Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2018/19 WSOP Global Casino Championship
Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018/19 WSOP Global Casino Championship
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$1,040,000
Entries
129
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Level 27
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
In one of the toughest fields on the World Series of Poker Circuit, Ryan Eriquezzo has reigned victorious once again. Eriquezzo captured the 2019 WSOP Global Casino Championship for the second time in his career. Along with a new gold bracelet, Eriquezzo will also take home $279,431 after defeating a field of 129 entrants.
It was a back and forth heads-up match with Eric Salazar, the hometown favorite, and Eriquezzo said that was the main difference between this victory and the one back in 2012. "It's very similar but at the same it's different. My rail in Vegas was huge, everyone was rooting for me. This was a bit different, it felt like I was coming into hostile territory."
Eriquezzo had to deal with those elements early on at the final table when he got into a classic flip with Salazar. Eriquezzo flopped a pair of aces but Salazar spiked a set of queens on the turn in order to double up and his rail exploded. Eriquezzo managed to keep his head in the game despite the bad beat and admitted that things started to go his way afterward. "This was a much easier path to victory. I ran really good with a table draw. I ran good with chip stacks at the final table - aside from that one flip where they tested me."
Despite giving up a five-to-one chip lead at one point, Eriquezzo said he was just focused on making the best play on each street against each opponent, and that was what propelled him to the victory. In the last hand of the night, Eriquezzo flopped a king-high flush and Salazar picked the wrong time to make a move on the turn. With Salazar drawing dead, Eriquezzo raised his arms in victory, knowing the river could not change the result.
Looking forward to what's next for the Connecticut native, he said maybe some poker but maybe not. "It would be nice to take a little break and do some traveling, but I've said that before. I'll take a look at the schedule and go from there." Eriquezzo will have another shot to pad his bankroll before he gets away from the felt as he will be jumping into the Main Event that takes place over the next four days.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ryan Eriquezzo | United States | $279,431 |
| 2nd | Eric Salazar | United States | $172,431 |
| 3rd | Maurice Hawkins | United States | $119,555 |
| 4th | Joshua Turner | United States | $84,961 |
| 5th | Paulius Vaitiekunas | Lithuania | $62,023 |
| 6th | Adam Cedric | France | $46,546 |
| 7th | Jordan Piva | United States | $35,939 |
| 8th | Jarod Minghini | United States | $28,572 |
This was one of those unique events that only come around once a year and is said to be the toughest tournament on the circuit with the best of the best duking it out over three long days. The invitation-only event allows only those who have won a Main Event on the circuit this season along with the Casino Champions a free entry. In addition, the top 50 on the points leaderboard were also given a seat. For those that are in the top 100 of the WSOP player-of-the-year standings, they were given the option to buy in for $10,000 and only four players took that option.
It was a stacked field that saw many of the top players from all around the world filter into the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort for their chance at the $1,000,000 guaranteed prizepool. Players like Martin Kabrhel, Alex Lynskey, Ari Engel, Joe Cada, Ryan Leng, and Valentin Vornicu all fell short of the money. A few other big names on the circuit including Jake Bazeley, Vincent Moscati, Stephen Song, and Josh Reichard were able to pick up some cash but bowed out before the TV table was reached.
The final day of the WSOP Global Casino Championship began with six players eyeing up the title and a gold bracelet. After an excruciating long 14-hour Day 2, the players returned with little sleep under their belt. As to be expected, it took a little while for the action to heat up with a slow start to the final table.
Adam Cedric began as the short stack but slowly started to work his way up the leaderboard. However, Cedric doubled up Maurice Hawkins and quickly became the short stack once again. In the very next hand, Cedric moved all-in with ace-eight but was quickly called by Salazar's ace-jack. Cedric was unable to come back from a dominated position and became the first player eliminated at the feature table.
Coming into the day, Paulius Vaitiekunas was the clear chipleader but things took a turn for the worse with five players remaining. A failed bluff attempt versus Salazar and a double-up of Eriquezzo left the Lithuanian with around 15 big blinds. He moved all of his chips in the middle with ace-eight but ran into the pocket kings of Hawkins. Despite hitting an ace on the river, Hawkins had the upper-hand with a turned set of kings and Vaitiekunas became the fifth-place finisher.
Joshua Turner used his unorthodox style to sit among the chip leaders for the majority of the tournament. However, his grind came to an end when it was his turn to send a double up to Eriquezzo. Turner was left with just one big blind and was forced to play against all three opponents in the next hand. Hawkins ran out trip deuces which proved to be enough to eliminate Turner in fourth place.
Three-handed play lasted for about an hour with Eriquezzo and Salazar exchanging the chip lead while Hawkins watched most of the action unfold. Hawkins eventually bluffed off a good portion of his stack to Salazar which put him under 20 big blinds. Soon after, both Hawkins and Eriquezzo flopped top pair and Hawkins was unable to get away from an all-in shove on the river from Eriquezzo. Hawkins called it off with a worse kicker and was ousted in third place.
That left Eriquezzo and Salazar to battle it out for the title with over $100,000 difference between the two payouts. A slight chip lead exchanged hands multiple times before Eriquezzo finally opened up a large gap. However, Salazar battled up back with a huge double up to take a commanding lead. His lead didn't last long as Eriquezzo won the next four hands including the last one of the night to bring an end to the tournament.
That wraps up the coverage for the 2019 WSOP Global Casino Championship but the PokerNews live reporting team will remain on the tournament floor for the $1,700 Main Event that begins tomorrow.
Level 27
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Ryan Eriquezzo raised to 225,000 on the button and Eric Salazar defended from the big blind. The flop came 
and Salazar check-called a bet of 250,000 from Eriquezzo.
The turn brought the 
and Salazar knuckled the table again. Eriquezzo pushed out a bet of 670,000 and Salazar check-raised all in for 2,490,000. Eriquezzo snap-called and Salazar was drawing dead when the cards were tabled.
Eriquezzo turned over 
for a king-high flush and Salazar made a move at the wrong time with 
. The insignificant 
completed the board and Eriquezzo captured his second career WSOP Global Casino Championship.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,700,000
4,300,000
|
4,300,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 27
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Ryan Eriquezzo limped from the button and Eric Salazar checked his option. The flop came down 
. Salazar checked, Eriquezzo bet 225,000, Salazar raised to put Eriquezzo all in who called quickly.
Eriquezzo turned over the 
while Salazar had the 
.
The turn was an 
and the 
on the river gave Eriquezzo to double up to pull back close.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,300,000
-1,800,000
|
-1,800,000 |
|
|
3,400,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
||
Level 27
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Eric Salazar limped in on the button and Ryan Eriquezzo bumped it up to 400,000 from the big blind. Salazar re-raised to 1,280,000 and Eriquezzo tanked for a bit before shoving all in. Salazar instantly called and the cards were tabled.
Eric Salazar:
Ryan Eriquezzo: 
Salazar was in a dominating position but the flop came 
to give Eriquezzo the lead. However, the 
on the turn vaulted Salazar to a winning position once again and he held on through the 
river. This was the second time today that Salazar spiked a queen on the turn in order to stay alive.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,100,000
3,400,000
|
3,400,000 |
|
|
1,600,000
-3,400,000
|
-3,400,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 27
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Eric Salazar and Ryan Eriquezzo are taking a quick break in the action. They will return to the blinds at 50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 big blind ante.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,000,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,700,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Ryan Eriquezzo raised to 185,000 on the button and Eric Salazar defended. The flop came 
. Eriquezzo bet 175,000 after a check and Salazar called. the turn came the 
. Eriquezzo fired another round with a bet of 230,000 which Salazar caused to lay down his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,400,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,300,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Ryan Eriquezzo raised it up to 190,000 on the button and Eric Salazar called. The flop came 
and both players checked to the 
on the turn.
Salazar checked again and Eriquezzo fired out a bet of 190,000. Salazar called and the 
completed the board. Salazar chose to lead out this time for a large sizing of 620,000. Eriquezzo thought for over a minute but decided to send his cards to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,000,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,700,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Eric Salazar just limped in on the button and Ryan Eriquezzo checked his option. The dealer fanned the flop of 
, and Eriquezzo started with a check.
Salazar splashed in a bet of 110,000 and Eriquezzo check-raised to 435,000. Salazar responded with an all in shove for over 1,600,000 and that prompted a snap-fold from Eriquezzo.
Salazar scooped the pot and climbed back over the 20 big blind mark after slipping the past couple of hands.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,500,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,200,000
100,000
|
100,000 |