In a tournament filled with some of the biggest stars in poker, it was a player who is quickly establishing a reputation as one of them who came out on top.

Alexandre Vuilleumier of Switzerland, who dedicated himself to tournaments just over a year ago, conquered a field of 207 of the toughest opponents in the game to win Event #2: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em, his first World Series of Poker bracelet, and $1,215,864 top prize, at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

“Obviously, the World Series is just fantastic,” the newly-crowned champion said after defeating Chance Kornuth heads-up. “To win a bracelet is just the epitome of a poker career for sure.”

Vuilleumier came into the WSOP on a bit of a hot streak. He was third at EPT London in November, which had been his best score before today. He won a $10,150 six-handed event in the Bahamas in February. And now he was the last man standing in one of the most talent-packed tournaments on the poker calendar. The last seven months have been a time when Vuilleumier established himself as one of the top players in the game.

“I wouldn’t be as arrogant to say that, but for me, it is the year of my career for sure. I’m really happy with everything that’s happened,” he said. “I’m not one of the top players. Like in chess, you have to be here for years. I’m certainly growing and I’m excited to be part of these tournaments. I started playing tournaments in January 2022, so I certainly wouldn’t make any bold assessments.”

Chess is another game that Vuilleumier knows all too well. He’s an International Master and has been rated as high as 2,400. His background in chess, with results dating back more than two decades, helped prepare him for the grueling nature of being a professional poker player.

“There are a lot of similarities. One of the best tricks that you learn in chess is to be able to concentrate for long periods. So after nine hours of concentration, I think I am still at 90 percent of my capabilities while everyone else is maybe at 60 percent, so that is certainly great,” he said.

“And also backward analysis. We are able to think in the air, like abstractly in chess, and reconstruct the game. And in poker, it is important to jump from, okay, what did he do preflop and on the turn, and what does it mean? That mental gymnastics are certainly very akin to what is happening in chess.”

Event #2: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed Final Table results

Day 3 Action

Day 3 began at 1:30 p.m. local time with nine players chasing the prestigious WSOP gold bracelet. Jake Schindler and Elior Sion fell within the first few minutes of the day, bringing the field down to the unofficial final table of seven.

Vuilleumier was second in chips with 5,200,000, trailing only Frenchman Axel Hallay’s 10,035,000. Sean Winter, one of the best players without a bracelet, put himself in a position to shed that distinction when he flopped quad nines to earn a massive double-up off Chris Moore and knock Moore down to less than 1,000,000. A few hands later, Moore picked up jacks and was all in for 475,000 against Winter’s ace-eight, but Winter spiked an ace on the river to set the official final table that gathered on the main feature table inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Ren Lin doubled up set over set against Joey Weissman on the second hand of the final table. Vuilleumier then called Weissman’s short-stack shove with jack-three and cracked kings after flopping trip threes, making the 2012 bracelet winner the first casualty of the final table.

Vuilleumier then began to take control of the tournament following a pivotal hand against Winter. Vuilleumier rivered two pair with king-queen and led out for 1,790,000. Winter then jammed his pair of queens, and Vuilleumier called for 5,350,000 to take a massive chip lead with more than 16,000,000.

Winter was left with one big blind but doubled up repeatedly as the gregarious and joyful Lin finally succumbed in fifth place when Kornuth made quads with pocket kings. Hallay, who began the day as an overwhelming chip leader, was eliminated in fourth place after losing a race with sevens to Winter’s king-ten, then calling off his last 855,000 with queen-three against Winter’s dominating king-queen.

Now three-handed between the three-time bracelet winner Kornuth against Vuilleumier and Winter, two players still hoping to capture their first, Kornuth narrowed the gap a little when he avoided Vuilleumier’s straight draw to double up to 9,630,000. Winter’s hopes for a miraculous “chip and a chair” story were finally dashed when he and Vuilleumier both flopped top pair, Vuilleumier rivered two pair, and Winter called off his last 3,250,000.

Vuilleumier led 19,800,000 to Kornuth’s 11,300,000 at the start of heads-up play, which was controlled by the Swiss pro. Kornuth was down to just 3,050,000 when he jammed king-three, Vuilleumier called with ace-queen, and the board gave Vuilleumier a straight on the turn to deny Kornuth his fourth bracelet and secure Vuilleumier the title.

Vuilleumier is proving himself to be a six-max savant, and it all goes back to his time grinding cash games. “I come from cash games, so we like to play post-flop, and obviously, in six-max there is more post-flop,” he said.

He’s now conquered one of the toughest six-max fields of the year. If he was overshadowed by some of the legendary names at the start of the tournament, he won’t be overlooked anymore.

That concludes PokerNews’ coverage of Event #2: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. Stay tuned for more action throughout the 2023 WSOP.

The final table of Event #2: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) featured big bluffs, huge suck-outs and improbable runouts that made it the perfect way to kick off the summer.

The High Roller had $1,215,864 up top and featured a stacked final table that included Chance Kornuth, Sean Winter, Joey Weissman, Axel Hallay and Ren Lin.

But it was Switzerland’s Alexandre Vuilleumier who walked away with a maiden bracelet and seven-figure top prize after defeating Kornuth heads-up to deny the Chip Leader Coaching founder a fourth bracelet.

Here’s a look at the biggest hands from what will likely prove to be one of the most entertaining final tables of the series, as documented by the PokerNews live reporting team.

Kornuth Knocks Out Lin With Quad Kings

With five players left, Chance Kornuth opened to 400,000 from the cutoff and called when Ren Lin jammed for 1,910,000 from the button.

Ren Lin: A♥10♥
Chance Kornuth: K♠K♣

Kornuth, who failed to eliminate Lin several times late last night, had the best of it. And he managed to finally down his opponent after making quads on the K♦7♦6♠K♥8♦ runout to send Lin out in fifth place for $259,220.

Vuilleumier Picks Off Bluff to Leave Winter with 1.5 Big Blinds

Sean Winter raised to 435,000 from the button with Q♥9♣, and Alexandre Vuilleumier defended his big blind with K♣Q♦.

Vuilleumier made top pair on the K♦8♠6♣ flop and check-called for 725,000.

On the 5♦ turn, the action checked through to the Q♣ river. Vuilleumier improved to top two pair while Winter rivered a pair of queens.

Vuilleumier led for 1,790,000, swelling the pot to 4,410,000. Winter thought over his options, and then fireworks began to ignite as he jammed as the bigger stack.

Vuilleumier, with 5,350,000 behind, called for his tournament life after some thinking time and scooped in the biggest pot of the tournament so far.

Winter Goes Runner-Runner for a Double, Then Doubles Again

After losing most of his stack, Sean Winter limped in to leave himself just 100,000 behind, then called all in when Axel Hallay on the button raised to 300,000.

Sean Winter: K♥Q♦
Axel Hallay: A♥10♣

The A♣7♠4♠ flop was a disaster for Winter as Hallay made top pair. Winter was already tapping the felt and getting up from his seat as the 10♦ on the turn gave him a small glimmer of hope to avoid going out in fifth place.

The J♦ fell on the river and Winter made his miracle runner-runner straight to stay alive.

The next hand, Winter raised to 700,000 from under the gun, then called off his last 400,000 when Chance Kornuth reraised.

Sean Winter: J♠J♣
Chance Kornuth: A♣3♣

Winter was ahead this time and took an almost insurmountable lead in the hand as the 8♥J♥10♥ flop gave him top set. The K♣ fell on the turn and Kornuth now picked up a straight draw.

“It was nice playing with you. Lady Gaga,” Kornuth said as Winter walked over to shake his hand.

“I forgot you could win,” Winter said in disbelief.

The river, though, came the 6♥ and Winter doubled up yet again.

Lin Doubles With Set Over Set

On the second hand of the final table, Joey Weissman raised to 260,000 from under the gun as action folded to Ren Lin on the button. “All in. Let’s go,” he said as he moved all in for 1,420,000. Weissman called when action got back around to him.

Ren Lin: J♥J♦
Joey Weissman: 10♠10♣

“I think he has a bad feeling because he’s not talking,” a player at the table said as Lin uncharacteristically fell silent heading to the flop.

“Because he’s my good friend,” Lin replied.

The 2♣J♠5♦ flop was a disaster for Weissman as Lin made top set. The 10♦ on the turn gave Weissman a set and left him drawing to a miracle one-outer on the river, but he missed the 6♣ as he handed over most of his stack.

Vuilleumier Cracks Weissman’s Cowboys

After the disastrous set-over-set, Joey Weissman moved all in for 460,000 from the small blind and was called by Alexandre Vuilleumier from the big blind.

Joey Weissman: K♠K♦
Alexandre Vuilleumier: J♣3♥

Weissman was the huge favorite but immediately became the underdog after Vuilleumier made trips on the 7♥3♣3♠ flop. The 8♠ turn and 8♦ river confirmed the bad beat and gave Vuilleumier a full house to secure Weissman’s exit in sixth place for $188,219.

While winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker player can achieve, many of the greatest and most successful players in the game have yet to put one on their wrists.

PokerNews has had a decent track record with highlighting players without bracelets who have gone on to win them. Jason Koon won a maiden bracelet in 2021 after making the “Best Without a Bracelet” list that year, while Dan Smith and Alex Foxen both found bracelets in 2022 to be removed from that year’s list.

With the 2023 WSOP a few days underway, here’s a look at some of the best players who have yet to add a World Series bracelet to their long lists of accolades.

_{Note: This list primarily looks at poker tournament players or who are regular names in the tournament circuit. This excludes the likes of Tom Dwan and popular high-stakes cash game players like Garrett Adelstein and Andy Stacks.}

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Isaac Haxton

Isaac Haxton is widely regarded as one of the best poker tournament players of all time, having racked up $35.8 million in live earnings across his career. Despite the millions in tournament cashes, including $3 million at the WSOP alone, Haxton has yet to win a bracelet.

Haxton came closest to doing so at the 2009 WSOP when he finished runner-up in Event #2: $40,000 40th Annual No-Limit Holdem to take home $1.2 million. Eight years later, Haxton finished third in the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship at the 2017 World Series to pocket $595,812.

Haxton is back at the 2023 WSOP after taking the last few years off due to COVID-19 concerns, and he is as hot as ever as he’s already won an incredible five tournaments in the past six months. If he can extend his hot streak through the summer, he could certainly pick up a bracelet this year.

Isaac Haxton Top Five WSOP Cashes

Shannon Shorr

Shannon Shorr is no stranger to success at the WSOP. The Alabama all-time money leader finished second in Event #7: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2008 WSOP for $349,141, and finished third in Event #57: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed Championship for $455,362 four years later.

More recently, Shorr had another close call in Event #11: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2019 WSOP, where he finished second for $273,416 after falling to Daniel Strelitz. After so many deep runs and close calls at the World Series, it would be hard to argue that Shorr isn’t due for a bracelet.

Shorr performed strongly in 2022, taking down Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em at the US Poker Open for $213,900 in March and later finishing second in $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em at the PGT Venetian High Roller Series for $64,400.

In 2023, Shorr took down a $10,000 event at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $260,600.

Shannon Shorr Top Five WSOP Cashes

Chris Brewer

A new addition to this list is Chris Brewer, a regular on the high stakes circuit who has accumulated $9.8 million in lifetime earnings since his first live cash in 2015. Brewer’s biggest WSOP cash came in 2021 year when he finished fifth in Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship 6-Handed for $211,235.

Brewer has had success outside of the World Series as well, including a victory in $10,000 WPT High Roller at the 2021 WPT Online Series and a first-place finish in Event #9: €10,000 No Limit Hold’em at 2022 EPT Prague for €155,830. In 2023, Brewer took down a €50,000 High Roller at EPT Paris for a career-best $1 million.

Given his success on other tours and performance in the 2021 Poker Player’s Championship, it seems only a matter of time before Brewer adds a first-place finish at the WSOP to his poker resume.

Chris Brewer Top Five WSOP Cashes

Bin Weng

Bin Weng is on the heater of a lifetime as perhaps the biggest breakout player of 2023. The Pennsylvanian started off the year by taking down the Borgata Return for a career-bets $1 million before surpassing that a few months later with a victory in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship for $1.1 million.

Weng was close to making poker history by winning consecutive WPT events but ended up in 4th place for $143,000.

Just a few days into the WSOP and Weng, who also won a Circuit ring earlier this year in the WSOPC Las Vegas Main Event, made a deep run in the Event #2: $25,000 High Roller (6-Handed) and is well on his way to winning a first bracelet.

Bin Weng’s Top Five WSOP Cashes

Gianluca Speranza

Gianluca Speranza has been within inches of earning a WSOP bracelet on multiple occasions, making him an easy addition to this list. In 2011, the Italian finished second in Event #2: €1,090 No-Limit Hold’em at WSOPE for €91,262. In 2017, he won more than seven times that, €689,246, when he finished runner up in the WSOPE Main Event, falling to Marti de Torres.

The runner-up finish in the WSOPE Main was Speranza’s best live cash until he took down a €25,000 High Roller at EPT Monte Carlo in 2022 for €853,000. We will see if Speranza can continue his run-good this summer in Las Vegas and if it will earn him a bracelet.

Gianluca Speranza Top Five WSOP Cashes

Seth Davies

With $20.8 million in tournament earnings, Seth Davies is one of the biggest crushers on the high-roller circuit. Despite his various poker accolades, including a victory in the 2016 WPT Canadian Spring Championship for $203,992 and a WPT title, Davies has yet to pick up a bracelet.

Davies, who is occasionally confused for one-time bracelet winner Stephen Chidwick, came close to winning a maiden bracelet in November 2021 when he finished fourth in the $250,000 Super High Roller for $930,791. Depending on his WSOP schedule, this could be the year he wins a bracelet.

Maria Ho

Iconic poker commentator and Women in Poker Hall of Famer Maria Ho is still after a first bracelet despite racking up 71 WSOP cashes (seven more from when PokerNews put out this list in 2021) and $1.8 million in WSOP earnings.

Ho was denied a bracelet at the 2011 WSOP in Event #4: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em, where she finished second for $540,020. More recently, Ho finished sixth in the 2017 WSOPE Main Event to earn €174,365, another close call for the California pro and commentator.

Ho had a number of deep runs at the 2022 World Series, including a fifth-place finish in Event #67: $7,000 NLH Super Turbo Bounty for $131,655. 2023 could be the year Ho adds a bracelet to her impressive poker resume.

Maria Ho Top Five WSOP Cashes

Roland Israelashvili

With a record 419 WSOP cashes to his name, Roland Israelashvili sits far in front on the all-time list, ahead of Arkadiy Tsinis (237 WSOP cashes) and Ari Engel (218 cashes), the latter of whom was on this list until he won his first bracelet in 2019.

Despite having all of those cashes and an impressive eight Circuit rings, Israelashvili has yet to get a golden bracelet under his belt. The New Yorker, who is originally from the Republic of Georgia, had his closest call in Event #58: The Little One for One Drop – $1,111 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2013 WSOP, where he finished third for $295,433. The previous year, Israelashvili had finished fifth in Event #45: $50,000 Poker Players Championship for his biggest WSOP score of $317,882.

Roland Israelashvili Top Five WSOP Cashes

Niklas Astedt

Niklas Astedt is one of the best online tournament grinders ever to touch a computer mouse, sitting atop the PocketFives all-time leaderboard with $25.5 million in earnings. “Lena900” has also had success in the live realm, accumulating just under $1.5 million in lifetime earnings.

The Swedish pro played a heavy schedule at the 2021 WSOP and had a number of deep runs, including a 7th-place finish in Event #64: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em; Pot-Limit Omaha for $70,367, and the next day finishing 19th in Event #66: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for $20,097.

The online grinder was denied a bracelet the previous year in a GGPoker.com $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event, in which he finished second for $156,905. Whether it’s earned online or in a live arena, a bracelet could certainly be in Astedt’s future.

Niklas Astedt

Niklas Astedt Top Five WSOP Cashes

Josh Reichard

With a resume that includes 14 Circuit rings and a spot in the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Hall of Fame, Josh Reichard has secured his place as one of the greatest mid-stakes tournament grinders of all time.

Earlier this year, Reichard won a 14th ring and $253,073 in the WSOP Grand Victoria Main Event to tie Maurice Hawkins at the top of the all-time ring list (before Hawkins went on to win a 15th ring a month later).

Reichard has also had results at the summer series, including a 9th-place finish in the 2019 $1,500 Millionaire Maker for $122,375. It would hardly be a surprise for Reichard to win another piece of WSOP hardware in the form of a bracelet.

Josh Reichard’s Top Five WSOP Cashes

Top Poker Players Without a WSOP Bracelet Breakdown

_{Live poker statistics and poker’s all-time money list rankings courtesy of The Hendon Mob.}