The poker world witnessed an intense clash at the 2023 World Series of Poker’s Event #17: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, held at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The final table, which was a 9-hour rollercoaster ride, concluded with an intense showdown between Nick Kost and Jim Collopy.
Collopy’s victory in one of his favorite games, Limit Omaha 8 or Better, was truly unique. After a marathon back and forth, Collopy rose, reenergized, with his third WSOP bracelet and the first-place prize of $262,542 in hand.
This latest win follows Collopy’s initial bracelet victory nearly ten years ago at the 2013 WSOP Asia Pacific festival in a $1,650 AUD pot-limit Omaha event. Fast-forward to 2021, Collopy cinched his second bracelet in the highly competitive $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament.
At the onset, Kost commanded the chip lead, holding sway over much of the table. However, as the heads-up play drew closer, Collopy progressively established his dominance.
Brian Kelley was the first to bow out, closely followed by Igor Zektser in the eighth position. Kyle Cartwright’s exit, against James Obst’s two pair, was next.
As the game progressed, Aubrey Gilbert and then Australia’s Obst bid adieu, courtesy of Collopy’s smart moves. With the exit of Qinghai Pan by Kost and start-of-day chip leader Kyle Burnside by Collopy, the stage was set for the final face-off.
Heads-Up
As the heads-up commenced, Collopy held a slight lead. What followed was a relentless four-hour duel. Collopy managed to maintain his lead, never allowing Kost to gain a chip advantage. Recognizing Collopy’s strength, Kost admitted, “He’s incredibly tough to play against.”
The decisive victory came after a series of strategic bets by Collopy, chipping away at Kost’s stack and finally clinching his special win.
Collopy’s Reflections
No stranger to victories or marathon heads-up matches, Collopy’s third bracelet win in one of his favorite variants was both fun and rewarding.
When asked about his feelings on securing his third bracelet in a split event, Collopy expressed, “It was terrific that over 1,000 people were here to play this event, so it’s just really special to close out the bracelet in a tournament like this.”
With a track record of enduring long heads-up battles in WSOP history, Collopy’s patience and strategic maneuvers were well on display in this epic showdown. Given Collopy’s current form, his deep runs this summer could see him aiming for a fourth bracelet soon.
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