Friday, June 9, 2023 12:45 AM Local Time
Xu Leads Final 11 Players; Reard, Korn and Farrell Chase Next WSOP Bracelet
Out of a field of 1,137 entries in Event #19: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout, only 11 hopefuls remain in contention for the coveted gold bracelet during the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The biggest slice of the $2,529,825 prize pool remains up for grabs with a payday of $26,926 locked up so far, while the winner will walk away with $435,924 for their efforts.
Three WSOP bracelet winners are among the finalists and have preserved their chances of a repeat victory but it is China's Qiang Xu who sits atop the leaderboard with a stack of 7,760,000. Alexandre Reard (4,800,000) and Andres Korn (4,760,000) follow in second and third place, respectively, while Triple Crown winner Niall Farrell (1,700,00) is among the short stacks.
Eight different countries will be represented on the final day and the action is scheduled to commence at noon local time on Friday, June 9. The blinds will be 50,000/100,000 with a big blind ante of 100,000 and the field will combine to a single table after the next elimination. Furthermore, the event is also scheduled to be streamed on the PokerGO platform, with cards in the air at 4 p.m. and the stream beginning at 5 p.m.
Seat Assignments for the Final Day
| Room | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|
| Horseshoe | FT 1 | 1 | Andres Korn | Argentina | 4,760,000 | 48 |
| Horseshoe | FT 1 | 2 | Ruben Costa | United States | 2,185,000 | 22 |
| Horseshoe | FT 1 | 4 | Ankit Ahuja | India | 3,505,000 | 35 |
| Horseshoe | FT 1 | 6 | Adam Swan | United States | 3,080,000 | 31 |
| Horseshoe | FT 1 | 9 | Qiang Xu | China | 7,760,000 | 78 |
| | | | | | | |
| Horseshoe | FT 2 | 1 | Niall Farrell | United Kingdom | 1,700,000 | 17 |
| Horseshoe | FT 2 | 3 | Girish Reknar | United States | 4,285,000 | 43 |
| Horseshoe | FT 2 | 4 | Alexandre Reard | France | 4,800,000 | 48 |
| Horseshoe | FT 2 | 5 | Valentino Konakchiev | Bulgaria | 2,475,000 | 25 |
| Horseshoe | FT 2 | 6 | Byung Eun Shin | South Korea | 1,475,000 | 15 |
| Horseshoe | FT 2 | 9 | Timothy Miles | United States | 3,775,000 | 38 |
Alexandre Reard chases second WSOP bracelet
Big Names Fall During Frantic Day
It was a frantic second tournament day as the early carnage continued right where last night had finished after the bubble burst. During the first four levels, the field of hopefuls was cut into half and among the notables to depart were Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel, rising star Jesse Lonis, Greg "FBT" Mueller, WSOP Circuit crusher Maurice Hawkins, and Mike Matusow to name all but a few.
Start-of-the-day chip leader Dinesh Alt continued to cruise atop the leaderboard but that all changed after a clash with Andres Korn. Ludovic Geilich saw his pocket aces cracked by ace-queen suited and he was joined on the rail by the likes of Joseph Cheong, David Pham, Blaz Zerjav, and Humberto Brenes. The tournament was racing towards the final three tables, which former big stacks Jared Jaffee and Stephen Song narrowly missed.
On the final three tables, Justin Bonomo lost a flip to Adrian Mateos and the same applied shortly after for Marton Czuczor against Girish Reknar. Qiang Xu started his rise to the top of the leaderboard when his nut flush left Korn short, but the WSOP bracelet winner from Argentina doubled back into contention a few minutes later. Xu's countrymen Feng Qu and Biao Ding were not as fortunate as they departed on the final three and two tables respectively.
Justin Bonomo finished in 23rd Place
There was no happy end for former WSOP Main Event finalist Tony Miles either, who was swiftly joined on the rail by Mike Sowers, Ori Hasson, as well as the aforementioned Alt and Mateos during an action-packed final stage.
Reaching the unofficial ten-handed final table was narrowly missed but that will certainly be the case early on the final day as of noon local time in the Horseshoe Event Center. The PokerNews live reporting team will be back to provide all the action until the next gold bracelet winner of the 2023 WSOP in Las Vegas has been crowned.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in USD) |
|---|
| 1 | | | $435,924 |
| 2 | | | $269,438 |
| 3 | | | $192,723 |
| 4 | | | $139,671 |
| 5 | | | $102,577 |
| 6 | | | $76,537 |
| 7 | | | $57,620 |
| 8 | | | $44,087 |
| 9 | | | $34,210 |
| 10-11 | | | $26,926 |
Friday, June 9, 2023 12:18 AM Local Time
End-of-Day 2 Chip Counts
| Qiang Xu | 7,760,000 | -340,000  |
| Alexandre Reard | 4,800,000 | 0 |
| Andres Korn | 4,760,000 | 560,000  |
| Girish Reknar | 4,285,000 | -15,000 |
| Timothy Miles | 3,775,000 | -275,000 |
| Ankit Ahuja | 3,505,000 | -395,000 |
| Adam Swan | 3,080,000 | -320,000 |
| Valentino Konakchiev | 2,475,000 | -75,000 |
| Ruben Costa | 2,185,000 | -15,000 |
| Niall Farrell | 1,700,000 | -350,000 |
| Byung Eun Shin | 1,475,000 | 375,000 |
Friday, June 9, 2023 12:10 AM Local Time
Day 2 Completed With 11 Players
The final 11 players have bagged and tagged their chips for the night. They will return at noon local time to first reach the unofficial final table before then playing down all the way to a winner. As of 4 p.m. local time, the action will also be picked up by the PokerGO live stream as well.
Stay tuned for the full chip counts and a recap of today's action.
Friday, June 9, 2023 12:09 AM Local Time
Last Pot to Reknar
Girish Reknar limped in and Alexandre Reard raised to 280,000 from the cutoff, which Reknar opted to call. On a flop of , Reknar check-called for 185,000 and did so again for 500,000 on the turn.
He then checked the on the river and Reard knuckled it back. Reknar tabled his for a flush and that won the last pot of the night to conclude Day 2.
| Alexandre Reard | 4,800,000 | -1,300,000 |
| Girish Reknar | 4,300,000 | 1,100,000 |
Friday, June 9, 2023 12:01 AM Local Time
Miles Gets a Shove Through
Alexandre Reard raised to 175,000 from under the gun and Valentino Konakchiev three-bet to 525,000 from one seat over. Timothy Miles then four-bet jammed and that forced out all opponents.
One hand later, Girish Reknar raised to 160,000 out of the small blind but folded when Reard made it 460,000 to go, exposing the .
| Alexandre Reard | 6,100,000 | 600,000 |
| Timothy Miles | 4,050,000 | 550,000 |
| Girish Reknar | 3,200,000 | -250,000 |
| Valentino Konakchiev | 2,550,000 | -650,000 |
| Niall Farrell | 2,050,000 | -650,000 |
| Byung Eun Shin | 1,100,000 | -300,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:55 PM Local Time
Swan Scores Massive Double Up Before End of Day 2
Ankit Ahuja raised 175,000 under the gun, with action falling on Adam Swan, who re-raised virtually his entire stack but left roughly 25,000 behind.
The players after Swan folded, putting action on Ahuja, who had Swan covered and moved all in. Swan chuckled and grabbed his remaining chips in his left hand to show to some supporters on the rail.
"I have a good hand," he told his friends before calling.
Swan:
Ahuja:
The flop ran out , leaving Ahuja ahead, and the on the turn didn't change anything. That is until showed up on the river to give the pot to Swan, who doubled up 1,700,000.
| Ankit Ahuja | 3,900,000 | -1,700,000 |
| Adam Swan | 3,400,000 | 2,000,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:46 PM Local Time
Konakchiev Builds Stack Again
Valentino Konakchiev had previously four-bet jammed into Timothy Miles and got through with it.
Both met again soon after when the turn saw Konakchiev lead for 375,000 and Miles called. After the river, Konakchiev fired a bet of 800,000 and Miles tank-folded.
| Timothy Miles | 3,500,000 | -590,000 |
| Valentino Konakchiev | 3,200,000 | 1,250,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:36 PM Local Time
Ahuja Fires Three Barrels Against Swan
Ankit Ahuja opened the action with a raise to 175,000 and Adam Swan called on the button. Ahuja continued with a bet of 180,000 on the and that led them to the turn. He now made it 480,000 to go and Swan called after brief consideration, which saw Ahuja briefly vault out of his chair to study the stack size of his opponent.
Last but not least, Ahuja then moved all in on the river and Swan folded. Before collecting the pot, Ahuja flashed the .
| Ankit Ahuja | 5,600,000 | 100,000 |
| Adam Swan | 1,400,000 | -950,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:28 PM Local Time
Reknar Takes From Konakchiev
Joining the action on the turn, Girish Reknar checked and then called a bet worth 225,000 by Valentino Konakchiev. That led them to the river on which Konakchiev checked behind. Reknar tabled the for aces and nines, which ended up winning the pot.
| Girish Reknar | 3,450,000 | 650,000 |
| Valentino Konakchiev | 1,950,000 | -400,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:26 PM Local Time
Stephen Sakai Eliminated in 12th Place ($21,501)
WSOP bracelet winner Alexandre Reard raised in early position, and Stephen Sakai flatted on the button.
The flop produced , which Reard checked. Sakai bet and Reard called, resulted in the dealer placing on the turn. Both players checked, and the fireworks began on the river after Reard moved all in.
Sakai pondered the bet, taking his time, and then called.
Reard:
Sakai:
Sakai briefly showed his top pair with a busted flush draw but Reard's sent him out in 12th place for $21,501.
| Alexandre Reard | 5,500,000 | 1,600,000 |
| Stephen Sakai | 0 | -1,775,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:18 PM Local Time
Trace Henderson Eliminated in 13th Place ($21,501)
Trace Henderson, who was in late position, moved all in for 1,300,000 after a player in early position raised.
Unfortunately for him, he ran smack into Qiang Xu, who moved all in from the button. The original raiser folded and the cards were tabled.
Henderson:
Xu:
The dealer ran out on the flop, giving Xu top set. The on the turn and on river gave Xu a full house.
Henderson finished the tournament in 13th place for $21,501.
| Qiang Xu | 8,100,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Trace Henderson | 0 | -1,800,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:08 PM Local Time
Reard Builds Through Sakai
Alexandre Reard earned value from Stephen Sakai when he bet out of the big blind on the river. Sakai paid off 400,000 and mucked when he was shown the .
Once the blinds went up, Sakai raised to 160,000 for the second hand in a row. He first collected the blinds and then saw Reard flat-call on the button. Both checked the flop before Sakai check-called the turn for 200,000.
The river went check, check, and Sakai revealed the for a pair of tens. Reard had him pipped by a notch with the and raked in another pot.
| Alexandre Reard | 3,900,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Stephen Sakai | 1,775,000 | -800,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:03 PM Local Time
Biao Ding Eliminated in 14th Place ($17,423)
Biao Ding jammed his short stack of around 385,000 out of the small blind and was looked up by Adam Swan in the big blind right at the end of the level.
Biao Ding:
Adam Swan:
The flop left Ding on thin ice but the turn brought a potential escape via split pot. However, the miracle never happened as the river completed the board to eliminate the player from China in 14th place for $17,423.
| Adam Swan | 2,350,000 | 675,000 |
| Biao Ding | 0 | -650,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:03 PM Local Time
Level 27 started
Level: 27
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 80,000
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:59 PM Local Time
Korn Heating Up, Collecting Chips
Andres Korn entered the final two tables in Level 26 with 1,175,000. As play enters Level 27, the last of Day 2 action, he's currently sitting on approximately 4,200,000 and shows no signs of slowing down.
The WSOP bracelet winner has been aggressive with timed three-bets before the flop, and shows aggression in position.
Korn also hasn't been afraid with Ankit Ahuja, who entered the final two tables with the chip lead and is to Korn's left. Korn battled Ahuja a few hands ago and took it down before the river with bets.
| Andres Korn | 4,200,000 | 1,700,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:59 PM Local Time
Miles Chips Up Without Showdown
Over on table 660, Timothy Miles has been able to build a profit since the redraw. In the latest hand, he took on Valentino Konakchiev as they headed to the flop. Miles checked to the Bulgarian, who continued for 225,000. Miles then check-raised to 700,000 and Konakchiev gave it some thought before he folded.
| Timothy Miles | 4,090,000 | 1,140,000 |
| Girish Reknar | 2,800,000 | -15,000 |
| Niall Farrell | 2,700,000 | -600,000 |
| Stephen Sakai | 2,575,000 | 600,000 |
| Alexandre Reard | 2,500,000 | -350,000 |
| Valentino Konakchiev | 2,350,000 | -500,000 |
| Byung Eun Shin | 1,400,000 | 150,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:53 PM Local Time
Dinesh Alt Eliminated in 15th Place ($17,423)
At the same time as Adrian Mateos was all-in, Dinesh Alt jammed it in for around 1,250,000 on the button. Qiang Xu moved all in over the top and Andres Korn glanced at his cards, then folded the face-up.
Dinesh Alt:
Qiang Xu:
The flop left Alt in need of running cards and one of them came with the turn, as he could now chop with a ten. Nothing changed with the river and Alt also had to settle for a payday of $17,423.
"How much did you have, Adrian?" he inquired to the Spaniard before both headed to the payout desk to collect the same amount for their efforts.
| Qiang Xu | 6,800,000 | 2,300,000 |
| Andres Korn | 2,500,000 | 350,000 |
| Dinesh Alt | 0 | -1,280,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:49 PM Local Time
Adrian Mateos Eliminated in 16th Place ($17,423)
Down to just 350,000 in chips, Adrian Mateos found two paint cards to get it in with and was looked up by fellow WSOP bracelet winner Alexandre Reard.
Adrian Mateos:
Alexandre Reard:
The flop left Mateos on the ropes and he found no escape on the turn nor the river to bow out in 16th place for $17,423.
| Alexandre Reard | 2,850,000 | 290,000 |
| Adrian Mateos | 0 | -780,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:47 PM Local Time
Ori Hasson Eliminated in 17th Place ($17,423)
Ori Hasson couldn't avoid Andres Korn in Level 26. The first time the two clashed, it cost Hasson a good chunk of his chips.
The second time cost Hasson his tournament.
Korn raised in late position, and Hasson moved all in out of the blind. Korn called.
Korn:
Hasson:
The dealer fanned out to send Hasson to the rail for $17,423.
| Andres Korn | 2,150,000 | 400,000 |
| Ori Hasson | 0 | -360,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2023 10:39 PM Local Time
Korn Forces Out Alt
Having raised from an early position, Andres Korn then bet 100,000 when checked to by Dinesh Alt out of the big blind on the flop. Alt called and checked again on the turn as Korn moved forward a stack of T-25,000 denominations.
As Alt eyeballed the chips and inquired how much it was, Korn instantly replied "four seventy five" which was indeed the betting amount. The Swiss gave it some consideration and folded.
| Andres Korn | 1,750,000 | 255,000 |
| Dinesh Alt | 1,280,000 | -270,000 |