Friday, June 9, 2023 12:56 AM Local Time
Brazil Out in Force for Reis' First Bracelet in $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em
The Brazilian rail was out in force on Thursday night to witness Rafael Reis win his first gold bracelet in Event #15: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em at the 2023 World Series of Poker.
Reis defeated Daniel Barriocanal in heads-up play to win $465,501. The tournament drew 2,454 players for a prize pool of $3,276,090.
Day 2 chip leader Sarah Herzali finished in third while Nikolaos Angelou and four-time bracelet winner John Monnette rounded out the top five.
Event #15: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Rafael Reis | Brazil | $465,501 |
| 2 | Daniel Barriocanal | Spain | $287,679 |
| 3 | Sarah Herzali | France | $207,720 |
| 4 | Nikolaos Angelou | Greece | $151,559 |
| 5 | John Monnette | United States | $111,755 |
| 6 | Grant Wang | United States | $83,289 |
Winner's Reaction
This is the second deep run at the WSOP for Reis, but his first big chance came to an end in third place at the 2021 Monster Stack event.
"I am feeling like I had a mission, and I accomplished my mission," Reis said in his post-win interview with PokerNews. "Last time that I was here, I was [at the final table], and I got third. This time I felt super comfortable."
Reis leveraged his experience from his first trip to the main stage at the WSOP—a disappointing end that turned into a valuable learning experience.
"I've made mistakes in the past, but I have more experience now. I was feeling really confident. I texted my friends that today is a bracelet today. Come and rail me, follow me on social media. Today was a bracelet day and I was very confident. It wasn't easy."
The celebration was the second of the evening after Reis and the entire Brazilian rail misread a board and thought Reis had claimed victory early in heads-up play.
"I was not looking at the table. I was looking at the monitor. When the last card hit the felt, I saw a straight and everybody was cheering, so I was cheering.
Reis needed a moment to regain his focus.
"When I came back, it was hard. I had to come back again. I was in Narnia. When I was celebrating, I went from Narnia to the WSOP, and I had to go back to Narnia again. We grinded it up and I am super happy. Thank god."
The champ received his bracelet in an impromptu ceremony with Yuri Dzivielevski. He plans on sticking around for the remainder of the WSOP.
"I will play everything. I had this plan before this tournament, and it changes nothing. I will keep playing the whole thing, and I hope I can get more bracelets. It feels really nice on me."
Rafael Reis and the Brazilian Rail
Day 3 Action
Day 3 kicked off with 15 players and David Wells fell first in the opening level of the day. Following Wells to the payout window before the final table were Upeshka De Silva, Alexander Maas, Curt Kohlberg, Gabriel Schroeder, Yue Liu, Ian Matakis, and Kevin Choi.
The tournament reached its unofficial final table after about three hours of play and Ryan Hohner bowed out in seventh when he got it in with pocket queens and ran into the Big Slick of Barriocanal.
Barriocanal continued his run with the elimination of Grant Wang in sixth place. Wang got it in with ace-seven, but Barriocanal was waiting with ace-queen to send him to the rail.
John Monnette
Monnette was unable to add a fifth bracelet after a deep run in the no-limit hold'em event for the four-time champ. He got it in with king-nine, but Herzali put him at risk with ace-nine and picked up top pair on the flop.
Barriocanal picked up another knockout when Angelou fell in fourth place. Angelou picked his spot with ace-seven, but it was ace-queen doing the work once again to send him to the rail.
Sarah Herzali
Herzali went on a magical run and a large contingent of French supporters turned out, but it came to an end in third place when she jammed her short stack with king-nine and ran into the pocket jacks of Reis. A jack on the flop sealed the deal and sent the tournament to heads-up play.
Heads-up play lasted nearly two levels while Barriocanal battled it out, but he was unable to move the chip count in his favor. After one false start when Reis and his rail misread the board and claimed victory, the champ regained his focus. The big moment came after a small double from Barriocanal with a suited nine-eight. Barriocanal got it in again with the same hand, but Reis was there with the suited ace-queen to claim victory with two pair.
Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews team throughout the 2023 WSOP for live updates from the floor at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:39 PM Local Time
Daniel Barriocanal Eliminated in 2nd Place ($287,679)
Both Daniel Barriocanal and Rafael Reis got all their chips in the middle preflop. Reis had a commanding lead and Barriocanal was at risk.
Daniel Barriocanal:
Rafael Reis:
The flop came giving Barriocanal top two while Reis had a gutshot. The board ran out clean for Barriocanal and he received a much-needed double-up.
Though the streak did not last long, as in almost successive hands both players ended up with all the chips in the middle again. Barriocanal with the exact same holding as before.
Daniel Barriocanal:
Rafael Reis:
This time the runout wasn't as fortunate as it came , eliminating Barriocanal in second place. Reis the first WSOP champion to celebrate his bracelet win twice in one tournament.
Full recap and winners interview to follow.
| Rafael Reis | 61,350,000 | 22,800,000  |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 0 | -22,800,000  |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:14 PM Local Time
Level 37 started
Level: 37
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:59 PM Local Time
Barriocanal Fights Back
Rafael Reis raised from the button to 1,400,000 and Daniel Barriocanal in the big blind called.
The flop came . Barriocanal checked the action to the aggressor allowing Reis to bet out for 1,000,000. Barriocanal called.
On the turn the action checked through to the on the river. Barriocanal now chose to lead for 2,000,000.
Reis thought for some time before finally deciding on a call. Barriocanal showed for top pair and Reis mucked.
| Rafael Reis | 38,550,000 | -10,200,000 |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 22,800,000 | 10,200,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:43 PM Local Time
Everyone Loves a Chopped Pot?
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:29 PM Local Time
The Most Celebrated Chop Pot in Poker History
Daniel Barriocanal and Rafael Reis got it all in preflop for the first time in their heads-up match.
Daniel Barriocanal:
Rafael Reis:
The board ran out in dramatic fashion as it came . As the five landed on the river Reis thought he'd made a wheel straight for the win. Reis erupted in cheers as did his rail, both celebrating as if he'd just won the tournament and the bracelet.
"Brazil! Brazil!" Reis chanted as he grabbed a Brazilian flag from the crowd and wrapped it around himself.
It was only as the room began to silence both Reis and his rail realised the board had actually run out a six high straight and both players chopped the pot.
Retaking their seats, the players continued on with the match.
| Rafael Reis | 48,750,000 | 700,000 |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 12,600,000 | -700,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:16 PM Local Time
Level 36 started
Level: 36
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:00 PM Local Time
Break Time
Players are now on a 15-minute break.
Thursday, June 8, 2023 9:55 PM Local Time
Reis Continues to Dominate Heads Up
Daniel Barriocanal limped in from the small blind. However, Rafael Reis did not let him see three cards for free and bumped the bet up. Barriocanal called.
The flop came . Reis continued for 1,700,000 and Barriocanal called.
The on the turn didn't slow down Reis as he barrelled for an additional 2,700,000. Barriocanal, again, could not continue.
| Rafael Reis | 48,050,000 | 10,850,000 |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 13,300,000 | -10,850,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 9:34 PM Local Time
Reis Takes Control Heads Up
Rafael Reis on the button opened to 1,200,000 and Daniel Barriocanal defended in the big blind.
The flop came and Barriocanal checked over to Reis who bet out for 1,000,000. Barriocanal called.
The river brought the and the action repeated, this time Reis sized up to 3,500,000. Barriocanal rechecked his cards and decided to fold.
| Rafael Reis | 37,200,000 | 2,225,000 |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 24,150,000 | -2,225,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 9:09 PM Local Time
Sarah Herzali Eliminated in 3rd Place ($207,720)
Sarah Herzali jammed from the button for the remainder of her stack. Herzali's rail erupted in support as the capacity of the Horseshoe became so used to during this final table.
Rafael Reis in the big blind looked down at his cards and snap-called.
Sarah Herzali:
Rafael Reis:
The full board read putting an end to Herzali's deep run
| Rafael Reis | 34,975,000 | 3,475,000 |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 26,375,000 | 12,275,000 |
| Sarah Herzali | 0 | -5,900,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:59 PM Local Time
Herzali Finds Another Double
Sarah Herzali got the last 2,600,000 into the middle and Rafael Reis was the one to put her at risk. The cards were already turned over and the dealer was ready to go.
Sarah Herzali:
Rafael Reis:
The board ran out and Herzali held on with queen-ten to secure the double.
| Rafael Reis | 31,500,000 | -3,000,000 |
| Sarah Herzali | 5,900,000 | 2,300,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:56 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:51 PM Local Time
Nikolaos Angelou Eliminated in 4th Place ($151,559)
Nikolaos Angelou was the first to act and shoved his last 1,500,000 into the middle. Daniel Barriocanal called from the small blind and the big blind got out of the way to make the action heads up with Angelou at risk.
Nikolaos Angelou:
Daniel Barriocanal:
The board ran out and Barriocanal held on with the best hand to send Angelou to the rail in fourth place for $151,559.
| Daniel Barriocanal | 14,100,000 | 0 |
| Nikolaos Angelou | 0 | -1,900,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:50 PM Local Time
Herzali Doubles Through Angelou
Sarah Herzali was first to act as she stood up from her seat, amping up her rail as she placed her last blue stack in the middle for 1,700,000.
Nikolaos Angelou in the big blind called off her shove and the hand went to a showdown.
Sarah Herzali:
Nikolaos Angelou:
The board ran out . Herzali's dominating ace remained that way and she doubled up.
| Sarah Herzali | 3,600,000 | -1,100,000 |
| Nikolaos Angelou | 1,900,000 | -900,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:47 PM Local Time
The Chad & Jesse Poker Show Episode #3: Bracelet Hunting With Steve "Cuz" Buckner
Steve "Cuz" Buckner joins Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen for the third episode of The Chad & Jesse Poker Show. They talk about crazy jobs Cuz used to hold, how Cuz found himself in Vegas just weeks after watching poker for the first time, and his 2023 WSOP plans.
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:25 PM Local Time
Reis Picks Up Kings
Daniel Barriocanal raised to 925,000 from the button before Rafael Reis came along from the small blind and Nikolaos Angelou called from the big blind.
The flop was and the blinds checked to a 850,000 bet from Barriocanal on the button. Reis called but Angelou got out of the way before the dropped on the turn.
Reis check-called a 1,800,000 bet from Barriocanal on the turn and the river was .
Both players checked the river and Reis turned over to take the pot. Barriocanal mucked the losing hand.
| Rafael Reis | 34,500,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Daniel Barriocanal | 15,500,000 | -200,000 |
| Nikolaos Angelou | 2,800,000 | -1,575,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:18 PM Local Time
Reis Decimates Herzali's Stack
With just two players remaining in the pot as the full board read .
Sarah Herzali checked from the small blind to Rafael Reis who was in the hijack. Reis placed a sizable bet of 6,900,000 into the middle sending Herzali deep into the tank.
Eventually, Herzali called and Reis tabled for a turned nut straight, giving Reis a runaway chip lead.
| Rafael Reis | 32,000,000 | 11,900,000 |
| Sarah Herzali | 4,700,000 | -11,800,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:03 PM Local Time
John Monnette Eliminated in 5th Place ($111,755)
John Monnette jammed his last 3,250,000 into the middle and Sarah Herzali looked him up from the big blind.
John Monnette:
Sarah Herzali:
The board ran out and Herzali flopped a pair of aces to send Monnette to the rail in fifth place for $111,755.
| Sarah Herzali | 16,500,000 | -400,000 |
| John Monnette | 0 | -4,900,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 7:48 PM Local Time
Players Return
The final five players have returned from their dinner break. Action gets under way in a few moments with blinds at 200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante.