3-Bet: Bryn Kenney Breaks 10-Year Bracelet Drought; Sasha Sabbaghian & Jose Jaraiz Shine in Live Events

The poker world is buzzing! From the virtual tables of GGPoker’s WSOP Online International Series to the live felts in Barcelona and California, the action is non-stop. Players around the globe are chasing dreams of bracelets, rings, and massive payouts. Let’s dive into some of the biggest wins in this 3-bet report!

American poker powerhouse Bryn Kenney (cover image – left) finally broke his decade-long bracelet drought, taking down Event #3: $2,100 NL Bounty Championship of the WSOP Online International Series on GGPoker. Kenney, the all-time leader on poker`s all-time money list, battled through a field of 798 players, walking away with a whopping $226,057 ($131,422 in bounties). In the final heads-up showdown, Ukraine’s Andrii Derzhypilski put up a valiant fight but had to settle for the runner-up spot, earning a respectable $120,306 ($25,672 in bounties).

At the WSOP Circuit Event #12: $1,700 NLHE Main Event held at Graton Resort and Casino, Sasha Sabbaghian (cover image – centre) had his moment in the spotlight. After navigating a field of 580 entries, Sabbaghian captured his first-ever WSOP Circuit ring and a career-high payday of $168,015. The final heads-up battle against Mitchell Tsang was a nail-biter, but Sabbaghian eventually prevailed, leaving Tsang with a still impressive $112,010 for his second-place finish.

Over in the buzzing Casino Barcelona, Madrid’s Jose Jaraiz (cover image – right) made a name for himself by winning the €500 CEP Barcelona Main Event. He outlasted a massive field of 1,737 entries to claim a career-best €72,285 after a three-way deal. David Xarau put up a strong fight, finishing in second place with €67,480, while Guillem Nuez rounded out the top three with a payout of €57,735.

Bryn Kenney Breaks Decade-Long Bracelet Drought, Wins Second WSOP Gold in GGPoker`s WSOP Online Event #3: $2,100 NL Bounty Championship ($226,057)

After a ten-year wait, American poker powerhouse Bryn Kenney finally captured his second WSOP bracelet in a thrilling victory at Event #3: $2,100 NL Bounty Championship in the WSOP Online International Series on GGPoker. Kenney’s dominating performance netted him a massive $226,057, with $131,422 of that coming from bounties.

The final showdown saw Kenney facing off against Ukraine’s Andrii Derzhypilski. While Derzhypilski put up a good fight, he ultimately fell short, settling for the runner-up spot and a still impressive $120,306 ($25,672 in bounties).

Kenney’s first taste of WSOP gold came way back in 2014 when he won the $1,500 10-Game Mix. He’s come close to adding more bracelets to his collection since then, with near-misses in the 2015 WSOP $5,000 NLHE and the 2023 WSOP $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.

This latest victory comes hot on the heels of Kenney’s recent triumph at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $25,500 NLHE High Roller, where he bagged a hefty $487,990. Already holding the title of the all-time leading money winner in tournament poker, Kenney’s live earnings have soared past a mind-boggling $67 Million!

The $2,100 buy-in NL Bounty Championship attracted a field of 798 players and generated a prize pool of $1,596,700. Only the top 92 finishers made it into the money.

The final table action was fast and furious. Dennys Ramos was the first to hit the rail in eighth place, followed by Jonathan ‘Zheng sheng Jonganthelongan’ Gan in seventh, Timothy ‘JoeExotic69’ Rutherford in sixth, Arsenii Karmatckii in fifth, and Julio Steffen in fourth.

With just three players remaining, Georgios Manousos fell out first, setting up the heads-up clash between Andrii Derzhypilskyi and Kenney. Despite Derzhypilski’s valiant efforts, Kenney ultimately proved too strong, claiming the coveted bracelet.

Final Table Results (USD) (Including Bounties)

1. Bryn Kenney – $226,057
2. Andrii Derzhypilskyi – $120,306
3. Georgios Manousos – $108,103
4. Julio Steffen – $97,188
5. Arsenii Karmatckii $57,978
6. Timothy Rutherford – $43,226
7. Jonathan Gan – $37,164
8. Dennys Ramos – $33,007

Sasha Sabbaghian Scores Breakthrough Victory in WSOP Circuit Graton Main Event ($168,015)

Sasha Sabbaghian is finally a WSOP Circuit ring winner! In a thrilling showdown at the WSOP Circuit (WSOPC) Graton Resort Main Event, the Granite Bay native emerged victorious, claiming his first-ever WSOP Circuit ring and a career-high cash prize of $168,015. This win is extra special for Sabbaghian, who’s been close to winning a ring before, and it pushes his total live earnings to an impressive $632,050.

We've got a winner!

Congratulations to Sasha Sabbaghian for taking down the @GratonPoker Circuit Main Event! Sasha outlasted 580 entries to take home $168,015 and the first gold ring of his career.

Interview & Event Recap: https://t.co/qTtbkigYrv pic.twitter.com/yNsLwuz80g

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) August 27, 2024

Sabbaghian’s path to victory was a rollercoaster. He started the final table with a decent stack but soon found himself battling for survival in the middle of the pack. With a combination of smart plays, sheer grit, and a refusal to give up, Sabbaghian clawed his way back to the top. In the final heads-up match, Mitchell Tsang put up a fierce fight, but in the end, Sabbaghian took home the title, leaving Tsang with a still-impressive $112,010 for his second-place finish.

After the win, Sabbaghian opened up about his journey. “Usually, when I get this deep, I find a way to mess it up,” he admitted with a laugh. “Today, my goal was simple—don’t mess up, and I’ll be good.” It’s clear that his focus on avoiding past mistakes paid off big time.

While the money is certainly a nice bonus, Sabbaghian’s passion for poker goes beyond the cash. “I like the money, but tournaments usually aren’t my thing. But Graton and Thunder Valley are different,” he shared. “The vibe here is just different—less intense than Vegas, more fun and relaxed.”

His victory was a result of his calculated strategy. Sabbaghian carefully valued each big blind and avoided unnecessary risks, outlasting the numerous short stacks at the table.

The $1,700 buy-in NLHE Main Event drew a massive field of 580 entries, creating a substantial prize pool of $877,185. After two action-packed starting flights, only 87 players advanced to Day 2, each guaranteed a minimum cash of $3,440. The tension built as the field narrowed down to the final table of nine.

On the final table, Francis Nguyen was the first to bow out in ninth place when his hand couldn’t beat Mitchell Tsang’s queens. Liz Tedder was next to go in eighth, also falling victim to Tsang’s strong play.

Peter Yang then took charge, eliminating Dan Casetta in seventh place. Yang continued to dominate, expertly navigating his way all the way through three-handed play.

The action then accelerated with a flurry of eliminations. Marco Johnson, Robert Mather, and Michael Persky were knocked out in quick succession, finishing in sixth, fifth, and fourth places, respectively.

The pivotal hand of the tournament came when Sabbaghian made a gutsy hero call against Peter Yang. This bold move swung the momentum in his favour, leaving Yang as the short stack. Despite an impressive run, Yang’s luck finally ran out when he lost a crucial flip to Sabbaghian, finishing in third place.

“I thought it was a pretty clear-cut situation,” Sabbaghian explained about his daring call in the post-tournament interview. “It felt like he was ready to fold on the turn and wasn’t planning a three-street play. I just thought it was a good spot. If I bust, I bust, but if I win, I’d have all the chips.”

The heads-up battle pitted Sabbaghian against Mitchell Tsang. Tsang, known for his tenacity with a short stack, put up a final stand with ace-queen. However, Sabbaghian’s ace-nine found a nine on the river, sealing his victory in dramatic fashion.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Sasha Sabbaghian – $168,015
2. Mitchell Tsang – $112,010
3. Peter Yang – $77,399
4. Michael Persky – $54,475
5. Robert Mather – $39,067
6. Marco Johnson – $28,557
7. Dan Casetta – $21,286
8. Elizabeth Tedder – $16,184
9. Francis Nguyen – $12,557

Madrid’s Jose Jaraiz Takes Down CEP Barcelona Main Event For a Career-High Payday (€72,285)

The vibrant Casino Barcelona was abuzz with the excitement of the €500 Campeonato España de Poker (CEP) Barcelona festival, a perfect warm-up act for the ongoing PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona. When the final chips fell, Madrid’s Jose Jaraiz emerged as the champion, securing his first CEP title and a career-best prize of €72,285 after a three-way deal.

♠️ El #CEPBarcelona 2024 ya tiene nombre y apellidos:

🏆 JOSÉ JARAIZ se alza con la pica de GANADOR de la XVII edición del circuito decano del #poker español.

¡Muchas felicidades! 🍾#YoSoyCEP@PokerStarsSpain@casinobcn_poker pic.twitter.com/RndjQ4cplv

— CEP Poker (@CEP_Poker) August 26, 2024

This victory adds another shining jewel to Jaraiz’s poker crown. His poker journey includes notable achievements like a tenth-place finish at the 2022 Irish Open Main Event, a deep run in the 2022 WSOP Event #70 (105th place), and a solid performance in the 2023 WSOP Event #76 (592nd place). With this latest win, Jaraiz’s total live earnings have now soared to $330,748.

The three-way deal at the final table also saw David Xarau walk away with a handsome €67,480 for his runner-up finish, while Guillem Nuez locked up third place and €57,735.

The €500 buy-in Main Event attracted a massive field of 1,737 players, making it the second-largest turnout in the tour’s history, just behind last year’s record-breaking 1,960 entries.

The final table was intense, with every player eyeing the lucrative five-figure payouts. Adria Colomina, who had come agonizingly close to victory in this event in 2021 with a runner-up finish, was the first to fall in ninth place. Romania’s Adrian Coman followed in eighth, and France’s Henri Lansade was eliminated in seventh.

As the tension mounted with the increasing blinds, Marc Colom and Mohamed Lakhal were quickly dispatched in sixth and fifth places, respectively. Belarusian Ivan Karatayeu‘s run ended in fourth place, marking his second impressive five-figure payday in his poker career.

With only three players left, the tournament reached its climax as they negotiated a deal, ensuring each would walk away with a career-defining payday. Guillem Nuez secured third place, shattering his previous best live cash. David Xarau claimed the runner-up spot, marking a spectacular return to the live poker scene with his last recorded cash since May 2018.

And then there was one. Jose Jaraiz, the man of the hour, stood tall as the CEP Barcelona Main Event champion.

Final Table Results (EURO)

1. Jose Jaraiz – €72,285*
2. David Xarau – €67,480*
3. Guillem Nuez – €57,735*
4. Ivan Karatayeu – €30,800
5. Mohamed Lakhal – €24,000
6. Marc Colom – €19,100
7. Henri Lansade – €15,200
8. Adrian Coman – €12,000
9. Adria Colomina – €9,634

*denotes a three-way deal

Content and Images Courtesy: Poker.org & PokerNews