Event #5: $1,500 Dealer's Choice (6-Handed) | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-02-2023 15:18 UTC-8

Johnson Drops to a Short Stack

Christian Zetzsche

Level 28

Stud 8 or Better

James Johnson: K♣6♣2♦ / K♥4♥4♣6♦
Andrew Kelsall: 7♣3♥ / A♣2♣2♥4♦ / A♠

With 480,000 in bets in the middle, Andrew Kelsall was the one to apply pressure against James Johnson with a low board showing. He bet seventh without seeing his final card and Johnson called to reveal kings up. Kelsall peeled the final card and it was another ace to make aces up to scoop the entire pot.

"Make sure it is right," Johnson told the dealer with regards to the chips and then showed plenty of frustration.

James Johnson: A♦6x / 5♠8♣2♦5♣ / Xx
Nick Kost: A♥K♥ / Q♥J♥9♦8♥ / 4♣

He then took on Nick Kost and called down with a low to earn half the pot, while Kost clarified "I started with four to a royal" as he earned the high portion with a flush.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Kelsall	1,700,000 500,000	500,000

Nick Kost	1,500,000

James Johnson	770,000 -745,000	-745,000
David Levi	750,000 -125,000	-125,000

Tags: Andrew Kelsall James Johnson Nick Kost

06-02-2023 15:15 UTC-8

Kost Doubles Through Kelsall in Eagle Fan on Eagle Fan Violence

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Mike Patrick

Level 28

Eagles Fans Nick Kost and Andrew Kelsall

Stud 8 or Better

Nick Kost: A♣8♣3♦/8♥7♦J♣4♥
Andrew Kelsall: XxXxXx/7♣J♦Q♦6♥

After Nick Kost defended his bring-in to an Andrew Kelsall completion, Kost bet every street the rest of the way.

He got calls the whole way from the start of day chip leader with Kelsall frustratedly mucking his hand at the end after seeing Kost's pair of eights for high and eight-seven low good on both ends to scoop the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Kost	1,500,000 750,000	750,000

Andrew Kelsall	1,200,000 -250,000	-250,000

Tags: Andrew Kelsall Nick Kost

06-02-2023 15:09 UTC-8

Mozdzen and Kelsall on the Rise; Racener Very Short Again

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 28

Omaha 8 or better

On a board of 7♦6♦3♥Q♠Q♣, Andrew Kelsall and David Levi had 420,000 in the middle and Kelsall received three quarters of that with with the A♦9♥6♥5♣ as Levi only had the A♣J♠8♠3♣.

Kelsall then won a bigger pot off Nick Kost only for Kost to chip back up and lose a small portion of the profit in Razz.

One table over, an orbit of Badacey saw Chad Eveslage and Andrew Brown as spectators while Clayton Mozdzen and John Racener "played heads-up".

The largest pot saw a button raise by Mozdzen and a call by Racener in the small blind. Racener discarded two, Mozdzen three, and Racener's subsequent bet was called.

On the second draw, both discarded one and Racener check-called a bet. He discarded one more card on the final draw while Mozdzen patted. Racener checked and Mozdzen quickly bet once more, sending his opponent deep into the tank.

With three big bets behind, Racener reluctantly folded and was shown the 7♣6♠ / 4♥3♠2♣ by Mozdzen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chad Eveslage	2,600,000

Clayton Mozdzen	2,150,000 750,000	750,000
Andrew Brown	1,800,000 -300,000	-300,000
James Johnson	1,515,000 -15,000	-15,000
Andrew Kelsall	1,450,000 350,000	350,000

David Levi	875,000 -575,000	-575,000
Nick Kost	750,000 75,000	75,000

John Racener	340,000 -460,000	-460,000

Tags: Andrew Brown Andrew Kelsall Chad Eveslage Clayton Mozdzen David Levi John Racener Nick Kost

06-02-2023 15:02 UTC-8

Levi Doubles Through Kost, Barely

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Mike Patrick

Level 28

Badeucey

Nick Kost raised the button and got a call from David Levi in the big blind.

Levi drew three, while Kost only took two. Levi then check-raised a bet from Kost, which Kost called.

Levi now only drew one, while Kost still needed two. Levi led out but now got raised by Kost. Levi called

One card was still needed by Levi but Kost stood pat. Levi then check-called a bet by Kost and the very similar hands were revealed.

Kost held 8♦6♥5♠4♠2♣ while Levi showed 8♣6♠4♦3♥2♦.

Levi had Kost barely pipped for each half of the pot with his eight-six-four low and eight-six-three-two Badugi.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Levi	1,450,000 650,000	650,000
Nick Kost	675,000 -625,000	-625,000

Tags: David Levi Nick Kost

06-02-2023 14:55 UTC-8

Some of the Best Poker Players Who Haven't Won a WSOP Bracelet

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Chad Holloway

Level 28

While winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker player can achieve, many of the greatest and most successful players in the game have yet to put one on their wrists.

PokerNews has had a decent track record with highlighting players without bracelets who have gone on to win them. Jason Koon won a maiden bracelet in 2021 after making the "Best Without a Bracelet" list that year, while Dan Smith and Alex Foxen both found bracelets in 2022 to be removed from that year's list.

With the 2023 WSOP happening now, here's a look at some of the best players who have yet to add a World Series bracelet to their long lists of accolades.

Check out our list of "Best Without a Bracelet" here!

06-02-2023 14:52 UTC-8

"Nine F***s and One Pretzel"

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 28

Andrew Brown arrived at his new seat and limp-jammed out of the small blind in a NLHE hand. Clayton Mozdzen had raised to 105,000 in the big blind and folded to the shove, mentioning he had the A♣10♣.

Mozdzen then folded after the final draw in a Badacey hand to John Racener, who chipped up further without showdown.

Over on the other table, David Levi recovered from a severe short stack and Andrew Kelsall also chipped up as well.

Stud Hi-Lo Regular

David Levi: Ax7x / 6♣5♦8♥
James Johnson: XxXx / A♥Q♦9♣ folded on fifth

Levi completed and then complained when James Johnson raised again.

"Don't worry, I gonna f*** you up," Levi promised with a grin. Several further f***s were given in the table chat as Levi predicted high cards for Johnson. His board improved and Johnson folded on fifth street.

Kelsall summed up the hand as follows: "Nine f***s and one pretzel."

Player	Chips	Progress
Chad Eveslage	2,600,000

Andrew Brown	2,100,000 275,000	275,000
James Johnson	1,530,000 -570,000	-570,000
Clayton Mozdzen	1,400,000 -200,000	-200,000
Nick Kost	1,300,000 -405,000	-405,000

Andrew Kelsall	1,100,000 435,000	435,000

David Levi	800,000 425,000	425,000
John Racener	800,000 265,000	265,000

Tags: Andrew Brown Andrew Kelsall Clayton Mozdzen David Levi James Johnson John Racener

06-02-2023 14:49 UTC-8

What a Way to Start Pride Month

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Lyle Bateman

Level 28

just setting up my twttr
— jack (@jack)

Tags: Alexandre Vuilleumier

06-02-2023 14:45 UTC-8

Racener Doubles Through Mozdzen

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Mike Patrick

Level 28

Omaha 8 or Better

After Clayton Mozdzen raised in the small blind, John Racener put his remaining 200,000 or so into the pot before realizing his raise would be too much, so he pulled 90,000 chips back. Mozdzen called and then told Racener that he'd check dark.

"You don't know, I might not make anything," said Racener before the dealer spread a flop of 9♦4♣A♠. Racener bet and Mozdzen obliged as racener was now all-in and at risk.

John Racener: A♥Q♥3♦2♥
Clayton Mozdzen: 9♠8♣7♣7♥

Racener's aces and nut-low draw were well ahead of Mozdzen's nines and worse low draw. The board completed Q♣4♦ and Racener held to double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Clayton Mozdzen	1,600,000 -450,000	-450,000
John Racener	535,000 325,000	325,000

Tags: Clayton Mozdzen John Racener

06-02-2023 14:37 UTC-8

Gregory Kelley Eliminated in 9th Place ($10,157)

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 28

No-Limit Hold'em

Having lost the small blind in the previous hand in a draw game, Gregory Kelley picked the next variant and was down to 105,000. He pushed all-in from under the gun in NLHE and Chad Eveslage called out of the big blind.

Gregory Kelley: 10♣5♥
Chad Eveslage: J♠9♦

The board ran out A♥K♠4♥6♥J♦ and Kelley failed to improve, bowing out in 9th place for $10,157.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chad Eveslage	2,600,000 400,000	400,000

Gregory Kelley	Busted

Tags: Chad Eveslage Gregory Kelley

06-02-2023 14:34 UTC-8

Levi Gets Shorter

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 28

No-Limit 5 Card Draw

David Levi was involved in three-way action with James Johnson and Andrew Brown, in which all drew one new card. It checked to Johnson and he bet 100,000 to force out his opponents. It was the second consecutive pot for Johnson, who moved back above two million in chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Johnson	2,100,000 585,000	585,000
Andrew Brown	1,825,000 -35,000	-35,000
David Levi	375,000 -465,000	-465,000

Tags: Andrew Brown James Johnson David Levi