Saturday, June 17, 2023 2:40 AM Local Time
Ryutaro Suzuki Becomes Japan's Mixed-Game Master in Event #36: $3,000 Nine Game Mix
A total of 361 players showed up to the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #36: $1,500 Nine Game Mix, generating a prize pool of $963,870 and first-place prize of $221,124. When the final hand was dealt around 1:30 a.m. local time inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, it was already past 5 p.m. in Japan, where a poker-mad nation witnessed a new homegrown star.
Ryutaro Suzuki, just 22 years old, became just the seventh World Series of Poker bracelet winner from Japan when he defeated Walter Chambers in a short heads-up match, bringing an end to a dominating final table performance. Suzuki won an online Circuit ring in 2021 for $140,050 but his previous best live WSOP cash was for a 69th place finish in the Eight Game Mix less than a week ago for just over $3,000.
Suzuki's magical run to the bracelet was chronicled the entire way by a large contingent of Japanese media and supporters, showing the growth of the game and its potential in a nation of more than 125 million people. After his victory, Suzuki recognized the importance of this win for the Japanese poker community.
"Now the Japanese poker community is really growing up. There were a few bracelet holders, especially in mixed games. So it's really so special for me and the poker community," Suzuki said through translator Tamon Nakamura, himself a rising Japanese star and fourth-place finisher in this event.
Suzuki only took up mixed games a year ago and enjoyed the experience so much that he bookmarked this year's WSOP as the year when he would try to put everything he learned to the test against the game's most experienced and seasoned professionals. With his fearless aggression and sharp strategy, he overpowered one of the toughest fields at the WSOP, prevailing over several past bracelet winners until he joined their ranks.
"I'm not so long experienced in mixed games. But last year I experienced mixed games and it was really fun for me. So I target this year for mixed game events. I practice a lot. [Nakamura] also told me and I prayed a lot. Luckily I won. I'm not a master. I tried and had some luck," Suzuki said.
2023 WSOP Event #36 Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Ryutaro Suzuki | Japan | $221,124 |
| 2 | Walter Chambers | United States | $136,667 |
| 3 | Jason Pedigo | United States | $92,860 |
| 4 | Tamon Nakamura | Japan | $64,320 |
| 5 | Ian Steinman | United States | $45,434 |
| 6 | Renan Bruschi | Brazil | $32,741 |
| 7 | Per Hildebrand | Sweden | $24,081 |
Day 3 Action
Suzuki came into Day 3 in ninth place out of 22 returning players but won a massive pot with rolled up quads in Seven Card Stud to climb up the leaderboard. Day 1 chip leader Andres Korn fell in 21st place, while Jean Gaspard (20th), Chris Vitch (19th), Yueqi Zhu (16th), Philip Long (12th), Shawn Buchanan (11th), and Scott Clements (9th) missed the final table.
By the time of the final table, Suzuki had opened up a sizeable chip lead with 3,950,000. But it was his native countryman Nakamura who scored the first knockout on the first hand, making a straight in Seven Card Stud to eliminate bracelet winner Justin Liberto in eighth place.
Per Hildebrand, who began the final table in second place, fell sharply on the leaderboard before losing his last chips to Nakamura in a pot of Stud Hi-Lo. Then the final table entered a sort of stalemate as Ian Steinman, knocked down to just 30,000 at one point in the day, doubled up repeatedly and stayed alive. Renan Bruschi finally fell in sixth place when, down to just 65,000, he moved all in with king-three and lost to Jason Pedigo's ace-queen in No-Limit Hold'em. Steinman finally had his run end in fifth place when he called all in on the turn holding top pair, but Nakamura had made a straight.
Chambers took the chip lead away from Suzuki for the first time at the final table when he made a jack-high straight in Omaha Hi-Lo. Nakamura, meanwhile, enjoyed a roller coaster-like experience at the final table. He doubled up twice, fell back down to 145,000, then quadrupled up and doubled up again. Suddenly he was back up to nearly 2,000,000.
Tamon Nakamura
Four-handed Action
Suzuki, Chambers, Nakamura, and Pedigo played four-handed for nearly three hours as Suzuki retook the chip lead from Chambers after showing the nut flush in Stud Hi-Lo. Suzuki began to significantly widen his lead when he made No. 3 on Pedigo in 2-7 Triple Draw, crossing 8,000,000, then won with two pair against Chambers in Stud to approach 10,000,000.
Nakamura's luck finally ran out when he made a 9-8 in Razz, but Suzuki had an 8-7 to send his countryman out in fourth place. On the next hand, Pedigo was eliminated as Suzuki made a jack-ten. Suzuki had a nearly 10-1 chip lead over Chambers at the start of heads-up, 12,000,000 to 2,400,000, and the match wouldn't last long.
Chambers potted the flop for 1,100,000 with straight and flush draws. Suzuki called with two aces and held on as he let out a loud yell and ran over to celebrate with his supporters on the rail, including Nakamura who stuck around to cheer him on after his elimination.
Ryutaro Suzuki
The win was Suzuki's, but it was also for all of Japan. There's a new Japanese star who's just at the start of his poker journey. But Suzuki doesn't want to stop at just being famous back home. He has much loftier goals than that.
"I want to be more famous in Japan, but also more famous in the world. A worldwide poker player like Daniel Negreanu. This is the first event for me becoming a more great player," he said.
The celebration that began around the feature table will soon travel across the Pacific back to Suzuki's home. In a field full of poker stars and bracelet winners, he proved he belongs with the game's best.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the Nine Game Mix. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the 2023 WSOP.
Saturday, June 17, 2023 1:22 AM Local Time
Walter Chambers Eliminated in 2nd Place ($136,667)
Pot-Limit Omaha
Ryutaro Suzuki potted to 240,000 on the button and Walter Chambers called.
The flop came and Chambers checked over to Suzuki, who bet 250,000. Chambers now announced pot for his last 1,100,000 and Suzuki called.
Walter Chambers:
Ryutaro Suzuki:
Suzuki needed his aces to hold against Chambers' combo draw to get the bracelet, and he stayed in front on the turn. The river came the and Suzuki paused as he studied the board for a moment to make sure he won, then let out a loud yell as he ran over to celebrate with his Japanese rail.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 14,440,000 | 2,440,000  |
| Walter Chambers | 0 | -2,400,000  |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 1:18 AM Local Time
Jason Pedigo Eliminated in 3rd Place ($92,860)
Razz
Jason Pedigo: / /
Ryutaro Suzuki: / /
Walter Chambers: /
After Walter Chambers brought in, Ryutaro Suzuki completed and Jason Pedigo three-bet all in for 255,000. Chambers folded, and Suzuki called.
Pedigo was ahead with three to a nine versus Suzuki's three to a queen, but Pedigo then got a horrific runout, making a full house, while Suzuki sent him to the pay window with his jack-ten low.
Suzuki and Chambers will now play heads-up for the WSOP bracelet and the 221,124 first prize
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 12,000,000 | 200,000 |
| Walter Chambers | 2,400,000 | -125,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 0 | -650,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 1:09 AM Local Time
Tamon Nakamura Eliminated in 4th Place ($64,320)
Razz
Tamon Nakamura: /
Ryutaro Suzuki: /
Ryutaro Suzuki completed and Tamon Nakamura called. Nakamura called again on fourth street, then committed his last chips on fifth.
He finished with for a 9-8, but Suzuki made for 8-7-6-3-A to send his fellow countryman to the rail in fourth place after a valiant effort at battling back from a short stack.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 11,800,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 0 | -560,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 1:07 AM Local Time
Suzuki Earns a Dramatic Chop
Omaha Hi-Lo
Ryutaro Suzuki raised on the button before Tamon Nakamura reraised in the small blind, leaving himself 30,000 behind.
"Let's gamble. No Gamble, No Future," Nakamura said as Jason Pedigo tanked in the big blind. He eventually folded, but Suzuki put Nakamura all in and Nakamura called.
Tamon Nakamura:
Ryutaro Suzuki:
The flop gave Nakamura a set and a near-lock on the hand, but the turn gave Suzuki outs to a low. He completed his low as the fell on the river.
"What the f**k. Very, very great flop for me," Nakamura playfully said as Suzuki began dancing and making a chopping motion at the board.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 10,800,000 | 125,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 560,000 | -190,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 1:03 AM Local Time
Scoop-zuki Crosses Ten Million
Omaha Hi-Lo
After Walter Chambers raised on the button, Ryutaro Suzuki made it three bets to go from the small blind. Chambers called to see a flop.
It came and Suzuki led out with a bet. Chambers called and the came on the turn.
Suzuki bet again and Chambers called once more to see the river .
Suzuki bet a final time and Chambers called again.
Suzuki rolled over for a pair of jacks with his ace-five for low. Chambers showed for a pair of decues and a worse low, sending a critical scoop to Suzuki.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 10,675,000 | 875,000 |
| Walter Chambers | 2,525,000 | -275,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:55 AM Local Time
Chambers' Turn to Make Two Pair
Seven Card Stud
Walter Chambers: / /
Tamon Nakamura: / /
Tamon Nakamura completed and was called by Walter Chambers. Nakamura bet again on fourth street and Chambers called.
On fifth, Chambers opened the betting and Nakamura did the calling. Chambers bet on sixth, Nakamura called, then Chambers put out a bet on seventh.
Nakamura called once again and Chambers showed for aces and sixes to win the pot.
| Walter Chambers | 2,800,000 | 1,350,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 750,000 | -1,310,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:53 AM Local Time
Suzuki Running Away From the Field
Seven Card Stud
Ryutaro Suzuki: / /
Walter Chambers: / /
Walter Chambers completed, then Ryutaro Suzuki raised. Chambers called the raise, then proceeded to call bets down to seventh street.
Suzuki bet again on seventh and Chambers tanked for about a minute before calling.
Suzuki turned over for two pair and Chambers mucked as Suzuki began to widen his chip lead significantly.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 9,800,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Walter Chambers | 1,450,000 | -1,950,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:49 AM Local Time
Nakamura Doubles Up
Seven Card Stud
Tamon Nakamura: / /
Ryutaro Suzuki: / /
Jason Pedigo: / - folded bring-in
Ryutaro Suzuki completed and was raised by Tamon Nakamura. Suzuki called to see fourth street, then check-called a bet from Nakamura to get to the big bet rounds.
Nakamura picked up an ace and bet, which got a call from Suzuki after a bit of thought.
Then pairing his ace on sixth, Nakamura moved all in for his last 210,000 which got a call from Suzuki.
Nakamura was ahead with aces and nines, but Suzuki had a heart flush draw, and a four would also win it for him so long as Nakamura didn't fill up.
Nakamura bricked seventh street, but so did Suzuki, earning Nakamura a double up.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 8,300,000 | -510,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 2,060,000 | 830,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 650,000 | -50,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:38 AM Local Time
Pedigo Doubles Up
No-Limit Hold'em
On the first hand back from break, Ryutaro Suzuki moved all in from the button and Tamon Nakamura and Jason Pedigo folded from the blinds.
On the second, action folded to Pedigo in the small blind who moved all in for 340,000. Walter Chambers in the big blind gave it some thought before calling.
Jason Pedigo:
Walter Chambers:
The flop didn't improve either player, but the turn gave Pedigo two pair and left Chambers drawing dead. The river was the and Pedigo doubled up
| Walter Chambers | 3,400,000 | -465,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 700,000 | 160,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:33 AM Local Time
Level 29 started
Level: 29
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 0
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:22 AM Local Time
Updated Counts at Break
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 8,810,000 | -90,000 |
| Walter Chambers | 3,865,000 | -435,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 1,230,000 | 30,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 540,000 | 40,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:22 AM Local Time
Break Time
The remaining four players are now on a 15-minute break.
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:21 AM Local Time
Suzuki Caps It
2-7 Triple Draw
Ryutaro Suzuki raised on the button before Tamon Nakamura three-bet in the small blind. Suzuki made it four bets and Nakamura called.
Both players stood pat and Suzuki bet. Nakamura now raised, Suzuki reraised, and Nakamura reraised.
Suzuki asked if he could reraise, and upon hearing confirmation that he could he put in the fifth raise. Nakamura quickly folded as Suzuki widened his chip lead.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 8,900,000 | 900,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 1,200,000 | -1,020,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:19 AM Local Time
Suzuki Makes No. 3
2-7 Triple Draw
Jason Pedigo raised under the gun before Ryutaro Suzuki three-bet in the small blind. Pedigo called and took two, while Suzuki stood pat.
Suzuki led out with a bet and Pedigo called. Suzuki again stood pat and bet, while Pedigo called after drawing one.
Suzuki patted the final draw and bet as Pedigo tanked for a moment before calling.
"No. 3," Suzuki announced, turning over 7-6-5-3-2.
"Wow. I made my hand," Pedigo said as he mucked.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 8,000,000 | 1,370,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 500,000 | -900,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:14 AM Local Time
Suzuki Wins With Aggression
Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
Ryutaro Suzuki raised in the cutoff and was called by Jason Pedigo in the small blind and Walter Chambers in the big blind.
Pedigo drew one while his opponents each took two. Action was then checked to Suzuki who bet and got a pair of calls.
On the second draw, Pedigo still took one, Chambers still needed two, but Suzuki only drew one this round.
After two more checks to Suzuki, he bet again, but this time instead of two calls, he got two folds, to take down a decent-sized pot.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 6,630,000 | 1,430,000 |
| Walter Chambers | 4,300,000 | -300,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 1,400,000 | -600,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:07 AM Local Time
Pedigo Gets Paid By Suzuki
2-7 Triple Draw
Jason Pedigo raised under the gun, then called when Ryutaro Suzuki reraised in the small blind.
Both players drew one and checked, then drew one again on the second draw. Suzuki this time led out with a bet and Pedigo called.
Suzuki stood pat and Pedigo drew one on the last draw. Suzuki now checked and Pedigo bet.
Suzuki spent about a minute in the tank before he called and Pedigo showed his to take the pot.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 5,200,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Jason Pedigo | 2,000,000 | 475,000 |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:05 AM Local Time
Chambers Pays Off Suzuki's Flush
Stud Hi-Lo
Ryutaro Suzuki: / /
Walter Chambers: / /
Ryutaro Suzuki completed and Walter Chambers called. Suzuki continued betting down to seventh street, with Chambers calling each bet.
Suzuki bet again on seventh and this time Chambers went into the tank. "I don't know if you hit the flush or not," Chambers said before eventually calling.
Suzuki turned over , showing that he had the flush and Chambers mucked.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 6,200,000 | 790,000 |
| Walter Chambers | 4,600,000 | -1,400,000 |
Friday, June 16, 2023 11:58 PM Local Time
Nakamura and Suzuki Build a Big Pot
Stud Hi-Lo
Ryutaro Suzuki: /
Tamon Nakamura: /
Tamon Nakamura defended his bring-in after it was completed by Ryutaro Suzuki.
On fourth street, showing an ace, Nakamura bet and got a call from Suzuki.
Fifth street saw Suzuki pair his door card queen and lead out with a bet of his own. Nakamura called to see sixth street.
Suzuki now checked, which got a bet from Nakamura that Suzuki check-raised. Nakamura then snap three-bet, which got a call from Suzuki.
On seventh street, Suzuki check-called a final bet from Nakamura and was relieved to see they were chopping with Suzuki holding two pair for hi and Nakamura an eight-six low for the other half of the pot.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 5,410,000 | 680,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 2,220,000 | 70,000 |
Friday, June 16, 2023 11:43 PM Local Time
More For Nakamura
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
After Ryutaro Suzuki raised to 150,000 in the cutoff, Tamon Nakamura did some thinking as he cut down and spread out his now healthy stack of two million chips as he debated what move to make next.
He decided on a three-bet to 450,000, which got folds back to Suzuki and a quick fold from him as well.
| Ryutaro Suzuki | 4,730,000 | -70,000 |
| Tamon Nakamura | 2,150,000 | 290,000 |