Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (8-Handed)

Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra earned his fifth World Series of Poker bracelet early Saturday morning when he took down Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for $611,362. Elezra defeated Chino Rheem during heads-up play to deny Rheem his first bracelet.

Elezra, who was made famous by his appearances on productions like High Stakes Poker and who just last year was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, dominated a final table that included defending champion Josh Arieh (7th - $83,920), Ken Aldridge (5th - $146,242) and Robert Cowen (3rd - $271,219).

The PLO Hi-Lo Championship attracted a record 284 entrants and generated $2.6 million in prize money. Some of the players who made deep runs in the event include Phil Ivey (37th - $16,171), Daniel Zack (23rd - $20,214) and Joao Vieira (17th - $23,521).

Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship Final Table Results

Winning for His Dad

Winning the fifth bracelet was a particularly special moment for Elezra, whose father, Michel, recently passed away in Israel.

"You saw I was very emotional there because my dad died 18 days ago," Elezra told PokerNews after the victory. "And I wanted to win for him. And I did it."

Elezra further dedicated the bracelet win to his wife, Hila Elezra, who cheered for her husband from the rail on what happened to be the couple's 31st anniversary.

At 62, the Poker Hall of Famer said he had no plans of stopping.

"I love the competition, I love the adrenaline," said Elezra. "I know most of the players, I would say 90% of them I play with. I play 5-6 days a week in cash games. And I just keep competing."

Elezra, whose last bracelet was earned in a $1,500 Seven Card Stud event at the 2019 WSOP, also noted that he hasn't played a full WSOP schedule and "didn't play half of the tournaments I wanted to play."

"So this is my fourth $10k instead of like my 11th, and I'm so happy I can show them this Hall of Famer's still got it!" he said.

Final Table Action

One of the first to go at the final table was Arieh, who was looking to defend his title after winning the event in 2021. The 2021 Player of the Year fell in seventh when he was all in and couldn't improve against the top pair of Elezra.

Aldridge was short-stacked throughout final table play but managed to hang on and ladder to a fifth-place finish when his aces were cracked by the two pair of Rheem.

Two-time bracelet winner Cowen bowed out in third when his nut flush draw couldn't hit against the flopped set of Rheem, who entered heads-up play nearly even with Elezra.

The duo exchanged chip leads a few times before Elezra doubled through Rheem to take a big lead. In the final hand, Rheem moved all in after flopping top pair only to be out-kicked by Elezra, who maintained the best hand to secure his fifth bracelet and deny Rheem his first.

The two poker stars had engaged in playful banter throughout the day and shared a hug after it was all over. Rheem took the loss with a smile and even joined in for a winner's photo.

Elezra, whose other bracelets have come in Seven Card Stud and 2-7 Triple Draw events, noted that mixed games are his "speciality" and that he will "play any one (of them)."

"I know I am a dog in No-limit Hold'em," he said. "I'm not as good in regular PLO, but I love mixed games. And I keep telling everybody when you love a game, the game loves you back."

That wraps up PokerNews' coverage of Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. Be sure to check out the WSOP hub for coverage of other bracelet events.

With 1,400,000 already in the pot, the flop came     and Eli Elezra potted it. Chino Rheem called.

On the   turn, Elezra took his time before finally potting to 4,200,000. Rheem forced Elezra in for a little more and Elezra called.

Eli Elezra:     
Chino Rheem:     

Elezra had the ace-high flush while Rheem had two pair. Rheem also had outs to the low.

However, the river brought the   and gave Elezra an incredibly big scoop and a four-to-one chip advantage.

Eli Elezra	14,000,000	7,000,000
Chino Rheem	3,400,000	-6,600,000

Eli Elezra called and Chino Rheem made it 600,000. Elezra called.

On the     flop, Elezra declared he would put Rheem all in and he came along for the ride.

Chino Rheem:     
Eli Elezra:     

Elezra had flopped two pair and had straight draws while Chino Rheem needed a spade or to make a better two pair.

The   hit the turn, putting Rheem in the lead. Elezra now needed a queen or a ten for a full house and bracelet number five.

However, the   graced the river and Rheem doubled up.

Eli Elezra	10,450,000	-550,000
Chino Rheem	6,950,000	950,000

In a limped pot, the flop came     and Eli Elezra bet 600,000. Chino Rheem called.

On the   turn, Elezra checked and Rheem made it 800,000. Elezra called.

The river brought the   and Rheem put out a bet of 2,000,000. Elezra sucked through his teeth and made the fold.

With that, the stacks are now virtually identical.

Chino Rheem	8,500,000	5,600,000
Eli Elezra	8,500,000	-5,600,000

Eli Elezra has grown his lead and Chino Rheem is now under three million.

Eli Elezra	14,100,000	2,100,000
Chino Rheem	2,900,000	-2,100,000

Eli Elezra, on his wedding anniversary, will look for his fifth bracelet as he faces Chino Rheem, who looks to finally take down his first WSOP title.

After getting quartered by Chino Rheem a few hands earlier, Robert Cowen raised to 550,000 on the button and Eli Elezra called out of the big blind. Elezra bet pot on the flop of     and Cowen called with less.

Robert Cowen:     
Eli Elezra:     

Cowen had a pair and a flush draw and his rail erupted in cheer when the   on the turn gave him the flush. The   on the river didn't change things and Cowen scooped the pot to stay alive.

Eli Elezra	9,500,000	425,000
Robert Cowen	1,500,000	-1,500,000

The remaining three players are on a 15-minute break.

Damjan Radanov open-jammed from the cutoff and Eli Elezra called out of the big blind.

Damjan Radanov:     
Eli Elezra:     

The flop landed     to give Elezra a set and have Radanov drawing nearly dead headed to the runout of    to see him go out in fourth place for $197,637.

Eli Elezra	10,000,000	1,800,000
Damjan Radanov	0	-1,800,000

Eli Elezra called from the hijack and after nearly two minutes of debating, Filippos Stavrakis potted from the small blind, leaving roughly 200,000 behind. Chino Rheem folded and Elezra opted to put Stavrakis all in. Stavrakis called.

Filippos Stavrakis:     
Eli Elezra:     

Elezra flopped the world when it came    . The   ended Stavrakis' tournament life.

The   completed the board and Elezra moved over eight million.

Eli Elezra	8,200,000	1,200,000
Chino Rheem	3,000,000	0
Robert Cowen	2,400,000	600,000
Damjan Radanov	1,800,000	-600,000
Ken Aldridge	1,650,000	450,000
Filippos Stavrakis	0	-1,905,000