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Event #7 Limit Hold’em at the 2023 World Series of Poker featured a fierce competition amongst 17 players. Vadim Shlez ultimately prevailed in an all-Ukrainian heads-up match, coming out on top.
Shlez had a steep task ahead of him as he began Day 3 with the 13th-highest chip stack. However, at the right time, his aptitude and tenacity catapulted him to success.
A slew of notable WSOP bracelet winners, including Adam Friedman, David “ODB” Baker, and Joe McKeehen, were included in the tournament’s strong field. Shlez proved his mettle by defeating this tough bunch of competitors.
Shlez encountered prominent competitors and thrilling showdowns, including Scott Eskenazi and Lee Markholt, who had won on the World Poker Tour (WPT). Their presence increased the level of competition and demonstrated the excellent caliber of the participants.
Event #7 produced a prize pool of $703,545 with a total of 527 entries. Raul Celaya took fourth place and received a prize of $45,301, while Kerry Welsh earned third place and $63,577.
After spending more than 20 years playing poker, Shlez understood the significance of taking home a WSOP bracelet. When considering his voyage, he revealed his intense feelings, demonstrating his lifelong love of the sport. “I’ve been working on it for pretty much my whole life,” Shlez told PokerNews with a wide smile. “I started poker pretty much with the World Series of Poker. … I didn’t expect to win in this discipline, even though it was my favorite game when I started.”
After victory, Shlez covered himself in the Ukrainian flag and claimed that competing against Sabishchenko was a unique experience. He stated, “It was unbelievable. We thought it would be cool yesterday (Friday) when it went down to three tables. We hoped it was going to happen, but nobody expected this to happen. I mean, even making the final table together was great. It was unbelievable. To win it, it was unbelievable.”
When thinking back on the final table and his clash with Rostyslav Sabishchenko, Shlez was unable to suppress his emotions. Not only did they make it to the final table together, but they also won the game thanks to the unanticipated turn of events.
Shlez noted the tough competition he faced throughout the event despite riding a hot streak to the final table. He was humble and respectful of the game when he said that his success was due to the last cards dealt.
Shlez has no intention of slowing down now that he has won his first WSOP bracelet. He and his wife want to take part in other WSOP tournaments in an effort to expand their collection of bracelets.