Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (2024)

Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (1)

The final hand of the FTOPS III Main Event (screenshot courtesy of CardPlayer.com reader Rick "pparazorback" Rybaczek)


Full Tilt Online Poker Series III No-Limit Hold'em Main Event

Full Tilt guaranteed $3.4 million in total prize pool money for the 10 events in the Full Tilt Online Poker Series III (FTOPS III). They were a little off.

The tournament series never actually missed a guarantee. Heck, one event almost quadrupled the posted guarantee (event No. 7, the no-limit hold'em with rebuys tournament). When it was all over, the series had handed out more than $4.4 million to entrants.

And what was the crown jewel of it all? The $1.5 million-guaranteed no-limit hold'em main event, of course. Last night's main event lured 3,217 entrants at $500 apiece, to build a prize pool of $1,608,500. Players had to dig in their heels until only 459 players remained if they wanted to get a piece of the prize.

Of the in-the-money players, quite a few were Full Tilt-sponsored pros, including Mark Vos (142nd, $1,448), Chris Ferguson (203rd, $1,126), Paul Wolfe (261st, $1,046), and Layne Flack (308th, $885). Some notable Internet players cashed in the event, as well, including Tuan "Supertuan1" Nguyen (18th, $8,043), Spiked (the winner of the FTOPS II main event, 33rd, $4,826), Kyle "kwob20" Bowker (47th, $2,976), Eric "Rizen" Lynch (107th, $1,609), Sorel "kristy_sea" Mizzi (167th, $1,287), and Kevin "GetPWN3D" Saul (aka BeL0WaB0Ve, 192nd, $1,126) within the top 200.

There were still some highly notable players left when it got down to the final table action. The most recognizable name at the table was poker pro Robert "Miss Lulu" Williamson III, a World Series of Poker bracelet winner in pot-limit Omaha. He sat at the table in sixth place with $1.8 million in chips. The chip leader was another notable, Internet poker phenom Brian "tsarrast" Rast, who had $3.3 million. Also at the table were Alec "traheho" Torelli with $2.3 million and Justin "Boosted J" Smith, the FTOPS III tournament leader board leader before the event began, with $2.1 million.

It was a relatively long while before the first elimination hand of the table. After 20 minutes of play, Boosted J raised to $250,000 preflop, with the big blind at $100,000, and bokpower pushed all in over the top for $944,000. Boosted J called and showed pocket eights and was up against bokpower's AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (2) 10Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (3) for a virtual coin-flip situation. The board ran out QOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (4) JOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (5) 2Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (6) 9Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (7) 4Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (8), completely missing both players, and bokpower was the first player eliminated in ninth ($21,554).

Things started to go a little faster now, and CoinFlip followed bokpower out the door just four minutes later. Tsarrast raised to $300,000 preflop and CoinFlip pushed all in for just over $1 million. Tsarrast called and showed AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (9) 8Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (10) and was dominated by Coin Flip's AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (11) QOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (12). The flop reversed the domination when it came JOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (13) 9Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (14) 8Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (15), giving tsarrast a pair of eights. The turn brought CoinFlip some extra hope with the KOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (16), giving him a gutshot-straight draw, but the river was the 5Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (17) and CoinFlip was out in eighth ($28,953).

THEOLDLION was the next to go when he pushed all in preflop for $1.3 million in the small blind against two limpers and tsarrast reraised all in over the top for $4.9 million from the big blind. Tsarrast's reraise folded the limpers and he showed AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (18) KOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (19). THEOLDLION held pocket tens for a coin-flip situation. The flop basically ended the race when it came AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (20) 7Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (21) 3Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (22), giving tsarrast a pair of aces for the lead. The turn was the 9Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (23) and the river the JOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (24), giving tsarrast an unneeded flush, and THEOLDLION went out in seventh, for $36,996.

Tsarrast was now in excellent shape, with more than $6 million in the chip lead versus Boosted J in second with $2.9 million. After a little more than 10 minutes, traheho and Balforios, the two short stacks, went at it. Traheho raised to $300,000, with the big blind now at $120,000, and Balforios pushed all in over the top for $1.1 million. Traheho called, having Balforios covered by almost $300,000, and showed AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (25) KOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (26). Balforios held a dominated AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (27) 8Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (28) and needed help. The board ran out QOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (29) 5Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (30) 3Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (31) AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (32) JOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (33), pairing each player's ace but leaving traheho's kicker to play to eliminate Balforios. Balforios earned $49,381 for his sixth-place finish.

Just three minutes later, MychCumstien was down to the felt. Miss Lulu typed "Come and get it," into the chat box before he raised to $360,000 preflop. MychCumstien responded, "OK," and pushed all in for $2.3 million. Traheho reraised all in for $2.9 million, folding Miss Lulu, who apparently wasn't all that interesting in "giving it." Traheho showed pocket queens and was well ahead versus MychCumstien's pocket nines. The board ran out and improved neither player and MychCumstien was sent to the virtual rail in fifth ($66,753).

Robert "Miss Lulu" Williamson III had been nursing a stack below $2 million for the vast majority of the final table, and he finally pushed all in preflop from under the gun. Traheho reraised all in, folding the remaining players, and showed pocket sixes. Miss Lulu held KOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (34) JOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (35) for a race situation. The flop came 7Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (36) 6Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (37) 3Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (38), plummeting Miss Lulu's chances for survival down to just 4 percent as a result of traheho's flopped set. The turn put the final nail in the coffin with the QOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (39) and Miss Lulu was drawing dead and was sent home in fourth place ($89,272).

Traheho had the chip lead with three players remaining, with $7.2 million compared to Boosted J in second with $4.6 million and tsarrast in third with $4.3 million. Tsarrast lasted another seven minutes before his final hand. Traheho raised to $400,000 preflop from the button, with the big blind now at $160,000, and tsarrast called from the big blind. The flop came 9Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (40) 8Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (41) 8Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (42) and tsarrast checked. Traheho bet $575,000 and tsarrast raised to $1.4 million. Traheho pushed all in over the top, having tsarrast covered, and tsarrast called all in and showed 10Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (43) 9Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (44) for two pair. Traheho held pocket kings for the lead with two pair, kings up. The turn and the river were blanks and traheho took down the pot to eliminate tsarrast in third. Tsarrast made $114,204 for third place.

Traheho now had $11.3 million to kick off the heads-up match. Boosted J held $4.8 million and was just one double-up from the chip lead. Unfortunately for Boosted J, he made only a little headway before the final hand, just two minutes into the match. Boosted J raised to $400,000 preflop and traheho reraised up to $1.4 million. Boosted J pushed all in for $5.5 million and traheho called and showed AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (45) KOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (46). Boosted J was dominated with AOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (47) QOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (48) and needed help. The board ran out JOnline Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (49) 10Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (50) 2Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (51) 5Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (52) 4Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (53), completely missing both players and giving the hand to traheho for the win. Boosted J cashed out for $175,327 in second place while traheho earned $288,002 for his first-place finish.

Both players will receive special avatars for their performances at the FTOPS. Traheho earned an exclusive gold FTOPS jersey avatar for winning the main event. Boosted J will receive a customized avatar (similar to the Full Tilt-sponsored pros) for topping the FTOPS tournament leader board due to his performance in the main event.

The final standings were:

1) Alec "traheho" Torelli - $288,001.93
2) Justin "Boosted J" Smith - $175,326.50
3) Brian "tsarrast" Rast - $114,203.50
4) Robert "Miss Lulu" Williamson III - $89,271.75
5) MychCumstien - $66,752.75
6) Balforios - $49,380.95
7) THEOLDLION - $36,995.50
8) CoinFlip - $28,953
9) bokpower - $21,553.90

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Online Poker: Traheho Wins FTOPS Main Event (2024)

FAQs

How soft is the WSOP main event? ›

The player pool is insanely soft.

In a previous post, I estimated that there are about 1,500 players who you wouldn't want to see at your table in a live poker tournament — professionals or others who play at a near-professional level.

What is the payout for the WPT Main Event? ›

The 10,516 entries made the $1,100 buy-in event the single largest live WPT-branded tournament field of all time, with a prize pool of $10,196,640. The $1,386,280 first-place prize, the biggest single payout in the history of WPT Prime, will be the largest career payday for any of the six remaining players.

How to win PokerStars tournaments? ›

Play aggressively from the beginning

It's beneficial to generally play more aggressively and try to win chips right from the start. Even just adding 10% to your stack in the early stages can put you ahead in chips of the majority of your table and then give you many more chances to win bounties.

How many people win money in WSOP Main Event? ›

With a record-setting field of 10,043 entrants in the 2023 WSOP Main Event, a prize pool of $93,399,900 was generated and the top 1,507 players will finish in the money.

What are the odds of winning the WSOP Main Event? ›

What are the odds of winning the World Series of Poker main event? - Quora. If you assume that all players are of equal skill, then the odds are just 1 divided by the number of players. The most recent main event was in the summer of 2023, and drew 10,043 entrants, so the equal-skill chances were 1 in 10,043.

Who is the best poker player of all time? ›

Often referred to as the “Tiger Woods of Poker”, there is little debate when it comes to Phil Ivey being considered the best poker player of all time. Ivey has developed from a poker prodigy into the legend he is today.

Who is the youngest poker champion ever? ›

By winning the 6,494-entrant Main Event at the age of 21, Cada surpassed Peter Eastgate as the youngest champion ever.

Has anyone won the WSOP Main Event twice? ›

Milestones. Johnny Moss was the first person to win the WSOP. Since then only Moss and Stu Ungar have won the Main Event three times; Ungar is the only one to have won three times in the freeze-out format. Moss, Ungar, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan are the only people who have won the Main Event two years in a row.

Do World Poker Tour players use their own money? ›

Instead, the player will pay the entire sum of their tournament buy-in and will only play with their own money at cash games. This certainly makes playing riskier, but it also means that they get to keep all the money they manage to win. "PokerStack is THE app you need to have as a live poker player."

Can you play WPT for real money? ›

ClubWPT stands out as a unique platform among U.S. based online poker sites, and although ClubWPT does NOT run real-money games, members can compete for real money prizes, seats to live WPT events, and luxury WPT Voyage packages.

Has Phil Ivey won a WPT? ›

Ivey has one World Poker Tour (WPT) title to his name, and 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets to be second on the all-time bracelet list ahead of ten-time bracelet winners Erik Seidel, Johnny Chan, and the late Doyle Brunson.

What is the secret to winning at poker? ›

If you want to play poker and win, you need to play against weaker players than yourself. Think about it like this: If you are the 9th best poker player in the world, you will be the best player at almost any table. But if you join a table with those 8 players that are better than you, you become the sucker.

How to win an online poker tournament? ›

To win, you must be aggressive. You could grab a pay jump or two by waiting for premium hands, but you won't have enough chips to go heads-up and win the trophy. In most table situations, play tight and employ timed aggressiveness to collect chips from inferior players. Never play too tight and passively.

Is there a winning poker strategy? ›

Success in poker is based on long-term consistency. Luck can only carry you so far, but consistently clever play will eventually yield a profit. Playing free Texas Hold'em online is an excellent way to study the fundamentals and develop your unique strategy.

Should I play the WSOP Main Event? ›

The experience of playing in the main event may be worth something to you beyond your real money equity, though. Spending a few days immersed in the game and culture, potentially meeting and playing with some of the best players in the world, could be a valuable learning experience.

Is the WSOP Main Event a freeze out? ›

As previously mentioned, freezeout poker tournaments are the ones in which no rebuys or re-entries are allowed, meaning one player gets to play only one time. The best example of a classic freezeout poker tournament is the WSOP Main Event, in which you can only buy one stack of chips across the four starting days.

How much does it cost to play in the WSOP Main Event? ›

Main Event

The Gallery of Champions in 1979. Since 1972, the Main Event of the WSOP has been the $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold 'em (NLHE) tournament (in 1971 the buy-in was $5,000 and the inaugural 1970 event was an invitational with winner determined by a vote from the players).

Can anyone enter the WSOP Main Event? ›

There are some restrictions as you must be 21 years of age and older. If you wish to register for a WSOP tournament or play in live-action games you must have a Caesars Rewards Card.

References

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