Online poker is surging in popularity, with the WSOP Online Main Event on GGPoker being the latest proof of this trend. After many long hours of competition, Bert “girafganger7” Stevens, a celebrated online player from Belgium, outplayed a substantial field of 6,023 players. He walked away with a staggering $2,783,433, smashing previous records in the process.
It’s intriguing to note that the prior record was held by Stoyan Madanzhiev, who triumphed in the 2020 event. That tournament saw an unmatched prize pool of $27,559,500. However, the 2023 competition pushed the envelope even further, boasting a pot of $28,609,252.
At the outset of the final table, Stevens maintained a slight advantage over Erik Bakker. Yet, when Bakker’s strategic bluff against Stevens faltered, the momentum firmly shifted in Stevens’ favor. The Belgian’s proactive approach at the table saw him consistently expanding his chip lead.
With only five contenders left in the game, Stevens’ dominance became evident. Post Ezequiel Kleinman’s exit at third place with a cool $1,524,214, Stevens was positioned ideally for the showdown against Yagen Li. Both were vying for the top spot, with the stakes high and a considerable gap between the first and second prize money.
The final hand was gripping. Yagen Li, in a decisive move, responded with AdQd to Stevens 4-bet raising all-in with 6s, 6d. While he could’ve gained the upper hand, the cards played in Stevens’ favor, with his pocket pair holding . The result left Li settling for the second spot, pocketing $2,059,058.
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