Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:43 PM Local Time
Alex Keating Wins Event #94: 5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (8-Handed) for $701,688
The curtain has closed on Event $94: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em at the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
The penultimate event of the series saw 813 players pony up the money for a shot at WSOP glory – a huge increase of last year's figure of 573.
After two days of battle at the baize, it was Alex Keating who prevailed, claiming his first WSOP Bracelet.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Payout |
|---|
| 1 | Alex Keating | United States | $701,688 |
| 2 | Guoliang Wei | China | $433,662 |
| 3 | Nozomu Shimizu | Japan | $305,474 |
| 4 | Marcello Delgrosso | Canada | $208,402 |
| 5 | Alexandros Kolonias | Greece | $158,525 |
| 6 | Josh Reichard | United States | $116,842 |
| 7 | Christian Harder | United States | $87,470 |
| 8 | Jason Hickey | United States | $66,526 |
With many of the summer's recreational players already on their way home, the event was stacked with big-name pros. Viktor Blom, Alex Foxen, Alex Livingston, David Peters, and Phil Laak were just a few of poker's elite who tried but ultimately failed to add to their resume.
Day 2 Action
When the remaining players returned this afternoon, David Peters was sitting at the head of the pack. But he was unable to parlay yesterday's run into a win, eventually falling in 20th place.
Pat Lyons briefly looked like he was making a run at the top spot when his rivered trips catapulted him into the chip lead with just two tables remaining. But that hand marked the end of his run-good and his chip count quickly went south, leaving him to finish in 15th place.
Thai crusher Punnat Punsri finished on the final table bubble when he ran into Nozomu Shimizu's pocket Jacks.
Final Table Action
By the time the tournament got nine-handed, Keating and Shimizu were putting a stranglehold on the opposition and looked the most likely to be duking it out for the bracelet.
Massoud Eskandari was the first to bust the single-table stage, his ace-jack no match for Marcello Delgrosso's ace-king.
Jason Hickey was next to go after getting his short stack in against Nozomu Shimizu.
Christian Harder fell shortly afterward – his pocket sevens unable to hold versus Josh Reichard's king-nine.
It would be Josh Reichard to go next though, Shimizu claiming another victim at the final table.
Alexandros Kolonias followed shortly after, when Keating hit a miracle river.
And Keating did for Marcello Delgrosso in fourth, with another fortunate run-out.
Shimizu, who had provided plenty of entertainment, exited in third, unable to overcome Wei's pocket eights. Shimizu's third finish in third this summer left Keating and Wei heads up.
In the final hand, Keating raised before Wei shoved and got called. Wei flopped a pair of treys on the turn but Keating rivered the higher pair of kings to award the title to Keating.
Winner's Reaction
Asked how he felt in the moment of victory, Keating simply said, "Good… yeah, not bad actually", before adding, "I'm thinking about what I'm supposed to do right now".
Reflecting on the earlier bad beat, when his aces were cracked by Lyons' ace-queen, Keating said, "Usually, I'd be really upset there but for some reason this tournament had a casual vibe to it and I was just like ok…"
"For how huge of a pot that was, I was still third or fourth in chips."
Keating who, by his own admission had gone "zero for forty" during the series said his celebration will entail some first class flights to a friend's wedding: "I wasn't planning on drinking on it but I guess… y'know – they bring you caviar and champagne. That's going to be my way of celebrating."
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:26 PM Local Time
Guoliang Wei Eliminated in 2nd Place ($433,662)
Alex Keating raised to 2,000,000 and after thinking briefly, Guoliang Wei announced he was all-in, for a little under 10,000,000. Keating made the call in short order.
Guoliang Wei:
Alex Keating:
The flop fell , and a three in the window shot Wei into the lead. An on the turn was a blank, but the on the river ended Wei's dreams and awarded the title to Keating.
| Alex Keating | 40,650,000 | 11,650,000  |
| Guoliang Wei | 0 | -13,000,000  |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:53 PM Local Time
Nozomu Shimizu Eliminated in 3rd Place ($305,474)
Nozomu Shimizu went all in on the button and Guoliang Wei made the call from the big blind.
Nozomu Shimizu:
Guoliang Wei:
Shimizu asked the dealer to hold on so that he could hone his energy and get in a proper stance for an all-in.
Once he was in position, the dealer rolled , giving Shimizu a few more outs, then when the rolled it increased his outs a bit more, but it wasn't meant to be as the completed the board.
| Guoliang Wei | 13,000,000 | 9,450,000 |
| Nozomu Shimizu | 0 | -4,700,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:45 PM Local Time
Marcello Delgrosso Eliminated in 4th Place ($208,402)
Alex Keating opened the action with a raise to 1,000,000 and a short-stacked Marcello Delgrosso went all in for a bit more than double that. Keating made the call.
Marcello Delgrosso:
Alex Keating:
Keating was in as good of shape as he could hope considering his hand but Delgrosso remained in the lead as the rolled. The turn rolled the giving Keating the flush draw and he was already apologizing when the spilled off the deck, giving him the flush.
| Alex Keating | 29,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
| Marcello Delgrosso | 0 | -5,800,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:33 PM Local Time
Alexandros Kolonias Eliminated in 5th Place ($158,525)
Alexandros Kolonias went all in from the cutoff for 1,550,000. Alex Keating on the button, did not look like he wanted to call but with the chip counts as they were, clearly felt he had no choice.
Alexandros Kolonias:
Alex Keating:
The dealer spread a flop of .
A turn of gave Keating several outs and there was an air of inevitability over the table before he peeled a on the river, to bring an end to Kolonias' tournament
| Alexandros Kolonias | 0 | -3,900,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:22 PM Local Time
Keating Far in the Lead
Nozomu Shimizu went all in the first hand back from dinner and got no callers. After folding a few hands after, Keating told him he thought he would be shoving every hand, to which Shimizu responded with a shove when it folded to him. Keating made the call.
Nozomu Shimizu:
Alex Keating:
The flop rolled and Keating celebrated by shouting, "Ace-uh!" while Shimizu rooted for a four to make a straight draw. The turn closed the door on Shimizu with the and Keating soared into the lead as the useless fell on the river.
| Alex Keating | 23,000,000 | 11,275,000 |
| Nozomu Shimizu | 4,700,000 | -10,600,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:14 PM Local Time
Post Dinner Counts
| Nozomu Shimizu | 15,300,000 | -600,000 |
| Alex Keating | 11,725,000 | -775,000 |
| Marcello Delgrosso | 5,800,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 3,900,000 | 500,000 |
| Guoliang Wei | 3,550,000 | 50,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:11 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:04 PM Local Time
Dinner Break
The remaining players at the final table are now on a 60-minute dinner, they will be due back at approximately 8:10 p.m.
Blinds will be 250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 big blind ante.
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:02 PM Local Time
Josh Reichard Eliminated in 6th Place ($116,842)
Nozomu Shimizu limped in from under the gun and Josh Reichard moved all in from the small blind for 550,000. Guoliang Wei called in the big blind and Shimizu also called.
Both Shimizu and Wei checked through the flop, turn and river leading to a final board of .
Reichard showed down , Wei had and Shimizu had to secure Reichard's elimination and take the pot down.
| Nozomu Shimizu | 15,900,000 | 900,000 |
| Guoliang Wei | 3,500,000 | 950,000 |
| Josh Reichard | 0 | -550,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:01 PM Local Time
Shimizu Scores Massive Double Before Break
Nozomu Shimizu announced all in with what has become a familiar gesture, hands pointing to an apex above his head.
With around 7,000,000 in front of him, action folded to Josh Reichard, who called.
Nozomu Shimizu:
Josh Reichard:
The dealer spread a flop of , catapulting Shimizu into the lead. The board ran out and Shimizu took the hand.
Chip counts were extremely close but after a count it was established that Reichard covered, but he was left on fumes.
| Nozomu Shimizu | 15,000,000 | 8,600,000 |
| Josh Reichard | 550,000 | -6,550,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:59 PM Local Time
Christian Harder Eliminated in 7th Place ($87,470)
Christian Harder went all in for 1,325,000 under the gun and was called by Josh Reichard in the big blind.
Christian Harder:
Josh Reichard:
The flop was bad news for Harder as it came out and when the came Harder got up out his seat as he could only catch a seven to pull ahead. It wasn't meant to be for the seasoned pro as the rolled off the deck and Reichard thinned the field with his trip nines.
| Josh Reichard | 7,100,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Christian Harder | 0 | -2,700,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:45 PM Local Time
Wei Doubles Through Keating
Alex Keating moved all in from the hijack, covering all other players. Guoliang Wei called off from the small blind for his last 875,000 chips to put himself at risk.
Guoliang Wei:
Alex Keating:
Keating was ahead on the flop but that all changed when Wei spiked a pair on the turn. The river was a brick and Wei secured a much-needed double-up while Keating remained the chip leader despite taking a small hit to his stack.
| Alex Keating | 12,500,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Guoliang Wei | 2,550,000 | 100,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:38 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:37 PM Local Time
Shimizu Battles Keating
Nozomu Shimizu opened to 600,000 on the button and Alex Keating defended from the big blind.
The flop came and Keating check-called a 300,000 continuation bet from Shimizu.
Both players checked the turn leading to the river. Keating bet 1,200,000, forcing a fold from Shimizu to extend his chip lead.
| Alex Keating | 11,400,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Nozomu Shimizu | 6,400,000 | -1,300,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:34 PM Local Time
Double Trouble; Shimizu and Keating Give Some Away
Hand 1:
Nozomu Shimizu raised to 600,000 from late position and was shoved on by Alexandros Kolonias directly to his left. When it folded back around to Shimizu he made the call and the table was quick to needle him for his gamble.
Nozomu Shimizu:
Alexandros Kolonias:
The board pulled Shimizu ahead with the and he was preemptively thanking the dealer, as the turn arrived the safe , but when the came it gave Kolonias the nut straight and another crucial double.
Hand 2
Marcello Delgrosso made the mistake of going to muck his hand before the dealer and table informed him that it was his big blind. As soon as it happened Alex Keating was quick to say, "That's going to cause a shit storm," and when it folded to him he went ahead and raised to 600,000.
It got back to Delgrosso and he kicked in a call, to which Keating said, "Really?"
Heads up they saw the flop of . Big blind checked and Keating quickly announced an all in which Delgrosso bemoaned before making the call.
Marcello Delgrosso:
Alex Keating:
Keating realized the bad news, as they both shared the queen but Delgrosso had the better pair. Keating picked up a flush draw on the turn but it never came when the bricked out on the river.
Delgrosso's mistake paid off handsomely for him in the end.
| Alex Keating | 9,300,000 | -2,500,000 |
| Nozomu Shimizu | 7,700,000 | -1,425,000 |
| Marcello Delgrosso | 4,700,000 | -725,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 3,400,000 | 900,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:10 PM Local Time
Jason Hickey Eliminated in 8th Place ($66,526)
Jason Hickey found himself all in and at risk preflop from early position for approximately 600,000 against Nozomu Shimizu in the small blind who covered him.
Jason Hickey:
Nozomu Shimizu:
The board ran out . Shimizu's two pair, threes and eights, was good for the winner and Hickey became the first casualty of the official final table.
| Nozomu Shimizu | 9,125,000 | 500,000 |
| Jason Hickey | 0 | -700,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:01 PM Local Time
Two Big Pairs
Alexandros Kolonias went all in from early position and was isloated by Jason Hickey to his left.
Alexandros Kolonias:
Jason Hickey:
The flop kept Kolonias ahead with the , but there was no doubt for him when the fell on the turn and Hickey had already paid the man by the time the fell on the river.
| Alexandros Kolonias | 2,500,000 | 1,150,000 |
| Jason Hickey | 700,000 | -875,000 |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:01 PM Local Time
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:57 PM Local Time
Harder River Decisions Have Been Had
Josh Reichard raised from late position to 500,000 and was called by Christian Harder on the button.
Heads up they saw a flop of and Reichard continued with a bet of 350,000 and Harder made the call.
The turn was the and both players checked, revealing the .
After some thought, Reichard checked again; Harder declared all in. Reichard couldn't have called faster if he tried and Harder showed the but Reichard was lying in the weeds with the .
"Someone turn up the A.C. because it's getting hot in here!" shouted Reichard's rail.
| Josh Reichard | 6,100,000 | 3,100,000 |
| Christian Harder | 2,700,000 | -2,725,000 |