Bradley Gafford, a San Diego, California player, won the latest 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Mini Main Event after leading its 5,257 entry field.
The $1,000 buy-in no-limit freezeout event earned him $549,555 and his first gold bracelet. Yet, it was the second-largest score in his career after the $97,386 he won in the Wynn Millions $1,100 Buy-In tournament last spring.
Even so, the event's field had reduced to 426 late on Day 1, and each of them was assured of winning money. They included John Reading, Timur Margolin, and Aditya Sushant.
The Final Table's Payouts
- Bradley Gafford-$549,555 and 1,320 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points
- Joshua Reichard-$339,646 and 1,100 POY points
- Jeremy Oleon-$255,215 and 880 POY points
- Jennifer Abad-$193,103 and 660 POY points
- Oliver Berens-$147,129 and 550 POY points
- Marius Iftimia-$112,889 and 440 POY points
- Mason St. Martin-$87,232 and 330 POY points
- Egor Procop-$67,888 and 220 POY points
- Igor Hot-$53,213 and 110 POY points
What Transpired on the Final Day?
Jeremy Oleon was the stack leader when the action kicked off on the last day. Yet, Oliver Berens got in a tough situation in a preflop coin flip after Joshua Reichard's pocket tens dominated his A-Q. Tens full of nines landed on the turn as Reichard made Berens draw dead before getting a card.
The latter exited the tournament in the fifth position with $147,129. Jennifer Abad followed Berens after a few minutes. Her K-J lost to Reichard's A-3 hence preventing her from improving.
Reichard got a pair of threes and won the pot before sending Abad packing in fourth place with $193,103. Gafford became the short stack before three-handed action kicked off. Luckily, he doubled up twice through Reichard and increased his chips.
Gafford used A-Q to make an all-in call to face Reichard's button shove that he made using 10Club Suit6Club Suit. The latter made a flush draw flop before bricking out on the river and turn.
Gafford got another double-up using ace high. Reichard's AHeart Suit3Heart Suit dominated Oleon's KDiamond Suit4Heart Suit hence winning the next crucial all-in and knocking out his opponent in third place.
Gafford extended the chip lead as their heads-up match began. Reichard didn't up and put up a spirited fight to regain the lead. Galford used QDiamond Suit10Spade Suit to check in a 10Heart Suit6Spade Suit3Heart Suit flop while Reichard held 10Diamond Suit2Spade Suit.
The former check-raised before calling the latter's shove. But, the 5Club Suit river and 7Diamond Suit extended Gafford's lead. Reichard had less than four big blinds when Gafford' 4-3 thrashed his A-9 sending him packing in second place with $339,646.
