
Day 3
James Mendoza Finishes Runner-Up For $450,000

While the players are still talking about the last hand, Stephen Song jams his massive stack and James Mendoza double checks his cards before making the call.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
SS Stephen Song | J♥3♣ D | 48,000,000(120 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | K♠Q♦ BB | busted |
Bad news for Mendoza after falling behind on the flop 3♦ 7♥ 2♣ and not being able to catch up when the board completes 7♦ J♦ . He still takes home the biggest cash of his career that stood at just over $300K until today for finishing 3rd at the 2023 WSOP Bracelet Event #59.
Stephen Song Slowly Grinds Down His Opponent
After some back and forth in the last few hands and James Mendoza down by a little bit, he limps T♦ 6♣ and Stephen Song opts to check again with 5♦ 3♥ . Song check-calls a 500,000 bet to the 3♠ turn that gets rejected and the board completes J♦ . Song forks out a massive 3,000,000 over-bet and Mendoza doesn't buy it, making the call with the aid of a time bank. Some friendly banter between the two contenders follows before they focus on the next hand.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 45,000,000(113 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,300,000(8 BB) |
Mendoza Claws Back A Few Chips
James Mendoza limps 6♥ 2♥ and Stephen Song opts to check for the flop 5♦ 9♦ 2♣ that gets rejected for a free turn 3♣ where Song tries to steal with an 800,000 lead, but Mendoza pays up. The board completes Q♠ with both players checking and Mendoza's bottom pair coming out on top.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 40,000,000(100 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 7,600,000(19 BB) |
Stephen Song Back In Control

Aside from a preflop scoop with a four-bet and a walk for James Mendoza every other hand went to Stephen Song who increased his lead to a 7:1 now.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 42,000,000(105 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 5,800,000(15 BB) |
James Mendoza Starts Heads Up With Aggression

A limped pot gets checked to the turn 8♣ T♥ 7♣ 2♥ where James Mendoza bets 800,000, Stephen Song check-raises to 2,200,000, but decides to let go of J♦ 2♠ after Mendoza jammed for a total of 6,100,000 with Q♥ 8♠ .
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 39,000,000(130 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 9,200,000(31 BB) |
Chip Count Last 2 Players Remaining

Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 41,000,000(137 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 6,400,000(21 BB) |
Marius Gierse Out In 3rd With Big Slick For A $320,000 Payday

Right after doubling up, Marius Gierse opens 600,000 with from the button, small blind Stephen Song ups it to 2,000,000 and big blind James Mendoza cold four-bets to 5,500,000. Back to Gierse, all-in for 8,800,000 is announced and Stephen Song successfully isolates with a jam of his own.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | A♠K♥ D | busted |
SS Stephen Song | J♥J♣ SB | 41,000,000(137 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | A♥K♦ BB | 6,400,000(21 BB) |
No help for the German online crusher on 3♣ T♦ 2♥ Q♣ 6♥ sees him vacate his seat and the table gets prepared for the very lopsided heads-up.
Chip Count With 3 Players Left
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 30,000,000(100 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 13,000,000(43 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 5,100,000(17 BB) |
Chip Count Update
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 21,000,000(70 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 16,000,000(53 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 6,900,000(23 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 3,900,000(13 BB) |
Patrik Demus Dominated And Out In 5th For $170,000

Under the gun James Mendoza lays out 600,000, cutoff Patrik Demus ups it to 2,500,000 and fills up for a total of 5,700,000 after Mendoza put him all-in.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
JM James Mendoza | J♦J♥ UTG | 16,000,000(53 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 8♠8♣ CO | busted |
Digging for two outs with his bare hands, Demus improves to a four outer on Q♦ 6♥ 9♦ J♠ but the river Q♠ makes his elimination official, banking the biggest win of his career.
Chip Count Update With 5 Players Left
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 20,000,000(67 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 8,900,000(30 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 7,600,000(25 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 6,900,000(23 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 4,700,000(16 BB) |
Latest Chip Count
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 15,000,000(50 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 9,700,000(32 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 7,600,000(25 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 6,900,000(23 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 4,700,000(16 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,000,000(13 BB) |
Chip Count Update
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 12,000,000(40 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 9,700,000(32 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 7,600,000(25 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 6,900,000(23 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 4,700,000(16 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,000,000(13 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 2,600,000(9 BB) |
James Mendoza Chips Back Up
First to act Stephen Song makes it 500,000 and takes two players to the flop 5♠ 6♠ T♣ where his 450,000 c-bet gets filled by both to reveal the J♥ turn. He fires a second barrel of 800,000 with A♦ K♠ , hijack James Mendoza raises T♥ T♦ to 2,200,000 after using a time bank, big blind Marius Gierse folds A♥ T♠ and Song follows suit.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 13,000,000(52 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 9,700,000(39 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 4,800,000(19 BB) |
Latest Chip Count With 7 Players Left
Player | Chips |
---|---|
PD Patrik Demus | 11,000,000(44 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 10,000,000(40 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 6,800,000(27 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 6,000,000(24 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 5,900,000(24 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 3,900,000(16 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 3,900,000(16 BB) |
Jiaming Zhao Ends Second Final Table Appearance Of The Series In 8th For $76,000


Down to his last 2,700,000, Jiaming Zhao puts all of them in front from the hijack and small blind James Mendoza - who just doubled up against Zhao a few hands ago - wakes up with a monster and calls.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
JZ Jiaming Zhao | Q♣J♥ HJ | busted |
JM James Mendoza | A♦K♦ SB | 7,800,000(31 BB) |
Zhao's live cards can't hit on 4♥ 9♥ 4♠ 2♥ 8♣ ending his second final table after finishing 6th in the Circuit Main Event just a few days ago.
Chip Count Update
Player | Chips |
---|---|
PD Patrik Demus | 11,000,000(55 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 8,100,000(41 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 7,600,000(38 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 5,700,000(29 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 5,100,000(26 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 4,500,000(23 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 3,500,000(18 BB) |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 2,700,000(14 BB) |
James Mendoza's Heater Continues
Jiaming Zhao min-raises from +2 and fills up after cutoff James Mendoza requested the triangle again for 2,300,000.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
JZ Jiaming Zhao | A♠Q♥ MP | 3,200,000(16 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | J♠J♥ CO | 5,100,000(26 BB) |
The dealer keeps it interesting until the end by flipping over 4♥ 3♠ 5♠ J♣ A♣ and grants Mendoza his third double up in a row.
Chip Count Update
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MN Martin Nielsen | 8,600,000(43 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 7,000,000(35 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 7,000,000(35 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 6,200,000(31 BB) |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 5,500,000(28 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,400,000(27 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,000,000(20 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 2,300,000(12 BB) |
HL Haitao Lei | 1,900,000(10 BB) |
James Mendoza Bounces Back

After doubling right the next hand against Ivan Zhang, Mendoza is at it again, wagering his newly acquired 900,000 chips from the button and Marius Gierse fills up his 400,000 open from +1.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | Q♦J♥ UTG+1 | 6,200,000(31 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | A♥K♠ D | 2,300,000(12 BB) |
Martin Nielsen Triples Up

Martin Nielsen min-opens from +2 and takes two interested parties to the action flop Q♣ 9♥ 6♣ where he continues for 450,000, cutoff Jiaming Zhao flats and big blind James Mendoza declares all-in for 2,500,000. Nielsen fills up for a total of 2,350,000 and Zhao calls to put both opponents at risk.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
MN Martin Nielsen | A♦A♣ MP | 8,600,000(43 BB) |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | J♥T♥ CO | 5,500,000(28 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | K♦Q♠ BB | 350,000(2 BB) |
Nielsen's rockets stay ahead on T♣ 3♥ and Mendoza picks up the tiny side pot to stay alive.
Chip Count Update
Player | Chips |
---|---|
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 8,900,000(45 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 7,100,000(36 BB) |
MG Marius Gierse | 7,100,000(36 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 6,900,000(35 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,900,000(30 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,100,000(21 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,100,000(16 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 2,400,000(12 BB) |
HL Haitao Lei | 2,300,000(12 BB) |
Chip Count Update
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | 9,800,000(49 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 7,800,000(39 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,900,000(30 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 5,700,000(29 BB) |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 5,600,000(28 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,200,000(21 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,100,000(16 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 3,000,000(15 BB) |
HL Haitao Lei | 2,800,000(14 BB) |
Marius Gierse Bounces Back

After losing some chips to Ivan Zhang and Patrik Demus, Marius Gierse is back with a 400,000 open from the lojack and big blind James Mendoza defends to see the flop 8♥ Q♥ A♦ where he check-calls a 300,000 c-bet from Gierse. An 800,000 2nd barrel on the 4♠ turn gets the job done for the German.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | 9,800,000(49 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,200,000(16 BB) |
Final Table

Player | Chips |
---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | 9,875,000(66 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 6,700,000(45 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,750,000(38 BB) |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 5,375,000(36 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 5,125,000(34 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,325,000(29 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,825,000(26 BB) |
HL Haitao Lei | 3,425,000(23 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 3,350,000(22 BB) |
Stephen Song And Marius Gierse Dominate Their Tables On The FT Bubble
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | 10,325,000(83 BB) |
SS Stephen Song | 8,250,000(66 BB) |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,525,000(44 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 4,800,000(38 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 4,675,000(37 BB) |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 4,450,000(36 BB) |
HL Haitao Lei | 3,575,000(29 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 2,475,000(20 BB) |
MN Martin Nielsen | 2,100,000(17 BB) |
BL Bin Leng | 1,575,000(13 BB) |
Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
---|---|---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 8,250,000(66 BB) | 2 | 2 |
PD Patrik Demus | 4,675,000(37 BB) | 2 | 4 |
JM James Mendoza | 4,800,000(38 BB) | 2 | 6 |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 2,475,000(20 BB) | 2 | 7 |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,525,000(44 BB) | 2 | 8 |
MN Martin Nielsen | 2,100,000(17 BB) | 3 | 1 |
HL Haitao Lei | 3,575,000(29 BB) | 3 | 3 |
MG Marius Gierse | 10,325,000(83 BB) | 3 | 5 |
BL Bin Leng | 1,575,000(13 BB) | 3 | 7 |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 4,450,000(36 BB) | 3 | 8 |
Ivan Zhang On A Heater

A limped blind battle gets checked to the turn T♠ 7♦ 3♣ 3♥ where small blind James Mendoza leads 225,000 before filling up Ivan Zhang's 525,000 raise. The river Q♥ is checked down with Zhang's T♣ 5♣ granting him another pot against Mendoza with A♥ J♣ .
Player | Chips |
---|---|
IZ Ivan Zhang | 4,600,000(37 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,800,000(30 BB) |
Patrick Demus Bounces Back

After just scooping a pot, Patrik Demus open-limps his small blind and fills up after James Mendoza made it 375.000 to see the flop 7♣ 4♣ 3♣ . Mendoza's 175,000 c-bet and a call is the last action before the turn Q♠ and river A♣ get checked down where Demus flips over the winner Q♣ 5♣ and Mendoza mucks.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
JM James Mendoza | 5,410,000(43 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 3,520,000(28 BB) |
Table 2 Update
Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
---|---|---|---|
QZ Quan Zhou | 1,555,000(12 BB) | 2 | 1 |
SS Stephen Song | 7,100,000(57 BB) | 2 | 2 |
MM Martin Michael Sedlak | 555,000(4 BB) | 2 | 3 |
PD Patrik Demus | 2,420,000(19 BB) | 2 | 4 |
JM James Mendoza | 6,100,000(49 BB) | 2 | 6 |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 2,400,000(19 BB) | 2 | 7 |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,000,000(40 BB) | 2 | 8 |
James Mendoza Wins Massive Flip


With a 265,000 open and a 600,000 three bet in front, big blind James Mendoza squeeze jams 2,850,000 and only button Martin Sedlak snaps.
Player | Hand | Chips |
---|---|---|
QZ Quan Zhou | HJ | 1,855,000(15 BB) |
MM Martin Michael Sedlak | A♣K♣ D | 555,000(4 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | Q♠Q♥ BB | 6,140,000(49 BB) |
Mendoza immediately hits a set on Q♦ 2♦ 9♦ K♥ 2♣ for a boat in the end and a massive double up, leaving Sedlak with crumbs after starting the day in 2nd.
Big Stacks Collide
James Mendoza kicks off the action with a 200,000 raise from +1, small blind Stephen Song pumps it to 800,000 and Mendoza pays up to see the flop 6♥ 3♦ K♠ where Song's 400,000 c-bet gets called. After using a time bank on the 5♣ turn, Song fires another 900,000 which sends Mendoza in the tank. The Filipino-American uses up three time banks before letting it go.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SS Stephen Song | 7,300,000(73 BB) |
JM James Mendoza | 3,300,000(33 BB) |
Quan Zhou Chips Up Pre
With a 200,000 open from hijack Patrik Demus and a 520,000 three-bet from cutoff James Mendoza in front, Quan Zhou cold four-bets 1,300,000 from the big blind which is enough to scare his competition away.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
JM James Mendoza | 4,300,000(43 BB) |
QZ Quan Zhou | 2,915,000(29 BB) |
PD Patrik Demus | 1,700,000(17 BB) |
Table 2 With Stephen Song Taking Over The Lead
Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
---|---|---|---|
QZ Quan Zhou | 2,175,000(22 BB) | 2 | 1 |
SS Stephen Song | 5,600,000(56 BB) | 2 | 2 |
PD Patrik Demus | 1,900,000(19 BB) | 2 | 4 |
JM James Mendoza | 5,000,000(50 BB) | 2 | 6 |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 2,800,000(28 BB) | 2 | 7 |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 5,300,000(53 BB) | 2 | 8 |
MM Martin Michael Sedlak | 4,400,000(44 BB) | 3 | 3 |
James Mendoza Hits The Ground Running

Also with an early win under his belt already, James Mendoza opens 170,000 from +2, hijack Ivan Zhang ups it to 450,000, Mendoza uses a time bank before putting a 1,400,000 four-bet in the middle and Zhang goes in the tank. After using up three times banks the AAPoker ambassador let's it go.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
JM James Mendoza | 4,915,000(61 BB) |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 2,900,000(36 BB) |
Day 3 Chip Count
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MG Marius Gierse | 7,545,000 |
MM Martin Michael Sedlak | 4,755,000 |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 4,685,000 |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 4,265,000 |
JM James Mendoza | 4,085,000 |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 3,550,000 |
MN Martin Nielsen | 3,505,000 |
SS Stephen Song | 3,330,000 |
PD Patrik Demus | 2,250,000 |
QZ Quan Zhou | 2,140,000 |
MS Mauricio Sanches | 1,920,000 |
BL Bin Leng | 1,915,000 |
GT Gary Thompson | 1,460,000 |
JQ Junbo Qu | 1,370,000 |
HL Haitao Lei | 985,000 |
Day 3 Seat Draw
Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
---|---|---|---|
QZ Quan Zhou | 2,140,000 | 2 | 1 |
SS Stephen Song | 3,330,000 | 2 | 2 |
PD Patrik Demus | 2,250,000 | 2 | 4 |
JQ Junbo Qu | 1,370,000 | 2 | 5 |
JM James Mendoza | 4,085,000 | 2 | 6 |
IZ Ivan Zhang | 3,550,000 | 2 | 7 |
HW Hua Wei Lin | 4,265,000 | 2 | 8 |
MN Martin Nielsen | 3,505,000 | 3 | 1 |
HL Haitao Lei | 985,000 | 3 | 3 |
MM Martin Michael Sedlak | 4,755,000 | 3 | 3 |
GT Gary Thompson | 1,460,000 | 3 | 4 |
MG Marius Gierse | 7,545,000 | 3 | 5 |
MS Mauricio Sanches | 1,920,000 | 3 | 6 |
BL Bin Leng | 1,915,000 | 3 | 7 |
JZ Jiaming Zhao | 4,685,000 | 3 | 8 |