came and Park bet the pot to force a fold from Dudley.
| Dash Dudley | 21,600,000 | -1,500,000 |
| James Park | 9,500,000 | 1,500,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:32 PM Local Time
Dudley Now 2:1 Chip Leader
James Park made up the big blind on the button and Dash Dudley checked his option. The pot built slowly at first, with no action on the flop and a 650,000 bet from Park on the turn, which Dudley called. The river was the . Dudley checked a final time, Park bet 2,100,000 and sat, arms folded, immobile while his opponent stared him down. Eventually, Feldman raised to 7,500,000, prompting much faster action - a fold. The stacks, so close at the start of heads up play, are not so any more.
| Dash Dudley | 23,100,000 | 3,200,000 |
| James Park | 8,000,000 | -3,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:26 PM Local Time
Dudley Wins Long Hand to Establish Solid Lead
Dash Dudley raised to 1,000,000 and James Park called to see a flop of , on which Park check-folded to a bet of 1,200,000.
Park limped in and Dudley called to see a flop. Dudley's check was followed by a bet of 700,000 by Park and that won the pot right there.
The next limped pot led to the flop and they checked to the turn, on which Park check-raised from 600,000 to 1,600,000. Dudley made the call and the river completed a possible flush. Park studied the board for some time and made it 1,500,000 to go.
Dudley also considered his options for a bit and opted for a small raise to 3,500,000.
Park was sent deep into the think tank and released his cards, prompting loud cheers from the Dudley rail on the left side of the Thunderdome.
| Dash Dudley | 19,900,000 | 4,400,000 |
| James Park | 11,200,000 | -4,400,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:14 PM Local Time
Joel Feldman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($463,814)
After a few small pots, Feldman, still short, potted it from the small blind, intentions clear. Big blind Park set him in and he made the call with a pair of aces, single suited:
Feldman:
Park:
Feldman stayed in front on the flop, and had his opponent drawing to two outs after the turn. Unfortunately for him, one of them - the - was dealt on the river sending Feldman to the rail (via the cash desk, where nearly half a million dollars in prize money awaits).
| James Park | 15,600,000 | 2,700,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 15,500,000 | -100,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 0 | -2,550,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:05 PM Local Time
A Triple and a Double Up for Feldman
Dash Dudley limped the button and Joel Feldman was all in for 400,000 in the small blind, James Park checked in the big blind.
They checked the board and Feldman tripled up with for two pair, as Park held the and Dudley tabled .
One hand later, Park raised the button to 1,200,000 and Feldman called all in for exactly that amount.
Joel Feldman:
James Park:
Feldman flopped top set on , but Park had a gutshot. The turn gave Park one additional out for miracle quads, but the river changed nothing to let Feldman double again.
| Dash Dudley | 15,600,000 | -500,000 |
| James Park | 12,900,000 | -1,200,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 2,550,000 | 1,650,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 5:00 PM Local Time
Dudley Doubles, Feldman Nearly Felted
Joel Feldman raised to 1,000,000 on the button, three-bet to 3,200,000 by big blind Dash Dudley. Back to Feldman, who in a trice had re-popped it, Dudley calling - this pot effectively setting both players at risk for their tournament lives.
Dudley:
Feldman:
The flop looked good for the suited aces: ; the brought some broadway outs for Feldman but the river gave Dudley the pot, and a stack surpassing Park's. His rail, ecstatic, roared their approval.
| Dash Dudley | 16,100,000 | 8,450,000 |
| James Park | 14,100,000 | -775,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 900,000 | -7,650,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:53 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 0
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:37 PM Local Time
Last Pot Pre-Break Goes to Feldman
Joel Feldman raised the pot from the small blind (1,200,000), called by big blind Park, who gave up when Feldman bet 2,400,000 on the flop.
The trio of remaining finalists are now on a 15 minute break.
| James Park | 14,875,000 | -1,225,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 8,550,000 | 750,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 7,650,000 | 350,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:33 PM Local Time
Dudley Doubles Through Park
James Park limped in from the small blind and Dash Dudley checked in the big blind, delivering a flop of . Park checked over to Dudley, who bet 500,000, and Park came along to see the on the turn. Park now led for 1,100,000 and Dudley folded.
Park limped in one orbit later again and Dudley checked once more. This time, Park bet the flop for 400,000 and Dudley called to head to the turn. Park checked over to Dudley, who fired a bet of 700,000 with around 2,100,000 behind. Park made the call to create a pot of 3,000,000 to the river.
A check by park prompted the shove of Dudley for 2,125,000 and Park asked for a count, grabbed calling chips and studied the board and his opponent. One minute and some table chat followed and Park made the call with for trips treys. Dudley had that beat with for trips eights and his rail started cheering as their favorite doubled back into contention.
| James Park | 16,100,000 | -1,900,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 7,800,000 | -600,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 7,300,000 | 1,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:22 PM Local Time
Hat-Trick for Park
James Park raised the pot in the small blind, big blind Dash Dudley calling the extra 800,000. On the flop, Park led out for 800,000 and scooped the pot. Park made it a double with a button raise the next hand, his stack slowly increasing over Joel Feldman's.
It was the next pot that dented Feldman's stack more seriously: Starting with a limp-check blind vs. blind, they made it to the turn on a board with no further chips entering the pot. Feldman now bet 500,000, called by Park. Feldman led again for 675,000 on the river ( ). Park raised to 3,000,000 and after a short think, Feldman called, but mucked when he saw Park's , three flopped deuces.
| James Park | 18,000,000 | 5,700,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 8,400,000 | -4,300,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:08 PM Local Time
Feldman Takes a Narrow Lead
James Park limped in from the small blind and Dash Dudley checked in the big blind, which brought them to a flop. Park elected to check and subsequently called a bet of 500,000 by Dudley to see the turn, which both players checked.
On the river, Park bet 1,600,000 after plenty of consideration and Dudley quickly got out of the way.
Dudley limped in the small blind in the next hand and Joel Feldman raised the pot to 1,200,000 in the big blind, which forced a fold from Dudley and saw the start of the day chip leader drop to 15 big blinds.
Feldman was the next to limp the small blind and Park raised the pot, but Feldman stuck around to a flop. Feldman checked and Park continued for 1,000,000 only for the Aussie to check-raise the pot and shut down Park.
| Joel Feldman | 12,700,000 | 2,600,000 |
| James Park | 12,300,000 | -1,300,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 6,100,000 | -1,300,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:01 PM Local Time
Feldman Gains a Little Ground
In between a brace of walks and three uncalled raises, two hands have recently seen face-up cards, one making it to showdown:
James Park raised on the button to 800,000, called by Joel Feldman in the big blind. On the flop Feldman check-folded to Park's 1,000,000 bet.
Feldman made up the small blind, Park checking his option. Both players checked a flop of , but on the turn, Park bet the pot when it was checked to him and Feldman called. The river brought the but no further action, Feldman picking up the pot with .
| James Park | 13,600,000 | -800,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 10,100,000 | 400,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 7,400,000 | 400,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3:53 PM Local Time
Jeremy Ausmus Eliminated in 4th Place ($325,693)
Jeremy Ausmus raised to 1,000,000 in the cutoff and Dash Dudley called on the button, only for James Park to three-bet the pot to 4,200,000 out of the big blind. Ausmus called with 775,000 behind and Dudley reluctantly folded.
On a flop of , Park check-called the shove of Ausmus and they turned over their cards.
Jeremy Ausmus:
James Park:
The wrap of Ausmus was favorite as neither player had a club, however, the turn and river run out failed to improve Ausmus and he was sent to the rail in 4th place for $325,693. Park jumped into the lead but it is anybody's game still with stack sizes of 35, 24 and 17 big blinds.
| James Park | 14,400,000 | 6,000,000 |
| Joel Feldman | 9,700,000 | 400,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 7,000,000 | -1,400,000 |
| Jeremy Ausmus | 0 | -5,000,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3:45 PM Local Time
More for Dudley
Jeremy Ausmus limped in the small blind and Dash Dudley got involved into the action with a pot-sized raise to 900,000 in the big blind.- Ausmus called and they saw a flop of . Ausmus checked and a bet of 1,200,000 won the pot for Dudley.
Dudley claimed the blinds with a pot-sized raise next and built his stack once more.
| Joel Feldman | 9,300,000 | -400,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 8,400,000 | 1,700,000 |
| James Park | 8,400,000 | -200,000 |
| Jeremy Ausmus | 5,000,000 | -1,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3:40 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 0
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3:37 PM Local Time
Kyle Montgomery Eliminated in 5th Place ($232,680)
Out of the small blind, Kyle Montgomery raised the pot and James Park three-bet the pot to 2,700,000. Montgomery moved all in for 3,300,000 and Park called.
Kyle Montgomery:
James Park:
The flop was a bad one for Montgomery, as he needed running outs. One of them was the turn, giving Montgomery a gutshot straight draw. However, the river bricked off and Montgomery had to settle for 5th place and a payday of $232,680.
| James Park | 8,600,000 | 3,600,000 |
| Kyle Montgomery | 0 | -3,600,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3:34 PM Local Time
Small Pot for Feldman
Jeremy Ausmus limped the cutoff and Joel Feldman filled up from the small blind while Kyle Montgomery in the big blind checked his option. The three-way flop of was checked through and Feldman bet the turn for 400,000. Montgomery released his cards into the muck and Ausmus did so shortly after.
| Joel Feldman | 9,700,000 | 600,000 |
| Dash Dudley | 6,700,000 | -400,000 |
| Jeremy Ausmus | 6,200,000 | 0 |
| James Park | 5,000,000 | 0 |
| Kyle Montgomery | 3,600,000 | -300,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3:28 PM Local Time
Vital Pot for Park
James Park opened to 600,000 from the cutoff and he was called by chip leader Joel Feldman in the big blind. The flop brought and a check from Feldman, Park checked back and they headed to the turn. Again no betting action took place and the on the river saw Feldman lead for 375,000.
Park reluctantly called and dragged in the pot with , the cards of Feldman were not shown on the screens.
| Joel Feldman | 9,100,000 | -900,000 |
| James Park | 5,000,000 | 1,100,000 |