Monday, June 19, 2023 11:54 PM Local Time
Qiang Xu Takes Down Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack ($339,033)
It took only two days to crown Chinese player Qiang Xu in Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack, despite 3,773 entrants being a new record for this tournament. Xu took home his first WSOP bracelet and a cash prize of $339,033.
"It's a dream coming true," said Xu a few minutes after his victory. "My goal coming from China was to win a bracelet, and now, I've got it!"
The event gathered 3,773 entrants, breaking last year's record of 2,812 runners. Some 566 players cashed in this year's event for a $1,282 min-cash.
Xu was in action early on Day 2 and stayed near the top of the chip counts for a long time. "I ran very good from start to finish," recognized Xu, who had a massive chip lead at three tables left and two tables left.
"I tried to use my stack to pressure at this point," he explained. "Then I changed my strategy a bit to be more stable. That's what I did at the final table when my stack decreased. Afterward, I tried not to hurry up and to find the right moment to catch up."
He managed to win a crucial flip in the four-handed play to stay alive. In the heads-up, Xu defeated American player Jason Johnson after a few hands to be crowned as a WSOP champion.
Qiang Xu
Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Qiang Xu | China | $339,033 |
| 2 | Jason Johnson | United States | $209,547 |
| 3 | John Ciccarelli | United States | $157,776 |
| 4 | Christian Cheng | Taiwan | $119,629 |
| 5 | Richard Smith | United States | $91,347 |
| 6 | Charles Johnson | United States | $70,247 |
| 7 | Dorian Melchers | France | $54,408 |
| 8 | Oren Rosen | Israel | $42,445 |
Among the 566 players who took home some money, 238 came back on June 19 for the final day. The action was fast, as were the eliminations, which didn't slow down until the final table early in the evening.
The 2021 WSOP Main Event champion Koray Aldemir fell in 12th place for $21,052, narrowly missing out on another WSOP final table. Donna Stutts joined the rail before the dinner break, busting in ninth place and leaving only eight players in contention for the title.
Final Table Action
Short stacks Oren Rosen and Dorian Melchers were the first to fall. Charles Johnson lost his chips to his namesake Jason Johnson with ace-five suited against pocket sevens. Jason Johnson took the lead and five-handed play lasted for a while.
Eventually, Richard Smith was the next to exit the tournament with queen-nine off against pocket kings held by Jason Johnson.
Xu and Christian Cheng played a huge pot before Cheng lost a flip and finished fourth some hands later. John Ciccarelli was next to end his deep run, with an impressive third place worth $157,776.
The heads-up battle between Xu and Johnson was quite fast as Xu doubled immediately to take the lead. Xu and Johnson played a huge flip with pocket sixes against ace-king suited. Xu made a straight with his pocket pair to eliminate Johnson and secure the victory.
Qiang Xu
Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews live reporting team for live updates from the floor throughout the rest of the 2023 World Series Of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Monday, June 19, 2023 11:28 PM Local Time
Jason Johnson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($209,547)
From the button, Jason Johnson moved all in for 30,600,000 chips and received a call from Qiang Xu.
Jason Johnson:
Qiang Xu:
A coin flip would decide the outcome of the tournament. The dealer revealed on the flop, the on the turn, and finally the on the river, giving Xu a straight.
The Chinese player is the winner of this $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack and wins his first WSOP bracelet. For his second-place finish, Jason Johnson takes home a prize of $209,547.
Stay tuned for the recap of Event 42 of the 2023 World Series of Poker!
| Qiang Xu | 151,120,000 | 34,220,000  |
| Jason Johnson | 0 | -34,100,000  |
Monday, June 19, 2023 11:22 PM Local Time
Level 43 started
Level: 43
Blinds: 1,500,000/3,000,000
Ante: 3,000,000
Monday, June 19, 2023 11:20 PM Local Time
Xu Doubles On Second Hand
With half the number of chips compared to his opponent, Qiang Xu limped from the button, but Jason Johnson raised him to 5,500,000 from the big blind.
Xu called the raise, and he called again when Johnson continued to 8,000,000 on the flop .
On the turn , Johnson checked. Xu took this opportunity to bet 13,500,000. In response, Johnson went all in and Xu snap called.
Qiang Xu:
Jason Johnson:
With a top pair and a flush draw, Xu was ahead and remained ahead after the river . Thanks to his double up, Xu is now in the lead with more than 100,000,000 chips.
| Qiang Xu | 116,900,000 | 54,700,000 |
| Jason Johnson | 34,100,000 | -54,700,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 11:07 PM Local Time
Break Before Heads Up
There will be a 10-minute break for the last two players. Heads up will start shortly.
Monday, June 19, 2023 11:05 PM Local Time
John Ciccarelli Eliminated in 3rd Place ($157,776)
John Ciccarelli moved all in on the button and Jason Johnson made the call on the big blind.
John Ciccarelli:
Jason Johnson:
The board revealed and Ciccarelli was eliminated in third place for $157,776.
| Jason Johnson | 88,800,000 | 10,500,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 62,200,000 | 3,800,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 0 | -14,300,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:57 PM Local Time
Christian Cheng Eliminated in 4th Place ($119,629)
Qiang Xu opened to 5,500,000 on the button and Christian Cheng went all in from the small blind with a short stack of 12,600,000. Xu quickly called.
Christian Cheng:
Qiang Xu:
The board ran and Xu won the flip, leaving Cheng join the rail in fourth place for $119,629.
| Jason Johnson | 78,300,000 | 6,300,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 58,400,000 | 18,900,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 14,300,000 | -11,300,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 0 | -13,900,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:46 PM Local Time
Xu Doubles Up Through Cheng
Qiang Xu shoved for 18,500,000 in the small blind and Christian Cheng called from the big blind.
Qiang Xu:
Christian Cheng:
The board came and Xu doubled up.
| Jason Johnson | 72,000,000 | -1,300,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 39,500,000 | 22,225,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 25,600,000 | -8,750,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 13,900,000 | -12,200,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:38 PM Local Time
Level 42 started
Level: 42
Blinds: 1,300,000/2,500,000
Ante: 2,500,000
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:22 PM Local Time
Break
After Cheng's double up, a 15-minute break was given to the last four players of the tournament.
| Jason Johnson | 73,300,000 | -4,000,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 34,350,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 26,100,000 | -5,000,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 17,275,000 | 0 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:19 PM Local Time
Cheng Doubles Through Ciccarelli
From the cutoff, Christian Cheng said "all in" for his 13,600,000 chips. Jason Johnson on the button folded, but John Ciccarelli in the small blind put all his chips in the middle too.
Christian Cheng:
John Ciccarelli:
Cheng was lucky because he found a pair of jacks on the flop . The rail asked for a deuce or a four to secure his win. The came on the turn, but it was the on the river. Nevertheless, this card still helped Cheng, who doubled up.
| Jason Johnson | 77,300,000 | -6,000,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 31,100,000 | 17,550,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 29,350,000 | -7,550,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 17,275,000 | 0 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:14 PM Local Time
Richard Smith Eliminated in 5th Place ($91,347)
Once again, Richard Smith moved all in from the button for 16,300,000 chips. Christian Cheng folded in the small blind, but Jason Johnson in the big blind quickly called and stood up while revealing his hand.
Richard Smith:
Jason Johnson:
The dealer fanned a flop of , which gave a pair of queens to Smith. However, he still needed another queen or a nine to avoid elimination. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't find the cards he wanted on the turn and the river .
| Jason Johnson | 83,300,000 | 17,300,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 36,900,000 | 0 |
| Qiang Xu | 17,275,000 | 0 |
| Christian Cheng | 13,550,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Richard Smith | 0 | -16,300,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 10:04 PM Local Time
All In Or Nothing
As stacks are getting shorter due to the blinds rising, the smallest stacks are now in a "push or fold" position.
Christian Cheng, Qiang Xu, Richard Smith and even John Ciccarelli are in this situation, so they have moved all in several times preflop, but nobody has called them. As a result, the blinds are simply moving from one stack to another for now.
| Jason Johnson | 66,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 36,900,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 17,275,000 | -3,000,000 |
| Richard Smith | 16,300,000 | 0 |
| Christian Cheng | 14,550,000 | -4,000,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:58 PM Local Time
Level 41 started
Level: 41
Blinds: 1,000,000/2,000,000
Ante: 2,000,000
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:51 PM Local Time
Johnson Still Ahead
Qiang Xu opened in the cutoff for 3,000,000 and Jason Johnson decided to reraise for 6,000,000 on the big blind. Xu called and the flop came .
Both players checked to see the turn . With , Johnson bet 4,500,000 and Xu called.
On the river , Johnson continued to 5,500,000 and Xu folded .
| Jason Johnson | 60,000,000 | 11,500,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 35,900,000 | 0 |
| Qiang Xu | 20,275,000 | -10,500,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 18,550,000 | -4,000,000 |
| Richard Smith | 16,300,000 | -1,000,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:46 PM Local Time
Split Pot
Jason Johnson opened to 3,700,000 under the gun and only Qiang Xu called on the button.
On the flop , on the turn and on the river , both players checked and they split, both holding .
| Jason Johnson | 48,500,000 | 5,000,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 35,900,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 30,775,000 | -2,000,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 22,550,000 | 20,695,000 |
| Richard Smith | 17,300,000 | -3,000,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:45 PM Local Time
Kabrhel Denies Cheating Allegations, Threatens to Sue Robl
Many within the high roller community have taken a stance against the often erratic and controversial Martin Kabrhel, some accusing the Czech poker player of marking cards during the recently completed $250,000 buy-in World Series of Poker (WSOP) Super High Roller.
In response, via a series of tweets, Kabrhel, who finished third, denied cheating and threatened legal action against Andrew Robl, the player who first brought forth the allegations.
Read the Full Story Here
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:40 PM Local Time
Few Small Pots
Christian Cheng opened to 3,100,000 on the cutoff with and Jason Johnson called with on the button. From the small blind, John Ciccarelli moved all in with and both his opponents folded.
Some minutes later, Qiang Xu opened to 3,500,000 with on the button and Christian Cheng went all in from the big blind, holding . It was enough to take the pot before the flop.
Christian Cheng opened to 3,100,000 on the button with and John Ciccarelli called from the big blind.
On the flop , Cheng continuation-bet to 2,700,000 and got a call. On the turn and on the river , both players checked. Ciccarelli revealed and grabbed the pot.
| Jason Johnson | 43,500,000 | -9,500,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 36,900,000 | 8,100,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 32,775,000 | 9,400,000 |
| Richard Smith | 20,300,000 | -3,000,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 1,855,000 | -23,095,000 |
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:24 PM Local Time
Level 40 started
Level: 40
Blinds: 1,000,000/1,500,000
Ante: 1,500,000
Monday, June 19, 2023 9:16 PM Local Time
One For Johnson
Jason Johnson opened to 2,400,000 with on the button and both John Ciccarelli and Qiang Xu called in the blinds.
The flop came , Ciccarelli and Xu checked. Johnson insisted to 4,000,000 and only Xu called with .
Both players checked on the turn .
On the river , Johnson fired again for 8,000,000 and Xu folded his cards.
| Jason Johnson | 53,000,000 | 2,600,000 |
| John Ciccarelli | 28,800,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Christian Cheng | 24,950,000 | 950,000 |
| Qiang Xu | 23,375,000 | -1,325,000 |
| Richard Smith | 23,300,000 | -3,000,000 |