2023 World Series of Poker

Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship
Day: 3
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k9843
Prize
$311,428
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$1,209,000
Entries
130
Level Info
Level
23
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
13
Players Left
1

Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship

Day 3 Completed

The Chosen One: Chad Eveslage Wins $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship ($311,428)

Level 23
Chad Eveslage
Chad Eveslage

One year ago, American poker pro Chad Eveslage won his first WSOP gold bracelet and he is now a three-time champion to start the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas with a bang. Out of a field of 130 entries in Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship, he came out on top of a short-lived heads-up duel with Dutch Boyd to draw even with his final opponent as far as the number of bracelets are concerned.

Since April 2021, Eveslage earned six titles in major live poker tournaments, including two seven-figure scores. Within the last four days, he has won two WSOP gold bracelets (first in Event #5: $1,500 Dealer's Choice for $131,879) and further cemented his status as one of the hottest-running players on the circuit and within the mixed games scene. The top two finishers shared the biggest portion of the $1,209,000 prize pool as Eveslage collected a payday of $311,428, whereas Boyd earned a consolation prize of $192,479.

The Indiana native was in high spirits after the back-to-back Dealer's Choice victories and joked that his improbable run could be a sign of the world coming to an end.

“The singularity is coming, and this is probably the last World Series," he laughed in a winner's interview with PokerNews. "Not probably, but 10% this is the last World Series to ever happen. You know, gotta make the most of it while it’s here ... Nice to get a win, nice to get some of this before we all merge with machines.”

A total of 13 players returned for the final day including nine WSOP bracelet winners and at the end, it was Eveslage who had all the chips as he ended the tournament in style with a straight flush in Big O. Zachary Freeman finished in third place, Dustin Dirksen, Ari Engel and Marco Johnson all reached the official final table as well. Last year's runner-up Mike Gorodinsky had to settle for seventh place when he was ousted by eventual runner-up Boyd.

Final Table Result Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (in USD)
1Chad EveslageUnited States$311,428
2Dutch BoydUnited States$192,479
3Zachary FreemanUnited States$139,048
4Dustin DirksenUnited States$101,709
5Ari EngelUnited States$75,341
6Marco JohnsonUnited States$56,528

The Dealer's Choice

As improbable as it was, Eveslage's second Dealer's Choice victory almost seemed inevitable on Day 3 as every hand seemed to go Eveslage's way and several of his opponents commented that he was the best player in poker right now. That includes fourth-place finisher Dirksen, who texted his 11-year-old to say he was playing against a truly special opponent.

“Is Chad the best Badeucey player in the world?” asked Craig Chait from the rail on Day 3 as the final two tables played out.

“USP — You’re an ultra-super-pro,” Mike Thorpe later told Eveslage during the final table.

Chad Eveslage
Chad Eveslage

As humble a poker player as he is elite, the cheery and soft-spoken 31-year-old called it "very unlikely" that he is the best poker player in the world.

"Definitely not at no-limit Hold’em, but probably in heads-up Badeucey," he acknowledged. "Probably not full ring. But I don’t know."

The tournament gave Eveslage an opportunity to absorb knowledge from greats like Poker Hall of Famer John Hennigan (9th - $33,087), who Eveslage asked at one point on Day 2 about what it was like playing with old school poker legend Chip Reese.

“Playing with Hennigan was fun," said Eveslage. "He’s a character. I’ve never played with somebody like him. He’s a complete alien, but in like the best way ever.”

John Hennigan
John Hennigan

It also gave Eveslage a chance to play with 2022 runner-up Gorodinsky as the two engaged in playful banter throughout Day 3. "Me and Gordo have played a lot online, but we haven’t played much live.”

The Dealer's Choice Championship is a special event with a fabled history that includes Adam Friedman winning it consecutive years in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (Friedman fell on Day 1 this year and back in 2022). May Eveslage be following in the fellow midwesterner's footsteps?

“If there’s another World Series next year, if the singularity doesn’t get us, I suppose that I will try to win (again)," Eveslage said. "And I think I’ve got an edge on Adam. He might have his own little opinion.”

Day 3 Action

Only 13 players returned for Day 3 and there were several short-stack doubles before James Obst fell in 13th place ahead of the two-table redraw.

After the elimination of Scott Bohlman, three-time bracelet winner Paul Volpe hit the rail at the hands of Eveslage when he called down with pocket aces as Eveslage had flopped a sneaky set of threes.

Eveslage continued to trend upward, and he got some help from the rail as his friends held up a massive yellow poster reading "Play Like a Chadpion" with a blown-up photo of his 2021 bracelet win.

Chad Eveslage Play Like A Chadpion
Chad Eveslage Play Like A Chadpion

The only player having a better day than Eveslage at this point was Dirksen, who held a sizable chip lead up to a pivotal no-limit hold'em hand during seven-handed play. In a three-bet pot, Dirksen moved all in with a flopped flush draw, and Eveslage called with an overpair before a brick runout earned him the double.

The chatty and light-hearted Dirksen stayed afloat ahead of the eliminations of two-time bracelet winners Gorodinsky (7th - $42,965), Johnson (6th - $56,528), and Engel (5th - $75,341) before falling in fourth after another no-limit hold'em confrontation with the eventual champion.

Eveslage entered heads-up play with a big lead against Boyd, whose place in poker history dates back to the iconic 2003 WSOP Main Event when he made a failed bluff against eventual champion Chris Moneymaker.

Chad Eveslage
Chad Eveslage and Dutch Boyd

The imbalanced heads-up confrontation only lasted a few hands and ended when Boyd chose to play Big O. The two got it in on the flop with Boyd having the best of it before the turn gave Eveslage a straight flush, and the river confirmed a scoop and a third bracelet for the Dealer's Chosen One.

Chad Eveslage
Chad Eveslage and his rail

This wraps up PokerNews coverage of a memorable and historic Dealer's Choice Championship here at the 2023 WSOP. Be sure to check out the live reporting portal for coverage of other bracelet events.

Tags: Adam FriedmanAri EngelChad EveslageChris MoneymakerCraig ChaitJohn HenniganMarco JohnsonMay EveslageMike GorodinskyMike ThorpePaul VolpeScott BohlmanZachary Freeman

Chad Eveslage Triumphs Again and Takes Down Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship ($311,428)

Level 23
Chad Eveslage
Chad Eveslage

One year ago, American poker pro Chad Eveslage won his first WSOP gold bracelet and he is now a three-time champion to start the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas with a bang. Out of a field of 130 entries in Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship, he came out on top of a short-lived heads-up duel with Dutch Boyd to draw even with his final opponent as far as the number of bracelets are concerned.

Since April 2021, Eveslage earned six titles in major live poker tournaments including two seven-figure scores. Within the last four days, he has won two WSOP gold bracelets and further cemented his status as one of the hottest-running players on the circuit and within the mixed games scene. The top two finishers shared the biggest portion of the $1,209,000 prize pool as Eveslage collected a payday of $311,428, whereas Boyd earned a consolation prize of $192,479.

A total of 13 players returned for the final day including nine WSOP bracelet winners and at the end, it was Eveslage who had all the chips as he ended the tournament in style with a straight flush in Big O. Zack Freeman finished in third place, Dustin Dirksen, Ari Engel and Marco Johnson all reached the official final table as well. Last year's runner-up Mike Gorodinsky had to settle for seventh place when he was ousted by eventual runner-up Boyd.

Final Table Result Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (in USD)
1Chad EveslageUnited States$311,428
2Dutch BoydUnited States$192,479
3Zack FreemanUnited States$139,048
4Dustin DirksenUnited States$101,709
5Ari EngelUnited States$75,341
6Marco JohnsonUnited States$56,528
Chad Eveslage
Chad Eveslage

The winner reaction and a recap of today's action are to follow.

Tags: Ari EngelChad EveslageDustin DirksenDutch BoydMarco JohnsonMike GorodinskyZack Freeman

Dutch Boyd Eliminated in 2nd Place ($192,479)

Level 23
Dutch Boyd
Dutch Boyd

Big O

Dutch Boyd switched back to Big O and raised to 90,000 on the button, earning a call from Chad Eveslage out of the big blind. The K62 flop was checked by Eveslage and Boyd bet 80,000. A check-raise for the size of the pot by Eveslage followed and Boyd got his short stack into the middle to create the following showdown.

Dutch Boyd: AKQ85
Chad Eveslage: K9843

Both players and the rail were on their feet to see the outcome.

The 5 appeared on the turn and Eveslage stated the obvious: "That's a straight flush." Boyd could all but reply with a "that's pretty good" as his fate was sealed with the 10 on the river.

Boyd has to settle for second place and $192,479 while Eveslage wins the second Dealer's Choice Event in a row for his third WSOP gold bracelet!

A recap of today's action and the winner reactions are to follow.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chad Eveslage us
Chad Eveslage
7,800,000
835,000
835,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Dutch Boyd us
Dutch Boyd
Busted
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Chad EveslageDutch Boyd

Showdown Pot for Boyd

Level 23

Seven Card Stud

Chad Eveslage: XxXx / 843 folded on fifth street
Dutch Boyd: XxXx / Q86

After selecting Big O on his first turn, Dutch Boyd then switched to Seven Card Stud. One of those hands he took down by betting his lead on fourth and fifth.

The first hand of Badeucey was chopped and the second was a walk, as Boyd preserved the short stack. He then switched it up to No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw next.

Boyd raised to 60,000 and Eveslage called, drawing one versus Boyd's two. Eveslage check-called 60,000 but couldn't beat the Jx10x8x6x5x of Boyd.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chad Eveslage us
Chad Eveslage
6,965,000
-235,000
-235,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Dutch Boyd us
Dutch Boyd
850,000
250,000
250,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Chad EveslageDutch Boyd

Eveslage Closing Out

Level 23

Badeucey

Chad Eveslage raised and Dutch Boyd called. Eveslage drew four and Boyd drew two.

Boyd bet after the first draw and Eveslage called and drew three to Boyd's two. Boyd bet again after the second draw and Eveslage called as both drew one.

Both players checked after the third draw and Boyd showed 66542, which was no good against Eveslage's 9 / J774 for a scoop.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chad Eveslage us
Chad Eveslage
7,200,000
600,000
600,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Dutch Boyd us
Dutch Boyd
600,000
-600,000
-600,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Chad EveslageDutch Boyd

Heads-Up Underway; Eveslage Extends Lead

Level 23

Badeucey

"I will just call the same game every time, can I keep the plaque here?" Chad Eveslage inquired and was indeed handed the Badeucey plaque, while Dutch Boyd thumbed through the other 19 plaques. The first two pots of Badeucey went to Eveslage without even going past a draw.

Boyd then selected Big O and called a pot-sized raise to 180,000 by Eveslage in the big blind. On a flop of A72, Eveslage continued for 180,000 and Boyd folded.

Eveslage raised to 90,000 on the button next and Boyd folded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chad Eveslage us
Chad Eveslage
6,600,000
400,000
400,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Dutch Boyd us
Dutch Boyd
1,200,000
-400,000
-400,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Chad EveslageDutch Boyd

Zack Freeman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($139,048)

Level 23
Zack Freeman
Zack Freeman

Big O

Chad Eveslage raised on the button, and Zack Freeman moved all in from the big blind after peeling one card and seeing an ace. Eveslage called.

Zack Freeman: A10865
Chad Eveslage: K7542

Freeman couldn't stay alive as the board ran out Q41098 to give Eveslage a flush, Freeman hit the rail in third place for $139,048, and was denied his first bracelet.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chad Eveslage us
Chad Eveslage
6,200,000
500,000
500,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Dutch Boyd us
Dutch Boyd
1,600,000
-160,000
-160,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Zach Freeman us
Zach Freeman
Busted
Run It Once

Tags: Chad EveslageZack Freeman

More Badeucey Action Underway

Level 23

Badeucey

Chad Eveslage selected Badeucey and Dutch Boyd kept the same variant. There wasn't much of a chip change throughout the six hands except that Zack Freeman and Boyd lost a few hips to the dominating chip leader, while all showdown hands were chops.

That included a battle of the blinds between Eveslage and Boyd where the former raised and the latter three-bet. Eveslage discarded trey versus two and they checked. Both discarded two on the second draw and Eveslage's bet was called before they discarded one each.

Eveslage bet once more and Boyd called. The 97 / 632 for a three-card six and nine-seven secured half, as Boyd had 6 / K832 for a Badugi.

The chip changes came from Eveslage's aggression.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chad Eveslage us
Chad Eveslage
5,700,000
300,000
300,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Dutch Boyd us
Dutch Boyd
1,760,000
-290,000
-290,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Zach Freeman us
Zach Freeman
340,000
-260,000
-260,000
Run It Once

Tags: Chad EveslageDutch BoydZack Freeman