Chance Kornuth Wins the $10K Heads-Up Title for $133,000

2024 Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 40
$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Entries:  28
Prize Pool:  $266,000
April 15 – 16, 2024

Chance Kornuth

Showdown Event 40 was a 10,000 buy-in Heads-Up tournament, the first time we’ve run this format since the 2016 SHRPO series and our first-ever $10K buy-in. The tournament drew 28 entries for a prize pool worth $266,000 with the final four making the money.

Chance Kornuth took the top spot after defeating six-time Hollywood (and WPTDeepStacks) champ Scott Baumstein. Kornuth earned $133,000 for the victory and his second major Hollywood title.

1st: Chance Kornuth – $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: Scott Baumstein – $66,500
3rd: Stoyan Madanzhiev – $33,250
4th: Landon Tice  –  $33,250

Event 40: Chance Kornuth ($133,000) Defeats Scott Baumstein ($66,500)

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts

Chance Kornuth

Scott Baumstein limped his button for 4,000 and Chance Kornuth said “all in”. Baumstein called at risk for 64,600 and they were racing.

Baumstein: KcQh
Kornuth: 8d8c

Baumstein had two live cards to double up but needed to improve. Instead, it was Kornuth who made a better hand with a set on the 8s6c3s flop. Baumstein was drawing dead to the Th turn and 2c river to earn $66,500 for second place.

Kornuth took the top prize of $133,000 plus his second Hollywood trophy.

1st: Chance Kornuth – $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: Scott Baumstein – $66,500
3rd: Stoyan Madanzhiev – $33,250
4th: Landon Tice  –  $33,250

Scott Baumstein

Event 40: Chance Kornuth Pulls into Big Lead

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  2 of 28

Chance Kornuth

With the flop reading As9s4h, Chance Kornuth checked, Scott Baumstein bet 5,000 from the button and Kornuth called. The turn was Js, Kornuth checked, Baumstein continued for 17,000 and Kornuth called.

The river was Kh, Kornuth checked again, and Baumstein bet 52,000. Kornuth thought for two minutes, check-raised to 195,000 and it was Baumstein’s turn to think it through.

He talked to himself through the hand and tried to get Kornuth to talk. Baumstein called and they both flipped up their hands.

Kornuth: Ks5s
Baumstein: Ts6s

Both turned a spade flush but Kornuth was best with the nut flush to take the huge pot.

Seat 1: Scott Baumstein – 81,000
Seat 2: Chance Kornuth – 559,000

Event 40: Scott Baumstein Evening Things Out

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  2 of 28

Scott Baumstein

Scott Baumstein limped his button and Chance Kornuth raised to 15,000. Baumstein limp-raised to 37,000 and Kornuth called.

The flop came AcTd3c, Kornuth checked, Baumstein bet 18,000 and Kornuth folded.

Seat 1: Scott Baumstein – 311,600 (156 bb)
Seat 2: Chance Kornuth – 328,400 (164 bb)

Event 40: Finals Match Underway

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  2 of 28

The $10,000 Heads-Up final match is underway between Chance Kornuth and Scott Baumstein. They are each guaranteed at least $66,500 with $133,000 to the winner.

Both are staring with 320K stacks and the blinds are 800/1,600.

1st: $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: $66,500
3rd: Stoyan Madanzhiev – $33,250
4th: Landon Tice  –  $33,250

Event 40: Scott Baumstein Defeats Stoyan Madanzhiev

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  2 of 28

Scott Baumstein

With 12,000 in the pot and the board reading Tc9d2cQd, Stoyan Madanzhiev bet 25,000 and Scott Baumstein raised to 125,000. Madanzhiev thought for several minutes and called at risk for 95,900.

Madanzhiev: Qc9c
Baumstein: Jh9s

Madanzhiev was way ahead with two pair queens and nines (plus a club draw) and Baumstein was drawing thin to win this hand. He had six outs for a straight (clubs bad) and got there on the 8h river to eliminate Madanzhiev.

Baumstein will now face Chance Kornuth in the final match at 3 pm for the $133,000 top prize.

1st: $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: $66,500
3rd: Stoyan Madanzhiev – $33,250
4th: Landon Tice  –  $33,250

Stoyan Madanzhiev

Event 40: Chance Kornuth Defeats Landon Tice

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  3 of 28

Chance Kornuth

Landon Tice limped his button, Chance Kornuth raised to 7,000 and Tice moved all in for 57,100. Kornuth thought for a minute, smiled at Tice, and called.

Kornuth: AsAc
Tice: KhQs

The two friends had a laugh about the slowroll and Kornuth’s aces held on the Qc5d3c6h7s board. Tice was eliminated in fourth place while Kornuth moved on to the finals against either Scott Baumstein or Stoyan Madanzhiev.

1st: $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: $66,500
3rd: $33,250
4th: Landon Tice  –  $33,250

Landon Tice

Event 40: Scott Baumstein Leads Stoyan Madanzhiev

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  4 of 28

Scott Baumstein

With the flop reading Ks9d5s, Stoyan Madanzhiev checked, Scott Baumstein bet 2,100 and Madanzhiev called. The turn was 5d, Madanzhiev led for 2,700 and Baumstein raised to 12,500.

Madanzhiev called, the river was 3s, Madanzhiev checked, and Baumstein bet 42,000. Madanzhiev thought for a few minutes and folded.

After the hand, the two decided to take a quick break.

Seat 1: Scott Baumstein – 174,600
Seat 2: Stoyan Madanzhiev – 145,400

1st: $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: $66,500
3rd: $33,250
4th: $33,250

Event 40: Chance Kornuth Continues to Lead

$10,000 Heads-Up NLH (32 Max)
Structure | Payouts
Players Remaining:  4 of 28

Chance Kornuth and Landon Tice decided to take a quick break to use the facilities and return with Kornuth still holding a big lead in their match.

Seat 1: Landon Tice – 99,400
Seat 2: Chance Kornuth – 220,600

Meanwhile in the other match, Stoyan Madanzhiev and Scott Baumstein are back in a virtual dead heat with small blinds and deep stacks.

1st: $133,000 + Showdown Trophy
2nd: $66,500
3rd: $33,250
4th: $33,250