Saturday, June 3, 2023 10:02 PM Local Time
Ronnie Day Conquers Tournament of Champions ($200,000)
Adding a fourth day on the schedule sits just fine with Ronnie Day, as the veteran pro was the last player standing at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Having won his ticket with a WSOPC ring, this is Day's first gold bracelet. On top of this, Day also took down $200,000 in cash and the title of Tournament of Champions winner at the 2023 World Series of Poker.
"It's so surreal right now, it's unbelievable, I don't even know how to explain it," Day told PokerNews after posing for photos with his newest piece of jewelry.
This unique invitation-only event provided a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool and was open to anyone who won a WSOP bracelet or WSOP circuit in the last year. Day won his way into the field by earning his first circuit ring in Elizabeth, Indiana, just last month.
Ronnie Day
Final Table Action
A total of 741 players entered the freeroll event out of 989 qualifiers. The final seven returned today for an added fourth day to battle for WSOP glory.
Barry Schultz won his way into the field by taking down the seniors event at Horseshoe Tunica in January. Schultz entered the day as the short stack and was the first to exit after seeing his pocket jacks cracked on the turn.
The lone Canadian at the final table, Justin Hotte-McKinnon, was the next to go in sixth place. Hotte-McKinnon earned his spot in the Tournament of Champions field by winning his ring on WSOP.ca in March.
Wissam Gahshan qualified with a win at The Bicycle Casino in December, was the chip leader at the beginning of the day , and collected a career-best score with a fifth-place finish.
As Day was vaulting his way up the leaderboard, the eliminations continued around him at the table.
Hunter McClelland was the next to go, earning a nice payday after taking down two ring events on WSOP PA. Patrick White followed in third place at the hands of Day, adding a nice score to his resume to go along with a win at the WSOP circuit stop at Turning Stone.
Final Table Results
| Place | | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | | Ronnie Day | United States | $200,000 |
| 2 | | Brent Gregory | United States | $120,000 |
| 3 | | Patrick White | United States | $87,000 |
| 4 | | Hunter McClelland | United States | $63,000 |
| 5 | | Wissam Gahshan | United States | $46,000 |
| 6 | | Justin Hotte-McKinnon | Canada | $35,000 |
| 7 | | Barry Schultz | United States | $26,000 |
| 8 | | Daniel Marx | United States | $20,000 |
| 9 | | Zachary Gruneberg | United States | $16,000 |
Crowning a Champion
Heads-up play did not last long, as Brent Gregory had a significant chip disadvantage, providing a path to victory for Day. Gregory earned a career-best score with the runner-up finish after qualifying with a win at the WSOP Circuit event in Tulsa back in March.
As for our champion, Day said his next challenge is to find a third career cash at the WSOP Main Event. "I was sitting there thinking, this is very good practice for the Main instead of just jumping right into the fire," Day said after reflecting on his experience this week.
The winning hand was jack-five offsuit, to which Day quipped, "Motown is back, right?"
This concludes the PokerNews coverage of the Tournament of Champions, but we'll continue to provide live updates throughout the rest of the 2023 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 9:30 PM Local Time
Brent Gregory Eliminated in 2nd Place ($120,000)
Brent Gregory limped on the button and called when Ronnie Day raised to 775,000 in the big blind.
Both players connected on the flop, with Day continuing for 375,000. Gregory called to see the turn and quickly faced a bet of 1,300,000. Gregory moved all-in and was snap-called by Day.
Brent Gregory:
Ronnie Day:
The river changed nothing, leaving Day ahead and eliminating Gregory in 2nd place.
| Ronnie Day | 22,230,000 | 8,730,000  |
| Brent Gregory | 0 | -8,800,000  |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 9:11 PM Local Time
Gregory Forces the Fold
Ronnie Day opened to 575,000 on the button with before Brent Gregory three-bet to 1,600,000 with in the big blind. Day called to see the flop.
Gregory continued for 900,000, producing a quick fold from Day to climb back to 35 big blinds.
| Ronnie Day | 13,500,000 | -425,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 8,800,000 | 475,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:58 PM Local Time
Day Trips Up
Brent Gregory called on the button with and Ronnie Day checked his big blind option with to the flop.
Day led out for 200,000 and Gregory called to see the turn. Day led again for 425,000 after making trip sevens, only to see Gregory announce a raise to 1,200,000.
Day took some time before moving all-in, with Gregory quickly letting go of his bluff.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:46 PM Local Time
Day Recovers Lost Chips
Brent Gregory called on the button with and called again when Ronnie Day raised to 700,000 with in the big blind.
Day led out for 400,000 on the flop, forcing a fold from Gregory. Day got some chips back after Gregory took down the first few hands of heads-up play.
| Ronnie Day | 13,925,000 | -1,425,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 8,325,000 | 1,425,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:38 PM Local Time
Heads-Up For The Bracelet
Cards are back in the air on the Main Feature Table in the Horseshoe Las Vegas.
The winner will walk away with $200,000 and the WSOP Gold Bracelet while both are guaranteed to take home at least $120,000.
| Ronnie Day | 15,350,000 | 0 |
| Brent Gregory | 6,900,000 | 0 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:28 PM Local Time
Short Break
The players are on a short break ahead of the heads-up action.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:28 PM Local Time
Patrick White Eliminated in 3rd Place ($87,000)
Ronnie Day raised to 400,000 from the button and small blind Brent Gregory got out of the way. Big blind Patrick White put his last 3,750,000 in the middle and a quick call by Day followed.
Patrick White:
Ronnie Day:
The board ran out and Day held on to the best hand and eliminated his opponent.
White won $87,000 for his third-place finish.
| Ronnie Day | 15,350,000 | 4,050,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 6,900,000 | -400,000 |
| Patrick White | 0 | -4,150,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:26 PM Local Time
Hunter McClelland Eliminated in 4th Place ($63,000)
Brent Gregory opened to 400,000 and called when Hunter McClelland shoved his short stack of 1,750,000 in the middle.
Hunter McClelland:
Brent Gregory:
McClelland could not catch up, ending his run in 4th place.
| Ronnie Day | 11,300,000 | 0 |
| Brent Gregory | 7,300,000 | 2,200,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,150,000 | -50,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 0 | -1,800,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:23 PM Local Time
McClellan Doubles Through Day
Hunter McClelland was left short after his previous confrontation with Brent Gregory. When it folded to him in the small blind he decided to put his last chips in the middle and a quick call from Ronnie Day in the big blind followed.
Hunter McClelland:
Ronnie Day:
The board ran out and McClelland doubled up.
| Ronnie Day | 11,300,000 | -975,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 5,100,000 | 1,975,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,200,000 | 50,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 1,800,000 | -900,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:12 PM Local Time
Day Calls Correctly
Brent Gregory raised to 400,000 on the button with , while Ronnie Day defended his big blind with .
Day checked the flop and called when Gregory continued for 375,000. Both players then checked through on the turn.
Day checked again on the river, then took some time facing a bet of 750,000 from Gregory. Day took 90 seconds before making the call and seeing the good news, as his top pair was good to take extend his chip lead.
| Ronnie Day | 12,275,000 | 2,975,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,150,000 | 150,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 3,125,000 | -775,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 2,700,000 | -500,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:58 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:46 PM Local Time
Gregory Doubles Through McClelland
Ronnie Day opened to 400,000 from under the gun, only to see Brent Gregory move all-in for 2,230,000. Hunter McClelland then moved his stack into the middle, leaving Gregory at risk once Day got out of the way.
Brent Gregory:
Hunter McClelland:
Gregory was in great shape to start the hand, with the advantage growing on the flop. The turn and river were no help to McClelland, as Gregory doubled his stack.
| Ronnie Day | 12,300,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 5,100,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,200,000 | 200,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 775,000 | -2,425,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:41 PM Local Time
Day Wins Three-Bet Pot Against Gregory
Ronnie Day raised to 320,000 with as the first player to act and button Brent Gregory three-bet to 825,000 holding . The players in the blinds quickly got out of the way and it was back on Day.
Day counted out some chips and called after considering his options for about a minute.
The flop fell and Day checked. Gregory checked behind as he slowed down and both saw the on the turn. Day took over the betting initiative with a small bet of 375,000 and he was called by Gregory.
The completed the board on the river and Day counted out a bet of 1,300,000. A quick fold followed by Gregory and Day won the pot.
| Ronnie Day | 9,300,000 | 1,315,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,000,000 | -850,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 3,900,000 | 655,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 3,200,000 | -70,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:22 PM Local Time
McClelland Moves In Thrice
Hunter McClelland has been putting his short stack to use over the last orbit, shoving three times in the last five hands.
McClelland was never at risk as his opponents folded all three times, but the fast play has added valuable chips to his stack.
| Ronnie Day | 7,985,000 | -2,730,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,850,000 | 1,580,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 3,270,000 | 75,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 3,245,000 | -1,820,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:13 PM Local Time
Wissam Gahsham Eliminated In 5th Place ($46,000)
Wissam Gahsham sat in the small blind and he decided to put the remainder of his stack in the middle worth 1,450,000. Ronnie Day peeked at his cards and he snap-called.
Wissam Gahsham:
Ronnie Day:
The board ran out and despite flopping a straight draw it marked the end of Gahsham's run in the Tournament of Champions as he collected $46,000 for a career-best score.
| Ronnie Day | 10,715,000 | 2,515,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 5,065,000 | 1,565,000 |
| Patrick White | 3,270,000 | -1,230,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 3,195,000 | 995,000 |
| Wissam Gahshan | 0 | -3,900,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:06 PM Local Time
Flop Raise Wins Pot For Day
Ronnie Day called from the small blind when it folded to him with and big blind Patrick White decided to raise to 460,000 holding . Day called and they went to the flop.
The flop fell and Day checked to White who continued with a bet of 500,000. Day wasn't done with the hand as he raised the flop to 1,300,000 and sent White into the tank.
After three minutes passed, White let go of his hand and Day took down the pot.
| Ronnie Day | 8,200,000 | 850,000 |
| Patrick White | 4,500,000 | -530,000 |
| Wissam Gahshan | 3,900,000 | -175,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 3,500,000 | 15,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 2,200,000 | -105,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 7:05 PM Local Time
Gregory Raises the River
Patrick White called from the small with and Brent Gregory checked his option in the big blind with .
Both players checked the flop, with White leading for 300,000 on the turn and Gregory calling.
White led out again for 500,000 on the river with top pair, only to be met by an all-in raise from Gregory to 2,630,000 with his straight.
White asked for a count, then took a moment before making the fold as Gregory took down the battle of the blind.
| Ronnie Day | 7,985,000 | 635,000 |
| Brent Gregory | 4,205,000 | 720,000 |
| Patrick White | 3,890,000 | -1,140,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 3,270,000 | 965,000 |
| Wissam Gahshan | 2,895,000 | -1,180,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 6:58 PM Local Time
White Takes From Gregory
Patrick White raised from the button to 350,000 with and Brent Gregory three-bet from the small blind with to 800,000. White opted for the call and they went heads-up to the flop.
The flop fell and both players checked. The was dealt on the turn and Gregory put out a delayed c-bet of 425,000. White stuck around with a call and the completed the board.
both players quickly checked and White showed his hand took it down with the best hand.
| Ronnie Day | 7,350,000 | 0 |
| Patrick White | 5,030,000 | 1,545,000 |
| Wissam Gahshan | 4,075,000 | 0 |
| Brent Gregory | 3,485,000 | -1,225,000 |
| Hunter McClelland | 2,305,000 | -320,000 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023 6:57 PM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 160,000