Event #71: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
Day 2 Completed
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #71: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2023 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$9,550,000
Entries
200
Level
29
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Entries
103
Players Left
11
Tyler Smith Leads Final 11 in Event #71: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
The most expensive four-card event of the 2023 World Series of Poker schedule at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas is one step closer to crowning a champion. Out of a massive field of 200 entries in Event #71: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, only 11 players remain in contention for the biggest slice of the $9,550,000 prize pool.
To put things in perspective, the 33 late entries at the start of Day 2 ensured that the High Roller contest gathered a field bigger than the previous two editions in 2021 and 2022 combined, further showcasing the tremendous growth in many mixed game and high-stakes tournaments during this ongoing festival in Sin City.
When another 12 levels of 40 minutes had concluded, not only had the money bubble burst but the unofficial final table was almost reached. Four bracelet winners remain in contention to potentially increase their tally and they are led by Tyler Smith, who held the top spot for an extended period and bagged up 14,000,000. Fellow bracelet winners Isaac Haxton (2,500,000) and Ian Matakis (2,150,000) can be found at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Matakis has had a memorable 2023 WSOP already as he captured his first WSOP gold bracelet in Online Event #2: $500 No-Limit Hold'em Bankroll Builder at the start of the series. He then finished seventh just one day ago in Event #65: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (6-Handed) before max late-registering this event. Known under his moniker "potamophobia" during the start of the global pandemic, his fear of rivers may only be challenged by the fear of an opponent raising the pot behind.
Second in chips behind Smith is the always dangerous Jesse Lonis, one of the rising young players on the international live poker circuit with a WSOP online domestic bracelet to his name from one year ago. He was involved in plenty of big pots thanks to his aggressive playing style, undeterred by the fact that this is his first event with such a high price tag. Lonis already has 10th and 9th place finishes in Freezeout tournaments during the 2023 WSOP and will be aiming to further improve on those finishing positions.
https://twitter.com/JesseLonis/status/1674980614628589569
Several PLO specialists remain in contention such as Elias Harala (6,575,000), James Park (4,325,000), Adam Hendrix (3,500,000) and Jonas Kronwitter (3,225,000).
Seat Assignments for the Final Day
| Casino | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe | 1 | 2 | Danny Hannawa | United States | 6,125,000 | 25 |
| Horseshoe | 1 | 3 | Tyler Smith | United States | 14,000,000 | 56 |
| Horseshoe | 1 | 4 | Jonas Kronwitter | Germany | 3,225,000 | 13 |
| Horseshoe | 1 | 5 | Kabeelan Rajamurthy | Malaysia | 5,400,000 | 22 |
| Horseshoe | 1 | 6 | Anthony Marsico | United States | 3,525,000 | 14 |
| Horseshoe | 1 | 8 | James Park | United Kingdom | 4,325,000 | 17 |
| Horseshoe | 2 | 1 | Jesse Lonis | United States | 8,650,000 | 35 |
| Horseshoe | 2 | 3 | Ian Matakis | United States | 2,150,000 | 9 |
| Horseshoe | 2 | 4 | Isaac Haxton | United States | 2,500,000 | 10 |
| Horseshoe | 2 | 7 | Elias Harala | Finland | 6,575,000 | 26 |
| Horseshoe | 2 | 8 | Adam Hendrix | United States | 3,500,000 | 14 |
The penultimate tournament day started with a short delay in order to accommodate all late entrants with all but one open seat getting sold. Some of those jumping in at the last minute barely lasted one full level with Eric Rabl and Gjergj Sinishtaj bowing out in the very first hand. Other big names such as Phil Hellmuth, Jason Koon, Erick Lindgren, Josh Arieh, and Bryce Yockey followed their path to the rail soon after.
Often involved in the action was Lonis, who notched up several knockouts along the way and was only overtaken by Smith on the final six tables. As the money bubble drew closer, several big names of the international poker scene all came short of a cash price including Shaun Deeb, Chance Kornuth, 2022 runner-up Dash Dudley, Day 1 chip leader Alex Foxen, and James Obst. The latter was ousted by Smith when the Aussie called off a river shove with two pair and the busted nut flush draw. [Removed:422] was eliminated by Danny Hannawa on the same table shortly after to let the bubble burst.
Sam Soverel was knocked out by Lonis in a large pot for a min-cash before a wild roller coaster ride on the final three tables for Lonis followed, after which he ultimately came out with a big stack once more.
Defending champion Robert Cowen fell in 20th place for $103,093 and Smith then won the biggest pot of the tournament so far when he rivered a flush against Aaron Katz, who received the same payout as Cowen.
Notables to bow out thereafter included Anton Morgenstern, Jared Bleznick, Krasimir Yankov, Matthew Wantman, and Eelis Pärssinen. This locked up a cash prize of at least $157,963 for all survivors and the top three finishers will earn seven-figure paydays with $2,303,017 reserved for the eventual champion.
The final 11 players will return to the side feature tables of the Horseshoe Event Center on Sunday, July 2nd, 2023, at 1 p.m. local time. Recommending blinds in level 25 will be 125,000-250,000 with a big blind ante of 250,000. One further redraw awaits with nine hopefuls remaining. All those still in contention by then will also receive an additional eight time eight time bank extensions.
Stay tuned right here on PokerNews for the conclusion of this record-setting $50,000 High Roller.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 200 | $9,550,000 | $2,303,017 | |
| 2022 | 106 | $5,074,750 | Robert Cowen | $1,393,816 |
| 2021 | 85 | $4,069,375 | Jeremy Ausmus | $1,188,918 |
End-of-Day 2 Chip Counts (full)
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
14,000,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
||
|
8,650,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
|
||
|
6,575,000
205,000
|
205,000 |
|
6,125,000
-375,000
|
-375,000 |
|
5,400,000
2,900,000
|
2,900,000 |
|
4,325,000
-85,000
|
-85,000 |
|
3,525,000
-625,000
|
-625,000 |
|
3,500,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
3,225,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
2,500,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
|
||
|
2,150,000
-1,195,000
|
-1,195,000 |
|
|
||
Day 2 Concludes With 11 Players Remaining
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Level 24 has been concluded with 11 players remaining and they are racing off the T-5,000 chips before bagging and tagging for the night. Full chip counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.
Park Beats Smith in Showdown
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Tyler Smith raised to 500,000 and James Park came along out of the big blind.
On the 7♣5♣3♠ flop, Park opted to check-call a bet of 500,000 before both then checked the 3♣ turn and 5♣ river.
Park revealed J♥6♦5♥4♦ for a straight and that won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,200,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,410,000
1,910,000
|
1,910,000 |
Eelis Parssinen Eliminated in 12th Place ($126,801)
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Elias Harala raised to 500,000 from under the gun and fellow Fin Eelis Parssinen just called from the big blind, having only 200,000 left behind.
"Don't spoil," Parssinen pleaded while holding his cap in front of the 6♦7♥9♦ flop. He then put the rest of the chips in and Harala made the call.
Eelis Parssinen: J♣8♠9♦3♥
Elias Harala: A♣J♠10♣8♣
Harala had flopped a straight and Parsinnen would need a ten to chop the pot, or hit a runner-runner full house. However, when the 2♠ turn and A♥ river completed the board, he was confirmed to be eliminated by his fellow countryman.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,370,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Hannawa Bests Smith Again
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
In a limped pot, Tyler Smith bet 250,000 on a flop of 4♥2♥3♦ and Danny Hannawa called.
Both players checked the 7♠ turn and the 6♦ fell on the river. Hannawa checked again and Smith now fired out 600,000.
Hannawa stuck in a call and Smith showed Q♠10♥8♦4♦. Hannawa turned over A♥9♣5♠5♣ for the flopped straight as he took another pot off the chip leader.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,800,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
6,500,000
2,150,000
|
2,150,000 |
Haxton Doubles Through Lonis With "A Good Hand"
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Jesse Lonis raised the pot on the button and table short stack Isaac Haxton gave it some consideration before he tossed in a single chip. Once it was clarified to be a call and not all-in - Haxton had 450,000 behind - Haxton joked "but that might come soon".
On the 7♠7♦4♥ flop, Haxton checked and Lonis bet big. As Haxton leaned over to the other side of the table, he told his opponent "I apologise for making you wait".
Lonis replied near instantly with a "I understand" as they were on a pay jump. He then followed that up with a question: "Do you have a good hand?"
Haxton, still leaning over to check the action of the other table, replied with a "yes".
"Fuck!" Lonis exclaimed.
Haxton then called all-in and the cards were turned over.
Isaac Haxton: A♣7♥5♣2♦
Jesse Lonis: A♦J♦J♠2♠
The 8♦ turn and 8♥ river let Haxton double with tripssevens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,750,000
-1,460,000
|
-1,460,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,600,000
775,000
|
775,000 |
|
|
||
Lonis Folds Twice In A Row
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
After Jesse Lonis opened to 500,000 and folded to a repot from Elias Harala, he opened again, this time from under the gun and for 700,000. The action folded to Adam Hendrix in the big blind, and he three-bet for the maximum of 2,200,000, leaving only 400,000 behind.
Lonis pondered his options, but eventually settled on a fold.
"This is the craziest thing I've ever seen," remarked Hendrix afterwards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,210,000
310,000
|
310,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,370,000
370,000
|
370,000 |
|
|
3,600,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
Hannawa Gets Tricky
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
The table folded around to Danny Hannawa in the small blind and he limped in. Tyler Smith then put his big stack to use by raising to 600,000.
Hannawa, undeterred, came back with a pot-sized bet of 1,950,000 and Smith quickly gave up his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,000,000
-3,500,000
|
-3,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,350,000
-350,000
|
-350,000 |