$1,200 Freezeout
Day 1 Completed
2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open
$1,200 Freezeout
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open
Buy-in
$1,200
Prize Pool
$86,900
Entries
79
Level
21
Blinds
12,000 / 24,000
Ante
24,000
Entries
79
Players Left
1
Level 21
: Blinds 12,000/24,000, 24,000 ante
Dongwuk Moon emerged victorious in Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout after accumulating a significant chip lead at the final table before an ICM deal was made with four players remaining. Moon, who max late-registered just before level 13, said today's win is his first-ever poker tournament title.
"I'm very happy," Moon said. "It feels like a dream."
Moon, a self-proclaimed amateur poker player from Philadelphia, said he was happy to do an ICM chop and guarantee himself the trophy.
Event #9: $1,200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dongwuk Moon | United States | $23,048* |
| 2 | Shahabaldin Shirazi | United States | $15,448* |
| 3 | Samuel Joslyn | United States | $15,091* |
| 4 | Jeremy Fineman | United States | $14,195* |
| 5 | Nick Chow | United States | $3,775 |
| 6 | Vincent Giuliano | United States | $2,904 |
| 7 | Michael Lerner | United States | $2,323 |
| 8 | Besnik Biberaj | United States | $1,742 |
| *Denotes ICM chop |
Action of The Day
Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout got off to a slow start, with only 14 players to start during level 1. That number grew steadily throughout the day before ultimately reaching 79 by the time late registration ended — generating an $86,900 prize pool. Some notables who entered but fell short of the money include, Jacob Mitich, Yaser Al-Keliddar, Manuel Herrera, Justin Arnwine, and Sang Kim, who lost in a brutal cooler just shy of the money bubble.
Vinny Pahuja would end up being the bubble boy after running ace-king into tens and kings at the same time and failing to improve.
With eight players remaining, Moon began his ascension by doubling through Shahabaldin Shirazi after being one card from elimination. From that point, Moon knocked out Besnik Biberaj and took the majority of Michael Lerner's chips.
Moon continued his dominance after turning a flush against Vincent Giuliano's top two pair and adding Giuliano's stack to his own. With escalating blinds forcing the action, Nick Chow was eliminated after getting all-in preflop with queen-ten and failing to improve against the ace-jack of Jeremy Fineman. Shortly after Chow was eliminated, the remaining four players decided to end the long day with an ICM chop — handing Moon the lion's share of the prize pool and his first Potomac Winter Poker Open victory.
That wraps up our coverage of Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout. Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to provide coverage of the 2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open, including Event #11A: $2,700 Main Event beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 3.
Level 21
: Blinds 12,000/24,000, 24,000 ante
The remaining four players have decided to do an ICM chop for the rest of the prize money.
Dongwuk Moon has been declared the official winner for having the most chips.
An adjusted prize distribution and recap will be posted shortly.
Level 21
: Blinds 12,000/24,000, 24,000 ante
Jeremy Fineman opened to 50,000 from the cutoff and Nick Chow shoved for his last 164,000 from the small blind. It was folded back to Fineman, who made the call to put Chow at risk.
Nick Chow: 
Jeremy Fineman: 
The board ran out 
— keeping Fineman’s ace-high best and knocking Chow out in fifth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
575,000
-25,000
|
-25,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 21
: Blinds 12,000/24,000, 24,000 ante
Vincent Giuliano opened to 50,000 from the cutoff and was called by Dongwuk Moon on the button.
The flop came 
and Giuliano continued for 40,000. Moon raised to 120,000 and Giuliano called.
The 
fell on the turn and Giuliano checked to Moon, who bet enough to put Giuliano all in for his last 300,000. Giuliano went deep into the tank, but eventually committed calling chips and hands were revealed.
Vincent Giuliano: 
Dongwuk Moon: 
Moon had turned a flush and had Giuliano in rough shape.
The 
completed the board, failing to help Giuliano and sending him out in sixth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,800,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 21
: Blinds 12,000/24,000, 24,000 ante
Shahabaldin Shirazi opened to 55,000 and Jeremy Fineman shoved for his last 268,000 from the cutoff. Action folded back to Shirazi, who called to put Fineman at risk.
Shahabaldin Shirazi:
Jeremy Fineman: 
The board ran out — giving Fineman a winning straight on the river for the double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
900,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
|
600,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
Level: 21
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 24,000
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Michael Lerner shoved for his remaining stack from the button and was called by Samuel Joslyn in the big blind.
Michael Lerner: 
Samuel Joslyn: 
Lerner was ahead, but the 
runout left Joslyn best with a pair of kings and Lerner was eliminated.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
300,000 | |
|
Busted |
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Micahel Lerner opened to 45,000 from early position and was called by Dongwuk Moon in the big blind.
Moon check-called a 55,000 bet from Lerner on the 
flop.
The turn brought the 
and Moon checked to Lerner, who bet 75,000. Moon then check-raised enough to put Lerner all in for his last 100,000 and Lerner let his hand go.
Moon flashed the 
as he collected the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,000,000
380,000
|
380,000 |
|
|
100,000
-250,000
|
-250,000 |
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Nick Chow shoved for his last 185,000 from the cutoff and was called by Shahabaldin Shirazi in the big blind to put Chow at risk.
Shahabaldin Shirazi:
Nick Chow:
The 
runout gave Chow a sweat, but left him best with tens for the double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
950,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
|
400,000
140,000
|
140,000 |