WSOP 2023 Day 30 Recap: Trio of Bracelet Winners as Ka Kwan Lau Wins PLO High Roller for $2.3M

A thrilling day of poker on Day 30 of the 2023 WSOP saw three bracelets won in style at both the Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris casinos. Sin City was alive as ten tournaments saw players of all levels chase glory and gold at the World Series of Poker.

Pavel Plesuv Wins Millionaire Maker for $1.2m and Moldovan Glory

An exciting finale to Event #53, the Millionaire Maker, saw Moldovan player Pavel Plesuv win the first-ever bracelet taken by a Moldovan. He got the better of Florian Ribouchon heads-up for an exciting victory as the Frenchman earned a million too, as two players were made seven-figure winners.

An entertaining final table was broadcast live on PokerGO as early-event tournament leader Andreas Kniep slid out in fourth place for $501,182. Getting heads-up against Ribouchon, Plesuv’s stunning victory saw the Moldovan win a record score for his career.

"It feels amazing,” he told reporters after the event. “I had some deep runs in the World Series but no bracelets. So, it’s really nice to win my first bracelet in such a big field, and for such a big amount my best cash. We’ll see. First of all, I will pay my taxes. Second, I will have some beer and a party, and I will continue supporting Ukraine and people in need. Maybe I’ll buy a house we will see.”

With this win, Plesuv not only got the monkey off his back but claimed the poker result of his career. The Moldovan is sure to be a big threat in the remaining weeks of the World Series.

Lau Lights Up PLO High Roller Event for $2.3m

The biggest win of Hong Kong player Ka Kwan Lau’s career took place on the five-handed final day of event #57, the $25,000 buy-in PLO High Roller event. Broadcast on PokerGO, Lau won $2,294,756 as he beat Spanish player Sergio Martinez Gonzalez heads-up for the bracelet. There was a lot on the line, and during the final day, American Roger Teska laddered up, while Mads Amot from Norway busted first.

After another exciting final table, Andjelko Andrejevic from Serbia also won a record score as he bagged $989,464 in third place. With the rail packed with supporters from all five different nationalities, it was a thrilling end to an event which also saw players such as Chinese player Quan Zhou (6^th for $370,498) and Jeremy Ausmus (8^th for $209,392 also made the final stages of yet another bracelet event.

Schulz Scores Freezeout Victory for $675k

The $3,000-entry NLHE Freezeout Event #59 saw German player Robert Schulz claim gold as he got the better of a quality final table. Barak Wisbrod (4^th for $233,657) went into the last day of action with the lead but was unable to see out his maiden WSOP bracelet victory, falling just before the podium places.

Elsewhere at the final table, Dario Sammartino finished 5^th for $166,404 and Jesse Lonis crashed out in ninth as three players without WSOP titles made the final trio of bracelet hopefuls. After Philippines player James Mendoza busted in 3^rd place for $303,884, Schulz went into the final duel with a 4:1 chip lead and saw it out with ace-high beating queen-high in the final hand.

Exhausted by filled with pride, Schulz admitted afterward that his temperament really helped him at the final table. “I think I’m on the calmer side,” he said. “Usually, it takes pretty extreme things to put me out of balance. exhausted, relieved, and proud as well. I think I played fine.”

Fine enough for a terrific top prize of $675,275 and the moment of his poker career so far.

Brad Ruben Leads NL 2-7 Single Draw

Five players are still chasing a bracelet in Event #60, the No Limit 2-7 Single Draw event with a $1,500 buy-in and a $151,276 top prize. Ruben leads the way with 4,265,000 chips, but he has stellar company just behind him in second and third place on the leaderboard.

Erik Seidel will shoot for his 10^th WSOP bracelet with 3,065,000 chips, while Jason Mercier will fire for his sixth bracelet behind a stack of 2,565,000. Mike ‘Sir Watts’ Watson (2,350,000) and Jon Turner (1,390,000) are the short stacks, but no-one is out of the race yet.

Super Seniors Event Reaches Day 2

The record-breaking Super Seniors Event #61 saw Day 2 drama as just 109 players stayed in their seats to count up chips at the close of play. Chip leader was Iranian Farhad Davoudzadeh (2.4m) who was well clear of Jeanclaude Perrot (1,615,000) in second place and Mark Gerecke (1.6m) in third.

Only two former bracelet winners exist from 109 entries, meaning its far more likely that a new player wins gold tomorrow night. The top prize of $371,603 will drive players onto glory too, with life-changing money on the line.

Carmi in Charge on Day 2 of Event #62

The third day of action was reached in Event #62, the $1,500-entry Mixed NLE/PLO event where just 28 players survived until the end of Day 2 of the tournament. Eran Carmi (4,255,000) leads the remaining players, with Charles Honkonen (4,160,000) and Bart Lybaert (4,050,000) in closest attendance.

Other stars of the felt such as Upeshka De Silva (3,165,000), Robert Mizrachi (3,100,000), and controversial pro Martin Kabrhel (1,070,000) all remain in with a chance of scoring gold on the final day of action.

Schindler Top of Leaderboard in Seven Card Stud

The 63^rd event of the 2023 WSOP saw players 141 pony up the $10,000-entry to player Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better two days ago. Today, only 17 remain in with a chance of taking the title with a $344,677 top prize on offer. With two tables of action left, Max Schindler (1.25m) is clear of Andres Korn (926,000) at the top of the leaderboard.

With others such as Joao Vieira (837,000), Dan Colpoys (619,000) and Bryn Kenney (601,000) all still in contention, the battle for the latest bracelet tomorrow will be a big one.

Three More Day 1s Conclude

The opening day of Event #64, the $600-entry No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack Championship, saw 4,303 entries build a prize pool of just under $2.2million, After 17 levels of play, just 543 players survived to Day 2, with Steven Stolzenfeld (1,190,000), Adel Kabbani (1,052,000) and Milan Timko (916,000) all high up.

Others such as John de Los Reyes (793,000), and Etay Akshuta (753,000) were joined in the counts by bracelet winners Yang Zhang (487,000) and Martin Zamani (480,000) as play gets closer to the $271,032 top prize on offer in this event.

In Event #65, the $5,000-entry NLHE 6-Max event, Yuliyan Kolev (521,000) leads the field of 381 players, with 1,074 entries overall. Elsewhere in the top five, there were strong performances from Matt Berkey (370,000) and Ren Lin (369,000). Taylor Paur (306,000), Rafael Reis (295,000) and Stephen Song (292,500) are all looking to win another bracelet to add to their collections from positions inside the top 20.

Hot off a final table appearance, Nick Guagenti (656,000) bagged the chip lead in Event #66 as he rose to the top of the leaderboard in the $1,500-entry PLO Hi-Lo 8 or Better leaderboard.

With a total of 1,125 players on Day 1, 168 survivors will battle for a top prize of $259,549 from the prizepool of $1,501,875. Just before the close of play on Day 1, the bubble burst, guaranteeing everyone a return of at least $2,409 when Day 2 resumes the action.

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