Saturday, June 1, 2024 8:50 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 3 hours ago)
John Hennigan Captures Seventh Bracelet in Event #7: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice
Event #7: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice has come to a close here at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. It took just over six hours for a winner to emerge from ten hopefuls who made it to the final day.
After the dust had settled, mixed game legend John Hennigan was the last player standing, last-defeating Robert Wells after a brief heads-up duel. With the win, Hennigan became only the ninth player to capture a seventh WSOP gold bracelet.
“It’s Interesting to know, I guess, just like any other number” Hennigan commented when asked about the accolade. “Very happy to win the tournament. I mean to me, the best thing about winning the tournament is not losing it. Not getting second, or knowing they’re still playing and wandering around after you go broke. It’s just very satisfying to come out on top.”
Event #7: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | John Hennigan | United States | $138,296 |
| 2 | Robert Wells | United Kingdom | $90,339 |
| 3 | Peter Gelencser | Hungary | $60,343 |
| 4 | Viktor Blom | Sweden | $41,237 |
| 5 | Brayden Gazlay | United States | $28,845 |
| 6 | Clint Wolcyn | United States | $20,665 |
| 7 | Ryan Pedigo | United States | $15,182 |
Winner’s Reaction
Hennigan quickly took the chip lead once the final table was set and never lost it en route to victory. The Poker Hall of Famer mentioned how comfortable he was navigating the rest of the tournament from the top of the chip counts.
“I had a similar experience at PokerGO, like two months ago, where I just had a huge chip lead, and every hand just played themselves. It was very easy. You know, this tournament was similar to that. When you have a monster chip lead, it’s a pretty simple game.”
With 21 games to choose from Hennigan described how playing to his strengths was a big part of his strategy in terms of the games he selected.
“I don’t really think too much about that. I just played stud because it’s the game I’m best at. And frankly, you know, these guys are not young. But the younger people are, the less that they played (stud). It’s undoubtedly my best game, and it’s probably low on their list. So I just picked stud, and frankly, I’ve always been lucky in that game, too, so I seem to win every pot.”
The win marks the smallest buy-in event in which Hennigan has ever won a bracelet. The majority of his wins have come in events with a buy-in of $10,000 or higher.
“I normally don’t (play $1,500 events), but, you know, I just happened to jump in this one. It was a pretty lucky coincidence, actually. I usually just stick with the ten because I don’t want to burn myself out too much, but I guess I’ll be in the mix for player of the year now. So get ready for the burn.”
Final Day Highlights
The action got off to a quick start after Hennigan scored a double knockout in the first level of the day to send off Venkata Tayi and Lawrence Brandt. Six-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb was left with crumbs shortly afterwards in a Badeucy hand that saw most of his chips get split between Viktor Blom and start of day chip leader Clint Wolcyn. Deeb quadrupled up right after but was still short, and it did not take long before he was eliminated in eighth-place on the final table bubble.
Shaun Deeb
The Final Table
Wolcyn entered the final table with the chip lead, but Hennigan was right behind him. In one of the first hands of the final table, Hennigan took down a four-way Triple Draw pot to take the lead, which he would hold on to all the way until the end of the tournament.
Ryan Pedigo became the first final table casualty after losing most of his chips to Blom in Triple Draw before Hennigan took the rest of it in Stud. It took just under two hours before Pedigo was followed out the door by Wolcyn, who had taken some big hits from Blom and Wells to fall from the top of the counts to the middle of the pack. Brayden Gazlay then got the better of Wolcyn in a massive Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better hand to send off the start of day chip leader.
Hennigan began to significantly extend his chip lead over the rest of the field following the elimination of Wolcyn and, at one point, held more than three-quarters of the total chips in play with five remaining. In one notable hand during this period, Blom started with rolled up kings in a hand of Stud-8 only for Hennigan to make a full house on seventh street to leave the online legend short. Blom managed to outlast Gazlay who was knocked out in fifth by Hennigan before he fell in fourth place at the hands of Peter Gelencser.
Viktor Blom
Gelencser began three-handed play as the shortest stack and was next to fall after flopping top pair in Omaha, only for Hennigan to show up with the better kicker and turn two pair. That hand left Hennigan with nearly a 6:1 chip advantage going into heads-up play versus Wells. Hennigan switched from choosing Stud to No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw once heads-up play began and made short work of Wells, who could not close the gap and was ultimately eliminated after running his pat jack-ten into Hennigan’s pat jack-nine.
John Hennigan Wins 7th WSOP Bracelet
This concludes our coverage of this event, but stay tuned to PokerNews for continuing coverage throughout the rest of the 55th World Series of Poker from here at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Saturday, June 1, 2024 7:23 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 5 hours ago)
The Poker Hall of Famer Keeps Building His Legacy
Saturday, June 1, 2024 7:21 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 5 hours ago)
Robert Wells Eliminated in 2nd Place ($90,339)
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
John Hennigan moved all in from the button and Robert Wells, who was very short-stacked, made the call and was at risk. Both players stood pat.
Wells had for a jack-ten low but Hennigan turned over for a jack-nine low to take the final pot of the night.
| John Hennigan | 13,250,000 | 750,000  |
| Robert Wells | 0 | -750,000  |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 7:00 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 5 hours ago)
Hennigan Widens the Gap
No-Limit 2-7 Draw
John Hennigan raised to 250,000 on the button, Robert Wells three-bet to 700,000 in the big blind, and Hennigan called.
Both players drew one and Wells bet 350,000. Hennigan called.
Wells showed 10-8-7-6-2, but Hennigan had 10-8-5-4-2 to win the first big pot of heads-up.
“Wasn’t a good start,” Wells said.
| John Hennigan | 12,500,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Robert Wells | 750,000 | -1,200,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:54 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 5 hours ago)
Peter Gelencser Eliminated in 3rd Place ($60,343)
Pot-Limit Omaha
Peter Gelencser opened to 280,000 from the button and was called by John Hennigan in the small blind.
The flop came . Hennigan bet enough to put Gelencser all in and Gelencser called to put himself at risk.
Peter Gelencser: [allin]
John Hennigan:
Both players had flopped top pair but Hennigan had the best kicker. The rest of the board ran out giving Hennigan top two pair to take the pot while Gelencser’s deep run came to an end in third place.
| John Hennigan | 11,300,000 | 990,000 |
| Robert Wells | 1,950,000 | 150,000 |
| Peter Gelencser | 0 | -1,500,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:40 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 0
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:38 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Gelencser Commits It All
2-7 Triple Draw
Robert Wells raised on the button, Peter Gelencser three-bet in the small blind, and Wells called.
Both players checked after drawing two. Gelencser took one on the second draw and bet, while Wells called after taking two.
Gelencser stood pat and Wells took one. Gelencser then moved all in and Wells tanked for a moment before folding.
| Robert Wells | 1,800,000 | -500,000 |
| Peter Gelencser | 1,500,000 | 800,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:35 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Wells Scoops Gelencser
Badacey
Robert Wells raised on the button, Peter Gelencser reraised in the small blind, and Wells called.
Gelencser took two and Wells one. Wells then bet and Gelencser called.
Both players drew the same number of cards and checked the second draw. They each drew one on the third draw and Wells bet.
Gelencser called and Wells showed to win the pot.
| Robert Wells | 2,300,000 | 575,000 |
| Peter Gelencser | 700,000 | -630,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:25 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Gelencser Doubles Through Hennigan
Pot-Limit Omaha
John Hennigan opened to 210,000 from the button and Peter Gelencser defended from the big blind.
The flop came . Gelencser checked, Hennigan bet 60,000, Gelencser shoved for 425,000 and Hennigan called to put Gelencser at risk.
Peter Gelencser: [allin]
John Hennigan:
Hennigan was ahead with trip fours until the turn gave Gelencser a full house leaving Hennigan drawing thin. The river was clean for Gelencser who collected a full double up.
| John Hennigan | 10,310,000 | -890,000 |
| Peter Gelencser | 1,330,000 | 780,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:18 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Viktor Blom Eliminated in 4th Place ($41,237)
Badacey
Viktor Blom moved all in for 110,000 under the gun and Peter Gelenscer and John Hennigan came along from the blinds.
Gelencser and Hennigan took three, while Blom drew two. Hennigan then bet and Gelencser folded.
Hennigan patted the last two draws, while Blom took two. Hennigan showed .
“I need a spade,” Blom said, revealing . He caught the on the last draw and chopped the pot.
The next hand, Gelenscer raised on the button and Blom called all in.
Blom took four, while Gelenscer took three. Blom took two on the second draw and Gelencser one, while both players stood pat on the last draw.
Gelenscer turned over for the nut low and a Badugi and Blom mucked on his way to the rail.
| John Hennigan | 11,200,000 | 425,000 |
| Peter Gelencser | 550,000 | 130,000 |
| Viktor Blom | 0 | -350,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:11 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Hennigan Not Slowing Down
Razz
Robert Wells: /
John Hennigan: /
Robert Wells completed and was called by John Hennigan. Both players then checked fourth street.
Wells bet fifth street and was called by Hennigan. After Wells paired his ace on sixth Hennigan bet and Wells called.
Hennigan bet once more on seventh and was called by Wells. Hennigan’s seven-six low was good at showdown and he continued accumulating chips.
| John Hennigan | 10,775,000 | 775,000 |
| Robert Wells | 1,725,000 | 205,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 6:03 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Brayden Gazlay Eliminated in 5th Place ($28,845)
Omaha 8 or Better
Brayden Gazlay raised under the gun, John Hennigan reraised in the cutoff, and Gazlay called.
The flop came and Hennigan bet. Gazlay called.
Hennigan bet again on the turn, but this time Gazlay raised. Hennigan called and the fell on the river.
Gazlay then moved all in and Hennigan snap-called, turning over for a full house.
“He two-outted me,” Gazlay called out to his rail as he showed for a flopped full house before making his way to the exit.
Hennigan now controls more than 75 percent of the chips in play four-handed.
| John Hennigan | 10,000,000 | 250,000 |
| Brayden Gazlay | 0 | -1,200,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:57 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Hennigan Takes from Gazlay
Limit Omaha 8 or Better
John Hennigan opened from the hijack and Brayden Gazlay defended from the big blind.
The flop came and Gazlay check-called a continuation bet from Hennigan.
Both players then checked the turn and river.
“Ace-high” Gazlay announced.
Hennigan turned over for two pair to take the pot.
| John Hennigan | 9,750,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Brayden Gazlay | 1,200,000 | -200,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:50 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 6 hours ago)
Gazlay Hiding Aces to Leave Blom on Fumes
Seven Card Stud
Brayden Gazlay: / /
Viktor Blom: / /
Viktor Blom completed and Brayden Gazlay called.
Blom bet on fourth and Gazlay called. Gazlay then raised on fifth after Blom bet, and Blom called.
Gazlay turned over and committed his last 95,000 even though Blom had not yet acted on sixth. Blom eventually called and showed for queens and tens.
Blom caught the on seventh, while Gazlay finished with to win the pot with his aces and threes and double up.
| Brayden Gazlay | 1,400,000 | 450,000 |
| Viktor Blom | 350,000 | -1,260,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:38 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 7 hours ago)
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 120,000/240,000
Ante: 0
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:23 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 7 hours ago)
Break
The remaining five players are now on a 15-minute break.
| John Hennigan | 8,650,000 | 75,000 |
| Viktor Blom | 1,610,000 | 335,000 |
| Robert Wells | 1,520,000 | 695,000 |
| Brayden Gazlay | 950,000 | 25,000 |
| Peter Gelencser | 420,000 | -680,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:22 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 7 hours ago)
Blom’s Rolled Up Kings Go Down in Flames
Stud 8 or Better
John Hennigan: / /
Viktor Blom: / /
John Hennigan completed, Viktor Blom three-bet and Hennigan called.
Both players checked fourth street. On fifth Blom bet, Hennigan raised and Blom called.
Hennigan bet sixth street, Blom raised it to two big bets and Hennigan called.
On seventh street Hennigan bet once more and was called by Blom.
Neither player had a low. Blom had started with trip kings but had not improved while Hennigan had made a full house on seventh. Blom could only watch as Hennigan dragged in a colossal pot.
| John Hennigan | 8,575,000 | 1,075,000 |
| Viktor Blom | 1,275,000 | -25,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:17 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 7 hours ago)
Hennigan Raises Gelencser on the River
No-Limit Hold’em
John Hennigan raised to 115,000 in the cutoff and Peter Gelencser called in the big blind.
The flop came and Hennigan bet 75,000. Gelencser called and both players checked the turn.
Gelencser led out for 180,000 on the river and Hennigan raised to 700,000. Gelencser folded.
| John Hennigan | 7,500,000 | 0 |
| Peter Gelencser | 1,100,000 | -1,075,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:08 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 7 hours ago)
Rough Round of Stud for Gazlay
Seven Card Stud
Brayden Gazlay: / – folded fifth street
Peter Gelencser: /
Peter Gelencser completed and received a call from Brayden Gazlay in the bring in.
Gelencser bet fourth and was called by Gazlay. On fifth street Gelencser bet again and this time Gazlay opted to fold.
Seven Card Stud
Brayden Gazlay: / – folded fifth street
Viktor Blom: /
The very next hand saw Viktor Blom complete and Gazlay call from the bring in. In a similar situation to the previous hand, Blom bet fourth and fifth streets. Gazlay called on fourth and folded on fifth leaving himself short-stacked.
| Peter Gelencser | 2,175,000 | 475,000 |
| Viktor Blom | 1,300,000 | 200,000 |
| Brayden Gazlay | 925,000 | -375,000 |
Saturday, June 1, 2024 5:06 PM Local Time (about 54 days and 7 hours ago)
David Coleman & Daniel Negreanu Among Early $25K Point Leaders
David Coleman
The 2024 WSOP is only five days in, but already there have been some moves and shakers in the $25K Fantasy League.
As of this writing, David Coleman is the top point earner with 42 points thanks to a sixth-place finish in Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion NLH Freezeout for $69,231. That’s great value for Team The Dinkers (Josh Kay & the Florida crew) as they bought him for just $3 in the draft, meaning Coleman is putting up 14 points per dollar (Pts/$).
Not far behind with 39 points is league commissioner Daniel Negreanu, though his points per dollar is a paltry 0.3 Pts/$. Negreanu, who belongs to Team DPMC (defending champs Donnie Peters and Matt Clark) finished 50th in Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion for $9,141 and the following day placed 16th out of 3,485 players in Event #3: $500 WSOP Kickoff NLH Freezeout for $8,541.
The best value of the draft so far is Team Lady Gaga’s (Ren Lin) Qiang Xu, who they bought for a dollar. Xu, who won a bracelet at the 2023 WSOP, has 35 points (35 pts/$.) thanks to 37th-place finish in Event #3 for $4,596.
$25K Fantasy Points Leaders (as of 6/1/24)
| Rank | Player | Team | Score | Salary | Cashes | Pts/$ |
| 1. | David Coleman | Team The Dinkers | 42 | 3.00 | 1 | 14 |
| 2. | Daniel Negreanu | Team DPMC | 39 | 132.00 | 2 | 0.3 |
| 3. | Qiang Xu | Team Lady Gaga | 35 | 1.00 | 1 | 35 |
| 4. | Shaun Deeb | Team Lady Gaga | 21 | 104.00 | 2 | 0.2 |
| 5. | Ben Yu | Team Baker | 14 | 67.00 | 1 | 0.21 |
| 6. | Brian Rast | Team The Dinkers | 12 | 37.00 | 1 | 0.32 |
| 6. | Aram Zobian | Team Wilson | 12 | 7.00 | 1 | 1.71 |
| 6. | Chris Hunichen | Team Kalas | 12 | 15.00 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 9. | Jeff Madsen | Team AJ’s Eagles | 10 | 1.00 | 1 | 10 |
| 10. | Yingui Li | Team Lady Gaga | 4 | 1.00 | 3 | 4 |
Team Lady Gaga is out to an early lead in the league with 61 points, though Team The Dinkers are close behind with 58 points. Team DPMC sits with a respectable 39 points, while Team Baker (David “ODB” Baker) is next closest with 17 points. On the other end of the spectrum, a trio of teams sit with a single point, though Team Sepiol (Dan Sepiol) is in dead last with zero points.
Click here for more coverage on the $25K Fantasy!
