Andrew Moreno set himself two poker-related goals in April. Moreno wanted to break through the $1 million barrier for career earnings and enjoy a seven-figure prize that he had chased for so long.
He achieved the first last month when he won a $1,100 buy-in event at the Venetian, Las Vegas, for $127,740. Moreno chalked off number two in spectacular style by besting a 1,328-strong field in the inaugural Wynn Millions for $1,460,106.
Moreno sat down at the final table seventh in chips but doubled with Ks-Kc versus the Qc-7s of Clayton Maguire. The timely double, on the 30th hand of the final table, gave him more room to manoeuvrer.
Everyone jumped up a payout when Lion Yiming Lee crashed out in ninth. Julian Milliard-Feral opened to 425,000 from early position, Salim Admon called in the cutoff and Lee three-bet all-in for 2,475,000. Milliard-Feral called, and Admon folded. It was Kc-Qs for Lee and 7h-7s for Milliard-Feral. A final board reading 7s-Ad-6h-6d-8d sent Lee to the showers.
The experienced Joe Kuether busted in eighth for $240,302. Kuether committed his last six big blinds from the small blind with Qc-4h. Jaime Cervantes called with Ac-7h, which held despite a dramatic 9h-Js-Th-2c-As board.
Moreno Locks Up Career-Best Score; Hunts For a Million
Kuether’s exit locked up a career-best score for Moreno, but he wanted more. He got his wish when British pro Toby Lewis dispatched Cervantes in seventh. Lewis opened to 500,000 with As-Kh, Cervantes responded with a 1,325,000 bet with Qd-Qs. Lewis four-bet jammed, and Cervantes called of the 5,000,000 chips he had behind. Cervantes fell behind on the Ks-7s-Ad flop and failed to connect with the 2h turn or 4d river.
Lewis sent Philip Shing home in sixth place with $360,140 to show for his efforts. Lewis open-shoved from the small blind with Kd-8h, Shing called off his last eight big blinds with Jc-9c, and the five community cards fell 6s-4s-3s-4c-7s.
Fifth place and $456,629 went to Milliard-Feral during the 150,000/300,000/150,000a level. Milliard-Feral ripped in his 4,550,000 stack with Ac-Qh, and Lewis called with Ts-Tc. The Frenchman busted when the board ran 3h-5h-6c-4c-8h.
Moreno improved his position when he sent Admon to the rail. Moreno min-raised with Qs-Qh before snap-calling when Admon three-bet all-in with 9h-9d. A 5s-7c-4c-Qc-Js board was no help to Admon, and he banked $619,160.
Final Three Players Strike a Deal
The final three players played out a couple of hands before pausing the clock and striking a deal. The deal guaranteed the trio a seven-figure prize, with $100,907 more for the runner-up and $313,000 for the champion.
Lewis bowed out in third place, a finish good for $1,235,204; a career-best for the Brit. Lewis jammed for 30 big blinds with 3c-3d, and Maguire called with Ah-Kc. Maguire’s ace-king improved to the best hand on the river of the 9s-7d-Tc-Td-Ks board.
That hand gave Maguire a 30,145,000 to 22,975,000 chip lead over Moreno. Moreno ran an audacious triple-barrel bluff, and it seemed to tip the battle in his favor.
The 215th hand of the final table was the last one of the night. Maguire moved all-in for 5,500,000 (18 big blinds) with Ac-Kc, and Moreno called with As-Qs. Both players improved to a pair on the Ks-5s-Qd flop. The Qh turn improved Moreno to trip queens, and the 8d river sealed the deal. Maguire walked away with $1,443,757 while Moreno collected $1,460,106 and the winner’s trophy.
2021 Wynn Millions Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Moreno | United States | $1,460,106* |
| 2 | Clayton Maguire | United States | $1,443,757* |
| 3 | Toby Lewis | United Kingdom | $1,235,204* |
| 4 | Salim Admon | United States | $619,160 |
| 5 | Julian Milliard-Feral | France | $456,629 |
| 6 | Philip Shing | United States | $360,140 |
| 7 | Jaime Cervantes | United States | $289,361 |
| 8 | Joe Kuether | United States | $240,302 |
| 9 | Lion Yiming Lee | United States | $202,765 |
*reflects a three-handed deal
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Matthew Pitt
If it’s something you can play online for real money, chances are Matthew knows a bit about it. He’s been writing about slots, craps and poker for the better part of the last decade. He’s written for PokerNews, PartyPoker and many other respected online gambling websites during the last nine years.