It wasn’t hard to find the excitement in the room.
“Royal Flush!” a player screamed near the back of the Horseshoe tournament room. “I have a Royal Flush!”
“Congratulations,” a tournament director jokingly announced over the public address system. “The Main Event is over.”
The comment drew laughter from multiple tables in the room, and by the time PokerNews arrived at table #552 in the Orange section, the betting action was over.
But all the players at the table were smiling, laughing and taking photos of the board, which showed 7♣3♦10♣Q♣K♣. Also showing were David Clarke’s A♣J♣.
“Runner-runner Royal Flush!” David Clarke explained with a wide smile.
According to multiple players, including Clarke, at the table, Clarke’s opponent flopped a set with 10♥10♦. The chips moved in after the flop, Clarke said.
Clarke was short stacked before the hand began, and the flop provided the action with his opponent’s top set against Clarke’s nut flush draw. Clarke needed a club, but he hit the jackpot with Q♣ on the turn and K♣ on the river for poker’s highest hand.
The win also allowed Clarke to double up before the next break.
Ryan Depaulo raised to 4,500 in middle position and was called by the button and the big blind.
When the flop came K♥9♦8♦, the big blind checked, and Depaulo continued for 4,500. The button made the call and the big blind mucked.
The A♥ hit the turn, and Depaulo checked before his opponent jammed all-in for about 38,000. Depaulo snap-called by dropping a chip across the line and tabling his hand.
Button: A♦4♦
Ryan Depaulo: K♠8♠
Depaulo had flopped two pair but was still dodging plenty of outs as his opponent turned top pair and the nut flush draw. The 6♥ river wasn't one of his opponents outs though as he hit the rail.