Isaac Haxton Wins Second Career Super High Roller Bowl Title

Isaac Haxton emerged victorious within the Super High Roller Bowl VIII, topping a discipline of 20 entries within the $300,000 buy-in no-limit maintain’em event to earn $2,760,000. He turned simply the third participant to ever win a number of SHRB titles, having taken down this similar occasion again in 2018 for practically $3.7 million. His two victories on this nosebleed-stakes occasion account for the 2 largest paydays of his storied profession.

“It feels great. That was a tough collection of players to beat. Obviously, it helps to come in with half the chips and continue to run good after that,” Haxton mentioned to PokerGO’s Natalie Bode after popping out on high. “I feel great. I’m very happy to win this tournament. It’s one of my favorites.”

Haxton now has greater than $44.7 million in recorded event earnings to his title, sufficient to put him tenth on poker’s all-time cash record.

The 38-year-old poker professional is placing collectively one of the vital spectacular runs ever recorded in 2023. He has made 20 last tables up to now this yr, accumulating greater than $12.5 million in earnings throughout these scores, greater than some other participant on the circuit, together with 2023 World Series of Poker essential occasion champion Daniel Weinman.

Along the best way he has collected seven titles this yr, accounting for practically 44 % of his lifetime whole of 16. Among these was his first WSOP bracelet, which he earned because the champion of the $25,000 buy-in eight max occasion.

His most up-to-date victory noticed him earn 360 Card Player Player of the Year factors, bringing his whole to eight,132. As a consequence, he has climbed to 3rd place within the 2023 POY race standing introduced by Global Poker. Haxton additionally secured 550 PokerGO Tour factors. With 2,297 in whole, he now sits simply three factors behind Weinman within the PGT season-long standings.

The turnout for this occasion constructed a prize pool of $6,000,000 that was in the end cut up amongst the highest 4 finishers. It took two full days of motion contained in the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas to slim the sphere from 20 entries down to 6.

That meant that two gamers who returned for day 3 would depart empty-handed, establishing a pressure-packed $600,000 cash bubble. It didn’t take lengthy for that stress to dissipate, although, as the primary two eliminations had been recorded inside an hour of playing cards getting within the air.

The first noticed poker’s all-time cash chief Bryn Kenney get his final 14 or so massive blinds in preflop with 3 from the cutoff towards the AOkay of Stephen Chidwick, who was within the massive blind. Kenney remained forward by way of the flop and switch, however a king on the river ended Kenney’s run in sixth place.

Like Haxton, Chris Brewer has additionally been red-hot on the excessive curler circuit in 2023, accruing practically $11.2 million in POY earnings throughout 22 final-table finishes with 5 titles received. Among these trophies had been Brewer’s two World Series of Poker gold bracelets. He was not in a position to prolong his unimaginable streak with a money on this occasion, although, as his pocket aces had been cracked by the Okay-10 suited of Andrew Lichtenberger. The motion started with Lichtenberger elevating Okay10 from the button. Brewer three-bet out of the small blind with AA. Lichtenberger four-bet jammed and Brewer snap-called off his 28 massive blind stack. The board ran out Okay43A7 to offer Lichtenberger a flush and the pot.

This was not the primary time that Brewer has been eradicated on the direct cash bubble on this event. He was additionally knocked out on a $1,008,000 bubble within the SHRB VI again in 2021, along with his A-Q shedding to a flush made by Justin Bonomo’s 10-4 suited, which was shoved from the button into the 2 quick stacks within the blinds.

Jason Koon and Chidwick had been just about tied for third place within the chip counts when four-handed motion started, with Chidwick having lower than a giant blind benefit to start out. Koon would in the end be the primary to hit the rail. His last hand started with him elevating from the cutoff with OkayOkay. Lichtenberger defended his massive blind with J10. The flop got here down Okay97 and Lichtenberger checked. Koon continuation wager with high set and Lichtenberger referred to as along with his gutshot straight draw.

The flip introduced the 8 giving Lichtenberger a jack-high straight. Lichtenberger check-called once more and the three accomplished the board. Lichtenberger checked a 3rd time and Koon wager 415,000, leaving himself simply 5,000 behind. Lichtenberger moved all-in and Koon referred to as off his final chip. He was proven the dangerous information, incomes $600,000 for his fourth-place exhibiting. Koon now has greater than $51.4 million in profession event earnings, good for fourth on poker’s all-time cash record.

Koon additionally earned 180 POY factors for his efforts. He has now made 14 last tables this yr, with 5 titles received and practically $9 million in POY earnings accrued alongside the best way. His 6,200 in whole factors is sweet for eighth on the POY leaderboard heading into the ultimate quarter of the yr.

After busting Koon, Lichtenberger additionally ended Chidwick’s quest for his first SHRB title. The hand in query kicked off with Lichtenberger elevating from the button with Q8. Chidwick defended his massive blind with Q6. The Q73 flop gave each gamers high pair. After a pair of checks the 8 rolled off on the flip, giving Lichtenberger queens and eights. Chidwick wager and Lichtenberger referred to as. The 5 on the tip noticed Chidwick wager once more. Lichtenberger moved all-in excessive and after some thought, Chidwick referred to as off his stack with high pair. Lichtenberger confirmed him the dangerous information and Chidwick headed the the cage to gather his $960,000 in prize cash.

Chidwick now has greater than $54 million in profession earnings, putting him third on the profession earnings leaderboard. His podium end on this occasion noticed him add 240 POY factors to his whole. The two-time POY award winner is properly located for a run at a 3rd, along with his 8,259 factors putting him second within the standings. He has received 5 titles this yr, with 22 final-table finishes and practically $8.1 million in POY earnings amassed as he’s gone. The British poker professional additionally has an opportunity to defend his title within the PGT Player of the Year, with the 258 factors he secured on this occasion transferring him into fourth place on that leaderboard.

It took lower than 90 minutes of play to chop the sphere from six gamers to 2. Heads-up play lasted over 4 hours, with loads of swing alongside the best way. Lichtenberger held 3,220,000 (129 massive blinds) to Haxton’s 2,780,000 (111 massive blinds) when motion resumed.

Haxton overtook the lead and pulled away within the early going, stretching his chip benefit to greater than 5:1 earlier than Lichtenberger mounted a comeback, successful a giant pot with pocket aces to regain the lead. Haxton rapidly bounced again from that hand, successful loads of small and medium pots as he edged again in entrance and commenced to tug away once more.

With his again towards the wall, Lichtenberger discovered a hero name for his event life with second pair on a scary board. Haxton might solely produce ace excessive and the 2 high gamers as soon as once more discovered themselves kind of on even footing.

Blinds had been at 25,000-50,000 with a giant blind ante of fifty,000 when the decisive hand of the heads-up conflict was dealt. The motion started with Haxton elevating to 175,000 on the button off of a 2,840,000 stack with A7. Lichtenberger, who started the hand 2ith 3,160,000, three-bet to 500,000 from the massive blind holding OkayOkay. Haxton referred to as and the flop got here down 332. Lichtenberger’s 550,000 continuation wager was met with an all-in transfer for two,340,000 from Haxton. Lichtenberger rapidly referred to as along with his overpair to arrange a large showdown for basically all the chips in play.

The Q on the flip accomplished Haxton’s flush draw, leaving Lichtenberger in want of a king or three on the river. The 6 rolled off the deck as a substitute, securing the pot for Haxton. Lichtenberger was left with only a handful of massive blinds.

A couple of minutes later, Haxton shoved from the button with 107 and Lichtenberger referred to as all-in with 93. The board ran out 7426Q and Haxton made a pair of sevens to lock up the title. Lichtenberger took dwelling $1,680,000 because the runner-up, the second-largest payday of his profession. He now has practically $17.7 million in lifetime earnings.

Here is a take a look at the payouts and rankings factors awarded on this occasion:

Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.