Event #50: $1,500 Razz

Not many people would consider themselves a "Razz specialist," especially with the game not being easily accessible to play these days, but Jay Kwon is an exception. For Kwon, who had previously cashed in WSOP Razz tournaments in 2011 and 2016, his win ion Tuesday night cements his standing as a WSOP Razz champion.

"Razz is like my favorite game, and I feel like it's an underappreciated game and people get frustrated at it," Kwon said after his victory. "But I love the game and yeah, this means more to me than a lot of tournaments. I started playing it and it was really interesting, so I kind of got into it and just started playing it a lot. I'm somewhat of a Razz specialist."

Kwon received $125,431 for his accomplishment as well as a coveted gold WSOP bracelet. Poland's star Dzmitry Urbanovich finished in second place ($77,526), while renowned British mixed game specialist Adam Owen claimed bronze ($52,536). Start-of-the-day chipleader Kevin Iacofano finished in fifth place ($25,637).

Official Final Table Results

Event #50: $1,500 Razz drew 389 players and after Day 1, only 118 players remained. At that point, Kwon was 56th in chips with a slightly above average stack. He immediately chipped up on Day 2, amassing one of the larger stacks in the room by the time the bubble was reached. By night's end, Kwon was in the middle of the pack of the final nine players, sitting fifth in chips entering the unofficial final table on Day 3. Kwon helped solidify his Day 3 standing by eliminating two-time bracelet winner David Singer in 12th place.

Kwon's path to victory at the final table was from smooth sailing, though, as after the first break he was sixth of the remaining seven players. At the second break, with just four players remaining, Kwon held less than four big bets and held less than 7% of the chips in play. Eventual third-place finisher Owen had more than half the chips in play at that point, but Razz is a game where the chips can be easy-come and easy-go.

"I could wait for a good hand as I ante'd down and just go with it and play good razz. I didn't have to panic and get it in with a bad hand. This is a tournament where the chipleader only has like 20 bets. I've won and lost 20 bets so many times in Razz. I've lost like 50 bets in one sitting. I've won 50 bets in one sitting. So I knew that anything could happen. I've caught breaks like that and went on runs like that, so I just calmed down and tried to give myself the best chance at doubling up. It looks like he has a big lead, but he only has like 10 bets more than me, which is like nothing. So that's what my mentality was."

After Owen exited in third place, Kwon began heads-up play against Polish prodigy Urbanovich with a slight chip lead. The battle was back-and-forth, with Urbanovich opening up about a 2.5:1 lead. However, Kwon battled back to take the lead and with the limits as big as they were, he closed it out shortly thereafter.

"Because it's so top heavy, the optimal strategy is to just go for the win."

Kwon did play to win, and he'll forever have a WSOP bracelet to remind him of that.

Dzmitry Urbanovich completed and Jay Kwon called.

Dzmitry Urbanovich:   /    / 
Jay Kwon:   /    / 

Urbanovich bet on fourth and fifth street and Kwon called both times. Both players checked on sixth, and they checked again on seventh.

Kwon showed down his     and his eight-six low was good to take down the pot.

Jay Kwon	2,645,000	430,000
Dzmitry Urbanovich	270,000	-430,000

Dzmitry Urbanovich completed and Jay Kwon called over his bring it.

Dzmitry Urbanovich:   /    / 
Jay Kwon:   /    / 

On fourth Urbanovich bet and Kwon called. On fifth, Urbanovich bet and Kwon made it two bets. Urbanovich called. Both players checked on sixth and seventh and Urbanovich mucked when Kwon showed     for a jack low.

Jay Kwon	1,695,000	330,000
Dzmitry Urbanovich	1,220,000	-330,000

Jay Kwon completed and Dzmitry Urbanovich made it two bets over his bring in. Kwon called.

Jay Kwon:   /    / 
Dzmitry Urbanovich:   /    / 

Kwon bet on fourth and Urbanovich called. On fifth, Kwon checked. Urbanovich bet and Kwon called. On sixth, Kwon bet and Urbanovich called. On seventh, Kwon bet and Urbanovich decided to call.

Kwon showed his     for an eight-seven low. Urbanovich held on to his cards for a bit, but eventually mucked his hand, so Kwon took down the pot.

Dzmitry Urbanovich	1,925,000	-160,000
Jay Kwon	990,000	160,000

Hand #1:

Dzmitry Urbanovich completed and Jay Kwon called over his bring in.

Dzmitry Urbanovich:   /    / 
Jay Kwon:   /    / 

On fourth street Kwon bet and Urbanovich called. Kwon bet again on fifth and Urbanovich called. On sixth, Urbanovich bet and Kwon folded, allowing Urbanovich to take the pot.

Hand #2

Kwon completed with the   and Urbanovich made it two bets over his bring in with the  . Kwon called.

Dzmitry Urbanovich:   /   
Jay Kwon:   /    — fold

Urbanovich bet on fourth and Kwon called. When Urbanovich continued betting on fifth street, Kwon let go of his hand.

Dzmitry Urbanovich	1,915,000	425,000
Jay Kwon	1,000,000	-425,000

Jay Kwon:    /      /  
Dzmitry Urbanovich:    /     

Jay Kwon was the bring in, Dzmitry Urbanorich completed, Kwon raised and Urbanovich called.

Urbanovich bet with the on-board lead on fourth street, Kwon called and Urbanovich check-called bets from Kwon on fifth and sixth street.

Both players checked on seventh and Urbanovich tabled     for an eight-seven. Kwon mucked.

Jay Kwon	1,490,000	-375,000
Dzmitry Urbanovich	1,425,000	375,000

Jay Kwon:    /      /  
Dzmitry Urbanovich:    /      /  

Dzmitry Urbanovich was the bring in with the higher ace, Jay Kwon completed, Urbanovich raised and Kwon called.

Kwon bet with the on-board lead on fourth street and Urbanovich called.

The rest of the way, Kwon check-called bets from Urbanovich who showed     for a seven-six. Kwon mucked and Urbanovich won the pot.

Jay Kwon	1,500,000	-270,000
Dzmitry Urbanovich	1,415,000	270,000

Adam Owen was the bring in with the   and he completed. Action folded to Jay Kwon and he raised with the  . Owen put his stack in and Kwon called.

Here's how their boards ran out:

Adam Owen:   /    / 
Jay Kwon:   /    / 

Kwon made an eight-seven low by sixth street and Owen only completed a ten-seven low. That meant that Owen would hit the rail in third place. For his finish he will collect $52,536.

Jay Kwon	1,770,000	45,000
Adam Owen	0	-65,000

For the most part, hands have gone complete, then fold, fold, with chips rotating around the table. In the most recent hand, Urbanovich completed and Jay Kwon made it two bets. Urbanovich called.

Jay Kwon:   /   
Dzmitry Urbanovich:   /   

Urbanovich led with a bet on fourth that Kwon called. On fifth, Kwon paired his king and quickly folded.

Jay Kwon	1,725,000	5,000
Dzmitry Urbanovich	1,000,000	165,000
Adam Owen	190,000	-210,000