Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:40 PM Local Time
Shaun Deeb Wins 5th Bracelet in Event #53: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $1,251,860
Shaun Deeb defeated Ka Kwan Lau heads up to win the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #53: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, earning his fifth career WSOP gold bracelet and a $1,251,860 top prize. Deeb prevailed in this prestigious tournament for a second time, defeating a field of 212 entries that produced a prize pool of $5,008,500.
Deeb adds this title to his win back in 2018 and becomes the newest member of the WSOP five-bracelet club. It marked his second final table of the 2021 WSOP and his 12th overall cash, vaulting him up to fourth in the Player of the Year standings.
"Now I'm gonna start multi-tabling, I really took it easy," Deeb said. "For the rest of the year, you're gonna see me firing pretty hard so it's gonna be a battle."
With a fifth title in hand, Deeb was candid about his WSOP goals moving forward.
"I'm gonna pass Phil (Hellmuth) eventually. It's gonna take me a while but I'm gonna pass Phil. It's gonna take me a decade or two but I'll be there."
| YEAR | PLAYER | COUNTRY | FIRST PRIZE | ENTRIES | PRIZE POOL |
|---|
| 2021 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $1,251,860 | 212 | $5,008,500 |
| 2019 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | $1,618,417 | 278 | $6,602,500 |
| 2018 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $1,402,683 | 230 | $5,462,500 |
| 2017 | James Calderaro | United States | $1,289,074 | 204 | $4,868,750 |
| 2016 | Jens Kyllonen | Finland | $1,127,035 | 184 | $4,370,000 |
| 2015 | Anthony Zinno | United States | $1,122,196 | 175 | $4,156,250 |
Shaun Deeb
Final Table Play
Deeb acknowledged that he was not the most experienced PLO player at the final table.
"Usually I have my one set plan, but I really kept trying to switch it up on these guys and figure out what way worked best versus them, and just running them over and making the nuts a bunch is the way to go."
Deeb went on to eliminate every opponent of the final five, thanks to a double-up on the very first hand of the day.
"I have a cold four-bet for my whole stack," Deeb explained, "it was like a crazy, crazy runoff to get me to like seven and a half, eight million right off the start which puts me in second place and from there I never really lost my momentum."
Veselin Karakitukov began the final day as the short stack and was the first to be eliminated after running into Deeb's aces. The fifth-place finish marked the Bulgarian's first cash of the 2021 WSOP and the largest cash of his career. Next to go was Maxx Coleman, who was also taken out by Deeb in fourth place. Coleman now has six cashes and a second final table of the 2021 WSOP, adding to a great year after a win in the Poker Masters $10,000 8-Game Mix and three final tables at the 2021 U.S. Poker Open.
John "KasinoKrime" Beauprez entered the day second thanks to a wild runout on Day 3 that sent Ben Lamb packing. The 2013 WSOP bracelet winner added to his 31st-place run at the same event in 2017 with a third-place finish on Saturday.
Ka Kwan Lau brought the chip lead into the final day after finishing eighth in this event back in 2019. The Spaniard, who was born in Hong Kong, carried some significant tournament experience into his heads-up battle with Deeb. Despite doubling up early on, Lau was never able to mount a serious charge at Deeb's chip lead and settled for a runner-up finish.
Event #53: $25,000 PLO High Roller Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $1,251,860 |
| 2 | Ka Kwan Lau | Hong Kong | $773,708 |
| 3 | John Beauprez | United States | $537,295 |
| 4 | Maxx Coleman | United States | $381,394 |
| 5 | Veselin Karakitukov | Bulgaria | $276,870 |
| 6 | David Benyamine | France | $205,655 |
| 7 | Ben Lamb | United States | $156,387 |
| 8 | Charles Sinn | United States | $121,816 |
The rest of the official final table participants were eliminated on Day 3. Charles Sinn finished eighth, Lamb came in seventh and David Benyamine was knocked out in sixth.
Prior to the final table, a number of WSOP bracelet winners found the money including Ben Yu, Joseph Cheong, Scott Seiver, Chance Kornuth, Bryce Yockey, Joao Vieira, Simon Lofberg, Jeremy Ausmus and Tommy Le.
This concludes PokerNews' coverage of this event, but be sure to check out the live reporting hub where you can continue to follow our coverage of the 2021 World Series of Poker.
Check out our 2021 WSOP Hub here!
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:38 PM Local Time
Ka Kwan Lau Eliminated in 2nd Place ($773,708)
Shaun Deeb limped on the button and Ka Kwan Lau raised to 900,000. Deeb called to see the flop, and Lau led out for 700,000.
Deeb called to the turn, and fired 2,000,000 after Lau checked. Lau called to the river, and checked to Deeb who fired again for 6,200,000. Lau took a moment before making the call.
Ka Kwan Lau:
Shaun Deeb:
Lau tabled three eights with an ace, but Deeb revealed his full house to eliminate Lau and win his fifth World Series of Poker bracelet!
| Shaun Deeb | 31,800,000 | 9,500,000  |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 0 | -9,500,000  |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:31 PM Local Time
Lau Three-Bet-Folds
Shaun Deeb raised to 900,000 from the button and Ka Kwan Lau three-bet to 2,700,000. Deeb four-bet to 8,100,000 for Lau to fold.
| Shaun Deeb | 22,300,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 9,500,000 | -1,500,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:24 PM Local Time
Lau Keeps Climbing
Shaun Deeb limped on the button and Ka Kwan Lau checked his option to the flop. Lau check-called Deeb's bet of 400,000 to the turn. Both players checked to the river, where Lau bet the pot of 1,700,000. Deeb mucked his cards and Lau climbed back over his chip total at the start of the day.
| Shaun Deeb | 20,800,000 | -700,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 11,000,000 | 700,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:20 PM Local Time
Lau Shoves on Deeb
Ka Kwan Lau raised to 900,000 from the button and Shaun Deeb three-bet to 2,700,000 for Lau to call.
The flop came and Deeb checked. Lau considered his options for about forty seconds before shoving for 4,600,000 to get the fold.
| Shaun Deeb | 21,500,000 | -3,000,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 10,300,000 | 3,000,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:20 PM Local Time
Lau Wins at Showdown
Shaun Deeb raised to 900,000 and Ka Kwan Lau defended his big blind to the flop.
Both players checked through to the turn and the river. Neither player committed any more chips, and Lau turned over for two pair to take down the chips.
| Shaun Deeb | 24,500,000 | -900,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 7,300,000 | 900,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:16 PM Local Time
Lau Gives Up on the Turn
Ka Kwan Lau limped in on the button and Shaun Deeb opted to check.
The flop came , they both checked tot he on the turn. Deeb bet 700,000 for Lau to give up.
| Shaun Deeb | 25,400,000 | 900,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 6,400,000 | -900,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:16 PM Local Time
Deeb Pots the Flop
Ka Kwan Lau raised to 900,000 and was quickly three-bet by Shaun Deeb to 2,700,000. Lau called to see the flop, where Deeb continued with a pot-sized bet of 5,700,000 and Lau quickly folded.
| Shaun Deeb | 24,500,000 | 2,700,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 7,300,000 | -2,700,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:14 PM Local Time
Full House for Deeb
Shaun Deeb raised to 900,000 from the button and Ka Kwan Lau called.
The flop came , Lau check-called the 500,000 continuation-bet of Deeb.
The turn was the , Lau checked again and then called the 1,200,000 barrel of Deeb.
The river completed the board with the and they both checked. Deeb tabled the for the full house to get Lau to muck.
| Shaun Deeb | 21,800,000 | -1,100,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 10,000,000 | 1,100,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:11 PM Local Time
Lau Makes a Big Call
Shaun Deeb raised to 900,000 and Ka Kwan Lau called to the flop.
Lau checked and Deeb's continuation bet of 1,000,000 was called. Both players checked the turn and Lau checked river and Deeb fired a bet of 1,500,000.
Lau took more than three minutes and made the call, showing for top pair. Deeb was holding for a pair of fours, but it was no good and Lau added an important pot to his stack.
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:02 PM Local Time
Deeb Check-Raises
Ka Kwan Lau limped in on the button and Shaun Deeb opted to check.
The flop was the , Deeb check-raised the 500,000 bet of Lau to 1,500,000 for Lau to give up.
| Shaun Deeb | 22,900,000 | 800,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 8,900,000 | -800,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 9:01 PM Local Time
Deeb Recovers Some Chips
Shaun Deeb raised to 900,000 and Ka Kwan Lau called to see the flop.
Lau check-called a bet of 600,000, and checked again on the turn. Deeb fired a bet of 1,200,000 and Lau let his hand go.
| Shaun Deeb | 22,100,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 9,700,000 | -1,800,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:58 PM Local Time
Lau Stays Alive
Ka Kwan Lau raised to 900,000 from the button and Shaun Deeb defended.
The flop came , Deeb checked, Lau bet the pot, Deeb reraised to put Lau all-in who called for the 5,000,000 or so he had behind.
Ka Kwan Lau:
Shaun Deeb:
The turn was the for Lau to hit a straight
The river was the for Lau to improve to a full house to paint an even prettier picture for his double-up.
| Shaun Deeb | 20,300,000 | -5,300,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 11,500,000 | 5,300,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:55 PM Local Time
Deeb Fires on the Flop
After Ka Kwan Lau limped, Shaun Deeb raised to 900,000 and Lau called.
Lau checked the flop and Deeb fired 1,000,000 to take it down and extend his heads-up advantage.
| Shaun Deeb | 25,600,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 6,200,000 | -1,500,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:52 PM Local Time
John Beauprez Eliminated in 3rd Place ($537,295)
Shaun Deeb completed the small blind and John Beauprez opted to check.
The flop came , they checked to the on the turn. Deeb bet 500,000 for Beauprez to call.
The river completed the board with the and Deeb continued with a bet of 300,000. Beauprez tanked and then shoved for 2,680,000. Beauprez was holding for a wheel, but Deeb called with the for the higher straight. That meant Beauprez would bust in third place.
| Shaun Deeb | 24,100,000 | 4,700,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 7,700,000 | -900,000 |
| John Beauprez | 0 | -3,800,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:46 PM Local Time
Deeb's Lead Grows Again
Shaun Deeb raised to 600,000 on the button and Ka Kwan Lau called to the flop.
Both players checked to the turn and again to the river. Lau checked, and folded once Deeb fired a bet of 500,000.
| Shaun Deeb | 19,400,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 8,600,000 | -300,000 |
| John Beauprez | 3,800,000 | -700,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:40 PM Local Time
Deeb Builds Bigger Lead
Ka Kwan Lau limped in on the button and Shaun Deeb completed his small blind while John Beauprez opted to check.
The flop came , Deeb checked and Beauprez bet 400,000. Lau folded but Deeb called.
The turn was the , Deeb checked again. This time, Beauprez fired a bet of 700,000 into the pot. Deeb considered it for a while before making the call.
The completed the board and Deeb checked for the final time. Beauprez opted to check too. Deeb tabled the for a straight and that earned him the pot.
| Shaun Deeb | 18,400,000 | 3,075,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 8,900,000 | -1,050,000 |
| John Beauprez | 4,500,000 | -2,025,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:34 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:18 PM Local Time
Time for a Break
Ka Kwan Lau limped in on the button and Shaun Deeb completed his small blind. John Beauprez opted to check in the big blind.
They all checked through the flop to the on the turn. It was checked to Lau who opted to bet 350,000. Deeb folded and so did Beauprez for Lau to pick up the last pot before the players were sent for another break.
| Shaun Deeb | 15,325,000 | -275,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 9,950,000 | 750,000 |
| John Beauprez | 6,525,000 | -475,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 8:17 PM Local Time
Deeb Raises the Flop
John Beauprez raised to 500,000 and Shaun Deeb called to the flop.
Deeb check and Beauprez continued with a bet of 500,000. Deeb then raised to 1,500,000, and Beauprez took some time before letting his hand go.
| Shaun Deeb | 15,600,000 | 900,000 |
| Ka Kwan Lau | 9,200,000 | 700,000 |
| John Beauprez | 7,000,000 | -1,600,000 |