2024 WSOP: India’s Kartik Ved Eyes Second WSOP Bracelet; Storms to Final Day in Event #16: $5K NLHE With Seven Players Remaining

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas is reaching a fever pitch in its second week, and India’s poker sensation Kartik Ved (cover image) is at the heart of the excitement. The former WSOP bracelet winner has stormed into the final day of Event #16: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em with seven players remaining, rekindling his quest for WSOP glory and the potential to secure India’s first bracelet of the series.

Ved’s journey to the final table was a rollercoaster of poker prowess and resilience. Starting Day 3 with a modest 640,000 chips, ranking 27th among the remaining 41 players, Ved faced an uphill battle. He encountered early setbacks, including a significant loss against Adam Saven, where his big slick was flushed away by Saven`s pocket fives on an all-spade board. However, Ved demonstrated his perseverance and skill through the 11 gruelling hours of play, navigating through the field by eliminating notable players like bracelet winner Michael Perrone (17th for $26,007), Martin Carnero (20th for $26,007), Jianfeng Sun (26th for $21,468), and Indo-American Ravi Raghavan (32nd for $18,037).

The nine-handed TV final table was set after the elimination of Robert Burlacu (10th for $40,201). Ved started the final table fifth in chips with 3.75 Million, but after over 2.5 hours of intense play, he ended the day with 2.16 Million, good for sixth in chips when play resumes on Friday.

The final table is set to be a thrilling showdown, with Ved facing formidable opponents. Chip leader Eddie Ochana holds a commanding 14.135 Million, followed by Alexander Queen with 8.865 Million and Brent Hart with 8.345 Million. Despite starting Day 4 as the second-shortest stack with about 13 big blinds, Ved has the experience and a previous WSOP bracelet victory to his credit. This gives him a significant psychological edge over the other players at the table, who are all chasing their first WSOP bracelets.

Ved’s WSOP track record speaks volumes about his poker prowess. Over the past two seasons, he has consistently delivered standout performances, securing multiple final table appearances and amassing substantial winnings. In 2022, he achieved two final table finishes, including a remarkable third-place finish in Event #66: $1,000 MINI Main Event No-Limit Hold’em (Freezeout) for a staggering $275,593 and fourth place in Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em for $172,103. In 2023, he continued his success with seven scoring finishes, accumulating $119,087 in total winnings. Notable among them were his tenth-place finishes in Event #44: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em ($48,109) and Event #79: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em ($47,516).

Ved’s WSOP journey began in 2018 with a blistering 128th-place finish in the Main Event. Since then, he has consistently participated in the series, making this his sixth WSOP appearance in Las Vegas (he even participated at the WSOP Bahamas last year). With over $1 Million in live bracelet event winnings and an additional $399,812 in WSOP online winnings, including his previous bracelet victory in 2021’s $5,000 WSOP Online Turbo Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em, Ved is a formidable contender despite his short stack.

While Ved will be eyeing the grand prize, he is already assured at least $87,582 (~₹73.05 Lakhs). This marks Ved’s second cash at this year’s WSOP, following his 389th finish in Event #3: $500 WSOP Kickoff No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout.

The competition on Day 3 was fierce, with 33 players hitting the rail. Noteworthy eliminations included ten-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel (21st for $26,007), six-time bracelet winner Brian Rast (25th for $21,468), and two-time bracelet winner Sam Soverel (25th for $21,468), all falling short of adding to their bracelet tally.

The final table, resuming at 4 PM (local time) on June 7, promises to be a thrilling climax to Event #16. The stakes are incredibly high with the prestigious gold bracelet and a life-changing $660,284 grand prize on the line. Poker enthusiasts worldwide will be glued to the live stream on PokerGO. For those who want to relive the Day 3 excitement, the nearly 7.5-hour-long live stream is available for replay on subscription on PokerGO.

As Kartik Ved prepares for the final showdown, all eyes are on him. Will he overcome the odds, outsmart his opponents, and add another WSOP bracelet to his collection, securing India’s first bracelet of the series? The Indian poker community is rooting for him as his quest for glory unfolds on the grand stage of the WSOP.

End of Day 3 Chip Counts

1. Eddie Ochana – 14,115,000
2. Alexander Queen – 8,865,000
3. Brent Hart – 8,360,000
4. Daniyal Gheba – 2,920,000
5. Shant Marashlian – 2,670,000
6. Kartik Ved – 2,590,000
7. Taylor Black – 1,635,000

Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker

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