Renan Bruschi Wins 2021 World Series of Poker Online 'The Big 500' Event

Brazil’s Renan Bruschi finished as the runner-up in the third event of the international segment of the 2021 World Series of Poker Online, the $2,500 buy-in limit hold’em championship. Just over two weeks later, Bruschi managed to improve on that deep run by taking down ‘The Big 500’ event during the same series. Bruschi defeated a field of 2,639 entries in the $500 buy-in no-limit hold’em event to earn $150,327 and his first WSOP gold bracelet.

The field of thousands was narrowed down to just 35 competitors by the time day 2 began, with Bruschi outside the top twenty when cards got back in the air. By the time the final table of nine was set, though, Bruschi had climbed into second chip position behind only fellow Brazilian Rafael Furlanetto. Andrejs Zukovs was the first to fall when his A-K lost in a race against the pocket nines of Furlanetto, who held to add to his lead. Zukovs earned $15,032 as the ninth-place finisher.

A preflop cooler earned Bruschi his first knockout at the final table. David Wang got the last of his stack in with QQ, only to run into the KK of Bruschi. The board maintained the status quo and Wang was sent to the virtual rail in eighth place ($20,046).

Eugenio Pernia’s run ion this event came to an end when his A3 clashed with the pocket tens of
Nikola Minkov and the A-K of Furlanetto in a three-way all-in. Minkov improved to tens full of jacks by the river to take down the pot, eliminating Pernia in seventh place ($26,732).

2020 WSOP Online bracelet winner Nick Maimone got all-in preflop with a chance to move into second place if his AQ could prevail over the JJ of Minkov. Maimone flopped the nut flush draw to go along with his two overcards, but the turn and river brought no help and he was eliminated in sixth place ($35,647).

WSOP bracelet winner Leonid Bilokur was down to just a few big blinds when Maimone was knocked out. He managed to secure a quadruple-up right away, before finding a few more double-ups to move into second chip position. On the tail of Bilokur’s comeback, Bruschi narrowed the field to four when his pocket kings held up against the A-K of Nikola Minkov (5th – $47,537).

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown $50,000 high roller champion Arthur Conan got his last chips in ahead, with AJ leading the A4 of Furlanetto. The board brought both an ace and a four, though, to see Conan eliminated in fourth place ($63,391). Despite earning that knockout, Furlanetto was ultimately the next player to be sent packing. He thrree-bet shoved all-in for roughly 22 big blinds with 22. Bruschi called with 88 and made a flush to take down the pot. Furlanetto earned $83,534 as the third-place finisher.

With that, Bruschi took 40,817,835 into heads-up play with Bilokur, who sat with 25,157,165. It didn’t take long for him to convert that lead into the title. With blinds of 300,000-600,000 and an ante of 75,000, Bilokur raised to 1,800,000 from the button with AA. Bruschi called from the bog blind with 103. The flop came down KJ8. Bruschi checked and Bilokur bet 1,837,500. Bruschi called and the 7 on the turn gave him a straight draw to go with his flopped flush draw. Bruschi bet 4,020,000 and Bilokur called with his overpair. The 9 completed the board and Bruschi bet 11,869,500 with his rivered gutshot straight. Bilokur called all-in for less and was shown the bad news. He was awarded $112,728 for his runner-up finish.

Here is a look at the payouts awarded at the final table:

Photo credit: Carlos Monti / Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.

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