2024 WSOP: Finance Broker Arash Ghaneian Breaks Nine-Year Drought; Wins Second Bracelet in Event #74: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship ($376,476)

In a poker showdown for the ages, Arash Ghaneian (cover image), a Las Vegas finance broker, shattered a nine-year bracelet drought to seize victory in Event #74: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP). His triumph wasn’t just about the $376,476 prize or a second WSOP gold bracelet; it was a redemption story, a family celebration, and a testament to the grit it takes to outlast a field of 167 seasoned players.

Congratulations to Arash Ghaneian for taking down the $10,000 Stud Hi/Lo Championship!

The event attracted a field of 167 entries, generating a total prizepool of $1,553,100, and Ghaneian earns $376,476 for the win. pic.twitter.com/Ovxr5uBNZb

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 4, 2024

Little did Ghaneian know, this final table would push him to his limits. Among the finalists were high-stakes pro Michael Rocco, Poker Hall of Famer Todd Brunson, and the well-known Eric Wasserson. But it was the epic eleven-hour heads-up battle against Richard Sklar, a notorious golf bettor with a reputation for taking down Vegas hustlers, on an unscheduled Day 4 that truly tested Ghaneian’s mettle.

In the end, Ghaneian prevailed. Sklar, nonetheless, took home a significant $250,984 as the event’s second-place finisher, improving on his previous-best third-place finish in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E Championship in 2014.

“We came in today, we battled,” Ghaneian said after his victory, recalling a conversation with Sklar during a brief dinner break. “I told him, ‘Hey, this could go either way.’ And the cards fell my way at the end.”

This victory was a world away from his first bracelet win in 2015. Back then, the joy of winning Event #24: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. was overshadowed by his wife Liz’s serious health complications while pregnant with twins. “We almost lost them,” Ghaneian recalled, the relief evident in his voice. “Right after we won it, we went to the hospital. That was really, we didn’t get to enjoy it. Right now, we literally get to enjoy this moment because these stresses aren’t there.”

With his total career earnings now at $940,118, Ghaneian’s poker prowess is undeniable. But for him, this win is about more than just the money or the prestige. It’s about family, resilience, and the sweet taste of victory after nearly a decade of waiting.

“We get to eat with them, hang out with the kids, take them to dinner, celebrate the Fourth of July tomorrow,” Ghaneian beamed. “It’s great to be an American. F***in’ love it. I’m grateful, man, I’m very grateful.”

The $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship wasn’t just a tournament; it was a high-stakes showdown. A star-studded field of 167 players, including 24 who jumped into the fray on Day 2, generated a massive $1,533,100 prize pool, underscoring the event’s prestige and the hefty rewards at stake.

Day 2 was a crucible of poker drama, marked by the dreaded money bubble. Suketu Patel‘s elimination was a sigh of relief for the remaining 26 players, each guaranteed a share of the riches. But for others, like Xixiang Luo (19th for $20,000), Christian Roberts (21st for $20,000), Chris Vitch (22nd for $20,000), Adam Friedman (25th for $20,000), and Dario Sammartino (26th for $20,000), it was a heartbreaking end to their bracelet dreams.

As Day 3 dawned, 18 hopefuls remained, each guaranteed a minimum payout of $20,000, but with their eyes on the much larger sum and the bracelet awaiting the champion.

The field featured a multitude of former WSOP bracelet winners and seasoned veterans. Notables like Brad Ruben (12th for $21,000), Michael Noori (16th for $21,000), Owais Ahmed (17th for $21,000), and Naoya Kihara (18th for $20,000) fought valiantly but fell short of the final table.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Thomas Taylor – 2,760,000
2. Arash Ghaneian – 1,820,000
3. Todd Brunson – 1,090,000
4. Andrey Zhigalov – 1,000,000
5. Dario Alioto – 970,000
6. Richard Sklar – 950,000
7. Michael Rocco – 480,000
8. Eric Wasserson – 470,000
9. Hisashi Yamanouchi – 230,000

After five hours of intense play on Day 3, the final table began with high energy. Hisashi Yamanouchi, the unfortunate ninth-place finisher, departed with a respectable $30,706.

Final Table Recap

The final table kicked off with energy, but the atmosphere soon turned tense as Michael Rocco suffered a devastating blow. Taylor’s full house crushed Rocco`s seemingly strong hand, who missed all his outs on the seventh street. Rocco`s frustration was palpable as he slammed his last card on the felt before exiting in eighth place.

Taylor, the early chip leader with a commanding stack of nearly 4 Million—more than double that of his closest challenger, continued his dominance, playing a pivotal role in the next two eliminations. He and Ghaneian split a pot, sending Russian bracelet winner Andrey Zhigalov to the rail in seventh place.

Taylor then dealt another crushing blow, making a full house on the seventh street to eliminate Dario Alioto in sixth, further solidifying his position as the table leader.

Taylor’s aggression continued as he scooped a significant pot, leaving Eric Wasserson crippled and eventually eliminated in fifth place.

As Taylor’s stack soared past 5 Million, Richard Sklar emerged as a formidable challenger, winning two crucial confrontations against the legendary Todd Brunson. Sklar’s flush triumphed over Brunson’s trip queens, followed by a straight that propelled his stack to over 2 Million. Brunson’s valiant run ended in fourth place, courtesy of another devastating blow by Taylor, who further consolidated his advantage.

Thomas Taylor’s once-dominant position began to crumble as Sklar seized the chip lead, scooping him with a pair of fives and a low, then further widening the gap with aces and tens. Once seemingly invincible, Taylor found himself on the ropes as Ghaneian chipped away at his stack with a flush and a low, followed by another blow with two pair. Despite a brief resurgence, Taylor’s comeback hopes were dashed when Ghaneian made jacks up, ending his tournament run in third place.

The stage was now set for the heads-up duel between Ghaneian and Sklar, with Sklar holding a slight advantage as the day concluded after over 12 hours of play. Both players, armed with over 20 big bets each, prepared for a final showdown that turned out to be a test of stamina and mental fortitude.

5

Final Day Chip Counts

1. Richard Sklar – 5,530,000
2. Arash Ghaneian – 4,495,000

The final day was intense as Ghaneian and Sklar resumed their battle. The chip lead swung like a pendulum, with each player claiming a share of the pots. However, Ghaneian gradually gained the upper hand when he scooped a pivotal pot with a full house and started pulling away by consistently winning several significant pots.

Sklar, reduced to a mere two bets, managed a small double-up with a straight on seventh street, but it was a fleeting glimmer of hope. In a final stand, Sklar committed his remaining chips with a pair and an eight-six low, only to be outdone by Ghaneian’s unbeatable Wheel. The crowd erupted as Ghaneian emerged victorious after the long-drawn duel, his name etched in poker history as the champion of the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Arash Ghaneian – $376,476
2. Richard Sklar – $250,984
3. Thomas Taylor – $173,533
4. Todd Brunson – $122,663
5. Eric Wasserson – $88,686
6. Dario Alioto – $65,620
7. Andrey Zhigalov – $49,715
8. Michael Rocco – $38,589

Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker

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