Poker Legends at WPT Bay 101: Who Has Been Eliminated Before the Final Table

At the WPT Bay 101 stage in San Jose, the finalists have been determined, while famous players, including Phil Hellmuth, have left the tournament. Find out the details of the most exciting hands.

This past weekend, the latest stage of the prestigious World Poker Tour (WPT) Bay 101 Shooting Star series concluded at Bay 101 in San Jose. The tournament, which began with 584 entrants, determined the final six players who will continue to compete for the top prize in December at the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas. A traditional feature of this event is the so-called "Shooting Star bounties"—rewards for knocking out well-known professionals and media personalities, each valued at $2,500. In addition to the cash prize, the winner received a commemorative T-shirt featuring the eliminated player. Tournament Start: Bounty Hunt and Dramatic Eliminations This year, the organizers selected 55 "star" players whose elimination earned a bounty. Each was represented on a special playing card. Among the "stars" were the hosts of the popular PokerNews Podcast —Mike Holtz, Chad Holloway, and Ben Ludlow. Their performances, as well as key tournament hands, were covered in detail by the WPT Live Reporting team, including Mickey Doft, Jim Murray, and photographer Rachel Kay Winter. On Day 1A, at level eight (blinds 600/1,200/1,200), Mike Holtz found himself in a preflop duel with Nicholas Ralph. Holtz, a three-time WSOP bracelet winner, went all-in for his entire stack of 74,000 with K♠K♥ , but Ralph showed A♣A♥ —the only hand stronger than pocket kings. The flop Q♣J♦9♦ gave Holtz a chance to make a straight with a ten, but the turn J♠ and river 6♥ didn’t help. Ralph received $2,500 and a commemorative T-shirt, while Holtz headed home to continue his chase for the WSOP online bracelet leaderboard. The next day (1B), at level five (blinds 300/600/600), Chad Holloway raised from the cutoff to 1,500. Brian Luo, who recently won a WSOP Circuit Atlantic City event and $189,000, reraised from the small blind. Holloway responded with an all-in for 26,000, and Luo called. The players’ cards: Chad Holloway: 10♦10♣ Brian Luo: A♠J♥ The flop J♠5♥4♣ put Luo ahead, and the remaining streets didn’t change the outcome. Luo claimed the bounty, while Holloway took advantage of the re-entry option and returned to play on Day 2. However, shortly after the start of Day 2, Holloway found himself in another tough spot. In the last hand before the first break, he went all-in for 42,000 with K♠Q♥ against A♥A♣ held by Jeff Madsen, a frequent podcast guest. The board A♦9♣6♣8♣3♠ left Holloway with no chance, ending his first appearance at WPT Bay 101. Final Hands of Day 2: Jeff Madsen’s Dramatic Exit Jeff Madsen, who knocked out Holloway, managed to make it to the very end of Day 2 but couldn’t "bag chips." In the last hand of the night, at level 17 (blinds 5,000/10,000/10,000), Madsen went all-in for 125,000 from early position with A♣K♥ . Sean Daniels on the button called with J♦J♠ . The classic coinflip didn’t go Madsen’s way: the board Q♠9♥8♦2♥7♣ didn’t improve his hand. Daniels received a $2,500 bounty, and Madsen finished in 56th place for $10,300. That same day, Ben Ludlow, another PokerNews Podcast host, made it to Day 2 but with a short stack. In the very first hand (blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000), his 39,500 went into the middle against Dan Maor. Ludlow showed 9♦9♥ , Maor had A♠J♣ . The flop K♣Q♥10♣ gave Maor a straight, and despite the K♦ on the turn, the river 4♣ didn’t help Ludlow, who was eliminated from the tournament. Day 3: The Hellmuths’ Exits and the Battle for the Final Table On the third day, Nick Hellmuth exited the tournament in 51st place, earning $11,400. Soon after, his father, the legendary Phil Hellmuth, followed. At level 18 (blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000), Phil went all-in for 290,000 from the button with A♣J♠ against WPT champion Michael Wang’s 9♠9♦ . The flop J♥7♠6♣ put Hellmuth ahead, but the turn 10♦ gave Wang straight outs. The river 9♥ gave Wang a set, and Phil Hellmuth finished in 49th place, also earning $11,400. Key Hand at the Final Table: Double Knockout When 10 players remained, at level 23 (blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000), one of the tournament’s most spectacular hands took place. Chan Zhang raised to 85,000 from the button, after which Aaron Massey went all-in for 1,050,000 from the small blind. Adam Hendrix re-shoved all-in for 1,850,000 from the big blind, and Zhang called, putting both opponents at risk. Aaron Massey: 3♥3♣ Adam Hendrix: A♠J♥ Chan Zhang: K♠K♣ Zhang was a clear favorite and managed a double knockout thanks to the board 10♥7♣5♣2♠5♠ . Thus, he claimed two "Shooting Star" bounties at once and advanced to the final table with the second-largest stack. Payout Table and Key Results The WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star 2024 tournament drew 584 entries. The prize pool and payouts for key participants: 56th place — Jeff Madsen: $10,300 51st place — Nick Hellmuth: $11,400 49th place — Phil Hellmuth: $11,400 The bounty for knocking out a "star" was $2,500. Each player who scored a knockout also received a commemorative T-shirt featuring the eliminated player. Summary of PokerNews Podcast Hosts’ Performances: Mike Holtz — eliminated on Day 1A, losing preflop with K♠K♥ against Nicholas Ralph’s A♣A♥ Chad Holloway — eliminated on Day 2 after two entries, both times losing preflop all-in Ben Ludlow — eliminated in the first hand of Day 2, losing a coinflip with 9♦9♥ against Dan Maor’s A♠J♣ Context: What is WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star and Why is the Tournament So Popular? WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star is one of the most recognizable stops on the World Poker Tour, held at Bay 101 Casino in San Jose. The main feature of the tournament is the "Shooting Star" format, where famous professionals sit at the tables and knocking them out earns a special reward. This adds extra motivation for participants and makes the game more exciting to watch. This year, there were 55 such "star" players, each marked with a special playing card. The tournament traditionally attracts a strong field, including WSOP bracelet holders, WPT champions, and popular poker media personalities. The bounty format allows even less experienced players a chance at a big payout for knocking out a pro, not just for making the money. The tournament’s final table will be held in December in Las Vegas as part of the grand finale of the WPT World Championship, further elevating the event’s status. Key Hands and Explanation of Terms For readers unfamiliar with poker terminology, here are some key concepts: Bounty — an extra reward for knocking a specific player out of the tournament. All-in — betting all your remaining chips. If you lose the hand, you’re eliminated from the tournament. Preflop — the betting round before the first three community cards (the flop) are dealt. Coinflip — a situation where the odds of winning are roughly equal (for example, a pair versus two overcards). Stack — the number of chips a player has. Blinds — mandatory bets made by two players before the cards are dealt to stimulate action. Most of the key eliminations in this tournament happened preflop, when players went all-in with strong hands but were outdrawn or lost a "coinflip." Phil Hellmuth’s exit was especially dramatic—he was ahead on the flop but lost to a set on the river. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star experience offers several practical lessons. First, the bounty tournament format is a great way to spice up your game and add extra motivation. Even if you’re not in contention for the top prize, knocking out a strong opponent can bring a significant reward and a sense of accomplishment. Second, the tournament’s events highlight the importance of discipline and proper stack management. Many pros, including Holloway and Holtz, were eliminated after risky all-ins with strong but not unbeatable hands. It’s a reminder that even experienced players aren’t immune to losing "coinflips," and it’s important to pick the right spots to commit your chips. Finally, playing in tournaments with famous players and media personalities isn’t just a chance to win money—it’s an opportunity to test yourself against the best. PPPoker clubs regularly host bounty tournaments where you can get a similar experience without leaving home. Keep an eye on the schedule and don’t miss your chance to become a "bounty hunter" in your own club!