Tuesday, June 6, 2023 12:41 AM Local Time
Kenneth O’Donnell Wins Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack For $351,098
It wasn't easy for Kenneth O'Donnell, but he managed to grind it out over the course of two days and was crowned a champion for his efforts at the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
O'Donnell out maneuvered Jefferson Guerrero in a quick heads-up battle on Day 2 to take down Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack. In fact, the heads-up showdown went just three hands before O'Donnell emerged as the winner.
O'Donnell garnered a $351,098 winning prize and, of course, a WSOP bracelet, the first of his poker career. Guerrero collected $216,941 for his runner-up finish.
Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Kenneth O'Donnell | United States | $351,098 |
| 2 | Jefferson Guerrero | Colombia | $216,941 |
| 3 | Ka Chen Kan | China | $162,371 |
| 4 | Aaron Georgelos | United States | $122,407 |
| 5 | Robert Gittelman | United States | $92,953 |
| 6 | Eric Pfenning | United States | $71,104 |
| 7 | Manuel DeAlmeida | United States | $54,794 |
| 8 | Andres Morales | United States | $42,539 |
| 9 | Fabio Coppola | Italy | $33,274 |
The newest WSOP bracelet winner's climb to the top meant he had to navigate a minefield of a who's who in the poker community.
Phil Hellmuth
The player field boasted poker royalty with 16-time WSOP bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer Phil Hellmuth, as well as WSOP bracelet winner and Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee Kathy Liebert.
Hellmuth's quest for a 17th WSOP bracelet came to an end in Level 32 when he was eliminated in 47th place for a payout of $7,385.
O'Donnell also had to keep an eye on multiple WSOP bracelet winners, which included past WSOP Main Event champions Hellmuth, Greg Raymer, and Jerry Yang. Other notable bracelet winners to play the event included Pei Li, Allen Cunningham, Bradley Jensen, Jeremy Wien, Farzad Bonyadi, Erik Cajelais, David Jackson and Mike Ruter, among others.
Pei Li was the last standing bracelet winner
Li made a deep run before being eliminated in 11th place for $26,223. Li's exit ensured there would be a first-time WSOP bracelet winner at the conclusion of the tournament.
O'Donnell rose to the occasion in the face of stout competition. He persevered throughout the two-day event by steadily building his chip stack with well-timed aggression –– and he admits, some luck –– to get to the final table, which he started with the fourth-largest stack. And then he took it home.
A total of 6,085 entrants participated in Event #11, which generated a prize pool of $3,098,760.
Ka Chun Kan finished in third place ($162,371), while Aaron Georgelos took fourth place ($122,407).
Winner's Reaction
O'Donnell, who calls St. Petersburg, Florida, home, says he's been playing poker "for decades," and nothing comes close to what he's feeling after securing his first WSOP bracelet.
"It's huge," O'Donnell told PokerNews after winning the event. "It's amazing."
O'Donnell has cashed in tournaments before, according to his Hendon Mob page. His largest payout came when he took home $53,299 from a $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker Classic in 2021.
Kenneth O'Donnell
But this is the WSOP, and knowing the level of competition he faced in the tournament field brought the reality of the moment home.
"It's absurdly lucky," O'Donnell told PokerNews after coming out on top from the heads-up battle. "These giant field events are an exercise of just repeatedly getting lucky, and I did.
"I'm very, very happy to have been the 'Chosen One' for the poker gods today. This feels really special. I just feel really blessed."
As for what's next, O'Donnell doesn't plan to go home just yet.
He's remaining in Las Vegas and eyeing more tournaments. But first, he owes his wife a phone call to let her know he's a WSOP bracelet winner.
"I'll play something tomorrow (Wednesday)," O'Donnell said with a chuckle. "I'll talk to my wife back home in a minute and wake her up."
This concludes coverage of Event #11 of the 2023 WSOP, but make sure to continue to stay plugged in with PokerNews for live updates of your favorite events throughout the summer.
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 12:22 AM Local Time
Kenneth O'Donnell Earns First World Series of Poker Gold Bracelet and $351,098
Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack has come to an end at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas and it was Kenneth O'Donnell who emerged with all of the chips, taking home $351,098.
This event had a total of 6,085 entries, creating a prize pool of $3,098,760 and a total of 912 players reached the min payout of $960.
318 players reached day two and it was a rapid pace as only 160 were remaining by the first break. O'Donnell had gained chips in the middle of the day and managed to battle his way to victory throughout the tournament, eventually dominating the short-handed final table with only a few left.
Final Table Results:
| Place | | Player | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | | Kenneth O'Donnell | $351,098 |
| 2 | | Jefferson Guerrero | $216,941 |
| 3 | | Ka Chen Kan | $162,371 |
| 4 | | Jefferson Guerrero | $122,407 |
| 5 | | Robert Gittelman | $92,953 |
| 6 | | Eric Pfenning | $71,104 |
| 7 | | Manuel DeAlmeida | $54,794 |
| 8 | | Andres Morales | $42,539 |
| 9 | | Fabio Coppola | $33,274 |
Stay tuned to PokerNews as a full recap will be posted shortly.
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:58 PM Local Time
Jefferson Guerrero Eliminated in 2nd Place ($216,941)
Kenneth O'Donnell jammed on the button and Jefferson Guerrero made the call for his 43,000,000 stack.
Jefferson Guerrero:
Kenneth O'Donnell:
The flop came , giving Guerrero and open-ended straight draw but O'Donnell connected more so, making two pair. The on the turn changed nothing but the river improved O'Donnell to a full house, ending the heads-up battle.
Guerrero collected $216,941 for his second-place finish.
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 182,280,000 | 42,700,000  |
| Jefferson Guerrero | 0 | -42,700,000  |
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:48 PM Local Time
Level 43 started
Level: 43
Blinds: 1,500,000/3,000,000
Ante: 6,000,000
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:36 PM Local Time
15-Minute Break
15-minute break as Kenneth O'Donnell and Jefferson Guerrero battle for a WSOP gold bracelet.
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:36 PM Local Time
Some of the Best Poker Players Who Haven't Won a WSOP Bracelet
WSOP Bracelet Winners
While winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker player can achieve, many of the greatest and most successful players in the game have yet to put one on their wrists.
PokerNews has had a decent track record with highlighting players without bracelets who have gone on to win them. Jason Koon won a maiden bracelet in 2021 after making the "Best Without a Bracelet" list that year, while Dan Smith and Alex Foxen both found bracelets in 2022 to be removed from that year's list.
With the 2023 WSOP happening now, here's a look at some of the best players who have yet to add a World Series bracelet to their long lists of accolades.
Check out our list of "Best Without a Bracelet" here!
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:26 PM Local Time
Ka Chun Kan Eliminated in 3rd Place ($162,371)
Kenneth O'Donnell raised to 5,000,000 on the button and Ka Chun Kan jammed for about 36,000,000. Jefferson Guerrero instantly folded and O'Donnell made the call.
Ka Chun Kan:
Kenneth O'Donnell:
"No nine-ball corner pocket this time!" Yelled O'Donnell to his rail.
The dealer didn't quite listen so well this time as he fanned a flop of , leaving O'Donnell thinking he was dead.
The hit the turn though, giving him a gutshot straight draw, which Kan couldn't fade as the completed the board on the river. Kan was eliminated in 3rd place for $162,371.
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 158,280,000 | 95,480,000 |
| Jefferson Guerrero | 24,000,000 | -27,000,000 |
| Ka Chun Kan | 0 | -36,000,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:22 PM Local Time
O’Donnell Puts Dent in Kan’s stack
Ken O'Donnell and Ka Chun Kan were involved in a battle of big stacks.
Kan raised 6,000,000 on the button. The small blind got out of the way, and O'Donnell made the call.
The dealer placed on the board, prompting O'Donnell to check. Kan made a small 4,000,000 bet, which O'Donnell check-called. The hit the turn, which O'Donnell and Kan checked.
Things got interesting on the river when appeared to put a possible straight on the board. O'Donnell checked, and Kan bet 8,500,000, which O'Donnell immediately called.
Kan tabled , while O'Donnell showed for a pair of threes and the win, which put a large dent in Kan's once formidable stack.
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 82,000,000 | 19,200,000 |
| Ka Chun Kan | 36,000,000 | -32,480,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:08 PM Local Time
Level 42 started
Level: 42
Blinds: 1,250,000/2,500,000
Ante: 2,500,000
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:06 PM Local Time
O'Donnell Wins Massive Flip
Kenneth O'Donnell shoved for 29,400,000 on the button and Ka Chun Kan made the call. Jefferson Guerrero went deep into the tank as well, but ultimately decided to let his go.
Kenneth O'Donnell:
Ka Chun Kan:
"What do you need?" Yelled the rail to O'Donnell.
"Nine-ball corner pocket," he replied.
The dealer responded with the , giving him just that as he flopped top set. The locked his double as he improved to a full house and the river was just a formality.
| Ka Chun Kan | 68,480,000 | -23,520,000 |
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 62,800,000 | 20,800,000 |
| Jefferson Guerrero | 51,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 11:06 PM Local Time
Aaron Georgelos Eliminated in 4th Place ($122,407)
First to act, Aaron Georgelos went all in for his remaining 15,600,000 in chips. Jefferson Guerrero called on the button and both of the blinds folded.
Aaron Georgelos:
Jefferson Guerrero:
The board ran out and Guerrero joked with Ka Chun Kan that it was about time he shared.
Georgelos had a tremendous run and was quite gracious with his opponents throughout the tournament. He's played cards for well over a decade and perhaps we'll see him hunting a bracelet in a different event this summer.
| Jefferson Guerrero | 45,000,000 | 6,100,000 |
| Aaron Georgelos | 0 | -17,800,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:56 PM Local Time
Robert Gittleman Eliminated in 5th Place ($92,953)
Robert Gittelman raised to 10,000,000 in late position, but was met with resistance from Ka Chun Kan, who three-bet all in on the button.
The blinds got out of the way, and Gittelman immediately pushed his remaining 8,000,000 forward to call. He didn't like what he saw when the cards were tabled.
Gittelman:
Kan:
"I need a four," Gittelman said to his cheering section on the rail.
Unfortunately, a four never arrived when the dealer ran out on the board. Gittelman's former stack boosted Kan to 92,000,000, which placed him well ahead of the remaining players.
Gittelman finished in fifth place for $92,953.
| Ka Chun Kan | 92,000,000 | 32,000,000 |
| Robert Gittelman | 0 | -20,000,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:43 PM Local Time
Georgelos Making a Comeback
Short-stacked Aaron Georgelos shoved in the hijack for 7,400,000 and the action folded around to Ka Chun Kan in the big blind.
"Is there any fold equity?" Joked Kan as he sigh called the rest of the bet.
Aaron Georgelos:
Ka Chun Kan:
Georgelos reacted with disappointment as the flop hit, giving Kan top pair. But the turn brought some life back into the face of Georgelos, turning the best hand and the river was a clean one as he secured the double.
| Ka Chun Kan | 60,000,000 | -8,200,000 |
| Aaron Georgelos | 17,800,000 | 10,400,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:39 PM Local Time
Eric Pfenning Eliminated in 6th Place ($71,104)
Eric Pfenning jammed under the gun and Ka Chun Kan was next to act as he went into the tank. After asking the dealer how much the bet was, he heard it was 17,000,000 and made the call.
Eric Pfenning:
Ka Chun Kan:
Pfenning's pocket fives had run into a larger pair and the board ran out , sending him home in 6th place.
| Ka Chun Kan | 68,200,000 | 23,700,000 |
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 42,000,000 | -5,000,000 |
| Jefferson Guerrero | 38,900,000 | -2,100,000 |
| Robert Gittelman | 20,000,000 | -100,000 |
| Aaron Georgelos | 7,400,000 | 200,000 |
| Eric Pfenning | 0 | -21,500,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:38 PM Local Time
Level 41 started
Level: 41
Blinds: 1,000,000/2,000,000
Ante: 2,000,000
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:37 PM Local Time
Big Hands Blind vs Blind
It folded around to Aaron Georgelos in the small blind and he opted to move all in against the big blind of Jefferson Guerrero. He checked his cards and snapped his chips in the middle to call, putting himself at risk.
The rest of the table let out a sigh of surprise when the hands were turned up.
Jefferson Guerrero:
Aaron Georgelos:
The board flopped Guerrero a set on the and the another sigh of surprised occured when the peeled the turn, giving Georgelos the nut straight. A rollercoaster of emotion, the came on the river. Guerrero celebrated and couldn't help but snap a picture of the board and Georgelos was left lamenting what a waste of a jack on the turn.
| Jefferson Guerrero | 41,000,000 | 16,900,000 |
| Aaron Georgelos | 7,200,000 | -15,800,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:25 PM Local Time
Manuel DeAlmeida Eliminated in 7th Place ($54,794)
Kenneth O'Donnell raised to 3,200,000 in the cutoff and Manuel DeAlmeida instantly shoved his stack of 8,400,000 across the line from the button. The action quickly folded back to O'Donnell and he made the call.
Manuel DeAlmeida:
Kenneth O'Donnell:
O'Donnell was in the lead with his ace-high and the run out gave him a pair of eights to eliminate DeAlmeida in 7th place.
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 47,000,000 | 15,500,000 |
| Ka Chun Kan | 44,500,000 | -500,000 |
| Jefferson Guerrero | 24,100,000 | -700,000 |
| Aaron Georgelos | 23,000,000 | -5,000,000 |
| Eric Pfenning | 21,500,000 | 6,100,000 |
| Robert Gittelman | 20,100,000 | -700,000 |
| Manuel DeAlmeida | 0 | -15,300,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:17 PM Local Time
Yes He Kan
Jefferson Guerrero defended his big blind when Ka Chun Kan raised preflop. On a board of Guerrero checked, as did Kan.
The turn brought the and Guerrero checked again. This time Kan bet 3,500,000 and Guerrero raised to 7,500,000. Kan weighed his options and put in the call.
The river brought the and Guerrero tapped the table a final time. Kan bet an even 10,000,000 and Guerrero snapped his hand in the muck.
Kan has been the most active player at the final table, battling the most postflop.
| Ka Chun Kan | 45,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
| Jefferson Guerrero | 24,800,000 | -12,700,000 |
Monday, June 5, 2023 10:02 PM Local Time
Level 40 started
Level: 40
Blinds: 800,000/1,600,000
Ante: 1,600,000
Monday, June 5, 2023 9:58 PM Local Time
Pfenning Wins a Big One; Loses a Small One
Robert Gittelman raised to 3,000,000 on the button and Eric Pfenning jammed for 8,000,000 in the small blind. Ka chun Kan mucked the big blind and Gittelman made the call.
Eric Pfenning:
Robert Gittelman:
It was a flip for the 17,000,000 pot and the flop came , pairing Pfenning's queen. The paired the turn and the landed on the river to complete the board and seal the double up for Pfenning.
Only a couple of hands later, Manual DeAlmeida limped in early position and Pfenning raised to 3,000,000. Kan was on the button and three-bet to 9,000,000, which was enough to take down the pot.
| Jefferson Guerrero | 37,500,000 | 400,000 |
| Ka Chun Kan | 36,000,000 | 11,200,000 |
| Kenneth O'Donnell | 31,500,000 | 500,000 |
| Aaron Georgelos | 28,000,000 | -200,000 |
| Robert Gittelman | 20,800,000 | -11,500,000 |
| Eric Pfenning | 15,400,000 | 7,200,000 |
| Manuel DeAlmeida | 15,300,000 | -1,200,000 |