2024 WSOP Paradise: Mike Gorodinsky’s PLO Masterclass Earns Him Fourth Bracelet in Event #10: $10K Paradise Pot-Limit Omaha ($393,250)

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise is turning into a real spectacle, and poker pro Mike Gorodinsky (cover image) is right at the centre of the action. He delivered a masterclass in Pot-Limit Omaha, conquering Event #10: $10,000 Paradise PLO in devastating fashion.

Gorodinsky, the 2015 WSOP Player of the Year, outplayed an elite field of 200 entrants to capture his fourth WSOP gold bracelet and a whopping $393,250 in prize money. This impressive victory represents his third-largest score and adds another chapter to his already illustrious poker career.

A few rounds of PLO with Josh in the Dealer’s Choice was all it took to turn me into a winner 🥇and even somehow got DZ on the podium 😂 https://t.co/uFYe9w9Wwa pic.twitter.com/1AlYQHAznX

— Mike Gorodinsky (@gordoMG) December 15, 2024

Gorodinsky’s first taste of WSOP glory came in 2013 when he won the $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Hi/Lo. Two years later, he conquered the prestigious $50,000 Players Championship. After a long wait, he added a third bracelet to his collection by taking down the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship last year.

But Gorodinsky isn`t just making a cameo appearance at the 2024 WSOP Paradise. He’d already made a splash earlier in the series with a podium finish in Event #5: $25,000 Mixed Games Dealer’s Choice Championship, where he earned a cool $194,430. With this latest victory, he’s edging closer to the impressive milestone of $5 Million in career tournament earnings.

Gorodinsky, a player known for his exceptional poker IQ and adaptability, seemed to thrive in the tournament’s turbo structure. When asked about his preference for faster-paced games, he playfully quipped.

But don’t think for a second that this was an easy win. Gorodinsky faced some tough competition, including a thrilling heads-up battle against Daniel Zack. In the end, Gorodinsky came out on top, and Zack had to settle for a respectable $291,680 for his second-place finish.

Pot-Limit Omaha Event Highlights

The $10,000 buy-in Paradise PLO at the stunning Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas was a turbo-charged, single-day affair that kept the adrenaline pumping from the first hand to the last. This high-octane tournament attracts 200 of the world’s best players, creating a $2 Million prize pool. Only the top 30 would get a taste of that sweet Paradise money, with a min-cash worth $20,860

Some of poker’s biggest names were in attendance, including the legendary Vanessa Selbst, who made a rare appearance at the tables. Sadly, her run ended just before late registration closed when her pocket aces were cracked, and she decided not to re-enter.

India’s very own casino mogul and high-stakes sensation, Santhosh Suvarna, also joined the action. Looking for his first break in this series, he got off to a strong start, showing his skills in a memorable three-way hand. With showing on the flop, Suvarna, in the big blind, led out with a bet of 4,000. Artur Martirosian called from the cutoff, and Joni Jouhkimainen came along from the button. The on the turn led to Suvarna checking, and Martirosian opted to check behind. Jouhkimainen seized the moment, firing a bet of 10,000, which only Suvarna called.

The river brought the , and both players checked. Suvarna confidently tabled for a Broadway straight, scooping a nice pot.

Later, in a three-way preflop all-in showdown, Suvarna clashed with Joseph Cheong and Eric Bonin, having both players covered.

Eric Bonin

Joseph Cheong

Santhosh Suvarna

The dealer spread a dramatic board of . Suvarna flopped a straight to eliminate both Bonin and Cheong, adding their stacks to his own. Despite these early successes, Suvarna couldn’t maintain the momentum and fell out in 73rd place, again shy of the money.

Phil Hellmuth, the “Poker Brat” himself, was also in the mix, chasing his 18th WSOP gold bracelet. However, he couldn’t find his rhythm and busted shortly after late registration. Other notable players who missed the money included Isaac Haxton, Sean Winter, Jason Mercier, Fedor Holz, Shaun Deeb, and Stephen Chidwick, who was looking to follow up his recent victory in the $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship with another bracelet.

VIP @EWassPoker wins his first @WSOP bracelet, but @JasonMercier and @scott_seiver are teasing him in this video, and, SNAP nice line “EWASS VIP!” We are in WSOP $10,000 PLO (Pot Limit Omaha) turbo RN #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/5dqi8Pck8F

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) December 14, 2024

As the bubble approached, the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Josh Arieh, one of the short stacks, found himself four-bet shoving with , only to be outdrawn by Rui Neves holding , who made a wheel on the river. Arieh became the bubble boy, leaving the remaining 30 players to breathe a collective sigh of relief and lock up a payday.

🇺🇸 Josh Arieh (@JoshuaArieh) gets brutally coolered on the stone bubble of the Paradise Pot Limit Omaha #GG #wsopPARADISE pic.twitter.com/8U9wRfhZSa

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 15, 2024

The excitement continued as Ren Lin, another short stack, clashed with Daniel Negreanu. After Lin four-bet shoved, Negreanu confidently turned over , only to be met with Lin’s self-proclaimed favourite hand—.

The flop came down with a set of queens for Lin, and the turn brought quads, leaving Negreanu drawing dead. Lin, with a chuckle, said, “Lady Gaga always delivers,” as he raked in the pot. This crucial win propelled Lin into the money, although he eventually finished in 21st place for $20,860.

🇨🇳 Tony Lin doubles up through 🇨🇦 Daniel Negreanu and is absolutely loving it 😂 #PLO #wsopPARADISE

Tony Lin – 572,000 (47.6BBs)
Daniel Negreanu – 157,000 (13BBs)

34 players remaining! pic.twitter.com/CjZ1Mer1i1

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 15, 2024

Once the bubble burst, the eliminations came thick and fast. Notable players like Jeff Gross (26th), $100,000 Triton Main Event champion Alex Foxen (25th), and Scott Seiver (23rd) earned min-cashes of $20,860, while Eric Wasserson (20th), Chris Brewer (19th), and Danny Tang (17th) each pocketed $25,380.

Despite his earlier setback against Lin, Daniel Negreanu managed to make a deep run. However, his hopes of adding another bracelet to his collection were dashed when he was eliminated just before the final table. Holding , Negreanu fell to Gorodinsky, who made a straight on the river with , setting up the final table.

🇨🇦 Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) finishes in 8th cashing $45,710! He’ll be back with us on Day 2 of the Super Main Event! #GG #wsopPARADISE #SuperMainEvent #50M_GTD pic.twitter.com/qqPzV4nddV

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 15, 2024

Final Table Chip Count

1. Biao Ding – 3,020,000
2. Rui Neves – 2,975,000
3. Mike Gorodinsky – 2,370,000
4. Roman Hrabec – 1,680,000
5. Daniel Zack – 650,000
6. Armin Ghojehvand – 550,000
7. Mike Watson – 480,000

Final Table Recap

The final table was set, and you could practically feel the electricity in the air as the remaining seven players took their seats. Biao Ding held a narrow chip lead over Rui Neves, with Gorodinsky close behind, ready to make his move.

Look at those chips!👀 🇭🇰 Ding Biao is your current Paradise Pot Limit Omaha Chip Leader!💪 #wsopPARADISE Current chip stack – 1,220,000 (76.2BBs) pic.twitter.com/Buvhh4Xkkn

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 15, 2024

Armin Ghojehvand was the first casualty, bowing out in seventh place. Mike Watson followed him to the rail in sixth, as Gorodinsky started to turn up the heat.

Then came a hand that would shift the balance of power. Gorodinsky found himself all-in with against Ding’s . A classic cooler – both players with pocket aces! A split pot seemed inevitable, but the poker gods had other plans. The board ran out, giving Gorodinsky a crucial double-up with his ten kicker. He was now in the driver’s seat.

With the momentum on his side, Gorodinsky went on a rampage. He sent Rui Neves packing in fifth place, cracking Neves’ . Next, he delivered the final blow to Biao Ding in fourth place, further extending his chip lead.

Meanwhile, Daniel Zack eliminated Roman Hrabec in third place. Hrabec’s middle pair and straight draw failed to materialize. This set up a thrilling heads-up duel between Gorodinsky and Zack.

This wasn’t just any heads-up match. It was a battle between two former WSOP Player of the Year winners – Mike Gorodinsky in 2015 and Daniel Zack in 2022. Both were hungry for their fourth bracelet, and the intensity was palpable. Gorodinsky started with a 2-1 chip advantage, and he wasted no time in pressing his advantage.

The final hand was a heartbreaker for Zack. He rivered a pair of aces with , but the same card completed a wheel for Gorodinsky, who held . The final board read , and just like that, Gorodinsky was the champion.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Mike Gorodinsky – $393,250
2. Daniel Zack – $291,680
3. Roman Hrabec – $216,380
4. Biao Ding – $160,510
5. Rui Neves – $119,070
6. Mike Watson – $88,330
7. Armin Ghojehvand – $65,530

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP & PokerNews

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