Event #55: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

After three days of play, Marcin Horecki has emerged victorious in Event $55: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better at the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. He outlasted a field of 566 entrants that generated a prize pool of $755,610 to take home $155,275 and his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet.

Horecki defeated Mike Matusow, who came just short of winning his fifth career gold bracelet, in heads-up play to secure the win.

Event #55: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

Horecki, who has been retired from professional poker for five years, said the experience was a dream come true.

"As you know, it's the first bracelet for Poland, long-awaited. And I'm kind of old school, a grandfather, let's say, among Polish poker players. In actuality, I've been retired for five years, so I came back to play just for fun, and it seems I did not forget the game. The cards were going my way",

Horecki had a lively rail of friends and fellow poker players throughout the final table and was deeply appreciative of their support.

"When I used to play regularly in Vegas, there were maybe three to five Polish players. Now the group is twenty plus, and I really appreciate it. The atmosphere was perfect, and I couldn't ask for more."

When asked about facing Matusow heads up for his first bracelet Horecki credited much of his success to having a unique playing style, particularly in formats other than Texas Hold'em.

"I think he gave me too much credit. Of course, I think I played well, but I was expecting a hard time. The last hand, of course, was a bit lucky on my side, but he doubled up twice from 400,000. I made some really good plays where I bet and he folded the best hand or a chop. I think I did well. You would expect I would be rusty, but my biggest strength is playing in unorthodox games and unorthodox situations. Unlike in Texas Hold'em, in games like this, there are so many spots where you can use your imagination. I'm really happy I won a bracelet in such a game. Stud Hi-Lo is such an enjoyable game, and I enjoyed every second".

Before he left, he spoke about what the support of other Polish poker players meant to him.

"I would like to thank once again the support of all Polish poker players. It meant a lot to me. I hope now we will start winning a lot of bracelets for Poland. The first is done. I wish all professional poker players success, to enjoy the game, and to enjoy life".

Final Day Recap

The day started with 18 players, who were quickly reduced to an unofficial final table of nine. Early exits to start the day included Darryl Ronconi, Lonnie Heimowitz, Timothy Frazin, Ahmed Mohamed, Denny Axel, Kyle Hinnerichs, Jose Paz-Gutierrez, James Juvancic and Patricia Yannuzzi.

Kao Saechao was next to be eliminated when his two pair was bested by Day 2 chip leader James Cheung who had aces up. Saechao's elimination marked the start of the official final table.

Chris George was the first official final table casualty. He was on the receiving end of a brutal cooler when his two pair was cracked by Scott Numoto, who made trips on seventh street to send him to the rail.

Brian Rast found himself short-stacked at several points during Day 3 but consistently found ways to spin his chip stack buck up. He finally bowed out in seventh place after losing a monster pot to Horecki, leaving him very short-stacked. He bust out not long after.

Michael Estes was next to go, losing several key pots where he failed to connect with his draws, ultimately losing the last of his chips to Cheung who managed to hit a pair and a low while Estes bricked out.

Sergio Braga was one of the shorter stacks for much of the final table but did an admirable job of fighting back in key spots and laddering up. His tournament life came to an end at the hands of Scott Numoto, who hit both a two pair and a low to secure a massive triple up.

Day 2 chip leader James Cheung quickly followed him out the door to set up three-handed play. Then, following the elimination of Scott Numoto in third place, heads up play began between Matusow and Horecki.

Heads up play lasted about two hours. Horecki started heads-up play with roughly a 3-1 chip advantage, but Matusow put in a valiant effort, reducing the gap between himself and Horecki on several occasions. At one point, Horecki got Matusow to fold a chop and left him very short-stacked.

Although Matusow did manage to double up twice from that point, he had to settle for second place after Horecki pulled ahead of his pair of eights with a pair of jacks on sixth street and he was unable to improve himself.

This concludes the PokerNews coverage for this event, but there is still plenty more action to come at the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, so be sure to stay tuned for all the live updates from each and every bracelet event.

Mike Matusow:   /    / 
Marcin Horecki:   /    / 

In what would be the final hand of the tournament, Mike Matusow completed and Marcin Horecki called.

Horecki called a bet from Matusow on fourth and then raised a bet from Matusow on fifth. Matusow called all in and boards were run.

Matusow was well ahead with his eights, but Horecki caught a jack on sixth to vault into the lead.

Matusow bricked out on sixth and seventh and was eliminated in second place.

Marcin Horecki	14,150,000	1,400,000
Mike Matusow	0	-1,400,000

Marcin Horecki:    /    
Mike Matusow:    /     - folded on seventh street

Marcin Horecki completed with a five and Mike Matusow defended his bring in.

Fourth through sixth street saw action repeat itself with Horecki betting each time. On sixth street Matusow tanked for approximately two minutes before making the call.

On seventh Horecki bet again, enough to put Matusow all in. Once again Matusow went deep into the tank, at one point revealing that he had only a pair of sevens with no low and was contemplating making a huge hero call.

Eventually Matusow made the fold, leaving himself with just under one big bet. Horecki showed his cards, revealing he had gotten Matusow off a chop with only had a pair of threes and an eight low .

Marcin Horecki	13,750,000	1,100,000
Mike Matusow	400,000	-1,100,000

Marcin Horecki:    /    
Mike Matusow:    /    

Marcin Horecki completed and Mike Matusow called.

Horecki called bets from Matusow on fourth through sixth street and then bet himself on seventh. Matusow called and Horecki tabled     for trip tens.

An incredulous Matusow showed he held     for two pair and Horecki scooped the large pot — leaving Matusow with his largest chip deficit of the match so far.

Marcin Horecki	12,650,000	3,000,000
Mike Matusow	1,500,000	-3,000,000

Marcin Horecki:   /    / 
Mike Matusow:    /    

Marcin Horecki completed and Mike Matusow called.

Matusow called bets from Horecki on fourth and fifth street and then Horecki called bets from Matusow on sixth and seventh.

Matusow turned over     for trip threes with a low and Horecki mucked — conceding the pot to Matusow.

Marcin Horecki	9,650,000	-2,000,000
Mike Matusow	4,500,000	2,000,000

Marcin Horecki:   /    
Mike Matusow:   /     -folded on sixth street

Mike Matusow completed and Marcin Horecki called.

Horecki called a bet from Matusow on fourth street and then raised a bet from Matusow on fifth. Matusow called.

Horecki bet on sixth and Matusow went deep into the tank.

"This is a bad fold," Matusow said as he sent his cards into the muck — sending the pot Horecki's way.

Marcin Horecki	10,150,000	1,400,000
Mike Matusow	4,000,000	-1,400,000

Players are now on a 15-minute break, with action scheduled to resume at approximately 11:14 local time.

Marcin Horecki	8,750,000	-650,000
Mike Matusow	5,400,000	650,000

Marcin Horecki:   /    / 
Mike Matusow:   /    / 

Mike Matusow completed with a king and was called by Marcin Horecki, who took the betting lead on fourth through sixth street. Matusow made the call each time.

Both players checked on seventh street.

"Tens" Horecki said, tabling one pair without a low. One pair was evidently good as Matusow's hand hit the muck soon after and Horecki scooped the pot to extend his lead.

Marcin Horecki	11,135,000	1,985,000
Mike Matusow	3,015,000	-1,985,000

Mike Matusow and Marcin Horecki are now heads up for the gold bracelet and $155,275 first-place prize.

Horecki enters heads-up play with about a three-to-one chip lead over Matusow.

Marcin Horecki	10,635,000	0
Mike Matusow	3,515,000	0

James Cheung:   /    / 
Marcin Horecki:   /    / 

James Cheung completed and Marcin Horecki raised. Everyone else folded and Cheung called off for the rest of his stack.

Horecki's board improved him to two pair on sixth street and Cheung couldn't catch up — eliminating Cheung in fourth place.

Marcin Horecki	9,400,000	545,000
James Cheung	0	-500,000