Alex Keating Wins 2023 WSOP $5,000 Eight-Max NLH Bracelet

Alex Keating achieved the crowning moment of his poker career during the culminating day of the 2023 World Series of Poker. Outshining a staggering field of 813 participants in the $5,000 no-limit hold’em eight-max event, he claimed victory and his first gold bracelet, accompanied by a substantial prize of $701,688.

This substantial triumph pushed Keating’s total recorded tournament earnings beyond an impressive $3.5 million. His previous best performance had been in 2016, when he secured a commendable third-place finish in the World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic main event, earning $423,890.

Although not officially classified as a turbo event, the tournament maintained an intense pace, culminating in just two days of play at the Horseshoe Las Vegas to identify a deserving champion. From the initial 813 contenders, only 122 made it to the money, dividing the substantial $3,739,800 prize pool among themselves.

As the first day came to an end, a mere 60 players remained, with four-time bracelet winner David Peters leading the pack, and Keating held a strong eighth chip position.

Throughout the course of the event, prominent figures in the poker world, including World Poker Tour champion and bracelet holder Phil Laak (35th), bracelet winner and WPT champion Ryan Tosoc (24th), Peters (20th), bracelet winner and WPT champion Pat Lyons (15th), and high-stakes tournament regular Punnat Punsri (10th), saw their journey come to an end before reaching the final table.

Heading into the final nine players as the chip leader, Keating continued to showcase his skills and determination. Along the way, he outlasted formidable opponents, including bracelet winner Mike Eskandari (9th), 2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas main event winner Christian Harder (7th), 14-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Joshua Reichard (6th), and 2019 WSOP Europe main event champion Alexandros Kolonias (5th) on his path to securing the prestigious title.

Final Table Results