2021 World Series of Poker

Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed
Day: 3
Event Info

2021 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
7x6x5x4x2x
Prize
$137,969
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$646,140
Entries
484
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 3
Players Left
1

Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed

Day 3 Completed

Ryan Leng Wins Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed for $137,969

Level 32
Ryan Leng
Ryan Leng

Ryan Leng didn’t consider himself among the best players in this star-studded field, or even when they got down to the final table of six. But, in the end, it was the Wheeling, Indiana, native who walked away with the bracelet in Event #23: $1,500 Eight-Game Mix.

Leng defeated Connor Drinan after a long heads-up match that featured many reversals of fortune to become a three-time WSOP bracelet winner. Both of his previous wins came in No-Limit Hold’em Events: the $1,500 Bounty No-Limit Hold’em in 2018, and the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout on WSOP.com this summer.

Event #23: $1,500 Eight-Game Mix Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Ryan LengUnited States$137,969
2Connor DrinanUnited States$85,273
3Brett ShafferUnited States$56,839
4Daniel ZackUnited States$38,752
5Schuyler ThorntonUnited States$27,038
6Ryan HughesUnited States$19,317

This event, though, was different. It had 484 of the best mixed-game specialists in the poker world, and Leng had to use every bit of the work he’s put in to prevail. “It was a lot tougher,” Leng said, comparing his previous bracelet wins to this one.

“I’ve been studying mixed games lately. I definitely think the final table, the final two tables, I was certainly nowhere near the best player left in the field. I ran really hot.”

During heads-up play, Leng fell down 10-to-1 against Drinan and was all in for his tournament life with {q-Spades}{7-Spades} against {a-Clubs}{5-Spades}. Leng hit a seven on the flop to double up and didn’t look back from there, grinding down Drinan before taking the chip lead and knocking out the two-time bracelet winner with a 7-6 in 2-7 Triple Draw. But for Leng, just playing against a player he grew up in the game watching was special.

“He’s the best. I used to play low-stakes online and I would pull up his tables on PokerStars and just sweat him,” Leng said. “Playing him heads-up was just a freeroll for me. If I lost, I lost to one of the best. And if I ran well and won, then great.

Taking his place behind the stacks of chips and the gold bracelet, Leng was surrounded by his family and friends who were on the rail cheering him on throughout the final table. His girlfriend, Nicky, and her mother were here, just as they were for his previous two wins. Having that support behind him, with friends who are accomplished players on their own, means everything to Leng.

“It’s amazing. It would mean nothing without them. My rail is amazing,” he said. “They all have success in their own right. I love seeing them have success. We love seeing each other have success. We push each other, we study together.”

Connor Drinan
Connor Drinan narrowly missed out on his second bracelet of the series

Leng isn’t concerned about whether the poker world will start recognizing him more for his all-around abilities and not just as a No-Limit Hold’em player. He’s not playing for the adulation that comes with that recognition. He’s focused more on the people around him and what they think.

“It feels good because of the work that I’ve put in. I appreciate the respect of my peers," he said. "But, aside from that, I’m not doing it for what people think about me or my mixed games. I’m doing it for me, my friends, my family.”

The Eight-Game Mix tested each player’s ability in a variety of games, including No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud and Hi-Lo, and 2-7 Triple Draw. Leng admits he’s not the best in all those games, but he tried to play to his strengths and avoid big pots in games he wasn’t as comfortable in.

He’s now a two-time bracelet winner this year, adding on to his victory in the WSOP Online in July. There is still one goal he has in mind, though.

“My biggest long-term goal is to win Player of the Year at the World Series,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do the rest of the series to make that happen. But I’m going to try to make that happen.”

He’s already proven he can handle the best players in the world in any game the WSOP has to offer.

Ryan Leng
Ryan Leng

Tags: Ryan Leng

Connor Drinan Eliminated in 2nd Place ($85,273)

Level 32
Connor Drinan
Connor Drinan

2-7 Triple Draw

Ryan Leng raised, and Connor Drinan called.

Drinan took three, Leng drew two, and Drinan check-called.

Drinan took two, Leng took one, and Drinan led out, going all-in. Leng called.

Drinan stood pat, and Leng took one. Leng's {7-}{6-}{5-}{4-}{2-} was the winner, besting Drinan's {10-}{9-}{7-}{5-}{2-}.

Drinan exited the tournament in second place, taking home $85,273.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryan Leng us
Ryan Leng
12,100,000
900,000
900,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Connor Drinan us
Connor Drinan
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Connor DrinanRyan Leng

Leng On the Brink

Level 32

2-7 Triple Draw

Connor Drinan raised, then called when Ryan Leng re-raised. Drinan took three and Leng took one, then bet. Drinan raised and Leng called.

Drinan stood pat and bet while Leng, who took one, called. Drinan patted again on the third draw and Leng took one. Leng then led out and Drinan called.

Leng showed {7-}{6-}{5-}{4-}{2-} to win the pot and knock Drinan down to less than 1,000,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryan Leng us
Ryan Leng
11,200,000
1,520,000
1,520,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Connor Drinan us
Connor Drinan
800,000
-1,520,000
-1,520,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Connor DrinanRyan Leng

Leng Extends the Advantage

Level 32

Stud Hi-Lo

Connor Drinan: {x-}{x-}/{3-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{4-Spades}{3-Spades}/{x-}
Ryan Leng: {x-}{x-}/{2-Clubs}{j-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}/{x-}

Ryan Leng check-called bets on fourth and fifth streets. Both players checked the final two streets, and Leng showed {q-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}, good for a pair of jacks.

That scooped the pot, and took Leng to more than a four-to-one chip advatage.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryan Leng us
Ryan Leng
9,680,000
980,000
980,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Connor Drinan us
Connor Drinan
2,320,000
-980,000
-980,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Ryan LengConnor Drinan

Leng Pulling Ahead

Level 32

Limit Hold'em

Connor Drinan opened the pot for a raise, then called when Ryan Leng re-raised. Leng bet again on the {k-Spades}{5-Clubs}{7-Diamonds} flop and Drinan called.

Drinan led out on the {8-Spades} turn and Leng raised. Drinan called to see the {3-Clubs} on the river. Leng bet and Drinan called.

Leng showed {k-Clubs}{q-Clubs} for a flopped pair of kings and Drinan mucked to send yet another pot to his opponent. Leng, who was all in for his tournament life a short time ago, is now a big chip leader.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryan Leng us
Ryan Leng
8,700,000
2,050,000
2,050,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Connor Drinan us
Connor Drinan
3,300,000
-2,050,000
-2,050,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Connor DrinanRyan Leng

Leng Pulls Almost Even

Level 32
Ryan Leng
Ryan Leng

Pot-Limit Omaha

Connor Drinan raised pot for 240,000 pre-flop and Ryan Leng called. Drinan continued for 200,000 on the {5-Diamonds}{a-Spades}{10-Clubs} flop, and again Leng called.

When the turn came the {7-Spades}, Drinan potted again. Leng studied the board for a moment before gathering the chips to call.

Both players checked the {5-Spades} river. "Flush," Leng said, showing {4-Spades}{3-Spades}{8-Hearts}{q-Hearts} for the flush on the river. Drinan lowered his head and stared at the board in disbelief for a few moments before finally releasing his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Connor Drinan us
Connor Drinan
6,200,000
-1,200,000
-1,200,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Ryan Leng us
Ryan Leng
5,800,000
1,200,000
1,200,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once

Tags: Ryan LengConnor Drinan

Leng Narrows the Gap

Level 32

Seven Card Stud

Ryan Leng: {x-}{x-}/{8-Clubs}{j-Spades}{j-Clubs}{a-Clubs}/{x-}
Connor Drinan: {x-}{x-}/{4-Spades}{9-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}/{x-}

Ryan Leng completed, Connor Drinan raised, then Leng re-raised. Drinan called, then proceeded to call down Leng to seventh street.

"Jacks up," Leng said, turning up {8-Hearts}{6-Spades}{10-Spades} for two pair, jacks and eights, to win the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Connor Drinan us
Connor Drinan
7,400,000
-1,860,000
-1,860,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Ryan Leng us
Ryan Leng
4,600,000
1,860,000
1,860,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once

Tags: Ryan LengConnor Drinan