Benjamin Ector clinched his first-ever bracelet in Event #28: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP). He walked away with a staggering $406,403 prize, edging out runner-up Adam Swan, who pocketed $251,158.
A total of 2,046 unique entries participated in the Freezeout event, generating a whopping prize pool of $2,731,410. The third day saw 17 players, including Nick Palma who secured third place with $184,730, and Germany’s Dietrich Fast, finishing eighth with $45,895.
Ector’s Rise to Poker Fame
The journey was not easy for Ector. Matthew Hunt, the chip leader at the start of the day, initially seemed poised to win. However, Hunt lost significant ground to Ector in two critical flips, shifting the tournament’s momentum in Ector’s favor.
Armed with a new chip lead, Ector showcased his prowess, eliminating every player in his path. A pivotal moment in Ector’s tournament run was his ace-king defeating Hunt’s pocket eights, propelling him to the tournament’s forefront.
From there, Ector began to dominate the game. With a considerable chip lead, he methodically knocked out each player, extending his lead and building his stack along the way.
One notable instance saw Ector’s strategy pay off against Santiago Plante. Despite holding a less favorable hand, Ector called due to favorable pot odds, resulting in a surprising straight.
Ector’s win attracted a raucous cheer from his supporters. His fans chanted, “Smelling salts, smelling salts,” referencing Ector’s use of them to maintain alertness throughout the game.
Celebrating his victory, Ector shared the good news with his family back home. He reached out to his mother in Atlanta and his sister in Salt Lake City to inform them of his triumphant win.
The Final Table
Day 3 kicked off with 17 players across two tables. After five hours of intense play, the tables finally consolidated when Rene Lazaro was eliminated, leading to the final table redraw.
In the end, neither Swan nor Palma, the last two standing with Ector, could overtake the chip leader. Despite a few successful double-ups, they couldn’t maintain momentum.
Palma was ousted in third place, leaving Swan and Ector to duke it out. But the heads-up battle was short-lived. Swan’s aggressive betting with third pair was no match for Ector’s calculated call with second pair.
In the end, Swan’s ten-nine suited was defeated by Ector’s Deadman’s hand, marking Ector’s debut bracelet win at the 2023 World Series of Poker.
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