Israel's Ran Koller claimed his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet on Monday by winning Event 33 of the 2021 WSOP, $800 Eight-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Deep Stack. Koller's first WSOP triumph was worth $269,478, and he sealed it by finishing off fellow Israeli player Ran Ilani for the win.
Koller's big triumph nearly quadrupled his lifetime WSOP earnings, which are now roughly $375,000. Koller enjoyed a final-table heater that propelled him into the lead in the Deep Stack's finale, which then led to his closing out the win. "It was surreal," he told reporters shortly afterward.
Ran and also-Ran duel for the win
Koller's late heater allowed him to run through most of the final table. He was in next-to-last place when the event's official eight-player final table was set, while the other Ran, Ilani, held the early final-table lead. The eight-player final table featured one of the series' most international lineups to date, with only two Americans -- Alex Outhred and Donald Maloney -- making the final.
Other international players who logged a final-table showing included Foria Guimond (France), Oleg Titov (Russia), Kris Steinbach (Canada), and Jorge Hou (Panama). The event was also unusual in that the final table included no previous WSOP bracelet winners, nor any players who had even reached a live WSOP final table. Outhred, who placed 54th in the 2008 Main Event before busting on a bad beat, and who later became a WSOP Academy instructor, was arguably the most famous player at the final table.
The Double Stack began with deep stacks, as advertised, but also featured turbo-style 30-minute levels that promoted all-in collisions, especially on the event's second day. The format is known for wild swings at its final table, and Koller's seventh-to-first rush was typical. Koller's late heater was in full evidence on the event's final hand. He held a modest 5-3 but flopped a wheel (ace-to-five) straight. Then he locked up the win when a short-stacked Ilani moved all in with his own pair of deuces but was drawing dead on the river.
Event #33 $800 Eight-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack final results:
1. Ran Koller (Israel) - $269,478
2. Ran Ilani (Israel) - $166,552
3. Florian Guimond (France) - $124,671
4. Oleg Titov (Russia) - $94,028
5. Kris Steinbach (Canada) - $71,457
6. Alex Outhred (United States) - $54,722
7. Jorge Hou (Panama) - $42,231
8. Donald Maloney (United States) - $32,845
Featured image source: WSOP.com
