2023 Updates from Various WSOP Events
On the 23rd day of the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, several players experienced the thrill of victory, while the legendary Phil Ivey narrowly missed out on his 11th bracelet. Let’s take a look at the highlights from the day’s action.
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Jay Lockett Emerges Victorious in Event #46: $500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout
In a remarkable turn of events, Jay Lockett claimed the first bracelet of the day in Event #46. Despite only having one previous cash in live poker tournaments, Lockett showcased his skills by outlasting a field of 5,431 opponents. This remarkable achievement earned him a gold bracelet and a substantial prize of $262,526.
Braxton Dunaway Triumphs in Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack
Another player who emerged as a WSOP champion on this eventful day was Braxton Dunaway. He secured victory in Event #39, the $1,500 Monster Stack tournament. With a top prize of $1,162,681, Dunaway became a millionaire with his largest cash to date.
William Leffingwell Claims Victory in Event #45: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Event #45 witnessed an intense battle at the tables, eventually leading to William Leffingwell’s triumph. After a long day of play, Leffingwell emerged as the champion in the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better tournament. The final three players were prepared to bag and tag for the night, but Carlos Guerrero’s elimination on the last hand prevented that. Leffingwell and Zhen Cai went on to duel heads-up, with Leffingwell ultimately emerging victorious and securing the title.
Shakerchi Ahead with 5 Players Remaining in the $50K PPC
The highly anticipated Event #43, the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, has reached its final stages with only five players remaining. Among the final 12 contenders were notable poker superstars, including the legendary Phil Ivey, vying for his 11th bracelet. Unfortunately, Ivey’s journey came to an end as he finished in sixth place.
Heading into the final day’s action, Talal Shakerchi leads the remaining players with a stack of 10,170,000 chips. Shakerchi is the sole player with more than 10 million and will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with. Former champions Matthew Ashton (7,380,000) and Brian Rast (4,545,000) are in close pursuit, with Brian still eyeing the chance to become a three-time PPC champions. James Obst (5,100,000) and Kristopher Tong (2,500,000) round out the final five, both determined to make their mark on the tournament.
Shannon Shorr’s Quest for a Bracelet in Event #44: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em
Shannon Shorr, a player consistently mentioned among the best without a bracelet, has another opportunity to change that narrative in Event #44. Shorr finds himself in a promising position, sitting second in chips with only 15 players remaining in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em event. With 8,750,000 chips, or 44 big blinds, Shorr is poised for a breakthrough. Only Aram Oganyan (9,900,000) holds more chips than the tenacious American grinder.
However, the competition remains fierce, as other formidable players such as Ankush Mandavia (4,800,000), Jon Van Fleet (3,800,000), Alex Lynskey from Australia (3,650,000), and Aliaksandr Hirs (2,975,000) are still in contention. Each participant at this stage has proven their worth, meaning Shorr and Oganyan face a challenging road ahead if they aim to emerge victorious.
The 15 remaining players will reconvene on June 22 at 11:00 a.m. local time for Day 4 of this thrilling event.
Dzivielevski Takes Commanding Lead in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
The highly skilled Brazilian player, Yuri Dzivielevski, is showing his dominance in Event #47: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. as he enters Day 3 with a substantial chip lead of 2,020,000. With nearly 700,000 chips more than any other player among the remaining 27, Dzivielevski is positioning himself for a shot at capturing his third WSOP bracelet. However, it’s worth noting that six of the players still in the running are WSOP champions, ensuring that the competition is far from over for the talented Brazilian.
Gershon Distenfeld (1,300,000) starts Day 3 in a solid third place. It’s worth recalling that Distenfeld has a remarkable tradition of donating his poker tournament winnings to charity, showcasing his generosity alongside his poker skills. Other notable players returning for Day 3 with previous poker accomplishments include Andrew Barber (950,000), Frankie O’Dell (905,000), Denis Nesterenko (845,000), Randy Ohel (805,000), and Anson Tsang (440,000).
Strong Turnout for Seniors Championship on Day 1A
The Seniors Championship, Event #48: $1,000 Seniors Championship, commenced with a remarkable turnout as 3,692 players participated in Day 1A. After 11 levels of play, only 730 players managed to keep their chips and advance to the tournament’s next stage. Emerging as the chip leader on Day 1A was Frank “Skullman” Harrington (445,000), who demonstrated a strong start in his quest for the championship title.
Rayesh Goyal (429,000), Christian Munk (427,000), and Jose Obadia Chocron (403,500) came close to claiming the chip lead but fell just short. Notably, Mark Seif (355,000) and Dieter Dechant (301,000), who have already tasted the sweet victory of winning WSOP bracelets during their careers, also bagged up impressive stacks within the top ten.
Other players to watch out for on Day 2 include Lee Markholt (243,000), Ted Forrest (181,500), Victor Ramdin (167,500), Billy Baxter (155,000), Andy Frankenberger (152,500), Mike Matusow (117,500), and Barry Greenstein (82,500).
Super Turbo Event Nears Its Climax
Despite the fast-paced nature of Event #49: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty, the tournament will carry over to the final day with nine players still vying for the bracelet and the top prize of $270,700. The event attracted a crowd of 2,226 participants.
Returning for the final table, which starts at 2:00 p.m. local time on June 22, are Alejandro Lococo (15,550,000), holding the largest stack with 39 big blinds, and Frank Lagodich (1,750,000) with a shorter stack of 4 big blinds. With rapidly increasing blinds and shallow stacks, the final table promises to deliver an explosive and thrilling showdown.
Yockey Among Leaders in Pot-Limit Omaha Championship
Event #50: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) Championship attracted an impressive field of 688 players, surpassing last year’s participation. Heading into Day 2, Daniel Aharoni (535,000) leads the pack, while Bryce Yockey (479,000) secured a solid fifth-place stack, indicating his strong performance in the tournament.
Other notable players who successfully progressed to Day 2 include Roman Hrabec (391,000), Jeremy Ausmus (279,000), Luis Velador (203,000), Anthony Zinno (172,500), Joao Vieira (172,000), and Nick Schulman (169,000).
What’s Ahead on Day 24 of the 2023 WSOP
On June 22, the 24th day of the 2023 WSOP, there is an exciting lineup of events to keep poker enthusiasts engaged. The champions will be crowned in Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship, Event #44: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em, Event #49: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty, Event #47: H.O.R.S.E., and Online Event #9: $1,000 PLO Championship.
Additionally, Day 1b of Event #48: $1,000 Seniors Championship will commence, along with Day 2 action in Event #50: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship. The shuffle-up and dealing of the cards will mark the beginning of Event #51: $1,000 Tag Team and Event #52: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw.