Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day 1 Started
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2023 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$1,504,000
Entries
64
Level
58
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
0
Entries
64
Players Left
16
Up to 64 Players Try to Survive Poker's Ultimate Test When Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship Begins at Noon
Staring across the table at an opponent, one on one, in a singular battle of wits is the essence of poker. A player is out there, alone, and whoever has the most heart and nerve usually comes out on top. And that is what Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship is all about.
One of the most prestigious tournaments on the World Series of Poker schedule begins today at noon local time inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. A maximum of 64 players will take to the felt and try to survive six consecutive heads-up matches over the next three days to earn the coveted gold bracelet.
Dan Smith had that dream come true a year ago. Smith was arguably one of the best players without a bracelet until he defeated Christoph Vogelsang in the final last year, earning $509,717. Jason Koon wrote a similar story in 2021, as the high-stakes regular captured his breakthrough WSOP victory in this event.
Heads-up tournaments made their debut at the WSOP in 2007 when Dan Schreiber won the $5,000 inaugural tournament. The event was then held as a $10,000 buy-in through 2019, with champions including Justin Bonomo, Adrian Mateos, and Brian Hastings.
Past Results
| Year | Buy-In | Champion | Entrants | Earnings | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $25,000 | Dan Smith | 64 | $509,717 | Christoph Vogelsang |
| 2021 | $25,000 | Jason Koon | 57 | $243,981 | Gabor Szabo |
| 2019 | $10,000 | Sean Swingruber | 112 | $186,356 | Ben Yu |
| 2018 | $10,000 | Justin Bonomo | 114 | $185,965 | Jason McConnon |
| 2017 | $10,000 | Adrian Mateos | 129 | $336,656 | John Smith |
The draw for this year’s bracket will take place at noon. Players begin the first round with a 150,000 starting stack and blinds at 300/600. Levels are 20 minutes long. The second round begins at 5 p.m. with a break in-between.
Some of the brightest names in poker have already signaled they intend to challenge for the bracelet, including reigning Main Event champion Espen Jorstad, Shaun Deeb, and Chance Kornuth, who is coming off a second-place finish in the $25,000 High Roller Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em final table on Thursday.
Heads-up is the ultimate form of poker and the player who emerges victorious from this field will have shown they had the steely determination to make it through every opponent. It all begins today at noon and PokerNews will be beside the tables following all the action and providing live updates.
Full List of Entrants
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
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150,000 |
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150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
2023 Heads-Up Championship Bracket
Level: 1
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 1
: 300/600, 0 ante
The bracket has been drawn and the 64 players are now in their seats to begin play.
Defending Champ Picks Off Tice
Level 1
: 300/600, 0 ante
Defending champion Dan Smith is back in action this year and matched up against Landon Tice in the first hand.
Smith and Tice built a pot of 3,000 heading to the turn on a board of 5♦2♥K♥10♥ and both players checked. The river came the K♦ and Tice led out for 600.
Smith quickly called with 8♥5♥ for a pair of fives to win the pot and take an early lead in the match.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
170,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
130,000 | |
Badziakouski Misses Against Eychenne
Level 1
: 300/600, 0 ante
With around 6,000 in the pot, Mikita Badziakouski led out for 2,200 on a board of 5♥2♥5♣6♥ and Thomas Eychenne called.
The river came the K♠ and Badziakouski slowed down and checked. Eychenne quickly checked back and took the pot with 6♠2♠ as Badziakouski flashed 9x7x for a missed draw before mucking.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
153,000 | |
|
|
||
|
147,000 | |
Chidwick Pressures Yu on the Turn
Level 1
: 300/600, 0 ante
Chidwick raised from the button to 1,200 and Ben Yu called.
Both players saw a flop of 5♠J♦K♣. Yu checked to Chidwick in position as he fired out 1,000. Yu three-bet to 3,500 and Chidwick called.
The turn came the 2♣, Yu continued for 6,500. Chidwick stewed for some time over his decision before raising to 22,000 which earned the fold and the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
151,500
1,500
|
1,500 |
|
|
||
|
|
148,500
-1,500
|
-1,500 |
|
|
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"Bluff No. 2" Gets Through For D'Ambrosio
Level 1
: 300/600, 0 ante
A big pot of around 35,000 was already in the middle as Isaac Kempton and Jimmy D'Ambrosio went to the river on a board of 10♥3♥4♠10♦9♣.
"How much would you call," D'Ambrosio asked.
"One chip," Kempton replied.
D'Ambrosio put in one, a red 5,000 chip, but Kempton quickly folded.
"Yeah, bluff No. 2," D'Ambrosio yelled as he raised his arms in the air.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
170,000
170,000
|
170,000 |
|
130,000
130,000
|
130,000 |