Wednesday, June 8, 2022 3:13 PM Local Time
Ben Diebold Secures First WSOP Gold Bracelet in Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed Championship ($299,488)
The 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in its new home at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas has crowned a new gold bracelet winner as Ben Diebold came out on top of a short-lived heads-up duel with Mike Gorodinsky in Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed Championship to lock up the marquee victory. One of the most coveted mixed game competitions set a new attendance record of 123 entries in this, the seventh edition, surpassing the previous record from 2019 by one entry.
Diebold and Gorodinsky shared the biggest slice of the $1,146,975 prize pool and it took just 45 minutes on the extra day to determine a champion. The 28-year-old from Mt. Pleasant near Charleston in South Carolina entered the duel against two-time WSOP bracelet winner Gorodinsky with a 3.5-to-1 lead and was never in danger of losing it.
Both title contenders were in a very jovial mood not only during the heads-up play but also on the final table last night as well and Diebold described his opponent as an "incredible player." By default an Omaha cash game player, Diebold started taking tournaments more seriously in the last few years and simultaneously expanded his choice of poker variants, also thanks to Gorodinsky.
"He's a very, very good friend of mine. He's helped me a lot in my mixed game. A lot of this is because of him. He's a great guy, a great player and a very good person."
The first WSOP gold bracelet for Diebold came with a top prize of $299,488 while Gorodinsky was denied a third victory and had to settle for a consolation prize of $185,095.
Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Ben Diebold | United States | $299,488 |
| 2 | Mike Gorodinsky | United States | $185,095 |
| 3 | Brian Rast | United States | $134,370 |
| 4 | Christopher Claassen | United States | $98,738 |
| 5 | Naoya Kihara | Japan | $73,453 |
| 6 | Randy Ohel | United States | $55,329 |
Even after Diebold got his hands on a WSOP gold bracelet, he said that he was still full of adrenaline.
"It's pretty exhilarating," he told PokerNews. "My heart's still pumping! I woke up a couple of times last night and realized it wasn't 11 a.m. or midday, but 6 a.m." The eventual winner showed up a few minutes early and was already eagerly awaiting the arrival of Gorodinsky as both had agreed last night, after the elimination of Brian Rast in third place, to postpone the duel for the title.
In the opening stages of the extra day, both contestants settled on no-limit hold'em and Badeucey while then also adding Limit 2-7 Triple Draw and A-5 Single Draw into the equation as well. The game selection for the heads-up match was entirely based on the stack distribution as confirmed by Diebold.
"Mike's good at a lot of games. He's a very, very tough limit player. I thought the stack sizes and the big antes in No-Limit Hold'em were the best for me." That choice turned out to be the winning strategy as Diebold sealed his victory in NLHE by winning a flip with pocket sevens versus queen-jack suited.
No third WSOP bracelet for Mike Gorodinsky just yet
The game selection during the first three days of the tournament was certainly different, however, as he went back to his roots. "I predominantly picked pot-limit Omaha the entire tournament until probably last night where I had the chip lead. I don't think I picked a limit game the entire tournament. I play a lot of limit games, but I think I just stuck with no-limit."
Diebold will have the opportunity to showcase his talents in WSOP tournaments throughout the next few days and weeks, as three high-stakes competitions in his preferred poker variant, pot-limit Omaha, await. The first of them is just around the corner and will kick off on Thursday, June 9th at 1 p.m. local time.
"I'll play the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha tomorrow. I might play tonight. But I don't have any plans," Diebold said before leaving the secondary feature table, moments before the final table of Event #12: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em kicked off.
Biggest Dealer's Choice Championship in History
Despite the absence of several well-known poker pros and mixed game specialists, the seventh edition of the $10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed Championship and first WSOP at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas attracted a new record attendance. A total of 123 entries surpassed the previous largest field by one entry and the incredible win streak of Adam Friedman ended.
Since 2018, the last three editions were won by Friedman and this unique feat has been widely considered as one of the most impressive achievements in the history of the WSOP. Friedman was also involved in the action for a potential fourth consecutive victory but bowed out on the first day of the tournament this time. Diebold has now followed in his footsteps and will be full of confidence for the remainder of the series in Las Vegas.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Prize |
|---|
| 2015 | 108 | $1,015,200 | Quinn Do | Rep Porter | $319,792 |
| 2016 | 118 | $1,109,200 | Jean Gaspard | William O'Neil | $306,621 |
| 2017 | 102 | $930,600 | John Racener | Viacheslav Zhukov | $273,962 |
| 2018 | 111 | $1,043,400 | Adam Friedman | Stuart Rutter | $293,275 |
| 2019 | 122 | $1,146,800 | Adam Friedman | Shaun Deeb | $312,417 |
| 2021 | 93 | $867,225 | Adam Friedman | Phil Hellmuth | $248,350 |
| 2022 | 123 | $1,146,975 | Ben Diebold | Mike Gorodinsky | $299,488 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:52 PM Local Time
Mike Gorodinsky Eliminated in 2nd Place ($185,095)
No-Limit Hold'em
Down to just over 1.1 million and on the button, Mike Gorodinsky glanced at his stack a few times before pushing all in. Ben Diebold wasted no time at all and once more called instantly.
Mike Gorodinsky:
Ben Diebold:
The pocket pair remained ahead on the flop and turn. Gorodinsky had plenty of outs with his two overcards, gutshot and counterfeit outs. However, none of them appeared on the river to end his bid for a third WSOP gold bracelet. Gorodinsky had to settle for second place and takes home $185,095 while Diebold has secured his first gold bracelet and a payday of $299,488.
A recap of the action and the winner's reaction are to follow.
| Ben Diebold | 7,355,000 | 1,295,000  |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 0 | -1,295,000  |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:48 PM Local Time
Gorodinsky Fades Gutshot; Doubles Through Diebold
No-Limit Hold'em
Mike Gorodinsky pushed all in from the button for 610,000 and Ben Diebold called instantly in the big blind.
Mike Gorodinsky:
Ben Diebold:
The flop gave Diebold a gutshot to go with his live card but he missed on the turn and river.
| Ben Diebold | 6,060,000 | -645,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 1,295,000 | 645,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:44 PM Local Time
Diebold's Ten Leaves Gorodinsky Short
2-7 Triple Draw
On first draw Mike Gorodinsky drew three and Ben Diebold drew two. Gorodinsky check-called a bet and drew two. Diebold drew one.
Again Gorodinsky check-called a bet and drew one on the final draw. Diebold stood pat and both players checked.
Diebold tabled and won the pot.
| Ben Diebold | 6,705,000 | 625,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 650,000 | -625,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:40 PM Local Time
Diebold Extends Lead Once More
Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
Ben Diebold limped in and Mike Gorodinsky raised, which Diebold called. Gorodinsky took two and Diebold discarded three. The bet of Gorodinsky followed and Diebold instantly folded.
No-Limit Hold'em
In a limped pot to the flop, Diebold check-called for 50,000 and the turn was checked by both. Diebold then led the river for 100,000 and Gorodinsky made the call.
"Ace" Diebold announced and tabled his . That was good enough to win the pot and extend the lead once more, as Gorodinsky folded.
| Ben Diebold | 6,080,000 | 460,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 1,275,000 | -460,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:32 PM Local Time
Diebold Has the Superior Straight
5-Card Draw High
Mike Gorodinsky made it 100,000 to go and then reluctantly folded after Ben Diebold three-bet to 400,000.
No-Limit Hold'em
Gorodinsky raised to 150,000 and Diebold called to then check-call a flop of for 150,000. Diebold check-called for another 250,000 on the turn and Gorodinsky knuckled it back on the river. Diebold turned over the for broadway and Gorodinsky mucked the .
| Ben Diebold | 5,620,000 | 540,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 1,735,000 | -540,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:28 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts
Gorodinsky has chipped back up over 2,000,000 in chips as the two trade pots in No-Limit Hold'em and 5 Card Draw.
| Ben Diebold | 5,080,000 | -325,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 2,275,000 | 325,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:22 PM Local Time
Diebold Pulls Further Ahead; Then Loses Profit
5-Card Draw
After trading chips back and forth through two orbits of Limit 2-7 Triple Draw and No-Limit Hold'em, they switched things up as Mike Gorodinsky selected A-5 Draw High.
In the first hand, Ben Diebold called a raise to 125,000 by Gorodinsky and took three new cards while Gorodinsky switched one. They checked and Diebold flashed the for a set of tens.
"You really make the greatest fuckin checks," Diebold exclaimed to Gorodinsky in table chat.
Down to around 1.2 million, Gorodinsky then got the chips back in the second hand. After the draw, he check-raised from 175,000 to 600,000 and Diebold called. Gorodinsky tabled the for a set of eights to recover the previous losses.
| Ben Diebold | 5,405,000 | -525,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 1,950,000 | 525,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:16 PM Local Time
Diebold Trips Up Gorodinsky
No-Limit Hold'em
Mike Gorodinsky raised pre-flop and Ben Diebold called.
Diebold check-called 75,000 on the flop and the turn was the .
Diebold checked again and called 275,000 from Gorodinsky.
The river went check-check. Diebold tabled for trip fives and Gorodinsky re-checked his hole cards before mucking.
| Ben Diebold | 5,930,000 | 675,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 1,425,000 | -675,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:09 PM Local Time
Gorodinsky Chips Up in Badeucey
Badeucey
It appears that both players have picked only a few different games with No-Limit Hold'em and Badeucey in the mix.
In the second Badeucey hand, the first draw was completed and Mike Gorodinsky bet, then called a raise. On the second draw, both checked and as Ben Diebold had checked back, Gorodinsky joked "it's one of those hands, eh".
They took one each on the final draw again and Gorodinsky bet for Diebold to sigh-fold.
"What did you have?" Diebold inquired and Gorodinsky was all smiles with a "no no no". Diebold admitted that he paired up on the final draw.
| Ben Diebold | 5,255,000 | -465,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 2,100,000 | 465,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 2:03 PM Local Time
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Mike Gorodinsky and Ben Diebold are in their seats and the first game chosen was No-Limit Hold'em.
Diebold received a walk and showed the . In the second hand, Diebold limped and Gorodinsky checked. On the flop, Gorodinsky bet and Diebold folded, getting shown the .
"Time to play the game," Gorodinsky exclaimed.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 1:59 PM Local Time
Level 25 started
Level: 25
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:56 AM Local Time
Gorodinsky/Diebold Heads-Up Match to Determine New $10,000 Dealer’s Choice Champion
Seven levels of play on Day 3 Tuesday weren't enough to determine a successor to Adam Friedman in Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed Championship, so Mike Gorodinsky and Ben Diebold will return to the WSOP mothership Wednesday to crown a champion.
Tale of the Tape Entering Heads-Up Play
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Bets |
|---|
| 1 | Ben Diebold | United States | 5,720,000 | 29 |
| 2 | Mike Gorodinsky | United States | 1,635,000 | 8 |
Diebold enters the heads-up match with 5,720,000 chips to Gorodinsky's 1,635,000, but Gorodinsky comes in with the experience advantage, holding $2,639,882 in career earnings at the World Series of Poker and two bracelets, including a win in the 2015 Poker Player's Championship.
Diebold's career WSOP earnings total $282,298 including the WSOP Circuit. A win would earn Diebold enough to more than double his career WSOP earnings (1st prize - $299,488)
Gorodinsky barely missed the final table of this event last year, finishing 8th for $25,741, while Diebold has never cashed in this event until this week, with his best career WSOP mixed game result coming last year when he finished 7th in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Championship for $41,515.
Mike Gorodinsky
Mike Gorodinsky's Best Career WSOP Results
| YEAR | EVENT | RESULT | PRIZE |
| 2015 | $50,000 Poker Players Championship | 1st | $1,270,086 |
| 2013 | $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | 1st | $216,988 |
| 2015 | $10,000 Razz Championship | 2nd | $167,517 |
Ben Diebold
Ben Diebold's Best Career WSOP Results
| YEAR | EVENT | RESULT | PRIZE |
| 2021 | $10,000 Main Event No-Limit Hold'em Championship | 189th | $44,200 |
| 2021 | $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Championship | 7th | $41,515 |
| 2021 | $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | 31st | $40,966 |
Play resumes at 2 p.m. local time in the mothership in the Bally's Event Center, with 90-minute levels (starting at Level 28) continuing until a new champion is crowned.
Keep it locked on PokerNews for all the action from this and every event from the World Series of Poker at from its new home at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.