Five-time bracelet winner and 1998 Main Event Champion Scotty Nguyen will miss the first half of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) as the Vietnamese-American poker icon recovers from surgery.
Nguyen, always a fan-favorite of WSOP, took to Twitter earlier this week to announce he was undergoing surgery for slipping rib syndrome, a condition that can cause severe chest pain in addition to “a slipping, clicking, or popping sensation in the lower chest,” according to an article published in Psychopharmacology Bulletin.
But it’s not all over, baby. Nguyen tweeted today to let his fans know that the surgery was a success and that he hopes to recover in time for the second half of the WSOP.
slipped rib syndrome surgery recovery update baby! thanks you all for the continued love and support baby! https://t.co/b4MEvhxyWn
— Scotty Nguyen (@TheScottyNguyen)
“I want to let you guys know the surgery (recovery) is going so well,” Nguyen said in a video. “Right now, on both sides (it) is sore and swollen and I have trouble to get in and out of bed. But I have my wife, Julie, she (is) right there to help me sitting up or standing up.”
“I love all of you, baby. See you in the second half at the World Series in Vegas.”
Though the surgery was a success, Nguyen noted that he was still in pain and having issues sleeping and would likely be need “around two or three weeks” to recover, per doctor’s orders.
“Hopefully I heal in two weeks, baby,” he said. “Because I missed you guys, baby! I love you guys too much, baby. I want to get there and see you guys and see those smiles and warm love. That’s what I love about my fans.”
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25 Years Since Nguyen’s Big Win
Fans will surely want to see Nguyen at this summer’s World Series as it marks the 25th anniversary since The Prince of Poker’s iconic victory in the 1998 Main Event that became one of the most celebrated televised moments in pre-Poker Boom history.
“When I won the Main Event in 1998, the way I played the game made it fun for everyone,” Nguyen told PokerNews in 2017. “That’s how poker got so big, not because of (Chris) Moneymaker. Five years before he came along, I talked to people, I laughed, I joked. I didn’t just sit there.”
Scotty Nguyen at the 2022 WSOP
Nguyen won his first bracelet a year before the big 1998 win and has managed to add three more to his collection in the years since. He won two Omaha events in 2001 and later won the 2008 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship for just shy of $2 million.
Nguyen continues to grind the WSOP regularly and cashed in two events at the 2022 WSOP.
When it comes to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu is typically found in bigger buy-in events. He’s among poker’s elite often competing for $25K Fantasy and Player of the Year points, and buy-ins in excess of $10,000 give him the best chance at both, not to mention his first bracelet since 2013.
For instance, he finished 22nd in Event #2: $25,000 High Roller Six-Handed NLH for $50,000, though he failed to bag Day 1 of Event #23: $50,000 High Roller (8-Handed) after firing two bullets.
However, on Wednesday after busting early on Day 2 of Event #16: $25,000 High Roller, “Kid Poker” opted to become a man of the people by hopping into Day 1a of Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker, which boasted a $3 million guarantee.
Follow Live Updates from the WSOP Gladiators of Poker Here!
Are You Not Entertained?
Needless to say, recreational players in the field were thrilled to see one of poker’s top stars in the lowest buy-in tournament of the 2023 WSOP. That was evidenced by the hundreds of photos he’d take while in the Paris Ballroom.
A shot from Negreanu’s vlog of him standing in a long line.
Despite having to wait in long lines, Negreanu busted two bullets in short order and opted to fire a third, which is when he began to catch fire. It started just before the dinner break when Negreanu more than doubled his stack of 36,000 with A♠J♠ against two players, one who was short stacked and another bigger stack who held the 6♠6♥. The board ran out 2♥A♣9♦J♦A♥ and Negreanu filled up to
Not long after, a player raised, Negreanu three-bet, and the original raiser jammed. Negreanu called with the A♥K♠ and was up against the K♥K♦. The 3♠3♥9♥ flop gave Negreanu a runner-runner heart draw, but the 4♠ turn dashed those hopes and left him looking for an ace on the river to stay alive. Well, Negreanu doesn’t always run bad as he spiked the A♦ to double his stack of 102,000. By the dinner break he had worked that up to 307,000.
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Post-Dinner Heater
With around 300 players remaining in the field, Negreanu won a big pot with the A♣Q♠ against an opponent’s A♦8♦ after the board ran out [7h4s9h3h10]. Going into the last break of the night, Negreanu sat with 775,000 when the average was 450,000 with roughly 260 players.
Daniel Negreanu having a ball!
The run good didn’t stop there as Negreanu won an 800k pot when his pocket kings coolered queens, and it was only up from there. The flight drew 3,954 entrants, but after 22 levels of play just 129 bagged with Negreanu and his stack of 2.25 million in fourth place.
Along with all the other survivors, Negreanu will return at 10 a.m. PDT on Sunday for Day 2 action. He’s already in the money, which marks his fourth cash of the 2023 WSOP.
“Why not the Gladiator? Why not? Let’s just do this one,” Negreanu said. “…I’m a man of the people.”
Negreanu’s wild ride in the Gladiators of Poker was documented in his daily vlog, which you can watch here:
Cash is normally in abundance on the Las Vegas Strip, but with the World Series of Poker currently in full swing at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, there is more money than usual floating around the properties. With that in mind, let the arrest of a burglar at Paris this past week serve as a reminder to all of you chasing your poker dreams: keep your cash locked up.
guests were asleep in the rooms when he entered
According to police reports acquired by KLAS, Robert Black broke into seven hotel rooms at Paris Las Vegas between about 3am and 4:40am on June 2. The scary part was that guests were asleep in the rooms when he entered, though it appears that Black’s goal was simply to grab money, not to hurt anyone.
He stole cash from five of the first six rooms, with amounts ranging from $244 to $2,400. The seventh room, though, was a bait room staged by the police containing hidden cameras, suitcases, a wallet stuffed with $600, and other “items of value.” When Black broke in and took the wallet, security officers, monitoring from the room next door, rushed in and apprehended him.
Black had US$5,365 and CAD$990 on him, plus someone else’s room key and a flathead screwdriver. He faces five counts of residential burglary and one count of attempted residential burglary.
The post Police Catch Burglar Who Hit Seven Paris Las Vegas Rooms in Two Hours During WSOP appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
Twitch may have just well and truly shot itself in the foot. Earlier this week, the streaming giant announced new rules including limits to advertising and a ban on multi-platform streaming. Despite implementing the measures to keep its best creators from streaming elsewhere, the firm has actually pushed its most popular one out of the door.
On Friday, American streamer Ninja announced that he was live on Kick and YouTube, a move that prompted Stake-backed Kick to declare that the GOAT had arrived on the platform:
Ninja is by far the most popular streamer on Twitch with 18.5 million followers. He made clear earlier this week that he disagrees with Twitch’s ban on multi-streaming for all users. “I’m not partnered with Twitch,” the streamer explained on stream. “I don’t make money there, so what am I gonna choose? Am I gonna choose to stream on YouTube, TikTok, Kick, or am I gonna only stream to Twitch and make no money?”
Ninja’s account is currently still active on Twitch
Ninja has now made his answer to that question abundantly clear. Notably, Twitch backtracked on some of its ad-focused rules after experiencing a fierce backlash from streamers this week. However, the firm has not released any revised guidelines in regard to the multi-streaming ban. Ninja’s account is currently still active on Twitch.
The post Ninja, Twitch’s Most-Followed Streamer, Joins Kick After Blasting Multi-Platform Ban appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
It’s every gambler’s dream to hit a life-changing jackpot one day. For a slot player in Pennsylvania that dream recently came true.
Julie M. — full name undisclosed — hit the jackpot of a lifetime on the Divine Fortune slot machine on the PokerStars PA online casino. How much did the lucky gambler win? A whopping $631,436.86 on a $60 spin.
Jackpot Winner Details
PokerStars PA provided us with some info on the winner and how she hit the jackpot. Back in February, we reported that the Divine Fortune slot machine jackpot hit multiple times totaling nearly $1 million, including a massive $729,000 score.
Earlier this month, another huge jackpot cracked on the same machine. Julie M, who only wants to be identified by her first name and last initial, had run into a bit of bad luck before the dream score.
According to PokerStars, using screen name “juliesbiron,” she first made a $1,000 deposit on November 29, 2022 and then another $1,500 on June 1, 2023. She apparently hadn’t played any casino games on PokerStars in between those two deposits.
Unfortunately, for Julie, she had another rough session betting $60 per hand on the Divine Fortune slots. So, she made another $1,500 deposit on the same day (June 1, 2023) and gave it another shot. It’s a good thing she did because luck was about to come her way.
On the 70th hand, still betting $60 per spin, about 20 minutes into the session, she hit the jackpot and the rest is history. Julie received more than $630,000 all for playing what appears to be her favorite slot machine on the PokerStars PA online casino.
Congratulations to the lucky winner.
Nearly $1 Million in Jackpots Hit Within a Week on PokerStars PA’s Divine Fortune
What is Divine Fortune?
Divine Fortune offers a 96.6% return to the player. The minimum bet is $0.20 while the maximum is $100. There are 20 pay lines while bonus features include the jackpot, free spins, and a Bonus Round.
The theme of the game, which was released in 2017, is rooted in ancient Greece complete with mythical creatures and an Olympian temple. There’s a 3X5 grid with 20 pay lines and the goal is to get at least three matching symbols working from the far left to right.
To hit the progressive jackpot, a player must make the max bet and trigger the bonus game by getting three or more bonus coin symbols. Those bonus symbols can offer 10-200x your stake, so even if you don’t hit the progressive jackpot you’ll still be primed for a nice payday whenever you’re fortunate enough to enter the bonus round.
Here’s a look at Divine Fortune in action:
The casino section of PokerStars PA also offers games such as Bushido Bounty, Wheel of Fortune Ruby Riches, Jumanji, and the exclusive Pharaoh’s Loot, among many others.
Get in on the Action
PokerStars PA is arguably the best online poker site to offer real money games in Pennsylvania. PokerStars PA became the first online poker provider in the state on November 4, 2019. That day, industry leader PokerStars celebrated the first-ever “shuffle up and deal of their PA-focused poker site.
New customers in Pennsylvania can currently receive a 100% deposit match up to $600. Also, if you bet just $1 on casino games you can get $100 in freeplay. You do not need to be a resident of Pennsylvania to play, but you do need to be within state borders.
When you register to play online poker games in PA on PokerStars, you get the following:
An excellent bonus package with tickets to play Spin and Go tournaments
A bonus match bonus on your first deposit
The best customer support service in the industry
Unlimited access to the only online legal poker games in PA
PokerStars’ PA online poker site is operated in cooperation with the Mount Airy Casino Resort, the brand’s partner in the State.
To learn more about PokerStars PA and to find out how to sign up, check out this PokerNews review of the online poker site.
To learn more about PokerStars PA and to find out how to sign up, check out this PokerNews review of the online poker site.
Following the release of Taco Fury XXXtreme™ on June 8, NetEnt, a flagship iGaming provider and developer based in Stockholm, Sweden, released The Wish Master™ Megaways™, the sequel to the original hit, Wish Master, which is a genie-themed slot featuring the great genie called Wish Master, who can make all the player’s wishes come true.
Mystical visual:
True to its name, the main theme of the slot is the aforementioned mighty Wish Master, who, with the help of extraordinary features, leads the player to a big win. The game takes place in a cave where the ground is filled with golden and shimmering objects that feel fragile to the touch. Additionally, the game can be played on any device.
Unlike the first version, this sequel is boosted by Big Time Gaming’s Megaways™ mechanic, which works on a six-reel structure with the added addition of an extra horizontal wheel. Simply put, it’s a system that allows for a virtually unlimited number of potential winning combinations on any given spin, which for Megaways™ slots means they are equipped with 117,649 ways to win on each spin. This is achieved by using a system of cascading reels and random multipliers, which means that the number of potential winning combinations can change with each spin.
To win, players must form a combination of 3 or more matching symbols on adjacent reels beginning from the reel furthest to the left, triggering a cascading feature on the dynamic grid of 6 reels and 2-7 rows.
The basic low-value symbols are 10, J, Q, K and A, while the high-value bonus symbols are bejeweled animals in blue, orange, green and red. In addition, the game has high volatility, a default RTP of 96.07%, and a maximum win of up to 27018x a player’s bet.
Slot features:
Cascade – as soon as the player makes a winning combination, this feature is triggered. Once activated, all the symbols that participated in the win will vanish from the reels, allowing new ones to land and fill the empty spots. Moreover, this feature lasts as long as the player generates new wins.
Wild Symbol – the Wild, aka the symbol displaying the word WILD along with a burning flame, replaces any paying symbol on the reels, except the Scatter, thus helping to create more winning combinations.
Wish Master Features – this feature is triggered when the player lands a Scatter, aka a scroll with a lamp. As soon as it is triggered, the player automatically receives 5 free spins and is then randomly rewarded one of four wild features such as: Extra Wild, Wild Reel, Multiplier and Random Wild. However, if the player lands a new Scatter throughout these free spins, they will receive an additional wild feature, with a maximum of 3 active at the same time.
Each time the player gets a Scatter, the free spins will reset to 5 again. Furthermore, if 3 wild features are already triggered, the first one triggered will be replaced by a new one.
Extra Wild – this feature will show the type of paying symbol which will further cause each of these symbol types to convert into Wild Symbols.
Wild Reel – the entire reel, if a Scatter lands, will convert into an expanded Wild Symbol.
Multiplier – the player receives a 2x or 3x win multiplier and may even manage to trigger both simultaneously for a 6x win multiplier.
Random Wild – during this feature, the player will receive 2 to 5 Wilds placed on the reels with every new spin.
Commenting on the launch, Nicholas Peters, Chief Business Development Officer for Europe at Evolution, said: “The team’s hard work resulted in the revival of a great NetEnt classic, enhanced with Big Time Gaming’s ground-breaking MegawaysTM mechanics. The familiar genie entertains players with a handful of special features, accompanied by up to 117,649 ways to win. Players can, once again, enter the lair of the Wish MasterTM and see what he has in store.”
Only one bracelet found its owner on Day 11 of the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Valentino Konakchiev won the bracelet for Event #19: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout.
There was a second event scheduled for a winner, but there was still a trio of players in Event #20: $1,500 Badugi as daylight approached. Instead, the last three players will be returning on June 10 to conclude the tournament.
Two events kicked off today, the Event #23: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em and Event #24: $1,500 Razz.
Meanwhile, Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker No-limit Hold’em played out Day 1c, and Event #21: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed and Event #22: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship had their Day 2s.
Andres Korn Denied Second Bracelet Heads Up By Valentino Konakchiev
Valentino Konakchiev posed with his bracelet.
Konakchiev put on an impressive showing at the final table of Event #19: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout where he played an aggressive final table. When Konakchiev got down to heads up play, he found himself up against bracelet winner Andres Korn.
However, Konakchiev popped Korn’s hope for a second bracelet, beating him heads up to take down $435,924 for first place. This is Konakchiev’s first bracelet.
Event #19: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout Final Table Results
Rank
Winner
Country
Prize (in USD)
1
Valentino Konakchiev
Bulgaria
$435,924
2
Andres Korn
Argentina
$269,438
3
Alexandre Reard
France
$192,723
4
Ruben Costa
United States
$139,671
5
Girish Reknar
United States
$102,577
6
Ankit Ahuja
India
$76,537
7
Niall Farrell
United Kingdom
$57,620
8
Adam Swan
United States
$44,087
9
Qiang Xu
China
$34,210
Justin Bonomo Leads The $50,000 High Roller Field After Day 1
There were 111 entries on Day 1 of Event #23: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em. By the close of play, that field had been cut down to 48 with Justin Bonomo (2,024,000) taking the chip lead.
There is still late registration until the start of Day 2, so there is still time for more big names to join the roster.
As you might expect from so pricey an event, the list of entrants and survivors so far is just one shark after another. The top ten chip counts included big names like Sam Soverel (1,450,000), Alex Foxen (1,236,000), Jeremy Ausmus (1,016,000), and Chris Brewer (1,618,000), hot off a third-place finish in Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship.
PokerNews will pick up the coverage of Day 2 of this event when it starts back up on June 10 at 12 p.m.
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Event #23: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chips
Day 2 Big Blinds
1
Justin Bonomo
United States
2,024,000
127
2
Talal Shakerchi
United Kingdom
1,688,000
106
3
Chris Brewer
United States
1,618,000
101
4
Sam Soverel
United States
1,459,000
91
5
Chance Kornuth
United States
1,313,000
82
6
Alex Foxen
United States
1,236,000
77
7
Leon Sturm
Germany
1,118,000
70
8
Jeremy Ausmus
United States
1,016,000
64
9
Sergio Aido
Spain
984,000
62
10
Seth Davies
United States
961,000
60
Badugi Bracelet Pushed To Day 4 With Three Players Left
Yingui Li leads the final three.
Event #20: $1,500 Badugi started its Day 3 today with thirteen players. Although the event was scheduled to play down to a winner today, play reached the end of level 35 with three players still going at it.
Serhii Popovych, Michael Rodrigues, and Yingui Li are still in the game.
Li and Rodrigues are in close contention with 4,900,000 and 4,600,000 in chips, respectively. However, Popovych is not far behind with 3,350,000. It could be anyone’s bracelet.
When the players completed level 35, the tournament director made the call to end the day. As a result, the event will resume tomorrow, June 10, at 1 p.m. local time.
Event #20: $1,500 Badugi Chip Final Table (Unfinished) Results
Position
Name
Country
Chip Count/Prize ($)
1
Yingui Li
China
4,900,000
2
Michael Rodrigues
Portugal
4,600,000
3
Serhii Popovych
United States
3,350,000
4
Matt Vengrin
United States
$40,996
5
Danny Tang
Hong Kong
$28,270
6
Owais Ahmed
United States
$20,557
7
Lee Horton
United States
$15,102
Richard Gao Is The Top Gladiator Of Day 1c
After Day 1c of Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker No-limit Hold’em, Richard Gao (3,105,000) bagged the most chips.
At the other end of the scale, Austin Carr (5,000) bagged just a single red chip and a prayer.
Among those who didn’t even have one chip at the end of the day were Greg “Fossilman” Raymer and Jamie Gold, Patrick Leonard, Kyna England, JJ Liu, Joseph Altomonte, and Lexy Gavin-Mather.
There will be one more flight (Day 1d) starting at 10 a.m. on June 10. Surviving players from today will be added to the list containing the 507 players who have already qualified for Day 2. You can check out our coverage on PokerNews.
Check out our coverage of Days 1a-c of the Gladiator
Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker No-limit Hold’em Day 1c Top Ten Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Richard Gao
United States
3,105,000
62
2
Peter Lee
United States
3,100,000
62
3
Vito Branciforte
Italy
2,685,000
54
4
Lindsay Jones
United States
2,465,000
49
5
Jason Aden
United States
2,285,000
46
6
Christopher Crutcher
United States
2,285,000
46
7
Ugur Secilmis
Turkey
2,150,000
43
8
William Rowlett
United States
2,000,000
40
9
Jiawei Mao
United States
1,980,000
40
10
Qiong Ding
United States
1,880,000
38
Day 2 for $1,000 PLO Event
Stephen Nahm
Some 2,017 players bought in to Event #21: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed yesterday. 117 of those players rejoined Day 2 today, and just 13 will be coming back tomorrow. Each of those returning players has locked in $15,700, but one of them will be heading home with $165,616 and a gold WSOP bracelet in tow.
Stephen Nahm holds a commanding lead going into the final day’s play, but anything can happen in PLO tournaments, so a Nahm victory is far from guaranteed.
Action will resume at 12 p.m. local time on June 10. The blinds will be 50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 big blind ante.
Event #21: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts
Place
Player
Country
Chips
Big Blinds
1
Stephen Nahm
Canada
9,750,000
98
2
Ronald Keijzer
Netherlands
5,965,000
60
3
Thomas Taylor
Canada
5,340,000
53
4
Dan Matsuzuki
United States
5,300,000
53
5
Gheorghe Butuc
Moldova
3,120,000
31
6
Kevin Rand
United States
3,015,000
30
7
Amir Mirrasouli
United States
2,200,000
22
8
Jonathan England
United States
1,380,000
14
9
Thomas Zanot
United States
1,000,000
10
10
Paul Clotar
United States
980,000
10
Fourteen Left In Limit Hold’em Championship
Joe McKeehan builds his chip stack.
2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen has the chip lead going into Day 3 of Event #22: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship.
McKeehan tops a list of 14 returning players, with Josh Arieh (1,170,000) and Nick Schulman (905,000) at his heels in second and third.
The tournament drew 134 entries for a prize pool of $1,246,200, which includes 30 players that joined Day 2 as late registrants.
The final 14 will return at 1 p.m. on June 10 to play down to a winner. The final day will be streamed on PokerGO with a one-hour delay.
Event #22: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship End Of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
Place
Player
Country
Chips
1
Joe McKeehen
United States
1,445,000
2
Josh Arieh
United States
1,170,000
3
Nick Schulman
United States
905,000
4
Kevin Song
United States
685,000
5
Nick Pupillo
United States
620,000
6
Daniel Idema
Canada
600,000
7
Joseph Beasy
United States
515,000
8
Ronnie Bardah
United States
475,000
9
Ben Yu
United States
420,000
10
Motoyoshi Okamura
Japan
385,000
Event #24 Sets Record For WSOP Razz Fields
Maksim Pisarenko
With a field of 556 players, Event #24: $1,500 Razz is now the biggest razz tournament in WSOP history. The previous record was 462 entries from 2015. This suggests a significant boost in the popularity of the game.
Only 170 of those 556 bagged a stack for Day 2. Among the survivors were notables like former WSOP Players of the Year Jeff Madsen (190,000), Shaun Deeb (80,000), and David Bach (51,500).
They were joined by several previous bracelet winners like Michael Moncek (187,000), David “ODB” Baker (185,000), and Marco Johnson (91,500).
Day 2 resumes at 1 p.m. local time on June 10th and will be hosted in the Gold section of the Horseshoe. The money bubble is expected to burst around halfway through the day of ten one-hour levels.
Event #24: $1,500 Razz End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Day 2 Big Bets
1
Maksim Pisarenko
Russia
251,500
31
2
Vasilis Lazarou
United States
223,500
28
3
Yuval Bronshtein
Israel
207,000
26
4
Takashi Ogura
Japan
197,500
25
5
Eoghan O’Dea
Ireland
195,000
24
6
Jeff Madsen
United States
190,000
24
7
Michael Moncek
United States
187,000
23
7
Alon Doitch
United States
187,000
23
9
Marcus Stein
United States
186,000
23
10
David “ODB” Baker
United States
185,500
23
What to Expect on Day 12 of the 2023 WSOP
Only one fresh event is scheduled to start on June 10, the 12th day of the 2023 WSOP. Event #25: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low 8 or Better Championship enters the mix alongside all of the events mentioned in our recap above. It’s going to be a super busy day, but that is exactly how we like it here at PokerNews!
A total of 1,137 took their shot in Event #19: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout but after a grueling three days, the final moments came down to a previous WSOP bracelet winner and a player vying for his first piece of hardware battled in heads-up action at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
When the dust settled, it was Valentino Konakchiev who stood alone after he defeated Andres Korn in heads-up action to take home $435,924 along with his first career WSOP bracelet while Korn collected $269,438 as the runner-up.
Final Table Results
Rank
Winner
Country
Prize (in USD)
1
Valentino Konakchiev
Bulgaria
$435,924
2
Andres Korn
Argentina
$269,438
3
Alexandre Reard
France
$192,723
4
Ruben Costa
United States
$139,671
5
Girish Reknar
United States
$102,577
6
Ankit Ahuja
India
$76,537
7
Niall Farrell
United Kingdom
$57,620
8
Adam Swan
United States
$44,087
9
Qiang Xu
China
$34,210
Getting through Korn proved impressive enough, but it’s further highlighted by Konakchiev’s journey to the win.
He outlasted a trio of WSOP bracelet winners at the final table, which boasted Korn, Alexandre Reard, who finished in third place for $192,723, and Niall Farrell, who finished in seventh place for $57,260.
Other notable bracelet winners to participate in the tournament were a trio of Poker Hall of Famers in Phil Hellmuth, Erik Seidel, and Kathy Liebert, anlong with Justin Bonomo, Jared Jaffee, Adrian Mateos, Mike Matusow, David Pham and Humberto Brenes, among others.
Konakchiev, however, stared down adversity and rose to the challenge throughout the three-day grind.
He displayed tenacity and aggression, such as a willingness to either check-raise with a gut-shot straight draw or outright bluff with air. Those attributes on Day 3 played a large role in carving his path to victory.
Andres Korn and Valentino Konakchiev
Winner’s Reaction
Konakchiev, who hails from Sofia, Bulgaria, has visualized sitting alone at the table as a winner while soaking in a cheering rail for 16 years.
Now, the 31-year-old Konakchiev can cross off one item off his bucket list after winning his first WSOP bracelet.
“I’ve been dreaming about it since I’ve been watching poker when I was 15 on TV and I can’t believe it actually happened,” Konakchiev told PokerNews after winning the event.
Valentino Konakchiev
Entering a large tournament field can cause anxious moment, but Konakchiev was relaxed. And it contributed to him making aggressive moves, all of which helped him reach the final table and the winner’s circle.
“The beginning of the series, I could play a lot more freely until the end,” Konakchiev said.
He also drew from his experience, which includes $549,442 career earnings, according to his Hendon Mob page, to apply against opponents during the three-day tournament.
“I got a feel for players, got some decent hands to bluff with,” Konakchiev said. “So, I took them and tried to play for the win. And what happens, happens.”
Did it ever?
Konakchiev admits he didn’t know the final table boasted three WSOP bracelet winners, and he was responsible for knocking out two of them – Reard in third, and Korn in second – on his way to gaining his first. And the accomplishment against tough competition isn’t lost on the WSOP newest bracelet winner.
“It feels really, really good,” Konakchiev said with a wide smile. “They already have bracelets, so it was my time.”
In the meantime, Konakchiev wants more after securing his first WSOP win. He plans on staying in Las Vegas to play more events and perhaps obtain more hardware.
“I’ll play until pretty much the last tournaments, and stuff like that,” he said. “Maybe get another one.”
This concludes coverage of Event #19 of the 2023 WSOP, but make sure to continue to follow PokerNews for live updates of your favorite events throughout the summer.
1Peter Thai Wins First Bracelet of the 2023 WSOP: Event #1: $500 Casino Employees ($75,535)
2Alexandre Vuilleumier Captures 2023 WSOP Event #2: $25K High Roller Title
3Cody “1eggadaymike” Bell Wins WSOP Bracelet and $87,665 in the Triple Treys Summer Tip Off
Gambling in Germany is a popular activity for many people living in the country. Land-based gambling in Germany is allowed in many of the provinces, and various casino complexes welcome visitors from around the country. Lots of gamblers love to travel and visit different casino resorts and casino hotel complexes and have a good time there.
Bad Zwischenahn casino hotel is one of the top gambling locations that you can visit in North-West Germany. You can also explore the best Lower-Saxony online casinos to find even more gambling opportunities.
As its name may suggest, the casino resort is located in Bad Zwischenahn, which is a small town in the Ammerland district in Lower Saxony, Germany. The small town of Bad Zwischenahn has a population of 29,351.
Nevertheless, it is an attractive destination for many tourists because the town is located next to the wonderful and picturesque lake Zwischenahner Meer. This is a perfect place for a casino resort that can offer visitors and tourists exciting attractions and good accommodations.
Bad Zwischenahn casino hotel is not that big a casino resort compared to some other huge casino hotel complexes across Germany. Nevertheless, it still offers good opportunities when it comes to casino gambling, restaurants, bars and cosy rooms. The address of the casino hotel is Eiden 11 26160 Bad Zwischenahn. The casino floor offers lots of slot machines and table games.
The slots room is open from Monday to Thursday from 02:00 PM to 01:30 AM and from Friday to Sunday from 02:00 PM to 02:00 AM. On Sunday, it works from 02:00 PM to 01:30 as well. The table games floor welcomes visitors from Monday to Sunday from 04:00 PM to 02:00 AM.
Along with the various types of popular casino games, the casino in Bad Zwischenahn also offers different promotions to gamblers who want to make their stay even more exciting with some attractive bonus rewards. Read the next sections to find out more about the types of gambling games that you can enjoy in this popular casino hotel.
Bad Zwischenahn Casino Games
The casino section of the Bad Zwischenahn offers different types of gambling games. Along with the most beloved slot machines, visitors will be able to enjoy top-ranked table games such as roulette, blackjack and poker.
The different lobbies are managed very well so that every guest of the hotel will be able to feel the excitement of gambling. However, yet another interesting type of game offered at Bad Zwischenahn is also the Interblock game.
🎡 Type of Game
🌟 Number of Games
Slot Machines
180+
Blackjack
2
Roulette
4
Poker
4
These gambling games provide the best symbiosis between modern slot machines and the most exciting real dealer games. And all this is possible thanks to an innovative interlock system. Without a doubt, this helps Bad Zwischenahn casino catch the attention of many visitors who love to gamble. Check the next sections in this guide to find out more about the game types at the casino hotel.
Casino Slot Machines
The selection of slot machines at casino Bad Zwischenahn is very impressive. Here, you can find some of the most attractive slot games that are powered by world-market-leading software developers, such as Merkur and Novoline.
🕹️ Popular Bad Zwischenahn Slot Machine
💻 Software Provider
Seven Jackpot
Merkur M-Box
Book of Ra
Novoline
Lucky Lady
Novoline
All this means that the slot games that you will be able to play at the casino resort will boast excellent quality. The casino offers more than 180 different types of slot games, which is an impressive number for a rather smaller casino resort.
On top of that, visitors can also play various jackpot slots and get excited with the huge jackpots. You can also enjoy the popular M Box by Merkur and play top-rated games such as Seven Jackpot. On the other hand, other beloved titles such as Book of Ra or Lucky Lady are also available. All these games are also popular across the top slot sites in Germany.
Table Games
The casino in Bad Zwischenahn will not disappoint you when it comes to table games too. Here, the diversity is also sufficient, and visitors will be able to find some really attractive types of table games.
There are 4 poker tables on the gambling floor, and you can play Texas Hold ’em as well as Seven Grand Stud. An interesting fact is that the casino also runs regular poker tournaments, which also raises the overall excitement among visitors. There are various casino Bad Zwischenahn events as well.
You can also attend other live table games, including 4 American Roulette tables and two tables for blackjack. If you want to find even more gambling opportunities, then you can check out the games at the best German roulette sites or the top blackjack online casinos in Germany as well. Without a doubt, all this can provide you with some good opportunities to make your stay at the casino resort even more intriguing.
What else makes the casino in Bad Zwischenahn even more attractive to visitors are the various promotions that the casino runs regularly. One such promotion that can be interesting to many players who visit the resort is the Wheel of Fortune. It offers you the chance to win a starting credit of up to €50 in chips and promotional credits.
Every year, there is also the Easter Egg Guessing Campaign. Everyone who guesses the number of eggs correctly will be able to earn a special prize. There is also a bingo campaign which will offer players different types of non-cash prizes that have a total value of up to €750. The casino Bad Zwischenahn jackpot is also one of the most intriguing offers that players can benefit from.
Bad Zwischenahn Casino Restaurants and Bars
Visitors who want to do something different apart from gambling will be able to take advantage of the casino packages and special offers at the dining facilities. Such one is the Cocktail Package. It is available every Friday and Saturday. Then, you have the chance to get a €2.00 Lucky Chip as well as a cocktail from the menu.
How to Get to the Casino and Complex?
The casino in Bad Zwischenahn has a convenient location and is easily accessible. The address is Eiden 11 26160 Bad Zwischenahn. The casino complex is located on the northeast side of the small town of Bad Zwischenahn and is a couple of hundred meters away from Lake Zwischenahner Meer.
The casino is accessible by car, and there is a spacious parking lot in front of the complex. Another way to reach the casino is by bus line 350 to the “Spielbank” bus stop. You can also take the train to Bad Zwischenahn. The casino also offers a shuttle service, which is very convenient for visitors who travel by public transport.
Gambling in Bad Zwischenahn and Lower Saxony, Germany
Currently, the laws in Lower Saxony allow land-based casinos. Therefore, players who visit the small town of Bad Zwischenahn will be able to enjoy the different types of casino games offered by the land-based gaming establishment in the state. Meanwhile, below, you can check a list of several other casinos in the state that are also worth your attention:
Spielbank Hannover
Casino Bad Bentheim
Aquamarine Casino Seevetal
Casino Bad Pyrmont
Casino Wolfsburg
In the province of Bad Zwischenahn, there are more than 58 land-based casinos. Some of them are part of bigger casino complexes, while others are smaller gaming rooms that offer a rather limited number of gambling games. Therefore, visitors to Lower Saxony will be able to find good diversity when it comes to casino gambling.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, casino Bad Zwischenahn is one of the most exciting gaming establishments in the region near Lake Zwischenahner Meer. The casino offers some of the most interesting and beloved types of games. The complex is well-managed and offers a cosy atmosphere to visitors. It has bars that offer nice cocktails and drinks. We might say that the casino in Bad Zwischenahn is definitely worth visiting.
FAQ
In case you have missed some essential details regarding Bad Zwischenahn casino, you can check the flowing FAQ sections. We have answered some of the common questions about the casino to be able to provide you with extra details on the topic. Check them and find out more about this attractive casino complex.
1️⃣ Does casino Bad Zwischenahn offer slot machines?
Yes, it does. The casino in Bad Zwischenahn offers many different types of slot machines that you can choose from. There are slot games that are developed by leading gambling software providers such as Novoline and Merkur. Therefore, visitors to the casino will be able to enjoy some of the most popular slot titles that have excellent quality.
2️⃣ How big Is the casino in Bad Zwischenahn?
According to the casino Bad Zwischenahn general information, the complex is not very small, nor very big. Nevertheless, it has enough space to offer more than 180 slot machines and several main tables for roulette, blackjack and poker. The casino can welcome lots of players who can find good diversity when it comes to casino games.
3️⃣ What table games can I play at Bad Zwischenahn casino?
Although the number of table games at Bad Zwischenahn casino is not as vast as that of the slot machines, players will still have good opportunities. The complex offers 4 tables for American Roulette, a blackjack table and several more poker tables. There are different casino Bad Zwischenahn events and tournaments that players can take part in.
4️⃣ How to get to casino Bad Zwischenahn?
You need to know that the location of the casino in Bad Zwischenahn is convenient enough. The complex is situated on the northeast part of Bad Zwischenahn near the notorious lake Zwischenahner Meer. Besides, visitors can easily get to the casino by car or take the bus to the nearest bus stop. A shuttle service is available too.
You do not always have to spend a lot to win big at the poker tables, especially when those poker tables belong to PokerStars. The 50/50 Series returns to PokerStars from June 11 through June 18, guaranteeing a cool $3.5 million across 50 events costing $50 each.
The 50/50 Series is immensely popular with recreational and seasoned professionals alike. The $50 buy-in is low enough for lower-stakes players to take a shot, but high enough for high-stakes grinders to drop down. Despite the affordable buy-ins, there are some impressive guaranteed prize pools waiting to be won.
June 11 is when the 50/50 Series kicks off, and boy does it explode into action. The Series Opener shuffles up and deals at 3:05 p.m. BST, and it will dish out not a cent less than $65,000!
Later in the day, the first of the daily No-Limit Hold’em PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR starts. The June 11 edition boasts of a staggering $300,000 guaranteed prize pool, which is the second-largest guarantee across all 50 events.
Sizeable guarantees are the order of the day across the week before the closing tournaments on June 18 perfectly round off the week-long series. Five of the seven scheduled events will have six-figure prize pools, including the eagerly anticipated 50/50 Series PKO Main Event.
PokerStars Wants to Send You to the Las Vegas Grand Prix For $0.01!
PokerStars 50/50 Series PKO Main Event
The 50/50 Series PKO Main Event may only cost $50 to enter, yet PokerStars has slapped a $350,000 guarantee on its prize pool! To help reach that dizzy sum, Main Event players are permitted to purchase up to five re-entries during the first 3 hours and 15 minutes of the event.
Everyone in the Main Event sits down with a generous 50,000 starting stack and plays to a 12-minute clock throughout, with blinds starting at 175/350/40a. The curtain comes down on Day 1, 7 hours and 50 minutes into the action, with play resuming on Day 2 from 6:00 p.m. BST on June 19.
50/50 Series Full Schedule
Date
Time (BST)
Event
Guarantee
Sun 11 Jun
3:05 p.m.
#01 NLHE Series Opener 8-Max
$65,000
4:30 p.m.
#02 NLHE Heads-Up Progressive Total KO Zoom
$40,000
5:30 p.m.
#03 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$300,000
7:15 p.m.
#04 PLO 6-Max
$25,000
8:05 p.m.
#05 NLHE 8-Max
$100,000
9:30 p.m.
#06 NLHE PKO 6-Max
$75,000
10:30 p.m.
#07 NLHE Sunday Finisher 8-Max
$40,000
Mon 12 Jun
3:05 p.m.
#08 NLHE Deep Stack 6-Max
$50,000
4:30 p.m.
#09 NLHE PKO 7-Max
$50,000
5:30 p.m.
#10 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$150,000
8:05 p.m.
#11 NLHE PKO 5-Max
$70,000
9:30 p.m.
#12 PLO PKO 6-Max
$15,000
11:05 p.m.
#13 NLHE Daily Supersonic 6-Max
$35,000
Tue 13 Jun
3:30 p.m.
#14 NLHE The Marathon 8-Max
$35,000
4:30 p.m.
#15 NLHE PKO 7-Max
$50,000
5:30 p.m.
#16 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$135,000
8:05 p.m.
#17 NLHE PKO Deep Stack 6-Max
$75,000
9:30 p.m.
#18 NLHE PKO Zoom Triple Threat 3-Max
$33,333
11:05 p.m.
#19 NLHE Daily Supersonic 6-Max
$35,000
Wed 14 Jun
3:30 p.m.
#20 NLHE The Marathon 8-Max
$35,000
4:30 p.m.
#21 NLHE Midweek Freeze 8-Max
$40,000
5:30 p.m.
#22 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$135,000
8:05 p.m.
#23 8-Game
$10,000
9:30 p.m.
#24 NLHE Heads-Up Progressive Total KO Zoom
$50,000
11:05 p.m.
#25 NLHE Daily Supersonic 6-Max
$35,000
Thu 15 Jun
3:05 p.m.
#26 NLHE The Marathon 8-Max
$35,000
5:30 p.m.
#27 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$150,000
8:05 p.m.
#28 PLO8 PKO 6-Max
$15,000
9:30 p.m.
#29 NLHE PKO The Sprint 6-Max
$35,000
10:30 p.m.
#30 NLHE PKO Bounty Builder 8-Max
$30,000
11:05 p.m.
#31 NLHE Daily Supersonic 6-Max
$35,000
Fri 16 Jun
4:30 p.m.
#32 NLHE Progressive Total KO 6-Max
$35,000
5:30 p.m.
#33 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$150,000
8:00 p.m.
#34 NLHE The Rounder 9-Max
$20,000
9:30 p.m.
#35 NLO8 PKO 6-Max
$10,000
11:05 p.m.
#36 NLHE Daily Supersonic 6-Max
$35,000
Sat 17 Jun
6:05 a.m.
#37 NLHE PKO Mini Pacific Rim 8-Max
$10,000
4:30 p.m.
#38 NLHE Deep Stack 8-Max
$50,000
5:30 p.m.
#39 NLHE PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR 8-Max
$150,000
7:05 p.m.
#40 NLHE PKO 5-Max
$70,000
8:40 p.m.
#41 NLHE PKO Fast 7 7-Max
$50,000
9:30 p.m.
#42 NLHE Bounty Quads Total PKO Zoom 4-Max
$35,000
11:05 p.m.
#43 NLHE Daily Supersonic 6-Max
$35,000
Sun 18 Jun
3:05 p.m.
#44 NLHE The Marathon 9-Max
$100,000
4:30 p.m.
#45 NLHE 8-Max
$125,000
5:30 p.m.
#46 NLHE PKO Main Event 8-Max
$350,000
7:15 p.m.
#47 PLO PKO Main Event 6-Max
$50,000
8:05 p.m.
#48 NLHE 6-Max
$100,000
9:30 p.m.
#49 NLHE Heads-Up Progressive Total KO
$50,000
10:30 p.m.
#50 NLHE PKO Series Saver 7-Max
$100,000
Use the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar During the 50/50 Series
The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar is a free-to-use tool built into PokerNews that makes it possible to find your ideal poker tournament. It is available for 888poker, PartyPoker, and PokerStars tournaments.
This incredible tool allows you to set several filters that boil down each online poker site’s tournament schedule, leaving only the tournaments and events you want to play. Why not give it a whirl during the 50/50 Series?
