John Gorsuch posts amazing win in WSOP Millionaire Maker

Staff Writer, June 14, 2019 12:41 am

Another seven-figure cash has been handed out at the World Series of Poker after John Gorsuch’s amazing comeback win in the Millionaire Maker.

The $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament had an 8,809-player field this year. Gorsuch outlasted them all to claim $1,344,930 and his first WSOP bracelet.

Gorsuch looked like the was going to be the first player out of the nine-player final table. Early on he lost most of his chips when his pocket Jacks were cracked by A-K when another Ace landed on the flop. After losing that hand he was down to less than two big blinds.

How did Gorsuch win Millionaire Maker?

He stayed alive by doubling up immediately when he caught some luck holding 4-5 when a four and a five appeared on the flop. He tripled up not long after that when he made trip nines on the flop while holding pocket nines.

When only six remained heading into the final day of the tournament Gorsuch had climbed up to fourth in chips. Gorsuch still had a lot of work to do, especially against chip leader Kazuchi Ikeuchi. Out of his five opponents on the final day Ikeuchi eliminated three of them on route to heads-up very Gorsuch.

When heads-up play began Ikeuchi had the chip lead with 133.7 million chips to Gorsuch’s 86.8 million. That changed on the second hand of heads-up play.

In that hand with blinds at 1 million/2 million, Ikeuchi started out with a raise to 5 million and Gorsuch re-raised to 17 million. After a call from Ikeuchi the flop showed 2d-5d-Ks. After a 15 million bet from Gorsuch and a call from Ikeuchi the turn card was the 8s.

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Gorsuch went all-in and Ikeuchi called. Gorsuch showed pocket Kings for trips, while Ikeuchi had Kd-3d for a pair and a flush draw. Ikeuchi needed a diamond on the river, but missed it when the Jc fell. Gorsuch doubled up to take the chip lead, which he would never relinquish.

On the final hand Ikeuchi went all-in with pocket Aces and Gorsuch called with Qc-7h and the board showing Ks-9d-Qh. A miracle 7c hit on the turn giving Gorsuch two pair which held up to give him the win.

For second place Ikeuchi cashed $830,783.