2023 World Series of Poker

Event #36: $3,000 Nine Game Mix
Day: 3
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aak3
Prize
$221,124
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,000
Prize Pool
$963,870
Entries
361
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
22
Players Left
1

Event #36: $3,000 Nine Game Mix

Day 3 Completed

Ryutaro Suzuki Becomes Japan's Mixed-Game Master in Event #36: $3,000 Nine Game Mix

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Ryutaro Suzuki
Ryutaro Suzuki

A total of 361 players showed up to the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #36: $1,500 Nine Game Mix, generating a prize pool of $963,870 and first-place prize of $221,124. When the final hand was dealt around 1:30 a.m. local time inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, it was already past 5 p.m. in Japan, where a poker-mad nation witnessed a new homegrown star.

Ryutaro Suzuki, just 22 years old, became just the seventh World Series of Poker bracelet winner from Japan when he defeated Walter Chambers in a short heads-up match, bringing an end to a dominating final table performance. Suzuki won an online Circuit ring in 2021 for $140,050 but his previous best live WSOP cash was for a 69th place finish in the Eight Game Mix less than a week ago for just over $3,000.

Suzuki’s magical run to the bracelet was chronicled the entire way by a large contingent of Japanese media and supporters, showing the growth of the game and its potential in a nation of more than 125 million people. After his victory, Suzuki recognized the importance of this win for the Japanese poker community.

“Now the Japanese poker community is really growing up. There were a few bracelet holders, especially in mixed games. So it’s really so special for me and the poker community,” Suzuki said through translator Tamon Nakamura, himself a rising Japanese star and fourth-place finisher in this event.

Suzuki only took up mixed games a year ago and enjoyed the experience so much that he bookmarked this year’s WSOP as the year when he would try to put everything he learned to the test against the game’s most experienced and seasoned professionals. With his fearless aggression and sharp strategy, he overpowered one of the toughest fields at the WSOP, prevailing over several past bracelet winners until he joined their ranks.

“I’m not so long experienced in mixed games. But last year I experienced mixed games and it was really fun for me. So I target this year for mixed game events. I practice a lot. [Nakamura] also told me and I prayed a lot. Luckily I won. I’m not a master. I tried and had some luck,” Suzuki said.

2023 WSOP Event #36 Final Table Results

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (in USD)
1Ryutaro SuzukiJapan$221,124
2Walter ChambersUnited States$136,667
3Jason PedigoUnited States$92,860
4Tamon NakamuraJapan$64,320
5Ian SteinmanUnited States$45,434
6Renan BruschiBrazil$32,741
7Per HildebrandSweden$24,081

Day 3 Action

Suzuki came into Day 3 in ninth place out of 22 returning players but won a massive pot with rolled up quads in Seven Card Stud to climb up the leaderboard. Day 1 chip leader Andres Korn fell in 21st place, while Jean Gaspard (20th), Chris Vitch (19th), Yueqi Zhu (16th), Philip Long (12th), Shawn Buchanan (11th), and Scott Clements (9th) missed the final table.

By the time of the final table, Suzuki had opened up a sizeable chip lead with 3,950,000. But it was his native countryman Nakamura who scored the first knockout on the first hand, making a straight in Seven Card Stud to eliminate bracelet winner Justin Liberto in eighth place.

Per Hildebrand, who began the final table in second place, fell sharply on the leaderboard before losing his last chips to Nakamura in a pot of Stud Hi-Lo. Then the final table entered a sort of stalemate as Ian Steinman, knocked down to just 30,000 at one point in the day, doubled up repeatedly and stayed alive. Renan Bruschi finally fell in sixth place when, down to just 65,000, he moved all in with king-three and lost to Jason Pedigo’s ace-queen in No-Limit Hold’em. Steinman finally had his run end in fifth place when he called all in on the turn holding top pair, but Nakamura had made a straight.

Chambers took the chip lead away from Suzuki for the first time at the final table when he made a jack-high straight in Omaha Hi-Lo. Nakamura, meanwhile, enjoyed a roller coaster-like experience at the final table. He doubled up twice, fell back down to 145,000, then quadrupled up and doubled up again. Suddenly he was back up to nearly 2,000,000.

Tamon Nakamura
Tamon Nakamura

Four-handed Action

Suzuki, Chambers, Nakamura, and Pedigo played four-handed for nearly three hours as Suzuki retook the chip lead from Chambers after showing the nut flush in Stud Hi-Lo. Suzuki began to significantly widen his lead when he made No. 3 on Pedigo in 2-7 Triple Draw, crossing 8,000,000, then won with two pair against Chambers in Stud to approach 10,000,000.

Nakamura’s luck finally ran out when he made a 9-8 in Razz, but Suzuki had an 8-7 to send his countryman out in fourth place. On the next hand, Pedigo was eliminated as Suzuki made a jack-ten. Suzuki had a nearly 10-1 chip lead over Chambers at the start of heads-up, 12,000,000 to 2,400,000, and the match wouldn’t last long.

Chambers potted the flop for 1,100,000 with straight and flush draws. Suzuki called with two aces and held on as he let out a loud yell and ran over to celebrate with his supporters on the rail, including Nakamura who stuck around to cheer him on after his elimination.

Ryutaro Suzuki
Ryutaro Suzuki

The win was Suzuki’s, but it was also for all of Japan. There’s a new Japanese star who’s just at the start of his poker journey. But Suzuki doesn’t want to stop at just being famous back home. He has much loftier goals than that.

“I want to be more famous in Japan, but also more famous in the world. A worldwide poker player like Daniel Negreanu. This is the first event for me becoming a more great player,” he said.

The celebration that began around the feature table will soon travel across the Pacific back to Suzuki's home. In a field full of poker stars and bracelet winners, he proved he belongs with the game's best.

That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the Nine Game Mix. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the 2023 WSOP.

Tags: Andres KornChris VitchIan SteinmanJason PedigoJean GaspardJustin LibertoPer HildebrandPhilip LongRenan BruschiRyutaro SuzukiScott ClementsShawn BuchananTamon NakamuraWalter ChambersYueqi Zhu

Walter Chambers Eliminated in 2nd Place ($136,667)

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Walter Chambers
Walter Chambers

Pot-Limit Omaha

Ryutaro Suzuki potted to 240,000 on the button and Walter Chambers called.

The flop came 9J3 and Chambers checked over to Suzuki, who bet 250,000. Chambers now announced pot for his last 1,100,000 and Suzuki called.

Walter Chambers: KQ107
Ryutaro Suzuki: AAK3

Suzuki needed his aces to hold against Chambers' combo draw to get the bracelet, and he stayed in front on the 5 turn. The river came the 7 and Suzuki paused as he studied the board for a moment to make sure he won, then let out a loud yell as he ran over to celebrate with his Japanese rail.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
14,440,000
2,440,000
2,440,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Walter Chambers us
Walter Chambers
Busted

Tags: Ryutaro SuzukiWalter Chambers

Jason Pedigo Eliminated in 3rd Place ($92,860)

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Jason Pedigo
Jason Pedigo

Razz

Jason Pedigo: 9x8x/6x9x9xQx/Qx
Ryutaro Suzuki: Qx7x/6xJx9x10x/Jx
Walter Chambers: XxXx/Jx

After Walter Chambers brought in, Ryutaro Suzuki completed and Jason Pedigo three-bet all in for 255,000. Chambers folded, and Suzuki called.

Pedigo was ahead with three to a nine versus Suzuki's three to a queen, but Pedigo then got a horrific runout, making a full house, while Suzuki sent him to the pay window with his jack-ten low.

Suzuki and Chambers will now play heads-up for the WSOP bracelet and the 221,124 first prize

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
12,000,000
200,000
200,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Walter Chambers us
Walter Chambers
2,400,000
-125,000
-125,000
Profile photo of Jason Pedigo us
Jason Pedigo
Busted

Tags: Jason PedigoRyutaro SuzukiWalter Chambers

Tamon Nakamura Eliminated in 4th Place ($64,320)

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Tamon Nakamura
Tamon Nakamura

Razz

Tamon Nakamura: XxXx/2x6x9x
Ryutaro Suzuki: XxXx/6x7x8x

Ryutaro Suzuki completed and Tamon Nakamura called. Nakamura called again on fourth street, then committed his last chips on fifth.

He finished with 5x8x5xKx for a 9-8, but Suzuki made AxQx3xQx for 8-7-6-3-A to send his fellow countryman to the rail in fourth place after a valiant effort at battling back from a short stack.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
11,800,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Tamon Nakamura jp
Tamon Nakamura
Busted

Tags: Ryutaro SuzukiTamon Nakamura

Suzuki Earns a Dramatic Chop

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

Ryutaro Suzuki raised on the button before Tamon Nakamura reraised in the small blind, leaving himself 30,000 behind.

"Let's gamble. No Gamble, No Future," Nakamura said as Jason Pedigo tanked in the big blind. He eventually folded, but Suzuki put Nakamura all in and Nakamura called.

Tamon Nakamura: KK109
Ryutaro Suzuki: Q942

The AJK flop gave Nakamura a set and a near-lock on the hand, but the 4 turn gave Suzuki outs to a low. He completed his low as the 5 fell on the river.

"What the f**k. Very, very great flop for me," Nakamura playfully said as Suzuki began dancing and making a chopping motion at the board.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
10,800,000
125,000
125,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Tamon Nakamura jp
Tamon Nakamura
560,000
-190,000
-190,000

Tags: Ryutaro SuzukiTamon Nakamura

Scoop-zuki Crosses Ten Million

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Ryutaro Suzuki
Ryutaro Suzuki

Omaha Hi-Lo

After Walter Chambers raised on the button, Ryutaro Suzuki made it three bets to go from the small blind. Chambers called to see a flop.

It came 37J and Suzuki led out with a bet. Chambers called and the 2 came on the turn.

Suzuki bet again and Chambers called once more to see the river 6.

Suzuki bet a final time and Chambers called again.

Suzuki rolled over AJ85 for a pair of jacks with his ace-five for low. Chambers showed AQ102 for a pair of decues and a worse low, sending a critical scoop to Suzuki.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
10,675,000
875,000
875,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Walter Chambers us
Walter Chambers
2,525,000
-275,000
-275,000

Tags: Ryutaro SuzukiWalter Chambers

Chambers' Turn to Make Two Pair

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante

Seven Card Stud

Walter Chambers: XxXx/6JA8/Xx
Tamon Nakamura: XxXx/7834/Xx

Tamon Nakamura completed and was called by Walter Chambers. Nakamura bet again on fourth street and Chambers called.

On fifth, Chambers opened the betting and Nakamura did the calling. Chambers bet on sixth, Nakamura called, then Chambers put out a bet on seventh.

Nakamura called once again and Chambers showed A6 for aces and sixes to win the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Walter Chambers us
Walter Chambers
2,800,000
1,350,000
1,350,000
Profile photo of Tamon Nakamura jp
Tamon Nakamura
750,000
-1,310,000
-1,310,000

Tags: Tamon NakamuraWalter Chambers

Suzuki Running Away From the Field

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante

Seven Card Stud

Ryutaro Suzuki: XxXx/3AKQ/Xx
Walter Chambers: XxXx/5744/Xx

Walter Chambers completed, then Ryutaro Suzuki raised. Chambers called the raise, then proceeded to call bets down to seventh street.

Suzuki bet again on seventh and Chambers tanked for about a minute before calling.

Suzuki turned over AK for two pair and Chambers mucked as Suzuki began to widen his chip lead significantly.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
9,800,000
1,500,000
1,500,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Walter Chambers us
Walter Chambers
1,450,000
-1,950,000
-1,950,000

Tags: Ryutaro SuzukiWalter Chambers

Nakamura Doubles Up

Level 29 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante

Seven Card Stud

Tamon Nakamura: 92/97AA/K
Ryutaro Suzuki: 44/1053Q/7
Jason Pedigo: XxXx/8 - folded bring-in

Ryutaro Suzuki completed and was raised by Tamon Nakamura. Suzuki called to see fourth street, then check-called a bet from Nakamura to get to the big bet rounds.

Nakamura picked up an ace and bet, which got a call from Suzuki after a bit of thought.

Then pairing his ace on sixth, Nakamura moved all in for his last 210,000 which got a call from Suzuki.

Nakamura was ahead with aces and nines, but Suzuki had a heart flush draw, and a four would also win it for him so long as Nakamura didn't fill up.

Nakamura bricked seventh street, but so did Suzuki, earning Nakamura a double up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryutaro Suzuki jp
Ryutaro Suzuki
8,300,000
-510,000
-510,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Tamon Nakamura jp
Tamon Nakamura
2,060,000
830,000
830,000
Profile photo of Jason Pedigo us
Jason Pedigo
650,000
-50,000
-50,000

Tags: Jason PedigoRyutaro SuzukiTamon Nakamura