Miri Balen Eliminated from WSOP Ladies Event After Unfortunate Bad Beat

Miri Balen, who held the distinction of achieving the best result for Brazil in the 2026 WSOP Ladies Event, has been eliminated from the prestigious tournament. Her departure came after a significant hand that saw her run end with a particularly unlucky bad beat.

The tournament, exclusively for women and featuring a $1,000 buy-in, attracted a field of 1,475 entries. Balen secured the 72nd position, earning $2,814 for her efforts. Despite the payout, the manner of her elimination left a bitter taste, as is often the case in high-stakes poker.

The hand that sealed Balen’s fate involved Rania Nasreddine, a well-known player. In an all-in pre-flop situation, Nasreddine held a covering stack against Balen. Nasreddine held three outs to win the hand against Balen’s hand. However, the community cards, or board, ultimately favored Nasreddine, ending Balen’s tournament run.

Brazilian players Nathaly Faria and Andrea Quadros also managed to secure payouts in the Ladies Event, each taking home $2,001. The tournament continued with 13 players remaining, including notable participants such as Lexy Gavin-Mather, Jessica Teusl, and Svetlana Gromenkova.

Other Brazilian Successes at WSOP

While Balen’s elimination was a setback, other Brazilian players have found success in parallel events at the WSOP. Alexandre Couto, also known as “Ale Olho,” secured a significant victory in the US$ 200 Daily Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em tournament. Couto’s win earned him a prize of $14,867 from a field of 564 entries. André Welt and Vinicius Pinheiro also cashed in this event, finishing 36th and 61st respectively.

In a notable team achievement, Breno Drumond and Henrique Lessa captured the US$ 1,000 TAG Team title. This victory marked the third bracelet for Brazil in the current series and ensured that the TAG Team title remained with Brazilian players, following Kelvin Kerber and Peter Patrício’s win in 2025. Drumond expressed that winning a WSOP bracelet was a long-held dream, a sentiment echoed by Lessa, who described it as the culmination of years of hard work. The duo emphasized their commitment to continued success, aiming for more bracelets in the remaining days of the series.

Ruka Yamauchi’s Surprising Play

An interesting moment in the TAG Team final stages involved Japanese player Ruka Yamauchi. During the 4-handed play, with blinds at 100,000/250,000 and Tomas Szwarcberg having just been eliminated, Yamauchi made a decision that reportedly left opponents perplexed. The specifics of his play at that critical juncture contributed to the dynamic of the final table.

Key facts:
Miri Balen finished 72nd in the WSOP Ladies Event.
Balen earned $2,814 for her performance.
The Ladies Event had 1,475 entries and a $1,000 buy-in.
Alexandre Couto won the US$ 200 Daily Deepstack for $14,867.
Breno Drumond and Henrique Lessa won the US$ 1,000 TAG Team event.

The developments in the WSOP, including the performances of Brazilian players like Miri Balen and the successes in various events, highlight the ongoing excitement and competition at the series. For video poker enthusiasts, while these events are not directly video poker, they represent the broader poker landscape and the pursuit of major titles within the industry.

Source: Mundo Poker – https://mundopoker.com.br/noticias/wsop/wsop-dona-do-melhor-resultado-brasileiro-no-ladies-2026-miri-balen-e-eliminada-apos-bad-beat-confira/

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