2024 WSOP Paradise: China’s Lei Yu Spins Nine Bigs Into Maiden Bracelet Victory in Event #6: $5K Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em ($293,050)

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise just witnessed an electrifying victory by China’s Lei Yu (cover image), a member of the Red Dragon Poker Team. Yu took down Event #6: $5,000 Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em in stunning fashion, overcoming a daunting chip deficit to claim his first-ever WSOP bracelet and a career-high $293,050 payday.

What makes this victory even more impressive is how Yu started the final table – as the short stack with a mere nine big blinds. It was a David vs. Goliath situation, and Yu, playing the role of David, was ready to slay. He doubled up not once but twice right out of the gate, shifting the momentum and establishing himself as a serious contender. After five hours of intense play, he held all the chips in play, solidifying his place in WSOP history.

Event No. 6 #DeepstackNLH – Final Day

We have a champion! 🇨🇳 Lei Yu wins his first ever WSOP Bracelet and $293,050! Congratulations!🎉
GG to 🇸🇮 Blaz Zerjav – you fought the good fight!👊

Watch how it all unfolded! pic.twitter.com/117bZZ5Zc1

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 13, 2024

This win adds another feather to the cap of Yu’s already impressive poker career. With $1.07 Million in live tournament earnings coming into this event, his previous best was a $135,186 payday for winning the WPT Korea Single Day High Roller in March. The 38-year-old celebrated this achievement surrounded by his Red Dragon Poker teammates and GGPoker Ambassador Ren Lin, who took a break from the high-stakes tables to cheer on his friend.

But every victory has its counterpart. For Slovenia’s Blaz Zerjav, the runner-up finish was another near miss. Earlier this year, he came close in the €1,100 FPS Main Event at EPT Paris, ultimately finishing second. Nevertheless, Zerjav’s $225,720 cash prize in this event represents his second-best career payout and pushes him over the $1 Million mark in lifetime earnings. This achievement places him among an elite group as only the third Slovenian player to reach this milestone, joining the ranks of Rok Gostisa and the late Casey Kastle.

Zerjav’s success isn’t confined to live tournaments. Online, he’s known as ‘Scarmak3r,‘ and he’s made quite a name for himself. In 2018, he turned a $5.50 satellite entry into a mind-blowing $1.36 Million by finishing third in the MILLIONS Online. He followed that up with a fourth-place finish in the WPT Online World Championship Main Event two years later for another $552,006.

Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em Highlights

The $5,000 buy-in Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em was a three-day event with 363 entries, generating a prize pool of $1.82 Million. The top 51 finishers walked away with a minimum payout of $11,370.

With limited updates on the event, the returning field size for Day 2 is unknown, but it’s safe to say the field saw a significant reduction, playing down to nine players. Among those who cashed were Ana Marquez (41st), 2019 WSOP Main Event champion Hossein Ensan (40th), and Zhen Cai (38th) each for $11,370, Christoph Vogelsang (28th for $13,190), Nick Maimone (20th for $15,300), Frank Bannan (19th for $15,300), and John Ripnick (11th for $23,890).

The final table was set with Eliot Hudon‘s elimination in tenth place for $27,710. The remaining nine players returned for a dramatic Day 3 to decide the champion!

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Vlad Darie – 4,530,000
2. Ezequiel Kleinman – 2,950,000
3. Blaz Zerjav – 2,540,000
4. Bruno Volkmann – 2,400,000
5. Gleb Tremzin – 1,990,000
6. Rokas Asipauskas – 1,500,000
7. Fahredin Mustafov – 955,000
8. Archibald Seaton – 735,000
9. Lei Yu – 540,000

Final Table Recap

Argentina’s Ezequiel Kleinman was the first to fall. His couldn’t hold against Blaz Zerjav’s . Even a flush draw on the turn failed to materialize on the river, sending Kleinman to the rail in ninth place.

The short-stacked Archibald Seaton was the next casualty, his tournament life extinguished by Lei Yu.

Then, the tension ratcheted up a notch as Gleb Tremzin and Zerjav locked horns in a pivotal hand. Tremzin flopped top two pair with on a board. He shoved on the turn , only to be met with Zerjav’s flopped set of fives , which had now become quads! Tremzin, documenting his exit for his vlog, had to settle for seventh place.

After a short break, Bulgaria’s Fahredin Mustafov hit the rail in sixth place. His couldn’t connect against Zerjav’s .

Brazil’s Bruno Volkmann was the next to fall in fifth place. His was outdrawn by Vlad Darie’s when a fateful five appeared on the flop.

Moments later, Vlad Darie‘s impressive run came to an end in fourth place. His aggressive move with was thwarted by Rokas Asipauskas’s . Darie’s elimination meant that the last bracelet winner at the table was gone, guaranteeing a first-time bracelet winner for the sixth consecutive event at WSOP Paradise.

The three-handed battle was a thrilling contest, with Zerjav and Rokas Asipauskas going against each other repeatedly. Asipauskas eventually suffered a crucial setback against Zerjav, leaving Zerjav to enter heads-up play with a commanding chip advantage over Lei Yu.

The heads-up duel was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Yu initially gained the upper hand after winning a crucial coin flip with through Zerjav’s . However, Zerjav battled back with fierce determination. After a break, they clashed again, with Zerjav on the verge of victory before Yu hit a miraculous river card to snatch back the lead with a 2:1 chip advantage.

Event No. 6 #DeepstackNLH – Final Day Update

And then there were two!✌️

🇸🇮 Blaz Zerjav 5,700,000 (28.5BBs)
🇨🇳 Lei Yu 3,150,000 (15.7BBs) pic.twitter.com/6DHlYELXtV

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 12, 2024

The climax arrived with Zerjav moving all-in with , but Yu had him dominated with . The dealer spread the cards: . A flush for Yu! The river card had sealed his fate, crowning him the champion.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Lei Yu – $293,050
2. Blaz Zerjav – $225,720
3. Rokas Asipauskas – $174,050
4. Vlad Darie – $134,210
5. Bruno Volkmann – $103,490
6. Fahredin Mustafov – $79,800
7. Gleb Tremzin – $61,530
8. Archibald Seaton – $47,450
9. Ezequiel Kleinman – $36,590

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP & PokerNews

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