James Chen Scoops First Bracelet In World Series of Poker $1,500 Omaha Eight-or-Better Event

James Chen got here agonizingly near profitable his first World Series of Poker bracelet in 2023, falling one spot brief of the gold within the $10,000 buy-in Omaha eight-or-better championship occasion. Less than a yr after ending second in that occasion, the Pittsburgh resident managed to battle his approach again to the ultimate two in a WSOP occasion. This time round, Chen emerged victorious from the heads-up match with the {hardware} and the highest prize of $209,350.

This was the second-largest payday but for Chen, trailing solely the $304,571 he earned for the beforehand talked about runner-up end final yr.

Chen’s victory got here within the 2024 WSOP $1,500 Omaha eight-or-better occasion. He topped a area of 928 entries, scooping up 912 Card Player Player of the Year factors together with the cash and the bracelet.

The robust turnout for this occasion resulted within the prime 140 finishers locking up a share of the $1,238,880 prize pool. Among people who ran deep have been two-time bracelet winner Eric Baldwin (nineteenth), four-time bracelet winner Ben Yu (fifteenth), three-time bracelet winner ‘Miami’ John Cernuto (tenth), and two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Jamie Kerstetter (ninth).

Made the FT @WSOP $1500 O8 with a really brief stack for a really brief time

$15,920, had a good time, love this sport

Maybe I’ll learn to play it sometime pic.twitter.com/dm7J3hub7O

— Jamie Kerstetter (@JamieKerstetter) May 31, 2024

The official ultimate desk started with Chen within the lead. Todd Dakake (eighth – $20,640) and Curtis Phelps (seventh – $27,227) have been the one eliminations earlier than the ultimate six have been despatched on a dinner break. Shortly after they returned Aleksey Filatov acquired the final of his stack in with backside two pair towards the highest pair of Adam Nattress. The flip gave Natress aces up, and the river modified nothing. Nattress’ superior two pair earned him the news, sending Filatov to the rail in sixth place ($36,531).

The lead had modified fingers a number of occasions throughout short-handed play. Chen had edged out in entrance once more, although, in time to attain his first knockout on the ultimate desk. He flopped prime two pair towards Pearce Arnold (fifth – $49,842) and held by the river to slender the sphere to 4.

Nattress acquired all-in with prime pair and the nut backdoor low draw dealing with an overpair and flush draw held by Chen. Nattress made two pair on the flip and improved to a fully-fledged low draw, however the river introduced a king to enhance Chen to prime set. Nattress earned $69,129 because the fourth-place finisher.

Chen now had an enormous lead going into three-handed play, with almost eight occasions as many chips as second-ranked Lewis Brant. Sovann Penn was even shorter, and was quickly eradicated by the journeys nines and ace kicker of Chen on a high-only board. Penn was awarded $97,445 for his podium displaying.

Heads-up play started with a giant chip drawback for Brandt. Despite making up some floor within the early going, he was quickly within the hazard zone. The ultimate hand noticed Brandt’s chips go in with AOkQ10 dealing with the Ok743 of Chen. The board ran out 97274 and Chen made sevens full of fours to greatest Brandt’s nut flush. Brandt earned $139,563 because the runner-up.

Here is a take a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the ultimate desk:

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Photo credit score: WSOP / Danny Maxwell.