2024 WSOP: Argentina’s Franco Spitale Registers Thumping Victory Over a Record-Breaking Field in Event #54: $1.5K Millionaire Maker NLHE ($1,250,125)

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) just minted two more poker millionaires in a thrilling showdown at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Event #54: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold’em lived up to its name, crowning Argentina’s Franco Spitale (cover image) as the champion and awarding him a life-changing $1,250,125 prize along with his first coveted gold bracelet.

Spitale’s path to victory was paved with determination and skill as he outlasted a record-breaking field of 10,939 entrants over five gruelling days. The final heads-up battle against American pro Justin Carey was a nail-biter, stretching across two levels before Spitale emerged triumphant after an epic final hand. While Carey narrowly missed his first bracelet, he secured an impressive career-high payout of $1,001,170 for his runner-up finish.

BEER IS RAINING DOWN ON HIM!

What an absolute electrifying finish in the @WSOP $1.5K MILLIONAIRE MAKER ????????????

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 28, 2024

Overwhelmed with emotion, Spitale dedicated the win to his daughter, “It’s hard for me to believe it. It’s too much, really. I dreamed about this all my life. I promised my little girl, Emma, that the next trophy would be for her, so this trophy is for her.”

Spitale’s win marks a monumental milestone in his poker career. Having previously amassed over $680,000 in live tournament earnings, this seven-figure score is his largest by far and his first cash at this year’s WSOP.

When asked about his plans for the rest of the summer’s events, Spitale remained coy, hinting at a possible entry into the Main Event but ultimately leaving his options open. “The main event, of course, I am qualified, so maybe that, maybe not. Let’s see tomorrow. I want to know when I wake up.”

Team India Scores in the Millionaire Maker

India’s poker prowess was on full display in the Millionaire Maker, with a remarkable 19 players advancing to Day 2 from one of the three starting flights. Of these, 13 ultimately cashed, adding to the nation’s growing strength in the global poker scene.

Leading the Indian charge was two-time GPI POY (India) Ankit Ahuja, who narrowly missed the Day 4 cut but secured a respectable 50th-place finish, earning $30,300 (~₹25.33 Lakhs). This marks Ahuja’s fourth cash and his highest score of the 2024 WSOP, bringing his total series earnings to a noteworthy $55,586 (~₹46.46 Lakhs).

Several other Indian players also made their presence felt. Kunal Punjwani (86th for $14,890; ~₹12.45 Lakhs), Young Gun Sanat Mehrotra (135th for $10,890; ~₹9.10 Lakhs), and Baazi Games CEO Navkiran Singh (231st for $8,200; ~₹6.85 Lakhs) also made the money line after battling their way to Day 3.

The Indian contingent continued to shine with strong performances from Kunal Patni (481st for $5,080; ~₹4.24 Lakhs), WSOP bracelet winner Kartik Ved (570th for $4,600; ~₹3.84 Lakhs), Ankit Wadhawan (972nd for $3,150; ~₹2.63 Lakhs), Anju Abrol (1,025 for $3,150; ~₹2.63 Lakhs), Deepankur Gupta (1,236th for $3,000; ~₹2.50 Lakhs), Paawan Bansal (1,287th for $3,000; ~₹2.50 Lakhs), Anshul Kulshrestha (1,430th for $3,000; ~₹2.50 Lakhs), WSOP bracelet winner Aditya Sushant (1,515th for $3,000; ~₹2.50 Lakhs), and Ashish Ahuja (1,534th for $3,000; ~₹2.50 Lakhs).

Event Highlights

The Millionaire Maker lived up to the hype, captivating the poker world with its record-breaking 10,939 entrants and a staggering $14,603,565 prize pool. The action unfolded across five days, starting with a frenzy of opening flights that culminated in 2,381 hopefuls left standing after Day 1C.

The stakes were raised on Day 2 as the money bubble burst, reducing the field to a still-competitive 315 players. The tension continued to mount on Day 3, with only 45 players remaining by the end of the day.

Notable poker personalities like Timur Margolin (85th for $14,890), Martin Jacobson (132nd for $10,890), Chris Moorman (178th for $9,420), and Joseph Cheong (222nd for $9,420) made their mark with impressive runs but ultimately fell short of reaching Day 4.

Day 4 was a rollercoaster, with the field rapidly shrinking from 45 to 27 players in just two and a half hours. Bracelet winners Jaspal Brar (15th for $68,940), Jason Wheeler (18th for $55,560), Max Neugebauer (24th for $55,560), and Sean Troha (43rd for $36,830) fought valiantly but ultimately fell short of reaching the final table.

The elimination of Sen Mu in 11th place marked a turning point, setting the stage for a dramatic final table showdown with ten players vying for poker immortality. The final table was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Adam Croffut (10th for $108,320), Owen Savir (9th for $137,150), Alex Kim (8th for $174,800), and Jason Hickey (7th for $224,270) succumbing to the pressure in quick succession.

With six players left standing for the final day, the tension reached a fever pitch as the remaining contenders prepared for the final battle for the Millionaire Maker title and the life-changing top prizes.

Final Day Chip Counts

1. Franco Spitale 83,600,000
2. Stephen Dauphinais – 68,700,000
3. Justin Carey – 63,900,000
4. Harvey Jackson – 25,200,000
5. Paul Saso – 22,600,000
6. Charles Kersey – 9,800,000

The final day was live-streamed on delay on PokerGO. You can watch the complete replay below.

Final Day Recap

The final day of the Millionaire Maker dawned with six players still standing, each guaranteed a minimum payout of $289,630. The tension was palpable, as the top two spots promised a life-changing seven-figure score, living up to the tournament’s namesake.

Charles Kersey entered the day as the short stack with a mere nine big blinds. He knew he needed a miracle to turn things around. After just one orbit, he made a move, jamming with , only to find a caller in Stephen Dauphinais holding . The board ran out clean for Dauphinais, ending Kersey’s run in sixth place.

Dauphinais, riding high on his early success, continued his aggressive play. It wasn’t long before he claimed another victim, this time Harvey Jackson. Jackson’s couldn’t crack Dauphinais’ , which flopped a flush on the runout, sending him to the payout desk in fifth place.

With four players remaining, the action shifted to a clash between Justin Carey and Paul Saso. Carey raised to 4 Million from the cutoff with , and Saso moved all in from the big blind for 10.60 Million with . Carey made the call, and the board delivered , giving him a turned full house, eliminating Saso in fourth place.

The three-handed battle began with all three players nearly even in chips. Fueled by his earlier successes, Stephen Dauphinais adopted an aggressive strategy, accumulating chips through relentless raises and three-bets. However, his luck soon turned as several ill-timed bluffs saw his chip stack dwindle. A crucial hand against Spitale, where Dauphinais’ two pair fell to a turned straight, further damaged his position. In the end, Dauphinais met his tournament demise at the hands of the Argentinian. His couldn’t hold up against Spitale’s , which spiked a queen on the river, ending his tournament run in third place.

Heads-up play commenced with Justin Carey holding a slight chip lead over Franco Spitale. But Spitale quickly found his rhythm and began to seize control. He steadily chipped away at Carey’s stack, demonstrating remarkable composure amidst the raucous cheers from the rail. In a pivotal hand, Spitale expertly value bet his deuces on two streets, prompting Carey to call him down with just king-high.

The final hand of the tournament saw Carey limp in from the button, and Spitale raised to 14 Million from the big blind. Carey, sensing an opportunity, moved all in, and Spitale snap-called.

Justin Carey

Franco Spitale

Carey seemed poised to win as the flop revealed . However, the turn gave Spitale outs, and the river sealed the deal with a full house. The crowd erupted as Spitale’s rail rushed to celebrate with him, showering him with beer and cheers. The long tournament had reached its thrilling conclusion, and Franco Spitale was the new Millionaire Maker champion.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Franco Spitale – $1,250,125
2. Justin Carey – $1,001,169
3. Stephen Dauphinais – $651,039
4. Paul Saso – $500,109
5. Harvey Jackson – $376,469
6. Charles Kersey – $289,630
7. Jason Hickey – $224,270
8. Alex Kim – $174,800
9. Owen Savir – $137,150
10. Adam Croffut – $108,320

Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker

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