Following two long days of poker in Event #32: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max, Mark Ioli took home his first-ever WSOP bracelet and his largest-ever prize of $558,266.
1,241 players graced the event, amassing a prize pool of $3,313,470. As the event progressed into the second day, only 58 players remained. The last contender standing, after a series of nail-biting rounds, was Ioli.
The journey to the final table witnessed the elimination of day-one chip leader Chris Hunichen. He finished eighth, earning $50,948, when his ace-nine lost to Johann Ibanez’s pocket eights.
At the very beginning of the unofficial final table, Todd Ivens was sent packing, finishing in the seventh position for $67,492. His ace-ten could not overcome Julien Sitbon’s set of nines, setting the stage for the official final table.
The first to fall at the official table was Samy Boujmala, exiting in sixth place with $90,791. Despite starting as the chip leader, Boujmala’s luck ran dry after several conflicts with Sitbon. His ace-seven suited did not stand a chance against Eshaan Bhalla’s pocket kings.
Sitbon followed Boujmala, finishing in the fifth position for $123,992. His pocket threes met a formidable opponent in Ibanez’s pocket aces, leading to his exit.
After Bhalla’s fourth-place exit with $171,874, the table saw Wing Liu finish third. Liu, despite a brave effort, was unable to garner momentum, leaving him with $241,767.
A fierce heads-up battle ensued between Ioli and Ibanez. This 2.5-hour long duel saw multiple lead changes. However, Ioli seized the day, winning a key hand that left him with a substantial lead. Ioli’s king-jack bested Ibanez’s ace-ten in the final rounds, securing him the much-coveted bracelet. Ibanez finished his impressive run in second place for $345,034.
“The two previous times I got heads up for a bracelet, I was a card away from winning,” Ioli said, referring to his previous near-misses at WSOP online events. He added, “So it feels good to finally win. It’s the one accolade in poker you want no matter what.”
Final Table Results
| Result | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Mark Ioli | United States | $558,266 |
| 2 | Johann Ibanez | Colombia | $345,034 |
| 3 | Wing Liu | United Kingdom | $241,767 |
| 4 | Eshaan Bhalla | United States | $171,874 |
| 5 | Julien Sitbon | France | $123,992 |
| 6 | Samy Boujmala | France | $90,791 |
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