WSOP 2019: Adam Friedman Successfully Defend Title in Event#35: $10K Dealer’s Choice Championship

Adam Friedman_WSOP_Event 35_Winner_Cover Image
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  • Attreyee Khasnabis June 18, 2019
  • 3 Minutes Read

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Adam Friedman (cover image) just added another gold bracelet to his tally by successfully defending his 2018 $10K Dealers Choice 6-Handed title last night. Event #35: $10,000 Dealer’s Choice Championship of the 50th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) attracted 122 entries, generating a prize pool of $1,146,800. The Ohio native, not only took down the event to capture his third WSOP bracelet but also posted his career-best score of $312,417!

“This year definitely means more (than last year). Being able to repeat in what I still believe is the most difficult of the $10k’s to play,” said Friedman after the win.

Friedman had entered the final table on Day 3 as the chip leader. Though he lost the lead to Shaun Deeb at the start of the final day, he had gained it back by the time the heads-up began. While Deeb pulled out all the stops to bag his fifth bracelet, but in the end, he was no match for the defending champion, and Deeb had to contend with a runner-up finish.

“The players who I love playing with in these tournaments are the no-limit big-bet players. Several players, they’re phenomenal, but when you get them playing hands in Badeucey and Badacey, they don’t know the basics. It’s free chips in a lot of situations. Whereas no-limit, they’ll have a tiny edge but I don’t have to play a pot whatsoever unless I have it, but if you can’t help yourself and you don’t know what the starting hands are, I’m going to win so much more than you could ever win in a no-limit hand,” said Friedman, commenting on the format of the tournament.

Talking about his accomplishments, Friedman further added, “In terms of poker accomplishments, this is my second-best poker accomplishment I’ve ever done. It will never touch my number one (never going broke) in terms of poker. Accomplishments are nice, but like I said last year at the end of the day it’s just about being able to build a foundation, build enough stake, and being able to take care of myself and if I can keep investing my money along the way, which I do quite frequently, I’m pretty sure old Adam will be taken care of quite well.”

“You’ve got to be able to play all 20 games, and the ones that you aren’t experienced in you have to have basic common-sense in. You’ve got to be prepared for anything,” the champion concluded.

With the top 19 places assured payouts the notables who finished in the money included Jeff Lisandro (10th for $27,823), Adam Owen (14th for $14,818), Chris Klodnicki (16th for $14,818), and Michael Ross (19th for $14,818).

Bryce Yockey bubbled the final table, finishing 8th for $38,238.

 

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Adam Friedman – 1,840,000

2. Matt Glantz – 1,751,000

3. Shaun Deeb – 1,440,000

4. Nick Schulman – 755,000

5. Michael McKenna – 610,000

6. David Moskowitz – 585,000

7. Phillip Hui – 375,000

 

Final Table Recap

Shortest stack Phillip Hui was the first elimination on the seven-handed final table. His ran into Michael McKenna’s . The board brought and McKenna picked up two pairs of aces and queens to knock Hui out in seventh place.

Soon enough, Nick Schulman joined Hui at the rail when his were cracked by Shaun Deeb’s which improved to a seven-high straight on the runout . Schulman was ousted in sixth place.

The play was halted following Schulman’s elimination with the remaining five players carrying their stacks to the final day.

 

Final Day Chip Counts

1. Shaun Deeb – 2,601,000

2. Adam Friedman – 1,898,000

3. Matt Glantz – 1,401,000

4. Michael McKenna – 1,038,000

5. David Moskowitz – 382,000

 

Final Day Recap

Finishing in fifth place was Michael McKenna. In a game of Pot-Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, McKenna’s were outdone by Deeb’s , sending the former packing to the rail.

Less than 30 minutes later, David Moskowitz‘s were bested by Adam Friedman’s . The board ran and Friedman flopped two pairs, dismissing Moskowitz in fourth place.

Three-handed play continued for nearly two hours before Matt Glantz‘s time at the final table ran out. Glantz’s were no match for Deeb’s , leading to the former’s third-place exit.

The heads-up play between Adam Friedman (3,935,000) and Shaun Deeb (3,385,000) began with both former bracelet winners almost evenly matched in stacks. The heads-up lasted for close to three hours; however, Friedman did not relinquish his lead till the end.

Shaun Deeb
Shaun Deeb

The defending champion Friedman struck an early blow and extended his lead. Deeb fought hard to claim his fifth WSOP bracelet, but it wasn’t meant to be.

On the final hand, Friedman raised to 60,000 on the button and Deeb 3-bet to 250,000 from the big blind. Friedman called to see the flop . Deeb led out for 175,000 and Friedman raised to 530,000. Deeb called, and the turn brought . Deeb checked while Friedman bet 670,000. Deeb tanked for 30 seconds before calling. The on the river completed the board. Deeb checked again, and Friedman moved all-in for approximately 1,725,000. Deeb again tanked for 15 seconds and then called, tabling . Friedman turned over for a turned full house, effectively relegating Deeb to the runner-up spot. Friedman clinched his second WSOP bracelet in the same event, along with $312,417 in first-place prize money.

Adam Friedman
Adam Friedman

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Adam Friedman – $312,417

2. Shaun Deeb – $193,090

3. Matt Glantz – $139,126

4. David Moskowitz – $100,440

5. Michael McKenna – $72,653

6. Nick Schulman – $52,656

7. Phillip Hui – $38,238

Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker

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