Nick Schulman weathered a rollercoaster heads-up match to emerge victorious in the 2023 World Series of Poker $1,500 seven-card stud event. The victory saw the 38-year-old poker pro from New York earn $110,800 and the fourth WSOP gold bracelet of his career. He became just the 68th player to have won four or more titles at the WSOP.
“Four [bracelets] means a lot. It’s not lost on me that I’ve accomplished some things, and I’m still here. It means a lot,” the High Stakes Poker commentator told PokerNews reporters after coming out on top.
Schulman was wearing some retro, visor-like sunglasses and chomping on an unlit cigar for much of the final table. Schulman said the following of the style choice:
“I just decided to throw it back for the Stud. An homage…you know, let’s play fast and have some fun.”
After cashing out from this event, Schulman now has more than $15.6 million in lifetime tournament earnings, with his four bracelets and a World Poker Tour main event title as his headlining victories.
This latest title run saw him overcome a 360-entry field and stacked final table that included the likes of five-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb (5th – $23,476) and four-time bracelet winner John Monnette ($32,828).
Schulman took a healthy lead into heads-up play, but was outdrawn on seventh street in a few big pots, which resulted in eventual runner-up Andrew Hasdal taking the lead. In one instance, Schulman’s trip threes were bested by two pair that became a full house for Hasdal on the end. Schulman managed to correctly bet-fold his trips to preserve a crucial big bet in that instance.
Schulman edged back in front, only to have Hasdal’s buried jacks improve to rolled down trips on seventh to overcome his split pair of kings. Schulman remained ahead after that pot, and managed to extend his advantage as the heads-up match wore on. It seemed that he was going to close out the win when Hasdal got his last chips in on fifth street with a pair of kings, while Schulman had already made a nine-high straight. Hasdal caught running cards to make a full house to keep his hopes alive, winning the sizable pot in shocking fashion.
Schulman remained in the lead after the hand, but only by a few big bets. He managed to bounce back from the hand, though, and was able to stretch out the lead yet again. In the final hand, all of the chips went in on fifth street with Schulman holding jacks up against a flush and straight draw with overcards for Hasdal. Schulman’s hand held up, improving to a full house to secure the pot and the title.
Hasdal was awarded $68,479 as the runner-up finisher, the largest tournament score on his resume.
Here is a look at the payouts and Card Player Player of the Year points awarded at the final table:
Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
1 | Nick Schulman | $110,800 | 600 |
2 | Andrew Hasdal | $68,479 | 500 |
3 | Hojeong Lee | $46,912 | 400 |
4 | John Monnette | $32,828 | 300 |
5 | Shaun Deeb | $23,476 | 250 |
6 | D.J. Buckley | $17,166 | 200 |
7 | Tim Frazin | $12,839 | 150 |
8 | Tab Thiptinnakon | $9,829 | 100 |