2024 WSOP: Phillip Hui Wins Fourth Bracelet in $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Event

The mixed games events have been a staple of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule for several decades, showcasing the best limit players in a variety of formats. Event #35: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. is a true test of versatility, requiring players to excel in Limit Hold’em, Omaha 8, Razz, Stud, and Stud 8.

This year’s event attracted 835 entries, generating a prize pool of $1,114,725, with $193,545 reserved for the first-place finisher. In the end, it was a battle between two mixed game specialists: Phillip Hui, a three-time WSOP bracelet holder, and the 2019 $50,000 Poker Players Championship winner, and Australian Daniel Mayoh, who has racked up impressive results in mixed events in the land down under.

Las Vegas experience could have tipped the scales in Hui’s favor as he triumphed in the heads-up match against Mayoh, securing his fourth career WSOP bracelet. With this win, the former golf pro surpasses the $3 million mark in WSOP earnings.

Several notable names made deep runs in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, including two three-time WSOP winners. Yuri Dzivielevski, who won this same event last year, bowed out early on Day 3 in 19th place ($7,401). Legendary “Miami” John Cernuto, who has had a remarkable series with deep runs in multiple events, finished in 12th place ($9,054). This marks Cernuto’s third deep run in the 2024 WSOP series, having previously finished 10th in the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better and 19th in the $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw.

Event #35: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Final Table Results

Event #35: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Final Table Recap

From a starting field of 835 players entering Event #35: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E., 210 players advanced to Day 2, and after 12 hours of play, 23 players bagged and tagged their chips. Bryan Jolly led the charge into Day 3 with 3 million chips, more than double the stack of the next contender, Xixiang Luo.

Action picked up quickly on the final day, and the final table was formed after only two hours of play. Among the players, Thanhlong Nguyen was in immediate danger with only three big bets left. Despite managing to double up twice, once in Limit Hold’em and once in Omaha 8, Nguyen was eliminated in Razz by Phillip Hui.

The pace then slowed considerably. Start-of-the-day chip leader Jolly was the next to be eliminated. He put his last two bets in Omaha 8 with A♦Q♠8♠4♥, facing Daniel Mayoh’s A♥6♥6♠5♣. The board ran out 10♦4♦K♥9♦10♠, offering no low hand, and Mayoh’s pocket sixes held, sending Jolly out in eighth place.

Two-time bracelet winner Daniel Strelitz’s two pair with (A♣9♠3♠)A♦K♣7♠3♥ were not good enough against Christian Gonzalez’s (A♥9♦8♥)8♦9♥2♦8♣ full house, knocking Strelitz out in seventh place and giving Gonzalez a significant chip lead.

Almost three hours passed before the next elimination, during a round of Razz. Mayoh, Hui, and Luo were in the pot. After a round of checks on the fourth street, Luo bet on the fifth street, and Mayoh called. Both players checked the sixth street, and Mayoh put Luo all-in on the seventh. Mayoh showed 4-5-7-8, while Luo’s board showed A-4-5-T. Mayoh tabled an eight-seven, and Luo’s ten-nine wasn’t good enough, exiting in sixth place.

Hui found another nice starting hand in Seven Card Stud. Kevin Cote was betting with (Q♦9♦)K♣10♥ until the fifth street when Hui made a pair with (10♠8♠)9♠5♣5♠ and a flush draw, leading out and putting Cote all-in. Cote hit a gutshot for a straight, but Hui completed his flush with 3♠, sending Cote to the rail in fifth place.

David Avina, who is still searching for his first WSOP bracelet while being a two-time WSOP Circuit Ring winner, will unfortunately have to wait a bit longer. Although he eliminated short-stacked Gonzalez in fourth place in Limit Hold’em, Avina was the next to go. Hui pulled away, and Mayoh knocked out Avina in Seven Card Stud. All the chips went into the middle on the third street. Mayoh had a pair of threes with 10♣3♥3♠, and Avina hoped to connect with A♦7♠J♥. Avina was drawing dead by the seventh street as Mayoh improved to two pair, sending Avina home in third place.

The heads-up battle between Hui and Mayoh started almost evenly, making it anyone’s game. The lead exchanged several times, but Mayoh was the first to have a chance at his maiden WSOP bracelet. Players went all-in on the fourth street, with Mayoh having a pair of tens with 10♥10♦3♣6♦ and Hui hoping to improve his pair of sevens with 7♣4♥7♠Q♣. Hui caught another seven for trips on the sixth street, while Mayoh did not connect.

This boost allowed Hui to start chipping up and eventually overtake the lead. Mayoh was running on fumes for several hands, managing one double-up but no more. In the last hand, Mayoh put the remainder of his chips on his starting hand Q♠9♦A♠, while Hui woke up with a pair of nines and a blocker with 9♣9♠Q♥. Mayoh picked up a flush draw with 5s and Ts on the fourth and fifth streets but missed the sixth and seventh. Hui bagged his fourth career WSOP bracelet.

Phillip Hui’s four WSOP Bracelets