3-Bet: Brett Bader, Beau Wilshire & Yi Li Win Live Titles!

We are back with another 3-bet report, with updates from three recently-concluded live tournaments, WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee, MSPT Grand Falls Casino, and Summer Heater Poker Series.

Brett Bader (cover-left) toppled a record-setting 1,558-entry field in the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event, winning his third WSOP Circuit gold ring, a career-best $364,104, and a seat in the 2023 Tournament of Champions. Matthew Wantman finished runner-up for $225,047.

Beau “Don K. Nado” Wilshire (cover-center) hit the jackpot in the Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls Casino Main Event, taking down his maiden live title for a personal-best $104,579. Juston Welter collected $64,255 in second place.

Yi Li (cover-right) outlasted a stacked 347-entry field in bestbet Jacksonville’s Summer Heater Poker Series Main Event to win $101,146 in prize money. James Leonard came second for $67,431.

Brett Bader Wins Third WSOP Circuit Ring & Career-Best $364,104 in Record-Breaking WSOPC Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event

The WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee $1,700 Main Event registered a record-setting 1,558-entry field over two starting flights. The two-time WSOP Circuit gold ring winner, Brett Bader, was the last player standing and won his third WSOPC ring, a personal-best $364,104, and a seat in the 2023 Tournament of Champions. Matthew Wantman collected $225,047 in second place.

According to his Hendon Mob profile, the six-figure score boosted Brett Bader’s lifetime live earnings to $1,577,348.

In his post-win interview, Bader said, “It hasn’t really sunk in, to be honest. I haven’t been here in a few years, and the last time I was, I finished runner-up to Leif Force in the $1k.”

Bader entered the final day’s play with a below-average stack, ranked ninth in chips among the 14 finalists. He picked his spots wisely and went on a late final table heater to claim his third WSOPC gold ring.

In his closing statement, Bader added, “I’m just really grateful and glad I ran well.”

The WSOP 2022/2023 Circuit season’s return to the Harrah’s Cherokee was a resounding success as the Main Event logged in 1,558 entries, making it the biggest WSOPC Main Event field at the stop. The $2,360,370 prize pool was distributed among the top 232 finishers.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Brett Bader – $364,104
2. Matthew Wantman – $225,047
3. Amir Atabaki – $170,095
4. Thong Ho – $129,670
5. David Dowdy – $99,714
6. Jeff Trudeau – $77,351
7. Bryan Emory – $60,535
8. David Moses – $47,799
9. Chris Meyers – $38,083
10. Joseph Johnson – $30,618

Beau Wilshire Champions MSPT Grand Falls Casino Main Event For $104,579

Beau “Don K. Nado” Wilshire overcame a guarantee-crushing field in the $200K GTD Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Grand Falls Casino $1,110 Main Event to win his first recorded live title and a career-best $104,579. Juston Welter collected $64,255 in second place.

Wilshire’s Hendon Mob profile shows he had $150,721 in live tournament winnings coming into the event.

In the post-match interview, Wilshire said, “I’m more of a cash game player. I mostly play online. This is my first tournament win. I can finally show my family a trophy, so they don’t think I’m a drug dealer.”

When asked what he would do with the money, he said, “I’m going to buy my cat, McLovin’…like Superbad, some cat food.”

The $1,110 buy-in Main Event registered a massive 503-player field across two starting flights. The top 54 places were paid from the $486,410 prize pool, and a min-cash was worth $2,189.

Beau “Don K. Nado” Wilshire (7,100,000) was chip-leading Juston Welter (5,500,000) at the start of their heads-up match. On the final hand, with the flop open , Welter 4-bet all-in with trips holding . Wilshire called with for a flopped full house. The turn & kept Wilshire ahead.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Beau “Don K. Nado” Wilshire – $104,579
2. Juston Welter – $64,255
3. Adam Schulz – $46,306
4. Elizabeth Ethridge – $35,022
5. Ben Wiora – $26,266
6. JC Nguyen – $19,943
7. Mikiyo Aoki – $15,565
8. Mo Nuwwarah – $12,160
9. Ryan Remington – $9,242

Yi Li Ships bestbet Jacksonville’s Summer Heater Poker Series Main Event For $101,146

The bestbet Jacksonville’s Summer Heater Poker Series $1,500 Main Event saw Yi Li outlasting a stacked 347-entry field to win the title for $101,146. James Leonard placed second for $67,431.

Yi Li, primarily a cash game player, boosted his live tournament tally to just shy of $450,000 after the win. His best live score is a fourth-place finish in the 2017 SHPRO Championship in Hollywood, Florida, for $252,481.

After the tournament, Li said, “I only play about five tournaments a year. Mostly at bestbet. If they have a tournament here, I support it. I like it here.”

Li has been a regular at the bestbet since it opened in 2012. He primarily plays cash games and has made several friends during his visits to the card room. He said, “I like the people. Everybody I know is here. I can hang out and drink and gamble every day.”

He had a rollercoaster week and even joked how even after winning the top prize, he was not even, as he laughed, “I’m heading back to the cash tables. I didn’t even break even this week! I’m down $150,000! Seriously. You think I am kidding. I am still down this week. I am not even yet!”

The $1,500 buy-in Main Event collected a prize pool worth $497,420 and paid out 47 places.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Yi Li – $101,146
2. James Leonard – $67,431
3. Jack Sumner – $49,446
4. Jason Lee – $36,724
5. Peter Le – $27,630
6. Brian Kent – $21,064
7. Thomas Carroll – $16,273
8. Dustin Nelson – $12,742

Images and Content Courtesy: PokerNews & WSOP