Brian Yoon Takes Down WSOP Monster Stack for $1,094,349

The World Series of Poker found massive success with the Monster Stack format a couple of years ago when it debuted. The 2017 field saw 6,717 entrants juice a $9 million prize pool play out over five days and Brian Yoon won his third career WSOP bracelet and $1,094,349.

“This one’s a lot better because honestly, you don’t expect to win one and you win one,” Yoon said. “You don’t expect to win a second one and you a second one. Then the third one..it’s been a few years.”

“Getting this one in 2017 feels really good – it’s my biggest score ever,” he said. Yoon’s third bracelet was also his 22nd WSOP cash for $2.7 million. Yoon’s first bracelet came in the 2013 $1,111 Little One for One Drop that had 4,756 entrants for $663,727. He followed that up in 2014 with winning the prestigious $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Eight Max event $633,341 against a final table that featured Josh Arieh, Mustapha Kanit and Dan Smith.

Winner in dramatic fashion for a 3rd bracelet and over a million dollars!! Can’t believe it. Thanks all for the love!

— Brian Yoon (@byoonz) June 29, 2017

“I think the way I approach this type of tournament is really good and I’m really well-suited for it,” Yoon added. “I think I do a lot of things, a lot of little adjustments that other people don’t do.”

“I don’t feel that emotion right now – I know I just won a million dollars right now, which is life-changing result,” Yoon said. “It’s just so weird – my heart’s not even pumping and we just finished minutes ago.”

The final day of play saw 20 players returning for a spot at the final table and it took the field about five hours to reach the final table. 

“I’ve always kind laughed at Daniel Negreanu’s Choice Center declarations thing, but for this tournament I decided to declare my intention to bag a certain a number of chips,” he said. “And I did that every day to our chat group. Then every day I kept bagging, then this morning I said my intention is to win to day – so maybe Negreanu is onto something.”

“For the rest of the Series I think I’m gonna go pretty hard because I might be able to be in contention for Player of the Year,”* he said. “The thing about this year is that you don’t need to play Mixed , you just need a big score in a tournament like this.”

Brian Yoon can take a few more shots following his big win. (Photo: PokerPhotoArchive.com)
“I already have four other cashes this summer. I guess I wouldn’t play anything extra, but I would definitely not skip all the No Limit tournaments – play all the flights of the $888 tournament,” he said. “I would go for it if it’s attainable because when else am I going to have this chance without playing Mixed ?”

Salvatore (Sal) DiCarlo bubbled the final table in 10th place while Scott Baumstein and Scott Montgomery both made deep runs to the final two tables. 

Final Table Payouts

1. Brian Yoon – $1,094,349
2. Ihar Soika – $675,995
3. Stanley Lee – $501,353
4. Ryan McKnight – $374,515
5. Yuliyan Kolev – $281,800
6. Maurice Hawkins – $213,591
7. Thomas Ryan – $163.087
8. Richard Ma – $125,451
9. Will Failla – $97,223

*Editors Note: Brian Yoon moved into 13th place in the WSOP POY Standings with 463.16 following his win.