Jeremy Wien Wins 2018 World Series of Poker $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Big Blind Ante Event

Card Player’s 2018 WSOP coverage is sponsored by BetOnline Poker. Get a 100% bonus, up to $1,000, by joining now. The site offers great cash game action and a chance to win more than $1 million in guaranteed tournaments throughout the month.

Jeremy Wien outlasted a field of 518 entries to win the 2018 World Series of Poker $5,000 no-limit hold’em big blind ante event, earning his first gold bracelet and $537,710. Wien is a derivatives trader from Mt. Kisco, New York

“It’s pretty surreal,” Wien told WSOP reporters. “It’s not what I do for a living, but I come out here for a few tournaments every summer, sometimes as many as 15 or so. You know, I got close to a final table once a few years ago, I’ve had a few cashes, but other than that, nothing crazy. I never actually expected it to happen, even though I’ve dreamed about it. I’ve given my bracelet ceremony speech a few times in my head.”

In addition to the money and the bracelet, Wien was also awarded 1,680 Card Player Player of the Year points. This was his first POY-qualified score of the year, but the high buy-in and large field in this event were enough to propel him into 54th place in the Player of the Year rankings, which are presented in 2018 by Global Poker.

Wien came into the final day in second chip position behind leader Shawn Buchanan, but ultimately it was David Laka who lead for much of the day. Laka knocked out 2016 Card Player Player of the Year award winner David Peters in seventh place ($60,618) and then followed that up by eliminating Buchanan in sixth place ($82,199) to take the outright lead.

Laka continued his spree by sending high-stakes tournament regular Jake Schindler to the rail in fourth place ($159,575), outrunning pocket kings with AK by spiking an ace on the river. With that, the 21-year-old Spanish player took a sizable lead into three-handed play. Eric Blair was the next to run into the Laka buzzsaw, shoving with 98 and getting called by the J10. Laka flopped a pair of jacks and held from there, sending Blair home with $228,307.

Laka took more than a 4-to-1 chip lead into heads-up play. Wien was able to fight his way back into the match, eventually taking the lead when his A9 was able to win an all-in against Laka’s 1010c. The final two players ended up battling it out for over three hours, and by the time the final hand arose stacks were still fairly even. In the end the match came down to a cooler, with Laka getting all-in on a flop of J82 with the QQ and finding himself up against the AA. The turn brought the 3 and the river the 6 to lock up the pot and the title for Wien. Laka earned $332,328 for his second-place showing.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2018 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

Related Articles

Poker Strategy: 2-7 Triple Draw With Randy Ohel

Dorsey Wins WSOPC Planet Hollywood Main Event

Jack Sinclair Wins 2018 WSOP Europe Main Event

Most Viewed Articles