Zhuang Ruan Leads Final Table of $50k U.S. Poker Open Finale; Shannon Shorr and Sean Winter in Contention for Golden Eagle Trophy
The final event of the 2022 U.S. Poker Open, Event #12: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em, took center stage at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the 42-entrant field created a prize pool of $2,100,000.
Zhuang Ruan bagged the chip lead with just over a third of the total chips in play, partially propelled by a hand where he shot up the leaderboard in an aces versus kings cooler which eliminated Nick Schulman late in the day. The players behind him in the counts are Masashi Oya, Shannon Shorr, Dan Smith, Vikenty Shegal, Sean Winter, and Jake Schindler.
Tamon Nakamura currently sits atop the 2022 U.S. Poker Open leaderboard with 588 points. Shorr and Winter are the only players who have an opportunity to overtake him to win the Golden Eagle trophy and $50,000 championship bonus which comes with the 2022 U.S. Poker Open champion title. Nakamura will likely be rooting for fellow Japanese poker player Masashi Oya, as he could deny Shorr and Winter the points needed to surpass him.
Shorr currently has 340 points and Winter has 264 points. Winter will finish on top of the leaderboard only if he wins the final event. Shorr will finish on top of the leaderboard if he wins the final event, although he can also win the 2022 U.S. Poker Open champion title with a runner-up finish, provided Winter doesn’t win.
Event #12: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table |
|||
| Seat | Name | Country | Chip Count |
| 1 | Jake Schindler | United States | 155,000 |
| 2 | Masashi Oya | Japan | 1,570,000 |
| 3 | Sean Winter | United States | 845,000 |
| 4 | Shannon Shorr | United States | 1,090,000 |
| 5 | Dan Smith | United States | 1,005,000 |
| 6 | Zhuang Ruan | United States | 2,810,000 |
| 7 | Vikenty Shegal | United States | 935,000 |
When play resumes, Level 13 will begin with blinds at 15,000/30,000/30,000 and the button will be on Shannon Shorr.
Ali Imsirovic, Nick Schulman, and Chino Rheem made deep runs but were eliminated short of the final table. Phil Hellmuth was in contention for the Golden Eagle trophy, although he lost the rest of his stack against Ruan in a blind versus blind battle.
Justin Young was also eliminated by Ruan shortly after when he lost a flip, and Ruan won another crucial flip against Daniel Negreanu a bit later, knocking Negreanu out of contention for both the tournament and the Golden Eagle trophy.
Seven players remain and only six will earn themselves a piece of the prize pool. Once the bubble bursts, the players will be guaranteed $105,000, but all eyes will be on the $756,000 first-place prize.
The final seven players will return to the PokerGO Studio on Monday, March 28, at 2 p.m. PT with the final table airing on PokerGO.com at 3 p.m. PT.
Connect with PokerGO.com on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use code “ USPO22WEB” for $20 off an annual PokerGO subscription now!
End-of-Day Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuang Ruan | 2,810,000 |
210,000  |
| Masashi Oya | 1,570,000 |
-30,000  |
| Shannon Shorr | 1,090,000 |
-90,000 |
| Dan Smith | 1,005,000 |
-90,000 |
| Vikenty Shegal | 935,000 |
-25,000 |
| Sean Winter | 845,000 |
-185,000 |
| Jake Schindler | 155,000 | - |
Set for Masashi Oya
Zhuang Ruan opened to 40,000 from middle position and Masashi Oya called on the button.
The flop came [ahqhtd] and Ruan check-called a 65,000 bet. Both players checked the [5s] turn.
The [8h] completed the board, Ruan checked, and Oya bet 150,000. Ruan used a time extension and eventually called.
Oya tabled [thts] to claim the pot, as Ruan mucked.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuang Ruan | 2,600,000 |
50,000 |
| Masashi Oya | 1,775,000 |
225,000 |
Dan Smith Adds to Stack
Shannon Shorr opened to 40,000 from the cutoff and Dan Smith three-bet to 125,000 on the button. Action folded back to Shorr who called.
The dealer spread the [qh4s3c] flop and Shorr check-called for 100,000.
On the [tc] turn, Shorr check-folded to a bet of 160,000.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Shannon Shorr | 1,180,000 |
-120,000 |
| Dan Smith | 1,095,000 |
155,000 |
Daniel Negreanu Eliminated in 8th Place
Zhuang Ruan opened to 40,000 in the cutoff and Daniel Negreanu jammed for 280,000 on the button. Action folded back to Ruan who called.
Negreanu: [8c8h]
Ruan: [acjs]
The [as3d2h] flop vaulted Ruan ahead, and the [7c] and [9s] completed the board to eliminate Negreanu in ninth place. Negreanu expressed his displeasure at the negative result of the crucial flip as he exited the studio.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuang Ruan | 2,670,000 |
330,000
|
| Daniel Negreanu | Busted |
-380,000 |
Justin Young Eliminated in 9th Place
Justin Young got his remaining short stack in against Zhuang Ruan.
Young: [9s9c]
Ruan: [asqs]
The board ran out [js8s3dqc6h] and Ruan paired his queen on the turn to eliminate Young in 10th place.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuang Ruan | 1,850,000 |
60,000 |
| Justin Young | Busted |
-240,000 |
Final Table Seating Draw and Chip Counts
Seat 1: Jake Schindler
Seat 2: Justin Young
Seat 3: Masashi Oya
Seat 4: Sean Winter
Seat 5: Shannon Shorr
Seat 6: Dan Smith
Seat 7: Zhuang Ruan
Seat 8: Daniel Negreanu
Seat 9: Vikenty Shegal
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuang Ruan | 1,790,000 | - |
| Masashi Oya | 1,570,000 |
-30,000 |
| Shannon Shorr | 1,300,000 |
15,000 |
| Sean Winter | 1,025,000 |
-240,000 |
| Dan Smith | 940,000 |
15,000 |
| Vikenty Shegal | 610,000 |
-90,000 |
| Jake Schindler | 560,000 |
135,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | 380,000 |
-40,000 |
| Justin Young | 240,000 |
10,000 |
Phil Hellmuth Eliminated in 10th Place
Phil Hellmuth got his 105,000 chips in from the big blind and was at risk against Zhuang Ruan in the small blind.
Hellmuth: [kd6c]
Ruan: [9h8h]
The board ran out [8s4h2d3c3s] and Ruan flopped an eight to improve to the best hand, eliminating Hellmuth in 10th place.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuang Ruan | 1,790,000 |
180,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | Busted |
-120,000 |
Vikenty Shegal vs. Masashi Oya
With roughly 220,000 in the pot on a [kd8c3h2c] board, Masashi Oya bet 85,000 in the big blind and Vikenty Shegal called on the button.
The [9d] completed the board and Oya bet 95,000. Shegal called.
Oya showed [tc3c] and it was no good as Shegal tabled [khjd].
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Masashi Oya | 1,600,000 |
-300,000 |
| Vikenty Shegal | 700,000 |
435,000 |
You're all caught up!
No more pages to load
