In a thrilling conclusion to Event #30: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em / Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Alen Bakovic emerged victorious after a captivating final table showdown. The Canadian, well-known for his engaging table talk and affable demeanor, bested Brian Keith Etheridge in an exhilarating heads-up duel, securing his first WSOP bracelet and a hefty $207,064 prize.
The event, which saw an impressive turnout of 3,351 participants, shattered previous records and generated a substantial prize pool of $1,709,010.
Event #30: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em / Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alen Bakovic | Canada | $207,064 |
| 2 |  Brian Keith Etheridge | Latvia | $138,051 |
| 3 |  Olegs Buiko | United States | $101,682 |
| 4 |  Sergio Benso | Italy | $75,518 |
| 5 | Quan Tran | United States | $56,557 |
| 6 | Marcus Ruiz | United States | $42,715 |
| 7 | Joseph Couden | United States | $32,537 |
| 8 | Daniel Goldberg | United States | $24,997 |
| 9 |  Jianqiang Yu | China | $19,371 |
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Bakovic entered the final day with a stack of 1,460,000 chips and skillfully maneuvered his way through the field to reach the final table. As the tournament progressed, Bakovic and Etheridge began to distance themselves from the rest of the competitors. Their heads-up battle was characterized by lively banter and mutual respect, with Bakovic eventually clinching the win.
Winner’s Reaction
Surrounded by friends and mentors, Bakovic expressed his gratitude and elation upon winning the bracelet. “These guys made it easy for me,” he remarked, crediting his support team for keeping him calm and focused throughout the event.
Reflecting on his journey, Bakovic shared his appreciation for the guidance and encouragement he received from his poker community. Having played poker since 2006, he relished the challenge of mastering Pot-Limit Omaha, a relatively new addition to his repertoire.
Final Day Action
The final day began with 145 players, swiftly narrowing down to three tables within five hours. Despite being the second-shortest stack at the three-table redraw, Bakovic demonstrated resilience and skill to position himself as a strong contender.
Known for his humor and camaraderie, Bakovic lightened the atmosphere with jokes and stories, which many players found refreshing in the high-pressure environment. By the time the final table was set, Bakovic held a commanding chip lead over Etheridge.
The final table saw a series of eliminations, with Bakovic knocking out Jianqiang Yu in ninth place, followed by Daniel Goldberg in eighth. Joseph Couden and Marcus Ruiz were next to fall, unable to recover from their short stacks.
In the latter stages, Bakovic faced setbacks as Olegs Buiko and Quan Tran doubled through him. Tran, who had eliminated Goldberg, eventually fell to Etheridge in a Pot-Limit Omaha hand. Etheridge then ousted Sergio Benso before Bakovic regained the chip lead by tripling through Etheridge with a rivered flush in another Pot-Limit Omaha hand.
Despite Etheridge narrowing the gap with another elimination, sending Buiko to the rail in third place, his run concluded in the heads-up match against Bakovic. The decisive hand saw Bakovic flop a set, sealing his victory and the coveted bracelet.
* Images and hands courtesy of WSOP and PokerNews
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