Friday, October 8, 2021 1:10 AM Local Time
Yuval Bronshtein Wins Second WSOP Bracelet in Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold'em
Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold'em at the 2021 World Series of Poker attracted 422 players and at the end of it, Israel's Yuval Bronshtein was the only one remaining and claimed the top prize of $124,274 along with the gold bracelet.
Bronshtein defeated Kevin Erickson after a lengthy heads-up battle where he was trailing the majority of the time. He ultimately completed the comeback to enter the elusive club of two-time bracelet winners.
Bronshtein recently bubbled in Event #2: $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. and characterized this win as "redemption".
Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Yuval Bronshtein | Israel | $124,374 |
| 2 | Kevin Erickson | United States | $76,868 |
| 3 | Tom McCormick | United States | $53,588 |
| 4 | John Bunch | United States | $38,011 |
| 5 | Ian Glycenfer | United States | $27,488 |
| 6 | Zachary Gruneberg | United States | $20,262 |
| 7 | Guy Cicconi | United States | $15,230 |
| 8 | Tony Nasr | United States | $11,677 |
| 9 | Anh Van Nguyen | Canada | $9,137 |
On the heads-up deficit that he was able to overcome, Bronshtein said: "I was very lucky to win this after I was down to so few chips so many times, repeatedly, and my opponent was a tough player."
"I don't really believe in things that are meant to be. I feel like you gotta make everything and earn it yourself. If you play enough poker, like I have, it's gonna happen where you get really unlucky on the bubble of the biggest tournament you're playing. It's just bound to happen at some point, so I'm okay with it.
I also know that if I play as well as I'm capable of playing that this will happen, hopefully quite frequently going forward," he said with a laugh.
Yuval Bronshtein
Final Table action
The final day started with 16 contenders and only a couple of hours later, only ten players remained and they moved to one unofficial final table.
Mike Lancaster was the first to go out in tenth when he ran into pocket aces. Anh Van Nguyen followed shortly after in ninth. Tony "TNT" Nasr then was eliminated in eighth after running his big slick into aces and the table was left a lot quieter without his presence and character.
Some time passed before three eliminations occurred in somewhat quick succession, with Guy Cicconi saying goodbye in seventh, Zachary Gruneberg getting his cowboys ousted in sixth, and Ian Glycenfer getting out in fifth.
John Bunch ended up exiting the tournament in fourth and Tom McCormick was gone in third after nursing a short stack and winning several at-risk hands to stay alive earlier at the final table.
Kevin Erickson ultimately succumbed in second place after a lengthy heads-up battle.
Those events set up a heads-up showdown between Bronshtein and Erickson with Erickson starting with nearly a 3:1 chip lead. Erickson extended that lead and, at times, had close to a 20:1 lead over Bronshtein. At one point, Bronshtein was at risk and behind and drawing to the river, and was able to make a flush to stay alive. He jumped into the lead after a couple of sizable pots and never relinquished it.
Not too long after, he got Erickson all-in preflop and had a dominating lead with ace-king over king-queen. Erickson was behind but still alive after the turn, however, the river was a blank, and Bronshtein celebrated his second career bracelet victory with his rail.
"They're a little similar," Bronshtein said on comparing this win to his first bracelet win. "I didn't think anything would top winning my first bracelet because it's been my goal professionally for so long."
"I can't really say if one feeling is better than the other but all things considered, considering I'm at a final table playing heads-up for a bracelet, and I got down and almost out of the tournament so many times… maybe this is even a little bit more satisfying."
"All things considered I can't really imagine a better feeling winning a bracelet after… getting so short and so discouraged, to be able to come back from that, it's a different level… It feels amazing. I'm very thankful."
Friday, October 8, 2021 12:59 AM Local Time
Kevin Erickson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($76,868)
Yuval Bronshtein raised and Kevin Erickson reraised. Bronshtein then put in another raise and Erickson put in one final reraise for the remainder of his chips. Bronshtein called and the hands were revealed.
Kevin Erickson:
Yuval Bronshtein:
Bronshtein found a great time to pick up a dominating hand and was looking to hold as the dealer fanned out the flop.
The came on the turn and Erickson now needed a nine or ace to stay alive. Both rails were on edge waiting for the river card.
The completed the board and Bronshtein sealed the come-from-behind victory after a lengthy heads-up battle.
Bronshtein jumped into his rail as he celebrated his victory and his second bracelet. Erickson had a great run, but will have to settle for second place.
A recap is to follow.
| Yuval Bronshtein | 10,550,000 | 2,150,000  |
| Kevin Erickson | 0 | -2,150,000  |
Friday, October 8, 2021 12:41 AM Local Time
Bronshtein Pulls Ahead
Kevin Erickson raised and was three-bet by Yuval Bronshtein. Erickson called to see a flop.
The flop came down , Bronshtein bet and Erickson called.
The turn was the which Bronshtein bet and was raised by Erickson, who in turn got re-raised., Erickson called.
The river came down a which Bronshtein bet and Erickson called. Bronshtein turned over and got the pot.
| Yuval Bronshtein | 8,400,000 | 300,000 |
| Kevin Erickson | 2,150,000 | -300,000 |
Friday, October 8, 2021 12:32 AM Local Time
Bronshtein Jumps Into Lead
On each street of a board, Yuval Bronshtein called bets from Kevin Erickson. Bronshtein showed and took the pot when Erickson showed .
In another hand soon after, Erickson raised preflop and was called.
The flop saw a check-raise by Bronshtein and a call.
The turn brought a lead by Bronshtein and a couple of raises followed by a call from Erickson.
The completed the board and Erickson folded to Bronshtein's bet, which helped propel Bronshtein in front for the first time in this heads-up battle.
| Yuval Bronshtein | 8,100,000 | 5,300,000 |
| Kevin Erickson | 2,450,000 | -5,300,000 |
Friday, October 8, 2021 12:20 AM Local Time
One More Double For Bronshtein
Kevin Erickson raised and Yuval Bronshtein called.
The flop came down which Erickson bet and Bronshtein raised. Erickson reraised and Bronshtein called all in.
Yuval Bronshtein:
Kevin Erickson:
The turn and river ran out and Bronshtein got the full double.
| Kevin Erickson | 7,750,000 | -750,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,800,000 | 750,000 |
Friday, October 8, 2021 12:12 AM Local Time
Bronshtein Stays Alive with River Diamond
Yuval Bronshtein lost some pots and had a short stack again before this hand.
In this hand, Kevin Erickson raised and was called by Bronshtein. The flop saw a check-call by Bronshtein.
On the turn, Bronshtein check-raised and Erickson reraised to put him all in. Bronshtein called and hands were revealed.
Yuval Bronshtein:
Kevin Erickson:
Erickson was ahead with a pair and Bronshtein was looking for a river king or diamond to stay alive.
Bronshtein's rail was calling for a diamond as the dealer tapped the table and flipped over the to give Bronshtein a flush and keep his tournament life alive, and Erickson was left asking the dealer if he could get a different river.
| Kevin Erickson | 8,500,000 | 300,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,050,000 | -300,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:54 PM Local Time
Bronshtein Doubles Again
Yuval Bronshtein raised and Kevin Erickson called. Both players checked the flop. Erickson bet the turn and Bronshtein called.
The river was a where Erickson put Bronshtein all in and was called.
Yuval Bronshtein:
Kevin Erickson:
Bronshtein's kicker was better and he doubled up.
| Kevin Erickson | 8,200,000 | -1,250,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,350,000 | 1,250,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:48 PM Local Time
Erickson Gets Some Back and Closes In
Kevin Erickson raised and called when Yuval Bronshtein re-raised.
The flop was and Bronshtein bet, was raised, re-raised, and was called.
The turn saw Bronshtein bet and Erickson call and the river saw the same.
Erickson showed and raked in the pot as Bronshtein mucked his hand.
| Kevin Erickson | 9,450,000 | 1,450,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 1,100,000 | -1,450,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:43 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 0
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:39 PM Local Time
Bronshtein Doubles With A Flush
Yuval Bronshtein raised and Kevin Erickson defended his big blind.
The flop came and Erickson called a bet from Bronshtein.
The turn of the was bet by Bronshtein and then raised by Erickson and Bronshtein called, leaving 165,000 chips behind.
The river was the and Erickson bet to put Bronshtein all in, who quickly called.
Yuval Bronshtein:
Kevin Erickson:
Bronshtein had rivered a flush to get the full double.
| Kevin Erickson | 8,000,000 | -1,100,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,550,000 | 1,100,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:30 PM Local Time
Erickson Extends Lead
Kevin Erickson limped and called when Yuval Bronshtein raised.
The flop was and Erickson called Bronshtein's bet.
Erickson called another bet on the turn and on the river, Bronshtein check-called.
Erickson showed to take the pot and extend his lead over Bronshtein.
| Kevin Erickson | 9,100,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 1,450,000 | -1,700,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:21 PM Local Time
Bronshtein Takes A Three Bet Pot
Yuval Bronshtein raised the button and Kevin Erickson three-bet. Erickson called to take a flop.
The flop of was checked through. Bronshtein bet the turn and Erickson folded.
| Kevin Erickson | 7,400,000 | -1,100,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 3,150,000 | 1,100,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:07 PM Local Time
Erickson Has Three Tens
Kevin Erickson raised preflop and Yuval Bronshtein defended the big blind.
The flop came down and the action went check, bet, call.
The turn came was the and the river was the with check, bet, call being the action on both, and Erickson verbally declared ten and showed for three tens. Bronshtein mucked and Erickson was awarded the pot.
| Kevin Erickson | 8,500,000 | 1,850,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,050,000 | -1,850,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:57 PM Local Time
Bronshtein Narrows the Gap
Kevin Erickson raised preflop and Yuval Bronshtein called.
The flop was and Bronshtein check-called.
Bronshtein check-called again on the and did so another time on the river.
Bronshtein showed to beat Erickson's and narrowed the gap.
| Kevin Erickson | 6,650,000 | -1,150,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 3,900,000 | 1,150,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:48 PM Local Time
Heads Up Chip Counts
| Kevin Erickson | 7,800,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,750,000 | 100,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:47 PM Local Time
Tom McCormick Eliminated in 3rd Place ($53,588)
Tom McCormick and Yuval Bronshtein saw a flop in a three-bet pot of and the action went bet, raise, call.
On the turn of , McCormick check-called a bet and on the river of McCormick went all in. Bronshtein called and the cards were on their backs.
Tom McCormick:
Yuval Bronshtein:
Tom McCormick was eliminated and the remaining players got ready for heads up play.
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,650,000 | -150,000 |
| Tom McCormick | 0 | -2,400,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:45 PM Local Time
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 0
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:32 PM Local Time
Bronshtein Loses Some Chips and Gets Some Back
Yuval Bronshtein lost a pot but gained some chips back on this hand.
Bronshtein called in the small blind and Kevin Erickson checked in the big blind.
Both players checked the flop.
Bronshtein check-raised the turn and got a call.
On the river, Bronshtein bet and was called. He showed to take the pot.
| Kevin Erickson | 5,300,000 | -400,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 2,800,000 | -300,000 |
| Tom McCormick | 2,400,000 | 700,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:17 PM Local Time
McCormick Raises River
Tom McCormick raised and Kevin Erickson defended the big blind.
The flop came out and Erickson check-called a bet from McCormick.
The turn of checked through and the river of was led at by Erickson. McCormick snap-raised and Erickson let the hand go, giving McCormick the pot.
| Kevin Erickson | 5,700,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 3,100,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Tom McCormick | 1,700,000 | 300,000 |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:11 PM Local Time
Erickson Fires River and Takes Pot with Queen-High
With about 600,000 in the pot on a board, Yuval Bronshtein bet in the small blind and Kevin Erickson called.
On the river, Bronshtein checked and then called when Erickson bet.
Erickson showed and took the pot as Bronshtein threw his cards into the muck.
| Kevin Erickson | 7,200,000 | 600,000 |
| Yuval Bronshtein | 1,400,000 | -1,300,000 |