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WSOP 2023: Brooks, Como, Grech, Gaspari, Dzivielevski, Marchese, Sitbon & Roberts Clinch the Online Bracelets in the Record-Breaking Series

The 2023 World Series of Poker drew to a close after 50 days of relentless competition, comprising 20 online bracelet events held on WSOP.com for participants geo-located in Nevada and New Jersey.

The Indian poker scene experienced a thrilling display of proficiency and strategy as three of its seasoned competitors, Nipun Java, Ashish Ahuja, and Aditya Agarwal, made significant strides in the online bracelet tournaments.

In the early dawn of Monday, Nipun Java found himself in a high-stakes clash amidst a pool of 954 challengers in the Online Event #20: $777 No-Limit Hold’em Lucky 7’s on WSOP.com. The rigorous contest culminated in a glorious victory for Java, who seized his third gold bracelet, his second in an online WSOP event, and a substantial cash prize of $195,151.

Nipun Java
Nipun Java

 

Concurrently, Ashish Ahuja, widely acknowledged as one of India’s most promising emerging poker talents, etched a new career milestone in the Online Event #18: $2,000 Freezeout Championship on WSOP.com. Squaring off against a field of 551 unique contestants, Ahuja found himself in a heated battle with the online player Julien Sitbon. Though Ahuja fell just short of the title, he nevertheless clinched a career-best earning of $126,642, while Sitbon took home the top prize of $176,348.

Ashish Ahuja
Ashish Ahuja

 

In tandem, the trailblazer of India’s poker revolution, Aditya Agarwal, was on the cusp of reaching the final table in Online Event #12: $500 No Limit Hold’em Deepstack on WSOP.com. However, after a gripping journey, Agarwal had to settle with a 12th-place finish, amassing a payout of $11,746.

Aditya Agarwal
Aditya Agarwal

 

Collectively, this trio of poker virtuosos demonstrated their superior strategic prowess and amplified India’s burgeoning reputation on the global poker map.

Over 32,000 entries were recorded across the series, with the most attended tournament being Online Event #12. The event saw 2,961 hopefuls vying for the top spot, and UK’s Tom Hall was the last player standing and collected the $176,920 up top along with his first bracelet. The payout saw the Brit cross the $8 million mark in both live and online tournament earnings.

The buy-ins for the bracelet events varied from $333 to $5,300, collectively raising over $22 Million. However, thirteen of the tournament buy-ins were under $1,000. The tournament that built the biggest prize pool on WSOP.com was Online Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship. Sam Soverel was the eventual winner of the unique event, which played out online until the final table.

Sam Soverel
Sam Soverel

 

The final nine players congregated at Horseshoe, Las Vegas, to play out the end stage of the tournament, which saw Soverel capture his second bracelet and the $393,516 first-place prize.

Also, a big winner from the online bracelet events was Jeremy Ausmus, who secured his sixth bracelet within the last two years. He came out on top in Online Event #8: $3,200 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller for $360,036 after he overcame a final table that included Chance Kornuth and 2021 WSOP Main Event champion Koray Aldemir.

WSOP 2022: Jeremy Ausmus
Jeremy Ausmus

 

While the likes of Soverel and Ausmus added to their bracelet collection from the online series, there were plenty of winners who were able to adorn their wrists with poker’s most-sought after prize. WSOP Player of the Year Ian Matakis was just one of those after he took down Online Event #2: $500 No-Limit Hold’em Bankroll Builder for $120,686.

Ian Matakis
Ian Matakis

 

In addition to those previously mentioned, Cody Bell, Danny Wong, Gary Belyalovsky, Harley Brooks, Joe Serock, Stanislav Barshak, Robert Como, Zachary Grech, Blaze Gaspari, Vitor Dzivielevski, Tom Marchese, Julien Sitbon, and Christian Roberts also joined the prestigious circle of maiden WSOP bracelet winners.

 

USA’s Harley ‘suited_h13’ Brooks Binks Online Event #6: $500 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo For Maiden WSOP bracelet and a Career-High $134,527

American poker player Harley ‘suited_h13’ Brooks took the championship title in the Online Event #6: $500 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo on WSOP.com. Battling a formidable field of 1,879 entries, Brooks claimed his maiden World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet and career-high earnings of $134,527.

Brooks’s win came after a riveting showdown with compatriot Will ‘Suplex7’ Collins, who finished second, collecting the runner-up’s payout of $83,202.

Two Indian contenders made it across the money line, including Nishant Sharma (52nd for $2,368) and Yudhishter Jaswal (186th for $930).

Sharma’s cash tally of the ongoing series reflects a cumulative total of $74,911 from seven deep runs. His deepest run was recorded in Event #88: $1,500 The Closer – No-Limit Hold’em, placing 28th for $19,840. On the other hand, Jaswal lapped up $29,740 from five deep runs, including an FT finish in Online Event #18: $2,000 Freezeout Championship, placing eighth for $20,693.

Notables like the two-time bracelet winner Jesse ‘Dangerous22’ Lonis (10th for $8,456) and three-time bracelet winner Yuri ‘domenicus18’ Dzivielevski (16th for $5,242) also posted a deep run in Online Event #6.

Eric ‘MTTWarrior’ Yanovsky (3rd for $60,456), John ‘Duci13’ Duci (4th for $44,306), Robert ‘Binkwen’ Nelson (5th for $32,807), Adam ‘Binkwen’ Demersseman (6th for $24,520), James ‘ohhhhjaybird’ Hundt (7th for $18,517) and Jonathan ‘Art.Vandelay’ Dokler (8th for $14,120) were the other players on the final table of Online Event #6.

The WSOP.com-hosted event drew a massive field of 1,879 players vying for a slice of the impressive $845,550 prize pool. With payouts starting from $761, two hundred and eighty-nine players secured a return on their $500 investment.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Harley ‘suited_h13’ Brooks – $134,527
  2. Will ‘Suplex7’ Collins – $83,202
  3. Eric ‘MTTWarrior’ Yanovsky – $60,456
  4. John ‘Duci13’ Duci – $44,306
  5. Robert ‘Binkwen’ Nelson – $32,807
  6. Adam ‘Demerssa’ Demersseman – $24,520
  7. James ‘ohhhhjaybird’ Hundt – $18,517
  8. Jonathan ‘Art.Vandelay’ Dokler – $14,120

 

Robert ‘Suki_The_Sav’ Como Secures Maiden WSOP Bracelet in Online Event #11: $888 No-Limit Hold’em Crazy 8’s For a Career-High $227,000

The Online Event #11: $888 No-Limit Hold’em Crazy 8’s saw Robert ‘Suki_The_Sav’ Como obliterated a stacked field of 1,050 players, earning him his maiden WSOP bracelet and a career-best payday worth a substantial first-place prize of $227,000. With ten cash finishes, including a newly added bracelet, Como has an impressive record at the WSOP.

In the heads-up battle, he emerged victorious over Lithuania’s Gytis ‘Jautiena’ Lazauninkas, who secured a commendable runner-up cash prize of $139,961.

Indian Contenders who posted deep runs in Online Event #11 include Sriharsha Doddapaneni (42nd for $4,567) and former bracelet winners Aditya Sushant (44th for $4,567) and Abhinav Iyer (48th for $3,895).

Doddapaneni’s cash tally of the ongoing series reflects a cumulative total of $59,460 from eight deep runs. His deepest run was recorded in Event #35: $10,000 Secret Bounty No-Limit Hold’em, placing 16th for $24,504.

Sushant mustered $15,204 (overall) from six deep runs. And on the other hand, Iyer lapped up $38,242 from five deep runs.

Notable players and bracelet winners who made deep runs in the online event included Ari ‘PalmTreeB’ Engel (17th for $8,462), Jeff ‘NedrudRelyt’ Madsen (45th for $4,566), Koray ‘Seatscramble’ Aldemir (52nd for $3,895), Benjamin ‘TheChyGuy’ Ector (59th for $3,358) and acclaimed poker YouTubers Johnnie ‘JohnnieVIBES’ Moreno (85th for $2,283) and Andrew ‘GrandpaEd’ Neeme (94th for $2,014).

The final table showcased impressive performances from the remaining players who navigated their way through the field. The 2013 WSOP Main Event champion Ryan ‘BitC0in’ Riess claimed the third-place spot with an impressive payout of $100,740, followed by WSOP circuit ring winner Julio ‘PrsFinest’ Clavell in fourth place, earning $73,204. The fifth-place finisher, Andrew ‘GudLife’ Moreno, walked away with $53,862, while Mathew ‘AbleBaker’ Frankland secured sixth place, receiving $40,027. Two-time WSOP circuit ring winner Dana ‘propjoe’ Muse and Cameron ‘cammy3399’ Drucker finished in seventh and eighth place, respectively, with payouts of $30,087 and $22,834.

The WSOP.com-hosted event drew a massive field of 1,050 players vying for a slice of the impressive $1,343,200 prize pool. With payouts starting from $1,343, 248 players secured a return on their $888 investment.

 

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Robert ‘Suki_The_Sav’ Como – $227,000
  2. Gytis ‘Jautiena’ Lazauninkas – $139,961
  3. Ryan ‘BitC0in’ Riess – $100,740
  4. Julio ‘PrsFinest’ Clavell – $73,204
  5. Andrew ‘GudLife’ Moreno – $53,862
  6. Mathew ‘AbleBaker’ Frankland – $40,027
  7. Dana ‘propjoe’ Muse – $30,087
  8. Cameron ‘cammy3399’ Drucker – $22,834

Zachary ‘Kings702’ Grech Claims Victory in Online Event #14: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo, Secures Career-Best Prize of $107,504

Zachary ‘Kings702’ Grech won his first bracelet and the top prize of $107,504 in the Online Event #14: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo, his biggest recorded score to date. In a thrilling final heads-up play, Grech outperformed Indo-American Amit ‘rocketsbaby’ Makhija, who subsequently secured the runner-up prize worth $66,284.

Zachary ‘Kings702’ Grech
Zachary ‘Kings702’ Grech

 

Grech, a California native, surpassed his previous best winnings of $57,029 and $51,502 from his fourth and fifth-place finishes in this summer’s Online Event #3 and Online Event #20, respectively. His recent success follows a close call at a bracelet win on the live felt last year when he secured fourth place in Event #23 $3,000 Limit Hold’em – Six-Handed for $41,191.

Three Indian contenders also made money, including three-time bracelet winner Nipun Java (41st for $2,163), Abhishek Goindi (190th for $700), and Neel Joshi (198th for $636). Java’s total earnings for the ongoing series have amassed a hefty $2,07,194, including a bracelet victory in the Online Event #20: $777 No-Limit Hold’em Lucky 7’s, where he earned $195,151. In comparison, Goindi walked away with $4,397, while Joshi has accumulated $11,135 from four deep runs, including a 30th-place finish in Event #64: $600 Deepstack Championship No-Limit Hold’em for $8,349.

In a post-match interview, Grech expressed his elation. “I’ve had a few close calls over the past few years in the online bracelet events. It definitely feels amazing to get one,” he said, thanking his family, friends, and girlfriend for their unwavering support.

Grech attributed part of his success to luck, which is often a deciding factor in turbo tournaments. He recounted a game-changing moment when only two tables were left. “I got there big time with 18 left when the button jammed for ten big blinds with eights, we rejammed ace-jack for 12 big blinds. The big blind also woke up with ace-king. (I) flopped the jack and held and just never looked back,” said Grech.

At one point, Grech said he had taken a significant risk on the final table with a bluff that, if unsuccessful, could have ended his pursuit of the bracelet.

Connor ‘beefstew93’ Stuewe (3rd for $47,709), Danny ‘BadAtLivePkr’ Grogan (4th for $34,669), Huayi ‘Hxz131530’ Zheng (5th for $25,508), Nabil ‘SenorBubby’ Zumout (6th for $18,956), Matthew ‘PokerPonzi’ Langone (7th for $14,249), Arunas ‘BalticGoose’ Sapitavicius (8th for $10,814) and Jonathan ‘KarlTowns’ Hanner (9th for $8,333) were the other players on the final table of Online Event #14.

This year’s WSOP.com-hosted event saw an enormous field of 1,767 players (1,178 unique entries), all competing for a slice of the grand $636,120 prize pool. Of those, just 248 players made the cut, with the min-cash set at $636.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Zachary ‘Kings702’ Grech – $107,504
  2. Amit ‘rocketsbaby’ Makhija – $66,284
  3. Connor ‘beefstew93’ Stuewe – $47,709
  4. Danny ‘BadAtLivePkr’ Grogan – $34,669
  5. Huayi ‘Hxz131530’ Zheng – $25,508
  6. Nabil ‘SenorBubby’ Zumout – $18,956
  7. Matthew ‘PokerPonzi’ Langone – $14,249
  8. Arunas ‘BalticGoose’ Sapitavicius – $10,814
  9. Jonathan ‘KarlTowns’ Hanner – $8,333

 

Blaze ‘skillz225’ Gaspari Clinches Online Event #15: No-Limit Hold’em Championship, Secures First WSOP Bracelet and a Record $224,816

American poker pro Blaze ‘skillz225’ Gaspari emerged victorious from a massive field of 1,365 players in the Online Event #15: No-Limit Hold’em Championship hosted by WSOP.com. This victory marks Gaspari’s first-ever WSOP bracelet and a career-best payday worth $224,816. The event concluded with Canada’s Matthew ‘Sucra71’ Gillingham falling just short of the top spot, netting the second-place prize of $138,821.

Gaspari is no stranger to triumph within the WSOP sphere, having secured two online Circuit rings in 2022. The American professional now boasts 24 WSOP cashes, all earned on the virtual felt.

Sriharsha Doddapaneni was the only Indian player to cash at the event, concluding his run at 30th place and bagging $5,405.

The final table of Online Event #15 also included Alexandre ‘raking-even’ Raymond (3rd for $98,649), Jeff ‘Yarch1’ Yarchever (4th for $71,253), Ryan ‘Shrug’ Van Sanford (5th for $51,843), Chris ‘battenfield’ Battenfield (6th for $38,206), Matthew ‘MDInvest’ Davis (7th for $28,624), Leon ‘ShepelSimp’ Sturm (8th for $21,622), and David ‘d2013’ Gago (9th for $16,585).

The WSOP.com-hosted championship attracted a considerable number of participants, with 1,365 players (883 unique) competing for their share of the substantial $1,228,500 prize pool. Of these competitors, only the top 180 players managed to secure a return on their $1,000 investment.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Blaze ‘skillz225’ Gaspari – $224,816
  2. Matthew ‘Sucra71’ Gillingham – $138,821
  3. Alexandre ‘raking-even’ Raymond – $98,649
  4. Jeff ‘Yarch1’ Yarchever – $71,253
  5. Ryan ‘Shrug’ Van Sanford – $51,843
  6. Chris ‘battenfield’ Battenfield – $38,206
  7. Matthew ‘MDInvest’ Davis – $28,624
  8. Leon ‘ShepelSimp’ Sturm – $21,622
  9. David ‘d2013’ Gago – $16,585

 

Vitor ‘GodKnows’ Dzivielevski Clinches Online Event #16: $600 Online Deepstack Championship, Claiming First WSOP Bracelet and Record-Breaking $185,316

Vitor ‘GodKnows’ Dzivielevski outshone a considerable field of 2,157 players in Online Event #16: $600 Online Deepstack Championship hosted by WSOP.com. This triumph marked his first-ever WSOP bracelet win and the highest cash prize of his career, a notable $185,316. Canadian poker pro Michael ‘quarantine3’ Baldwin finished as runner-up, banking a respectable $114,614.

Vitor ‘GodKnows’ Dzivielevski
Vitor ‘GodKnows’ Dzivielevski

 

Dzivielevski had a recent close call in June when he notched his biggest-ever live cash with a sixth-place finish for $153,485 in Event #65: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em (6-Handed), but this time he was able to go all the way to snatch his first piece of WSOP hardware.

Goonjan Mall, the solitary Indian pro team member in attendance, cashed the event at 214th place for $1,408, marking his only score of the series.

Several noteworthy players made deep runs but fell short of the final table, including Brock Wilson (17th for $7,222), Chino Rheem (20th for $5,824), Michael Wang (26th for $5,824), Joey Weissman (43rd for $3,844), Jeff Gross (78th for $2,097), and Event #53 champion Pavel Plesuv (90th for $1,864).

The final table of Online Event #16 also featured David ‘Stoic1234’ Uvaydov (3rd for $83,282), Michael ‘Bbaliind10’ Lind (4th for $61,034), Brian ‘theyounGGOD’ Ng (5th for $45,193), Richard ‘GlutenFree’ Green (6th for $33,779), Divakaran ‘Pokernator20’ Marella (7th for $25,509), Eric ‘citizen’ Tipsword (8th for $19,452), and six-time bracelet winner and Hall of Famer Daniel ‘DNegs’ Negreanu (9th for $15,026).

Hosted by WSOP.com, the event attracted a large field of 2,157 players, all vying for a share of the substantial $1,164,780 prize pool. Of the total entries, the top 289 players managed to see a return on their $600 investment.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Vitor ‘GodKnows’ Dzivielevski – $185,316
  2. Michael ‘quarantine3’ Baldwin – $114,614
  3. David ‘Stoic1234’ Uvaydov – $83,282
  4. Michael ‘Bbaliind10’ Lind – $61,034
  5. Brian ‘theyounGGOD’ Ng – $45,193
  6. Richard ‘GlutenFree’ Green – $33,779
  7. Divakaran ‘Pokernator20’ Marella – $25,509
  8. Eric ‘citizen’ Tipsword – $19,452
  9. Daniel ‘DNegs’ Negreanu – $15,026

 

Tom ‘looter’ Marchese Secures his Elusive Maiden Bracelet in Event #17: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max Championship for $195,963

The Online Event #17: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max Championship hosted on WSOP.com saw Tom ‘looter’ Marchese outperforming a competitive field of 1,170 players. This victory clinched his much-anticipated maiden bracelet along with substantial first-place prize money of $195,963. Italian poker professional Besmir ‘Limper123’ Hodaj just missed out on his maiden bracelet but achieved a career-best score of $121,095.

Tom ‘looter’ Marchese
Tom ‘looter’ Marchese

 

Marchese had made significant strides in the Online Event #16 just a few days earlier, where he finished 13th out of 2,157 entrants, narrowly missing out on the final table. Undeterred, the New Jersey native, known as “looter” on the WSOP online platform, rallied in the next online bracelet event. Marchese demonstrated exceptional skill, defeating “Limper123” in heads-up play to finally secure his first bracelet.

Despite boasting over $19 million in total live tournament earnings, including 34 WSOP cashes, a WSOP bracelet had always evaded Marchese. He had previously come tantalizingly close in 2015, finishing runner-up to Paul Michaelis in a $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em event. This time, however, Marchese went the distance, earning his long-deserved victory and a WSOP bracelet to augment his already impressive poker career.

The final table of Online Event #17 also featured Connor ‘666666’ Drinan (3rd for $85,714), Guy ‘PhilLaak’ Dunlap (4th for $61,495), Eugenio ‘ilpera276’ Peralta (5th for $44,647), Michael ‘trymyk’ Monroig (6th for $32,853), Josh ‘typeoftime’ Bergman (7th for $24,534), Justin ‘pocketprofit’ Wong (8th for $18,532), and Demetrius ‘DemetriVegas’ Campbell (9th for $14,215).

Hosted by WSOP.com, this event, open to players in Nevada and New Jersey, attracted 1,170 entries. The cumulative prize pool of $1,053,000 was divided among the top 167 finishers.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Tom ‘looter’ Marchese – $195,963
  2. Besmir ‘Limper123’ Hodaj – $121,095
  3. Connor ‘666666’ Drinan – $85,714
  4. Guy ‘PhilLaak’ Dunlap – $61,495
  5. Eugenio ‘ilpera276’ Peralta – $44,647
  6. Michael ‘trymyk’ Monroig – $32,853
  7. Josh ‘typeoftime’ Bergman – $24,534
  8. Justin ‘pocketprofit’ Wong – $18,532
  9. Demetrius ‘DemetriVegas’ Campbell – $14,215

Julien ‘ifyourgood’ Sitbon Takes Down Online Event #18: $2,000 Freezeout Championship For First-Ever Bracelet & $176,347; Ashish Ahuja finishes Runner-up For Career-Best $128,641

French poker player Julien ‘ifyourgood’ Sitbon secured a significant victory in the Online Event #18: $2,000 Freezeout Championship on WSOP.com. Defying a competitive field of 551 players, Sitbon dominated the final table, which included well-known players such as Portugal’s Luis ‘faryboy’ Pinho De Faria, 2018 WSOP Main Event runner-up Tony ‘FreddyFish’ Miles, 2018 WSOP Main Event sixth-place finisher Aram ‘X69Podheiser’ Zobian, and WSOP Circuit ring winner Ashish Ahuja. The victory handed Sitbon his first-ever WSOP bracelet, along with a generous cash prize of $176,347.

Julien ‘ifyourgood’ Sitbon
Julien ‘ifyourgood’ Sitbon

 

Ashish ‘WhiskeySoda’ Ahuja, one of India’s most promising new-generation poker players and second-place finisher in the 2022 online POY race, also shone in the championship. Ahuja had already made his presence felt by cashing in three WSOP bracelet events and two other tournaments this trip. Although he narrowly missed out on the title, his impressive performance in the Online Event #18 resulted in a career-best $128,641 for his runner-up finish. Notably, Ahuja is also a WSOP Circuit ring winner, having secured his title in the WSOPC Online Series Event #11: $320 NLHE Double Stack last July. His total earnings from the summer series add up to a commendable $135,080.

Ashish Ahuja
Ashish ‘WhiskeySoda’ Ahuja

Earlier in the series, Sitbon had come close to clinching his first WSOP bracelet when he finished second to Robert Schulz at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas in Event #59: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em. He pocketed $417,338 in that tournament, marking his largest-ever cash win. Continuing his summer run, Sitbon has now added another substantial six-figure score to his name, along with his first-ever bracelet.

India’s Yudhishter ‘YUD10’ Jaswal was another noteworthy participant who made it to the final table in Online Event #18, securing eighth place with a prize of $20,692. Among the other Indians to cash the event was three-time bracelet winner Nipun Java, who finished 20th for $5,403. Java has made five deep runs in the ongoing series, amassing an impressive total of $207,194, which includes a bracelet victory in the Online Event #20: $777 No-Limit Hold’em Lucky 7’s, earning $195,151.

Yudhishter Jaswal - SM
Yudhishter ‘YUD10’ Jaswal

 

Among the players who made deep runs but fell short of the final table were six-time bracelet winner and Hall of Famer Daniel ‘DNegs’ Negreanu (12th for $11,722), Thomas ‘HavanaClub’ Boivin (17th for $7,033), Ben ‘WhyIsGamora’ Yu (23rd for $5,402), and Aram ‘whatitdew’ Oganyan.

Aram ‘X69Podheiser’ Zobian (3rd for $93,984), Guy ‘PhilLaak’ Dunlap (4th for $68,602), Taylor ‘taycaldwell’ Caldwell (5th for $50,457), Tony ‘FreddyFish’ Miles (6th for $37,410), Luis ‘faryboy’ Pinho De Faria (7th for $27,726), Yudhishter ‘YUD10’ Jaswal (8th for $20,692) and ‘ktnyc’(9th for $15,494) were the other players on the final table of Online Event #18.

The tournament attracted a total of 551 entries and generated a prize pool of $1,019,350 paid out to the top 96 finishers.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Julien ‘ifyourgood’ Sitbon – $176,347
  2. Ashish ‘WhiskeySoda’ Ahuja – $128,641
  3. Aram ‘X69Podheiser’ Zobian – $93,984
  4. Guy ‘PhilLaak’ Dunlap – $68,602
  5. Taylor ‘taycaldwell’ Caldwell – $50,457
  6. Tony ‘FreddyFish’ Miles – $37,410
  7. Luis ‘faryboy’ Pinho De Faria – $27,726
  8. Yudhishter ‘YUD10’ Jaswal – $20,692
  9. ‘ktnyc’ – $15,494

 

Venezuela’s Christian ‘CARPTheMan’ Roberts Ships Online Event #19: $500 NL Hold’em Summer Saver For Maiden Bracelet and Career-Best $154,358

In a stellar display of prowess at the virtual poker tables, Venezuelan poker professional Christian ‘CARPTheMan’ Roberts emerged victorious in the Online Event #19: $500 NL Hold’em Summer Saver. He managed to outclass a massive field of 2,156 players, thereby securing his first-ever bracelet along with career-best prize money of $154,358.

Christian ‘CARPTheMan’ Roberts
Christian ‘CARPTheMan’ Roberts

 

The final table of this intensely contested event featured some poker heavyweights, including the recent two-time WSOP bracelet winner Jesse ‘Dangerous22’ Lonis, who triumphed in Event #71: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, and recent bracelet winner Mark Ioli, victor of Event #32: $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. However, USA’s Michael ‘LeftSid3’ Haberman Jr posed the final challenge to Roberts, ultimately securing the runner-up position with a prize of $95,467.

The event also witnessed strong performances from Indian players Yudhishter Jaswal and Paawan Bansal, who made it to the money line, finishing 46th and 258th, respectively, bagging $2,717 and $873 in prize money. Jaswal, who recently scored an 8th place finish in Online Event #18: $2,000 Freezeout Championship for $20,693, has so far accumulated $29,740 from five deep runs in the series. On the other hand, Bansal has collected a total of $14,595 from six in-the-money finishes in the summer series.

Other players who made deep runs but were eliminated short of the final table included John ‘rainman3817’ Esposito (15th for $7,664), Boris ‘GoldBracelet’ Kolev (24th for $4,851), Joao ‘WinamaxPT’ Vieira (37th for $3,201), and Michael ‘BrockLesnar’ Holtz (43rd for $3,201).

Tzur ‘Selvastar7’ Levy (3rd for $69,369), Mark ‘victb’ Ioli (4th for $50,838), Christopher ‘SpiderPwell’ Smith (5th for $37,643), Grant ‘Yukeepplayin’ Ellis (6th for $28,135), Daniel ‘DjDiggla13’ Pigago (7th for $21,247), Thomas ‘Tippolito777’ Ippolito (8th for $16,202) and Jesse ‘Dangerous22’ Lonis (9th for $12,515) were the other players on the final table of Online Event #19.

The tournament drew in a total of 2,156 entries, including 855 rebuys, generating a prize pool of $970,200. The prize money was distributed among the top 289 finishers.

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Christian ‘CARPTheMan’ Roberts – $154,358
  2. Michael ‘LeftSid3’ Haberman Jr – $95,467
  3. Tzur ‘Selvastar7’ Levy – $69,369
  4. Mark ‘victb’ Ioli – $50,838
  5. Christopher ‘SpiderPwell’ Smith – $37,643
  6. Grant ‘Yukeepplayin’ Ellis – $28,135
  7. Daniel ‘DjDiggla13’ Pigago – $21,247
  8. Thomas ‘Tippolito777’ Ippolito – $16,202
  9. Jesse ‘Dangerous22’ Lonis – $12,515

 

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP & PokerNews

WSOP 2023: Second WSOP Bracelet For Sam Soverel in Online Event #13: $5.3K NLHE High Roller; Ankit Wadhawan Leads 11 Indians Into Day 2ABC From Day 1C of Main Event

On the 37th day of the iconic 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP), held at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship stole the spotlight. Owing to the massive turnout and well-planned blind structure, which led to fewer early exits, no new bracelet events were launched.

Day 1C of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event No-Limit Hold’em World Championship attracted a whopping 3,080 entrants, making it the largest turnout yet for this year’s Main Event. From these, 2,326 players have progressed to Day 2ABC, including an impressive roster of 11 Indian players. These include Ankit Wadhawan (157,000), Anil Adiani (154,700), Yudhishter Jaswal (153,200), Abhishek Paul (146,700), Shashank Jain (111,000), Sanat Mehrotra (102,100), WSOP bracelet winner Nikita Luther (94,900), Kunal Patni (81,400), Muskan Sethi (62,900), Kavin Shah (28,100), and high-stakes reg Santhosh Suvarna (26,200).

 

Indians Starting Day 2ABC

PlayerChip Count
Anirban Das236,900
Ankit Wadhawan157,000
Anil Adiani154,700
Yudhishter Jaswal153,200
Abhishek Paul146,700
Nishant Sharma133,000
Shashank Jain111,000
Sanat Mehrotra102,100
Ankit Ahuja96,000
Nikita Luther94,900
Kunal Patni81,400
Muskan Sethi62,900
Paawan Bansal56,100
Neel Joshi49,900
Dilip Ravindran48,800
Gokul Raj43,400
Kavin Shah28,100
Santhosh Suvarna26,200

 

Meanwhile, within the lively setting of the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the Online Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship, the only live-online hybrid bracelet tournament of the series, concluded with Florida’s own Sam Soverel winning his second WSOP bracelet and pocketing a cool $393,516.

Here are the Day 37 highlights!

 

Sam Soverel, a live high-stakes cash game reg, spent his Monday evening engaging both in his usual fare and in online poker, competing against a stellar lineup of poker professionals on WSOP.com under the moniker “ApesSonIMHO.”

Sam Soverel
Sam Soverel

 

Two days later, his dual endeavors culminated in the Florida native’s second WSOP bracelet. Soverel triumphed over a field of 408 entries, outlasting Hungary’s Gergely Kulcsar in a heads-up showdown at the live final table of Online Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship. Soverel secured the top prize of $393,516 and another treasured gold bracelet. Kulcsar walked away with a substantial $284,784 for his commendable runner-up performance.

The third starting flight of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event No-Limit Hold’em World Championship has wrapped up, emerging as the largest yet with approximately 3,080 contestants. In comparison, last year’s Day 1C amassed 1,800 players, indicating that this year’s Main Event is primed to exceed the previous year’s 8,663 entries and possibly set a new attendance record.

Having garnered around 5,217 participants across the first three flights, the 2023 WSOP Main Event is about 3,500 entries away from matching the record-breaking 2006 Main Event, which registered 8,773 entries. With last year’s Day 1D amassing 4,370 entries, and given that this year’s Main Event has consistently surpassed the previous year’s flight counts, it’s plausible that the 2006 record will be eclipsed by the time Day 1D concludes. Moreover, even if the record isn’t toppled by the end of Day 1D, participants can still register during the first two levels of both Day 2s.

Of the 3,080 contenders who participated in Day 1C, 2,326 players advanced to Day 2ABC. Spearheading this group is Christopher Brammer, who accrued an impressive 386,100 in chips after the stipulated five levels of play. Trailing Brammer are Michael Banducci (292,600) and Lawrence Chang (280,900), who constitute the top three stacks.

Christopher Brammer
Christopher Brammer

 

Given the substantial number of participants on Day 1C, many Indian players were also in attendance. An impressive 11 Indian players progressed to Day 2ABC, with Ankit Wadhawan (157,000) leading the pack.

Ankit Wadhawan
Ankit Wadhawan

 

Among the Indian qualifiers from Day 1C, Anil Adiani (154,700), Yudhishter Jaswal (153,200), Abhishek Paul (146,700), Shashank Jain (111,000), Sanat Mehrotra (102,100), Nikita Luther (94,900), and Kunal Patni (81,400) boast above-average stacks. In contrast, Muskan Sethi (62,900), Kavin Shah (28,100), and Santhosh Suvarna (26,200) progressed with below-average stacks.

Unfortunately, Zarvan Tumboli, a participant in Day 1C, didn’t make it through the next day.

The Indian qualifiers from Day 1C will join the seven compatriots who advanced from Day 1A and 1B, with Anirban Das (236,900), who had bagged the 10th biggest stack on Day 1A, leading the way to Day 2ABC.

Anirban D Das
Anirban Das

 

The pattern of former Main Event champions advancing to Day 2ABC persisted, with Joe McKeehen (111,500), Tom McEvoy (90,400), Scott Blumstein (71,900), Espen Jorstad (62,000), and Ryan Riess (68,100) all successfully progressing from Day 1C.

Day 1C was characterized by the participation of numerous distinguished professionals aiming for WSOP triumph. Among those who earned a berth for Day 2ABC include notables like Josh Arieh (181,200), Michael Wang (158,600), Phil Laak (146,100), Mustapha Kanit (142,400), Ronnie Bardah (121,400), Stephen Chidwick (105,000), Masato Yokosawa (100,600), and Todd Brunson (88,200).

Day 1D is set to commence on July 6 at noon (local time) with expectations of a bumper turnout and more Indian contenders riding strong.

 

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP

Keep following PokerGuru for daily updates from the 2023 WSOP!

WSOP 2023: Thomas “lultaxpayers” Hall Claims Maiden Bracelet in Online Event #12: $500 NLHE Deepstack ($176,920), India’s Aditya Agarwal Finishes 12th For $11,746

The 12th online bracelet open to players in Nevada and New Jersey at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was awarded in the early hours of Monday. UK resident Thomas “lultaxpayers” Hall (cover image – left) was the player adding the prestigious gold hardware after outplaying a strong 1,754-entry field (including 937 re-buys) in Online Event #12: $500 No Limit Hold’em Deepstack on WSOP.com, booking his maiden bracelet victory and a cool $176,920 payday. Daniel “DurdyDan512” Marin earned a respectable $109,349 as the runner-up.

Hall’s profile on Hendon Mob reveals that this significant win propelled his live tournament earnings past the $3.18 Million mark. This victory marks his fourth-largest career cash.

The $500 buy-in event amassed a staggering $1.21 Million in prize money and spanned almost 13 hours of intense play. A total of 371 positions were rewarded, with the payouts starting at $848.

The Indian contingent in Las Vegas entered the event in good numbers, and two finished in the money. India’s poker sensation and the trailblazer who ignited the poker revolution in the country, Aditya “theflash123″Agarwal (cover image – right), came excruciatingly close to making the final table but got coolered to settle in 12th place for $11,746.

Aditya Agarwal
Aditya Agarwal

 

One of the key pots for Agarwal was a three-day showdown just before the late registration period was about to end. “Mjm32088” bet holding , Agarwal called with and Maxx “Mc4chess” Coleman moved all in from the small blind holding . “Mjm32088” decided to jam all in, and Agarwal made the call. The board opened , and Agarwal scooped the massive pot, busting Coleman in the process.

Agarwal did make it to the final two tables but got a cooler at the end. According to the live updates, Aditya Agarwal, Demetrius Campbell, and Brandon Forbes were on their backs preflop.

Aditya “theflash123” Agarwal

Demetrius “DemetriVegas” Campbell

Brandon “HawkHeaven” Forbes

The board ran out , and Campbell hit the nut flush to take down the pot, ending Agarwal`s pursuit for a maiden bracelet in 12th place.

Another Indian, Yudhishter “yud10” Jaswal, who placed fifth in Online Event #5: $600 Online Deepstack Championship last year, also cashed in the event. His exact finish and the payout are yet unknown.

“NickLeeson” (9th for $15,016), “moushak” (10th for $11,746), Demetrius Campbell (11th for $11,746), Kyle “kylejf” Frey (13th for $9,203), “1BulletWondr” (14th for $9,203), “kathibee488” (15th for $9,203), and Adam “PESOPESO” Krach (16th for $7,265) were the other players who ran deep but missed out on the final table.

With shallow stacks, the pace of the play increased rapidly, and it did not take long for “NickLeeson” to bust in ninth place when their king-queen failed to get past Daniel Marin’s pocket tens.

Thomas “lultaxpayers” Hall entered the final table as the chip leader and wasted no time shaking things up. Brandon “HawkHeaven” Forbes (8th for $19,375) was his first victim when his got beaten by Hall’s as a deuce appeared on the river.

Next up, Tyler “Tslate21” Hirschfeld (7th place) and Brock “ohmyguan” Wilson (6th place) busted in quick succession and collected $25,309 and $33,422, respectively.

Short-stacked “NeverGambol” fell in fifth place for $44,442, while Steven “rAiseAhippie” Touitou hit the rail in fourth place ($59,458)

Three-handed, Hall held over 50% chips in play, and with the elimination of “ckraiseblff” (3rd for $80,286), the heads-up match began.

On the final hand of the event, short-stacked Daniel “DurdyDan512” Marin and Thomas “lultaxpayers” Hall (h1] were all-in preflop. Hall hit top pair on the board to join the prestigious bracelet winner’s club!

Thomas Hall
Thomas Hall

 

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Thomas “lultaxpayers” Hall – $176,920
  2. Daniel “DurdyDan512” Marin – $109,349
  3. ckraiseblff – $80,286
  4. Steven “rAiseAhippie” Touitou – $59,458
  5. NeverGambol – $44,442
  6. Brock “ohmyguan” Wilson – $33,422
  7. Tyler “Tslate21” Hirschfeld – $25,309
  8. Brandon “hawkheaven” Forbes – $19,375

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP

Keep following PokerGuru for the latest updates from WSOP 2023!

WSOP 2023: Pengfei Wang Has a Blockbuster Maiden Tournament Run, Clinches WSOP Victory in Event #49: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty ($270,700)!

Extending to an unscheduled second day, Event #49: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) played down at a lightning-fast pace, taking just three hours to name a champion from the nine finalists who came back for the finale. American player Pengfei Wang, participating in his first live tournament, swiftly navigated through the competition, scripting one of the most exquisite stories in the series so far and bagging away the coveted WSOP gold bracelet and a staggering $270,700 on his tournament debut.

Wang overcame a starting field of 2,226 players on his way to the title. The final clash unfolded between Wang and Will Linden. Linden, who displayed impressive skill throughout the tournament, picked up a career-best $167,339 as the runner-up.

WSOP tweeted about Wang`s remarkable debut victory.

Immediately after winning the tournament, Wang said, “So excited! Yeah, so it’s actually my first time. It’s my first tournament ever. We sometimes play some private games and sometimes at the casino in Los Angeles for fun. We mostly play cash games; I don’t really have tournament experience. This time, it was a lot of good luck.”

Sharing how he was chasing the money as the short stack on the final table but started eyeing the bracelet once he got deep, Wang said, “Well, it means a lot to me. In the beginning, when I barely got to the final table, I had a short stack. I was worried and trying to get more money in the front. But when I reached the top three, I felt the bracelet was more important to me than the money.”

The stakes were high, and the competition was fierce as players battled for a share of the $1,858,710 prize pool. The top 334 finishers were guaranteed a cash prize, with the payouts starting at $1,505.

Two Indian players secured their second cash finish of the series. Prashray Rai placed 89th, earning $3,082, while Yudhishter Jaswal finished 251st, taking home $1,646.

Yudhister Jaswal
Yudhister Jaswal

 

The event had several former bracelet winners in the mix, and many among them made the payouts. These include Michael Rodrigues (18th for $9,817), Romain Lewis (24th for $9,817), Damian Salas (35th for $8,057), and Craig Varnell (62nd for $4,746).

French player Fabrice Bigot narrowly missed securing a spot at the final table when his ace-nine failed to improve against Michael Burns’s pocket queens. Bigot, however, received a consolation prize of $18,891 in 10th place.

Some final table highlights include Kenneth Maurer’s early double-up and Frank Lagodich’s elimination at the hands of Michael Burns in ninth place. Shortly after, Danny Scott was eliminated by Chen An Lin in eighth place.

In a pivotal hand, Wang doubled up through Lin with ace-king when an ace landed on the river. Despite this setback, Lin staged a comeback by securing a massive double-up through Alejandro “Papo MC” Lococo, with pocket jacks outshining the Lococo’s kings. Lococo soon departed in seventh place.

Following Tony Gargano and Michael Burns’ elimination in sixth and fifth places, respectively, Kenneth Maurer exited in fourth place, with Wang’s pocket nines prevailing over Maurer’s pocket eights.

Wang took the chip lead but faced a formidable opponent in Will Liden, who eliminated Chen An Lin in third place, securing a chip advantage heading into the heads-up showdown.

In an intense finale, Wang encountered a close call but quickly turned the tide by winning another significant pot. Wang slowly gained momentum, and on the final hand of the tournament, Will Liden went all-in with holding an open-ended straight and flush draw with the board open . Wang, with , was chasing the same straight draw and called the bet, having already made a pair of nines. With the completing the runout, Wang’s pair held up, crowning him the champion in his first-ever live tournament in truly impressive fashion.

Pengfei Wang
Pengfei Wang

 

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Pengfei Wang – $270,700
  2. Will Linden – $167,339
  3. Chen An Lin – $123,198
  4. Kenneth Maurer – $91,558
  5. Michael Burns – $68,693
  6. Tony Gargano – $52,034
  7. Alejandro Lococo – $39,799
  8. Danny Scott – $30,760
  9. Frank Lagodich – $23,978

 

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP

Keep following PokerGuru for daily updates from the 2023 WSOP!

Online Rankings

i Top Ranked Poker Players in India
Member Won
Member Won
Member Won
₹1,29,29,197
₹1,25,88,313
₹1,21,00,140
₹1,20,22,333
5.Vinay B Vinay B
₹1,15,16,843
6.M L M L
₹1,14,45,592
₹1,09,13,473
₹1,05,83,948
₹99,75,577
₹99,60,672
Member Profit
Member Profit
Member Profit
₹55,77,649
₹50,59,154
₹47,48,174
₹46,35,740
₹44,93,503
₹43,56,316
₹43,24,686
₹42,41,254
₹41,92,614
₹41,05,805
Member Points
Member Points
Member Points
43,040
36,048
28,827
4.N K N K
28,769
26,548
25,649
24,726
24,446
9.M L M L
23,604
23,352

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