Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold'em

The United Kingdom's Jamie Walden triumphed in Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold'em at the 2024 World Series of Poker, held at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Walden secured his first gold bracelet and a top prize of $313,370 after defeating Naseem Salem in a heads-up match that spanned over four levels. Shortly after his victory, PokerNews asked Walden about his feelings on winning the bracelet.

"I'm feeling exhausted to be honest. Well, I'm feeling amazing. I slept badly last night, and I kept waking up dreaming of poker hands. I only slept four hours or so I think."

Walden outlasted a field of 1,119 entrants to claim the lion's share of the $1,970,906 prize pool. This victory saw Walden nearly tenfold his previous best score, bringing his live tournament winnings to just under $500,000. When asked about his future plans, Walden said he will be playing more, but that he prioritizes family.

"I play quite a bit on the UK tours so I think potentially one or two in the UK. I was meant to be going to Barcelona, but it's my daughter's first day of school, so obviously, family comes first"

Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

Final Table

Denmark's Henrik Juncker knew he had the most work to do today, as he came into the final table with just five big blinds. He put them to work on just the third hand of play by three-bet shoving ace-six over a Walden open. Walden had pocket nines, which held up, sending Juncker to the rail in ninth place for $25,559.

Not long after Juncker's exit, Akinobu Maeda was eliminated in eighth place for $33,006. Maeda's bustout was far more brutal than Juncker's, as he slow played aces and was punished by David Stamm's flopped set.

It took another 40 minutes of play for the next elimination. Unfortunately for Christopher Stevenson, he was the player finishing in seventh place, taking home $43,275 for his efforts. Stevenson shoved from the small blind for roughly seven big blinds with ace-ten but ended up second best to Walden's king-queen from the big blind.

The only final table player with a WSOP bracelet was Germany's Martin Finger, who won one back in 2013. Coming into the final table as one of the shortest stacks, he would have been pleased to have moved up a few places on the pay ladder. His exit in sixth place came at the hands of Stamm after his ace-two couldn't improve against the ace-seven of Stamm, pocketing $57,594 for his impressive deep run.

The next elimination came almost instantaneously after Fingers. Ankit Ahuja had ducked and weaved his way so far at the final table to stay alive. But just before the break, Ahuja found the perfect spot to shove from the small blind with only Adam Hendrix to get through in the big blind. Hendrix peeled back two ladies and made the call. There was no miracle for Ahuja, and he would make his way to the cashier's desk to claim $77,787 for his fifth-place finish.

The remaining four players had all secured themselves a six-figure payday. Next to depart was the $25K fantasy player Hendrix, who jammed all-in with king-two from the small blind, only to be called by Salem from the big blind holding ace-four. Hendrix didn't improve enough to win and had to settle for a score of $106,598.

With three players remaining, Stamm found himself as the shortest stack. When it folded to him in the small blind, he put his last six blinds into the middle with pocket queens. Salem made the call with fours from the big blind and managed to spike a set on the turn to seal Stamm's departure in third, collecting $148,143 to add to his bankroll.

When heads-up play started, the stacks of Walden and Salem were almost even, with the chip lead going back and forth regularly. However, after about an hour of play, Walden found himself on the ropes with more than a 2:1 chip deficit. PokerNews asked Walden how he felt at that point and what helped him keep his composure.

"I was just trying to make good decisions the whole time. Where I play poker at home, I've got a sign that says 'make good decisions'. That's my mantra. It doesn't matter how many chips you got, if you are trying to make good decisions, then what will be will be."

Walden followed that motto as he made good decision after good decision, slowly chipping up before eventually regaining the chip lead. In the final hand of the tournament, Walden check-raised all-in with a flush draw and was called by Salem with two pair. Walden spiked his flush on the turn to take a commanding lead, and when the board didn't pair on the river, he and his rail erupted in jubilation at his victory and his new status as a WSOP bracelet winner. Walden told PokerNews how he planned to celebrate:

"I am actually leaving tomorrow. I was supposed to be leaving today, but this got rescheduled. So we'll probably go for dinner and yeah"

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold'em. Stay tuned for more coverage as the 2024 WSOP draws near to a close.

Naseem Salem raised to 2,500,000 from the button and Jamie Walden called out of the big blind.

Walden check-called a bet of 2,000,000 on the     flop.

Both players checked when the   hit the turn. The   came on the river and Walden fired a bet of roughly 8,000,000. Salem quickly folded and Walden dragged in the pot.

Jamie Walden	21,900,000	8,900,000
Naseem Salem	12,100,000	-8,900,000

Welcome to the Poker Hall of Fame: Patrik Antonius.

With a distinguished career and over $23 million in career earnings, Antonius embodies everything that the Poker Hall of Fame stands for, having played high-stakes poker against some of the greatest players of his generation and gained the respect of both cash game and tournament players alike.

"In the modern era of poker, few have been as bold and fearless as Patrik Antonius," said Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the World Series of Poker. "A force both online and live, we're thrilled to see Patrik's high-stakes career acknowledged by legends who have added the first international player to the Poker Hall of Fame in a number of years."

Antonius is the first European player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since the late David "Devilfish" Ulliott in 2017. He's also the first living European to be inducted since 2008 when holecard camera inventor Henry Orenstein was inducted.

According to the WSOP, Antonius edged "Miami" John Cernuto and Isai Scheinberg in the voting to secure his 2024 nomination.

Read the Full Story Here

Jamie Walden called from the button and Naseem Salem checked out of the big blind.

Salem led out for 1,000,000 on the     flop and Walden called.

The turn came the  . Salem bet 1,600,000, which Walden called.

Salem slowed down and checked when the   came on the river. Walden bet 6,100,000 and got a quick fold by Salem.

Jamie Walden	20,500,000	5,900,000
Naseem Salem	13,500,000	-5,500,000

Naseem Salem called from the button and Jamie Walden checked out of the big blind.

Both players checked the     flop to see the   hit the turn. Walden check-folded to a bet of 1,000,000 from Salem.

Jamie Walden	18,500,000	-1,500,000
Naseem Salem	15,100,000	1,500,000

Jamie Walden limped from the button and Naseem Salem checked out of the big blind.

Salem check-called a bet of 800,000 from Walden on the     flop.

The   on the turn and   on the river got checked down. Salem showed    for a pair of tens to win the pot.

Naseem Salem	21,500,000	5,000,000
Jamie Walden	12,100,000	-5,000,000

After some back and forth, Jamie Walden decided to go all in with   . Naseem Salem called with   , setting up a classic race situation.

As the cards were revealed, Salem reassured Walden, saying, "You're safe, you're safe," predicting a double up for his opponent.

His prediction proved accurate as the flop came down    , giving Walden a pair of kings. The turn and river didn't change the outcome, securing the double-up for Walden, who was visibly pleased with the result.

Jamie Walden	17,100,000	8,500,000
Naseem Salem	16,500,000	-8,500,000

Jamie Walden went all in and got an immediate call from Naseem Salem upon seeing his cards.

Naseem Salem:   
Jamie Walden:   

The flop came down    , which was unfavorable for Walden, giving Salem a commanding lead with trip aces.

The   on the turn offered a glimmer of hope for Walden, potentially completing a straight, but the   on the river sealed his fate, and Salem doubled up.

Naseem Salem	25,000,000	12,300,000
Jamie Walden	8,600,000	-12,300,000