2023 World Series of Poker
Andrew Brown arrived at his new seat and limp-jammed out of the small blind in a NLHE hand. Clayton Mozdzen had raised to 105,000 in the big blind and folded to the shove, mentioning he had the A♣10♣.
Mozdzen then folded after the final draw in a Badacey hand to John Racener, who chipped up further without showdown.
Over on the other table, David Levi recovered from a severe short stack and Andrew Kelsall also chipped up as well.
Stud Hi-Lo Regular
David Levi: Ax7x / 6♣5♦8♥
James Johnson: XxXx / A♥Q♦9♣ folded on fifth
Levi completed and then complained when James Johnson raised again.
"Don't worry, I gonna f*** you up," Levi promised with a grin. Several further f***s were given in the table chat as Levi predicted high cards for Johnson. His board improved and Johnson folded on fifth street.
Kelsall summed up the hand as follows: "Nine f***s and one pretzel."
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Chad Eveslage | 2,600,000 | |
|
||
Andrew Brown |
2,100,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
James Johnson |
1,530,000
-570,000
|
-570,000 |
Clayton Mozdzen |
1,400,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
Nick Kost |
1,300,000
-405,000
|
-405,000 |
|
||
Andrew Kelsall |
1,100,000
435,000
|
435,000 |
|
||
David Levi |
800,000
425,000
|
425,000 |
John Racener |
800,000
265,000
|
265,000 |
|
While winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker player can achieve, many of the greatest and most successful players in the game have yet to put one on their wrists.
PokerNews has had a decent track record with highlighting players without bracelets who have gone on to win them. Jason Koon won a maiden bracelet in 2021 after making the "Best Without a Bracelet" list that year, while Dan Smith and Alex Foxen both found bracelets in 2022 to be removed from that year's list.
With the 2023 WSOP happening now, here's a look at some of the best players who have yet to add a World Series bracelet to their long lists of accolades.
Badeucey
Nick Kost raised the button and got a call from David Levi in the big blind.
Levi drew three, while Kost only took two. Levi then check-raised a bet from Kost, which Kost called.
Levi now only drew one, while Kost still needed two. Levi led out but now got raised by Kost. Levi called
One card was still needed by Levi but Kost stood pat. Levi then check-called a bet by Kost and the very similar hands were revealed.
Kost held 8♦6♥5♠4♠2♣ while Levi showed 8♣6♠4♦3♥2♦.
Levi had Kost barely pipped for each half of the pot with his eight-six-four low and eight-six-three-two Badugi.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
David Levi |
1,450,000
650,000
|
650,000 |
Nick Kost |
675,000
-625,000
|
-625,000 |
|
Omaha 8 or better
On a board of 7♦6♦3♥Q♠Q♣, Andrew Kelsall and David Levi had 420,000 in the middle and Kelsall received three quarters of that with with the A♦9♥6♥5♣ as Levi only had the A♣J♠8♠3♣.
Kelsall then won a bigger pot off Nick Kost only for Kost to chip back up and lose a small portion of the profit in Razz.
One table over, an orbit of Badacey saw Chad Eveslage and Andrew Brown as spectators while Clayton Mozdzen and John Racener "played heads-up".
The largest pot saw a button raise by Mozdzen and a call by Racener in the small blind. Racener discarded two, Mozdzen three, and Racener's subsequent bet was called.
On the second draw, both discarded one and Racener check-called a bet. He discarded one more card on the final draw while Mozdzen patted. Racener checked and Mozdzen quickly bet once more, sending his opponent deep into the tank.
With three big bets behind, Racener reluctantly folded and was shown the 7♣6♠ / 4♥3♠2♣ by Mozdzen.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Chad Eveslage | 2,600,000 | |
|
||
Clayton Mozdzen |
2,150,000
750,000
|
750,000 |
Andrew Brown |
1,800,000
-300,000
|
-300,000 |
James Johnson |
1,515,000
-15,000
|
-15,000 |
Andrew Kelsall |
1,450,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
|
||
David Levi |
875,000
-575,000
|
-575,000 |
Nick Kost |
750,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
||
John Racener |
340,000
-460,000
|
-460,000 |
|
Stud 8 or Better
Nick Kost: A♣8♣3♦/8♥7♦J♣4♥
Andrew Kelsall: XxXxXx/7♣J♦Q♦6♥
After Nick Kost defended his bring-in to an Andrew Kelsall completion, Kost bet every street the rest of the way.
He got calls the whole way from the start of day chip leader with Kelsall frustratedly mucking his hand at the end after seeing Kost's pair of eights for high and eight-seven low good on both ends to scoop the pot.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Nick Kost |
1,500,000
750,000
|
750,000 |
|
||
Andrew Kelsall |
1,200,000
-250,000
|
-250,000 |
|
Stud 8 or Better
James Johnson: K♣6♣2♦ / K♥4♥4♣6♦
Andrew Kelsall: 7♣3♥ / A♣2♣2♥4♦ / A♠
With 480,000 in bets in the middle, Andrew Kelsall was the one to apply pressure against James Johnson with a low board showing. He bet seventh without seeing his final card and Johnson called to reveal kings up. Kelsall peeled the final card and it was another ace to make aces up to scoop the entire pot.
"Make sure it is right," Johnson told the dealer with regards to the chips and then showed plenty of frustration.
James Johnson: A♦6x / 5♠8♣2♦5♣ / Xx
Nick Kost: A♥K♥ / Q♥J♥9♦8♥ / 4♣
He then took on Nick Kost and called down with a low to earn half the pot, while Kost clarified "I started with four to a royal" as he earned the high portion with a flush.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Andrew Kelsall |
1,700,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
||
Nick Kost | 1,500,000 | |
|
||
James Johnson |
770,000
-745,000
|
-745,000 |
David Levi |
750,000
-125,000
|
-125,000 |
Niveau: 29
Limit Flop/Draw: 40,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion 80,000-160,000 Limits,
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 40,000-60,000 Ante, 20,000/40,000 Blinds
Big O
Andrew Brown raised to 100,000 on the button and got calls from Clayton Mozdzen on the button and John Racener in the small blind.
The flop came 8♣5♦10♣ and after checks from Racener and Brown, Mozdzen bet the pot for 355,000.
Racener took some time deliberating his next move, and after a peek over at the adjacent table and a bit more thought, he moved all in for 800,000. Brown folded and Mozdzen called to put Racener at risk yet again.
John Racener: A♦J♥10♥3♥2♣
Clayton Mozdzen: A♥K♣7♠4♣2♥
Each player had the nut-low draw, while Mozdzen had a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw to go against Racener's top pair.
The 2♦ on the turn gave Racener a second pair and the best low with his ace-three.
The 8♦ on the river cinched the scoop for Racener, who after battling back multiple times is now among the healthiest stacks remaining.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
John Racener |
1,950,000
1,610,000
|
1,610,000 |
|
||
Andrew Brown |
1,100,000
-700,000
|
-700,000 |
Clayton Mozdzen |
1,000,000
-1,150,000
|
-1,150,000 |
Badeucey
John Racener lost a heads-up pot to Chad Eveslage when the latter showed a nine-seven with a three-card perfect.
The next three-bet pot between them saw two of Racener and three for Chad Eveslage discarded on the first draw after which they checked. Both discarded two on the second draw and Racener bet, Eveslage called. They patted and checked for Racener to show a seven Badugi with a jack.
Eveslage earned half the pot with 9♦6♠ / 8♦3♠2♥ for the better low hand.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Chad Eveslage |
2,950,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
|
||
John Racener |
1,350,000
-600,000
|
-600,000 |
|
||
Andrew Brown | 1,100,000 | |
Clayton Mozdzen |
1,050,000
50,000
|
50,000 |