The champ has arrived. Espen Jorstad, who entered Day 1c, announced “shuffle up and deal” to kickstart Wednesday’s session of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event one year after taking down this same tournament for $10 million.
In 2022, the Norwegian poker pro took down the second largest Main Event ever (8,663 players). This year’s tournament appears to be on pace to crack the 2006 record of 8,773 entries, won by Jamie Gold.
2023 World Series of Poker Hub
Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here.
PokerNews caught up with the reigning champ while he registered. He said he doesn’t feel any added pressure in the Main Event being the defending winner, but he admits he could run into one issue this year.
“I just know that I can’t bluff this year,” the WSOP App Thrill Team member said with a laugh, acknowledging that many players in the field will want to take out the defending champion. “They want to tell their story to their friends back home.”
Poker Champ Off and Running
At around 12:30 p.m. PT, Jorstad took his seat inside Horseshoe Las Vegas and was dealt the first hand in his title defense. He said his mindset entering the Main Event as the champion hasn’t changed compared to last year on Day 1.
“It’s not like I’m especially good in this tournament, I just happened to run really good last year,” the always humble Jorstad continued. “The odds of doing that again are miniscule.”
Jorstad, like Gold, predicts the 2023 WSOP Main Event will set a record for attendance. Days 1a and 1b combined for 2,158 players, a huge spike compared to the 1,780 last year. The WSOP is preparing for a massive turnout on Day 1d (Thursday) and there is a potential that the early stages will be played 10-handed to accommodate demand.
There were a number of big name players already seated for the Day 1c session at the time of publishing, including Phil Laak, Joe Stapleton, Stephen Chidwick, and Justin Bonomo. Two other past winners – Ryan Riess (2013) and Koray Aldemir (2021) — have also been spotted at the Shoe.
Registration will remain open until the conclusion of Level 7, the second level of Day 2d (Saturday).
In my opinion, much of the value of a strategy lies in the creation process — figuring out what makes this game different from the others; looking for the rare cases; figuring out how to transcribe those cases — not in using a strategy created by somebody else.
When I’m looking for the rare cases, I’m learning all of the not-so-rare cases automatically along the way. So much of video poker is playing the mundane hands correctly.
The reason I bring this up is that at one casino, the game I play depends on the promotions. One game pays slightly more percentage-wise but it tops out at a $5 denomination. The “lesser” game goes up to a $10 denomination. Normally playing at the $5 level is better, but fairly often the casino has four-hour promotions where some sort of point multiplier is in effect.
During those four hours, the expected return from the $10 game (including multipliers) is higher than the expected return from the $5 game. During “non-promotion” times, the $5 game returns more. On one trip, where I’m going to be playing both when the promotion is going on and when it isn’t, I will play some of each game.
The games are similar but not identical, so in addition to having both strategies figured out, I’ve created a list of the “deltas.” That is, which hands are played differently between the games. Before I go to that casino to play, I study all three strategies. Sometimes it is several months between visits to this casino and, since I play these games nowhere else, my memory of the fine points deteriorates over time. So with the three strategies, I can get up to speed again fast.
So far, I’ve spoken a little bit in code. I could just tell you which casino I’m writing about, which games, and give you all three strategies. But while that gives some information to players, it also gives some information to casinos. Which I don’t want. Plus, relatively few of my readers play $5 and $10 games anyway, so I’m risking giving up a situation that isn’t relevant for most of you. If you think you can figure out which casino and which games, please don’t publish those things in the responses to the blog.
The same principles hold for lower denominations — whether it’s 25¢ games versus 50¢ games, $1 games versus $2 games, or whatever. While some of you only play one game, most of you play at least two — and making yourself a list of the deltas would be useful.
The games have to be similar to do this. Deuces Wild games are so different from Double Double Bonus games that the list of deltas would be longer than the full strategies! But Double Bonus versus Double Double Bonus (of whatever pay schedules you play) would be suitable, as would Triple Bonus Poker versus Double Bonus Poker.
You’re going to have to decide for yourself how advanced you want these strategies to be. I want the strategies to be 100% complete and 100% accurate, but I’m sure I’m in the minority about that. A lot of you don’t play any game 100% accurately, let alone comparing the differences between two or more different games at that level.
So for many of you, what Liam W. Daily and I called “Basic Strategies,” which is as accurate as you can get without using penalty cards, would be suitable.
If you were comparing 9/6 Jacks or Better (JoB) with 9/6 Double Double Bonus (DDB), you should include hands like A♠ J♠ T♠ 4♠ 5♦ on your list where with Basic Strategy you hold three spades in JoB but four spades in DDB. Unless you’re trying for 100% accuracy, you probably should skip hands like A♠ J♠ T♠ 4♠ T♦, where with Advanced Strategy the correct play is to hold four spades in both games. I’d certainly have that hand on my list, but it’s a fairly rare hand and not worth much if you skip it.
Many of you don’t want to do such hard work to squeeze every last penny out of a game. That’s your choice. I’m not putting you down. But for me this is both my vocation and my avocation and I want to do it as well as I can.
Welcome to your hub of the best free slots you can play online today!
Like their ever-popular paid counterparts, free slots number in the thousands; this makes finding the free slots that are worth your time difficult.
Consider this page your complete guide to free slots and the best games to play without paying. You’ll find out which free slots are the most interesting, entertaining, and highly recommended, alongside discovering some of the best free slots providers in the business, like Chumba Casino or Luckyland Slots.
First, we need to quickly detail what free slots are and how they differ from other online slots.
What are free slots?
Free slots are free-to-play online slots played with virtual currency rather than real money. They operate similarly to regular online slots, but free slots tend to invest more in the entertainment factor as you can’t win real money in the games.
Free slots are separate from a demo or free version of real money slots. Most slot games can be trialed for Gold Coins or another virtual currency, giving players a risk-free chance to ascertain if the slot game is for them. These free slot trials are usually reduced to some degree compared to their full real-money versions. However, when it comes to free slots, there aren’t real money versions, so you get the real experience as the developer intended every time.
This section of free online games spans everything from instant wins to free slots and free poker games, but free slots always manage to draw in the crowds. With an account with a top-class free slot platform and your virtual currency at the ready, these are the best free slots for you to try online.
How to Choose the Best Online Free Slot Games
With so many choices out there, it can be overwhelming to pick a free slot game to play.
However, please take advantage of our expertise at PokerNews, as we will outline the decision-making process you should employ to ensure maximum enjoyment from your free slot play.
1. Choose a great free slot casino to play at. 2. Check you can play on your desired device – desktop, mobile, tablet, etc. 3. Investigate the choice on-site and pick a theme that interests you. 4. See if any promotions or bonuses can enhance your free play. 5. Investigate the choice on-site and pick a theme that interests you. 6. You’re all set! Play and enjoy the best free online slot games around.
The Best Online Free Slot Games Providers
Almost as important as the free online slot is the online casino, which provides players with their pick of games.
Different casinos will offer a range of free games and table games to complement their slot machine offering. However, for the purpose of this article, we will focus on those that purely offer the best selection of free slot games, running through the amount of casino slot games, their quality, the bonuses & promotions on-site, and a general comment of the quality of the social casino or online casino.
Play Online Free Slot Games at Chumba Casino
An exceptional online social casino for playing free slot games, Chumba Casino uses a system of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to operate their many free-to-play slots. Known for the quality of its slot games, Chumba Casino regularly offers Free Coins & Bonuses to players for use on free slots, including Sweeps Coins, which can be accrued and redeemed for real prizes.
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Play Online Free Slot Games at Luckyland Slots
Next up is Luckyland Slots, which, as the name suggests, is an expert in providing a range of brilliant free slot games. Luckyland’s total number of slots ranges well into three figures, offering free slot players fantastic choices when selecting the games they want to play. Across a huge number of exciting themes, Luckyland Slots uses a Gold Coins & Sweeps Coins system for running their free-to-play games.
With stunning graphics and the chance to redeem Sweeps Coins for real prizes, Luckyland Slots is a great choice for free slot enthusiasts.
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Play Online Free Slot Games at House of Fun
Developed by Playtika, House of Fun is a terrific online gaming brand with a fantastic range of free slot games. Offering a seamless iOS & Android app, House of Fun has classic 3-reel and modern 5-reel spinners that include multiple pay lines and exciting bonus games. After all, with 200+ free slot games to try out, we’re sure you’ll find something you like!
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Play Online Free Slot Games at Slotomania
A brilliant free slots casino, Slotomania boasts some of the best games around and is one of the world’s largest casino apps. Renowned for its brilliant bonuses, Slotomania guarantees a daily reward and regularly offers great signup offers to kickstart your free slot play. Available on desktop and app, Slotomania is well worth checking out.
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Play Online Free Slot Games at Sweepslots
An exciting social casino, Sweepslots offers dozens of free slot games alongside a range of dedicated casino tables. With its easy-to-use game software, the site uses a combination of Gold Coins & Sweeps Coins for its free slots play. Featuring tons of exciting slot themes, it’s a great social casino for players to try out.
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Play Online Free Slot Games in the USA
Calling all American free slots players! Free slot games are very popular across the US and can be played at a number of fantastic casinos. All the sites listed in our article allow US free slot players, plus more are available at our Free Online Games hub. Check out some of the most epic free slot games & other free online games around from state-of-the-art developers.
Play Online Free Slot Games in the UK
UK players can also enjoy the thrill of free slots at a range of online casinos. Great brands such as Slotomania and House of Fun provide the free slots thrills, meaning Brits won’t miss out on any of the exhilarating free slot machine action.
Play Online Free Slot Games Elsewhere
Based in the rest of the world? There are some great free slot games for you to play too! Follow the link and find free-to-play slot sites in your location from some truly outstanding developers. With a wide range of reviews, alongside some sought-after offers and bonuses, you’ll be free slot spinning in no time at all.
The Most Popular Online Free Slot Games UK
See below a collection of the most popular free slot games available to UK players. Housed at some of the most reputable free-to-play casinos around, if you’re from Old Blighty, you’ll be sure to love these fantastic spinners.
The Most Popular Online Free Slot Games US & ROW
See below a collection of the most popular free slot games available to US & Rest of the World players. Housed at some of the most reputable free-to-play casinos around, you’ll be sure to love these fantastic spinners.
Playing Free Slot Games on Mobile
Many free slot games are available on a range of devices, including desktop, mobile, and tablet. Large operators, in particular, are likely to offer either a dedicated mobile app or a mobile-optimized site for those on the smaller screen. The ability to play free slots on the go is a massive draw for many players, who have rightly come to expect a fantastic mobile or tablet experience in recent years.
What is the difference between Free Slots & Real-Money Slots?
There are a number of differences between free slots and real-money slots, an understanding of which will be crucial for deciding which mode you wish to play.
Firstly, and most obviously, there is no risk attached to free slot games as you are not risking any money to play. Conversely, this means you cannot win money either.
Secondly, because of the lack of real-money stakes, many players like to use free slots to practice or gain a greater understanding of how staking and bonus features work.
Thirdly, although deposit bonuses and sign-up bonuses exist in both forms, real-money slots are likely to provide more generous lucrative incentives to sign-up players. However, there are still some great free slot bonuses around too.
Finally, as free-to-play slots do not constitute real-money gambling, there may be less stringent sign-up requirements or restrictions depending on your jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions – The Best Online Free Slot Games
Can you win real money on free slots?
You cannot win real money on free slots themselves, but many free slots websites offer real money prizes because you can buy virtual currency for real money.
Here’s a guide to how you can get real prizes on free slots platforms.
Where can I play free slots online?
You can play free slots online at LuckyLand Slots, House of Fun, Slotomania, and Chumba Casino. However, depending on your geographical location, some of these free slot platforms may not be available to you.
Can I get a bonus playing free slots?
Some operators may offer a sign-up bonus or other bonus offering coins for free play slots. However, it is crucial to note free slot games are to be played for fun and not a real money prize.
Poker is a game for everyone, yet it is estimated that women make up only 5% of the poker community. PokerStars remains committed to attracting more women to poker, so after a successful inaugural year, PokerStars is again joining forces with Poker Power to bring women worldwide the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp.
Running from July 31 through September 28, the eight-week poker Bootcamp is designed to help novice women poker players, even those that have never held playing cards previously, to learn poker skills and strategies that are transferable to the real world.
Of course, the bootcamp has poker at its heart and some fantastic prizes waiting to be won, including an all-expenses paid trip to EPT Cyprus and the chance to win a package for the EPT Prague Main Event later this year.
The bootcamp has eight learning modules that focus on different areas of poker:
Determination
Discipline
Ambitious
Calculated
Resilient
Fearless
Visionary
Indomitable
Apply for the Women’s Bootcamp
July 22 is the closing date for Women’s Bootcamp applications
Those enrolling in the women’s bootcamp will be able to put what they learn into practice by playing inPokerStars Home Games and enjoying one-to-one sessions with members of the Team PokerStars stable.
The bootcamp leads to a special tournament where the ladies that reach the final table jet off on an all-expenses paid trip to EPT Cyprus in October. Once in sunny Cyprus, those finalists compete in the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown, where a special package to EPT Prague awaits.
Last year, Canadian Mounted Police’s Roxanne Johnson, who hails from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, won a $30,000 Platinum Pass that she used at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Johnson had always been interested in poker before enrolling in the bootcamp, and she came out of the other side as a fountain of poker knowledge.
The Muck: Why Don’t More Women Play Poker?
“It’s a game that everybody can play. You do have to study a bit. It’s not just luck. There’s a lot of math in it, and there’s a lot of other things. You do have to study, but it’s super fun to play poker. It’s something that keeps your mind going; there’s so many factors to it. It keeps you young.”
Johnson has since worked as a live reporter for PokerNews during the 2023 World Series of Poker, continuing her poker journey.
Rebecca McAdam Willetts, PokerStars’ Director of Partnerships, PR, and Consumer Engagement, is looking forward to seeing the next group of women players flourish at the tables.
“Working alongside our insights community, our ambassadors, and key women and groups across the poker world. We are confident we can effect change with the many initiatives we have upcoming. We want to encourage more women to take their seat at the table and, in doing so, learn new skills that can also benefit them elsewhere in life. We want to create an accessible, safe, and fun space of education and growth where those new to the game can be vulnerable and open. We’re now in our second year of proudly working with Poker Power, and for the return of our bootcamp, we’ve taken all the great elements from its debut last year and evolved it based on all the feedback and learnings along the way. We know there’s great hunger for this, and we can’t wait to meet our new recruits and see them learn and grow together.”
Erin Lydon, the President of Poker Power, added, “PokerStars shares our passion and commitment for the future of women in poker, so we are thrilled to be returning with our joint Bootcamp this year. We are expanding the scope of the bootcamp to reach more women, and we will not only teach them how to play No-Limit Texas Hold’em but also provide them with skills and strategies that can be applied to their daily lives. We’re excited to introduce more women to the benefits of learning to think, negotiate, and take risks like a winning poker player, and we can’t wait to help them develop game-changing poker skills during the BootCamp.”
Apply to Join the Women’s Bootcamp before July 22
Applications to the bootcamp are now open and remains so until the recruitment window closes on July 22. Applicants need to complete a simple form via Google Docs, with PokerStars and Poker Power contacting the successful women shortly after the application closing date.
The bootcamp is a fantastic initiative and one that could help produce the next female poker star. Invite your girlfriend, sisters, daughter, mother, aunt, or even grandmother to join the bootcamp, and show them how incredible the game of poker is.
888poker has relaunched its popular 888Ride YouTube feature where David Tuchman invites prominent poker players and figureheads for a drive around Las Vegas, all whule quizzing them about anything and everything. There series proved popular in 2022 and looks set to follow the same trend during the 2023 WSOP, especially when you see the host of stars lined up for the 888Ride experience.
Colorado’s Chance Kornuth was one of the first poker superstars 888Ride has featured this summer. In the ten-minute video, Kornuth discusses the struggles of balancing family life with being a professional poker player, his love of poker coaching, an incredible call down in the $25,000 High Roller, and much more besides.
Kornuth has live poker tournament cashes dating back to 2008, but it is the first sixth months of 2023 that stand out from the crowd. Having won an impressive $2,734,893 during 2022, Kornuth has already amassed an additional $3,608,907 through the first six months of 2023.
His runner-up finish in 2023 WSOP Event #2: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller came with $751,463, while a fourth-place exit from Event #29: $100,000 High Roller awarded $833,854. A couple of days later, Kornuth finished fifth in the $250,000 Super High Roller for $1,202,318, then won a $2,200 event at the Wynn – on his birthday – for $537,322, then banked $108,443 and $161,585 scores at the WSOP! It is not surprising that 888Ride wanted to bend Kornuth’s ear.
Kornuth on Being Away From His Family While Grinding
Many people tend to forget that top-level professional poker players are people away from the felt. Those seemingly unflappable pros often have wives, husbands, partners, and children to consider when they are not concentrating on building chip stacks. Kornuth has a wife and a daughter, who he misses while playing.
“Whenever I’m getting ready to go on a poker trip, whether it’s to Florida for a WPT or out here for the World Series, I’m always super excited like we’re going to summer camp, but then after a few days, I start to miss the family, the daughter starts to do things she wasn’t doing before, and you start to feel like you’re missing them,” Kornuth revealed.
Kornuth is in the fortunate position of being able to fly his beloved family out to join him on long poker trips, but he also has to find a balance between family and poker life, something that he says he’s always struggled with. Instead of trying to strike a balance on a day-to-day basis, which is difficult if you are grinding 10-12 hours per day for a week or more, Kornuth prefers to balance things out over the course of a week or month. Thankfully, for Kornuth, the popular pro has a supportive and understanding wife.
Kornuth on That King-High Hero Call
At the final table of the $25,000 High Roller event, Kornuth made a superb call on all-three streets with only king-high against Ren “Tony” Lin, and was correct all the way. Tuchman quizzed him about his thought process in the hand.
With the board reading 2♦2♥5♥7♣J♦ and having called a third-pot bet on the flop, a half-pot bet on the turn, Kornuth faced a two-thirds-pot bet on the river.
“When you land on the river, he is literally never betting a five or a seven here for this size. He doesn’t have a lot of JxXx that he bets the flop and turn, so it is either a bluff or a deuce, and so it is quite a simple spot.”
Kornuth on Being a Poker Coach
Kornuth is the founder and lead instructor of Chip Leader Coaching. You could say training others is a passion for Kornuth because he told Tuchman that he once wanted to teach math to students.
What quickly becomes apparent when Kornuth talks to Tuchman about his poker coaching business is that he enjoys a great deal of pride when he sees one of his poker students take their game to the next level and reaps the financial rewards, describing it as “incredible.”
Kornuth can count Alex Foxen as one of his old students, and we all know the ridiculous success Foxen has enjoyed over the years.
Kornuth on His Struggles With Alcohol
Tuchman passed Kornuth a postcard and asked him to write a letter to a younger version of himself; what would advice would he give?
Kornuth, candidly revealed he would advise his 18-year-old self to be more careful with alcohol, stating that he had an addiction to alcohol.
“I would tell myself to be really careful with alcohol and my addiction. I actually started getting sober over the past two-and-a-half years, and I’ve been completely sober for a while now, and that has been one of the biggest changes in my life.”
The birth of Kornuth’s daughter was the epiphany moment Kornuth needed to battle and overcome his demons. He wanted to lead by example and be the father his daughter deserves but did not think he could be that person while he continued to consume alcohol. Well done, that man.
Upcoming Episodes of 888Ride
PokerNews has it is on good authority that Kornuth is only the first in a long line of superstars that 888Ride will chat to during the 2023 World Series of Poker. Make sure that you subscribe to the awesome 888poker YouTube channel so that you do no miss any future 888Ride episodes, or any of the other fantastic content the online poker site’s team is piecing together.
Exploring the Five Largest Casinos in the United States
by Matt Bourie
Casinos have long been synonymous with excitement, entertainment, and high-stakes gambling. In the United States, several colossal casino resorts have gained international acclaim for their opulence, grandeur, and extensive gaming options.
This article delves into the five largest casinos in the United States, showcasing their impressive offerings and exploring what makes them stand out in the world of gambling and hospitality.
WinStar World Casino and Resort: Located in Thackerville, Oklahoma, WinStar World Casino and Resort is the largest casino in the United States. Spanning over 600,000 square feet, it offers a staggering array of gaming options, including over 8,500 electronic games, 100 table games, a 55-table poker room, and off-track betting. Beyond gambling, visitors can enjoy a wide range of amenities, such as luxurious hotel accommodations, multiple fine dining restaurants, entertainment venues, a championship golf course, and a lavish pool area. WinStar truly lives up to its reputation as a world-class destination for both gaming enthusiasts and leisure seekers alike.
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino: Nestled in Mashantucket, Connecticut, Foxwoods Resort Casino is the second-largest casino complex in the United States. With a gaming space spanning 340,000 square feet, it offers an extensive variety of options, including more than 5,000 slot machines, over 250 table games, a high-stakes bingo hall, and a state-of-the-art poker room. The resort features multiple hotels, ranging from luxurious suites to more affordable accommodations, along with numerous dining options, entertainment venues, spas, and designer shopping outlets. Foxwoods is renowned for its lively atmosphere, exceptional entertainment shows, and its strong commitment to providing an all-encompassing entertainment experience.
Mohegan Sun: Located in Uncasville, Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is another prominent casino resort in the United States. It boasts a gaming floor spanning 300,000 square feet, showcasing over 5,000 slot machines, 300 table games, and a dedicated poker room. The resort offers various accommodations, ranging from upscale hotels to charming villas, as well as an array of dining options, vibrant nightlife venues, a stunning arena for concerts and sporting events, and a spa and golf course for relaxation. Mohegan Sun’s Native American heritage adds a unique cultural touch to the overall experience, making it a favorite destination for gamblers and vacationers alike.
The Venetian Resort: Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Venetian Resort is the largest casino on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Known for its architectural splendor and Venetian-inspired design, this luxurious resort offers a gaming space of approximately 120,000 square feet. It features a vast selection of slot machines, table games such as blackjack, and a high-limit salon for discerning gamblers. Beyond gambling, The Venetian is renowned for its exquisite accommodations, gourmet dining options, high-end shopping experiences, and a plethora of entertainment shows, including the famous “La Reve – The Dream” aquatic spectacle. The resort’s romantic ambiance and attention to detail transport visitors to the enchanting streets of Venice, making it a captivating destination for those seeking a taste of European elegance in the heart of Las Vegas.
Bellagio Las Vegas
Bellagio: Another iconic Las Vegas casino, the Bellagio is a renowned name in the world of luxury gambling and entertainment. With a gaming floor spanning over 116,000 square feet, the Bellagio offers a wide array of slot machines, table games, and a high-limit lounge. It is widely celebrated for its elegance and sophistication, embodied by its famous dancing fountains, stunning botanical gardens, and the mesmerizing glass ceiling in the min lobby.
Matt Bourie is the editor of the American Casino Guide book. He has been writing about casinos for more than 12 years and he also co-hosts the American Casino Guide YouTube channel which has had more than 70 million views. A new video is released each month that discusses a new casino gambling topic and you can subscribe for FREE at https://www.youtube.com/americancasinoguide
Initially scheduled to determine a winner throughout four tournament days, Event #75: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship has already crowned a winner at the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Out of a field of 277 entries, Hassan Kamel triumphed in dominant fashion after going wire-to-wire in seven hours of play to claim the biggest share of the $2,576,100 prize pool. The jovial Aussie started the day third in chips but once he jumped into the lead, he never surrendered it anymore and consistently built a massive tower on which he throned above all other contenders.
Kamel earned his first WSOP gold bracelet and a top prize of $598,613 while eventual runner-up Ryan Hoenig had to settle for $369,972. Nine bracelet winners were among the contenders but they stood no chance against the steam-rolling performance of Kamel. Notables on the eight-handed final table included Omaha specialist Dylan Weisman and Dzmitry Urbanovich, the latter of which was once again denied a maiden victory after several deep runs during the ongoing 2023 WSOP in Sin City.
Final Table Result Event #75: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
Place
Winner
Country
Prize (in USD)
1
Hassan Kamel
Australia
$598,613
2
Ryan Hoenig
United States
$369,972
3
John Holley
United States
$265,156
4
Anton Smirnov
Russia
$192,562
5
Dylan Weisman
United States
$141,727
6
Stephen Deutsch
United States
$105,737
7
Long Tran
United States
$79,979
8
Dzmitry Urbanovich
Poland
$61,346
It was the second cash in a WSOP tournament for the Aussie who just arrived five days ago in Las Vegas while on a road trip throughout the United States. He found no fortune in the $1,500 edition of his favorite poker variant before striking gold in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.
The first live poker results of the Melbournian date back all the way to 2009 and 2010 before he then finished in 40th place in the $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event in 2014 for a mere $6,107. His total live cashes heading into this tournament according to The Hendon Mob were fewer than four buy-ins for this price tag, yet he dominated the action throughout the entire day with his aggressive playing style and typical Aussie way of life.
Railed by the Australian WSOP bracelet winners Robert Campbell and James Obst, he chatted up a storm en route to victory and admitted that he hasn’t played much poker at all in the last few years. Competing in any further tournaments during the ongoing series is not planned either as he intends to “get the f*ck outta here” and continue his road trip right away, with a massive six-figure payday and the WSOP gold bracelet in the bag.
“I don’t really like playing tournaments. I found my favorite game, hang out, have been road tripping across America,” Kamel admitted after he seemingly had a ton of fun during the winner photoshoot with the gold bracelet.
He has been “playing cash games back in the day but honestly doesn’t play that much anymore. I just happen to be here and sort of thought I come and check it out,” Kamel grinned. He was always good for a joke at his own expense and very much enjoyed the rather relaxed atmosphere at the tables.
“I actually planned on coming second. I wasn’t greedy and already said I was gonna bust the $1,500 three times and come second in the bracelet event … but I only busted the $1,500 only twice and came first in the $10k.”
No more tournaments are planned during this part of the road trip either, according to the latest WSOP gold bracelet winner.
“Just in town, get blind drunk tonight and back out the next day. I am still in the middle of my road trip and my car is in Minneapolis right now. I gonna fly back there and continue the trip.”
Action of the Final Day
Only 19 hopefuls returned to their seats at 1 p.m. local time and the first casualty was a surprise, as Christopher Vitch had returned eighth in chips. However, several clashes first hurt his stack before he was then eliminated by Martin Zamani. The latter was near the top of the leaderboard but suffered the same fate and ran with kings into the aces of Anton Smirnov, bricking a low draw along the way.
2023 World Series of Poker Hub
Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here.
Two minutes later, the final two tables were set with the elimination of Dylan Wilkerson and it then took more than an hour for the roller coaster ride of Joao Simao to end, reducing the field to the last 15 hopefuls. Within just 90 minutes from there on out, the all-in showdowns kept on coming and the eight-handed final table was barely set when the next two players were sent to the payout desk.
It was a period that can only be described as incredibly frantic with frequent changes in the middle of the pack. Maxx Coleman saw his hopes crushed after he lost most of the chips in a clash with Dylan Weisman and Ryan Rapaski bowed out half an hour later. Naoya Kihara kept his short stack afloat for an extended period and the same applied for Patrick Leonard as well as Ben Yu, but they all eventually ran out of chips in this order.
Canada’s Calen McNeil was going for a second WSOP gold bracelet and doubled back into the middle of the pack only to lose most of his chips in a preflop contest with Smirnov. A flopped set spelled the end for the Canadian as the combo-draw of John Holley got there on the river with a straight and low. However, McNeil certainly had plenty of fun at the tables and confirmed that on social media as well.
Moments after the departure of McNeil, with which the unofficial final table was set, Paul Volpe headed to the payout desk and eight contenders combined to one table. They had barely assumed their new seat assignments when Urbanovich and Long Tran were knocked out and the second break of the day kicked off with half a dozen players still in the mix.
Kamel was the runaway chip leader and kept adding more chips to his growing tower with relentless aggression, while most of his short-stacked opponents waited for an opportunity to get their chips in. It all boiled down to another half-hour of violent action in which a trio of players crashed out. Day 2 chip leader Stephen Deutsch was the first to go followed by Weisman and Smirnov as only three contenders entered the dinner break.
Any potential plans to bag up for the evening and determine a winner the following day were thrown out of the window due to the massive lead for Kamel, who could have sealed the victory within the first 10 minutes after the action resumed.
Eventually, it was John Holley who ran out of fortune and chips first before Hoenig put up a short-lived fight with a huge chip deficit. When it was all over, Hoenig shook hands and congratulated Kamel with the words “you played great, man”.
That concludes the PokerNews coverage for this event but several other gold bracelet events are currently underway including the iconic WSOP $10,000 Main Event at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
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
A total of 913 888poker players entered the latest edition of the $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event, including Brazil’s “VemLavanda.” The Brazilian will be delighted with their performance, not only because they eventually came out on top and became a poker champion, but they did so by playing some superb poker throughout.
“VemLavanda” reached the final table second in chips, trailing “Luciole16” by a mere two big blinds. They never found themselves outside the top two, as they used their big stack with deadly efficiency before emerging as a worthy champion.
The three biggest bounties were claimed before the final table was reached. Brazil’s “Diguiry” saw their tournament end in a 73rd-place finish worth $135, but they also scooped $3,205 worth of mystery bounties, including one worth $3,000.
“Luciole16,” who navigated their way to the live-streamed final table, also bagged a $3,000 mystery bounty, while Sweden’s “Kzzzon” collected a whopping $10,551 worth of bounty payments after capturing a $10,000 prize before being eliminated in 30th place.
$100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Luciole16
Kazakhstan
3,797,994
95
2
VemLavanda
Brazil
3,719,433
93
3
Zharok
Kazakhstan
1,634,645
41
4
zZero92
Lithuania
1,369,175
34
5
skacas
Lithuania
1,158,175
29
6
Sehabah
Ukraine
991,072
25
7
FishermanI95
Romania
710,414
18
8
nolimithhh
Romania
314,092
8
The final table started with only eight players instead of the usual nine after a double elimination ended Day 1. “Quellas_Sont” from the United Kingdom busted in tenth, with “latvianhero1” falling in ninth.
“FishermanI95” of Romania was the second-shortest stack at the start of the final table, but they were the first casualty of the evening. “Zharok” limped in the cutoff, “FishermanI95” raised to seven big blinds, leaving themselves 2.6 big blinds behind, and “VemLavanda” three-bet all-in, folding out the original raiser, but “FishermanI95” called. It was king-queen of diamonds for “FishermanI95” but the dominating ace-queen for “VemiLavanda.” The ace-queen held, and the player count reduced by one.
“FishermanI95″‘s fellow Romanian, “nolimithhh” was the next finalist to find themselves void of chips. They open-shoved for 6.2 big blinds from the button with king-nine of diamonds, only for “skacas” to wake up in the small blind with pocket aces. “nolimithhhh” flopped a flush draw, but none of their outs appeared on the turn or river, and the final table was down to only six hopefuls.
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Those six became five with the untimely demise of the start-of-the-day short stack “Sehabah.” The soon-to-be-busted player moved all-in for six big blinds from the button with ace-nine of hearts, and “skacas” called in the big blind with king-queen. That king-queen flopped top pair and turned two pair, leaving “Sehabah” heading for the exits.
Kazakhstan’s “Zharok” saw their deep run end in a fifth-place finish after a clash with “zZero92” did not go to plan. “skacas” min-raised with ace-ten on the button, “Zharok” jammed for 9.8 big blinds with ace-eight of diamonds from the small blind, only for “zZero92” to jam for 11.6 big blinds with pocket kings. The original raiser folded, and the kings remained best across all five community cards.
“zZero92” managed to double their stack to more than 40 big blinds, but they were still the fourth-place finisher after a cooler hand. “zZero92” limped in from the small blind, “VemLavanda” raised to 3.5 big blinds from the big blind and called when “zZero92” made it 9.5 big blinds to go. The flop fell eight-six-ten, “zZero92” led out for 4.9 big blinds before calling off the 19.6 big blinds they had behind when “VemLavanda” shoved. It was pocket aces for “zZero92” and kings for “VemLavanda.” A king on the turn flipped the hand on its head, with a ten improving “VemLavanda” to a full house.
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Three-handed play lasted one hand and ended with “skacas” heading to the showers. “skacas” min-raised from an 11 big blind stack, “VemLavanda” jammed from the small blind, and “skacas” called all-in. It was pocket fives for “VemLavanda” and ace-queen for the all-in player. The five community cards provided no drama, and “skacas” was gone.
“VemLavanda” went into the heads-up battle against “Luciole16” with a commanding 90.4 to 23.7 big blind chip lead, but victory was far from a done deal. “Luciole16” doubled up during the first couple of hands before “VemLavanda” pulled back in front. Neither player was willing to give up, but something finally give after half and hour of one-on-one action.
“Luciole16” limped with ten-nine of hearts, “VemLavanda” raised and then called when “Lucioloe16” jammed for 22.6 big blinds in total. “VemLavanda” called with ace-jack, spiked a jack on the flop to become the $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event champion.
$100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Results
Rank
Player
Country
Bounties
Prize
Total Prize
1
VemLavanda
Brazil
$1,179
$7,740
$8,919
2
Luciole16
Kazakhstan
$3,826
$5,645
$9,471
3
skacas
Lithuania
$1,574
$4,150
$5,724
4
zZero92
Lithuania
$740
$3,075
$3,815
5
Zharok
Kazakhstan
$302
$2,275
$2,577
6
Sehabah
Ukraine
$396
$1,700
$2,096
7
nolimithhh
Romania
$251
$1,280
$1,531
8
FishermanI95
Romania
$642
$970
$1,612
9
latvianhero1
Latvia
$1,134
$740
$1,874
Use the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar to Find the Best 888poker MTTs
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After the hustle-bustle of previous days, Day 36 of the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was relatively quiet, at least regarding the number of tournaments in play.
Two players became WSOP champions while the Main Event was running, and Bradley Gafford was the first. Gafford went into the third and final day last in chips from five remaining players in Event #74: $1,000 Mini Main Event, with only six big blinds at his disposal, but he came out on top when it matters. Their reward? The first WSOP bracelet of their career plus $549,555 in prize money and a fantastic story.
Event #75: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship was meant to play down to five players before concluding on July 5. However, in a very unlike PLO8 penultimate day, the 19 returning players needed only seven hours to wrap up the latest 2023 WSOP championship event.
Australia’s Hassan Kamel was the only player with chips in front of him when the dust settled; Kamel defeated Ryan Hoenig heads-up. Kamel collected $598,613 plus the first bracelet of his career, much to the delight of the Aussies railing him in Vegas and back home Down Under.
Day 1b of the 2023 WSOP Main Event Attracts Another
Day 1b of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship coincided with Independence Day celebrations, yet more than 1,100 players chose this flight to begin their quest for glory; they will hope to be celebrating wildly at the conclusion of this tournament.
Jean-Pierre van der Spuy, a well-known online poker grinder from South Africa, soared into the Day 1b chip lead during the dying moment of the night, bagging and tagging 287,000 chips. Although that is an impressive stack, it places van der Spuy fourth overall behind Day 1a big stacks Yehuda Dayan, Shota Nakanishi, and Hai-Chi Ho.
Four-time WSOP bracelet winner Julien Martini (284,700) has never cashed in the WSOP Main Event, but has done his chances of changing that fact no harm at all by finishing Day 1b with a more than healthy stack.
Patrik Antonius (263,500) and Anatoly Filatov (231,000) bagged up top 10 stacks.
Greg Raymer (201,400) and Johnny Chan (218,000) both know what it is like to win the Main Event. Indeed, Chan has won the Big Dance twice. Raymer and Chan find themselves at the right end of the chip counts after the first of four flights.
Others who reached the now-famous “Beer Level,” the last level of Day 1, where many players celebrate with an alcoholic beverage for reaching this stage, included Chris Brewer (173,200), Isaac Haxton (101,000), Scott Seiver (96,700), and Jason Koon (85,000).
Day 1c shuffles up and deals at 12:00 p.m. local time on July 5, and it should be a massive flight. Last year’s WSOP Main Event Day 1c drew in 1,860 entrants after Day 1a, and 1b saw 896 and 879 entries, respectively. By our reckoning, the 2023 WSOP Main Event Day 1c should see in excess of 2,000 runners.
Stay tuned to PokerNews to find out if this is the case.
Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship Day 1b Top 10 Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Jean-Pierre van der Spuy
South Africa
287,000
359
2
Julien Martini
France
286,000
358
3
Yuze Ding
United States
284,500
356
4
Gar Cheung
United States
281,500
352
5
Andrew Graham
United States
277,700
347
6
Scott Numoto
United States
268,200
335
7
Patrik Antonius
Finland
263,500
329
8
Jevon Lam
United States
243,000
304
9
Robert Lofaso
United States
233,500
292
10
Anatoly Filatov
Russia
231,000
289
What to Expect on Day 37 of the 2023 WSOP
Online Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship took place online at WSOP.com on July 3 but the final table is played on July 5 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Sam Soverel leads the way from Yuval Bronshtein, Aleksejs Ponakovs, Ethan Yau, Lingkun Lu, and Gergely Kulcsar.
Of course, Day 37 is also Day 1c of Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship, which is expected to be one of the biggest and busiest Main Event flights of all time, although there may be some sore heads among the entrants following July 4 celebrations the night before!
GGPoker recently signed a new poker ambassador, the controversial influencer True Geordie. We look at the brand’s ambassadors and their histories in poker.
The online poker world is full of competition, not just between players but also between different poker rooms. GGPoker is establishing its position as one of the top dogs, even over PokerStars, which for years was regarded as the best poker brand globally. As such, it should be no surprise that GGPoker signed Briand “True Geordie” Davis, an influencer previously affiliated with PokerStars, onto their team.
True Geordie, a popular poker YouTuber and podcast celebrity interviewer, will now act as the face of the brand’s online poker room, whether in the online or live spheres. This partnership promises more media coverage and an increased presence on social media for GGPoker, which is only beneficial for their journey to the top.
GGPoker has announced that part of the deal is that UK and Irish players can participate in a weekly freeroll event on Thursdays. Davis will participate in these tournaments, and players can win $1,000 prize pools and claim the bounty on Davis’ head. Davis will also have a meet and greet for his fans at the WSOP Circuit in London, where he’ll wear the GGPoker patch for the first time.
Davis’ Influence and Controversy
Davis originally partnered with PokerStars in 2020, but after two years, the brand terminated the contract due to Islamophobic slurs Davis made against Andrew Tate. However, Davis has since apologized stating that he “never for one second, though someone would take offense to something so silly.” In terms of the word silly Davis said that he meant the statement he made, while acknowledging it was in bad taste, was something he considered so ridiculous it could never be true.
GGPoker Grows Ever Bigger
As GGPoker increases its media presence and client base, it has always been bold in using the best resources possible, even if those resources partnered with other poker brands previously. GGPoker has never shied away from collaborating with controversial figures, so it’s no surprise they are often successful in recruiting ambassadors from other poker rooms.
The History of GGPoker’s Ambassadors
Below, we list the GGPoker ambassadors that have previously represented other poker rooms.
How to Play the Best Poker
If you wish to try out GGPoker and play with its new ambassador, then RakeRace.com is a good option for finding exclusive monthly poker deals. Besides the excellent rake races and chases you can participate in, you can also now play online and live poker games with True Geordie at GGPoker.