Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
Day 3 Completed
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2022 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$2,648,300
Entries
284
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
16
Players Left
1
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra earned his fifth World Series of Poker bracelet early Saturday morning when he took down Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for $611,362. Elezra defeated Chino Rheem during heads-up play to deny Rheem his first bracelet.
Elezra, who was made famous by his appearances on productions like High Stakes Poker and who just last year was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, dominated a final table that included defending champion Josh Arieh (7th - $83,920), Ken Aldridge (5th - $146,242) and Robert Cowen (3rd - $271,219).
The PLO Hi-Lo Championship attracted a record 284 entrants and generated $2.6 million in prize money. Some of the players who made deep runs in the event include Phil Ivey (37th - $16,171), Daniel Zack (23rd - $20,214) and Joao Vieira (17th - $23,521).
Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship Final Table Results
| PLACE | PLAYER | COUNTRY | PRIZE (IN USD) | |
| 1 | Eli Elezra | Israel | $611,362 | |
| 2 | Chino Rheem | United States | $377,855 | |
| 3 | Robert Cowen | United Kingdom | $271,219 | |
| 4 | Damjan Radanov | United States | $197,637 | |
| 5 | Ken Aldridge | United States | $146,242 | |
| 6 | Filippos Stavrakis | United States | $109,910 | |
| 7 | Josh Arieh | United States | $83,920 | |
| 8 | Charles Coultas | United States | $65,113 | |
| 9 | Seungjin Lee | South Korea | $51,353 |
Winning for His Dad
Winning the fifth bracelet was a particularly special moment for Elezra, whose father, Michel, recently passed away in Israel.
“You saw I was very emotional there because my dad died 18 days ago," Elezra told PokerNews after the victory. "And I wanted to win for him. And I did it."
Elezra further dedicated the bracelet win to his wife, Hila Elezra, who cheered for her husband from the rail on what happened to be the couple's 31st anniversary.
At 62, the Poker Hall of Famer said he had no plans of stopping.
“I love the competition, I love the adrenaline," said Elezra. "I know most of the players, I would say 90% of them I play with. I play 5-6 days a week in cash games. And I just keep competing."
Elezra, whose last bracelet was earned in a $1,500 Seven Card Stud event at the 2019 WSOP, also noted that he hasn't played a full WSOP schedule and “didn’t play half of the tournaments I wanted to play."
"So this is my fourth $10k instead of like my 11th, and I’m so happy I can show them this Hall of Famer’s still got it!” he said.
Final Table Action
One of the first to go at the final table was Arieh, who was looking to defend his title after winning the event in 2021. The 2021 Player of the Year fell in seventh when he was all in and couldn't improve against the top pair of Elezra.
Aldridge was short-stacked throughout final table play but managed to hang on and ladder to a fifth-place finish when his aces were cracked by the two pair of Rheem.
Two-time bracelet winner Cowen bowed out in third when his nut flush draw couldn't hit against the flopped set of Rheem, who entered heads-up play nearly even with Elezra.
The duo exchanged chip leads a few times before Elezra doubled through Rheem to take a big lead. In the final hand, Rheem moved all in after flopping top pair only to be out-kicked by Elezra, who maintained the best hand to secure his fifth bracelet and deny Rheem his first.
The two poker stars had engaged in playful banter throughout the day and shared a hug after it was all over. Rheem took the loss with a smile and even joined in for a winner's photo.
Elezra, whose other bracelets have come in Seven Card Stud and 2-7 Triple Draw events, noted that mixed games are his "speciality" and that he will "play any one (of them).”
“I know I am a dog in No-limit Hold’em," he said. "I’m not as good in regular PLO, but I love mixed games. And I keep telling everybody when you love a game, the game loves you back."
That wraps up PokerNews' coverage of Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. Be sure to check out the WSOP hub for coverage of other bracelet events.
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Eli Elezra bet the pot for 1,400,000 on the flop of 
and Chino Rheem raised all in. Elezra called to put Rheem at risk.
Chino Rheem: 
Eli Elezra: 
Elezra had Rheem out-kicked and Rheem needed to improve to keep his dreams of winning a first bracelet alive. He couldn't do so as the board ran out 
for Rheem to be denied his first bracelet.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
17,000,000
3,000,000
|
3,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
With 1,400,000 already in the pot, the flop came 
and Eli Elezra potted it. Chino Rheem called.
On the 
turn, Elezra took his time before finally potting to 4,200,000. Rheem forced Elezra in for a little more and Elezra called.
Eli Elezra: 
Chino Rheem: 
Elezra had the ace-high flush while Rheem had two pair. Rheem also had outs to the low.
However, the river brought the 
and gave Elezra an incredibly big scoop and a four-to-one chip advantage.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,000,000
7,000,000
|
7,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,400,000
-6,600,000
|
-6,600,000 |
|
|
||
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Chino Rheem raised to 600,000 on the button and Eli Elezra called.
Elezra checked on the flop of 
and Rheem checked back, and the same action took place on the 
turn. Elezra checked once more on the river and Rheem bet 400,000. Elezra folded.
Most of the small pots as of late have been going in Rheem's direction as he takes a slight lead over Elezra.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,000,000
3,050,000
|
3,050,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
7,000,000
-3,450,000
|
-3,450,000 |
|
|
||
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Eli Elezra called and Chino Rheem made it 600,000. Elezra called.
On the flop, Elezra declared he would put Rheem all in and he came along for the ride.
Chino Rheem: 
Eli Elezra: 
Elezra had flopped two pair and had straight draws while Chino Rheem needed a spade or to make a better two pair.
The 
hit the turn, putting Rheem in the lead. Elezra now needed a queen or a ten for a full house and bracelet number five.
However, the graced the river and Rheem doubled up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,450,000
-550,000
|
-550,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
6,950,000
950,000
|
950,000 |
|
|
||
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Chino Rheem checked on the flop of 
and Eli Elezra bet 800,000. Rheem called.
Rheem led out for 1,500,000 on the turn and Elezra took a moment before announcing "pot" for a raise to put Rheem all in. Rheem entered the tank as a loud chant of "Let's go Eli!" filled the Bally's Event Center.
"If you call, it's going to be all over, baby," Elezra said in homage to the great Scotty Nguyen.
"I know you have the ace of hearts. I don't think you have the nut flush," Rheem said before ultimately folding.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,000,000
2,500,000
|
2,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
6,000,000
-2,500,000
|
-2,500,000 |
|
|
||
Level 30
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
In a limped pot, the flop came 
and Eli Elezra bet 600,000. Chino Rheem called.
On the 
turn, Elezra checked and Rheem made it 800,000. Elezra called.
The river brought the and Rheem put out a bet of 2,000,000. Elezra sucked through his teeth and made the fold.
With that, the stacks are now virtually identical.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,500,000
5,600,000
|
5,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,500,000
-5,600,000
|
-5,600,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 30
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Level 29
: 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Eli Elezra has grown his lead and Chino Rheem is now under three million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,100,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,900,000
-2,100,000
|
-2,100,000 |
|
|
||