Weekly World Series of Poker Recap -- Week 3

Each week, Card Player will recap all of the action happening at the World Series of Poker. Just in case you missed anything, head on over to the series landing page for all your WSOP news.

Catch up with the Week 1 and Week 2 recaps here. Keep reading for week 3.

Event No. 18 — Foster Hays Scores Big In No-Limit Hold’em

This year’s World Series of Poker has belonged to the pros, who have taken down the majority of the events thus far, but that didn’t stop amateur Foster Hays from earning his first bracelet.

The Dallas, Texas native defeated a field of 3,157 over four days in the $1,500 no-limit hold’em event to earn a whopping $735,400 first-place prize.

Hays defeated a final table that included Jordan Young (ninth), Tristan Wade (seventh) and Allan Le (fourth).

You can read more about Hays and his victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 19 — Darren Woods Denies Female Open Event Winner

For the second time of the summer series, a female player made it to heads-up play in an open event and for the second time of the summer series, a female player has been denied.

Not since Vanessa Selbst in 2008 has a female won an open event at the WSOP. Maria Ho came close this summer, finishing runner-up to Allen Bari and now Kim Nguyen joins her, falling short to Darren Woods in the $2,500 six-max limit hold’em tournament.

Woods bested Nguyen and other notables at the final table such as Gabriel Nassif (sixth), Andrey Zaichenko (fifth) and Alex Kuzmin (fourth) to pick up the title and the $213,431 first-place prize.

You can read more about Woods and his victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 20 — Jason Somerville Breaks Through For First Bracelet

Jason Somerville has dominated the WSOP over the last few years, cashing 11 times and earning over $1 million at the Rio alone, yet a bracelet always eluded him.

Now, the 24-year-old can cross his name off the best to have never won list with his victory in the $1,000 no-limit hold’em event. Somerville defeated 3,175 players and earned $493,091 for his victory.

Other notables at the final table included James Schaaf (ninth) and eventual runner up Yashar Dorian.

You can read more about Somerville’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 21 — Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier Wins Triple Crown

First Jake Cody and now Bertrand Grospellier. The Frenchman topped a field of 126 in the $10,000 seven-card stud event to earn his first gold bracelet and more importantly, poker’s triple crown.

Grospellier picked up $331,639 for the victory and joined Cody, Gavin Griffin and Roland De Wolfe as the only players to have won a WSOP, WPT and EPT event.

Grospellier defeated a final table that included Chris Tryba (eighth), Chad Brown (sixth), Alex Kostritsyn (fifth), John Hennigan (fourth) and Steve Landfish (second).

You can read more about Grospellier’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 22 — Elie Payan Tops Big Omaha Field

Just one day after Grospellier picked up his bracelet, the French found another winner in Elie Payan, who topped 1,071 players in the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha event.

The 27-year-old was late in showing up for the final table, but once he arrived, he dominated. For the victory, Payan earned $292,825.

Other notables at the final table included Roland Isra (ninth), Jeff Sarwer (eighth), Emil Patel (sixth), David Sands (third) and eventual runner up Rafe Kibrit.

You can read more about Payan’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 23 — John Monnette Earns First Bracelet

Mixed games are growing in popularity and that’s just fine for long-time grinder John Monnette, who is considered to be one of the most well-rounded players on the circuit. After 16 cashes and a close call in 2009, Monnette finally broke through for his first career WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 eight-game mix event.

Monnette picked up $278,144 for getting the monkey off his back in the 489-player field. He now has over 1.2 million in career earnings.

Other notables at the final table included John Racener (eighth), John Juanda (sixth), Brent Hanks (fourth) and Eric Buchman (second).

You can read more about Monnette’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 24 — Chris Viox Denies Mike Sexton, Norman Chad Bracelets

Late in the $1,500 seven card stud eight-or-better event, all eyes were on two of poker’s best play by play announcers, Mike Sexton and Norman Chad. Though they both proved they could handle themselves on the felt, neither was able to break through for a victory, falling to eventual winner Chris Viox.

Chad busted in 12th, but Sexton was able to get heads-up with Viox before succumbing to the mounting antes. For the victory, Viox picked up his first career bracelet and $200,459.

Other notables at the final table included Cory Zeidman (sixth) and Tyson Marks (fifth).

You can read more about Viox’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 25 — Mark Radoja Claims Shootout Win

A total of 387 players ponied up the $5,000 buy-in for the shootout event at the WSOP. After three rounds of play, it was Canada’s Mark Radoja who earned the win.

The 25-year-old sit-n-go specialist picked up $436,568 for the victory and became the second Canadian to win a bracelet this summer, joining Tyler Bonkowski.

On the final day, Radoja had to overcome a stacked final table that included Dan Smith, Sean Getzwiller, Todd Terry, Tom Marchese, Adam Junglen and eventual runner up Jeff Gross.

You can read more about Radoja’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 26 — Daniel Idema Gets Redemption and Bracelet

In 2010, Daniel Idema found himself heads-up in the $10,000 limit hold’em championship. He fell short, finishing runner-up to Matt Keikoan. This time, he wouldn’t be denied.

Idema topped a field of 152 runners to pick up the title and the $378,642 first-place prize. He now has nearly $1.2 million in career earnings.

Not surprisingly, Idema was forced to overcome a stacked final table that included Nick Schulman (ninth), Richard Brodie (eighth), Isaac Haxton (seventh), Justin Smith (sixth), Steve Landfish (fourth), Barry Greenstein (third) and runner up Matthew Gallin.

You can read more about Idema’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 27 — Oleksii Kovalchuk Scores One For The Ukraine

The $2,500 six-max no-limit hold’em event attracted 1,378 players, creating a total prize pool of just over $3.1 million. After three days of play, it was Ukranian Oleksii Kovalchuk who was the last man standing.

Kovalchuk received a handsome payday of $689,739 for his victory, along with his first career bracelet. Eugene Katchalov, also born in the Ukraine, won his first bracelet this summer as well.

Kovalchuk topped a final table that included Dan O’Brien (fourth), Chris Moorman (third) and Anton Ionel (second).

You can read more about Kovalchuk’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

Event No. 28 — Andy Frankenberger Continues Two-Year Hot Streak

In just two short years on tour, Andy Frankenberger has proven that he belongs, racking up $1.8 million in earnings, numerous final tables and a win on the World Poker Tour.

Now, Frankenberger can add a WSOP title to his rapidly growing resume after defeating a field of 2,500 in the $1,500 no-limit hold’em event. For the win, the New York pro won $599,153.

Frankenberger topped a final table that included notables such as Bret Hruby (ninth), Steve Merrifield (sixth), Tyler Kenney (fifth), Owen Crowe (fourth) and runner up Josh Evans.

You can read more about Frankenberger’s victory in Card Player’s official recap.

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