Event 23: Ben Tollerene Wins Outright for $163,944

2018 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event 23

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries: 117
Prize Pool: $555,750
January 23, 2018

Ben Tollerene

Event 23 of the 2018 Lucky Hearts Poker Open was a $5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) tournament. A total of 117  entries generated a prize pool of $550,750, more than doubling the $250,000 guarantee. The final table produced a talented bunch and, in the end, it was Ben Tollerene who outlasted them all for an outright win worth $163,944.

For Tollerene, it was his second six-figure score of the day. He finished in third place in Event 20, the $25K High Roller, earlier in the day for $248,438. His scores today also pushed him past the $5.3 million-dollar mark in career live tournament winnings according to the Hendon Mob poker database.

“I completely bricked off PCA (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure), and was down a bunch. I think I won it all back today, so it feels great.”

A regular in the High Roller and Super High Roller scene, Tollerene liked the opportunity to work on his craft in lower stakes. He began the final table as the chip leader, and he navigated his way through to emerge victoriously.

“I focused really hard on this $5K and I’m really proud of that, because it’s not the biggest stakes for me. I tried to work on my game, and it feels great to get rewarded for that.”

Results:
1st: Ben Tollerene – $163,944
2nd: Andrey Plotnikov – $101,424
3rd: Wenhao Ying – $60,577
4th: Ramon Miquel – $38,903
5th: Philip Consolo – $29,455
6th: Olivier Busquet – $24,453
7th: Mark Radoja – $21,119
8th: Pablo Fernandez – $18,618
9th: Ben Yu – $16,395
10th: Victor Figueroa – $14,450
11th:  Armando Balbi –  $14,450
12th: Stephen Chidwick – $14,450
13th: Jeff Trudeau Jr. – $12,504
14th: Lander Lijo – $12,504
15th: Michael Simkins – $12,504

Event 23: Andrey Plotnikov – 2nd Place ($101,424)

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Level 25: 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1  of 117

Andrey Plotnikov

Andrey Plotnikov took the chip lead from Ben Tollerene briefly, but ultimately finished in second place.

On the final hand, Tollerene limped on the button. Plotnitkov raised all in for 722,000 from the big blind, and Tollerene called instantly.

Tollerene: KsKh
Plotnikov: Ad9h

The board came down Kc5c2s7d8h, giving Tollerene a set of kings to seal the deal.

Plotnikov finished runner-up for $101,424.

Event 23: Wenhao Ying – 3rd Place ($60,577)

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Level 24: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2  of 117

Wenhao Ying

Ben Tollerene raised to 50,000 from the button, and Wenhao Ying called from the big blind.

The flop came down 9d8d3c, Ying shoved for 177,000, and Tollerene confirmed the amount before he called.

Ying: Js7c
Tollerene: QdJc

Both had draws, but Tollerene was in the lead with queen high.

The 2h turn and Kh river changed nothing, ending Ying’s tournament in third place for $60,577.

Wenhao Ying – Eliminated

Event 23: Ramon Miquel – 4th Place ($38,903)

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Level 23: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 117

Ramon Miquel

Ben Tollerene raised from the button, Ramon Miquel reraised all in for about 295,000 from the big blind, and Tollerene called

Tollerene: 10s10c
Miquel: As6c

The board came down Kd7s2sQs7c, no help to Miquel, ending his tournament in fourth place for $38,903.

Ben Tollerene – 660,000 (33 bb)
Ramon Miquel – Eliminated in 4th Place ($38,903)

Event 23: Philip Consolo – 5th Place ($29,455)

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 117

Philip Consolo

Andrey Plotnikov raised to 36,000 from the button, Philip Consolo reraised all in for 147,000 form the small blind, and Plotnikov called.

Plotnikov: AsQc
Consolo: KsQh

The board came down 10s6s6c3d2d, no help to Consolo, ending his tournament in fifth place for $29,455.

Andrey Plotnikov – 850,000 (53 bb)
Philip Consolo – Eliminated

Event 23: Wenhao Ying Doubles Through Ben Tollerene

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 117

Wenhao Ying raised all in for 173,000 from the cutoff, and Ben Tollerene isolated with a shove of his own from the button.

Ying: AhJs
Tollerene: Ac8c

The board came down Qd5d2c2d7h, safe for Ying to double up.

Wenhao Ying – 380,000 (24 bb)
Ben Tollerene – 185,000 (12 bb)

Event 23: Andrey Plotnikov Doubles Through Ben Tollerene

$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Level 20: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 117

Ben Tollerene raised from the button, Andrey Plotnikov three-bet to 80,000 from the small blind, and Tollerene called.

They checked to the turn of an AcJd3cAs board where Plotnikov bet 57,000. Tollerene called.

The river was the 4s, Plotnikov shoved for 195,000, and Tollerene tanked for a bit before he called.

Plotnikov showed JhJs for jacks full of aces, besting Tollerene’s KsKd to double up.

Andrey Plotnikov – 669,000 (67 bb)
Ben Tollerene – 290,000 (29 bb)