With the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) underway in Las Vegas, it's time to look at the best poker players who have yet to win a WSOP bracelet.
While these notable players may not have bracelets, it may only be a matter of time before they do. Some players who have appeared on "best without a bracelet" lists only to go on to win them include Jason Koon, Dan Smith, Alex Foxen, Shannon Shorr, Isaac Haxton and Chris Brewer.
Qui Nguyen fired 5,500 on a flop of 3♠6♠8♥ and was called by the player from early position.
A 5♦ turn drew another bet from Nguyen, this time with a sizing of 10,000, and once again the early position player made the call.
When the Q♦ hit the river, Nguyen fired a third and final bet of 20,000 which was enough to get the job done as his opponent released his cards back to the dealer.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
115,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
David "ODB" Baker bet 7,000 from the cutoff on a flop of 9♠7♠4♣ before Kristen Foxen raised to 16,000 in the big blind. Ran Koller then moved all in from the hijack, Baker folded, while Foxen called for 42,400.
Kristen Foxen: 7♦4♦ 
Ran Koller: A♠A♥
Foxen was ahead with her two pair as the board ran out 8♥K♣, earning her a double up and leaving Koller with less than 500.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
||
|
65,000 | |
|
||
|
400 | |
|
|
||
A player in middle position opened to 2,800 and Thailand's Punnat Punsri, who has just taken his seat, three-bet to 7,800. When the action got back to the middle position player, he made the call.
The flop of A♣8♣J♦ was checked by the middle position player, and Punsri bet 5,000. The middle position player called.
The 4♦ hit the turn and once it was checked to Punsri, he bet 13,300 with just 15,000 chips behind. After some time thinking, the middle position player shoved all in and Punsri snap-folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
||
Action started with John Thornton’s open to 2,400 in the cutoff. Niall Farrell three-bet to 6,600 on the button, to which Chance Kornuth responded with a four-bet to 19,000 from the small blind. The big blind and Thornton both folded. Farrell then quickly pushed all in for 33,000 total, which Kornuth called.
Niall Farrell: 10♠10♣
Chance Kornuth: A♣3♣
The flop came 4♥Q♥2♣, prompting a few gasps by the players at the table seeing the uncomfortable draw to the wheel.
The dealer dealt a 6♠ on the turn, which meant Farrell only had to dodge a three or an ace once more. However, it wasn’t meant to be, the river brought the A♠, chipping-up Kornuth and ending Farrell’s tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
124,000
74,000
|
74,000 |
|
|
||
|
118,000
43,000
|
43,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Jake Daniels was all in for around 35,000 from the button and up against Tony Cousineau in the hijack.
Jake Daniels: Q♣Q♦
Tony Cousineau: K♣K♠
Cousineau had woken up with kings to leave Daniels at risk, and Daniels couldn't improve on the J♣5♠7♥6♣9♣ board as he was sent to the rail.
According to the table, Justin Zaki folded a pair of tens, while another opponent had a pair of nines. "All the pairs," Brad Ruben said.
"It's a trap," Daniels added on his way to the exit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 8
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
With the full board of 7♣A♠10♥2♦J♥ laid out on the table, Adrian State fired 15,000 chips into the 10,000-chip pot on the river. Pete Chen was the man with the decision and he tossed in calling chips but was swiftly shown some bad news as State flipped over 9♠8♦ for a rivered straight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
135,000
88,500
|
88,500 |
|
||
|
75,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
