This Week's Big Winner: Adrian Mateos Diaz Wins $10,000 WSOP Heads-Up Championship, Earns Third Bracelet

At 22 years old, Adrian Mateos Diaz is the youngest player to ever win three World Series of Poker gold bracelets. He captured his third title by taking down the 2017 $10,000 no-limit hold’em heads-up championship, outlasting a field of 129 total entries to win the top prize of $336,656. His heads-up opponent John Smith, was 70 years old. That meant there was a 48-year age gap between the final two competitors.

“It’s insane that I have three bracelets,” Mateos Diaz said. “It’s really difficult to win three bracelets and I’m 22. I run good and I think I play good, so that’s all that matters.”

Mateos Diaz broke onto the scene as a 19-year-old by taking down the 2013 WSOP Europe  main event for nearly $1.4 million. In only a few years he has accumulated more than $9 million in live tournament earnings, winning huge events like the 2015 European Poker Tour Grand Final main event and the 2017 PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo $50,000 super high roller along the way.

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Mateos Diaz to the win.

Tournament: WSOP Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship
Buy-In: $10,000 • No. of Entries: 129 • Prize Pool: $1,203,200 • 1st Place Prize: $324,470

The Action

With 32 players remaining and only the final 16 making the money, Mateos raised to 5,500 on the button. Wasserson three-bet to 17,000 from the big blind and Mateos opted to shove all-in. Wasserson called all in for 100,000 with A-Q, and saw that he was in a race situation against Mateos and his pocket threes. The board rolled out clean for Mateos, and Wasserson was eliminated from the tournament out of the money. The victory moved Mateos into the final 16 and guaranteed him a payday of at least $24,881.

The Action

After building up a lead in his match with Paur, Mateos raised enough to put his opponent all-in. Paur called with the best hand, holding A 4 against Mateos and his Q J, but Mateos outflopped him as the dealer put out a board of Q 10 6 Q 10. Paur earned $26,711 for his finish, while Mateos advanced to the final eight.

The Action

With only eight players left in the tournament, Mateos raised to 40,000 on the button. Hughes defended from the big blind and the flop fell 5 4 3. Hughes checked, and Mateos continued with a bet of 30,000. Hughes then check-raised to 90,000. Mateos called, and the turn was the A. Hughes bet 130,000 and Mateos called once again. The river was the 2, putting a wheel on the board. This time, Hughes moved all in for 400,000. “Sick,” Mateos muttered, flashing the 2 for a turned straight before mucking his hand. “Fuc*#ng miracle,” Hughes replied, tabling 7 6 for the flopped nuts. “It was a good river for you,” he explained, showing Mateos that he saved a lot of chips when he was counterfeited. Despite giving up the temporary lead, Mateos fought back to win the match. Hughes banked $56,909 for his fifth-place tie.

The Action

In the final four match, Mateos raised to 50,000 on the button and Carrel three-bet from the big blind to 175,000. Mateos called and the flop fell 9 8 4. Carrel bet 150,000 and Mateos called. The turn was the 2 and Carrel bet 300,000. Mateos called and the river was the Q. Carrel then moved all-in, putting Mateos and his final 648,000 at risk. Mateos tanked for nearly four minutes before eventually making the call with J 8 for third pair. Carrel showed 7 3 for a bluff, and Mateos doubled up to take control of the match. Carrel was ultimately eliminated in a tie for third place, pocketing $125,454.

The Action

Facing a 3:1 chip disadvantage in the final match, Smith limped in on the button and Mateos raised to 300,000. Smith called, and the flop came down A 9 3. Mateos made a continuation bet of 200,000 and Smith moved all in for a total of 1,300,000. Mateos called and Smith could only show down Q 8 for a pure bluff. Much to his surprise, his hand was currently best against Mateos and his 5 2 for a straight and flush draw, although according to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Mateos was actually a 62 percent favorite. The Q on the turn paired Smith, but left him drawing dead against a spade flush. The inconsequential river card was the K, and Smith was eliminated in second place, earning $200,538. It was his second consecutive runner-up finish in the event. Mateos, however, came away with his third gold bracelet and the $324,470 first-place prize.

Final Eight Results

1. Adrian Mateos Diaz — $324,470
2. John Smith — $200,538
T3. Charlie Carrel — $125,454
T3. Ryan Reiss — $125,454
T5. Olivier Busquet — $56,909
T5. Ryan Hughes — $56,909
T5. Jack Duong — $56,909
T5. Ryan Fee — $56,909