When the 2020 World Series of Poker was forced to move online because of the global coronavirus pandemic, a number of the tournaments that WSOP officials had given a brand name over the years came with it. The Millionaire Maker, Colossus and Sunday night’s event, The Marathon, were meant to give poker players a sense of familiarity with the events.

Some 14 hours after it began, Nick Maimone beat out 1,437 other players to win Event #69 ($1,500 Marathon) for his first career bracelet and a little over $300,000.

One of online poker’s quietest superstars had a short-lived visit to the final table. Bert Stevens, better known to his fans and followers as ‘GirafGanger’ shoved his last 2,070,036 into the middle from the cutoff and Nikolay Motsenko called from the small blind. Stevens showed but got bad news when Mostenko tabled . The flop was made purely of bricks for Stevens. The turn gave him some straight outs but the completed the board an ended Stevens’ run in ninth place.

Another 20 minutes past before another player was eliminated and once again it was Motsenko doing the work. Action folded to Motsenko in the small blind and he raised to 400,000. Canada’s Erik Lemarquand called from the big blind. The flop came and Motsenko bet 316,800 before Lemarquand clicked back to 1,008,000 an Motsenko moved all in for 8,309,831. Lemarquand called all in and showed for top pair but Motsenko once again had a premium hand, tabling . Neither the turn or river were any help for Lemarquand and he was eliminated in eighth.

Seven-handed play carried on for more than 30 minutes before one of two Brazilian players at the final table got an earlier than expected exit. Ermo Kosk raised to 420,000 from UTG and Murilo Nascimento moved all in for 1,724,680. Kosk called and showed and Nascimento tabled . The flop gave Nascimento middle set but left Kosk with flush and straight out. The turn completed Broadway for Kosk and Nascimento was unable to make a full house on the turn and the Brazilian was out in seventh place.

Despite picking up that pot to move into the chip lead, Kosk didn’t get to see much more action. Just 15 minutes after sending Nascimento to the rail, Kosk joined him. Down to just four big blinds, Kosk jammed from the small blind and Nick Maimone defended the big. Kosk showed but Maimone had him in a world of hurt after showing . The flop allowed Kosk some hope with top pair but the and completed the board to eliminate Kosk in sixth place.

The deep stacks continued to make for longer stretches between eliminations. A battle of the blinds lead to the next elimination. Sebastian Sikorski  moved all in from the small blind for 4,258,614 Diego Bittar called from the big. Sikorski showed but found his hand dominated by Bittar’s . The flop only made things forse for Sikorski. Neither the turn or river was able to save the former #1-ranked PocketFiver from busting in fifth.

Maimoine was the player in charge of the next bustout. From UTG, Bittar raised to 480,000. Maimone re-raised to 1,080,000 from the small blind before Motsenko moved all in for 3,426,101. Bittar got out of the way but Maimone called and showed . Motsenko showed . The board ran out to eliminate Motsenko in fourth place.

Maimone was the executioner on the next elimination as well, but he had to wait more than 30 minutes. During that time he had the shortest stack before doubling through Giovani Torre. Five minutes later, Bittar folded the button and Maimone moved all in for 14,978,646 and Torre called off from the big blind. Maimone was behind with to Torre’s but the flop changed that. Torre could only watch as the and completed the board to seal his third place result.

Maimone had a three big blind lead when heads up play began and it took 25 minutes of heads up play for him to eliminate Bittar. On the final hand, Bittar called from the small blind and Maimone moved all in from the big. Bittar called off his last 8,514,472 and showed while Maimone tabled . The flop put Maimone in the pole position and he stayed there through the turn and river to prevent Bittar from becoming the fourth Brazilian to win a WSOP bracelet this year while capturing the first of his career.

Final Table Payouts

1. Nick Maimone – $302,471.86 + WSOP Europe Package
   Diego Bittar – $228,211.58
   Giovani Torre -$165,613.12
   Nikolay Motsenko – $120,185.51
   Sebastian Sikorski – $87,218.79
   Ermo Kosk – $63,294.75
   Murilo Nascimento – $45,933.13
   Erik Lemarquand – $33,332.52
   Bert Stevens – $24,190.21