2023 World Series of Poker

Event #5: $1,500 Dealer's Choice (6-Handed)
Day: 3
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q7
Prize
$131,879
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$608,760
Entries
456
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
11
Players Left
1

Johnson Drops to a Short Stack

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 us
Andrew Kelsall
1,700,000
500,000
500,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Nick Kost us
Nick Kost
1,500,000
WSOP 1X Winner
James Johnson
James Johnson
770,000
-745,000
-745,000
David Levi us
David Levi
750,000
-125,000
-125,000

Tags: Andrew KelsallJames JohnsonNick Kost

Kost Doubles Through Kelsall in Eagle Fan on Eagle Fan Violence

Level 28
Eagles Fans Nick Kost and Andrew Kelsall
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 us
Nick Kost
1,500,000
750,000
750,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Andrew Kelsall us
Andrew Kelsall
1,200,000
-250,000
-250,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Andrew KelsallNick Kost

Mozdzen and Kelsall on the Rise; Racener Very Short Again

Level 28
Clayton Mozdzen
Clayton Mozdzen

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 us
Chad Eveslage
2,600,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Clayton Mozdzen ca
Clayton Mozdzen
2,150,000
750,000
750,000
Andrew Brown us
Andrew Brown
1,800,000
-300,000
-300,000
James Johnson
James Johnson
1,515,000
-15,000
-15,000
Andrew Kelsall us
Andrew Kelsall
1,450,000
350,000
350,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
David Levi us
David Levi
875,000
-575,000
-575,000
Nick Kost us
Nick Kost
750,000
75,000
75,000
WSOP 1X Winner
John Racener us
John Racener
340,000
-460,000
-460,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Andrew BrownAndrew KelsallChad EveslageClayton MozdzenDavid LeviJohn RacenerNick Kost

Levi Doubles Through Kost, Barely

Level 28
David Levi
David Levi

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 us
David Levi
1,450,000
650,000
650,000
Nick Kost us
Nick Kost
675,000
-625,000
-625,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: David LeviNick Kost

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

Level 28
WSOP Bracelet Winners
WSOP Bracelet Winners

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!

"Nine F***s and One Pretzel"

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 us
Chad Eveslage
2,600,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Andrew Brown us
Andrew Brown
2,100,000
275,000
275,000
James Johnson
James Johnson
1,530,000
-570,000
-570,000
Clayton Mozdzen ca
Clayton Mozdzen
1,400,000
-200,000
-200,000
Nick Kost us
Nick Kost
1,300,000
-405,000
-405,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Andrew Kelsall us
Andrew Kelsall
1,100,000
435,000
435,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
David Levi us
David Levi
800,000
425,000
425,000
John Racener us
John Racener
800,000
265,000
265,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Andrew BrownAndrew KelsallClayton MozdzenDavid LeviJames JohnsonJohn Racener

Racener Doubles Through Mozdzen

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 ca
Clayton Mozdzen
1,600,000
-450,000
-450,000
John Racener us
John Racener
535,000
325,000
325,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Clayton MozdzenJohn Racener

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

Level 28
Gregory Kelley
Gregory Kelley

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 us
Chad Eveslage
2,600,000
400,000
400,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Gregory Kelley us
Gregory Kelley
Busted

Tags: Chad EveslageGregory Kelley

Levi Gets Shorter

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

Tags: Andrew BrownJames JohnsonDavid Levi