Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em
Day 5 Completed
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 5
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$5,592,600
Entries
6,214
Level
41
Blinds
800,000 / 1,600,000
Ante
1,600,000
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Joseph Cheong just won the first bracelet of his career in Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em of the 50th Annual World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Cheong takes home the first-place prize of $687,782 for his victory after defeating a four-figure field of 6,214 players, putting him at over $6,300,000 in total earnings at the World Series of Poker.
With multiple previous victories including a third place finish in the 2010 WSOP Main Event for over four million, today was just a regular day for Cheong.
“I have been playing poker for so long, it was just another day at work.”
Cheong had a decent stack during most of the tournament and managed to get closer to the top of the leaderboard when things mattered most, eventually bagging a massive chip lead for the final day with 100 big blinds in the bag. He was responsible for four eliminations at the final table.
With tons of experience, multiple final tables, three Circuit rings, and a massive chip lead, Cheong didn’t need much preparation for the final day.
“Me and my friends shared a bottle of wine, I slept really late, yep, that was my preparation.”
Day 5 started with 6 players returning to the felt and within the first eight hands, only 3 players were left standing.
Soon after, Cheong eliminated Xu and found himself heads-up against David Ivers. Both of his opponents played their best game and the chip lead was going back and forth between the two of them during most of Day 4. Indeed, Ivers started the official final table as the chip leader.
“I think David (Ivers) was probably the toughest opponent on the table, but Zinan (Xu) played a little different from most grinders, which kinda threw me off a lot. So, he was probably the most dangerous opponent for me,” Cheong said.
When the heads-up portion of play started, Cheong had over a 3 to 1 chip lead. He didn’t waste time and quickly started applying pressure, soon extending his lead to an 8 to 1 chip advantage. Ivers managed to find a double when he was down to 18 bigs with tens against Cheon’s sixes in an all-in preflop situation to get the stacks back to the starting point. However, that didn’t last long as Cheong quickly won his chips back and it was all over when Cheong moved all with king-jack and Ivers made the call with ace-three for his last 15 blinds. Cheong flopped a king and that was it for Ivers' tournament life.
As for Cheong, he doesn't plan on taking a break. Indeed, he's going straight back to the grind.
“I am jumping into the bounty tournament immediately, okay, maybe a bathroom break and a beer before I’ll jump in.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph Cheong | United States | $687,782 |
| 2 | David Ivers | United States | $424,791 |
| 3 | Zinan Xu | China | $314,875 |
| 4 | Andrea Buonocore | Italy | $235,099 |
| 5 | Arianna Son | United States | $176,820 |
| 6 | Ido Ashkenazi | United States | $133,970 |
| 7 | David Guay | United States | $102,258 |
| 8 | Ivan Deyra | France | $78,638 |
| 9 | Brock Wilson | United States | $60,930 |
Final Table Action
Brock Wilson was the first casualty of the final table when David Ivers jammed on the cutoff with jack-seven and Wilson made the call with his last twelve bigs with ace-queen. The flop brought a jack and that was it for Wilson’s fantastic run.
Ivan Deyra was next to go when he three-bet shoved his last twelve bigs from the big blind with sixes and got called by Cheong with king queen. Cheong flopped a king and Deyra couldn’t recover and headed to the rail instead in 8th place.
He was followed to the rail by David Guay in 7th place. David Guay was extremely short. He shoved his last 4 blinds with after flopping bottom pair from the big blind only to be snap-called by David Ivers who held jacks. The turn and river bricked and that was the end of Guay’s tournament life.
Ido Ashkenazi was eliminated on the very first of the final day. He jammed his last twelve bigs with ace-jac from the hijack and got snap-called by Cheong who held jacks. The board was of no help to him and he was eliminated in 6th place.
Arianna Son headed to the exit in 5th place. She was all in for her last 7 big blinds with queen-jack suited against David Ivers’ nine-deuce. Ivers hit a nine on the flop and Son couldn’t recover.
The very next hand, Andrea Buonocore became Iver’s next victim. Buonocore called a shove from Ivers with queen-ten against Iver’s king-jack. The flop was jack-high and this ended the italian’s deep run.
Zinan Xu was sent to the payout desk in 3rd place. Xu was the shortest stack during the three-handed portion of play and put up a strong fight. However, it all ended for him in a post-flop situation when he called a shove from Cheong on the river with top pair only to see Cheong’s two pair.
With Cheong holding more than a 3 to 1 chip advantage against David Ivers, the heads-up portion of play only lasted an hour. Cheong kept chipping up and although Ivers found a double up at some point, Cheong quickly gained his chips back and Ivers chipped down to 15 big blinds. He put his last chips at risk with ace-three after calling a shove from Cheong with king-jack. Cheong flopped a pair of kings and the turn and river bricked for Ivers and he was sent home as the runner-up as Cheong claimed the title.
Other notables to cash include Jack Sinclair (27th place - $23,701), Denis Timofeev ($12,760), Timur Margolin ($12,760), Alexander Ziksin ($10,447) and Marcel Vonk ($7,278).
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Hand #179: Joseph Cheong shoved from the button and David Ivers counted out his stack and then decided to call for the 24,000,000 he had behind.
David Ivers: 
Joseph Cheong: 
The board ran out 
for Cheong to flop a pair of kings and avoid an ace on the turn and river to eliminate Ivers. Ivers was sent to the payout desk as the runner-up for $424,791.
Joseph Cheong wins his first ever bracelet and $687,782. A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
248,000,000
24,000,000
|
24,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Hand #170: David Ivers limped from the small blind and Joseph Cheong checked. The flop came 
and was checked around to the turn. Cheong bet 4,000,000 and Ivers called. The turn was the 
and Cheong continued with a bet of 12,000,000. Ivers folded.
Hand #171: Cheong limped from the small blind and Ivers checked. The dealer spread a flop of 
. Ivers checked. Cheong bet 2,500,000 and Ivers folded.
Hand #172: Ivers limped from the small blind and Cheong checked. The flop was 
and Cheong checked. Ivers threw in a bet of 2,000,000 that was enough to claim the pot.
Hand #173: Cheong limped from the small blind and Ivers moved all in. Cheong folded.
Hand #174: Ivers limped from the small blind and Cheong checked. On a flop of 
, Cheong check-called a bet of 2,000,000 from Ivers. The turn was the and was checked to the 
river. Again both players checked. Cheong showed 
and Ivers mucked.
Hand #175: Cheong limped and Ivers checked. The flop came 
and Ivers check-called a bet of 2,500,000 from Cheong. The turn brought the 
and Ivers checked once more. Cheong bet 7,000,000 and Ivers gave up his hand.
Hand #176: Ivers moved all in from the small blind and Cheong folded.
Hand #177: Cheong limped from the small blind and Ivers checked. The dealer fanned a flop of 
that was checked through to the 
turn and to the river. Both players checked again. Ivers showed 
and Cheong tabled 
to win the pot.
Hand #178: Ivers called on the button and Cheong checked. They both checked through the 
on the flop, the on the turn, and the 
on the river for Cheong to pick up the pot with .
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
224,000,000
17,900,000
|
17,900,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
24,000,000
-17,900,000
|
-17,900,000 |
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Hand #162: David Ivers called on the button and Joseph Cheong checked. They both checked through the 
on the flop to the on the turn. Cheong bet 4,000,000 for Ivers to fold.
Hand #163: Cheong raised to 4,800,000 on the button. Ivers shoved for 45,200,000 for Cheong to fold after checking out Ivers' stack.
Hand #164: Ivers raised to 4,200,000 from the button and Cheong folded.
Hand #165: Cheong called on the button and Ivers opted to check. The flop came 
, Ivers check-raised the 1,600,000 bet of Cheong to 6,200,000 and that was enough for Cheong to give up on his hand.
Hand #166: Ivers called on the button and Cheong checked. The flop came 
, Cheong check-called the 2,000,000 bet of Ivers. They both checked through the on the turn to the on the river. Cheong bet 4,500,000 and Ivers pushed his cards over the line.
Hand #167: Cheong called and Ivers checked. They checked through the 
on the flop and the on the turn to the 
on the river. Ivers bet 3,000,000 and Cheong folded.
Hand #168: Ivers called and Cheong checked. The flop came , Cheong check-folded to the 2,000,000 bet of Ivers.
Hand #169: Cheong raised to 4,800,000 on the button and Ivers three-bet to 15,000,000. Cheong decided to shove to put Ivers at risk who contemplated his options for a while but ended up folding.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
206,100,000
16,100,000
|
16,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
41,900,000
-15,700,000
|
-15,700,000 |
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Hand #154: David Ivers limped from the small blind and Joseph Cheong responded by moving all in from the big blind. Ivers snap-called, putting at risk his last 28,800,000.
David Ivers: 
Joseph Cheong:
The runout was 
and Ivers doubled up.
Hand #155: Cheong raised to 4,800,000 on the button and Ivers folded.
Hand #156: Ivers limped from the small blind and Cheong checked. The flop came 
and Cheong check-called a bet of 2,000,000 from Ivers. The turn was the 
and was checked through to the river. Cheong checked once more. Ivers fired 5,500,000 and Cheong folded.
Hand #157: Cheong limped from the small blind and Ivers checked. The flop was and was checked through to the 
turn and to the river. Both players checked again and Cheong tabled to claim the pot.
Hand #158: Ivers limped from the small blind and Cheong raised to 5,600,000. Ivers folded.
Hand #159: Cheong limped on the button and Ivers checked. The flop came and Ivers check-called a bet of 1,600,000 from Cheong. The turn was the and Ivers checked once more. Cheong continued with a bet of 6,000,000 and Ivers let it go.
Hand #160: Ivers raised to 3,800,000 from the small blind and Cheong moved all in. Ivers folded.
Hand #161: Cheong limped from the small blind and Ivers raised to 5,600,000. Cheong folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
190,000,000
-29,200,000
|
-29,200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
57,600,000
28,800,000
|
28,800,000 |
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Hand #149: Joseph Cheong called on the button and David Ivers opted to check. He then check-called the 2,000,000 bet of Cheong on the flop. They both checked through the on the turn and the on the river for Ivers to pick up the pot with for the flopped pair of sevens.
Hand #150: Ivers called on the button and Cheong checked. The flop came , Cheong check-called the 2,000,000 of Ivers. They both checked through the on the turn to the on the river. Cheong bet 6,000,000 and Ivers called but mucked when Cheong tabled 
for two pair.
Hand #151: Cheong called on the button and Ivers checked. The flop came , Ivers check-folded to the 1,600,000 bet of Cheong.
Hand #152: Ivers called the button and Cheong checked to see the flop. They both checked once more for the 
come on the turn. Cheong bet 4,000,000 for Ivers to let his hand go.
Hand #153: Cheong shoved on the button and Ivers quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
219,200,000
12,640,000
|
12,640,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
28,800,000
-13,200,000
|
-13,200,000 |
Level 41
: 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Hand #144: David Ivers limped from the small blind and Joseph Cheong checked. The dealer spread a flop of that was checked through to the turn. Cheong fired 4,000,000 and Ivers folded.
Hand #145: Cheong raised to 4,800,000 from the small blind and Ivers folded.
Hand #146: Ivers limped from the small blind and Cheong checked. The flop came 
and Cheong checked. Ivers bet 1,600,000 and Cheong check-raised to 4,500,000. Ivers folded.
Hand #147: Cheong limped from the small blind Ivers checked. A flop of 
was dealt and Ivers checked. Cheong threw in a bet of 1,600,000 that was enough to claim the pot.
Hand #148: Ivers limped from the small blind and Cheong checked. On a flop reading , Cheong checked and Ivers bet 2,000,000. Cheong check-called. The turn was the and was checked through to the 
river. Both players opted to check. Ivers showed for a pair of fives and Cheong showed for a pair of tens to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
206,560,000
16,160,000
|
16,160,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
42,000,000
-15,600,000
|
-15,600,000 |
Level: 41
Blinds: 800,000/1,600,000
Ante: 1,600,000
Level 40
: 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Hand #143: Joseph Cheong raised to 2,500,000 on the button and Zinan Xu and David Ivers called in the blinds.
The flop came , both Xu and Ivers check-called the 2,500,000 bet of Cheong.
The turn was the 
, Xu tanked and then bet 10,300,000. Ivers folded immediately but Cheong called after considering it for a few seconds.
The river completed the board with the , Xu check-snap-called when Cheong put him all-in. Cheong flipped over for the rivered two pair while Xu held for just top pair. They shook hands and Xu made his way to his rail to walk to the payout desk together as he finished in third place for $314,875.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
190,400,000
56,300,000
|
56,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
57,600,000
-6,200,000
|
-6,200,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||