Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em
Day 2 Completed
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2024 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$4,793,200
Entries
1,042
Level
34
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
88
Players Left
1
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
After over eight hours of play on Day 2, Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em at the 2024 World Series of Poker concluded, with Matthew Alsante emerging as the winner.
Navigating through a field of 1,041 players and generating a total prize pool of $4,788,600, Alsante defeated Punnat Punsri in a heads-up battle to claim the gold bracelet and a hefty sum of $785,486.
Alsante, whose best-recorded cash was smaller than the tournament's buy-in, pulled off the underdog story that exemplifies the democratic nature of poker. Given the right mix of skill, strategy, and perhaps a bit of luck, anyone with the buy-in can challenge and triumph over established professionals.
His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring poker players everywhere, showcasing that with dedication and perseverance, one can indeed carve out a place among the elite in this highly competitive game.
Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Alsante | United States | $785,486 |
| 2 | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | $523,648 |
| 3 | Philip Wiszowaty | United States | $372,446 |
| 4 | Oleg Vasylchenko | Ukraine | $268,407 |
| 5 | Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | $196,024 |
| 6 | Jon Vallinas | Spain | $145,107 |
| 7 | Hirokazu Kobayashi | Japan | $108,895 |
| 8 | Patrick Leonard | United Kingdom | $82,862 |
| 9 | Ueberton De Aquino | Brazil | $62,945 |
Winner's Reaction
Alsante's approach to poker has evolved over the past decade, transitioning from occasional play to a more serious commitment to the game. Unlike most entrants in Event #87, Alsante did not play in the Main Event.
“This I liked because it was a smaller field, and those can be easier to navigate,” he told PokerNews.
Most onlookers were rooting for Punsri once the play got to heads-up, but that didn’t faze Alsante, nor did Punsri's nearly 16 million in tournament earnings. “I think it was fun, they were having fun, and I was dancing.”
Looking ahead, Alsante plans to continue his poker journey. “I plan to play the $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship next. After that, who knows?”
His recent success not only validates his skills but also provides the financial means to pursue more poker opportunities.
Day 2 Action
Although the 88 players who advanced to Day 2 missed out on the tension of the Main Event bubble in the parallel room, they secured a cash prize of at least $9,952 for their efforts.
Over half the field was eliminated early in the day, leaving 39 players remaining after the first break. Notable names that made the money but did not advance far included Rainer Kempe in 76th place, Faraz Jaka in 75th, and Day 2 chip leader Felipe Boianovsky in 61st place.
$25K Fantasy Draft Sweats
Several $25K Fantasy players cashed in Event #87. Alex Foxen finished in 23rd place when Philip Wiszowaty’s ace-six outflopped Foxen’s ace-nine, and Foxen could not catch up on the turn or river.
Artur Martirosian hit the rail in 18th place when his ace-king lost to Alsante's pocket nines.
Patrick Leonard made the final table, but exited in 8th place when he ran his pocket kings into Alsante’s pocket aces.
Punsri entered the final table with the third shortest stack but picked up momentum as his final tablemates hit the rail. Punsri used his experience in big money spots to apply pressure when the payouts elevated. He ultimately finished in second place for his efforts. Those that had drafted Punsri were hoping for a win but the second place points should help.
Final Table Action:
It took nine levels to reduce the 88 returning players to a final table of nine, securing at least $62,945.
Alsante was on fire to start the final table as he eliminated Leonard and Hirokazu Kobayashi. When play was four-handed, Alsante had a crucial double up for nearly 75% of the chips in play when a rivered ten gave him a straight and Wiszowaty set of tens.
Heads-up play lasted for around an hour. The most crucial hand happened when the money went in on an ace-high flop with Alsante holding second pair to Punsri’s top pair. A seven on the turn flipped the script, giving Alsante two pair. A blank river card gave Alsante a commanding chip lead that led to his first breakout moment.
This concludes coverage of Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em. Stay tuned to PokerNews for more from the 2024 World Series of Poker.
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Out of a field of 1,042 entrants, Matthew Alsante was crowned as the winner of Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em. He wins his first ever WSOP bracelet and $785,486.
Recap will follow shortly.
Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Alsante | United States | $785,486 |
| 2 | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | $523,648 |
| 3 | Philip Wiszowaty | United States | $372,446 |
| 4 | Oleg Vasylchenko | Ukraine | $268,407 |
| 5 | Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | $196,024 |
| 6 | Jon Vallinas | Spain | $145,107 |
| 7 | Hirokazu Kobayashi | Japan | $108,895 |
| 8 | Patrick Leonard | United Kingdom | $82,862 |
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Punnat Punsri jammed from the button, then Matthew Alsante looked at his cards and called.
Punnat Punsri: J♣10♠ 
Matthew Alsante: 7♥7♠
Alsante flopped a full house on the 7♣8♠8♣ flop, leaving almost no chance for Punsri who was eliminated after the 9♠ turn and the 3♠ river.
Supported by a loud a massive rail, Punsri finished in second place for $523,648.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
52,000,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Punnat Punsri shoved his last 1,600,000 and was called by Matthew Alsante.
Punnat Punsri: 6♦9♥
Matthew Alsante: K♠6♠
The board ran out 10♠7♦2♠Q♥8♥ keeping Punsri's hopes alive in Event #87
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
49,000,000
-1,500,000
|
-1,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,200,000
1,600,000
|
1,600,000 |
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Punnat Punsri limped in from the button and Matthew Alsante checked his option in the big blind.
The A♠4♠5♦ flop saw Alsante bet out for 2,000,000. Punsri raised to 6,000,000 and Alsante moved all in for 23,700,000. Punsri called.
Matthew Alsante: 7♠5♥
Punnat Punsri: A♣2♠
Alsante was behind but the 7♦ turn put him way out in front with two pair. The J♥ river changed nothing and Alsante found a game-changing double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
50,500,000
19,500,000
|
19,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,600,000
-19,400,000
|
-19,400,000 |
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
On a flop of 7♥7♣6♦, Matthew Alsante in the big blind checked then called after Punnat Punsri bet 500,000.
But on the 4♥ turn, Alsante led out for 1,500,000. Punsri called to find the 10♦ river where Alsante directly moved all-in for approximately 25,000,000.
Punsri seemed surprised by this move, but went into the tank. He eventually chose to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
31,000,000
2,000,000
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
21,000,000
-2,000,000
|
-2,000,000 |
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Punnat Punsri limped in on the button before Matthew Alsante raised to 1,800,000, Punsri made the call.
The dealer fanned a flop of 10♦2♠9♠ Alsante checked, Punsri bet 1,800,000, Alsante went all in and Punsri called.
Punnat Punsri: 10♠4♥
Matthew Alsante: 9♣5♣
The turn was the 6♦ and the river was the K♦ securing the double up for Punsri as both players chip counts have come closer to even.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
29,000,000
-10,600,000
|
-10,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
23,000,000
9,900,000
|
9,900,000 |
Level 34
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Hand One:
Philip Wiszowaty moved all in from the button for 7,125,000 and Punnat Punsri, in the small blind, called off the bet for his effective stack of 6,250,000.
Punnat Punsri: 8♣8♥
Philip Wiszowaty: A♥3♦
The board ran out 6♥J♥J♦7♠5♦; Punsri held to leave Wiszowaty incredibly short.
Hand Two:
The very next hand Wiszowaty was forced all in from posting the big blind and the big blind ante. Punsri limped in from the button, Matthew Alsante put in a raise from the small blind and Punsri folded.
Philip Wiszowaty: 8♣7♠
Matthew Alsante: K♥9♥
The board ran out J♣3♥Q♠A♠2♥; Alsante held to eliminate Wiszowaty, triggering heads-up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
39,600,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
13,100,000
2,950,000
|
2,950,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level: 34
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000