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Leon Sturm is the winner of Event #23: $50,000 High Roller at the 2023 World Series of Poker. Just before the clock hit midnight on Sunday, June 11, Sturm defeated Bill Klein in heads-up play to win his first WSOP gold bracelet and $1,546,024 in prize money.
The event attracted a field of 124 entries to push the prize pool to $5,921,000. Only five players returned, all guaranteed $385,617, and Sturm was third in chips. Sturm boosted his stack when he knocked out Seth Davies in fifth place, and then he boosted it some more when he knocked out Alex Foxen in fourth. Sturm also eliminated Jans Arends in third place to get heads up with Klein.
Despite starting heads-up play behind, Sturm battled his way to the winner’s circle. For the second time in a WSOP high-roller tournament, Klein finished in second place and narrowly missed out on a bracelet. For Sturm, it was his first taste of WSOP gold and career-best live tournament score.
2023 WSOP Event #23 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Winnings |
| 1st | Leon Sturm | Germany | $1,546,024 |
| 2nd | Bill Klein | United States | $955,513 |
| 3rd | Jans Arends | Netherlands | $694,019 |
| 4th | Alex Foxen | United States | $512,824 |
| 5th | Seth Davies | United States | $385,617 |
| 6th | Justin Bonomo | United States | $295,169 |
| 7th | Sam Soverel | United States | $230,066 |
| 8th | Sung Joo Hyun | South Korea | $182,662 |
On the hand he eliminated Seth Davies, Leon Sturm moved all in on the river of a nine-eight-seven-five-five board. Davies tanked for a bit before he made the call with five-two for trip fives. Sturm had him beat with seven-six for a straight, and that was the end of the line for Davies.
In the next level, Sturm check-raised Alex Foxen on an eight-six-four flop. Foxen responded by jamming all in, and Sturm snap-called with top two pair. Foxen had nine-eight for top pair. Sturm’s hand held up and Foxen was out the door in fourth.
Three-handed play lasted for a bit. Jans Arends doubled through Sturm once, but ultimately Sturm got the best of him. On a nine-high flop, the money went in and Sturm had Arends out-kicked. Sturm’s queen-nine held up against Arends’ ten-nine to send the tournament to heads-up play.
Bill Klein began heads-up play with the chip lead over Sturm, but it didn’t take long for Sturm to turn the tables and move to the front. From there, Sturm started to widen the gap. On the final hand, the board was jack-eight-three-six and Klein jammed all in for more than two times the pot with eight-five for second pair. Sturm made the call with queen-jack for top pair. The river didn’t help Klein and he was eliminated in second place.
Sturm Climbs To Ninth On PGT Leaderboard
| Rank | Player | Country | Winnings | Points |
| 1 | Isaac Haxton | United States | $2,796,615 | 1,436 |
| 2 | Alex Foxen | United States | $1,304,314 | 991 |
| 3 | Sean Winter | United States | $1,355,274 | 988 |
| 4 | Sam Soverel | United States | $1,080,914 | 913 |
| 5 | Cary Katz | United States | $1,188,861 | 880 |
| 6 | Ren Lin | China | $1,210,370 | 863 |
| 7 | Darren Elias | United States | $1,150,100 | 859 |
| 8 | Lautaro Guerra | Spain | $967,150 | 774 |
| 9 | Leon Sturm | Germany | $1,546,024 | 750 |
| T10 | Alexandre Vuilleumier | Switzerland | $1,215,864 | 700 |
| T10 | Ryan O'Donnell | United Kingdom | $1,049,577 | 700 |
In addition to the gold bracelet and $1,546,024 in prize money, Sturm earned 750 points for the PGT leaderboard. That pushed him into ninth place. Foxen, who placed fourth in Event #23: $50,000 High Roller, moved into second place on the PGT leaderboard thanks to the result. It still remains that Isaac Haxton leads the way with his 1,436 points so far this season.
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