Event #88: $1,500 The Closer - No-Limit Hold’em

Event #88: $1,500 The Closer has come to an end at the 2023 World Series of Poker and America's Pierre Shum was the winner of one of the last bracelets of the summer and a refreshing $606,810. The event drew 3,531 entries in just two days and generated a prize pool of $4,713,885.

2023 WSOP Event #88 Final Table Results

Shum outlasted 258 returning players on the tournament's final day to defeat Peter Nigh in heads-up play to win $606,810 and his first WSOP gold bracelet. More surprising is the unlikely result, as this is Shum's first ever poker tournament. With a blaze of glory like that PokerNews can only imagine what more could follow such a young talent with a taste of victory.

Winner's Interview

When asked where did he and this run come from Shum replied:

"I was born in Jamaica, and my parents moved there for work. I've played poker for a pretty long time, but mostly with friends. I started playing cash games more recently this year. I came in here today to try and win the tournament. The money wasn't even in my mind"

Talking about his inspiration and start in poker, Shum said:

"I started off mostly because my friends played it. I've definitely made lots of friends from the poker table. Where I play, it is very social, so it's fun."

When asked about plans aside from poker, Shum responded:

"I haven't even thought about it. I was mostly just focused on the day and taking the tournament down."

PokerNews mentioned that Shum is a software engineer, but perhaps those aspirations would be put aside to chase more bracelets. To this, Shum replied:

"We'll see!"

Lastly, Shum was asked if there was anything else he'd like to say to those reading at home. Shum considered before mentioning:

"I don't think so... well, if you like poker, try a tournament. You never know."

Shum defeated Nigh in heads-up play after the two players survived the treacherous final table of the event. Nigh was followed in third place by Roongsak Griffeth, and in fourth by Jack Duong, As Griffeth eliminated Duong then fell to Nigh shortly after.

Final Day Action

The day kicked off with 258 players, and the tournament saw players being eliminated left and right. Chris Moorman made an impressive run to 15th until he was eliminated by Mateus Carrion De Moraes. It was one of several cashes for Moorman at this year's WSOP.

Sanjeev Kapoor and Peter Hengsakul were the first from the final table to go in ninth and eight, respectively. Kapoor found himself losing a flip against Amirpasha Emami. Hengsakul was less fortunate, finding himself in a cooler of tens against jacks.

In seventh was Jixue Yin, who became the first player to cash over $100,000. Unfortunately, Yin couldn't avoid making the second best hand despite flopping two pair.

Mihai Niste was joined by a fan club donning tiger print shirts. Even with this help, Niste's Kings couldn't hold on an ace-high board.

Fifth, fourth, and third all fell in rapid succession. First, Emami was drawing dead on the turn against Shum's turned nut flush. Just after, Jack Duong called an all-in that had all ends of the rail questioning his decision. He could not find a four or five to survive and was out in fourth. Lastly, was Griffeth who lost with the dominating hand against the larger stacked Nigh.

The two heads-up players traded pots until Shum found quads with his tournament life on the line. Finally, Shum's queen-deuce flopped a monster after being all in against Nigh to take down the tournament.

Congratulations to Pierre Shum of Chicago, Illinois, for winning his first tournament and bracelet in Event #85: $1,500 The Closer at the 2023 WSOP in its new home at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas!

Be sure to keep it here for the rest of the week as PokerNews will be on hand to provide live updates for the remaining events.

Peter Nigh limped from the button and Pierre Shum raised from the big blind to 10,000,000 and Nigh made the call. The flop came out     and Shum placed the continuation bet of 14,000,000 and Nigh made the call.

Both players checked the turn  .

On the river   Shun bet again for 12,000,000 and Nigh made the call and mucked when Shun turned over    for the straight.

Pierre Shum	134,550,000	30,550,000
Peter Nigh	42,000,000	-30,500,000

Peter Nigh jammed all in from the dealer button and Pierre Shum made a quick call. With Shum's life on the line, both players revealed their hands.

Pierre Shum:   
Peter Nigh:   

The board came       for Shum to find quads in the most crucial moment. "What a time for quads" shouted one onlooker as Shum regained the chip lead in the heads up battle.

Pierre Shum	104,000,000	34,000,000
Peter Nigh	72,500,000	-34,050,000

Roongsak Griffeth was in the big blind and Peter Nigh was under the gun as there was a dead small blind and moved all in for effective 20,000,000. Griffeth made the call.

Roongsak Griffeth:   
Peter Nigh:   

Griffeth had the upper hand heading to the board       and actually celebrated for a second as he had the flush but Nigh had the full house for the win.

Peter Nigh	120,350,000	14,250,000
Roongsak Griffeth	0	-7,000,000

Roongsak Griffeth moved all in from the cutoff and Jack Duong called from the big blind. Duong's rail was questioning why he would call with his hand but Doung said, "I am priced in".

Jack Duong:   
Roongsak Griffeth:   

The board came out       and Duong could not hit a card and the ace high of Griffeth won the pot.

Roongsak Griffeth	7,000,000	-7,200,000
Jack Duong	0	-18,600,000

Jack Duong moved all in for 7,700,000 from the small blind and was quickly called by Roongsak Griffith who covered him.

Jack Duong:   
Roongsak Griffith:   

Griffith picked up more outs on the     flop but failed to find them on the   turn or   river and Duong received a full double up at Griffith's expense.

Peter Nigh	106,100,000	8,600,000
Pierre Shum	31,500,000	5,300,000
Jack Duong	18,600,000	6,200,000
Roongsak Griffeth	14,200,000	-6,000,000
Amirpasha Emami	6,100,000	-5,900,000

Mihai Niste jammed all in from the button and Peter Nigh found the call on the big blind. Both players revealed their hands.

Peter Nigh:   
Mihai Niste:   

The board ran out       for Nigh to take it down with a full house (Eights full of Nines).

Peter Nigh	52,700,000	46,200,000
Mihai Niste	29,200,000	-14,300,000
Pierre Shum	26,200,000	200,000
Roongsak Griffeth	20,200,000	-5,500,000
Jack Duong	12,400,000	-6,400,000
Amirpasha Emami	12,000,000	-11,000,000

Peter Hengsakul moved all in for about 12,000,000 from middle position and Pierre Shum from the hijack made the call and the rail was going crazy.

Peter Hengsakul:   
Pierre Shum:   

Shum had the odds with him and the board came out with       and Shum's pair of jacks held for the win.

Pierre Shum	26,000,000	-14,500,000
Peter Hengsakul	0	-20,000,000

Roongsak Griffeth moved all in from middle position for 6,750,000. Jack Duong made the call as both players revealed their cards.

Roongsak Griffeth:   
Jack Duong:   

The board ran out       for Griffeth to take it down with the sole pair of tens.

Jack Duong	18,800,000	-900,000
Roongsak Griffeth	15,200,000	2,200,000