Josh Arieh Wins Third Career Bracelet At 2021 World Series of Poker

Josh Arieh came into the 2021 World Series of Poker as a two-time bracelet winner, with more than $5.4 million in prior cashes in bracelet events. The 2004 main event third-place finisher’s last win at the series came in 2005, with two runner-up finishes and another third-place showing in the 16 years since that title run. After those close calls, the 47-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia was able to break through once again and emerge victorious in this year’s $1,500 pot-limit Omaha event, defeating a field of 821 entries to earn $204,766.

“I think I’m really good just like everybody else, but I haven’t won a bracelet in 15 years. I’ve come close,” Arieh told PokerGO after securing the victory. “I think I have three or four seconds in the last six years and I fucking dog it. I choke. I started feeling that pressure again right at the beginning but I was lucky enough to hold some cards and fight through the mental weakness I guess. It’s always good. Winning money and winning bracelets is always good.”

In addition to the title and the money, Arieh also earned 912 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. This was his first POY-qualified score of the year, but it alone was enough to put him within reach of the top 200 in the 2021 POY race, which is sponsored by Global Poker.

The final day began with five players remaining and Arieh in the lead. Gabriel Andrade came into the day as the short stack, and was ultimately the first to hit the rail. He got all-in preflop with Q1098 up against the AAKJ of Robert Blair. The pocket aces held up and Andrade was eliminated in fifth place ($47,492).

Robert Blair’s run in this event came to an end when he three-bet all-in from the big blind over the small-blind raise of Arieh, with Tommy Le having limped in from the button. Arieh called with AK73. Deyra showed QJ105. The board ran out 97356 and Arieh’s two pair were best. Deyra earned $64,890 as the fourth-place finisher.

Just a handful of minutes later the next major showdown took place. Robert Blair moved all-in for 1,200,000 over the top of Arieh’s open with AK32. Arieh called holding QQ85. Neither player improved and Blair was sent home in third place ($89,968).

With that, Arieh took more than a 3:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Tommy Le, who has had exceptional success in pot-limit Omaha events at the series. Le won his bracelet in the 2017 $10,000 buy-in PLO event for $938,732. That victory came just a year removed from a runner-up showing in the $25,000 buy-in PLO championship which saw him earn $696,558. Eight of his top ten largest tournaments scores have come in the game.

Le started out by closing the gap somewhat, but Arieh was able to regain control and expand on his initial lead by the time the final hand of the tournament was dealt. With blinds of 80,000-160,000, Le opened to 480,000 on the button with 7543. Arieh three-bet to 1,400,000 from the big blind with AA102. Le made the call and the flop came down KJ5. Arieh bet 2,340,000 with his overpair and gutshot draw and Le called all-in with a pair and a flush draw. The K turn kept Arieh ahead, and the Q gave him the ace-high straight to lock up the pot and the title. Le was awarded $126,539 for his latest deep run in a PLO event at the WSOP.

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

Winner photo credit: WSOP / Hayley Hochstetler.

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