From time to time, a poker efficiency comes alongside that’s so absurd, it leaves even essentially the most seasoned grinders speechless.
Over the weekend on WSOP On-line, one such second occurred within the WSOP On-line Championship sequence when a participant underneath the display identify “StayGoldBaby” — actual identify Ivan Ruban — pulled off a fully jaw-dropping feat in a $1,000 buy-in Excessive Curler Thriller Bounty occasion.
Not solely did Ruban win the event, however he additionally managed to assert each single bounty on provide, all 14 of them, ending up with greater than 60% of the complete prize pool, one thing extraordinarily uncommon.
The $1,000 buy-in occasion, a part of the continuing WSOP On-line Championship sequence, got here with a $50,000 assured prize pool and attracted a complete of 61 entries, together with 25 re-entries, producing a complete prize pool of $57,950.
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Whereas the sector wasn’t large by on-line poker requirements, the truth is, 61 whole entries is a comparatively small turnout, it nonetheless featured loads of robust regulars. And small area or not, what occurred subsequent was nothing wanting unbelievable.
As is customary for Thriller Bounty tournaments, the primary portion of the occasion performed out as a daily event till Degree 19, when the Thriller Bounty part got here into play — by that time, solely 15 gamers remained. That’s when the story took a wild flip.
A As soon as-in-a-Lifetime Run
Ruban, taking part in underneath “StayGoldBaby,” didn’t simply navigate his means by means of the ultimate stretch — he completely steamrolled it. As soon as the bounty portion started, he went on a rampage, knocking out each single remaining opponent.
Sure, all 14 eliminations have been his.
Ruban’s thriller bounty haul was nothing wanting spectacular. He bagged the $5,000 prime bounty, two price $3,000, 4 price $2,000, and 7 further prizes price over $850 every.
Altogether, his bounty earnings got here to $25,000, actually the complete bounty pool. On prime of that, he pocketed $10,708.75 for his first-place end, bringing his whole winnings to $35,708.75 or almost 62% of the complete $57,950 prize pool.
Usually, event winners stroll away with round 15% to twenty% of the prize pool. For one participant to scoop over thrice that and take each single bounty alongside the way in which is nearly unprecedented.
In fact, the smaller area dimension made such a sweep theoretically doable — in a large multi-thousand-player area, it could be virtually unattainable for one participant to gather all bounties. However even in a 61-entry event, to win each single one requires an ideal storm of fine playing cards, good timing, and a little bit poker magic.
Poker Neighborhood Reacts: “Insanely Spectacular”
Naturally, the poker group was fast to take discover. The jaw-dropping consequence made its means onto X (previously Twitter) the place fellow professionals and followers chimed in with a mixture of awe, disbelief, and humor.
Properly-known poker professional, Michael Bohermwald, from New Jersey, was among the many first to focus on the unbelievable feat, calling it “one of many best event performances I’ve seen.”
One other revered New Jersey grinder, Michael Gagliano, identified on-line as “Gags30,” echoed the sentiment, describing Ruban’s run as an “insanely spectacular feat that will by no means be replicated.”
Nonetheless, Gagliano additionally used the chance to make a broader level concerning the format itself, including:
“One may counsel that that is fairly foolish to even be doable, and that it is a superb instance as to why thriller bounties are fairly dumb, particularly in smaller area occasions.”
It’s a truthful critique and one which has been echoed by others in the neighborhood who really feel the thriller bounty format can produce wild, unbalanced outcomes, significantly when the participant pool isn’t massive sufficient to unfold the variance.
No matter the place one stands on the thriller bounty debate, it’s unattainable to disclaim the sheer improbability and brilliance of Ruban’s efficiency.
Successful any excessive curler occasion is an achievement in itself, however knocking out each single participant as soon as bounties activate is one thing few, if any, have ever achieved in recorded on-line poker historical past.
