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3-Bet: Tim Thorp, Guan Hao Tan & Muaaz Gani Win Live Titles

PokerGuru-3Bet Cover 2 27-11-24
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  • Indrakshi Mukherjee November 28, 2024

  • 5 minutes Read

The poker world never sleeps. Players are constantly locked in battles for glory and stacks of cash. From the American Midwest to the exciting casinos of South Africa, there have been incredible wins all across. Let’s dive into the details of three recent victories that have shaken up the poker scene in this 3-bet report.

The Mid-Stakes Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago $1,100 Main Event drew a massive field of 524 entries. After a hard-fought battle, Tim Thorp (cover image – left), a remote tax accountant from East Lansing, seized the title, winning his first major tournament and a career-best $108,184. Thorp began Day 2 as the chip leader among the 56 finalists and battled his way to the final heads-up match against MSPT Hall of Famer Christopher Moon. Despite Moon’s impressive poker record, he couldn’t overcome Thorp’s 2:1 chip advantage and finished as runner-up, taking home $66,471.

Singapore’s Guan Hao Tan (cover image – centre), a grad student who enjoys poker in his spare time, proved he has the skills to take on the best by winning the $1,100 BetMGM Fall Festival Championship at MGM National Harbor. He bested a field of 243 entries and earned a career-high $55,250. Tan started the final table third in chips behind top players like BetMGM Ambassador Darren Elias (who finished third for $25,625) and local tournament crusher Aaron Pinson, who placed runner-up with $38,213.

On the other side of the world, in South Africa, Muaaz Gani (cover image – right) won the Hendon Mob Championship Cape Town Million, part of the ongoing SunBet Poker Tour. He collected ZAR 380,000 (~$20,854) after a heads-up deal with Sugendran Singh. Gani outlasted a field of 299 entries to grab his fifth live poker title. Runner-up Singh, who has Indian-Tamil heritage and is a four-time SunBet Poker Tour champion, won ZAR 350,000 (~$19,208), pushing his lifetime earnings to almost $150,000.

 

Tim Thorp: From Tax Returns to Poker Riches at MSPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event ($108,184)

The Mid-Stakes Poker Tour (MSPT) Ameristar East Chicago wrapped up an electrifying week of poker action from November 19 to 24, culminating in the $1,100 Main Event. This high-octane tournament drew a packed field of 524 entries across three starting flights. But it was Tim Thorp, a remote tax accountant from East Lansing, who emerged as the unlikely hero after four days of intense competition. Starting Day 2 as the chip leader among 56 finalists, he navigated his way to victory, bagging his first major title and a career-high payday of $108,184.

Thorp’s final challenge came in the form of a heads-up showdown against none other than MSPT Hall of Famer Christopher Moon. Despite Moon’s impressive resume and $1.40 Million in career earnings, he couldn’t overcome Thorp’s commanding 2:1 chip advantage. Moon, a seasoned veteran, ultimately settled for second place and a $66,471 payday, while Thorp etched his name into MSPT history with a victory that will be remembered for years to come.

“It’s truly special to be able to play this game with joy, and that’s all I did today,” Thorp shared, still beaming from his incredible triumph. “You don’t think you need validation… but winning a big tournament like this feels amazing. Now, I don’t have to prove anything.”

 

Main Event Highlights

The $1,100 buy-in Main Event generated a prize pool of $508,280. On Sunday, 56 players returned for Day 2 action, all guaranteed a min-cash of $1,800.

Notable players who made deep runs but fell short of the final table included Dustin Ethridge (11th for $7,548), Brad Sailor (12th for $7,548), Anh Nguyen (14th for $6,038), Michael Estes (15th for $6038), Ryan Scully (16th for $5,032), last woman standing Janae Magnuson (19th for $4,579), Curtis Vierstraete (20th for $4,579), Thai Dinh (43rd for $2,466), Yoon Kim (44th for $2,466), Wild Bill Romer (46th for $2,466), and Buck Bucceri (52nd for $2,264).

Thorp’s ascent to the championship was a battle against the odds. He entered the final table second-to-last in chips but quickly turned the tides. Early on, his pocket queens held strong against Aaron Flores, eliminating Flores in ninth place.

Soon after, MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk was sent to the rail in eighth place, followed by Andrew Hammell in seventh.

Ben Krauss and Nic DiTrapani were the next to fall, finishing in sixth and fifth places, respectively.

Thorp then seized the chip lead with a decisive knockout of Andrew Keeney in fourth place. His hot streak continued as he found pocket fours to eliminate Asa Snyder in third, setting up the final showdown against Moon.

The heads-up battle between Thorp and Christopher Moon was a tense affair. Thorp began with a commanding 2:1 chip advantage, which proved too much for Moon to overcome. Moon made his final stand with king-queen, but Thorp’s king-ten found a ten on the flop to secure the victory and etch his name into MSPT history.

Tim Thorp
Tim Thorp

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Tim Thorp – $108,184
  2. Christopher Moon – $66,471
  3. Asa Snyder – $47,903
  4. Andrew Keeney – $36,229
  5. Nicola Ditrapani – $27,121
  6. Benjamin Krauss – $20,630
  7. Andrew Hammell – $16,102
  8. Umut Ozturk – $12,580
  9. Aaron Flores – $9,560

 

Grad Student Guan Hao Tan Outlasts Top Pros to Win BetMGM Fall Festival Championship ($55,250)

After five days of intense poker action, the BetMGM Fall Festival at MGM National Harbor concluded with a thrilling climax and an unexpected champion. The $1,100 BetMGM Fall Festival Championship saw Singapore’s Guan Hao Tan, a graduate student who plays poker recreationally, conquer a field of 243 entries to claim the title and a career-best $55,250.

Tan entered the final table third in chips, trailing BetMGM Ambassador Darren Elias, who had been crushing the competition on Day 2, and the intimidating Chu-Ming Wu. But Tan, cool under pressure, expertly navigated the final table filled with elite players, including local favorite Aaron Pinson. The final showdown pitted Tan against Pinson in a battle that raged for an intense hour before Tan finally prevailed.

This win is only the third live cash recorded for Tan on Hendon Mob. Even more impressive, he’s achieved this feat while balancing his poker passion with the demands of academia. This is his second major win at MGM National Harbor, mirroring a strikingly tournament he won last year for $44,000. This latest victory pushes his total live earnings past the $100,000 mark.

“I’m glad I won and not him,” Tan commented after his win, with a cheeky grin likely directed at Elias. He then joked about his year at the poker tables, “I’m down more in cash this year than this tournament. But it’s nice to get some subsidy.”

Currently juggling the rigors of a Master’s Degree in International Affairs in Washington, D.C., Tan views poker as his escape. “Well, I’m a recreational player, so I will still treat it more as a hobby,” he explained. “I’m doing my masters right now and staying here for a few more months, and then I’ll be going back for good.”

For Tan, MGM National Harbor is his poker sanctuary. “This is the closest casino to where I’m living in D.C.,” he shared. “I don’t have a car, so I don’t have a choice. But it is a nice place and I like the cash games mostly. The action is good, people are nice. I think the dealers are all good.”

 

Championship Highlights

The $1,100 Championship just barely missed its $250,000 guarantee by seven entries, resulting in a $7,700 overlay (not counting rake). Day 2 saw 31 players return, all in the money and guaranteed at least $1,923.

Notable players cashing on Day 2 included Wes Clark (10th for $5,063), Scott Heiser (12th for $5,063), Matt Riebel (14th for $4,400), August Smerk (16th for $3,775), Jason Chen (18th for $3,775), Sara Ofriel (21st for $3,155), and Hung Le (24th for $2,700).

After eight hours of intense play, the final table was set for Day 3. Bracelet winner Tim Faro wasted no time making a statement, hitting quads on the very first hand to eliminate Elijah Miranda Hernandez in ninth place. Andy Le was the next to be eliminated, courtesy of Aaron Pinson.

The action continued at a breakneck pace. Half an hour later, Tim Faro’s ace-king delivered a knockout blow to Brandon Padula‘s ace-ten, eliminating Padula in seventh place. Faro briefly seized the chip lead before surrendering it to Pinson in a colossal pot where Faro’s pocket tens failed to catch a miracle against Pinson’s queens. But Pinson’s time at the top was short-lived as Darren Elias, with his signature aggressive style, wrestled control.

Tim Faro‘s tournament ended brutally in a blind-versus-blind confrontation with Pinson. Faro’s pocket aces were cracked by Pinson’s pocket kings when a king appeared on the river, sending Faro out in sixth place. Moments later, Chu-Ming Wu was eliminated in fifth after Tan’s flush crushed his pocket queens on a board with four clubs.

Then came the hand that changed the course of the tournament. Three-handed, Tan limped in from the small blind, only to face a raise from the formidable Darren Elias in the big blind. Tan re-raised, Elias moved all-in, and Tan snap-called with ace-king. Elias, showing ace-ten, was in trouble. The board ran out clean, and the BetMGM Ambassador, arguably the most dangerous player at the table, was eliminated in third place.

Heads-up, Tan held a commanding chip lead over Aaron Pinson. Pinson fought valiantly for nearly an hour, but Tan’s lead proved insurmountable. The final hand saw Pinson’s ace-four fall to Tan’s ace-ten, making Guan Hao Tan the BetMGM Fall Festival champion.

Guan Hao Tan
Guan Hao Tan

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Guan Hao Tan – $55,250
  2. Aaron Pinson – $38,213
  3. Darren Elias – $25,625
  4. Rob Cohen – $15,588
  5. Chu-Ming Wu – $12,038
  6. Tim Faro – $9,975
  7. Brandon Padula – $8,500
  8. Andy Le – $7,250
  9. Elijah Miranda Hernandez – $5,795

 

Muaaz Gani Defeats Indo-South African Sugendran Singh Heads-Up to Win THMC Cape Town Million (ZAR 380,000)

The SunBet Poker Tour by Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) has been the center of the poker action in Cape Town, South Africa since last week. From November 20 to December 1, the GrandWest Casino will host 12 thrilling events, boasting a massive ZAR 10.5 Million in guaranteed prize money.

One of the highlights, the ZAR 8,000 The Hendon Mob Championship (THMC) Cape Town Million, delivered a captivating finish. South African player Muaaz Gani conquered a field of 299 entries (across three starting flights) to capture the title. Gani sealed his win after a heads-up dealwith Indo-South African player Sugendran Singh, banking ZAR 380,000 (~$20,854) and the tournament trophy.

This win is Gani’s fifth live title, boosting his lifetime live winnings to $656,416. Sugendran Singh, a decorated player with four SunBet Poker Tour titles to his name, including the SunBet Poker Tour Time Square Main Event earlier this year, finished as runner-up. He took home ZAR 350,000 (~$19,208) from the heads-up deal.

Singh, who transitioned from an IT career to the landscaping business, discovered his love for poker in 2018. A consistent force on the SunBet Poker Tour since 2021, Singh’s second-place finish is his second-largest career cash and brings his total live earnings to almost $150,000.

For Gani, this victory was particularly sweet. He admitted to having a strong desire to win the prestigious THMC trophy. “Today was actually a day where I really wanted to have that trophy,” he confessed. Known for his reluctance to make deals, Gani made an exception this time, driven by his ambition to possess the championship trophy.

Gani’s backstory to this win is interesting. After an early exit from the Super High Roller, he and fellow player Ahmed Karrim decided to grab some KFC at the food court. However, the bustling crowd prompted them to return to the poker room where, on a whim, Gani decided to late-register for Day 1A of the Main Event. This spontaneous decision proved to be a masterstroke as he finished the flight as chip leader, with Singh trailing not far behind in third place.

Looking back on his tournament run, Gani identified a key turning point during four-handed play. German player Florian Bock, who had won the THMC Malta earlier this year, held the chip lead but lost a crucial pot to Gani. Holding ace-queen, Gani called Bock’s all-in despite the ICM implications. “He scoffed me when I called because it was ICM suicide, but some people just play to play as they say, you know,” Gani explained. “I wasn’t interested in folding a big hand for an ICM jump. That was a decisive moment in this tournament.”

 

Tournament Highlights

The ZAR 8,000 ($440) buy-in THMC Cape Town Million was a popular event, generating a prize pool of ZAR 2,009,280 (~$111,193). The top 39 players finished in the money, each earning at least ZAR 15,000 (~$823).

Day 2 saw fierce competition as the field battled for the title. Notable exits included Maureen Bloechlinger (14th for ZAR 25,000), Jaco Mouton (16th for ZAR 22,500), Jedd Kossew (18th for ZAR 22,500), Jehan Richards (22nd for ZAR 20,000), Jonathan Wolley (28th for ZAR 28,000), and Mojtaba Razavi (33rd for ZAR 15,000).

The final table was set with the elimination of Edgar Antezana in 10th place for ZAR 40,000.

The final table action was swift and decisive. Braam Van Huyssteen (9th), Wesley Blom (8th), and Clive Kikia (7th) were eliminated early on. Despite starting with a single big blind, Cliton Taliwanth managed to ladder up to a sixth-place finish. Marko Nortje, who began Day 2 as chip leader, saw his fortunes fluctuate before bowing out in fifth place after a clash with Bock.

Renier Britz exited in fourth place after Gani’s flush ended his dream run, and Florian Bock, despite his earlier dominance, fell out in third place.

The heads-up duel between Gani and Sugendran Singh concluded with an ICM deal, with Gani ultimately claiming the trophy.

Celebrating his victory, Gani shared his plans to utilize his 2025 THMC package, a reward that grants him entry to a THMC stop of his choice. The Irish Open in Dublin is currently his preferred destination.

Muaaz Gani
Muaaz Gani

Final Table Results (ZAR)

  1. Muaaz Gani – 380,000*
  2. Sugendran Singh – 350,000*
  3. Florian Bock – 197,000
  4. Renier Britz – 140,000
  5. Marko Nortje – 100,280
  6. Cliton Taliwanth – 80,000
  7. Clive Kikia – 60,000
  8. Wesley Blom – 50,000
  9. Braam Van Huyssteen – 40,000

*denotes a heads-up deal

 

Content and Images Courtesy: Card Player, Poker.Org & PokerNews

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