2023 World Series of Poker

Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kj
Prize
$12,100,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$93,399,900
Entries
10,043
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
1,250,000 / 2,500,000
Ante
2,500,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
1,039
Players Left
721

Welcome to Day 1a of the 2023 WSOP Main Event!

Espen Jorstad
Espen Jorstad

The 2023 World Series of Poker has attracted more poker players than ever before and many tournaments have set records for the number of entries. Now is the time for the grandest spectacle of them all as Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event No-Limit Hold'em World Championship gets underway with Day 1a at 12 noon.

The most talked-about event in the poker world will take place over the next two weeks, with both poker pros and amateurs battling it out on the felt, all on a level playing field. As many say, it's a marathon, not a sprint, in an attempt to be the last player with chips, earning the glory and title of WSOP Main Event champion.

Last year, poker pro Espen Jorstad overcame a field of 8,663 players and defeated Adrian Attenborough heads-up to win $10,000,000 and the coveted WSOP Main Event bracelet. It was the second bracelet for Jorstad in the span of a month in what was his first trip to the WSOP in Las Vegas. With record numbers being recorded daily throughout the summer, many are expecting this could be the year where the 2006 record of 8,773 players will finally be broken.

Each player begins with a stack of 60,000 chips and each Day 1 will play five 120-minute levels. There will be a 20-minute break after each level and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 3.

Day 1a Schedule

LEVELESTIMATED STARTDURATIONSMALL BLINDBIG BLINDBIG BLIND ANTE
112:00 p.m.120 minutes100200200
 2:00 p.m.20-minute break   
22:20 p.m.120 minutes200300300
 4:20 p.m.20-minute break   
34:40 p.m.120 minutes200400400
 6:40 p.m.75-minute break   
47:55 p.m.120 minutes300500500
 9:55 p.m.20-minute break   
510:15 p.m.120 minutes300600600

This is the first of four starting flights for the 54th WSOP Main Event and late registration will remain open for seven levels, allowing players to register through the first two levels of either Day 2. This is a freezeout event so only one entry per player is permitted. Players who bag today on Day 1a will return on Friday, July 7, 2023. They will combine with players who bag on Days 1b and 1c for Day 2abc. (View the complete structure sheet here.)

Over the next couple of weeks, the rest of the world will be glued to their screens, waiting to see who will claim the prestigious bracelet and become immortalized as the 2023 WSOP Main Event champion in what could likely be the largest World Championship ever. The final day of play is slated for Monday, July 17, where the winner will be crowned.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for our comprehensive tournament coverage throughout the Main Event, providing you with all of the daily updates and exciting highlights over the next couple of weeks.

Bracelet
Bracelet

Tags: Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

Gold Wishes Players Good Fortune in Nostalgic Shuffle up And Deal

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Jamie Gold
Jamie Gold

2006 Main Event winner Jamie Gold has just shared a few words before announcing the iconic, "Shuffle up and deal!"

Gold, who WSOP Vice President Jack Effel joked was the only person who doesn't want the Main Event attendance record broken, called the World Series a "Herculean feat" that gets pulled off each year and said he hoped to see the 2006 attendance record surpassed, "which I was so lucky and fortunate to win."

"I'm just so happy to be here, I'm so proud to be here, and I really do feel lucky and fortunate, and I'm so excited to get into this event in a few minutes," he told a crowd of players and poker media in the Horseshoe event center. "Everyone, I wish you all the good fortune that I have had, all the run-good that I have had, all the luck that I have had — except when you're the last person at the final table against me, then I do not wish you so well."

With 785 players to start things off, Day 1a of the 2023 World Series of Poker Main Event is officially underway!

Jamie Gold and Jack Effel
Jamie Gold and Jack Effel

Smith Doubles Through Polk

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Mike Smith
Mike Smith

Action folded around to the blinds, where Doug Polk raised to 600 from the small blind. Mike Smith quickly went all in for his last 6,200 from the big blind and Polk called to put Smith at risk.

Mike Smith: JJ
Doug Polk: QQ

Polk was in great shape to end Smith's Main Event early, but the 667AJ runout drilled Smith's two-outer on the river — awarding him the double up.

"This is how it begins," Polk said with a wry smile.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Doug Polk us
Doug Polk
53,000
-7,000
-7,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Mike Smith (US) us
Mike Smith (US)
12,400
12,400
12,400

Tags: Doug PolkMike Smith

2014 Main Event Champion Jacobson Loses Sizable Pot Early

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Martin Jacobson
Martin Jacobson

A player in early position opened to 600, and Martin Jacobson three-bet to 2,200 before Anthony Fox put in a four-bet 7,000 in the big blind. The original raiser got out of the way and Jacobson made the call.

The dealer fanned a flop of J99, and Jacobson called a bet of 5,000 from Fox.

The 10 fell on the turn and Fox continued with aggression, putting 9,000 in the middle and Jacobson matched the bet.

When the 3 completed the board both players tapped the table and Fox showed KK for a flush on the river before Jacobson mucked his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Anthony Fox us
Anthony Fox
76,300
Profile photo of Martin Jacobson se
Martin Jacobson
38,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Anthony FoxMartin Jacobson

Eolis Gets a Big Fold

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Wendeen Eolis
Wendeen Eolis

Wendeen Eolis was sitting in under the gun position and was involved in a pot against Felipe Ketzer in the big blind. On a flop of 52J with 2,300 chips in the middle, Ketzer out 400. Eolis made the call and the 8 turn fell.

Ketzer upped the bet to 1,000, but Eolis responded by putting in four T-1,000 chips in the middle for a raise to 4,000.

"Do you show?" Ketzer asked. When he received no response, he stated "I will make a big fold" and opted to fold his QQ face up.

"Oh wow, that is a big fold," Eolis stated.

"No show?" Ketzer pleaded once more.

"Not today," Eolis concluded while raking in the chips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Wendeen Eolis us
Wendeen Eolis
62,000
2,000
2,000
Profile photo of Felipe Ketzer br
Felipe Ketzer
56,000
-3,500
-3,500

Tags: Wendeen EolisFelipe Ketzer

A New Era for Polk

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Doug Polk
Doug Polk

There was a limp from under the gun and a raise to 1,000 in middle position. Doug Polk three-bet to 4,200 out of the big blind and only the raiser called. They went heads-up to a flop of Q52 where Polk led out with a bet of 3,000 and his opponent called.

The 4 peeled off on the turn and Polk splashed in another bet of 10,500. His opponent still called and the A hit the river. Polk checked this time and his opponent checked it back. Polk flipped over AQ for two pair and was awarded the pot.

"Here we are, Level 1 of the Main Event," Polk said as he continued to get an early massage. "It's a new era."

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Doug Polk us
Doug Polk
104,500
51,500
51,500
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Doug Polk

Helppi Accidentally Slow Rolls the Slow Roll King

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Shaun Deeb
Shaun Deeb

Shaun Deeb and Juha Helppi were in a heads-up pot on a board of 810J43.

Deeb bet 2,000 on the river and Helppi called. "I think you have me out-kicked," Deeb said before tabling Q10.

Helppi looked at his cards with disappointment as Deeb told him "you can't win every pot" and he tossed over AJ without realizing it was the winning hand.

"You win," Deeb said as laughter broke out at the table.

"I thought you had a straight," said Helppi. "I promise it wasn't a slow roll, Shaun."

"I know, you aren't that creative," an annoyed Deeb replied. "Usually when I say 'you have me out-kicked' I don't have a straight."

"This maybe explains why I'm losing this series," laughed Helppi.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Juha Helppi fi
Juha Helppi
65,000
5,000
5,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Shaun Deeb us
Shaun Deeb
45,000
-2,500
-2,500
Team Lucky
WSOP 6X Winner

Tags: Juha HelppiShaun Deeb

Baxter Can't Beat Kings

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter

Knowlton Atterbeary bet out 3,000 from under the gun on a flop of 62Q. Adam Ross was in middle position and folded before Billy Baxter made the call from the hijack.

On the J turn, Atterbeary slowed down with a check and Baxter took the opportunity to bet 5,000 chips. Atterbeary made the call and then led out for a small 3,000 when the 9 river hit.

This bet puzzled Baxter, who eventually put in the calling chips. Atterbeary showed down KK and the overpair was good enough to take the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Billy Baxter us
Billy Baxter
94,000
15,000
15,000
WSOP 7X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of Adam Ross us
Adam Ross
74,000
74,000
74,000
Profile photo of Knowlton Atterbeary us
Knowlton Atterbeary
57,500
57,500
57,500

Tags: Adam RossBilly BaxterKnowlton Atterbeary

The One Is Out After Running Kings Into Aces Twice Against the Same Opponent

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Idan The One
Idan The One

After two heartbreaking coolers during Level 2, Israel's Idan The One has been eliminated from his first WSOP Main Event.

As recounted to PokerNews, there were two limps before Ruben Correia raised to 1,500 from the cutoff. The button called before The One, who earlier in the level lost a heap of chips in a kings versus aces confrontation with Correia, three-bet to bring folds from the limpers.

Correia four-bet to 16,000 and the button folded before The One five-bet all in for his tournament life. Correia called with a bigger stack.

The One had KxKx only to once again be against the AxAx of his opponent and couldn't improve to go out in devastating fashion in just the second level of play.

The One appears to still be processing his defeat as he sits in the back of the tournament area with his face buried in his hands.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ruben Correia pt
Ruben Correia
110,000
35,000
35,000
Profile photo of Idan The One il
Idan The One
Busted

Tags: Idan The OneRuben Correia

Wild Action Leads to Maran with an Early Lead

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Nawaung Maran
Nawaung Maran

The action got started with a raise to 1,100 from Toni Bisconti and she was called by the player on her left. Gary Knechtel made it 6,000 to go on the button and Dae-Hyung Lee ripped all in from the small blind as the big stack at the table. Nawaung Maran woke up with a monster in the big blind and stuck in the last of his 80,000 chips as well. The action folded back to Knechtel on the button who was unable to lay his hand down as he called off his last 64,000 chips.

Gary Knechtel: KxKx
Nawaung Maran: AxAx
Dae-Hyung Lee: JxJx

The flop came 10x9x8x which made things sweaty for Maran who was holding the pocket aces. Lee was looking to score an early double knockout with an open-ended straight draw. However, the 2x and 4x runout bricked out and Maran held on to score a huge pot in just the second level of Day 1a.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Nawaung Maran us
Nawaung Maran
233,000
233,000
233,000
Profile photo of Dae-Hyung Lee kr
Dae-Hyung Lee
22,000
22,000
22,000
Profile photo of Gary Knechtel
Gary Knechtel
Busted

Tags: Gary KnechtelNawaung MaranToni Bisconti