Damian Salas wins 2020 WSOP Main Event international tourney

The first half of the 2020 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event has concluded, with Damian Salas outlasting the rest of the final table at the King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.

The international main event was open to poker players outside of the United States on GGPoker. The $10,000 tournament drew 7,221 online players from around the world. When the field was whittled down to nine, the final table convened at the King’s Casino.

The final nine actually became the final eight after one of the final table players, Peiyuan Sun from China, opted out of the in-person portion of the tournament. Sun was automatically awarded ninth place and $75,360.

The first player to be sent to the rail at the final table was Hannes Speiser. He was eliminated by Salas after his Qc-10c did not improve against Salas’ pocket tens. For eighth place he cashed $109,982.

Out in seventh place was Stoyan Obreshkov. Salas also sent him packing after his Ac-10c topped Obreshkov’s Ks-10h. For seventh place Obreshkov cashed $160,512.

Down in sixth and fifth place were Dominykas Mikolaitis and Marco Streda. Mikolaitis was knocked out by Manuel Ruivo after he hit a three on the flop with pocket threes. Streda’s tournament ended when he got all-in with Ah-Kd but ran into Ruivo’s pocket Aces. Mikolaitis cashed $234,255 for sixth and Streda received $341,879 for fifth.

Ramon Miquel Munoz was bounced next in fourth place. Brunno Botteon sent him to the rail after he flopped a set while holding pocket threes. Munoz cashed $498,947 for fourth place

Ruivo was the next to go in fourth place. He looked to be in good share with 9d-4h after a nine and a four hit on the flop. However the flop also included two clubs and Munoz was done after another club hit on the river to complete a flush for Salas. For third place Ruivo received $728,177.

It came down to Salas and Botteon heads-up for the tournament title. Salas had a 5-to-3 chip lead when heads-up play began. The lead flipped twice before Salas finished off Botteon. On the final hand the board ended up showing Kc-4c-2h-6h-8c. Botteon tried to pull off a bluff with a 7h-3h but ended up losing to Salas’ Kd-8h. For second place Botteon received $1,062,723.

Salas earned $1,550,969 for the win. He’ll await the winner of the domestic $10,000 main event, who he will face off in a heads-up match in Las Vegas on December 30 for the 2020 Main Event title.