Event #64: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack was one of the most accessible tournaments at the 2024 World Series of Poker, attracting one of the largest fields this year with 5,263 entries. The tournament, held at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, saw Christopher Moen outlast this massive and competitive field over two days, culminating in a swift heads-up battle against Thomas Kuess on Day 2. The final showdown was brief, lasting only ten hands, with Moen securing the win and a prize of $289,323, along with his first WSOP bracelet. Kuess took home $192,809 for his second-place finish.
Event #64: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Moen | $289,323 |
| 2 | Thomas Kuess | $192,809 |
| 3 | Cody Chung | $143,258 |
| 4 | August Smrek | $107,289 |
| 5 | John Ricksen | $80,996 |
| 6 | Cal Nailn | $61,642 |
| 7 | Daniel Hirose | $47,295 |
| 8 | Guilherme De Castro | $36,586 |
| 9 | Vance Isono | $28,536 |
| 10 | Kevin Madar | $22,444 |
100% up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus
Join our club for the best KKPoker deal!
New Customers Only | 18+ | T&C Apply
“It wasn’t easy,” Moen admitted, reflecting on his journey to victory. “I had to get lucky; I wouldn’t even be here if I hadn’t spiked one with pocket tens against queens earlier in the day. It’s just how it is.“
However, luck was only part of the equation. Moen applied relentless pressure on his opponents, leveraging both his skills and favorable situations to maintain his lead. This combination of luck and strategic play ultimately led to his success, marking his largest career win to date. Despite being a regular poker player, Moen maintains a full-time job in South Dakota as a charter bus driver and only intended to play a few events in Vegas with his nephew, who supported him throughout the tournament.
Day 2 Action Recap
Day 2 began with players aggressively pushing their stacks, resulting in over half the field being eliminated by the first break. As the action intensified, the field quickly narrowed down to the final three tables, and by the time they moved to the Horseshoe Event Center, the ‘Thunderdome’, only 27 players remained. John Ricksen led the charge into the final table after eliminating Francis Beauregard in 11th place.
Final Table Highlights
The final table saw Moen quickly asserting dominance. He and Ricksen first eliminated Vance Isono in ninth place, with Moen then taking down Guilherme De Castro in eighth when his A♠K♣ outperformed De Castro’s A♣J♣. Moen continued to accumulate chips by eliminating Daniel Hirose in seventh with his A♠8♠ against Hirose’s A♥10♠, catching a pair of eights on the turn.
Ricksen‘s fortunes dwindled as he doubled up both August Smrek and Cody Chung. Smrek‘s A♦A♣ crushed Ricksen‘s K♣J♣, and Chung‘s A♠K♦ bested Ricksen‘s J♣10♦, leaving Ricksen short-stacked. Ricksen then faced Moen with 7♠9♠ but lost to Moen‘s A♠3♣, resulting in a fifth-place finish for Ricksen.
Moen eliminated Cal Nailn in sixth place when his A♦10♣ hit a ten on the turn against Nailn‘s K♦3♦. Moen continued his streak by knocking out Smrek in fourth with Q♠8♠, forming a pair to defeat Smrek‘s A♣J♥.
In a critical hand, Kuess doubled through Moen with a rivered straight, which gave him the momentum to eliminate Chung in third place when his Q♥3♥ overcame Chung‘s A♠8♦ by making a pair of eights.
Heads-Up Battle
Entering heads-up play with a 2:1 chip advantage, Moen quickly concluded the match. In a raised pot, Kuess moved all-in with 9♦10♣ after a checked flop, but Moen snap-called with K♠10♠, already holding two pair. The river ace sealed Kuess‘ fate, crowning Moen as the new WSOP bracelet winner and awarding him the top prize of $289,323.
FREE $55 Ticket + 100% up to $1,200 Bonus
Sign-up for the best WPTGlobal deal!
New Customers Only | 18+ | T&C Apply
100% up to $600 Bonus or $100 Free Tickets&Cash
Sign-up for the best GGPoker deal!
New Customers Only | 18+ | T&C Apply
* Images and hands courtesy of WSOP and PokerNews
