Thursday, May 30, 2024 11:18 PM Local Time
Asher Conniff Wins First Bracelet in Event 1: $5,000 Champions Reunion for $408,468
Asher Conniff battled back from a five-to-one chip disadvantage during heads-up play to claim his first WSOP bracelet in Event 1: $5,000 Champions Reunion and picked up the $408,468 winner's purse that came with it. Conniff defeated Halil Tasyurek in a heads-up duel that spanned three levels and saw the Turkish player bag $272,305 for his runner-up spot.
A total of 493 players turned out for the opening event of the 2024 WSOP, which created a prize pool of $2,047,800.
PokerNews had a chance to catch up with Conniff after his momentous victory.
"It's incredible, man, just to not have to think about trying to win one anymore is great, and obviously the money, the experience — it's awesome, I'm so happy," replied an elated Conniff when asked how he was feeling.
"I think one of the advantages that I have is that I've been in live streams and spots before where people can see my cards [on the stream], and there's bright lights, and it's stressful. I've been here before, so I know what to do," said Conniff in response to whether he felt that running deep in previous big tournaments had helped him.
2024 WSOP Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Asher Conniff | United States | $408,468 |
| 2 | Halil Tasyurek | Turkey | $272,305 |
| 3 | Yuzhou Yin | China | $188,342 |
| 4 | Jonathan Pastore | France | $132,545 |
| 5 | Terry Fleischer | United States | $94,936 |
| 6 | David Coleman | United States | $69,231 |
| 7 | Nenad Dukic | Serbia | $51,416 |
| 8 | Michael Acevedo | Costa Rica | $38,903 |
| 9 | Bryce Welker | United States | $29,999 |
The Champions Reunion attracted a wealth of poker talent and offered free entry into the tournament for any previous WSOP Main Event champion. However, the rest of the field were gunning for the champion's scalps as a $10,000 2024 WSOP Main Event seat would be awarded to whoever managed to eliminate one of the previous winners. Four of them managed to make the money with Greg Merson (67th), Daniel Weinman (52nd), Dan Harrington (37th), and Qui Nguyen (21st) all picking up a payday on Day 2.
Day 3 began with ten hopefuls all looking to get their hands on the coveted gold bracelet. Two former bracelet winners were in the field with Aram Zobian and Jonathan Pastore both looking to become two time champions. It was Zobian
who fell first during the opening level when his ace-jack didn't improve against the pocket jacks of Pastore which brought around the unofficial final table of nine.
Terry Fleischer topped the counts coming into the day and had maintained that lead entering the final table. The player that entered the day as the short stack, Bryce Welker, was the first man out of the final table after his king-queen didn't find any help against the ace-queen of the eventual champion and earned himself $29,999 for his efforts.
Michael Acevedo
Michael Acevedo never managed to get anything going on the final day and eventually succumbed to David Coleman after three-bet shoving jack-ten and running into ace-king. The Costa Rican player bagged himself $38,903 for his eighth-place finish.
Serbia's Nenad Dukic came into the day fourth in the counts but was eliminated in seventh at the hands of Fleischer during Level 29. Dukic was all in with king-jack and couldn't catch up to the pocket nines of his opponent and he picked up $51,416.
Coleman's stack had dwindled to nothing more than dust, and he eventually got his chips in with ace-nine, but ran into the ace-jack of Conniff. No help arrived from the dealer which left Coleman on the rail in sixth for $69,231.
Fleischer's chip lead had evaporated, and his stack went in the direction of Halil Tasyurek after a bluff attempt went horribly awry which left the American player on the sidelines but $94,936 richer.
Jonathan Pastore
Pastore's stack had been on a rollercoaster journey throughout the day but when his chips were in the middle in a coinflip situation with pocket fours, the Frenchman's sailboats couldn't hold on against the overcards of Tasyurek. Pastore was ever-so-close to the second bracelet but the $132,545 payday for fourth will make the journey home a bittersweet one.
Yuzhou Yin had laddered up the payouts as best he could but eventually was eliminated at hands of Tasyurek after getting his ace-deuce in against the ace-nine of the Turkish player. No help arrived on the board which meant Yin took the first of the podium spots in third for $188,342.
Tasyurek entered heads-up play with an over five-to-one chip advantage, and it seemed to be only a matter of time before he closed out the tournament and got his hands on the bracelet. It could have been over within minutes of the restart after Conniff got his king-five all in against the ace-seven of Tasyurek but a five on the flop gave Conniff the lifeline he needed.
Halil Tasyurek
Conniff found himself all in and behind once again with king-ten against the ace-ten of his opponent. Just as it seemed the curtains were closing on Conniff's chances of a bracelet, a king on the flop sent his rail into a frenzy and almost evened out the chip stacks.
The pair continued to battle it out, and Conniff eventually took the chip lead for the first time in the heads-up match during Level 32 with an epic ace-high hero call that really swung the pendulum in his direction.
In the final hand of the night, Tasyurek shoved all in with jack-nine and ran into the pocket tens of Conniff. As the rail watched on, a clean runout secured the victory for Conniff which meant Tasyurek had to settle for the runner-up prize of $272,305.
Asher Conniff Wins 2024 WSOP Event 1
That concludes the coverage for this tournament but PokerNews will be reporting on all 99 bracelet events throughout the series so be sure to stay tuned to keep up to date with the latest bracelet action.
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:43 PM Local Time
Halil Tasyurek Eliminated in 2nd Place ($272,305)
Halil Tasyurek moved all in for 5,000,000 on the button, and Asher Conniff snap-called in the big blind.
Halil Tasyurek: [allin]
Asher Conniff:
Two years ago, Conniff also had two tens on the Main Event final table bubble only to lose to flopped quads. No such fate awaited him today, however, as the board ran out to secure him the pot and his first WSOP bracelet.
| Asher Conniff | 24,650,000 | 5,800,000  |
| Halil Tasyurek | 0 | -5,800,000  |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:39 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:34 PM Local Time
Conniff Shoves the River
Halil Tasyurek limped in with and Asher Conniff checked .
The flop came to give Conniff trips as both players checked to the turn. Conniff checked again and Tasyurek bet 300,000 with his two pair.
Conniff called and the fell on the river. Tasyurek bet another 1,200,000 and Conniff this time raised to 7,000,000, enough to put Tasyurek all in.
Tasyurek tanked for a few minutes before giving up his ace as Conniff took down another big pot.
| Asher Conniff | 18,850,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Halil Tasyurek | 5,800,000 | -1,800,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:28 PM Local Time
Conniff Moves Further Ahead With a Rivered
FlushIn a limped pot, Asher Conniff bet 300,000 from the small blind on a flop of and Halil Tasyurek called.
The turn was checked and the fell on the river. Conniff then bet 1,000,000.
Tasyurek called with for two pair, but Conniff had for a flush to win the pot.
| Asher Conniff | 17,050,000 | 1,900,000 |
| Halil Tasyurek | 7,600,000 | -1,900,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:25 PM Local Time
Conniff Takes the Chip Lead With a Big Hero Call
Halil Tasyurek limped in, Asher Conniff raised to 1,050,000, and Tasyurek called.
Conniff bet 600,000 on the flop, and Tasyurek called. Both players then checked the turn.
Conniff also checked the river, and Tasyurek bet 1,800,000. Conniff tanked for several minutes before calling.
Tasyurek showed for missed flush and straight draws, while Conniff turned over and won the pot with ace-high to take the chip lead for the first time in the heads-up match.
| Asher Conniff | 15,150,000 | 3,450,000 |
| Halil Tasyurek | 9,500,000 | -3,450,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:15 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Can't Get Conniff Off a Pair
Asher Conniff limped in and Halil Tasyurek checked his option.
Conniff bet 300,000 on the flop and Tasyurek raised to 900,000. Conniff called.
Both players checked the turn. The river was the , and Tasyurek checked again as Conniff checked back with . Tasyurek mucked for a missed straight draw.
| Halil Tasyurek | 12,950,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 11,700,000 | 1,500,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:07 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Folds the River
Halik Tasyurek limped in from the button with and Asher Conniff checked with .
A flop of saw Conniff check-call a bet of 300,000 by Tasyurek.
Both players checked the turn to see the fall on the river. Conniff led for 750,000 and Tasyurek folded.
| Halil Tasyurek | 14,450,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 10,200,000 | 1,500,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:00 PM Local Time
Conniff Gives Up on the River
Asher Conniff raised to 700,000 on the button and Halil Tasyurek called.
The flop came and Conniff bet 425,000. Tasyurek called.
Both players checked the turn and Tasyurek also checked the river.
Conniff checked back and Tasyurek took the pot with for queen-high as Conniff mucked .
| Halil Tasyurek | 15,950,000 | 1,725,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 8,700,000 | -1,725,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:52 PM Local Time
Conniff Wins the Battle of the Same Hands
Asher Conniff limped in with and Halil Tasyurek checked his option with .
The flop came and Tasyurek check-called a bet of 300,000 from Conniff.
A fell on the turn and after Tasyurek checked, Conniff fired a big bet of 1,500,000, which got a quick fold out of Tasyurek.
| Halil Tasyurek | 14,225,000 | 100,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 10,425,000 | -100,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:49 PM Local Time
Conniff Shoves the River With Kings
Asher Conniff picked up on the button and limped in as Halil Tasyurek checked back .
Conniff bet 600,000 on the flop and Tasyurek called with a pair of sevens.
The turn was the and Conniff bet another 1,575,000. Tasyurek again called and the fell on the river.
Conniff then moved all in for 5,275,000 and Tasyurek tanked for more than a minute before giving up his hand.
| Halil Tasyurek | 14,125,000 | -2,775,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 10,525,000 | 2,775,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:44 PM Local Time
Conniff Makes the Right Call
Halil Tasyurek limped in from the button and Asher Conniff checked his big blind.
Both saw a flop of and Conniff check-called a bet of 300,000.
A board-pairing fell on the turn and both players checked to see the come on the river. Conniff checked, Tasyurek fired out 1,000,000, and Conniff took his time before he made the call.
Tasyurek tabled for just eight-high, but Conniff had the winner with after he flopped a pair of threes.
| Halil Tasyurek | 16,900,000 | -1,600,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 7,750,000 | 1,600,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:39 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Check-Raises With Eight-High
Asher Conniff limped in with and Halil Tasyurek checked back .
The flop came and Tasyurek checked to Conniff who bet 300,000. Tasyurek then raised to 900,000 with eight-high and Conniff quickly folded.
| Halil Tasyurek | 18,500,000 | -500,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 6,150,000 | 450,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:31 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Flops Two Pair and Extends Chip Lead
Asher Conniff limped with and Halil Tasyurek checked behind.
On the flop, Tasyurek checked, Conniff bet 450,000, and Tasyurek check-raised to 1,500,000. Conniff made the call.
When the landed on the turn, Tasyurek bet 1,500,000, and Conniff tossed in a call.
The completed the runout and Tasyurek shoved all in. Conniff snap folded.
| Halil Tasyurek | 19,000,000 | 2,700,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 5,700,000 | -2,650,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:23 PM Local Time
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:17 PM Local Time
Break Time
Players are on a short break. Play will resume shortly.
| Halil Tasyurek | 16,300,000 | -1,825,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 8,350,000 | 1,825,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:11 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Snaps Off Conniff With a Bigger Ace
Asher Conniff limped in, Halil Tasyurek raised to 750,000, and Conniff called.
Both players checked the flop. The turn was the and Conniff bet 550,000.
Tasyurek called and the fell on the river. Conniff then bet 1,300,000 and Tasyurek snap-called.
Conniff had for two pair, but Tasyurek showed for the same two pair with a queen-kicker to take the pot.
| Halil Tasyurek | 18,125,000 | 2,625,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 6,525,000 | -2,575,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:06 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Picks Off Conniff's Bluff
Halil Tasyurek limped on the button and Asher Conniff checked behind.
Conniff checked-called a bet of 250,000 on the flop to see an hit the turn, which went check-check.
The hit the river and Conniff led out for 1,500,000, and Tasyurek snap-called. Conniff tabled for jack-high, and Tasyurek flipped for a pair of fives to win the pot.
| Halil Tasyurek | 15,500,000 | 2,275,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 9,100,000 | -2,325,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 9:01 PM Local Time
Tasyurek Whiffs as Conniff Pulls Closer
Halil Tasyurek raised to 575,000 on the button with and Asher Conniff defended .
The flop gave Conniff top pair and Tasyurek a flush draw. Tasyurek bet 800,000 and Conniff called.
Both players checked the turn as Conniff completed his straight. Tasyurek missed the river and quickly folded once Conniff bet 2,400,000.
| Halil Tasyurek | 13,225,000 | -1,375,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 11,425,000 | 1,425,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2024 8:57 PM Local Time
Conniff Finds a Three-Outer to Deny Tasyurek
Asher Conniff limped from the button and Halil Tasyurek shoved all in. Conniff shrugged his shoulders and called off his last 4,900,000 chips.
Asher Conniff: [allin]
Halil Tasyurek:
Tasyurek was once again on the brink of clinching his first bracelet and just needed to fade the three outs of Conniff in order to do so.
It wasn't a great start for the player from Turkey as Conniff paired his king on the flop.
Only an ace would give Tasyurek victory but neither the turn nor river offered any help and Conniff took a huge pot which reduced the chip deficit.
| Halil Tasyurek | 14,600,000 | -4,400,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 10,000,000 | 4,275,000 |