Congratulations to Phuoc Nguyen, Winner of Mega Millions XVII ($335,889)

 

Phuoc Nguyen raised it up to 4.7 million, and Andrew Dean moved all in. Nguyen snap called, only to be shown some bad news.

Nguyen: [Ad][7s]
Dean: [Ac][Kd]

The flop of [Jc][3s][2d] gave Nguyen no help, but the [2c] on the turn gave him some chop outs. He wouldn't need them though, as the [7h] came on the river to give Nguyen the win.

Dean took the bad beat in stride, shaking hands with Nguyen and congratulating him after. It's not all bad for Andrew Dean. Not only will he be taking home over $186,000, but he also has earned a freeroll into the next Mega Millions in March for being the last Day 2 buy-in player standing.

The night belongs to local player Phuoc Nguyen though! Nguyen will take home a first place prize of $335,889, and will be taking home a big trophy as well. He also will be getting a banner of himself hung up in the tournament area.

Congratulations to Phuoc Nguyen on his victory. We want to thank everyone who came out, especially the Day 2 buy-in players, and helped to make this Mega Millions the biggest one yet!

The action isn't stopping now. The Legends of Poker WPT Main Event starts up tomorrow, so be sure to come back here for all of your updates. Until then, good night from the Bike!

Dean Still Treading Water

Both Phuoc Nguyen and Andrew Dean have been in neutral since Nguyen's massive double up, as Dean is still hovering around 20 million. We just had our first all in and call, but both players had the same two pair on the turn, so that pot was chopped.

The blinds just went up to 600,000-1,200,000, so there should be an all in and a call sooner rather than later. 

Nguyen Doubles In Huge Cooler

Just a couple of hands back from break, Phuoc Nguyen raised to 3.5 million. Andrew Dean reraised to 10.5 million, and Nguyen cut out a four bet of 21 million, and slid it in.

Dean rechecked his hole cards a couple of times before announcing all in, and Nguyen snap called.

Nguyen: [Kc][Kd]
Dean: [Qs][Qh]

Nguyen began to celebrate, but the hand wasn't over yet. The flop of [9s][7h][5c] kept Nguyen in the lead, and the [Ks] on the turn ended the hand.

The chips were counted down, and Nguyen doubled up to nearly 90 million, while Dean tumbled down to 22 million.

Exact Heads Up Chip Counts

During the break, the dealers counted up the exact chip counts in this heads up battle. With the blinds going to 500,000-1,000,000, Andrew Dean has 69.35 million to the 46.6 million of Phuoc Nguyen.

Joe Schulman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($125,790)

Phuoc Nguyen raised it up, and Joe Schulman moved all in for a bit over 10 million. Andrew Dean folded, and Nguyen quickly called.

Nguyen: [Kc][Qh]
Schulman: [Kh][Jc]

Nguyen was in great shape, and his hand held on the [10d][5h][2s][3s][5s] runout.

This gets us to heads-up play, with Dean holding a 85 million to 32 million lead over Nguyen.

Dean Takes Massive Pot From Nguyen

Andrew Dean and Phuoc Nguyen went heads up to a flop of [Kd][Qs][7c]. Dean fired 4 million, Nguyen called, and the [6h] hit the turn. Dean bet again, this time 8.75 million, and Nguyen called again.

The river brought the [5s], and Dean emptied the clip with a bet of 14 million. It only took Nguyen the time to confirm the bet and grab the plaques to slide in the call, and Dean rolled over [Kc][10h] for top pair. Nguyen kicked his hand in, and Dean let out a big sigh of relief as he scooped one of the biggest pots of the tournament.

After that pot, Dean has a massive chip lead, holding 78 million of the 117 million in play.

Henry Hso Eliminated in 4th Place ($93,725)

Henry Hso moved all in for 9.3 million, and Phuoc Nguyen made the call next to act.

Nguyen: [Ac][Qc]
Hso: [Jd][10d]

The board ran down [6h][5s][5d][Kd][4c], and Nguyen's ace high held up to knock out Hso, who will take home $93,000 and change.

This leaves us with just three players: Joe Schulman, Phuoc Nguyen, and Andrew Dean.

Lam Nguyen Eliminated in 5th Place ($71,195)

Henry Hso raised to 1.6 million, and Lam Nguyen moved all in for 5.35 million. Andrew Dean asked for a count, then moved all in, having both players easily covered. Hso tanked for about 30 seconds before folding, and they were off to the races.

Nguyen: [9h][9d]
Dean: [Ac][Qs]

The window card immediately made a difference, as the flop came down [Kh][Qh][8s]. Nguyen was looking for a miracle nine now, but the board finished out [4s] and [8d].

Dean is back in the chip lead after that hand, as the four players continue to play with no talks of a chop yet.

What's on Tap: Start of the Legends of Poker Main Event

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the end for another massively successful Legends of Poker series here at the Bike, as the WPT televised Main Event will be starting up at noon! The buy-in will be $4,000, and players will be starting with 30,000 in chips. This will be the first of three Day 1's played out through Sunday.

In addition to the Main Event, we will also have the third flight of the $240 Big HORSE event at 2 PM, and we will also have a $565 buy-in Survivor Event where the top 10% will be taking home $5,000. It will be a huge day of poker, so be sure to come join us!

Nguyen and Hso Getting Short

Joe Schulman just vaulted up the leaderboard when he picked off a river bluff from former leader Andrew Dean. On the other side of things, Henry Hso and Lam Nguyen are on the short stacks now, with 9 million and 6.8 million respectfully. With just 20 minutes left in the 600,000 big blind level, there should be some fire works soon.

Updated Counts From The Final Five

Blinds: 300,000-600,000 Average: 22.5 million

Andrew Dean - 38 million
Phuoc Nguyen - 32 million
Joe Schulman - 24 million
Lam Nguyen - 10.2 million
Henry Hso - 9.6 million

By the Numbers: $100,000 Guaranteed Big HORSE Flight #2

The second flight in the $100,000 Guaranteed Big HORSE Event drew a total of 67 players, meaning that the top seven will be joining the final nine from yesterday who moved on. Another flight for this event will be starting up tomorrow at 2 PM. Good luck everyone! 

1-7th. $450 + Advance to Day 2 Finals 

Thomas Zanot Eliminated in 6th Place ($54,980)

Thomas Zanot moved all in for his final 6.275 million, and next to act, Andrew Dean made the call to put him at risk.

Zanot: [9s][9d]
Dean: [Ah][10d]

Dean shot out to the lead on the flop of [Ac][5h][4d], and Zanot wasn't able to make the comeback, as the board finished out [5d] and [8h].

Dean takes the chip lead with that pot, upping his stack to 35 million.

Fresh Stacks as the Blinds Go Up

Save for a couple of shoves from short stack Thomas Zanot, there hasn't been much action in this level. Here is how the final six stack up right now, with the blinds having just been upped to 250,000-500,000.

Phuoc Nguyen - 32 million
Andrew Dean - 27 million
Joe Schulman - 17.1 million
Lam Nguyen - 15.5 million
Henry Hso - 10.2 million
Thomas Zanot - 6.8 million

Michael Needle Eliminated in 7th Place ($43,155)

Action folded around to Andrew Dean in the small blind, and he limped in. Michael Needle was in the big blind, and he raised it up to 1.6 million. Dean made the call after some time in the tank, and the flop came down [9s][4h][2h]. Dean checked to Needle, who bet 1.2 million. Dean came back with a check raise to 3.7 million, and Needle made the call.

The turn brought the [3s], and after about 30-40 seconds of though, Dean shoved all in. He had Needle covered, so the bet was for the 8 million or so that Needle had behind. Needle talked to Dean throughout the tank, but Dean remain still and silent the whole time. Eventually, Needle dropped in the call.

Dean: [2d][2s]
Needle: [8c][8s]

Needle needed one of the two remaining eights in the deck to win now, and the [5c] on the river was not one of those two cards. Dean takes the chip lead after that pot, while Needle will have to settle for $43,000 and change for his finish.

Updated Counts on Break

Blinds: 200,000-400,000 Average Stack: 16 million

Phuoc Nguyen - 25 million
Joe Schulman - 18 million
Andrew Dean - 17.3 million
Lam Nguyen - 16.5 million
Henry Hso - 13.1 million
Michael Needle - 12.9 million
Thonas Zanot - 7.5 million

By the Numbers: $1,100 Bounty Event

This morning's $1,100 Bounty Event drew a total 109 players, creating a prizepool of over $100,000. The final 12 players will finish in the money, all locking up at least $1,005, along with their $500 bounties. First place will take home $16,920, and the title!

1. $16,920
2. $10,045
3. $6,205
4. $4,730
5. $3,595
6. $2,890
7. $2,295
8. $1,795
9. $1,375
10-12. $1,005

Michael Ung Eliminated in 8th Place ($33,840)

Michael Ung raised all in for 3 million exactly from under the gun, and it folded to Thomas Zanot in late position. He thought for about 30 seconds before calling, and the rest of the table got out of the way.

Zanot: [Ah][Ac]
Ung: [Ks][Qd]

There wasn't much suspense, as an ace popped right in the window on a flop of [Ad][Qh][7s]. Another seven on the turn ended the hand, and Ung shook hands with everyone as he made his exit.

Nguyen Rising, Ung Getting Short

There hasn't been much movement in the chip counts since Kenneth Haber's elimination in 9th place. Phuoc Nguyen, who started the day with the slight chip lead, has added a couple million to his stack, while Andrew Dean is down a few million.

On the other side of things, Michael Ung has been folding most of the day so far, and is the short stack with just over 10 big blinds.

Kenneth Huber Eliminated in 9th Place ($25,955)

Henry Hso raised to 1 million from under the gun, and it folded around to Kenneth Huber in the small blind. He shoved all in for 3.625 million, and once Hso got the count, he made the call.

Hso: [Ad][Kd]
Huber: [9d][9c]

Huber survived the first two cards of the flop, [5h] and [3s], but the [Ah] was right behind those two cards. Huber was now looking for a two outer, but the board finished out [Jd] and [Ks].

Hso pads his stack, while we get down to our final eight players.

Slow Going so Far

With an average stack of 50 big blinds to start today, and the short stack having just under 20 big blinds, it makes sense that things would be going slowly early on. Over half an hour into play, we have yet to see a showdown or significant pot take place.

With the blinds about to go up to 150,000-300,000 however, we expect that to change shortly.

Cards in the Air: Mega Millions XVII Final Table

The time has arrived to find out who will become the next Mega Millions champion here at the Bicycle Casino. Leading the way is Phuoc Nguyen with just under 21 million, but right behind him is Andrew Dean is right behind him. Dean is already in a great position, as he has already won the Day 2 buy-in last longer, meaning that he has already earned a free seat to the next Mega Millions in March.

Below you will see how the final nine players stack up right now. The winner today will be taking home over $335,000. Good luck players!

Seat 1: Andrew Dean - 20,625,000

Seat 2: Kenneth Huber - 4,900,000

Seat 3: Michael Needle - 11,275,000

Seat 4: Henry Hso - 8,925,000

Seat 5: Michael Ung - 9,550,000

Seat 6: Phuoc Nguyen - 20,725,000

Seat 7: Joe Schulman - 9,875,000

Seat 8: Lam Nguyen - 15,925,000

Seat 9: Thomas Zanot - 14,750,000

Cards in the Air: $100,000 Guaranteed Big HORSE Flight

It's time the second Big HORSE flight here at the Legends of Poker. Yesterday saw the first nine players qualify, and another group of players will be joining them today. Registration will be open until 5 PM today, and the top 10% will be cashing and moving on to the finals, which will be next Tuesday.

LOP Event #18 Return List

Cards in the Air: $1,100 Bounty Event

It's time for another $1,100 buy-in event here towards the end of the Legends of Poker, but this event is a big bounty event. Each player will have a $500 bounty on their heads today, so there should be plenty of action. Registration will be open until 3 PM today. Good luck everyone!

LOP Freeroll Leaderboard List

LOP Event #16 Comeback List