Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)

Christopher Vitch has won his third gold bracelet here at the 2024 World Series of Poker in Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as he topped the field of 2,212 entries.

It took three days for Vitch to take home the lion's share of the $1,946,560 prize pool, earning $262,734 for his hard work as he denied runner-up Thomas Taylor his first gold bracelet.

Although Vitch is better known for his skills in mixed-game varieties of poker, he has demonstrated his ability to compete in Pot-Limit Omaha as well. "I'm not as experienced in PLO, so I just relied on my instincts," he said.

"It's a strange day," Vitch explained, as two years ago on this day his mom passed. "It feels kind of incredible, that it worked out that I won a random tournament on this day."

He put on an impressive showing as he started the day only slightly behind chip leader and two-time bracelet winner David Prociak. It didn't take long for him to pull away from the competition and never look back.

Final Table Results

Final Day Action

Only eight players returned for Day 3 and it didn't take long for the action to heat up as it only took a few hands before Germany's high-roller Christopher Frank fell short-stacked as he ran into Prociak's boat. He only had two big blinds remaining and was eliminated by the eventual runner-up Taylor the next hand.

It was quickly becoming the Vitch show as he began amassing pot after pot. Despite being one of the two chip leaders alongside Prociak, he showed no hesitation in engaging head-to-head battles. This included a pivotal moment in Level 30 when he flopped a full house against Prociak and took a significant portion of his chips.

Vitch was relentless throughout the entire day, engaging in as many pots as possible. His aggressive style lead to him eliminating both Ioannis Angelou Konstas (6th – 51396), and Jay Harwood (5th –$68,702).

As three-handed play began, Prociak and Taylor had similar stacks while Vitch remained the dominant favorite. Prociak began rebuilding his stack but was ultimately denied his third bracelet when his wrap couldn't overcome Taylor's pocket kings. This set the stage for the final two players to enter heads-up play.

Canadian poker professional Taylor began heads-up play as a nearly three-to-one underdog, initiating a back-and-forth battle. Taylor seemed to be making a comeback after winning a few pots, but his run ended when he rivered a queen-high flush against Vitch's king-high flush.

Vitch is playing a full schedule this summer and says he is headed to celebrate by jumping straight into Event #53: $3,000 Nine Game Mix. "I'm excited that I have a win under my belt, but I have plenty more events to play."

That concludes the PokerNews live reporting from this event, but several other tournaments are currently taking place in which a WSOP gold bracelet is up for grabs.

Thomas Taylor limped on the button and made the call after Christopher Vitch raised to 750,000 from the big blind.

Vitch led out on the     flop, sliding a bet of 800,000 into the middle. Taylor did not take long to muck his hand, as Vitch added to his chip lead.

Christopher Vitch	37,700,000	800,000
Thomas Taylor	6,500,000	-800,000

Thomas Taylor opened 500,000 and Christopher Vitch three-bet to 1,500,000. Taylor called.

When the     flop hit the felt, Vitch continued for 800,000 and Taylor snap-folded.

Vitch tabled    for a flopped full house before mucking his other two cards.

Christopher Vitch	39,100,000	1,700,000
Thomas Taylor	5,100,000	-1,700,000

Thomas Taylor opened to 500,000 on the button and Christopher Vitch called in the big blind to the     flop.

Taylor and Vitch both declined to bet and the dealer revealed the   turn. Vitch led out for 400,000, taking down the pot as Taylor quickly folded.

Christopher Vitch	35,600,000	400,000
Thomas Taylor	8,600,000	-400,000

Christopher Vitch counted out a raise to 750,000 on the button and Thomas Taylor made the call in the big blind.

The dealer fanned out a flop of    , with Taylor checking to his opponent. Vitch slid out a bet of 600,000, good enough to take down the pot as Taylor moved his cards into the muck.

Christopher Vitch	34,100,000	700,000
Thomas Taylor	10,100,000	-700,000

On the opening hand of heads-up play, Thomas Taylor raised to 500,000 on the button and Christopher Vitch defended his big blind.

Vitch checked the     flop, with Taylor sliding out a continuation bet of 500,000.

That was enough to take down the pot as Vitch mucked.

Christopher Vitch	33,600,000	1,600,000
Thomas Taylor	10,600,000	-1,640,000

Christopher Vitch opened to 500,000 on the button and Thomas Taylor made the call in the big blind.

Taylor checked the     flop, calling after Vitch fired 300,000 into the middle. Both players then checked the   turn.

Taylor tapped the table again after seeing the   river, where Vitch slid out a bet of 900,000. Taylor took some time before mucking his hand.

Christopher Vitch	31,000,000	4,500,000
Thomas Taylor	9,200,000	-1,600,000
David Prociak	4,450,000	-1,650,000

Thomas Taylor limped in the small blind and called a raise of 600,000 from Christopher Vitch.

The dealer spread a flop of     and Taylor check-called a bet of 400,000.

When the   hit the turn, both players checked to see the   on the river.

Taylor checked once more before being faced with a bet of 1,100,000 from Vitch and took a few seconds before dropping a chip across the line.

Vitch announced ace-high and Taylor rolled      to drag the pot.

Christopher Vitch	25,300,000	-2,600,000
Thomas Taylor	10,400,000	2,100,000

Thomas Taylor called in the small blind and called again after Christopher Vitch raised to 600,000 in the big blind.

Taylor checked the     flop, with Vitch continuing for 500,000.

After a moment, Taylor let his hand go and Vitch raked in the chips.

Christopher Vitch	28,400,000	1,500,000
Thomas Taylor	8,400,000	-400,000