Event #98: $1,500 The Closer
Day 2 Completed
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #98: $1,500 The Closer
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2024 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$4,292,025
Entries
3,215
Level
42
Blinds
1,200,000 / 2,500,000
Ante
2,500,000
Entries
361
Players Left
1
Level 42
: Blinds 1,200,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
Event $98: $1,500 The Closer has ended after an exciting day of play at the 2024 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Ching Da Wu has emerged as the champion of one of the last bracelet events of the summer series, capturing a bracelet and a cool $525,500 cash. The event drew in 3,215 players, who generated a prize pool of $1,086,690. Only 361 squeaked through to Day 2, and all returning players were guaranteed a $3,001 payday.
Event #98: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold'em Results
| Place | Player | County | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ching Da Wu | Taiwan | $525,500 |
| 2 | Mario Colavita | Italy | $350,370 |
| 3 | Bogdan Munteanu | Romania | $261,170 |
| 4 | John Racener | United States | $196,170 |
| 5 | Stanislav Zegal | Germany | $148,480 |
| 6 | Michael Baltierra | United States | $113,270 |
| 7 | David Cabrera Polop | Andorra | $87,080 |
| 8 | Chad Lipton | United States | $67,480 |
| 9 | Luis Yepez | Venezuela | $52,705 |
| 10 | Mike Matusow | United States | $41,500 |
The tournament's final day unfolded with rapid-fire action as players navigated through two intense table redraws. As the field dwindled to 17 players, the pace of play eased slightly.
One of the most popular players at the table Lexy Gavin-Mather took her leave in 17th place when her nine-ten ran into Ching Da Wu's queens. Everyone applauded Gavin-Mather as she exited. During the game, everyone was talking about strategy and requesting her opinion as an amazing coach and strategic player.
The final table bubble burst dramatically when Michael Baltierra pushed his stack all-in, only to be called by Aaron Mermelstein holding ace-eight in the small blind.
With the ten-handed table redrawn, the action moved to the Events Center's feature table. Mike Matusow, boasting four WSOP bracelets and over $10 million in earnings, was the first to depart, his tournament journey closely documented by filmmaker Frank Zarrillo since the 2021 WSOP.
Luis Yepez from Venezuela followed suit, making a bold move with his short stack by shoving with sevens, only to be bested by Chad Lipton.
Lipton's journey ended in eighth place, falling victim to Bogdan Munteanu in a raising battle that saw Munteanu hit the board hard.
David Cabrera Polop of Andorra faced a similar fate in seventh place, his hopes dashed when Munteanu found a lucky queen on the board.
The sixth-place finisher, Michael Baltierra, affectionately known as "Ballz" by his cheering poker club from Central Valley, California, exited the tournament with pocket sixes in a hand against Ching Da Wu. Post-elimination, Baltierra planned a well-deserved massage to unwind with his winnings from the night.
Stanislav Zegal from Germany was knocked out in fifth place. Zegal won the 2023 WSOP Paradise Event #10: $5,000 Main Event Championship for $2 million but couldn't capture his second piece of WSOP hardware in this event.
In fourth place was the 25K Fantasy Draft player John "Spikey" Racener, the runner-up in the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event, and a player with two bracelets. Racener had enjoyed a very successful summer at the 2024 WSOP, securing a bracelet in Event #19: $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship (8-Handed) and making three additional final tables, the most recent being Event #91: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed), where he finished second.
There turned out to be no heads-up action as Wu managed to knock out both final opponents in one hand. He slow-played aces to encourage action, and it worked. He eliminated Munteanu from Romania in third place and Mario Colavita from Italy in second place.
Winner��s Interview
After his victory, Wu was still in shock and battling lingering nerves. He felt compelled to express his gratitude, starting with his steadfast wife, Jessie Chen, who had unwaveringly supported his decisions in poker and life. He also credited his parents for their encouragement in pursuing studies and work abroad. He extended heartfelt thanks to his poker comrades, particularly his mentor, Justin Chu.
The thrill of winning the bracelet and the prize money was heightened by Wu's strategic use of Hendon Mob Database during the game, during which he discovered his opponents' impressive credentials. Despite being relatively new to the poker scene, with only a few previous World Series of Poker (WSOP) appearances without notable results, Wu admitted to moments of self-doubt regarding his skills and abilities.
Originally from Taiwan, Wu was vacationing in Las Vegas to pursue more WSOP tournaments while navigating the complexities of obtaining a green card to reside permanently in the United States. Despite regulatory hurdles that briefly paused his plans, Wu dedicated himself to honing his game through intensive study, training videos, and collaborative sessions with his poker peers. His victory over 3,215 competitors was a testament to his perseverance, although he remained introspective about areas where he could improve.
Despite his success, Wu affirmed his commitment to his primary profession as a software engineer in California, ensuring that poker remained a cherished recreational pursuit rather than a full-time endeavor. Reflecting on his achievement, Wu described winning the bracelet as a profound honor and the entire experience as nothing short of exhilarating.
When asked about the turning point in the tournament where he felt like he was going to win, he was proud of the last hand where he coaxed one of the opponents into moving all in after he flat called the other opponent's all-in and he held pocket aces.
Be sure to keep it here as PokerNews will be on hand to provide live updates for tournaments from around the world.
Level 42
: Blinds 1,200,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
Out of a field of 3,215 entrants, Ching Da Wu was crowned as the winner of Event #98: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold'em. He wins his first ever WSOP bracelet and $525,500.
A full recap will follow shortly.
Level 42
: Blinds 1,200,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
Mario Colavita raised to 5,000,000 on the button and Ching Da Wu called from the small blind. Bogdan Munteanu thought it over briefly from the big blind before squeezing all in for 39,400,000. Colavita then shoved himself for 53,000,000 and Wu snap-called with the covering stack.
Mario Colavita: A?10? 
Bogdan Munteanu: K?Q?
Ching Da Wu :A?A?
If Wu could hold with his pocket aces he would be the winner of the event. The flop of 2?8?4? meant only running cards could help Colavita and Munteanu survive. The 6? turn and 4? river spelled the end for Munteanu in third and Colavita in second.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
160,750,000
100,250,000
|
100,250,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
Level 42
: Blinds 1,200,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
Mario Colavita open-shoved from the small blind for 27,800,000. Ching Da Wu in the big blind asked for the count, got up out of his seat and, after some thinking, made the call.
Mario Colavita: A?3?
Ching Da Wu: K?10?
The dealer dealt out the flop of 4?K?6?, giving Wu the lead.
The turn was the 7? and Colavita needed to pair his ace or find a five for a straight.
The river brought the save in the form of the A?, and Colavita got to stick around once again, now almost even in chips with Wu.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
60,500,000
-35,500,000
|
-35,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
58,000,000
40,000,000
|
40,000,000 |
Level 42
: Blinds 1,200,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
In a crazy three-way all in pot John Racener received the short end of the stick and was eliminated. Ching Da Wu raised to 5,000,000 and Racener moved all in from the button for 22,000,000 and Bogdan Munteanu folded in the small blind. Mario Colavita then four-bet all in with the most chips from the big blind and Wu called.
John Racener: 9?9?
Ching Da Wu: K?K?
Mario Colavita: A?Q?
The board ran out with 10?3?6?J?4? and Wu got the best of it with top pair kings, Racener was eliminated and Colavita's chips were decimated.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
96,000,000
61,300,000
|
61,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
46,000,000
-8,200,000
|
-8,200,000 |
|
|
18,000,000
-41,000,000
|
-41,000,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level: 42
Blinds: 1,200,000/2,500,000
Ante: 2,500,000
Level 41
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
When it folded to Mario Colavita in the small blind he raised to put Stanislav Zegal all-in in the big blind. Zegal only had 1,100,000 chips behind and put in the call.
Stanislav Zegal: 7?4?
Mario Colavita :Q?3?
The runout out of J?2?7?3?3? meant Colavita had caught running threes to make trips and send Zegal to the rail in fifth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
59,000,000
14,000,000
|
14,000,000 |
|
|
54,200,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
34,700,000
-12,500,000
|
-12,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
14,700,000
-11,300,000
|
-11,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 41
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Hand 1
After losing the hand against Mario Colavita, Stanislav Zegal started the hand with just 6,200,000 chips. Mario Dolavita raised from the button to 6,000,000 and Zegal called. Ching Da Wu in the big blind also called.
The flop came 10?8?7? and got checked by all players. The turn was the 9? and Zegal and Wu checked again. Dolavita then bet 6,000,000 and Zegal, who only had 200,000 left behind, folded, as did Wu.
Hand 2
On the next hand, John Racener raised to 4,000,000 and it folded to Zegal, who put in his last 200,000, which represented 10% of a big blind. The blinds folded and Zegal and Racener were heads-up all in.
Stanislav Zegal: Q?10?
John Racener: Q?10?
The chop was the most likely outcome for this hand and the board Q?10?7?7?3? made it happen. Zegal was able to pick up half the big blind ante along with the double-up of his chips and was at 1,400,000.
Hand 3
Zegal folded the next hand, but went all in again when he was under the gun. Bogdan Munteanu called the small blind and Dolavita checked his option.
Neither Munteanu nor Dolavita bet on any street on the board of 3?5?A?3?3?, and they had to show down on the river.
Stanislav Zegal: K?3?
Bogdan Munteanu: 10?8?
Mario Dolavita: 10?2?
Munteanu and Dolavita chopped the side pot, while Zegal picked up the 6,200,000 main pot with his quads.
Hand 4
The next hand, Zegal had to post 4,000,000 for both the big blind and ante, and had only 2,200,000 behind. John Racener raised from the cutoff and it folded to Zegal in the big blind. Zegal and Racener put it all in.
Stanislav Zegal: K?6?
John Racener: A?Q?
The board was K?9?K?7?8? and Zegal won again to get from one-tenth of a big blind back to 11,200,000 - or six big blinds.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,200,000
7,200,000
|
7,200,000 |
|
|
||
Level 41
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Mario Colavita raised to 4,000,000 from the hijack and Bogdan Munteanu called out of the big blind.
The action checked all the way down on the board of 5?5?7?Q?J?. Munteanu showed K?6? for king-high and was second best to the A?10? of Colavita for ace-high.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
53,700,000
700,000
|
700,000 |
|
|
45,000,000
16,000,000
|
16,000,000 |