3-Bet: Kathy Liebert, Andreas Kniep & Konstantin Polin Win Live Titles

The international tournament circuit is buzzing, and in this 3-Bet report, we’ve got all the juicy details from the Wynn Signature Series and the World Series of Poker Circuit stop at Graton Resort and Casino.

The Wynn Signature Series, running from August 12 to September 5 at the Wynn Las Vegas, is quite the spectacle, with over $2.30 Million in guaranteed prizes across 32 tournaments. One of the biggest stories from the stop was Women in Poker Hall of Famer Kathy Liebert’s (cover image – left) victory in the $300 Ladies Event. This was her first live tournament title in over a decade, and she walked away with a sweet $5,806. Liebert battled through a tough field of 41 players, including a heads-up match against Lisa Childers, who finished in second place for $3,562.

Over at the WSOP Circuit stop at Graton Resort and Casino, former SpaceX engineer Andreas Kniep (cover image – centre) grabbed his first-ever WSOP Circuit ring in Event #5: $600 No-Limit Hold ’em. He beat out 120 other players, proving his poker chops after coming close so many times. Kniep’s win was extra special considering the wild week he’d had. Just days earlier, he and his pregnant wife narrowly escaped a burning car. But even after that, he started a new job at Google and became a U.S. citizen. Pedro Green put up a good fight but ultimately finished in second place, taking home $10,318.

Back at the Wynn, Konstantin Polin (cover image – right) kept his winning streak alive with a victory in the Wynn Signature Series $600 NLH, outlasting a massive field of 548 entries. The heads-up showdown between Polin and runner-up Henok Sellasie was intense, but in the end, they agreed to a deal that saw both players walk away with $45,184.

Poker Queen Kathy Liebert Wins Ladies Event at Wynn Signature Series For First Title After a Decade! ($3,562)

Poker Hall of Famer Kathy Liebert, a true icon of the game, recently added another trophy to her already impressive collection. In a decisive victory at the Wynn Signature Series $300 Ladies Event, Liebert proved that she’s still got the magic touch, taking home the top prize of $5,806 and leaving Lisa Childers to settle for second place with $3,562.

Kathy Liebert was the winner of the $300 Ladies Event on August 16th. Congratulations Kathy on the win along with $5,806 in prize money! pic.twitter.com/mZwWdqlvsx

— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) August 17, 2024

August 16 will be a day to remember for Liebert. It’s been a whole decade since Liebert’s last live tournament victory, and she did it in style, right back at the Wynn Las Vegas, where she last claimed a win back in 2013.

This win isn’t just another line on Liebert’s already impressive resume; it’s a statement. A member of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame since 2010 and a multiple-time nominee for the Poker Hall of Fame, with a WSOP bracelet from 2004 to her name, Liebert has proven time and again that she’s still got what it takes to compete at the highest level. She’s an inspiration to aspiring players everywhere, showing that age is just a number when it comes to poker greatness.

And it’s not just the live felts where Liebert shines. She’s also proven her mettle online, taking down a WSOP Circuit event in 2022 and earning her first Circuit ring along with a tidy $18,641.

Liebert’s recent success wasn’t a fluke either. She warmed up for her Ladies Event win with a strong final table showing in the Wynn Signature Series $500 No-Limit Hold’em Seniors event just days ago, finishing in sixth place for $2,778. With these two cashes, Liebert’s career live earnings are now closing in on a remarkable $7 Million.

The $300 buy-in Ladies Event at the Wynn Signature Series drew a competitive field of 41 entries, creating a prize pool of $15,000. Only the top five finishers got paid, with a minimum cash of $1,320.

Decked out in her signature purple, Liebert faced off against a tough final table filled with experienced players. The action was intense from the get-go. Coletta Ray was the first to fall, followed in quick succession by Amy Wingate and Marjorie Dacko.

The heads-up clash pitted Liebert against Lisa Childers, a seasoned pro with plenty of experience. The two battled fiercely, but ultimately, the Poker Hall of Famer prevailed.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Kathy Liebert – $5,806
2. Lisa Childers – $3,562
3. Marjorie Dacko – $2,512
4. Amy Wingate – $1,800
5. Coletta Ray – $1,320

From Burning Car to WSOP Ring at Graton Resort: Andreas Kniep’s Unbelievable Week! ($15,907)

Andreas Kniep, the former SpaceX engineer turned poker pro, has finally done it! He snagged his first-ever World Series of Poker Circuit ring in WSOPC Event #5: $600 No-Limit Hold’em at the Graton Resort and Casino. After coming so close with three previous second-place finishes, Kniep’s perseverance paid off in a big way, landing him the top prize of $15,907.

“Finally!” Kniep exclaimed after his victory. “Three times second, one time third, yesterday. It felt like I never reached the mountain (and I have) reached the top,” he said.

Kniep’s triumph felt even more significant given his third-place finish the day before in Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Mega Stack, where he won $10,451. With these successes, his tournament live earnings have shot up to $1.375 Million.

Just a week before his WSOP victory, Kniep and his six-month pregnant wife, Rebecca, faced a terrifying ordeal that could have ended tragically. They were driving back to San Francisco from a wedding celebration in Truckee when their car suddenly started shaking violently on a bridge over the Sacramento River.

“It felt like the whole car was going to fall apart,” Kniep recalls. “We pulled over as quickly as we could, but smoke started billowing from under the hood within seconds.”

They scrambled out of the car just in time. As they watched in horror, flames engulfed their vehicle, reducing it to a charred skeleton in a matter of minutes. “People were shouting at us to get away,” Kniep said, his voice still tinged with the shock of the experience. “We lost everything – our phones, our luggage, everything.”

But amidst the chaos and fear, Kniep and Rebecca clung to each other, grateful to be alive. Little did they know that this near-death experience would mark the beginning of an extraordinary week.

Despite the trauma, Kniep started his new job at Google that very same day determined not to let the incident derail his life. A few days later, on August 16, he achieved another milestone: becoming a U.S. citizen.

And then, just when he thought the week couldn’t get any better, he clinched his first WSOP Circuit ring.

“I completed the magical week,” Kniep reflected. “One week ago, I was sitting in a burning car, lost my phone and everything. Then, I started a new job at Google the same day. I got naturalized on Friday, I became a citizen, and then I won my first ring today. All in the span of seven days.”

Kniep, known for his colourful outfits, is a popular figure in the poker community. He’s had his fair share of success, including a deep run in the 2021 WSOP Main Event and a brutal fourth-place exit in the 2023 WSOP Millionaire Maker. But this latest win, after coming so close so many times, is a dream come true.

Andreas Kniep (@andirayo) takes one of the worst beats of the summer and is eliminated in 4th place from the @WSOP $1,500 Millionaire Maker.

Kniep earns $501,182 while Pavel Plesuv extends his lead even further.

🔗 – Watch live here: https://t.co/BjnxfzMpCK pic.twitter.com/1qahvMEKP8

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 28, 2023

Reflecting on his victory, Kniep shared a key moment from the tournament: a pivotal hand against Poker.org team member Terrance ‘TJ’ Reid. “I was chip leading for most of the final two tables, riding a wave of good fortune,” Kniep recalled. “TJ was one of the tough opponents I was trying to avoid, but sometimes you can’t dodge those big clashes. It was pocket tens versus pocket aces, five-handed—that hand played itself.”

The $600 buy-in NLHE event attracted 120 entries, generating a prize pool of $61,790. The top 18 finishers got a piece of the pie, with a minimum cash of $1,276.

The event also featured notable names like Albert Gorelik (7th for $2,091), Alexander Gittings (8th), Madhavan Ramanujam (9th) for $1,721 each, and Eric Deng (14th for $$1,341), all of whom made in-the-money finishes but fell short of the final table.

The final table was stacked, featuring poker journalist Terrance Reid, Taylor Pollard, Loren Egide, and Frank Saunders. Each made impressive runs but eventually fell short, finishing in sixth, fifth, fourth, and third places, respectively.

This paved the way for a final heads-up showdown between Pedro Green and Kniep. Green put up a valiant fight, but it was Kniep’s day. He clinched a redemptive victory, and to celebrate, Kniep plans to visit Super Duper Burger in San Francisco. This simple yet meaningful celebration will include his favourite burgers and some good company.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Andreas Kniep – $15,907
2. Pedro Green – $10,318
3. Frank Saunders – $6,937
4. Loren Egide – $4,834
5. Taylor Pollard – $3,514
6. Terrance Reid – $2,654

Konstantin Polin’s on a Heater: Wins Wynn Signature Series $600 NLH ($45,184)

Konstantin Polin is having one heck of a month, and his recent victory in the Wynn Signature Series $600 NLH just adds to his hot streak. He went head-to-head with Henok Sellasie for the title, but in the end, they decided to chop the pot, both walking away with a cool $45,184.

Konstatin Polin claimed the top spot of the Wynn Signature Series $600 NLH $250K GTD with a victory over the 548 player field. Congratulations Konstatin on winning $45,184! pic.twitter.com/zraFPulCUy

— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) August 19, 2024

This win is just the latest in a string of impressive performances by Polin. He recently made it to the final table at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, Recurring $200 NLHE – Sunday Special w/ $100 Add-On, where he pocketed $3,713. Shortly after, he took down the Wynn Casino Recurring $160 NLHE – Nightly, adding another $3,802 to his winnings. With this latest victory, Polin’s total live tournament earnings have skyrocketed to $390,119!

The $600 NLH event itself was a massive draw, attracting 548 entries and generating a substantial prize pool of $250,000. The top 67 players were guaranteed a minimum cash prize of $1,173, making for some serious competition.

Several notable players made it into the money but fell short of the final table, including Daniel Armstrong (11th for $3,559), Chiori Gannon (12th for $2,875), Christopher Hull (14th for $2,520), Tamas Lendvai (23rd for $1,779), Jack McClelland (35th for $1,495), Afik Krief (40th for $1,341), Ivan Ruban (50th), and Jack Salter (52nd) each for $1,272.

Once at the final table, the action was intense. Daniel Golceker was the first to be eliminated, followed by Kym Possible. The eliminations continued at a rapid pace, with Benjamin Ludlow, Lindsey Kludt, Kfir Nahum, Gloria Vallejo, Timothy Pai, and Pierce Picou all falling short of the title.

The final heads-up showdown between Henok Sellasie and Polin was a nail-biter, but in the end, they agreed to an ICM deal. Although they received the same payout, Polin was declared the official winner of the tournament.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Konstantin Polin – $45,184*
2. Henok Sellasie – $45,184*
3. Pierce Picou – $27,295
4. Timothy Pai – $21,085
5. Gloria Vallejo – $16,340
6. Kfir Nahum – $12,489
7. Lindsey Kludt – $9,273
8. Benjamin Ludlow – $6,935
9. Kym Possible – $5,172

*denotes a heads-up deal

Content and Images Courtesy: WSOP and PokerNews