The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has always been the pinnacle poker attraction of the world, attracting the most skilled and dedicated players from around the globe.

And over the next two months, this shiver of sharks will battle it out for one of the most prestigious WSOP accolades available, the Player of the Year title.

So PokerNews thought it would be wise to assemble this complete guide to the WSOP Player of the Year race so you have everything you need to know about this fierce competition.

What Does the WSOP PoY Win?

Other than etching their names into poker’s history books for eternity, the winner of the WSOP PoY race receives:

• 2024 WSOP Main Event seat
• A unique trophy
• Player of the Year banner at Horseshoe/Paris

The latest player to have their PoY banner erected was Dan Zack, who edged out Daniel Weinman to the title. The New Jersey native, who first became known in the poker world for crushing Live at the Bike games, held the lead in the POY race for the final three weeks.

Zack picked up two gold bracelets and had 14 other WSOP cashes, which included an additional two final table appearances. For his wins, Zack first took down Event #15: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for $440,757, and then shipped Event #40: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for $324,174.

However, it already appears that Zack has conceded his title, as he told PokerNews last summer that he was getting married this year and wanted to have kids in the near future which would limit his time at the table.

2022 WSOP Player of the Year Final Leaderboard

What Events Count Towards the PoY Race?

The 2023 PoY race will be exclusively based on the open bracelet events of the upcoming WSOP, which takes place at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and Horseshoe Las Vegas from May 30 to July 18. Additionally, the online bracelet events held in Nevada and New Jersey will also be included.

It’s important to note that certain events will be excluded from the leaderboards, which are:

• Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em
• Event #48: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em
• Event #51: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em
• Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em
• Event #67: $1,000/$10,000 Ladies Event

How are PoY Points Calculated?

The formula for calculating points for the PoY race is inspired by the proven point system utilized in the WSOP Circuit over the years. This system will be applied to each bracelet event but with some adjustments to account for the buy-in amount and the number of entries.

Players can use the WSOP PoY calculator to estimate points for any event and the leaderboard will be updated daily for people to follow.

Who Are The Favorites?

It’s difficult to have any serious PoY predictions before the WSOP kicks off however, usual names at the forefront include previous winners such as Daniel Negreanu and Shaun Deeb. This is due to the fact that competing for WSOP PoY is quite a grind, as it requires players to enter dozens of events to have any shot at winning. Deeb, Negreanu, and a few others traditionally enter 40 or more bracelet tournaments in each series.

However, with Deeb in the middle of a body fat-related $1 million prop bet, his time at the table could be hampered. But, even with that caveat, Deeb should still be considered as a possible frontrunner due to how well he performs under the WSOP umbrella.

Negreanu will be looking to have a very different summer from the one he experienced last year, which saw him end the series down $1.1 million. The tides, though, have seemed to have turned recently for ‘Kid Poker’ as momentum is on his side following his Super High Roller Bowl VII and High Stakes Duel victories.

Another player who could be in contention is Espen Jorstad, who won the 2022 WSOP Main Event and plans to play a full schedule this time around.

“I’m planning to go for the whole World Series this summer. I’m going at the very beginning and leaving at the very end. I was recently looking over the WSOP schedule, trying to map out how much money I’m going to need in Vegas this summer. You know, deciding if I want to play the $250,000 or the $100,000.” Jorstad told PokerNews

“I figured if I want to play all the big stuff, I’m going to need like $700,000-$800,000 just for my buy-ins. So it will be a crazy summer if I want to play that full schedule — which would be cool!”

And, of course, it would be impossible to rule out 16-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who has finished as the runner-up on four occasions, with the last being in 2021.

WSOP Player of the Year Winners

Ethan “Rampage” Yau was playing low-stakes poker games two years ago. On Sunday, during the $1 million game on Hustler Casino Live, the popular vlogger was busy attempting a $600,000 bluff with ace-high, but he was up against top set. Did the aggressive play work out? Let’s find out!

Rampage was in the game for $1 million and about four hours into play, he was up to a bit over $1.1 million. That all changed when he entered a pot against “Handz,” who is a regular in the HCL highest stakes games.

Greatest Poker Bluff Attempt of the Year?

Here’s how the hand played out: It all started with Yau raising to $9,000 from the small blind with A♣7♣ and then Handz surprisingly just making the call in the big blind with Q♠Q♥, as did “Pav” in the straddle with K♥8♦.

All three players caught a little something on the J♦Q♦10♣ flop, but only Handz had a made hand. After the blinds checked, Pav bet $15,000 on his open-ended straight draw. Rampage then went for a check-raise to $50,000, and only Handz made the call in position.

The turn was the 2♣, which gave Rampage a flush draw. He led out for $175,000 and again was unable to convince his opponent to fold. When the 5♠ appeared on the river, the flush and straight draws missed. That meant the only way for Rampage to win the hand would be to bluff Handz off the pot, which wasn’t going to be easy considering he was up against top set.

But Rampage could have conceivably had a hand like AxKx, good for a straight, which of course beats a set. The poker vlogger decided to continue representing such a hand and put Handz all in for $618,000, over-betting the $494,000 pot. At that point, it was clear to Handz that he was either up against the nuts or a bluff.

Would a poker player who was playing low-stakes games less than two years ago really have it in him to bet more than $600,000 with nothing? That was the question Handz had to consider as he pondered his move. Would he really fold top set with no potential flush on board? Let’s take a look:

The answer was yes. It was arguably the greatest bluff in Hustler Casino Live history, and one of the top bluffs you’ll see all year, or even for the next few years. Had Rampage lost the pot, his $1 million starting stack would have been down to under $300,000. For his investor’s sake, it’s a good thing it got through.

This wasn’t the first huge bluff Rampage has pulled off on Hustler Casino Live. In January, he took down a $285,000 pot with a $120,000 wager with king-high on the river, forcing “J.R.” off top pair.

Rampage Ready for the Biggest Poker Game of His Life

As poker has grown in popularity over the decades, questions have risen about classifying the unique and complex game.

Like other games involving betting like blackjack and roulette, poker is a game of luck. But like strategy games like chess and Magic: The Gathering, poker is also a game of skill that awards good decisions.

And like traditional sports like football, baseball and basketball, poker can require serious physical and mental endurance.

This PokerNews article will look at whether poker should be classified as a sport, a game or both.

Is Poker a Sport or a Game?

The quickest way to figure out whether poker is a sport or a game is to look at the dictionary definitions of both and break it down from there.

Sport Definition – What is a Sport?

Merriam-Webster defines a sport as a “physical activity engaged in for pleasure” or “a particular activity (such as an athletic game) so engaged in.”

Oxford Dictionary provides a more detailed definition of a game as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill, especially (particularly in modern use) one regulated by set rules or customs in which an individual or team competes against another or others.”

Is Poker a Sport?

Based on these two mainstream definitions, we can break down whether poker can be categorized as a sport, either in the cash game or tournament format.

Let’s break down the Oxford definition. Poker not only requires physical exertion but also skill, a crucial factor that distinguishes poker from most gambling games. While luck is a large element of poker, it is indisputably a game of skill as demonstrated by the thousands of professional players who have generated long-term results.

Additionally, poker is always “regulated by set rules or customs,” whether it’s a home game, a casino cash game, a bar league or a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event. These include rules against string betting, betting out of turn, collusion or speaking a different language at the poker table.

Some universal poker customs include etiquette for tipping, avoiding slow rolling and angle shooting against angle shooting and not berating your opponents.

Finally, poker is always an activity “where an individual or team competes against another or others.” Whether it’s a heads-up match between two players, a one-table sit & go or a multi-table tournament with thousands of entries, poker players are constantly competing against one another.

Check Out This PokerNews Guide to Etiquette At the Poker Table!

Why Poker is a Sport

Poker, and live poker in particular, is a physical and social activity that millions of people play around the world. Tournament flights and cash game sessions can stretch into the early morning hours and it requires both physical and mental stamina to stay alert at the table, meeting the Merriam-Webster definition of a sport.

And poker can also be a team activity as demonstrated by Tag Team events at the WSOP and the Los Angeles Poker Classic.

Online poker also meets all of these criteria and can require immense physical and mental stamina for long multi-tabling sessions. Live multi-tabling can also be a physical effort, as Shaun Deeb showed at the 2022 WSOP when he sprinted back and forth between two events.

Given that poker is an activity involving physical and mental exertion with a set of rules and customs where players compete against others, poker clearly meets mainstream definitions of a sport.

Read about PokerNews’ top 5 casino movies!

Game Definition – What is a Game?

Let’s now look at the definition of a game to see if poker qualifies. Meriam-Webster defines a game as a “physical or mental competition conducted according to rules with the participants in direct opposition to each other.”

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a game as “an entertaining activity or sport” and “a particular competition, match or occasion.”

Is Poker a Game?

Let’s use these definitions to determine if poker is a game. As established earlier in this article, poker requires physical and mental stamina and is a game where participants play against each other. This is especially true of zero-sum games (including poker) where there are winners and losers, whether in a tournament or a cash game session.

Poker is certainly an “entertaining activity” as demonstrated by the popularity of live streams and the epic WSOP and World Poker Tour (WPT) coverage that contributed to the Poker Boom of the early 2000s.

The personalities and televized antics of poker legends like Phil Hellmuth, Phil Laak and Daniel Negreanu, as well as more recent characters like Alejandro Lococo and , Ren Lin and Steven “Cuz” Buckner, are colorful reminders of how entertaining poker can be.

Furter evidence of poker’s entertainment factor is the success of poker movies like Rounders, Molly’s Game Mississippi Grind, as well as poker’s presence in mainstream films like Casino Royale and video games like Red Dead Redemption.

All forms of poker can be thought of as a “particular competition, match or occasion.” A poker tournament clearly meets this definition, but the same is true for cash game sessions.

Based on the above definitions, it is clear that poker is a game in addition to being a sport.

Read about PokerNews’ top 5 poker movies of all time!

Are Poker Players Athletes?

Should poker players be considered athletes? Let’s turn to Merriam-Webster, which defines an athlete “as a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.”

While poker may not require the physical strength of sports like football or basketball, it certainly requires agility and stamina. And while poker players vary in skill, every player is “trained or skilled” to some degree, even if they are just learning the game for the first time.

It is also worth noting that several former professional or collegiate athletes have enjoyed careers as poker pros, including former college runner Chris Brewer, former college football player Alex Foxen and former basketball pro Joao Vieira.

Much like traditional athletes, the best poker players are the ones who study the most, practice the most and put in the most work off the tables. Being a top-tier poker player requires physical endurance and the ability to concentrate for hours at a time with thousands or millions on the line.

Is Poker Luck or Skill?

Poker, like many other games, is much more luck-based than traditional sports, where players typically need a lot more skill to determine who the winner will be. That said, poker is very much a skill-based game and has been thought of as such since Doyle Brunson’s Super System was first published in 1979.

While luck may determine the outcome of any hand, session or tournament, players making decisions with positive expected values will find themselves profitable in the long term, although it may take a lot of volume to get there.

There have also been legal rulings affirming that poker is indeed a game of skill, including a 2012 New York opinion stating that “increased proficiency boosts a player’s chance of winning and affects the outcome of individual hands as well as a series of hands.”

However, it should be noted that there are other legal rulings categorizing poker as a non-skill game and legal precedents aren’t the best benchmark to look at since they vary so widely by jurisdiction.

Check Out These 7 Poker Strategy Tips

Will Poker Ever be at the Olympics?

While it may not have seemed possible a few decades or even a few years ago, there’s a real chance poker could make its way into the Olympics by 2028. However, it may not be the traditional poker tournaments we’ve seen on TV for years.

According to The Sporting News, there are efforts to get the Olympics to recognize Match Poker, a format where all players are given the same cards, flops, turns and rivers and will be judged by how they play their cards.

In order to make it to the Olympics, any form of poker would have to be approved by the International Olympic Committee and meet game requirements, including how popular the sport is and how it would add the the Olympic legacy.

Poker may join skateboarding, snowboarding and karate as the latest non-traditional activity to make its way to the Olympics.

Ethan “Rampage” Yau’s meteoric rise from low-stakes to high-stakes has been one of the most impressive accomplishments in poker the past two years. On Sunday, he’ll take a stab at a $1 million buy-in game on Hustler Casino Live.

The poker vlogger headlines the third day of action at Hustler Casino in Los Angeles, and the live-stream is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. PT. It will be the largest buy-in of his career, and he’ll be facing an entertaining and wealthy lineup that includes Tony G, Nik Airball, Rob Yong, Stanley Tang, and “Wes Side” Wesley.

At the start of play, the blinds will be $500/$1,000 with a $2,000 big blind ante. There could conceivably be over $15 million on the table at one point with rebuys and add-ons factored in. Wesley announced on Twitter that he’ll be in for $3 million.

Rampage Poker Playing for Unthinkable Amounts

This won’t be the first time Rampage, who has over 240,000 YouTube subscribers, has played in a big game. In fact, he’s now a regular in high-stakes games, including many on Hustler Casino Live.

But most of his long-time fans could have never expected his rise up the stakes so quickly. In fact, in January 2022, he posted a video from a session in which he excitedly won over $6,000. Sixteen months later and he’ll be playing in a game where the smallest pot of the day will likely be larger than $6,000. Did he think one year ago he would soon be playing at such massive stakes as he will be on Sunday?

“A year ago, I punted $100,000 to Garrett Adelstein, so no,” Yau said before being asked if he would have expected two years ago to be playing in a game of this magnitude. “Never, never. Who thinks they’re playing with a million dollars? It’s an inconceivable amount, but here we are and everyone’s watching, and it’s for all the glory and all the money.”

Rampage is one of many highly popular vloggers who have taken over the poker world the past few years. His fans have always loved his gamble mentality and willingness to shot-take. Although he won’t be in the $1 million game completely on his own dime — he sold some action — he’ll be risking a significant amount of money on his own to play against some high-stakes regulars.

“I try my best not to think about the stakes mainly just because of the sheer dollar amounts and all of that, but I think I’ve sold enough action where I’m comfortable playing and hopefully things go well, it’s just a normal poker game, a lot of friendly familiar poker faces, so what could go wrong,” Rampage said in regards to potentially being nervous playing with $1 million in front of him.

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is less than a week away, and right now players are filled with high hopes. If all goes according to plan, they’ll head out to Las Vegas and make a poker fortune, but if you’re so fortunate, remember big scores come with big responsibilities, primarily taxes!

We asked our friends over at Kondler & Associates, the premier poker tax specialists, for things players may want to remember at the 2023 WSOP. President and Owner Ray Kondler, CPA, offered his expertise below.

If you would like to receive more information about their services or receive a free assessment, please visit our Kondler & Associates hub or call (702) 433-7075. You can also check out their booth at the 2023 WSOP.

Kondler & Associates, CPAs Can Help You Prepare Your Taxes Today

State Taxes

Understanding the tax laws of the state in which you reside is of utmost importance when it comes to handling gambling losses. It allows individuals to determine their tax obligations accurately and make informed decisions regarding deductions and reporting requirements. The handling of gambling losses can vary significantly from state to state. Each state has the authority to establish its own laws and regulations regarding gambling and its taxation. Some states fully allow the deduction of gambling losses, meaning that individuals can offset their gambling winnings with losses when calculating their taxable income. This allows them to reduce their overall tax liability.

On the other hand, certain states may have partial allowances for deducting gambling losses. This means that individuals may be able to deduct a portion of their losses, but there may be limitations or restrictions on the amount that can be deducted. The specific rules and limitations can vary, so it is crucial to understand the tax laws of the state in which you reside to ensure compliance and maximize potential deductions.

In contrast, some states do not allow any deduction for gambling losses. In such states, individuals are unable to offset their gambling winnings with losses for tax purposes. As a result, their taxable income remains unaffected by their gambling activities, and they will end up paying tax on the gross amount won.

Professional vs Amateur Tax Classification

The distinction between being an amateur and a professional gambler encompasses several key differences. Amateurs typically engage in gambling activities purely out of personal interest or recreation, without considering it as their main source of income. On the other hand, professional gamblers treat gambling as their primary occupation and often receive regular income from their gambling activities, making it their main source of livelihood.

One significant difference between amateur and professional gamblers lies in their tax obligations. As professional gamblers earn income from gambling, they are subject to self-employment taxes. However, they also have the advantage of being able to write off various expenses related to their gambling activities. These deductible expenses can include travel costs, accommodations, entry fees, and other relevant expenses.

In certain instances, professional gamblers may choose to set up an S corporation (S Corp) to manage their gambling activities and tax liabilities. By establishing an S Corp, they can potentially structure their income and expenses in a more advantageous manner for tax purposes. This alternative can provide additional tax planning opportunities and potentially optimize their overall tax situation.

Check out our Kondler & Associates Hub here!

What Documentation to Track

When gambling, it is important for players to keep track of information to maintain proper tax documentation. Two common methods used for tracking poker activity are Excel ledgers or a dedicated poker tracking app. Regardless of the method chosen, these are details that should be documented:

• Date & Time spent playing.
• Type of gambling (cash game, tournament, sports bet, etc.)
• Buy-in amount and cash-out amount.
• Receipts or bank statements of expenses (for professional Gamblers)

In regard to tax forms issued by the Casino (W2Gs’s & 1042s) it is important to pay attention to the tax form to verify that it was issued in the correct year. On many occasions a casino can use a prior year’s tax form and this can be a reason a refund was held for a significant amount of time while the IRS verifies the transfer with the Casino.

International players- Tax Treaty vs Non-Tax Treaty

The distinction between being from a Tax Treaty country and a Non-Tax Treaty country can have significant implications for gamblers when it comes to the taxation of their winnings. Players from Tax Treaty countries have the advantage of being able to provide the casino with their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), allowing the casino to release the entire amount won to them. This means that players from Tax Treaty countries do not have any withholding taxes applied to their winnings.

On the other hand, players from Non-Tax Treaty countries face a different scenario. Regardless of whether they have an ITIN or not, 30% of their gambling winnings are withheld by the casino. However, there is an opportunity for these players to recoup the withheld amount by filing a Tax Return. The refund amount for Non-Tax Treaty countries is based on various factors, including gambling wins, losses, and expenses. By reporting their gambling activity accurately and documenting their losses and expenses, players can potentially reduce their taxable income and increase the amount refunded to them.

Q&A with Kondler & Associates, CPAs: Tax Implications for Non-U.S. Citizens

International Players- ITIN Number

For Non-Tax Treaty gamblers, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is important. While it is true that having an ITIN allows Non-tax treaty players to file a US tax return and potentially collect taxes that were withheld from their gambling winnings, it does not exempt them from having money withheld in the first place. Regardless of having an ITIN, Non-tax treaty players will still have a portion (typically 30%) of their gambling winnings withheld by the casino or other payers. Obtaining an ITIN is crucial because it enables Non-tax treaty gamblers to fulfill their tax obligations in the United States. With an ITIN, they can file a US tax return and report their gambling income, losses, and expenses and receive a refund if applicable.

Ky Nguyen finally won the big one in the 2023 World Poker Tour (WPT) Gardens Poker Championship at HyperX Esports Arena inside of Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Nguyen outlasted a field of 346 entries to claim his spot on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and win $375,380. The victory also earns Nguyen a $10,400 seat in December’s WPT Championship.

Chris Lee finished in third and WPT Ambassador Brad Owen was fourth, while Joey Deluca and Josh Lachman rounded out the final six. Owen fell just short of his first WPT title after a big comeback on the final day in Los Angeles to qualify for the final table.

2023 WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table Results

The win is the first major title for Nguyen, who has established himself as a popular vlogger and cash game grinder throughout the Los Angeles area.

”A Huge Accomplishment”

“This is so important for me to finally come with a win in such a big tournament,” Nguyen said in a post-win interview with PokerNews. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time. I’ve spent a lot of time playing poker and this is definitely a huge accomplishment.”

Nguyen found a double with pocket kings in the opening moments of the day to move up the leaderboard—and he continued to climb, even after the deck didn’t go his way in an unlikely chopped pot.

Nguyen snap-called with six-five for a straight when Salunga put him at risk in four-handed action. Salunga turned over queen-five for a smaller straight, but a six fell on the river to give both players the pot.

The champ bounced back with the elimination of Owen and a big river call on a bluff from Salunga that gave him the lead in three-handed play.

“I was able to regroup and leave that behind me and just play good poker. It was tough to overcome and once I did I was feeling great with confidence going into heads up.”

Final Table Action

Lachman sat down in the under-the-gun position with just three big blinds and he folded the first hand before he got it in on the next one with a suited eight-three. Salunga looked him up with a suited ace-nine and held on for the first elimination of the day. Lachman went home with $71,200 and that will ease the pain of the broken foot he suffered during the opening stages of the tournament in Los Angeles.

The opening moments of the day were an opportunity for Nguyen, Lee, and Owen to pick up chips to move above the four million mark, while Salunga surrendered a double to Nguyen’s pocket kings to fall down the leaderboard and join them in a four-way logjam at the top.

Salunga soon won a clash with Owen that opened up a small lead and sent the WPT Ambassador below the two million mark. Deluca saw his chance to jam his short stack with jack-ten, but Nguyen was there with pocket jacks to send him to the rail in fifth place for $94,000.

Read More About Brad Owen’s Run to the Final Table

The final four continued into the first break where Salunga led and Owen held the short stack with just under two million. Owen finally got it in with king-six, but Nguyen called with ace-jack and held on to send him out in fourth place for $125,000.

After Owen hit the rail, Salunga extended his lead with a jump to over 10 million and Lee fell into the short stack with just over 10 big blinds.

Nguyen called Salunga’s big bluff to bring the top stacks near even, and Lee was the odd man out with just over two million. He finally got it in with a suited ace-four and Nguyen put him at risk with pocket jacks. Nguyen held on to send Lee to the rail in third place for $169,000.

Heads-up play kicked off with Nguyen holding just over 10 million in chips while Salunga was close behind with seven million. Nguyen built a quick lead and soon Salunga was down to his last seven big blinds. Salunga picked up a small double for a dash of hope, but it didn’t last long. The big moment came when Nguyen shoved with queen-eight and Salunga went for the double with jack-ten—the flop brought two eights and Nguyen held on for his first WPT title.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

Last year marked 11 years since PokerNews started publishing predictions ahead of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and with three days to go they’re back again ahead of the 2023 WSOP.

With the WSOP moving to its new home on the Las Vegas Strip at the Horseshoe and Paris, we asked nine members of the PokerNews team for their thoughts and predictions.

This year we spoke to Global Live Events Manager Shirley Ang, US Executive Editor and former WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway, Live Reporting Executive Matt Hansen, staff editors Matthew Pitt, Jon Sofen, Calum Grant and Connor Richards, and Community Manager Jesse Fullen.

Which poker player will win their first bracelet this year?

Chad: Is there any player in Vegas right now hotter than Jeremy Becker? He’s won eight Wynn tournaments since March 25, so if he takes his skills down the street to the Horseshoe, I think he’s going to ride that momentum all the way to a no-limit hold’em bracelet.

Calum: After coming close at the 2022 WSOPE, I think PokerStars ambassador Sam Grafton gets his first bracelet. He’s surely one of the names on the ‘Best without a Bracelet’ list, and I think he scratches his name off that list this time around. But it could also be the year for Dustin Dirksen, he’s finished as the runner-up in three bracelet events now, with two second places coming from 2021 and 2022.

Connor: Adam Hendrix. After being the frontrunner in the 2022 GPI Player of the Year race and being denied at the last minute, Hendrix will be playing with a vengeance this summer and could surely pick up a maiden bracelet.

Jesse: Jesse Fullen, obviously.

Matt Pitt: I went with Shannon Shorr last year, and Shannon is my pick again in 2023. He came super close at the last WSOP, finishing third in the $50K High Roller.

Shirley: Seth Davies

Matt Hansen: Chris Brewer

Jon Sofen: I’m going with Seth Davies.

How many players will win two or more bracelets at the 2023 WSOP and who?

Shirley: 4, Jeremy Ausmus, Adam Friedman, Adrian Mateos, and Michael Addamo.

Chad: There will be a trio of two-time bracelet winners this summer. I can’t predict all three, but I will say that I think it’s going to be a good summer for Phil Hellmuth, so let’s see bracelets No. 17 AND 18!

Jesse: Three. Hellmuth, Negreanu, and Matusow. I know right?

Matt Hansen: Three. Brewer, Deeb, and Ausmus.

Calum: Just the one for now.

Jon Sofen: One.

Matt Pitt: Two will win multiple bracelets. Jeremy Ausmus won two in 2021 and again in 2022. Why not go for a hat trick of two in 2023? I think Shaun Deeb (who won two in 2018). Deeb is in the early stages of his big weight loss bet, and his new outlook on health and fitness could help him at the tables.

Connor: Just one, and it will be Shaun Deeb as he competes while in the best shape of his life.

How many events will Phil Ivey play?

Connor: I’ll guess that we will see Ivey in 11 events as he chases an 11th bracelet.

Matt Pitt: Ivey cashed in nine events last year, but he’s not logged a single cash in an MTT in 2023. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t play any or put in a ton of volume.

Matt Hansen: Five.

Jon Sofen: Ivey will play 18 events.

Jesse: Eight

Chad: I hear Phil Ivey recently welcome a baby into the world, and it’s not uncommon for players to cut down on tournaments when they have a young one running around. Ivey will still play, but I think it’ll be less than a dozen events. I’ll say eight tournaments is all he’ll play.

Shirley: 15

Calum: Phil Ivey cashed in nine events last year and came close to getting his 11th bracelet. I think we’re going to see a lot of Ivey again like in 2022 so he’s going to be in at least 20-25 events.

How many players will enter the 2023 WSOP Main Event?

Chad: This will be the largest WSOP Main Event in history. My guess is 9,170 players!

Matt Pitt: I was surprised to see the 8,663 attendance in 2022; I didn’t think it would be anywhere near as high. I feel the same way this year as last, so I’ll go with 7,500.

Calum: Surely, it’s time the 2006 record gets broken. I think it’ll be a few entrants shy of 9,000 so let’s go with 8,942.

Connor: I predict there will be a record-breaking Main Event field of 8,774 players.

Shirley: 8,833

Jesse: 9,000

Matt Hansen: 8,800

Jon Sofen: A record 8,999 players.

How to Stay Healthy in Las Vegas During the WSOP

What will 2023 be “The Year Of?”

Calum: Shaun Deeb’s weight loss prop bet.

Chad: It’s going to be the “Year of the 20-Somethings.” I’ve seen an uptick of young people in the game, and now 20 years removed from Moneymaker’s game-changing win, it really is a new era. Look for a lot of young bracelet winners in 2023.

Jon Sofen: The Year of Hellmuth

“I think Shaun Deeb’s body fat prop bet with Bill Perkins will encourage countless other players to make lifestyle changes themselves.”

Matt Pitt: The Pros Calling Each Other Out and Challenging to HU4Rollz

Matt Hansen: The Year of F1 Street Paving Traffic

Shirley: The year of a record number of lesser-known players winning their first bracelets.

Connor: The Year of Physicality. I think Shaun Deeb’s body fat prop bet with Bill Perkins will encourage countless other players to make lifestyle changes themselves. Even Chris Moneymaker has indicated he will be doing so.

Jesse: The year of the broken record. Massive fields across all of the big events!

Who do you think will win a bracelet first – Daniel Negreanu or Phil Hellmuth?

Matt Pitt: The Poker Brat usually plays more lower stakes events so has an advantage. That said, I have a feeling Negreanu could enjoy a fruitful WSOP in 2023 so I’m choosing him.

Chad: Phil Hellmuth. I love Negreanu and hope to see him win a bracelet, but I’ll never bet against the Poker Brat at the WSOP.

Jon Sofen: I’m predicting that Hellmuth will absolutely crush it this summer like he did in 2021, so I’ll go with him. But Negreanu’s going to eventually close one out.

Matt Hansen: Phil Hellmuth

Shirley: Negreanu

Jesse: Hellmuth

Calum: Hellmuth came close in the $3K last year while Negreanu had a WSOP to forget. I think their fortunes swap for this year and can see Negreanu having a very successful summer. I think through law of averages, Hellmuth might have one of his worst WSOP’s to date.

Connor: While Negreanu appears on top of his game after taking down the Super High Roller Bowl, there’s no one hungrier for another bracelet than Hellmuth and I think he will get it before Negreanu.

Which former Main Event champion will have the best performance at the 2023 WSOP?

Chad: It’d be great if it was Moneymaker on the 20th anniversary of his win, but I don’t think he’ll play much. Instead, I am going to go with Ryan Riess. It’s also the 10th anniversary of his big win in 2013 (the same year I won my bracelet), so I am pulling for him!

Jesse: Chris Moneymaker. 20th anniversary and this man wants his second bracelet.

Calum: I don’t think you can look past the last two winners in Koray Aldemir and Espen Jorstad. I expect them to perform well again.

Jon Sofen: Phil Hellmuth.

Matt Pitt: Koray Aldemir. He’s definitely the most talented Main Event champion in the past decade or two, and reeled in cashes like they were going out of fashion last summer. Es[en Jorstad is a good shout too depending on how many events he decides to get involved with this year.

Connor: 2023 will be the year of Joe Hachem. I will not be elaborating at this time.

Matt Hansen: Espen Jorstad

Shirley: Martin Jacobson

A Look at the 2023 WSOP Online Bracelet Schedule – How to Deposit

Who will win the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship?

Chad: Todd Brunson in honor of his father.

Shirley: Michael Mizrachi

Connor: Jungleman Dan Cates. Could it be anyone else?

Matt Hansen: Ryan Leng

Jesse: Jungleman, obviously.

Calum: I’d love Jungleman to make it three in a row but that just seems like a near impossibility. So, let’s go with Ivey for this one, I think that would be awesome to see.

Jon Sofen: Brian Rast

Matt Pitt: Save everyone the hassle and give the title to Daniel Cates!

Who do you like to win the 2023 WSOP Player of the Year?

Calum: I think a smart guess would be someone like a Shaun Deeb or Daniel Negreanu but I’m going to take a punt on this one. 2023 WSOP POY will be Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau. There really seems to be nothing stopping him as of late.

Shirley: Joao Vieira

Chad: I’m predicting a big year for Hellmuth, who has finished as WSOP POY runner-up three times. I think he finally captures that prestigious title this year.

Matt Hansen: Shaun Deeb

Connor: Shannon Shorr. One of the nicest guys in poker, and one of the greats without a bracelet, it would be great to see Shorr have a strong summer to pick up POY. And, he’s fresh of a WPT High Roller victory at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown.

Matt Pitt: Maybe a little leftfield but let’s say Adrian Mateos. He seems to be playing a lot lately and obviously has the ability.

Jon Sofen: Phil Hellmuth

Jesse: Shaun Deeb

How many ladies will get heads up, and how many will win bracelets?

Chad: I think ladies will make it to heads-up play twice in open events, and they’re going to capture gold on both occasions.

Shirley: 6 heads-up; 3 wins

Matt Hansen: They will go 2 for 2.

Calum: Excluding the Ladies event of course, I think there will be at least one woman to win a bracelet with two getting to heads-up.

Matt Pitt: There are some super-talented ladies, but the lack of numbers limits ladies’ chances of winning some poker gold. I do think we’ll see a female champion in an open event, so I’m going with four heads up and two bracelets including online events.

Connor: Outside of the ladies’ event, I predict two ladies will get heads up and both of them will win.

Jesse: Six ladies heads up and four bracelets.

Jon Sofen: Three bracelets, three runners-up.

Celebrating the Extraordinary Legacy of Doyle Brunson at the World Series of Poker

Who would you like to see inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2023?

Chad: Man, oh man, that backlog is going to get messy if the trend of only one person getting in each year. There are so many deserving individuals – Antonio Esfandiari, Matt Savage, and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi jump to mind – but it has to be Isai Scheinberg.

Jon Sofen: Matt Savage and Brian Rast are both deserving.

Matt Hansen: Mike Matusow

Calum: Maria Ho or Antonio Esfandiari

Shirley: Jack Effel

Matt Pitt: Isai Scheinberg or Matt Savage.

Connor: Michael Mizrachi. At the very least, “The Grinder” deserves to be in the Nickname Hall of Fame.

Jesse: Norman Chad and Lon McEachern on 20th anniversary of the Moneymaker year!

WSOP Main Event Champions 2015-17: McKeehen, Nguyen, Blumstein

Will a known name or a random player draw the $1,000,000 Mystery Bounty?

Chad: This year it’s going to be a random play, but it won’t take long for them to become a known name after that!

Calum: I really hope a non-name pulls the milly bounty.

Shirley: Mystery Bounty: known player, would be funny if Matt Glantz does it again

Matt Hansen: An unknown Las Vegas local will pull the million.

Jesse: It’s probably gonna be Robbi Jade Lew. So, a known player.

Matt Pitt: I’d prefer it to be a random player that pulls out the $1M Mystery Bounty.

Connor: After Matt Glantz pulled the million-dollar bounty in 2022, it seems only fair that this year’s bounty would go to an unknown player.

Jon Sofen: Matt Glantz will win it again.

How many players will the $250,000 Super High Roller get?

Chad: 75

Calum: 50 if crypto portfolios are performing well, 40 if not.

Matt Pitt: It will get exactly 50.

Connor: 65 players.

Jesse: 75

Matt Hansen: 61

Shirley: 66

Jon Sofen: 69 would be a nice turnout.

Give us one last bold, unique prediction.

Chad: In honor of the late Doyle Brunson I expect a big uptick of players mixing it up with “The Brunson” (AKA Ten-Deuce). Expect a couple of gold bracelets to be won by players holding the famed hand.

Matt Pitt: Ali Imsirovic and Jake Schindler will contest a bracelet heads-up!

Connor: Allen Kessler will try raw fish.

Shirley: A PokerNews team member will make a final table

Jesse: Phil Ivey makes the Main Event final table with an average stack.

Matt Hansen: A player will win back-to-back events.

World Poker Tour (WPT) Ambassador Brad Owen will return for his shot at a spot on the Mike Sexton Cup after he turned 15 big blinds into the third-biggest chip stack at the end of Day 4 to qualify for the televised six-handed final table in Las Vegas.

The 2023 WPT Gardens Poker Championship drew 346 entries for a prize pool of $1,678,100.

Owen bagged 3,350,000 for the Day 5 finale and he is joined by chip leader Ryan Salunga with 7,265,000 and Chris Lee with 3,975,000. Ky Nguyen, Josh Lachman, and Joey Deluca round out the final six that will return to HyperX ESports Arena at Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 27 to play for the top prize of $357,380 and a seat at the $10,000 WPT World Championship in December.

The popular streamer and regular cash game player made a late run that included the eighth-place elimination of Steven Spunt with Owen’s trademark pocket jacks.

“Best jiggities ever,” Owen told WPT at the conclusion of Day 4. “I looked down at it, and I’m sure it wasn’t really visible but I kind of chuckled in my head a little bit and I was like ‘Oh this is fitting.”

Owen held on with the jacks and went on to eliminate Thomas Choi in seventh to lock in his spot at the televised final table in Las Vegas. A fourth-place finish or better would give Owen the biggest score in his career.

2023 WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table

Everyone is Chasing Salunga

Meanwhile, Salunga has already guaranteed his first big score and a sixth-place prize of $71,200. The lowest payout of the afternoon will take Salunga over $100,000 in lifetime earnings after a series of strong finishes throughout the California poker scene in 2023.

Lee enters Saturday’s final table as the most accomplished tournament player with over $1.5 million in earnings, according to the Hendon Mob. His only other cash in 2023 was a fourth-place finish at this year’s PokerGO Tour PLO series for $207,500. Lee won a WSOP bracelet in 2011 in the $2,500 10-Game tournament and he was the runner-up in the 2017 $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha event.

Career Paydays

Nguyen returns with a long list of tournament accomplishments and this is his biggest score—a prize that will move him to just short of $400,000 in lifetime earnings. This is also Nguyen’s second WPT cash of the year after a run to 12th in the $10,000 Deep Stack at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. Lachman, the short stack, is also cashing the largest check of his poker-playing life, but this is his second deep charge at a WPT Main Event after a run to 27th in the 2016 Legends of Poker.

Deluca will enter the final day with the second shortest stack, but he brings with him a long list of cashing finishes on the L.A. tournament scene. He’s also among those picking up his biggest win yet, but he has tallied over $320,000 in tournament winnings in tournaments all over Los Angeles.

The final six players will reconvene on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Vegas time to play down to a winner. All of the action will be featured on the WPT livestream with a 30-minute security delay beginning at 4:30 p.m.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

With the 2023 World Series of Poker just around the corner, PokerNews is continuing to look at past WSOP Main Event champions and what they’ve been up to since winning poker’s big one.

Our last installment of the series looked at the winners from 2015-17, with this edition focusing on John Cynn, Hossein Ensan, and Damian Salas who all triumphed in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.

John Cynn: 2018 Main Event Champion ($8,800,000)

John Cynn must have thought he’d blown his chances of becoming the WSOP Main Event champion when he busted in 11th place during the 2016 edition of poker’s most famous live tournament. The $650,000 Cynn won that day after outlasting most of the 6,737 entrants will have gone some way to numbing the pain, but the nature of large-field poker tournaments means most players do not get many shots at a life-changing prize.

Fastforward three years and Cynn was one of 7,874 entrants in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event, the second-largest Main Event in history at the time. After ten days of intense poker action, including a final table spanning 442 hands, Cynn had redemption for his near miss, and become poker’s world champion.

Cynn found himself heads-up against Tony Miles in what became the ultimate slugfest. Cynn and Miles butted heads for ten hours before something finally gave, and Cynn clinched the title.

With blinds of 2,000,000/4,000,000/500,000a, Cynn opened to 9 million before calling a 34 million three-bet. Miles led out for 32 million on the king-king-five flop, Cynn called, and an eight landed on the turn. Miles moved all-in for 114 million, sending Cynn into the tank for over a minute, before he emerged with a call. Cynn showed king-jack for trip kings, and was way ahead of Miles’ queen-eight. The inconsequential four on the river brought the curtain down on an epic one-on-one battle.

2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results

Cynn Since Becoming World Champion

Cynn has not been overly active since reeling in the $8.8 million first-place prize of the 2018 WSOP Main Event. Indeed, Cynn has only managed six cashes since becoming world champion.

Two of those scores tipped the scales at six figures. Cynn finished fourth in a $25,000 High Roller at the partypoker MILLIONS South America festival for $110,000 in March 2019.

In March 2020, Cynn was the runner-up in a $25,500 Short Deck event at the partypoker MILLIONS Sochi Super High Roller Series for $252,000.

Cynn’s last recorded in-the-money finish came during the 2022 WSOP Main Event, where his 550th place finish came with a $25,500 prize.

Hossein Ensan: 2019 Main Event Champion ($10,000,000)

Iranian-German poker pro Hossein Ensan triumphed in the 2019 WSOP Main Event, which was the second-largest Main Event at the time. Ensan overcame 8,568 opponents to get his hands on $10 million of the $80,548,600 prize pool, adding a WSOP bracelet to the WSOP Circuit ring and European Poker Tour (EPT) title he already possessed.

Ensan navigated his way to the nine-handed final table with more than a third of the chips in play, but the victory was far from a done deal because there were some supremely talented players in contention for the title.

Eventually, Ensan found himself heads-up against Italian superstar Dario Sammartino. On the 301st hand of the final table’s action, and with blinds of 2,000,000/4,000,000/4,000,000a, Ensan made it 11 million to go with pocket kings, and Sammartino looked him up with eight-four of spades. Sammartino check-called a 15 million bet on the ten-six-deuce flop, which had two spades.

Sammartino checked again on the offsuit nine turn, opening the door for Ensan to fire a 33 million bet. Sammartino responded with an all-in check-raise of 140 million, which Ensan snapped off. The river needed to be a spade to prevent Ensan from winning the WSOP Main Event, and although the queen on the river was black, it was a club. Ensan banked $10 million, leaving Sammartino to console himself with a $6 million consolation prize.

2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results

Ensan Since Becoming World Champion

Ensan almost added a second WSOP bracelet to his wrist a few months after his Main Event victory, when he finished third in the €25,500 WSOP Europe Platinum High Roller. It was a result that added €251,837 ($281,436) to Ensan’s bankroll.

Although Ensan has racked up more than a dozen cashes since his WSOP Main Event victory, only his near miss in the WSOP Europe High Roller and a 14th place finish in the 2022 EPT Prague Main Event weigh in at more than $50,000

Damian Salas: 2020 Main Event Champion ($2,550,969)

Argentina’s Damian Salas will forever be remembered for winning the strangest WSOP Main Event in history. The 2020 WSOP was severely disrupted by global COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the WSOP heading online to the virtual felts of GGPoker and WSOP.com.

There were online editions of the WSOP Main Event held for Americans on WSOP.com and for the rest of the world on GGPoker. Combining those fields meant there were 1,379 entrants in 2020, and combined prize pools of $13,238,400.

Salas reached the final table of the international leg of the 2020 WSOP Main Event, which took place in the live setting of King’s Resort in Rozvadoz, Czech Republic. That final table should have played out nine-handed, but China’s Peiyuan Sun opted not to travel, so they received ninth-place money.

The Argentinian came out on top and hauled in $1,550,969 for his victory, while earning the right to play the WSOP.com Main Event champion, Joseph Hebert, heads-up for $1 million in Las Vegas in April 2021. Salas defeated Hebert in Vegas, taking his total take-home pay to $2,550,969.

2020 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results

_{*China’s Peiyuan Sun has opted not to travel and finished in ninth place ($75,360) as per the rules}

Salas Since Becoming World Champion

Salas is quite a prolific poker tournament player, particularly in the online poker world. Just three months after defeating Hebert in Las Vegas, Salas won his first PokerStars Spring Championship Of Online Poker (SCOOP) title, before adding another in the 2022 SCOOP.

2022 was a solid year for Salas, who finished 27th in the WSOP Main Event for $262,300 and busting in eighth-place in the €10,300 EPT Barcelona High Roller for €115,780 ($116,489).

After nearly eight hours of final table play, Jared Jaffee stands alone at the top of the 2023 World Poker Tour (WPT) Choctaw Main Event for his second WPT title. Jaffee took home $400,700 for the victory along with a seat at the $10,000 WPT Championship in December.

“Ten years is a long time,” Jaffee said about his first WPT victory in 2013 in a post-win interview with PokerNews. “This first one was so surreal because it was my first major tournament and I almost couldn’t believe that it happened. Now I can’t believe that it has taken ten years to do this again.”

The feeling is different now and so is the win’s impact on Jaffee’s poker career.

“I feel like that [the 2013 win] was this ecstatic feeling that I did it, and this one is more about solidifying my career and what I’ve been working for.”

Mike Vanier finished third and Bin Weng finished fourth, while Rusty Farrin and two-time WPT champion Erkut Yilmaz rounded out the six-handed final table.

The tournament drew 612 entries to Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant, Oklahoma and 78 players shared a prize pool of $2,142,000.

2023 WPT Choctaw Final Table Results

*-includes a seat at the $10,000 WPT Championship in December

Before Thursday night, two WPT champions (Yilmaz and Jaffee) remained at the WPT Choctaw final table, but Weng’s victory in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown made him the third.

Weng’s Run Comes to an End

Weng’s bid for consecutive victories came up short with a fourth-place finish for $143,000. He adds that score to his win on Thursday night at the WPT Hard Rock Poker Showdown final table for $1,128,250. A second win would have put Weng into a club of back-to-back WPT winners that includes Marvin Rettenmaier, Darren Elias, and Anthony Zinno.

Read More About Bin Weng’s Win in the WPT SHR Poker Showdown!

Final Table Action

Farrin was the beneficiary of the first of two early doubles that set the tone for the afternoon. The Arkansas native got the last of it in on the river with aces and sixes and Vanier paid him off with kings and fours.

The second early double came when Vanier got his shrinking stack in with a suited ace-king against the pocket tens of Weng. The board ran out with a flush for Vanier and he moved into the third slot on the leaderboard with six players still remaining. The hand came just after Jaffee took a pot from Weng to assume the overall chip lead.

All six players still remained at the first break, with Jaffee on top and Vanier trailing in second. Weng had dropped down to the third slot and Farrin was the short stack with just under 2 million.

Yilmaz was the first to go after the initial break when he shoved with pocket fives and Vanier called with a suited ace-ten. The board ran out with an ace on the turn and Yilmaz hit the rail in sixth for $81,700. Meanwhile, Jaffee jumped to 12 million in a clash that sent Weng down the leaderboard.

Weng got a few chips back in a battle of the short stacks with the elimination of Farrin in fifth place. Both players got it in with an ace, but Weng had the better one to send Farrin home with $107,000. The elimination set the table for the final four players, with Vanier in the lead with over 15 million, while Jaffee trailed with 10 million and Weng and Ignacio fought for third place with just over 2 million each.

Weng’s run soon came to an end when he shoved just over 10 big blinds with king-jack and Jaffee took him out with ace-nine. The fourth-place finish was good for $143,000 and the end of an impressive run in consecutive WPT main events.

The final trio battled and at one point all three players were nearly even, but Jaffee pulled away with the lead and he had around 17 million when Vanier picked up queens and shoved with 7,000,000. Jaffee turned over a suited ace-six and caught runner-runner clubs to send Vanier to the rail in third place for $192,000.

Jaffee entered heads-up play with nearly a 3-to-1 chip advantage over Ignacio, but the oldest player at the final table (53) soon fought back to even the counts. After a bit of back-and-forth, Ignacio fell behind again before he got it in with ace-nine. Jaffee put him at risk with pocket nines and held on for his second WPT title.

Be sure to return on Saturday night for the last of three WPT final tables when the WPT Gardens Poker Championship plays down to a winner at the HyperX ESports Arena in Las Vegas.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}