Eli Elezra Wins His Fourth World Series of Poker Gold Bracelet

Eli Elezra defeated a field of 285 entries in the 2019 World Series of Poker $1,500 seven-card stud event, winning his fourth gold bracelet and the $93,766 top prize. The 58-year-old former Israeli army commando turned poker pro became just the 48th player in WSOP history to win four or more bracelet events.

Three of Elezra’s four WSOP titles have come in stud tournaments. His most recent win at the series saw him take down this same event, the $1,500 buy-in seven-card stud, back in 2015. His lone non-stud WSOP win came in the 2013 $2,500 triple draw deuce-to-seven lowball event. He now has more than $2 million in WSOP earnings, with 64 career cashes and 16 final-table finishes at the series.

In addition to the bracelet and the money, Elezra was also awarded 456 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. It was his first POY-qualified final-table finish of 2019. The win was only enough to move him into 607th place in this year’s POY race standings, which are sponsored by Global Poker.

Elezra and 2015 Card Player Player of the Year award winner Anthony Zinno entered the final day of this event as the clear leaders with six players remaining. The two each had 51 big bets each in their stacks, while the next nearest competitor, Valentin Vornicu, had just 11.

Phongthep Thiptinnakon, Rep Porter and David Singer all started with two big bets or less. It took just a few hands for Singer to be eliminated, as Valentin Vornicu made a full house by seventh street to send Singer to the rail in sixth place ($14,619).

Elezra scored his first knockout of the day by making a flush to bust Porter in fifth place. The three-time bracelet winner earned $19,996 for his strong showing. Thiptinnakon got his last chips in on fourth street holding (KQ) A8 up against the
(KQ) 57 of Vornicu. Thiptinnakon paired his eight on sixth street to take the lead, but Vornicu made a pair of kings on the end to take down the pot and eliminate Thiptinnakon in fourth place ($27,993).

Vornicu battled it out three-handed with the larger stacks of Elezra and Zinno for roughly two hours. Eventually he got his last chips in with (A5) 8 up against the (K 10) K of Elezra. Vornicu picked up flush and straight draws heading into seventh street, but ended up making just a pair of eights in the end. He was sent home in third place, earning $39,830.

Elezra entered heads-up play with just less than a 2-to-1 lead on Zinno, a three-time World Poker Tour main event champion and WSOP bracelet holder. Zinno was able to fight his way into the lead at one point, but Elezra regained control and was able to extend wear Zinno down by the time the final hand was dealt.

Zinno got his final chips into the middle with (Q10) KJ on fourth street. Elezra had the (65) 43, and promptly hit his straight with the 2 on fifth. Zinno was unable to hit his higher straight draw and was eliminated as the runner-up, falling just short of his second WSOP title. He took home $57,951 for second place.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded today:

For more coverage from the summer series, check out the 2019 WSOP landing page, complete with a full schedule, results, news, player interviews, and event recaps.

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