WATCH: Poker Players Shrug Off World Series Of Poker Million Dollar Bounty WinsValentyn Shabelnyk And DJ Buckley Pull $1 Million Envelopes In Mystery Millions Event |
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Two players struck gold on Monday at the World Series of Poker in the $1,000 Mystery Millions tournament, bagging the event’s top $1 million bounties.
Valentyn Shabelnyk, of Ukraine, and Daniel “DJ” Buckley, of Minnesota, were the lucky winners of the seven-figure payouts.
The event, which drew a huge field of 18,409, set aside $300 from each buy-in for the bounty pool. The 950 players who advanced from day 1 were then eligible to pull a random bounty for every player they eliminated, with payouts ranging from $1,000 all the way to $1 million.
Subdued Celebrations
Shabelnyk reached into the treasure chest holding the payout envelopes and quickly pulled out his prize, displaying the million-dollar total on stage for other players to see.
However, Shabelnyk seemed more eager to get back to his table without missing a hand than celebrate his good fortune. Keep in mind, the first-place prize in the tournament is $1 million as well.
PokerGO reporter Jeff Platt seemed a bit more excited about the result than Shabelnyk as a roar went up in the tournament area with the news of the win. He also somehow walked away with Platt’s phone as well as he headed back to the action.
WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR CHEST AT THE @WSOP MYSTERY MILLIONS
Congrats to Valentyn Shabelnyk pic.twitter.com/fApp6NbLZ4— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 3, 2024
Shabelnyk ultimately finished 528th for $3,070, but with the bounty nearly doubled his $1.3 million in career earnings. The biggest of that came in December when he finished runner-up in a $1,600 side event at the WPT World Championship for $417,827.
Later in the day, Buckley also seemed fairly relaxed about pulling a $1 million bounty. Friends and bystanders were more animated than the actual winner, hugging and congratulating the new millionaire.
“I feel great,” he said matter-of-factly after securing the win.
THE SECOND $1,000,000 BOUNTY HAS BEEN CLAIMED AT THE @WSOP MYSTERY MILLIONS
CONGRATS TO DJ BUCKLEY!
Use code WSOP24 to save $20 on an annual PokerGO subscription. pic.twitter.com/CitmRlS43l— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 3, 2024
Buckley went on to finish 90th for $8,170. The win nearly doubled his tournament winnings as well. Buckley’s poker resumé includes $1.3 million in winnings with the largest of that coming in 2015 in a $1,500 no-limit hold’em event at the WSOP, where he took fifth for $107,800.
The action in the $1,000 Mystery Millions continues on day 3 Tuesday with 18 players remaining. Last year, Tyler Brown earned the bracelet and the $1 million top prize, with Shant Marashlian and Patrick Liang drawing the $1 million bounties.
Visit the Card Player 2024 World Series of Poker page for schedules, news, interviews, and the latest event results. WSOP coverage sponsored by Global Poker.
*Photo by PokerGO
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