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2023 54th Annual World Series of Poker The Official WSOP Live Updates

Sunday, July 02, 2023 to Tuesday, July 04, 2023

Event #74: $1,000 MINI Main Event No-Limit Hold’em

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  • Buy-in: $1,000
  • Prizepool: $4,678,730
  • Entries: 5,257
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Tuesday, July 4, 2023 4:24 PM Local Time
Bradley Gafford Wins the Mini Main Event for $549,555

Bradley Gafford

Start of the day low-stack Bradley Gafford has won Event #74 $1,000 Mini Main Event No Limit Hold'em for $549,555. Gafford from San Diego, California came into the day with only six big blinds and made the biggest comeback since Lazarus to take the top prize and the coveted World Series of Poker Gold Bracelet.

Gafford, who outlasted 5,257 players over three days of play, secured their biggest recorded cash despite coming into Day 3 with only six big blinds. In the first significant hand of the day, Gafford doubled up against Jennifer Abad when his pocket threes bested Abad's ace-king.

Bradley Gafford
Bradley Gafford

The power shift came when Gafford doubled through Josh Reichard twice in the space of three hands. Firstly, Gafford flopped quad threes, then shortly after his pair of aces beat Reichard's kings which spearheaded a chain of momentum that Gafford did not surrender.

The winning moment was when Gafford in the small blind forced Reichard all in with only three big blinds. Gafford hit a three on the turn to make two pair to knockout Reichard to win their first-ever bracelet.

Event #74: $1,000 Mini Main Event Final Table Results

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize
1Bradley GaffordUnited States$549,555
2Josh ReichardUnited States$339,646
3Jeremy OleonFrance$255,215
4Jennifer AbadUnited States$193,103
5Oliver BerensUnited States$147,129

Winners Reaction

PokerNews asked Gafford if he believed he could win the bracelet despite being short-stacked coming into the final day. "I knew that there would be a possibility if I could win the first flip of the day. I just thought everything would go my way today and it did!"

Gafford was asked how it felt to win his first bracelet. "It has come way earlier than I thought, and I haven't really processed it yet and I am sure there will be a lot of deeper thinking over the next couple of days."

And finally, Gafford was asked if he was planning on jumping into the Main Event. "Absolutely I was planning on playing tomorrow (Day 1c) but we will see what happens tonight and I might jump in the final flight (Day 1d).

Day 3 Action

It looked like Reichard would steamroll his opponents throughout the two hours of play. Starting the day fourth in chips Reichard soon amassed a huge chip lead thanks to an aggressive style of play. He knocked out Oliver Berens after flopping a set of tens against their ace-queen.

Jennifer Abad had the most eccentric rail at the final table, one member of her squad was giving out t-shirts with 'Jenny for the Mini' printed on them and tried to coax members of her rivals' rails to join them. Unfortunately, this exuberance didn't help Abad out who finished fourth after getting it in with king-jack and running into Reichard's ace-high which held.

Josh Reichard
Josh Reichard

The overnight chip leader Jeremy Oleon could not get going on the final day. The Frenchman struggled to make any hands and was knocked out in third place after Reichard made a flush against their pair of kings.

Despite knocking out Berens, Abad, and Oleon, Reichard could not find the knockout moment on Gafford, and the start-of-day short-stack was not going to be denied their first WSOP Gold Bracelet.

Stick with PokerNews for more ongoing coverage of the 2023 World Series of Poker

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 2:02 PM Local Time
Josh Reichard Eliminated in 2nd Place ($339,646)

Joshua Reichard

Bradley Gafford jammed all in from the small blind. Josh Reichard called for his tournament life from the big blind as both players revealed their hands.

Josh Reichard:   
Bradley Gafford:   

The board ran out       for Gafford to eliminate Reichard in second place.

Bradley Gafford315,400,00018,400,000
Josh Reichard0-18,400,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:57 PM Local Time
Gafford Leaves Reichard Short Stack

Bradley Gafford

Josh Reichard bet for 16,000,000 from the button. Bradley Gafford defended from the big blind.

The flop came     and Gafford was quick to check to Reichard. He led out for 12,000,000 and was quickly raised to 36,000,000. Reichard jammed all in and was snap-called by Gafford.

Bradley Gafford:   
Josh Reichard:   

The board completed    for Gafford to scoop the pot and a commanding chip lead.

Bradley Gafford297,000,000162,000,000
Josh Reichard18,400,000-160,600,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:41 PM Local Time
Reichard's Aggression Pays Off

Josh Reichard bet 12,500,000 from the button. Bradley Gafford defended from the big blind.

The flop came     and Gafford checked to Reichard. He led out for 6,000,000 and was quickly raised to 19,000,000. Reichard found the call.

When the   peeled off on the turn, Gafford checked. Reichard fired for 20,000,000 and found a quick fold from Gafford.

Josh Reichard179,000,00023,000,000
Bradley Gafford135,000,000-23,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:36 PM Local Time
Reichard Gains Parity With Gafford

Josh Reichard

Bradley Gafford moved all in from the small blind and was snap-called by Josh Reichard in the big blind for 75,900,000.

Josh Reichard:   
Bradley Gafford:   

The flop of     gave Gafford a gutshot straight draw and the   turn produced the backdoor flush draw for Gafford. But the   was the massive brick that Reichard requested to secure a double up which brought both players virtually dead level.

Bradley Gafford158,000,000-51,800,000
Josh Reichard156,000,00087,000,000
Gorilla Gaming
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:31 PM Local Time
Jérémy Oleon Eliminated in 3rd Place ($255,215)

Jeremy Oleon

Jérémy Oleon moved all in from the small blind for 21,500,000 and was called by Josh Reichard in the big blind.

Jérémy Oleon:   
Josh Reichard:   

Oleon took the lead on the flop of     with a pair of kings, but the   on the turn gave Reichard a lock on the hand with the flush. The   completed the board and the Frenchman exited in third place.

Josh Reichard75,400,0006,400,000
Jérémy Oleon0-40,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:21 PM Local Time
Gafford Takes Commanding Chip Lead

Josh Reichard moved all in from the button and Bradley Gafford called for 102,400,000 in the small blind.

Bradley Gafford:   
Josh Reichard:   

Gafford was ahead and had to dodge Reichard's flopped open-ended straight draw on the board of      , but made a straight of his own to take the pot and hold two-thirds of the chips in play.

Bradley Gafford209,800,00098,800,000
Josh Reichard69,000,000-90,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:11 PM Local Time
Gafford Wins Sweat Against Reichard to Double Up

Bradley Gafford

Josh Reichard jammed all in from the button. Bradley Gafford called for less from the small blind and both players revealed their hands.

Bradley Gafford:   
Josh Reichard:   

The board ran out       for Gafford to scoop the pot with ace-high after the dangerous flop. With this pot, Gafford narrows the lead between himself and current chip leader Reichard.

Josh Reichard159,000,000-13,000,000
Bradley Gafford111,000,00041,800,000
Jérémy Oleon40,000,000-47,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 1:02 PM Local Time
Level 44 started
Level: 44
Blinds: 2,500,000/5,000,000
Ante: 5,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:56 PM Local Time
Gafford Sends Reichard to In 'n' Out for a Double Double

Bradley Gafford

Josh Reichard moved all in from the small blind and Bradley Gafford called for 15,300,000 in the big blind.

Bradley Gafford:   
Josh Reichard:   

Gafford flopped Reichard dead by getting quads on the board of       to secure a double up.

Three hands later, Reichard moved all in from the small blind and Gafford called again, this time for 32,600,000.

Bradley Gafford:   
Josh Reichard:   

Reichard took the lead on the flop of     with a pair of eights, but the   on the turn gave Gafford the lead back. The   completed the board and Gafford, who started the day with six big blinds, has dragged himself back into contention.

Josh Reichard172,000,000-37,000,000
Bradley Gafford69,200,00053,800,000
Gorilla Gaming
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:49 PM Local Time
Reichards Wins a Big One Over Oleon

Josh Reichard

Josh Reichard bet 8,000,000 from the button. Jérémy Oleon defended from the big blind as both players headed to the flop.

The flop came     and Oleon made a quick check to Reichard. He led out for 8,000,000 and was raised by Oleon to 30,000,000. Reichard called.

When the   peeled off on the turn, both players checked.

The river was the   and Oleon once again checked. Reichard took some time before announcing a bet of 52,500,000. Oleon carefully considered and eventually made the call. Reichard showed    to scoop the pot and a commanding stack among the final three players.

Josh Reichard209,000,00084,000,000
Jérémy Oleon87,000,000-61,000,000
Bradley Gafford15,400,000-24,400,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:40 PM Local Time
Jennifer Abad Eliminated in 4th Place ($193,103)

Jennifer Abad

Josh Reichard moved all in from the button and comfortably covered both blinds. Jennifer Abad decided her hand was too good not to play and called all in for 24,000,000.

Jennifer Abad:   
Josh Reichard:   

Abad needed help from the community cards which did not occur. The board of       gave Reichard a pair of threes and eliminated Abad for her biggest-ever cash score of $193,103.

Josh Reichard125,000,00011,900,000
Jennifer Abad0-42,800,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:32 PM Local Time
Level 43 started
Level: 43
Blinds: 2,000,000/4,000,000
Ante: 4,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:31 PM Local Time
Jérémy Oleon Doubles Up to Stay Alive

Jeremy Oleon

Jérémy Oleon jammed all in from the button for 73,100,000. Josh Reichard shoved from the small blind and both players revealed their hands.

Jérémy Oleon:   
Josh Reichard:   

The board ran out       for Oleon to scoop the pot and gain the chip lead.

Jérémy Oleon148,000,00049,900,000
Josh Reichard113,100,000-23,900,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:19 PM Local Time
Oliver Berens Eliminated in 5th Place ($147,129)

Oliver Berens

Josh Reichard bet 6,000,000 from under the gun and Oliver Berens moved all in from the small blind for 50,000,000. Reichard called within an instant.

Oliver Berens:   
Josh Reichard:   

A fair flip which was over on the turn as Reichard flopped a set and turned a boat on the runout of       to move into the chip lead, to the rapture of his strong rail, and send Berens to the payout desk .

Josh Reichard137,000,00049,500,000
Oliver Berens0-63,300,000
Gorilla Gaming
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:14 PM Local Time
Reichard Takes a Chunk from Abad

Josh Reichard bet 6,000,000 from the cutoff and was met with a raise from Jennifer Abad on the button to 14,000,000.

Reichard mulled things over and visually counted Abad's stack and moved all in for 66,000,000. It didn't take long before Abad folded and Reichard took a sizable uncontested pot.

Josh Reichard87,500,00031,600,000
Jennifer Abad42,800,000-14,600,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:10 PM Local Time
Gafford Wins a Flip to Double Up

Bradley Gafford

Bradley Gafford raised from under the gun to 12,000,000. Jennifer Abad jammed all in from the big blind, and Gafford was quick to make the call. Both players revealed their hands.

Bradley Gafford:   
Jennifer Abad:   

The board ran out       for Gafford to get the clean double up.

Jennifer Abad57,400,000-22,600,000
Bradley Gafford39,800,00021,400,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:05 PM Local Time
Shuffle Up and Deal!

The five remaining players are back fresh from a night's sleep and are playing down to a winner. Who will take home the bracelet?

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:03 PM Local Time
Level 42 started
Level: 42
Blinds: 1,500,000/3,000,000
Ante: 3,000,000
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 10:57 AM Local Time
Jérémy Oleon Leads Final Five Players Going Into Day 3 of Event #74: $1,000 Mini Main Event

Josh Reichard

Day 3 of Event #74: $1,000 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em begins at noon local time. Day 2 started with 428 players returning out of a starting field of 5,257, who created a total prize pool of $4,678,730. By Day 3, only five players remain, each locking up a guaranteed payout of at least $147,129 and looking to claim the first-place prize of $549,555 along with the coveted World Series of Poker gold bracelet awaiting the winner.

French player Jérémy Oleon currently leads the final table with 98,100,000. Oleon jumped to the top of the leaderboard near the end of the Day 2 when he eliminated Marius Iftimia, in a hand where he had Iftimia dominated with pocket eights against ten-eight suited.

Rounding out the final five is Miami Beach resident Oliver Berens (63,300,000), San Diego native Bradley Gafford (18,400,000), WSOP Circuit Ring Winner Josh Reichard (55,900,000), and Georgetown Poker Club Cofounder Jennifer Abad (80,000,000). With the exception of Reichard, all other players have secured their biggest tournament cash thus far.

Final Table Seat Draw and Chip Counts

SeatPlayerCountryChipsBig Blinds
2Bradley GaffordUnited States18,400,0006
3Oliver BerensUnited States63,300,00021
4Jérémy OleonFrance98,100,00033
6Josh ReichardUnited States55,900,00019
9Jennifer AbadUnited States80,000,00027

Among those who busted earlier in the day was WSOP bracelet winner Stephen Song. Bracelet winner John Reading made a deep run, but was knocked out in 21st place ($21,602) when Jérémy Oleon's ace-queen suited found a flush against Reading's pocket sixes. Two time WSOP bracelet winner Timur Margolin fell in 15th place ($26,767) when Fabrizio Nutzel called his all in from the big blind and found two pair.

Play will resume today at 12 p.m. local time, for the remaining five players. It will be in the Paris Purple section and they will play down to a winner. Day 3 will start at Level 42 with blinds of 1,500,000/3,000,000 with a big blind ante of 3,000,000.

Stay tuned for more coverage of this event and the 2023 World Series of Poker from the PokerNews live reporting team.

Playtika - Jason Alexander