2023 WSOP Day 21: Two Bracelets Awarded as Kabrhel Accused of Cheating

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) crowned two new bracelet winners on Monday with Scott Abrams winning Event #41: $1,500 Big O for $315,203 and Qiang Xu shipping Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack for $339,033 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

However, the bracelet winners were overshadowed by some controversy brought to light the last few days where two-time bracelet winner Martin Kabrhel was accused of cheating by Andrew Robl, Brian Rast, and other big names before the Poker Twitterverse jumped on the bandwagon.

Read more about what went down on Day 21 of the 2023 WSOP.

Scott Abrams Wins Event #41: $1,500 Big O ($315,203)

The three-day Event #41: $1,500 Big O was a new addition to the schedule with players enjoying battling it out in five-card Omaha hi-lo 8 or better for the first time. This game has proven to be popular in the WSOP cash game areas and as part of Mixed PLO bracelet events for over a decade and it is perhaps here to stay with a big field of 1,458 entries getting into the mix to create a $1,946,430 prize pool.

Scott Abrams defeated Robert Williamson III heads-up to win his first bracelet and the $315,203 top prize. Abrams had a couple of close calls for a bracelet the past two years with two other podium finishes in PLO events including taking third place at the 2021 WSOP in the $1,500 Mixed PLO for $71,651 before finishing runner-up to Bradley Anderson last year in the same event to collect $195,565. Abrams also had a big win in February when he won the PokerGO Tour $10,300 Dealer’s Choice for $179,200.

Although this was Abrams’ first bracelet, it wasn’t his biggest cash. He proved he is also good at two-card poker after taking 12^th place in the 2012 WSOP $10,000 Main Event for $590,442.

“I think maybe because it is my first bracelet, everyone wanted to support me,” Abrams said to PokerNews after winning his first bracelet. “I am really thankful for them. At the WSOP there are so many different events to play, and they came on this day to watch me in a game where they don’t see what I have ninety percent of the time, so I’m really thankful.”

Many other big names went deep in this event including Victor Ramdin (fourth – $105,383), bracelet winner Owais Ahmed (sixth – $59,501), and ten-time WSOP champion and Poker Hall of Famer Johnny Chan (14^th – $13,982). Many others also cashed in this event with the top 219 players banking at least a $2,407 min-cash.

Event #41: $1,500 Big O Final Table Results

Dream Came True for Qiang Xu in Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack

Dreams come in many forms and are different for many people. However, most poker players do dream of traveling to Sin City to play on the world’s biggest poker stage and win a coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

This dream came true for Qiang Xu, who traveled from China in hopes of finding WSOP gold as he shipped Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack for $339,033.

“It’s a dream coming true,” Xu said to PokerNews after the win. “My goal coming from China was to win a bracelet, and now, I’ve got it!”

Xu wasn’t the favorite to win the match by the time he was heads-up with Jason Johnson, who was also hunting for his first bracelet. A small chip deficit didn’t stop Xu as he first doubled after getting it in with top pair against Johnson’s second pair before winning the match with his sixes winning a flip against Johnson’s big slick.

Event #42: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Final Table Results

Xuming Qi Leads Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack

The four-day Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack boasted a sick prize pool of $11,103,195 after 8,317 entries got into the mix during the two opening flights.

The top 1,248 players locked up at least a $2,401 min-cash. However, after three days of action, the field was trimmed down to just 42 hopefuls remaining, each of which will bank at least $30,415 with a whopping $1,162,681 top prize on tap for the eventual bracelet winner.

Xuming Qi will start the final day in the pole position when the action resumes on Tuesday at noon with 24,300,000 (97 big blinds). Marcos Exterkotter (23,575,000) and Steven Snyder (21,275,000) also advanced with more than 20 million with Yuanjun Lu (19,535,000) and Jonathan McCann (18,600,000) rounding out the top five.

Meanwhile, 2009 WSOP Champion Joe Cada (8,950,000) still has his hopes alive to add a fifth WSOP bracelet to his collection and is just a double away from being near the top of the leaderboard.

Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack Day 3 Top 10 Leaderboard

Big Stack for Phil Ivey in Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

The $50,000 Poker Players Championship is one of the most prestigious and highly anticipated events in the world of professional poker. Known for its high buy-in and challenging format, this tournament brings together the best and brightest poker players from around the globe. The $50,000 Players Championship is a mixed-game event and truly tests players’ versatility, adaptability, and skill across multiple disciplines. The massive prize pool and coveted gold bracelet add to the allure of the event, attracting seasoned professionals vying for the title of Players Champion and the prestige that comes with it.

This year was no different as the five-day Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship attracted the best and brightest poker stars the world has seen with 96 entries creating a $4,727,250 prize pool. Dan Cates won this event in back-to-back years for more than $2.4 million combined. The defending champion won’t be in the running this time and will walk away with his wallet a little lighter after hitting the rail on the second day.

Dan “Terminator” Cates

However, other big names were among the 32 survivors headlined by Day 2 chip leader James Obst (2,972,000). Daniel Alaei (1,655,000), who was the player to bust Cates in a hand of 2-7 Triple Draw, was the only other player to advance to Day 3 with at least 2 million in chips.

Many eyes in the poker community on what Day 3 will bring for 10-time WSOP champion and Poker Hall of Famer Phil Ivey (1,655,000) as he will start the day in third place with Talal Shakerchi (1,598,000) and Johannes Becker (1,387,000) rounding out the top five.

The final 32 players resume action on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the money bubble expected to break with the top 15 players guaranteed at least an $84,255 min-cash. Wednesday’s illustrious bracelet winner will go home with a huge seven-figure haul of $1,324,747 along with the honor and prestige that go along with winning one of the biggest poker events of the year.

Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Day 2 Top 10 Leaderboard

Other Events in Action

Two other events kicked off their opening days on Monday. The three-day Event #44: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em attracted 1,511 entries for a $4,034,370 prize pool. A total of 576 players remain led by Ramiro Petrone with 367,000 followed by Luis Pinho (360,500), Jiacong Zhang (348,000), Lachezar Petkov (327,000), and Sebastian Grax (305,000). The action will resume in this event at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Event #45: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better attracted 1,091 entries on its opening day to create a $1,456,485 prize pool with 316 players surviving the first of the three days. Players will be in the money on Day 2 with the top 164 players awarded at least a $2,409 min-cash. Wednesday’s bracelet winner will earn a tasty $253,651 top prize. Yusheng Lin (455,000) heads into the final day with a substantial chip lead but this can quickly evaporate especially considering the likes of three-time bracelet winner Scott Clements (274,000) closest on his tail.

June 20, 2023 WSOP Schedule

Two new live events in Event #46: $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em and Event #47: $1,500 HORSE kick off on Tuesday, June 20 with the one-day Online Event #8: $,3200 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller scheduled to crown a bracelet event. Meanwhile, four other events will continue where they left off from on Monday.

Below is a look at today’s schedule while head to the PokerPro opening WSOP article to check out the full schedule of the 2023 World Series of Poker.

Images courtesy of WSOP/PokerNews.
Article by Jason Glatzer
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