JOSH REICHARD WINS GRAND VICTORIA MAIN EVENT
Elgin, Illinois (17 April, 2023) - It was a successful return to Grand Victoria for the World Series of Poker Circuit as a field of 954 entries were recorded through two starting flights generating a $1,445,310 prize pool.


After the numbers were finalized, 137 players were able to take a piece of the prize pool, but in the end, it was Josh Reichard who walked away with the lion's share, as he claimed his second WSOP Main Event title, along with a record-tying 14th ring that came with a $253,073 top prize. 


"It feels good, I've been on a good run lately," said Reichard after his victory.


The victory comes just a few months after the Hammond Circuit where Reichard not only cashed in five events but also had two second-place finishes, denying him the top spot on the Circuit Ring leaderboard. 


"To be honest, I really don't care too much about records but this one is kind of cool," stated Reichard. 


"On your website, there're pictures of all the record holders and Phil Hellmuth holds the bracelet title and I thought it'd be cool if my picture was next to his because we are two Wisconsin guys," Reichard continued, "I'm sure Maurice's (Hawkins) picture will stay on there right now but that just keeps me motivated to get there one day." 


The two impressive resumes speak for themselves and only time will tell who will claim the top spot, but Reichard plans to keep a busy schedule ahead heading into the summer series. 


"In poker, there's like a confidence thing where you see players go on good streaks, but you also see them go on bad ones," stated Reichard. 


"If someone is playing well and running well, they have confidence and things are just going their way but if they're on a bad streak, it seems like they just can't win a hand for months so I'm going to ride this wave while it's high and see if I can get a little streak going."


Final Table Results 

1st Place: Josh Reichard - $253,073

2nd Place: Jordan Lowery - $156,419

3rd Place: Ari Kotzen - $115,201

4th Place: Nic DiTrapani - $85,825

5th Place: Chris Moon - $64,688

6th Place: Luke Graham - $49,332

7th Place: Ryan Julius - $38,072

8th Place: Marc Bernal - $29,738

9th Place: George Dietz - $23,513


Day 3 Action


The final day of the Main Event saw nine players return from Day 2, each guaranteed at least a $23,513 payday. 


Action kicked right into gear with Reichard taking the chip lead from Ariel Kotzen and sent him to the bottom of the chip counts. Kotzen got himself a few doubles to put him back into the mix. 


The chips kept shuffling around the table, and George Deitz decided it was time to get his short stack in the middle holding a made hand of queens only to run into Reichard's pocket aces.


Reichard took a commanding lead after turning an ace, and Dietz was set up in ninth place.


The next level saw Marc Bernal call the wrong side of a flip against Luke Graham while Ryan Julius followed in a similar fashion against Kotzen, taking a seventh-place finish.


The next elimination occurred after two-time ring winner Graham got his chips in the middle holding a suited ace-queen only to run into Jordan Lowery's dominating ace-king, and he departed in sixth place for $49,332. 


With five players remaining, it would normally take a while for each to make their exit but in this case, it only took two full levels. 


Two-time ring winner Chris Moon came into the day near the bottom of the counts but was able to ladder his way up to a $64,688 payday after he departed in fifth place when his pocket queens failed to hold against Kotzen's suited ace-eight. 


Fellow two-time ring winner Nic DiTrapani would be the next person to exit after his suited Big Slick failed to crack Reichard's pocket kings and he took home $85,825 for his efforts.


Following DiTrapni out the door was Kotzen. The start of day chip leader's rollercoaster ride came to an end after his bluff got sniffed out by Reichard and he finished in third place finish for $115,201.


The heads-up battle only lasted a few short hands after Reichard out-flopped Lowery to send him home in second place for $156,419.


That wraps up Main Event coverage on the tail end of an exciting and eventful WSOP Circuit stop at Grand Victoria Casino! Make sure to tune in for our coverage of the Horseshoe Tunica Event April 28th - May 2nd