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Not Just a Mixed Game Specialist: Marco Johnson Wins First NLHE Bracelet in $2,500 Freezeout
Ten years have passed since Marco Johnson won his last piece of gold at the World Series of Poker. Today, he added a third bracelet to his collection by taking down Event #49: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em. Best known as a mixed-game specialist, the victory marked his first WSOP title in No-Limit Hold'em, having previously triumphed in H.O.R.S.E. and Limit Hold'em.
The single-entry format attracted 1,561 entries, with only 28 players returning on Day 3 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas to battle it out for the $513,885 up top. After coming into the final table as one of the top stacks, Johnson closed out the tournament by defeating fellow respected professional and friend Chino Rheem to capture the lion’s share of the $3,473,225 prize pool.
Event #49: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Johnson | United States | $513,885 |
| 2 | Chino Rheem | United States | $341,970 |
| 3 | Kenzo Ishida | Japan | $246,800 |
| 4 | Faraz Jaka | United States | $180,210 |
| 5 | Srivinay Irrinki | United States | $133,170 |
| 6 | Vamerdino Magsakay | Philippines | $99,590 |
| 7 | Elliot Smith | Canada | $75,390 |
| 8 | Pyeongkang Kim | Korea, Republic of | $57,780 |
| 9 | Sebastian Schulze | Germany | $44,840 |
Winner's Reaction
Johnson explained what it means to him to win not only his first bracelet in a decade, but also his first No-Limit Hold’em event, after numerous deep runs in WSOP events that ended in heartbreak.
"It's honestly just relief. It's been a long day battling. Chino played an amazing tournament. I was super fortunate to get ace-five versus ace-four all in and flop a wheel. So yeah, it was more just relief. I've had a lot of final tables without winning a bracelet in the last five years, so it felt really good to finally win one."
"It means a lot. I started playing no limit twenty, twenty-five years ago. I've been playing for a living and I stopped playing no limit for a while, and then after COVID, so for the last 5 years, I've played a lot of no limit, and I really enjoy it. It actually might be one of my favorite games. So it feels really good to win a bracelet in a no limit event."
Turning Point to Start the Final Table
Johnson came into the final table second in chips, and it wasn't long before he collided with Sebastian Schulze, who held one of the other top stacks. It was a dream spot for Johnson, whose pocket kings held against ace-king to propel him into a massive chip lead with nine players remaining.
The dream wasn't realized until the final river card was dealt, as the first thought that ran through his head was the possibility of the nightmare repeating itself, something he's become all too familiar with in big spots over the years.
"Honestly, panic. I've lost a lot of those hands in the last five years at final tables that have held me back from winning. So there was a bit of like, 'no way this is gonna happen again'. So when the last card came, that was for a third of the chips in play nine-handed. It was an outrageously massive pot. That was the biggest moment of relief to be able to hold in a big spot like that."
Schulze was left was just a few big blinds and was eliminated shortly after when Johnson's ace-queen held against his king-jack.
Riding the Momentum and Closing It Out
Johnson wasted no time putting his big chip lead to use, winning a flip against Pyeongkang Kim, who exited in eighth place, before hitting a flush on the river to eliminate Vamerdino Magsakay in sixth. It wasn't until Faraz Jaka was sent to the rail in fourth that stacks began to consolidate, with Johnson and Kenzo Ishida neck and neck, while Rheem was the clear short stack.
Johnson never wavered and quickly regained control by winning multiple small-to-medium sized pots to extend his lead and head into the final break of the evening with a 2:1 lead over the remaining field.
Knowing that he had both of his opponents somewhat handcuffed given the chip distribution, Johnson's mindset was simple. He said he "tried not to think too much about it and just focus one hand at a time."
"The guy on my left, (Ishida), he is a very talented poker player as well. I got ace-jack versus sevens versus him early to win a flip, so that was fortunate as well. So yeah, I didn't have too much of a game plan other than to try to just take it one hand at a time."
Heads-Up Against a Long-Time Acquaintance
Johnson entered heads-up play with a 3:1 lead over Rheem, who ensured it wouldn’t be a quick or easy victory. Just a few hands into the duel, Rheem woke up with pocket aces against the jacks of Johnson to begin to close the gap. Johnson kept his cool and responded by applying pressure, steadily chipping Rheem back down until the final hand of the match, where the two got it all in preflop with similar holdings. Johnson came out on top, flopping a wheel to win the tournament.
Johnson had nothing but praise and respect for his formidable opponent, someone he has battled with on the felt for a number of years.
"I've known Chino for twenty years. Just like myself, we're different versions in poker than we were twenty years ago. We're both probably a little more maniacal and he played an absolutely amazing tournament. Super thankful to run good enough to beat him heads-up, and it felt extra special to beat him because he's such a good player. He's a very good closer, so it felt good to close versus him."
As for his plans with bracelet number three, Johnson said, "My last bracelet was when my wife was pregnant with my first son. So this felt good because I told my son if I win one, I'll give one to him. So I finally got him a bracelet."
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