Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Day 4 Completed
Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Day 4 Completed
The once raucous Brazilian crowd grew silent as the band of revelers awaited the showdown and then the final card.
"Quads," an excited Murilo Souza mouthed, eyes wide open. "Quads!"
He flipped his hand over and shouted something in Brazilian, no doubt calling for a high card as the only way the tournament would continue would be if Jason Stockfish could find a low card to take half of the Omaha pot.
A nine fell and pandemonium ensued. The Brazilians rushed past the rail and mobbed Souza, creating a mass of humanity pulsing, shouting and spilling drinks all over the floor. Their man had done it. Coming in with zero World Series of Poker cashes, he had claimed his first bracelet in a field of 751 in Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E., winning $207,003.
Official Final Table Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Murilo Souza | Brazil | $207,003 |
2 | Jason Stockfish | United States | $127,932 |
3 | Gary Kosakowski | United States | $89,730 |
4 | Phillip Hui | United States | $63,860 |
5 | Chris Klodnicki | United States | $46,127 |
6 | Alex Dovzhenko | Ukraine | $33,822 |
7 | Joseph Aronesty | United States | $25,181 |
8 | Danny Woolard | United States | $19,040 |
"It's amazing," Souza said through a translator. "They're the best players from Brazil. I've known them for a long time. We've been playing poker together for more than 13 years. Winning here with them watching, I don't even have words to describe it."
The win did not come easy, and it did not come quickly for Souza, who said he plays for a living. When it came time for the last showdown, heads-up play against Stockfish, the war dragged out through six hours �� two late in the night as the calendar turned to Saturday and four more after a noon restart.
Stockfish held the lead for most of the Day 3 portion and Day 4 began with more of the same. Certainly, he came in with the experience edge on the WSOP stage, having already booked a frustrating string of second-place finishes �� one in 2016 and two in 2017. Observers sweating the action had to expect he was the favorite to close it out.
Those in the know �� the Brazilian poker media �� considered Souza to be drawing plenty live, however. According to them, Souza has had plenty of success online and is one of the better mixed-game players from their country.
The match went back and forth, with each player holding at least one large lead. At one point, down to a handful of bets, Souza had his head in his hands as second place loomed.
"It's tough, I lost a lot of chips against a very good opponent heads up," he said. "But, I never lost hope because I knew when I'd be all in I'd have good cards. So, I just played my game and hoped for the best."
To illustrate how large the bets were at the end, Souza was down 6 million to 1.5 just 15 minutes before he won the tournament. When his quads held, the wild celebration kicked off and then Souza stepped away from the crowd and did a quick video call back home, blowing kisses to his family and girlfriend.
It's been a long journey to a bracelet for Souza, who said his love of mixed games began right when he started learning poker. He said he had no materials, he simply watched the top players and then fired up hand replays to try to figure out what they were doing.
He said he hopes to play some satellites for the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. and the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, the latter representing a dream for him.
After winning his first bracelet, Souza is at least one step closer. And one thing is for sure: if he does make it, he'll have plenty of support on the rail.
Omaha Hi-Lo
Jason Stockfish raised on the button and Murilo Souza called in the big blind. The flop came and Souza check-raised. Stockfish reraised. We couldn't catch if there was any more raising on that street but the rest of the money went in on the turn.
Jason Stockfish:
Murilo Souza:
"Quads!" an excited Souza mouthed to his rail as Stockfish slid in his last 400,000 or so.
Souza was fading only a low card and the to set off a raucous celebration.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Murilo Souza |
7,500,000
825,000
|
825,000 |
Jason Stockfish | Busted | |
|
Omaha Hi-Lo
Jason Stockfish completed on the button and big blind Murilo Souza raised to 400,000. He was called and the flop was dealt .
Souza check-raised to two bets on the flop and the turn was the . Souza bet 400,000 and Stockfish called.
The river was the and Souza check-called a 400,000 bet. Souza opened up and that was enough to win the pot against Stockfish who mucked.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Murilo Souza |
6,675,000
775,000
|
775,000 |
Jason Stockfish |
825,000
-775,000
|
-775,000 |
|
Hold'em
Murilo Souza defended big blind and check-raised on . Jason Stockfish called and smiled, saying this is a big one that could decide it. The turn was a and Souza bet. Stockfish called and the river was a . Souza checked and Stockfish bet. Souza flicked in call.
Stockfish showed but Souza had turned a better pair with .
Then, Souza defended his big blind and flopped. Souza check-raised the flop and Stockfish instantly folded.
"Vamooo," Souza yelled, throwing into the middle.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Murilo Souza |
5,900,000
2,900,000
|
2,900,000 |
Jason Stockfish |
1,600,000
-2,900,000
|
-2,900,000 |
|
Stud Hi-Lo
Murilo Souza brought in with the and Jason Stockfish completed to 200,000. Souza then raised to 400,000 and Stockfish clicked to 600,000. Souza then put 800,000 in the middle and Stockfish called.
All the money got in on the next streets.
Stockfish ended up with and Souza had open and still had one down card. He already had a lock on the low but he caught the on seventh to get a full double up with a wheel.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jason Stockfish |
4,500,000
-1,500,000
|
-1,500,000 |
|
||
Murilo Souza |
3,000,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
Stud Hi-Lo
Jason Stockfish just put a big dent in Murilo Souza's stack. He won a big stud hand where he ended up with . Souza was playing for a lesser two pair.
Stockfish stood up from his chair to high five his friends on the rail while he is back in the lead again.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jason Stockfish |
6,000,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
||
Murilo Souza |
1,500,000
-1,800,000
|
-1,800,000 |
Stud
Jason Stockfish and Murilo Souza were checking down with each player sporting an ace-high board.
Jason Stockfish: /
Murilo Souza: /
Finally, Souza bet sixth and seventh. Stockfish called both streets and Souza announced one pair, throwing the in. Stockfish tabled and took the pot.
Stud Hi-Lo
Then, Souza completed with the and Stockfish made it two bets with . Souza called and paired up on fifth as he called down. Still, he allowed Stockfish to continue betting and Stockfish paired his door card.
Jason Stockfish: /
Murilo Souza: /
Upon facing a bet with two jacks showing, Souza gave it up and conceded the lead.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jason Stockfish |
4,200,000
2,800,000
|
2,800,000 |
|
||
Murilo Souza |
3,300,000
-2,800,000
|
-2,800,000 |
Stud
Murilo Souza: /
Jason Stockfish: /
Murilo Souza brought in and Jason Stockfish completed. Stockfish kept in the betting lead throughout the entire hand and bet on fourth and also called a raise. He kept betting until sixth where he slowed down and check-called. Both checked on the river.
Souza had in front of him and Stockfish had .
Souza said ''a pair of aces'' and that was enough when he opened .
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Murilo Souza |
6,100,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
Jason Stockfish |
1,400,000
-1,000,000
|
-1,000,000 |
|
Razz
Murilo Souza completed with a against a and Jason Stockfish raised. They got most of Stockfish's chips in and then the rest on fourth.
Murilo Souza: /
Jason Stockfish: /
Stockfish's board ran better with a on sixth that left Souza drawing dead after he was dealt .
Then, Stockfish defended with the against a . It was Stockfish catching better and betting fourth and fifth, then sixth.
Jason Stockfish: /
Murilo Souza: /
Souza gave it up at that point.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Murilo Souza |
5,100,000
-1,700,000
|
-1,700,000 |
Jason Stockfish |
2,400,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
|