Event #1: $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Day 2 Completed
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #1: $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2017 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$565
Prize Pool
$325,500
Entries
651
Level
25
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
5,000
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Bryan Hollis is the winner of Event #1: $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em, defeating Chris Solomon in just 25 short hands of heads-up play. Hollis earned himself the first gold bracelet of the 2017 World Series of Poker, along with a first-place prize of $68,817.
In the final hand, Hollis three-bet from the big blind and flopped top pair. He put in a continuation bet on the flop, and Solomon shoved his remaining chips in the middle with ten-high. Solomon, who was the chip leader for a good part of the final table, was drawing dead by the turn, and it was all over, with Hollis completing an impressive comeback to snag the win.
Hollis hails from the state of Maryland, and was just in Las Vegas attending the 2017 WSOP to take a shot at the Casino Employees Event and the Colossus. He grew up playing limit poker back in his hometown when he was just 15 years old and he still enjoys the game today. He has had to make the transition to no-limit poker in order to play in some of these tournaments.
This is Hollis' first WSOP cash and he even admitted, "I've never made it past the first break before. Last year I busted this tournament in seven hands." Hollis will be sticking around the Las Vegas area a little while longer now but when he does return home he did say he has some plans for the newly acquired cash. "I have always wanted to buy a house and now I have a down-payment. It feels so cool."
This opening event attracted a total of 651 entries, combining for a prizepool of $325,500 and paying 98 spots. The bubble burst just before the dinner break on Day 1, and eliminations came quickly. Victor Kim was the one to burst the bubble after flopping a set of threes, and he coasted his way to the final table. The end-of-day chip leader was Chris Gallagher, and he managed to leverage his stack and turn it into a deep final table finish. Day 2 began with just 11 players, and Haviv Bahar was the first player to drop after running pocket jacks into Kim's pocket queens. The unofficial final table of ten came together, and that's when the real battle began.
Here is a look at the official results from the final table:
| Place | Player Name | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Hollis | United States | $68,817 |
| 2 | Chris Solomon | United States | $42,508 |
| 3 | Josh Clanton | United States | $29,372 |
| 4 | Jermel Stephens | United States | $20,629 |
| 5 | Alex Cordova | United States | $14,731 |
| 6 | Adem Arbuckle | United States | $10,698 |
| 7 | Chris Gallagher | United States | $7,903 |
| 8 | Vincent Russell | United Kingdom | $5,941 |
| 9 | Victor Kim | United States | $4,547 |
Some of the notable players who finished in the money included 2015 WSOP Casino Employees Event champion Brandon Barnette (20th place - $1,874), Christian Percevecz (37th place - $1,351), Christopher Womack (47th place - $1,182), and Kenji Ikeda (85th place - $856).
This event is known for attracting the many key players in this industry, and some of the familiar faces who took a shot but came up short included Kenny Hallaert, David Tuchman, Erica Lindgren, Dana Castaneda, Jesse Capps, and Molly Anne Mossey.
Final Table Action
Bahar finished in tenth place ($3,543) after getting his chips in the middle with pocket jacks but was up against Kim's pocket queens. Bahar couldn't find a jack and busted on the official final table bubble.
Kim had an up-and-down day but it all came to a halt when he couldn't win a race with 
and was eliminated in ninth place ($4,547).
After staying patient for most of the day, Vincent Russel busted in eighth place ($5,941) when he ran into a red-hot Solomon. Unfortunately for Russell, he got it all in ahead but Solomon would out-flop him.
Gallagher came into the day as the chip leader but couldn't get anything to go his way as he was soon eliminated in seventh place ($7,903). Gallagher became the short stack and eventually got all of his chips in the middle with 
and was called by the 
of Hollis. Hollis hit a queen on the flop and Gallagher's tournament was over.
Adem Arbuckle remained quiet and stayed out of the way of most of the action, but the blinds eventually caught up with him. He called an all-in shove from Solomon and found himself behind and unable to catch up, finishing in sixth place ($10,698).
Alex Cordova was taken out just two hands later with pocket kings; when Solomon showed he flopped trips, Cordova just became another victim to Solomon, ending his tournament in fifth place ($14,731).
Four-handed play continued for a while longer with the three smaller stacks battling it out. Unfortunately for Jermel Stephens he ran his top pair of kings into Josh Clanton's middle set of jacks and was eliminated in fourth place ($20,629).
When the final three players took their seats it was sure to be a battle, and chips were passed back and forth. On hand #102 of the final table, Clanton was taken out in third place ($29,372) after he flopped top pair with 
on a 
board, but Hollis had 
for two pair. Clanton was unable to catch a king and the tournament was down to its final two players.
Heads-up play went on for 25 hands before Bryan Hollis finally lured Chris Solomon into bluffing into his flopped top pair to end the match.
The first event of the much-anticipated 2017 World Series of Poker is in the books, and PokerNews is honored to be providing live updates for everyone following at home. Keep checking back as the Live Reporting team brings all of the exciting hands and stories until the last winner is crowned deep in July.
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Hand 127: Chris Solomon raised to 60,000 and Bryan Hollis three-bet to 165,000. Solomon called.
The flop came 
and Hollis continued for 170,000. Solomon stacked up his chips and slid his entire stack forward, moving all in for 655,000. Hollis snap-called.
Solomon tabled 
and Hollis showed . Solomon needed some help with ten-high, but the turn was the and he was drawing dead to the 
on the river.
Solomon was eliminated and is the runner up in Event #1: $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em, taking home $42,508 for his deep run today. Hollis is the winner and has earned himself $68,817 for the win, along with the first gold bracelet of the 2017 World Series of Poker.
A full recap will be posted shortly.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,255,000
1,105,000
|
1,105,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Hand 121: Chris Solomon raised to 60,000 and Bryan Hollis called. The flop was 
and both players checked. The turn was the 
and Hollis bet 80,000. Solomon called and the 
came on the river. Both players checked and Solomon showed 
for the win.
Hand 122: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 and Chris Solomon called. The flop came 
and Solomon check-folded to bet of 80,000 from Hollis
Hand 123: Bryan Hollis received a walk.
Hand 124: Bryan Hollis limped on the button and Chris Solomon raised to 90,000. Hollis called. The flop was 
and Solomon bet 90,000. Hollis called again. The turn was the 
and both players checked. The river brought the 
. Solomon bet 250,000 and Hollis called again. Hollis held for a pair of deuces good enough to win.
Hand 125: Chris Solomon raised to 60,000 and Hollis called. The flop came 
and both players checked. The turn was the and Hollis bet 80,000. Solomon folded and Hollis took down another one.
Hand 126: Bryan Hollis limped in, and Chris Solomon checked his option. The flop came 
and Solomon checked. Hollis bet 30,000 and Solomon check-raised to 80,000. Hollis called. The turn was the and both players checked to the river, which was the 
. Solomon checked, and Hollis bet 180,000. Solomon tank-folded.
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Hand 116: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 and Chris Solomon called. The flop came 
and Solomon checked. Hollis bet 60,000 and Solomon folded.
Hand 117: Chris Solomon limped in, and Bryan Hollis raised to 80,000. Solomon called. The flop came and Hollis checked. Solomon bet 150,000 and Hollis folded.
Hand 118: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 and Chris Solomon three-bet to 200,000. Hollis moved all in and Solomon snap-called.
Solomon tabled 
and Hollis showed . The flop came 
and Solomon extended his lead, flopping a set. The turn was the 
and Hollis picked up some outs to chop. The river was the and the entire rail gasped when the board made a straight for a chop.
Hand 119: Chris Solomon raised to 60,000 and Bryan Hollis called. The flop came 
and Hollis checked. Solomon bet 80,000 and Hollis check-raised to 225,000. Solomon immediately moved all in and Hollis snap-folded.
Hand 120: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 and Chis Solomon called. The flop came 
and Solomon led out for 100,000. Hollis called. The turn was the and Solomon led out for 100,000 again. Hollis called again. The river was the [kc[ and both players checked. Solomon tabled for a pair of eights and Hollis mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,150,000
-95,000
|
-95,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,070,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Hand 110: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 and Chris Solomon three-bet to 180,000. Hollis called and the flop came . Solomon bet 200,000 and Hollis folded.
Hand 111: Chris Solomon raised to 60,000 and Bryan Hollis folded.
Hand 112: Bryan Hollis limped on the button and Chris Solomon checked his big blind. The flop came 
and Solomon check-folded to bet of 30,000 from Hollis.
Hand 113: Chris Solomon limped on the button and Bryan Hollis raised to 80,000. Solomon called. The flop came and both players checked. The turn was the and Hollis bet 80,000. Solomon called and the river came the . The action went check-check and Hollis showed , good enough to win the pot.
Hand 114: Chris Solomon received a walk.
Hand 115: Chris Solomon limped on the button and Bryan Hollis checked. The flop came and Hollis checked. Solomon bet 40,000 and Hollis called.
The turn was the 
and Hollis checked again. Solomon bet 80,000 and Hollis called.
The river was the and Hollis checked for the third time. Solomon moved all in and after some deliberation Hollis made the call. Solomon played the board and Hollis showed good enough to double up and regain the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,245,000
1,195,000
|
1,195,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
980,000
-1,190,000
|
-1,190,000 |
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Hand 105: Chris Solomon raised to 50,000 on the button and Bryan Hollis defended. The flop came and Hollis check-called a bet of 50,000 from Solomon. The turn was the and both players checked to the river, which was the 
. Hollis led out for 165,000 and Solomon called. Hollis tabled for trip fours and Solomon mucked.
Hand 106: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 on the button, and Chris Solomon moved all in. Hollis tanked for two minutes and eventually folded.
Hand 107: Bryan Hollis got a walk.
Hand 108: Bryan Hollis raised to 60,000 on the button and Chris Solomon called. The flop came 
and Somolon check-called a bet of 60,000 from Hollis. The turn was the and both players checked to the river, which was the 
. Both players checked again and Hollis revealed for the winner.
Hand 109: Chris Solomon raised to 60,000 and Bryan Hollis defended. The flop came 
and both players checked to the turn, which was the . Hollis led out for 75,000 and Solomon folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,170,000
-430,000
|
-430,000 |
|
|
1,050,000
315,000
|
315,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 25
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 5,000
Level 24
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand 103: Chris Solomon raised to 87,000 on the button and Bryan Hollis folded.
Hand 104: Bryan Hollis raised to 50,000 on the button and Chris Solomon called. The flop came and Solomon checked. Hollis bet 50,000 and Solomon raised to 150,000. Hollis called.
The turn was the and Solomon led out for 120,000. Hollis raised to 280,000 and Solomon called.
The river was the putting four diamonds on the board and Solomon checked. Hollis moved all in, having his opponent covered. Solomon called with his tournament life on the line, and the hands were tabled. Solomon had and Hollis held . Solomon doubled up and now holds a large chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,600,000
1,305,000
|
1,305,000 |
|
|
735,000
-1,225,000
|
-1,225,000 |
|
|
||
Level 24
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
The remaining two players are taking a 15-minute break ahead of schedule before heads-up play resumes. When they return they will play through the next couple blind levels. Here is how the chip counts look.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,960,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,295,000
-1,205,000
|
-1,205,000 |