Event #54: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER No-Limit Hold'em

Argentina's Franco Spitale has emerged victorious in Event #54: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em at the 2024 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas for $1,250,125 and his first gold bracelet. He defeated Justin Carey in a heads-up battle that spanned more than two levels. Moments after achieving millionaire status, PokerNews asked Spitale how he felt about joining such an exclusive club:

"It's still, it's hard for me to believe it. You know, it's too much. Really? I dreamed about this all my life. I promised my little girl, I have a daughter called Emma that the next trophy would be for her, so this trophy is for her."

Spitale topped a record-breaking field of 10,939 entrants to secure the lion's share of the $14,603,565 prize pool. Before this score, Spitale had earned over $680,000 in live tournament winnings, with his largest cash of $102,944 occurring just a year ago. This seven-figure score marked Spitale's first cash at this year's WSOP. When asked about his plans for other events this summer:

"The main event, of course, I am qualified, so maybe that, maybe not. Let's see tomorrow. I want to know when I wake up."


Final Table Results

Final Table

The final table of ten was reached yesterday, with Spitale as the commanding chip leader. Adam Croffut was the first to fall when his ace-jack suited failed to improve against Alex Kim's cowboys. Croffut earned $108,320 for his tenth-place finish.

Owen Savir was the next to be eliminated just an orbit later. As the table short stack, he put in the last of his chips with ace-ten, but ran into Carey's pocket nines. Carey hit a set of nines on the flop, ending Savir's run. Savir collected $137,150 for his efforts.

Carey caused the next final table casualty, eliminating Kim in eighth place after his pocket sixes held up against Kim's ace-queen. Although Kim was understandably disappointed at his exit, a career-best score of $174,800 softened the blow.

Jason Hickey started the final table last in chips with just one big blind. He dug in, battled hard, and maneuvered his way up the pay ladder until his ace-king failed to win against Stephen Dauphinais' jack-ten, ending his deep run in seventh place for $224,270.


Day 5 Action

When the day started, just six players remained, all of whom were guaranteed at least $289,630. The top two spots on the podium locked up a seven-figure score, hence why the tournament was named the Millionaire-Maker.

Charles Kersey started the day with just nine big blinds, knowing he needed the cards to go his way to make a surge up the leaderboard. After just one orbit of play, Kersey went all-in from the button with ace-jack, only to find himself in a flip against Dauphinais' pocket tens. The board provided no help for Kersey, and he took home $289,630 for his sixth-place finish.

Dauphinais had looked to be the most aggressive at the table, regularly raising and three-betting in the first few orbits. His aggression paid off when he three-bet over a Spitale open with queen-seven of hearts and then felt compelled to call a shove from Harvey Jackson. Dauphinais continued his sun run in this event by flopping a flush against Jackson's Big-Slick. Unfortunately for Jackson, no miracle runner-runner boat appeared, leading to his exit in fifth place with $376,470 for his accomplishment.

The remaining four players had locked up at least half a million dollars. They were only three more eliminations away from more than doubling that sum and winning the prestigious bracelet.


Paul Saso entered the final day second from the bottom with just eleven big blinds. Today, he boosted his earnings by almost a quarter of a million dollars. Unfortunately, the cards didn't fall favorably for Saso when he shoved his last two big blinds into the middle with ace-eight against Carey's ten-eight. A ten in the window spelled the end for Saso, leaving him shy of a podium finish in fourth place, taking home a cool $500,110.


When three-handed play began, less than one big blind separated the remaining players. Dauphinais was the first to gain a noticeable chip lead over his opponents after his aggressive style earned him many small pots. However, a few untimely bluffs saw him go from first to last on the leaderboard, losing a significant portion of his chips when his two pair fell to Spitale's turned straight. Dauphinais' end came at the hands of the eventual champion Spitale, as his king-jack suited was unable to improve against Spitale's ace-queen, taking home $651,040 for his third place finish

Carey started heads-up play with a slight chip lead, but Spitale quickly gained momentum and regained the pole position. Spitale continued to chip away at Carey's stack, steadily extending his lead. Spitale's sharp focus was evident despite the rowdy crowd, especially when he correctly value bet deuces over two streets, persuading Carey to call him down with just king-high.

In the final hand of the tournament, Carey limped-jammed from the button with pocket deuces, only for Spitale to call with ace-ten. Carey seemed poised to reclaim the chip lead after flopping a set on the ten-high board. However, an ace on the turn gave Spitale hope as he improved to two pair. As fate would have it, Spitale hit a boat on the river with the ace of hearts, cementing Spitale's name in the history books as the biggest-ever Millionaire Maker champion. Showing true professionalism, Carey took the beat on the chin and congratulated his opponent, walking away with $1,001,170 for his runner-up finish.

Spitale was asked about how his rail helped him along the way to becoming a WSOP champion:

"They gave the energy to continue when things didn't went that well, the rail was crazy!"

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the 2024 WSOP!

Justin Carey limped in from the button. Franco Spitale raised to 14,000,000 from the big blind. Carey then decided to go all in and Spitale called.

Justin Carey:   
Franco Spitale:   

Carey appeared to have a lock on the hand when the dealer fanned a     flop.

Spitale started to catch up on the   turn card.

Spitale's rail was shouting for a ten, but were still overwhelmed with joy when the   fell on the river giving Spitale a full house and a WSOP bracelet. Spitale's rail showered him in beer and began a celebration that will no doubt last for some time.

Franco Spitale	274,000,000	98,500,000
Justin Carey	0	-98,000,000

Justin Carey raised to 6,000,000 from the button with    and Franco Spitale defended the big blind with   .

The     flop got checked through for the   to come on the turn. Spitale led out for 9,000,000 and Carey folded.

Justin Carey	140,500,000	-15,000,000
Franco Spitale	133,000,000	15,000,000

Justin Carey raised to 6,000,000 from the button and Franco Spitale defended from the big blind.

The flop came     and the action checked through to see the   come on the turn. Spitale bet 17,500,000 and Carey calls.

The river came the   and the action checked through. Carey showed    for a pair of fives, which was good as Spitale had   .

Justin Carey	176,500,000	31,500,000
Franco Spitale	97,000,000	-31,500,000

Justin Carey limped in with    and Franco Spitale raised to 10,500,000 with   . Carey called and they headed to the flop.

The flop came     and Spitale checked. Carey bet 9,000,000 and Spitale folded.

Franco Spitale	145,500,000	25,000,000
Justin Carey	128,000,000	-25,000,000

Franco Spitale limped in from the button. Stephen Dauphinais then shoved all in from the small blind for 37,000,000 and was at risk. Justin Carey folded and Spitale made the snap call.

Stephen Dauphinais:   
Franco Spitale:   

The      runout left Dauphinais asking for his one time on the river, unfortunately for him the dealer placed the   on the river, sending Stephen Dauphinais to the payout desk in third place after an impressive run in Event #54. Carey and Spitale are now both guarantied a million dollar payday. One of these competitors will also walk away with a gold bracelet.

Franco Spitale	147,000,000	43,000,000
Justin Carey	127,000,000	-12,000,000
Stephen Dauphinais	0	-31,000,000

Franco Spitale raised to 5,000,000 from the button and Stephen Dauphinais called from the small blind.

Dauphinais checked the     flop and Spitale opted to check-back.

Dauphinais led out for 6,000,000 on the   turn, and Spitale called.

The river came the   which saw the action check through. Dauphinais won the pot with    for two pair. Spitale had    for just top pair.

Franco Spitale	105,400,000	-18,500,000
Justin Carey	104,700,000	1,300,000
Stephen Dauphinais	63,600,000	17,200,000

Franco Spitale raised from the button to 5,000,000, and Justin Carey defended the big blind.

Carey checked the     flop and Spitale bet 3,500,000. Carey called, and they went to the turn.

The   on the turn saw Carey check-call a bet of 11,500,000 from Spitale.

The river came the   and the action checked through. Carey won the pot with    for a pair queens, as Spitale mucked   

Franco Spitale	104,900,000	-22,500,000
Justin Carey	104,700,000	21,300,000
Stephen Dauphinais	64,100,000	1,200,000