Event #24: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (2,000 Max)

Three days ago 387 players began play of Event #24: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout, and now there stands only one. Mark Radoja was able to defeat Jeffrey Gross heads up to capture $436,568 in prize money and his very first gold WSOP bracelet.

The field began with 40 tables stacked with nine or ten players, each of them had a simple goal: be the last man standing at that table. As simple as that may sound in theory, the structure of this tournament makes for many day-one eliminations and all around tragedy for many players. Some played heads up at their table for hours only to be sent to the rail with no prize money whatsoever. Day one saw many casualties such as Jeffrey Lisandro, Jason Mercier, Barry Greenstein, Oliver Busquet, David Benyamine, and many more. However, the 40 players that were able to best their table and advance through the day were guaranteed a cash prize and at the very least a one in forty shot at a WSOP bracelet.

Day two brought a different challenge to the players, formatted with ten tables of four players each. Beginning short handed, the players would have to beat three other competitors at their table once again in order to be promised a spot at the final table. 30 more players were eliminated from the field this day, including Gavin Smith, Tommy Vedes, Erik Seidel, Justin Bonomo, and JP Kelly. That being said, ten men advanced through the field and comprised the final table.

Surrounded by the lights and glamor of the ESPN Final Table set, ten men began today with a WSOP bracelet and over $400,000 in prize money in mind. Throughout the day, the chip lead traded places between many different players. Once the field was down to the final five, it seemed no one would be sent to the rail, as the short stacks continuously doubled up. However, as the blinds continued to raise and the pressure went up, one by one players were eliminated, bringing us down to the final two competitors: Mark Radoja and Jeffrey Gross.

Each player had an extremely large and enthusiastic cheering section behind them, loudly and passionately rooting them on for every pot they scooped, or consoling them for the pots they lost. Radoja began heads up play with a two to one chip lead and never relinquished his lead. Gross managed to double up once but never crossed the six million chip mark. Eventually, from a preflop all in, Radoja's    was able to defeat Gross'   , and Radoja and his section exploded in cheers of joy.

With this win, Radoja has more than doubled his WSOP tournament winnings. Last year, Radoja had his highest finish in a WSOP event, coming in 3rd in the $5,000 Six-Handed Hold'em event, but now he has finally topped that, earning his first bracelet tonight.

PokerNews sends their congratulations to Mark Radoja for taking down this tournament, a gold WSOP bracelet, and $436,568 in prize money.

Mark Radoja opened his button with a min-raise to 480,000 only to have Jeffrey Gross move all in.

Radoja folded, and Gross captured the pot.

From the button, Mark Radoja bumped it up to 480,000 and Jeffrey Gross made the call to see a     flop fall.

Gross checked as Radoja fired out a continuation-bet of 400,000 only to have Gross respond by check-raising to 1,100,000.

Radoja paused momentarily before making the call as the turn landed the   and Gross checked. Radoja slid out two stacks of green 25,000-denomination chips amounting to a bet of 1,000,000.

Gross folded, and Radoja showed his rail his    for just eight-high to take the pot and move over the 10 million-chip mark.

Mark Radoja	10,300,000	800,000
Jeffrey Gross	4,700,000	-800,000

Mark Radoja completed from the small blind and Jeffrey Gross checked to see a flop. It came down    . Gross checked to Radoja who bet 250,000. Gross popped it up to 750,000 total and Radoja mucked his hand, allowing Gross to scoop the pot.

Mark Radoja	9,500,000	-1,900,000
Jeffrey Gross	5,500,000	1,900,000

After moving all in for 5,600,000 the previous hand, Jeffrey Gross smooth-called a 400,000-chip raise from the big blind to see a     flop fall.

Both players checked, and when the   landed on the turn, he check-called Radoja's 400,000-chip bet.

The river landed the   and Radoja slid out a 1,200,000-chip bet which was instantly called by Gross.

Radoja tabled his   , and when Gross flashed his   and mucked, he slipped to below 4,000,000 in chips.

Jeff Gross moved all in preflop from the button and was called by Mark Radoja.

Gross:   
Radoja:   

The flop fell     and Radoja was still in the lead. When the   turned, Gross picked up diamonds as outs as well as pairing either card. The river was kind to Gross, as the   fell, pairing him up and also doubling him up.

Mark Radoja	9,400,000	-2,600,000
Jeffrey Gross	5,600,000	2,600,000

Mark Radoja limped the button and Jeffrey Gross checked his option to see a     flop fall.

Gross checked and Radoja pushed out 200,000 to force Gross to kick his cards to the muck while slipping to a four-to-one deficit.

Mark Radoja	12,000,000	1,000,000
Jeffrey Gross	3,000,000	-1,000,000

Jeffrey Gross shoved all in from the button and Mark Radoja folded.

The following hand saw Gross receive a walk in the big blind.

From the button, Mark Radoja made it 400,000 to go. Jeffrey Gross made it 1,000,000 total and Radoja instantly moved all in. Gross mucked his cards and Radoja scooped the pot.

Jeffrey Gross opened his button with a raise to 400,000 and Mark Radoja made the call before both players checked the     flop as the   landed on the turn.

Radoja led out for 400,000 and Gross made the call as the   spiked on the river. Radoja pushed out 750,000, and after nearly two minutes in the tank, Gross made the call.

Radoja tabled his    for a straight, and when Gross tabled his   , the pot was chopped up.