2023 World Series of Poker

Event #85: $1,500 Shootout
Day: 3
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
97
Prize
$237,367
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,317,645
Entries
987
Level Info
Level
43
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
10
Players Left
1

Event #85: $1,500 Shootout

Day 3 Completed

Prominent Poker Coach Faraz Jaka Leads By Example and Wins First Bracelet in Event #85: $1,500 Shootout

Level 43 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Faraz Jaka
Faraz Jaka

After nine hours of final table play, Faraz Jaka won his first gold bracelet in Event #85: $1,500 Shootout at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Day 1 of the shootout saw 987 runners competing to win their table and advance to Day 2. Those lucky enough to win their shootout on Day 2 would get their shot at the final table, a WSOP gold Bracelet, and the $237,367 top prize.

After the dust settled Faraz Jaka battled heads up against Michael Finstein for WSOP glory and came out the winner for $237,367 and his first gold bracelet.

2023 WSOP Event #85 Final Table Results

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Faraz JakaUnited States$237,367
2Michael FinsteinUnites States$146,686
3Olga IermolchevaUkraine$109,780
4Ao ChenUnited States$82,954
5Yuri DzivielevskiBrazil$63,295
6Matteo CavelierFrance$47,772
7Mo ZhouChina$37,955
8Adam FriedmanUnited States$29,834
9Allan MelloBrazil$23,689
10Edward MroczkowskiUnited States$19,003

Winner��s Reaction

��Pretty great and just taking it all in," Jaka replied when asked about how he was feeling after winning his first bracelet. "I was so zoned in that, I��m still kind of decompressing. I mean, I��ve gotten a lot of seconds and thirds, not just in WSOP but also in like WPT events and so on. So, it's definitely nice to kind of get that monkey off my back and I feel like it's just one of those things and I��m gonna start shipping the rest now.��

Grateful for his students who came to support him, Jaka spoke about the community he built through coaching and how teaching others has helped him.

��These guys are representing. We��ve got a tight community and yeah, they're all awesome. When you're coaching other people and they ask you questions, sometimes you don't have the answer and then you feel like, okay, I��ve got to figure this out. So, it kind of keeps you on it. Also just hearing so many different perspectives. How many different people think about the game, that's obviously helpful when you're planning against other people as well.��

Faraz Jaka
Faraz Jaka

Jaka spoke to his drive and determination to fix leaks and improve after a tough bust out.

��I have this personality where if I make a mistake or bust out deep in a tournament, it kind of annoys me in a way where I just want to jump right in and play better. So, I was kind of unhappy with my bust-out hand in the main and I just instantly went right to the Wynn and played the 10k there. Got kings into aces instantly, jumped right in here, and was just focused and determined to play better.��

Jaka had a medical scare leading up to the WSOP and he spoke about the recovery process and how he almost missed the series.

��Yeah, so I had two herniated discs. I was signed up for surgery. It got so bad that I was stuck on the floor one day for four hours. Couldn��t move. Any movement was a level 9 or 10 nerve pain and had to call 911. They gave me ketamine just so they could move me and that literally zapped away all the nerve pain that I had been having for four weeks. Then that put me in a position where I was able to do physical therapy and yeah, basically, recovered in about three, four weeks and made it out to the series. I thought I was gonna miss the whole thing. So yeah, this is awesome.��

Final Table Action

The 10-handed final table started off very slow. To start the day almost 15 minutes went by before the players even saw a flop, but the action would heat up. Edward Mroczkowski was the first player eliminated after a brutal set-over-set hand sent him to the rail in 10th place.

Allan Mello held the chip lead for a few orbits early in the day but after a few unfortunate hands, he would hit the rail in ninth place. That would be followed by an exit from five-time bracelet winner Adam Friedman in eighth place and then Mo Zhou in seventh.

Adam Friedman
Adam Friedman

Matteo Cavelier would also hold the chip lead for multiple orbits but would hit the rail in 6th after an unfortunate hand where his jacks could not hold up against Jaka��s ace-queen.

2023 bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski had a roller coaster day but would ultimately fall short of his fourth bracelet when he was knocked out in fifth place. Ao Chen would fall in fourth place after an impressive run and they were down to three-handed play.

Olga Iermolcheva capped off an impressive summer at the 2023 WSOP with a third-place finish on the final table after some amazing play to ladder up. The final elimination would happen when Jaka called the river jam of Michael Finstein and won with a straight, eliminating Finstein and earning Jaka the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

Faraz Jaka
Faraz Jaka

That's a wrap for PokerNews coverage of Event# 85: $1,500 Shootout. Be sure to check out our live-reporting hub for continuing coverage of the 2023 World Series of Poker right here at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas

Tags: Adam FriedmanAllan MelloAo ChenEdward MroczkowskiFaraz JakaMatteo CavelierMichael FinsteinMo ZhouOlga IermolchevaYuri Dzivielevski

Michael Finstein Eliminated in 2nd Place ($146,686)

Level 43 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Michael Finstein
Michael Finstein

Michael Finstein limped the button and Faraz Jaka checked his option.

The 8?10?9? flop hit the felt and Jaka led for 400,000. Action was on Finstein who opted to raise to 1,300,000. Jaka called.

The turn brought a K? and Jaka check-called a 2,000,000 bet from Finstein.

The river landed a 6? and Jaka checked once more. Finstein thought for only a moment and moved all in.

Jaka snap called. Finstein tabled J?3? and Jaka tabled 9?7? for a rivered straight.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
24,675,000
10,775,000
10,775,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
Michael Finstein us
Michael Finstein
Busted

Tags: Faraz JakaMichael Finstein

Finstein Takes a Fold from Jaka

Level 43 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Faraz Jaka completed his small blind and Michael Finstein decided to raise to 1,300,000. Jaka quickly called.

The flop revealed 5?2?2? and Finstein continued for 1,000,000. It was enough to get a fold from Jaka.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
13,900,000
-1,600,000
-1,600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
Michael Finstein us
Michael Finstein
10,600,000
1,600,000
1,600,000

Tags: Faraz JakaMichael Finstein

Level: 43

Blinds: 200,000/400,000

Ante: 400,000

Finstein Mucks River

Level 42 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Michael Finstein raised to 600,000 and Faraz Jaka called to see a flop 7?10?2?. Jaka check-called Einstein's continuation for 500,000.

Both checked on the 9? turn and 7? river. Jaka flipped over Q?2? for a pair of deuces and Finstein looked at his cards one more time before sending them into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
15,500,000
1,500,000
1,500,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
Michael Finstein us
Michael Finstein
9,000,000
-1,500,000
-1,500,000

Tags: Faraz JakaMichael Finstein

Jaka Bets Big On Turn

Level 42 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Faraz Jaka limped the button and Michael Finstein checked his option.

The 4?J?9? flop hit the felt and Finstein check-called a 300,000 bet from Jaka.

The turn brought a 6? and action checked to Jaka again. This time he bet out for 1,500,000. Finstein called again.

The river came a J? and action quickly checked through.

Finstein tabled Q?9? and Jaka mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
14,000,000
-800,000
-800,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
Michael Finstein us
Michael Finstein
10,500,000
900,000
900,000

Tags: Faraz JakaMichael Finstein

Lucky River to Chop for Jaka

Level 42 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Faraz Jaka opened to 600,000 and Michael Finstein called to see a flop 7?8?6? where both players checked.

On the 5? turn, Finstein check-called a bet worth 1,200,000 from Jaka.

The river showed the 4? to bring a straight on the board and both checked. Finstein tabled A?4? and Jaka revealed Q?J? before they chopped the pot.

The hand after, Finstein raised to 600,000 and Jaka called.

The board came 6?A?2? and Jaka check-folded after Finstein continued for 400,000.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
14,800,000
-500,000
-500,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
Michael Finstein us
Michael Finstein
9,600,000
500,000
500,000

Tags: Faraz JakaMichael Finstein

Finstein Doubles, Jaka Still Chip Leading

Level 42 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Faraz Jaka had the action on him and after a moment of thought he announced all in.

Michael Finstein took his time and eventually called.

Faraz Jaka: A?8?
Michael Finstein: Q?7?

The full board ran out 9?K?10?4?Q? and with the rivered queen play will continue and Finstein finds new life.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
15,000,000
-1,600,000
-1,600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
Michael Finstein us
Michael Finstein
9,500,000
1,750,000
1,750,000

Tags: Faraz JakaMichael Finstein