Kevin Gerhart eliminated the last five players and six in total at the final table of Event #54: $1,500 Razz to win $119,054 and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
"First razz tournament, first bracelet."
Gerhart topped a field of 363 players to take home the top prize, defeating Brazilian Sergio Braga heads-up after a rollercoaster final table.
After three final tables for Brazil in as many nights, Braga's rail was the latest of many Brazilian final table rails at this year's WSOP. It's been a record-breaking summer for Brazilian poker that has seen them reach ten final tables - beating the record of eight set last year - and take home two bracelets. But the plaudits go to Gerhart, who managed to navigate a tough final table that included 2019 bracelet winners Robert Campbell and Scott Clements to take down the tournament.
Event #54: $1,500 Razz Final Table Results
Position
Name
Country
Payout
1
Kevin Gerhart
United States
$119,054
2
Sergio Braga
Brazil
$73,577
3
Joseph Hoffman
United States
$49,762
4
Andres Korn
Argentina
$34,352
5
Jean Said
Senegal
$24,216
6
Scott Clements
United States
$17,440
7
Robert Campbell
Australia
$12,837
8
Grzegorz Wyraz
Poland
$9,663
9
Christopher Kusha
United States
$7,441
Event #54: $1,500 Razz Final Table
A Day of Firsts
"First razz tournament, first bracelet," Gerhart told PokerNews shortly after securing victory. "I mean I've played a bunch of other tournaments with razz, but this is the first razz tournament [at the WSOP].
"There were three other tough players at the final table and they got knocked out early. I felt like it was my tournament to win or lose at that point."
"I felt great the entire time. There were three other tough players at the final table and they got knocked out early. I felt like it was my tournament to win or lose at that point."
So what's next for the WSOP's latest bracelet winner?
"I don't know what's next; I'll have to look at the schedule. This is my eight cash of the summer and my third Day 3. So whatever's next, is what I'm in," Gerhart paused. "The $10,000 Razz, maybe."
Kevin Gerhart
Event #54: $1,500 Razz Final Day Recap
It didn't take long on the final day's play to get down to a final table. Gary Benson (15th - $3,919), Jennifer Tilly (12th - $5,866), and Mike Ross (11th - $5,866) all hit the rail as Brazilian Sergio Braga lead the final nine players.
The final table was a rollercoaster. Short stack Christopher Kusha was the first elimination, sent to the rail by Robert Campbell with Campbell, Scott Clements, Jean Said and Kevin Gerhart each trying to gain a decisive chip lead but nearly always tumbling back through the pack.
Gerhart looked the most likely, and after he eliminated Grzegorz Wyraz, he moved to the top spot in the chip counts.
Two players at the final table were looking for their second bracelet of the summer. Robert Campbell won the $1,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball for $144,027, while Scott Clements took down the $1,500 Dealers Choice event for $144,957.
Scott Clements
However, the pair were eliminated in seventh and sixth respectively either side of the dinner break, both by Gerhart who tightened his grip on the chip lead.
Afterward, Gerhart about Clements getting eliminated: "Scott's aggressive nature definitely hindered the rest of the tournament and their ability to play, so when he got knocked out I felt like I was the best player left and I just needed to take this down."
"when [Scott Clements] got knocked out I felt like I was the best player left and I just needed to take this down."
Said was second in chips at the dinner break, but the tumultuous nature of Razz took its tole and he was also sent to the rail by Gerhart.
With half the chips in play, Gerhart was in control. He added the elimination of Andres Korn in fourth and looked like walking to the title. However, Braga doubled through him and Joseph Hoffman stuck around to keep things uncertain short-handed.
When Hoffman was sent to the rail in third, though, Gerhart held a commanding chip lead against Braga. The Brazilian, buoyed by a raucous partisan rail, doubled numerous times but remained short after all of them.
Kevin Gerhart and Sergio Braga heads-up for the bracelet
"To win a poker tournament, you have to run hotter than the sun. I still can't believe it's over. I had [Braga] all in three times and he doubled up all three times. On the fourth one, he called it off incorrectly and that was it."
"I'm one of the elites now with a bracelet."
"I'm one of the elites now with a bracelet," said Gerhart. "My goal this summer was to make a final table. And then at my first final table, to win a bracelet... that's unreal."
Kevin Gerhart will have plenty more chances to win another WSOP bracelet this summer and become the first player to win a second bracelet at this 50th annual World Series of Poker as things stand. The PokerNews team will bring you updates from every bracelet event throughout the summer.
Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.
He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.
