2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 29: 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Song Kun O was in the hijack and raised to 375,000. Josh Beckley was on his direct left in the cutoff and called. The button and blinds released and there was heads-up action to the flop.

Flop: — Kun O C-bet 600,000. Beckley called.

Turn: — Kun O quickly jammed 2,130,000. Beckley had the all-in bet verified. It was confirmed at 2,130,000 and Beckley cut the sum out of his stack leaving himself about 800,000 behind. Beckley called and Kun O was at risk.

Beckley: for ace-queen high with flush and straight draws
Kun O: for king-10 high

River:

Beckley’s ace-queen high was good in the 6,400,000-chip pot. Kun O was eliminated while Beckley stacked a pile of chips.

“Good call,” Kun O managed.

“Thank you,” Beckley responded.

Beckley’s chip-leading stack amounted to about 30 percent of the chips in play.

Beckley – 7,200,000
Song Kun O – Eliminated in 8th place ($14,404)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 29: 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Juan Mubarak was in middle position and opened to 180,000. It was on Josh Rittenberg in the hijack and he three-bet all-in for 1,230,000. Next up was Gary Flur in the cutoff who shoved for less — roughly 950,000. The button and blinds folded and it was back on Mubarak. Having both players covered, he had a decision on his hands, but folded. Flur was at risk against Rittenberg.

Flur:
Rittenberg:

Runout:

The ace fell in the window giving Rittenberg a winning pair. Flur’s queens went bust and he was eliminated in ninth place earning $10,166.

Josh Rittenberg – 2,650,000
Gary Flur – Eliminated in 9th place ($10,166)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Bienvenido was in middle position and opened to 260,000. Action mucked to Josh Beckley in the big blind and he moved all-in having Santiago easily covered. Santiago called off and was racing for his tournament life.

Beckley:
Bienvenido:

Runout:

Beckley’s pair faded the board and Bienvenido was eliminated in 10th place. Beckley grew his chip lead.

Josh Beckley – 4,650,000
Bienvenido Santiago – Eliminated in 10th place ($6,620)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 27: 25,000/50,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

A total of eight busouts have occurred over the last roughly 30 minutes and the Escalator $560 is down to the final 10. Here’s a look at how they stand:

Seat 1: Bienvenido Santiago – 1,365,000
Seat 2: Paul Balzano – 2,700,000
Seat 3: Josh Rittenberg – 1,830,000
Seat 4: Gary Flur – 1,700,000
Seat 5: Song Kun O – 2,425,000
Seat 6: Josh Beckley – 3,360,000
Seat 7: Larry Klur – 2,240,000
Seat 8: Edgar Varas – 2,500,000
Seat 9: GT Jack Sumner – 2,400,000
Seat 10: Juan Mubarak – 1,750,000

1st – $120,622 + $3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Seat
2nd – $72,020
3rd – $44,043
4th – $36,841
5th – $30,470
6th – $24,653
7th – $19,390
8th – $14,404
9th – $10,166
10th – $6,620

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 27: 25,000/50,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Steve Karp – Eliminated in 11th place ($6,620)

Mark Nahama – Eliminated in 12th place ($6,620)

Ivan Starostin – Eliminated in 13th place ($6,620)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 27: 25,000/50,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 13 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Bienvenido Santiago opened to 225,000 and a shortstacked Brian Hastings moved all-in. Santiago called and Hastings was at risk.

Santiago:
Hastings:

Runout:

Santiago’s kings held and Hastings was eliminated in 14th place. With more than $2,600,000 in career earnings, Hastings boasted the second highest earnings of any player left in the event (bested only by 2015 WSOP Main Event runner-up Josh Beckley).

Brian Hastings – Eliminated in 14th place ($4,432)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 27: 25,000/50,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 14 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Kobi Ribak – Eliminated in 15th place ($4,432)

Adam Horowitz – Eliminated in 16th place ($2,964)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 26: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 16 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

In a three-way all-in, Oleksandr Vaserfirer was at risk along with Josh Rittenberg. Adam Horowitz had both players covered and had the opportunity for a double bustout.

Rittenberg:
Vaserfirer:
Horowitz:

Runout:

Rittenberg spiked a set and tripled up. Vaserfirer was sent home 17th for $2,964 while Horowitz’s stack took a hit.

Preceding Vaserfirer to the rail in 18th place was Kharlin Sued.

Josh Rittenberg – 2,350,000
Adam Horowitz – 870,000
Oleksandr Vaserfirer – Eliminated in 17th place ($2,964)
Kharlin Sued – Eliminated in 18th place ($2,964)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 26: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 19 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Following Craig Witz’s 19th-place elimination, two tables remain in the Escalator $560. GT Jack Sumner leads with 3,575,000 chips.

1st – $120,622 + $3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Seat
2nd – $72,020
3rd – $44,043
4th – $36,841
5th – $30,470
6th – $24,653
7th – $19,390
8th – $14,404
9th – $10,166
10th-12th – $6,620
13th-15th – $4,432
16th-18th – $2,964

GT Jack Sumner – 3,575,000
Craig Witz – Eliminated in 19th place ($2,493)

2018 Escalator Series (Week 4)
$560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed
Level 26: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 19 of 1,108 | Structure | Payouts

Aaron Mahlfeldt open-shoved for 520,000 and Song O called putting him at risk.

O:
Mahlfeldt:

Runout:

O’s pair was good and Mahlfeldt was eliminated in 20th place earning $2,493. Preceding him on the rail in 21st for the same figure was Brett Bader.

Song O – 955,000
Aaron Mahlfeldt – Eliminated in 20th place ($2,493)
Brett Bader – Eliminated in 21st place ($2,492)