€5,200 8-Game
Day 1 Completed
2024 PokerStars EPT Barcelona
€5,200 8-Game
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2024 PokerStars EPT Barcelona
Buy-in
€5,200
Prize Pool
€87,300
Entries
18
Level
19
Limits
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
0
Entries
18
Players Left
1
Level 19
: Limits 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000/20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
The €5,200 8-Game is a relatively new addition to PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) stops. It usually attracts small, but strong, fields, and this time at EPT Barcelona it was no different. A total of 18 entries showed up at Casino Barcelona to create a prize pool of €87,300. Eventually, David Dongwoo Ko took home the title, his first-ever PokerStars trophy, and €37,550 for his efforts.
He defeated Triple Crown winner Mike Watson heads up well into the Mediterranean night, with the tournament being closed out at 1:30 a.m. local time. Watson was awarded a consolation prize of €23,550, while mixed games wizard Benny Glaser (3rd - €15,700) and poker veteran Vladimir Troyanovskiy (4th - €10,500) also cashed in the event.
EPT Barcelona €5,200 8-Game Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Dongwoo Ko | Canada | €37,550 |
| 2 | Mike Watson | Canada | €23,550 |
| 3 | Benny Glaser | United Kingdom | €15,700 |
| 4 | Vladimir Troyanovskiy | Russia | €10,500 |
Winner's Reaction
"It feels amazing to win," Ko shared shortly after the tournament had ended, "but I'm still sick of busting the Main Event." Ko only entered the 8-Game because he fired two unsuccessful bullets in the Main Event, a decision he would not regret.
"I've only been playing mixed games for a couple of months, I'm getting sick of no-limit hold'em," Ko explained. "Since there is no mixed in Canada, I try to play as much as possible elsewhere."
When asked about his competition, Ko had nothing but great things to say about his fellow players. "It's fun to play with legends, I mean Benny Glaser and Mike Watson, they are legends. I had a lot of tough spots against Mike heads up, lots of pressure, but I tried to play my own game and I got it done."
Early Action
The tournament knew a slow start, originally getting canceled but eventually starting up 90 minutes later than scheduled with three players. However, the room quickly filled up with three tables in action. That number was quickly brought down as Paul Tedeschi and Kelvin Kerber were among the early eliminations.
Imad Derwiche was the only player to fire two bullets, busting them in quick succession at the early stages of the tournament. After the dinner break, the likes of Dzmitry Urbanovich and Benjamin Pollak departed from the final two tables.
One of the most remarkable storylines of the day was undoubtedly that of Jiaming Zhao. The Chinese player entered the tournament knowing only no-limit hold ’em, with the other seven games being explained to him through translated websites. Seemingly having the time of his life, he gave it his all and even held the chip lead for a considerable amount of time.
Sadly, his valiant efforts ended when he ultimately finished in eighth place as the final table bubble. Once at the final table, short stacks Ivo Bartoletti and Andres Korn quickly fell, the latter of which in a multiway capped razz pot of which Watson was the big winner. Eventually, Finland’s Jyri Merivirta became the bubble boy after first having doubled up the short-stacked Glaser on two separate occasions.
Merivirta threw in his final few chips in a three-way 2-7 triple draw hand, but he drew worst and was the last to exit without money. At that point, Troyanovskiy had less than a big bet remaining, which he lost in the same game as Merivirta. Glaser could not hold on much longer either, failing to double up for the third time at the final table when Ko eliminated him in Omaha hi-lo.
Action of the Day
Throughout the final table, Watson had amassed a huge chip lead, but thanks to Ko’s elimination of Glaser the Canadian duo started the heads up with even stacks. The duel lasted more than an hour, with the lead swinging back and forth between the two players. Eventually, Ko won back-to-back big pots to take a sizable lead. First, he flopped trips in limit hold’em before winning with the better of two eight-lows in 2-7 triple draw.
After that pot, Watson was down to three big bets, which were lost in the same game. Watson had stood pat with a nine-low on the final draw, while Ko drew one. Watson then tossed his final few chips in the middle after the draw and was quickly called by the eight-low of Ko.
A thankful Ko had some kind words for his much-respected opponent before he happily walked home with the trophy and €37,750 in cash. Not too bad of a consolation prize for busting the Main Event, after all.
That concludes PokerNews’ coverage of the €5,200 8-Game, but, with the Main Event in full swing, be sure to check out the reports of the other tournaments happening at EPT Barcelona over at the live reporting hub.
Level 19
: Limits 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000/20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
2-7 Triple Draw
Dongwoo Ko raised his button before Mike Watson three-bet from the big blind. Ko called and drew three cards while Watson only needed two.
Watson then bet, Ko raised, and Watson called. They each drew one card on the second draw, after which Watson led out. Ko called and drew one after Watson had stood pat.
Watson threw in his final 15,000 after the final draw and was snapcalled by Ko. Watson showed 9x8x7x4x2x but it was no good against the 8x7x5x3x2x.
The opponents shook hands and Watson left the tournament area after some complimentary words from Ko
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
900,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 19
: Limits 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000/20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
2-7 Triple Draw
Dongwoo Ko raised the button, Mike Watson three-bet, and Ko called.
Both drew one and Ko called a bet.
On the second draw, both took one again and Ko called another bet.
Both stood pat on the end and Ko snapped off a final bet.
Mike Watson: 8x7x6x3x2x
Dongwoo Ko: 8x6x5x3x2x
Ko had the better eight to drag a big pot and extend his lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
760,000
175,000
|
175,000 |
|
|
140,000
-175,000
|
-175,000 |
|
|
||
Level 19
: Limits 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000/20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
Limit Hold'em
Mike Watson raised his button, Dongwoo Ko reraised in the big blind, and Watson called. On a flop of 10♦7♠10♣, Ko bet and Watson called. Ko bet again on the 6♥ turn, this time being raised by Watson.
Ko called before the 9♠ river was checked down. Ko tabled A♠10♠ for flopped trips and raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
585,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
|
|
315,000
-160,000
|
-160,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 19
Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000/20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000 Ante, 5,000/10,000 Blinds
Level 18
: Limits 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 8,000/15,000, 15,000-30,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
The heads up opponents have been sent on a 5-minute break.
Level 18
: Limits 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 8,000/15,000, 15,000-30,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Limit Hold'em
Dongwoo Ko raised his button and Mike Watson defended the big blind. The flop fell K♦4♠3♣ and Watson check-called a bet from Ko.
The K♣ turn was checked by both before Watson led out on the 10♠ river. Ko snap called, Watson tabled K♥5♣, and Ko quickly disposed of his cards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
475,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
425,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
Level 18
: Limits 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 8,000/15,000, 15,000-30,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Pot-Limit Omaha
Dongwoo Ko opened the button to 20,000 and Mike Watson called.
The 4♥3♠2♣ flop checked through to the K♥ turn. Watson potted for 48,000 and Ko quickly called.
The 10♥ fell on the river. Watson slowed down with a check and Ko took some time before he announced a bet of 86,000. Watson was displeased but he put in the call and got the bad news as Ko showed J♥J♣9♥5♦ for a flush as he raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
525,000
217,000
|
217,000 |
|
|
375,000
-217,000
|
-217,000 |
|
|
||
Level 18
: Limits 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
Limit Flop/Draw: 8,000/15,000, 15,000-30,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 15,000 Completion 15,000-30,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 8,000 Ante, 4,000/8,000 Blinds
Pot-Limit Omaha
Dongwoo Ko raised his button to 16,000 and saw Mike Watson call in the big blind. Watson check-called Ko's bet of 24,000 on the 5♣K♣4♦ flop before he checked again on the 9♥ river.
Ko fired 81,000, after which Watson bet the pot of 342,000, virtually an all-in bet. Ko pondered his options for a few minutes before finding a fold. The pot was shipped to Watson, who regained his two-to-one lead as a result.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
592,000
162,000
|
162,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
308,000
-162,000
|
-162,000 |