Jake Schindler wins Wynn Millions Opener for $166,600

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Jake Schindler brushed off a money-bubble exit at the Aria a few days ago to bounce back with a win in the Wynn Millions opening event, picking up $166,000 in the first of five high roller tournaments to be held over the next week.

With 30 unique players accounting for 49 entries at $10k per head, seven of them would make the money, but that would still leave many of the game’s biggest names out in the cold.

Sean Perry couldn’t keep up his run of final tables from last week’s Aria series, while Daniel Negreanu was also unable to reproduce his recent final table run.

Ivan Zufic, who took down the third of the Aria high rollers last week, busted short of the money, as did Erik Seidel and Cary Katz, and it was Thomas Boivin who bubbled the paid spots...

Boivin: A♣ 6♦
Elias: 5♦ 3♦

Flop: 10♥ 4♣ 3♣
Turn: 5♠
River:8♥

♥ ♦ ♣ ♠

That elimination gave Elias the chip lead, which he extended by busting Chris Brewer in 7th spot, and then a huge 3-way all-in hand followed that effectively ended Ali Imsirovic’s tilt at the win.

Cheong: 6♦ 6♥
Elias: A♥ K♥
Imsirovic: A♣ A♠

Flop: 5♦ 2♦ 3♣
Turn: 7♣
River: 6♣

The river tripled Cheong’s stack, and the now-crippled Imsirovic bust in 6th spot next hand, taking home $29,400 for his efforts.

A resurgent Cheong then sent both Sean Winter and Byron Kaverman to the rails, and a short while later it was heads-up as Elias had to settle for 3rd spot and $73,500.

Schindler had a clear chip lead having busted Elias, and Cheong could do little to turn the tide, the final hand reversing that earlier “lucky” river hit...

Cheong: K♠ 7♦
Schindler: 9♣ 8♥

Flop: A♠ A♥ 7♠
Turn: 2♣
River: 8♣

That gave Cheong a $107,800 payday as runner-up, with Schindler taking $166,600 for the win. The Pennsylvania-born pro is now just a small cash away from overtaking Daniel Colman in 14th spot on the all-time tournament money-winner’s list.

Final results

Event 2 of the 5-tournament Wynn Millions High Roller Series kicks off today with a $15k buy-in and we’ll bring you all the best of the action and results tomorrow, so be sure to check in!