WSOPC Horseshoe Las Vegas (July) live updates

Matthew Blagg

Matthew Blagg outlasted a feild of 936 entrants to claim his first live tournament victory, a career high score of $238,470, and the gold WSOP Circuit ring after defeating Eric Yanovsky heads-up.

Blagg, who is more of an online specialist, had just $208,565 in career live tournament earnings on HendonMob, with his previous high score of $30,100 coming early this summer during The Colossus when he finished in 14th place.

For the 24-year-old Yanovsky, it was a bittersweet finish as he held the chip lead for the majority of the day before two crucial hands swung the momentum in Blagg’s favor.

First up, Yanovsky opened the button to 800,000, and Blagg defended the big blind to see a flop of , which he promptly checked. Yanovsky continued for 700,000, and Blagg check-raised to 2,000,000.

Yanovsky called as the turn hit the felt, and Blagg bet 3,100,000. Yanovsky tanked for about a minute and called to see the river complete the board.

Blagg moved all in for 9,500,000, and Yanovsky shook his head and rolled his eyes before agonizingly tossing his hand into the muck and with it the chip lead.

A few hands later, in a limped pot preflop, Yanovsky checked on the flop and Blagg bet 400,000. Yanovsky check-raised to 1,400,000, and Blagg called to see the turn hit the felt.

Yanovsky moved all in for over 11 million, and Blagg snap-called. Yanovsky tabled [8s2s] for straight and flush draws, but Blagg had for bottom set. The river bricked out for Yanovsky, and just like that, the ring was Blagg’s.