Just six players entered the final day of Event #3: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, and Brandon Shack-Harris emerged from the short-handed sit-and-go to lift the bracelet and claim the $205,634 first-place prize.
To get there, the Chicago native had to contend with some heavy hitters, including two-time bracelet winner Steve "MrSmokey1" Billirakis, who entered the day with a sizable chip lead. He ended up busting fourth after being unable to get anything going today. Another notable bowing out today was ANZ Player of the Year Iori Yogo. The Japanese player kept it pretty snug today until he busted in third shortly after three-betting a button raise, only to have eventual runner-up Morgan Popham wake up with a dominating hand behind him.
Shack-Harris had to get lucky on the last hand, as he got it in with only to see Popham turn over the for the cooler. Shack-Harris flopped nothing, but he managed to backdoor a broadway straight to secure the title.
In total, Shack-Harris outlasted a record-setting field of 1,128 runners to claim his first bracelet. He more than doubled his career live tournament winnings ($141,980), and some of that money will surely find its way onto the mixed-game tables that Shack-Harris is best known for playing.
Thanks for tuning in to coverage of Event #3 here at PokerNews.
Hand 149: Shack-Harris raised to 80,000, and Popham potted to 240,000. Shack-Harris repotted to 720,000, and Popham shoved all in for 935,000 total. Shack-Harris called.
Shack-Harris:
Popham:
Popham was in great shape with aces, even covering Shack-Harris' dangler. The flop was clean: . A turn brought a straight draw for Shack-Harris, but Popham held a blocker. Nonetheless, the peeled off, giving Shack-Harris a straight and the bracelet.
Hand 137: Shack-Harris raised to 60,000, and Morgan Popham defended. Both players checked the flop, leading to a turn. Popham fired 90,000 and was called. The finished the board out, and Popham bet 225,000. Shack-Harris thought for a bit before announcing a call.
Popham turned over for a turned straight. Shack-Harris showed for a set before mucking his hand.
Hand 138: Shack-Harris got a walk.
Hand 139: Shack-Harris called, and Popham checked. Both players checked to the river, when the board read . Popham check-folded to 60,000 on the end.
Hand 140: Popham min-raised and was quickly called. A wet flop hit the board, and Shack-Harris check-folded to 60,000.
Hand 141: Shack-Harris raised to 60,000, and the two players saw an flop. Popham checked, Shack-Harris bet 60,000, and Popham called. A fourth heart, the , found the felt, and two checks ensued. The hit the river, and Popham bet 140,000 to take the pot.
Hand 124: Iori Yogo called off his last 20,000 on the button, Morgan Popham completed the blind, and Brandon Shack-Harris checked. The two active players checked it down as the board came . Shack-Harris showed for a king-high flush. Yogo briefly revealed his hand, as per rules, but the dealer quickly mucked and we didn't see his holding.
Hand 97: Steve Billirakis opened to 50,000 only to have Brandon Shack-Harris pot from the big blind to 162,000. After a few moments of deliberation, Billirakis made the call. The dealer fanned a flop and Shack-Harris announced a bet of pot totaling 336,000.
Billirakis went into the tank as he sat with just a big blind more than Shack-Harris' bet. After about two minutes Billarikis moved all in for 360,000 and Shack-Harris made the call.
Billirakis:
Shack-Harris:
With Billirakis holding an inside wrap, the turn then brought the to give him a plethora of outs for any eight, seven, six, four, or two for the win.
Unfortunately for the two-time WSOP bracelet winner, the river landed the and he was sent to the rail in 4th place for a $57,785 payday.
Steve Billirakis may not be a household name, but he is surely the most experienced player at the final table of the $1,000 PLO event. In 2007 he made WSOP history by winning the $5,000 World Championship Mix Hold’em Limit/No-Limit event after beating Canadian poker pro Greg Mueller heads-up. By doing so, he became the then-youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history, having won the event only 11 days after his 21st birthday.
PokerNews' Pamela Maldonado spoke to Billirakis during the break of four-handed action moments ago.
How do you feel about playing down to six players instead of stopping at the final nine last night?
It doesn’t matter to me. I was happy about it because I just want to play and get it over with as soon as possible. Starting with six or starting with nine doesn’t affect me at all. I’m comfortable with a full table and with playing short-handed. Plus, I’m sure the WSOP had a good reason for breaking it the way they did.
Did the break give you time to reflect your play and adjust your strategy?
During my breaks I don’t really think too much about my play. I try to relax and give myself those few minutes to clear my mind. Coming back from break though I’ll continue to play tight, hopefully make some good hands and try to advance to heads-up. Getting lucky will help this late in the game.
Your last WSOP final table came in 2011 when you made two final tables, and you bubbled a third. Then you won in Europe that same year. How does it feel to be back?
It feels really good to be back. I took a year off last year and now I feel really good about my tournament game. I think it’s strong and I’m playing really well. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
The crew is back for another episode of the PokerNews Podcast from the 45th annual World Series of Poker. Jason Somerville talks about his 18th-place finish in the $1,000 buy-in pot-limit Omaha event, and the crew discusses the Jason Mo vs. Vanessa Selbst heads-up match along with Darren Elias' affinity for North Faces and the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Hand 70: Matthew Ryan opened the cutoff to 70,000 only to have Morgan Popham three-bet to 210,000 from the button. Ryan committed his 220,000 total and Popham called.
Ryan:
Popham:
The board of didn't help Ryan improve as he was sent to the rail in 5th place for a $42,658 cash.
Hand 45: Robert Paddock kicked it off with a raise to 32,000 and Steve Billirakis defended his big blind to see a flop fall.
Billirakis checked and Paddock continued for 38,000 before Billirakis announced a raise of pot. Paddock committed his 175,000 total and the cards were tabled.
Billirakis:
Paddock:
With Paddock at risk with his nut-flush draw and wrap, the turn and river would bring the and to see Billirakis' two pair hold and send Paddock to the rail in 6th place for a $31,978 payday.
[user80015]
Brandon Shack-Harris and chip leader Steve Billirakis
Welcome back to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and the 2014 World Series of Poker for Day 3 of Event #3: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha.
Two days ago a record-setting field of 1,128 (for a non hold'em event) took to the felt before the day would end with just 106 remaining as players just reached the money late on the first day. With players already guaranteed nearly a $2,000 payday, the aim for this talented group of players remaining would be to navigate their way up the pay jumps before making a run at the final table.
Ashton Griffin (101st), AP Phahurat (96th), Doug Polk (88th), Humberto Brenes (77th), Hoyt Corkins (41st), Maria Ho (40th), Phil Laak (39th), Jesse Yaginuma (33rd), Leif Force (28th), Gabriel Nassif (24th), Jason Somerville (18th), Greg Merson (14th) and John O'Shea (12th) were among those sent to the rail throughout the course of the day. Then Stephen Chidwick became the final table bubble boy in 10th place when his couldn't improve on an ace-high flop against Loren Klein's .
With the final table of nine set and Steve Billirakis holding a slight chip lead over Brandon Shack-Harris, play would continue for roughly another hour as Nick Guagenti (9th), Klein (8th) and Patrick Arena (7th) were all eliminated to leave just six players eyeing their first WSOP gold bracelet of the series.
Final Table Line-Up
Seat
Player
Chip Count
1
Robert Paddock
250,000
2
empty
--
3
Matt Ryan
604,000
5
Morgan Popham
303,000
4
empty
--
6
Brandon Shack-Harris
695,000
7
Steve Billirakis
961,000
8
Iori Yogo
575,000
9
empty
--
With Billirakis holding a strong chip lead, he is definitely a favorite to take down his third WSOP gold bracelet. However with talented mixed-game player Shack-Harris on his heels and ANZ Player of the Year Iori Yogo still in the mix, it could be any of the final six's chance to capture this title.
Stay tuned right here to PokerNews as we will be providing continuous live reporting once play recommences at 1:00 p.m. (PDT) as we look to crown the Event #3: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Champion!
only to see Popham turn over the 
for the cooler. Shack-Harris flopped nothing, but he managed to backdoor a broadway straight to secure the title.
. A 
turn brought a straight draw for Shack-Harris, but Popham held a blocker. Nonetheless, the 
peeled off, giving Shack-Harris a straight and the bracelet.
turn. Popham fired 90,000 and was called. The 
for a turned straight. Shack-Harris showed 
for a set before mucking his hand.
. Popham check-folded to 60,000 on the end.
, found the felt, and two checks ensued. The 
for a king-high flush. Yogo briefly revealed his hand, as per rules, but the dealer quickly mucked and we didn't see his holding.
flop and Shack-Harris announced a bet of pot totaling 336,000.
and he was sent to the rail in 4th place for a $57,785 payday.
to see Billirakis' two pair hold and send Paddock to the rail in 6th place for a $31,978 payday.
couldn't improve on an ace-high flop against Loren Klein's