William Kopp Joins Sister Katie As A WSOP Bracelet WinnerOhioan Takes Down The $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better Event To Earn $259,549 |
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William Kopp scooped the final pot in the 2023 World Series of Poker $1,500 pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better event, earning $259,549 and his first gold bracelet for the win. The victory was particularly special because it saw Kopp join his sister Katie as a WSOP bracelet winner.
Katie Kopp took down the $500 casino employees event in 2022 to win the first bracelet awarded that year. The Kopps now join a short list of siblings with titles at the series that includes the likes of the Mizrachis (Michael and Robert), the Hinkles (Blair and Grant), the Zamanis (Martin and Benjamin), and Howard Lederer and Annie Duke.
“When we were growing up we were always about poker. We’re pretty close…me, my sister, and my mom. We all talk poker and help make each other better,” Kopp told PokerNews live reporters after coming out on top.
Both Katie and their mother Patty travel the circuit dealing poker. After her win last year, she said, "My whole family plays poker. My grandpa taught us. My brother and sister both have WSOP Circuit rings and even my nine and 10-year-old [kids] know how to play.”
William Kopp now has nearly $1.4 million in lifetime tournament earnings to his name after this big win, with more than $576,000 of that coming from cashes in bracelet events. He also has two WSOPC rings now, with 29 in-the-money finishes for nearly $182,000 on that tour.
Kopp came into the third and final day of this event with the chip lead. He outlasted the likes of two-time bracelet winner Robert Campbell (17th), two-time bracelet winner Rami Boukai (15th), two-time bracelet winner Yuval Bronshtein (10th), bracelet winner Aaron Wallace (9th), four-time bracelet winner Anthony Zinno (8th), and two-time bracelet winner Loni Hui (6th) down the stretch.
In the end, it came down to a heads-up battle between Kopp and inaugural WSOP badugi event champion Michael Rodrigues. Kopp started with the shorter stack, but was able to overtake the lead in time for the final hand of the event.
Rodriguez limp-reraised preflop from the button with A753. Kopp came along with AQ83. The flop came down J109 and Kopp bet the pot with his flopped queen-high straight. Rodrigues called with his nut flush draw. The turn brought the K to improve Kopp to an ace-high straight. The 6 completed the board, missing Rodrigues to see him eliminated in second place ($160,418). This was the largest live tournament payday yet for the Portuguese player.
Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:
Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
1 | William Kopp | $259,549 | 960 |
2 | Michael Rodrigues | $160,418 | 800 |
3 | Michael Linster | $113,991 | 640 |
4 | Sterling Savill | $82,104 | 480 |
5 | Joseph McCarthy | $59,953 | 400 |
6 | Loni Hui | $44,391 | 320 |
7 | John Goyette | $33,335 | 240 |
8 | Anthony Zinno | $25,394 | 160 |
9 | Aaron Wallace | $19,627 | 80 |
Visit the Card Player 2023 World Series of Poker page for schedules, news, interviews, and the latest event results. WSOP coverage sponsored by Global Poker.
Winner photo credit: WSOP / Spenser Sembrat.