Andover's Chase Bianchi finishes in ninth place at 2021 World Series of Poker event

Bernard Lee
·3 min read

Every year, poker players from around the world eagerly anticipate playing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This series of tournaments is the focal point of the year, especially in 2021 since the 2020 WSOP was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the excitement that comes along with the WSOP and traveling to Las Vegas, poker players usually schedule their trip to play in multiple tournaments.

The big hand that helped Andover's Chase Bianchi finish ninth at the 2021 World Series of Poker.
The big hand that helped Andover's Chase Bianchi finish ninth at the 2021 World Series of Poker.

Former high stakes cash game specialist Chase Bianchi, however, only goes to play in one tournament a year – the WSOP Main Event. For the 34-year-old, life has changed recently for the better and with a much more important purpose.

“Recently, my wife and I began fostering two children who are both under 18 months old. Now that I have so many more responsibilities, being out of town for a long time is not as high of a priority,” Bianchi said. “Making sure I’m home as much as I can is so much more important.”

Watch: Bernard Lee interviews Chase Bianchi on YouTube

With the blessing of his wife, the Andover resident set out to Las Vegas to play in the 2021 WSOP Main Event.

“There is truly no tournament like the WSOP Main Event,” Bianchi said.

With his colossal beard – that even Santa Claus would be proud of – Bianchi was a fixture during the 2021 WSOP Main Event, which had 6,650 players. After a solid first few days, Bianchi maneuvered his way into the money. Then, with an incredible run during Day 6 and 7, the Massachusetts resident reached the coveted 2021 WSOP Main Event final table.

The following hand helped boost Bianchi’s chips stack among the chip leaders with 25 players remaining.

With the blinds at $150,000 and $300,000 – with a $300,000 big blind ante, Philipe Pizzari Pinto from Brazil raised from under the gun (the first player to act after the big blind) to $650,000. The subsequent players folded until action got to Bianchi sitting in the hijack seat (two away from the dealer seat), who re-raised to $1.7 million. After everyone else folded, Pinto decided to make the call and see a flop.

The dealer fanned out 7h-5h-3d.

Pinto check-called a bet of $1.2 million from Bianchi.

After the dealer turned the 8h, Pinto surprisingly led out for $2.5 million. Undeterred, Bianchi announced all-in, which put Pinto’s remaining $2.38 million in jeopardy.

After Pinto made the call, he flipped over Kh-Qd, but was behind Bianchi’s As-Ac.

In the end, the Andover man faded the flush draw when the dealer placed the 10c on the river.

This propelled Bianchi to almost $30 million in chips with only 25 players remaining in the 2021 WSOP Main Event. Thereafter, Bianchi unfortunately went card dead for an extended stretch, but still made the 2021 WSOP Main Event final table.

In the end, Bianchi finished in ninth place, earning a cool $1 million. However, the money was not his priority.

“It’s a strange thing busting out of the (WSOP) Main Event,” Bianchi said. “It’s almost a relief because I got to come home to the family and they made me this wonderful sign that read:

"#9 in ME (Main Event),

#1 in our home!!

Sooo proud of you!!!

We love you!!”

“A million dollars is cool, but man does it feel good to be home!”

Bernard Lee of Wayland.
Bernard Lee of Wayland.

Bernard Lee is considered “The Voice of New England Poker” and is a staple of the poker media as a columnist for ESPN.com, PokerNews, CardplayerLifestyle.com and his radio show, “The Bernard Lee Poker Show.” Listen every Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. on terrestrial radio in Boston on the Money Matter Radio Network (102.9 FM, 1120 AM) or via podcast on iTunes or CardplayerLifestyle.com. E-mail him at BernardLeePoker@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter, Instagram (@BernardLeePoker), YouTube (BernardLeePoker) and Facebook (Bernard Lee). Since finishing 13th in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, Lee has cashed in over 100 tournaments, earning about $2.5 million on tour and capturing 10 titles including two WSOP Circuit titles. Visit www.BernardLeePoker.com for the latest news and information.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Chase Bianchi Andover World Series of Poker