Leon Sturm Wins 2023 WSOP Event #23: $50,000 High Roller

The five-handed final table of the $50,000-entry High Roller, the 23^rd event of the 54^th annual WSOP was a classic. At the start of play, both the former two-time GPI number one player in the world Alex Foxen and Dutch professional Jans Arends were miles clear at the top of the leaderboard. By the time the final battle for the bracelet was taking place, both men were on the rail.

Davies Hits the Rail, Foxen Falls

The action began almost immediately with an elimination. American professional Seth Davies is no stranger to playing nosebleed tournaments and on the high roller circuit is the definition of a regular. Even he couldn’t do anything about his final hand, however.

The board looked a kind one for his hand of five-deuce when it came with a five on both turn and river. But Davies was incorrect to call off his stack, as the five on the turn, along with the 9-8-7 flop, had given Leon Sturm a straight with his hole cards of seven-six, Davies scoring $385,617 in fifth place.

That pot alone catapulted Sturm into the upper limits of the leaderboard but better was to come. Alex Foxen started the last day as the overnight chip leader as he attempted to follow up his first WSOP bracelet in 2022 with another one year on. He could hardly win a pot all afternoon, however, and dropped down the ranks until he was at threat of elimination by each of the other three players.

It was Sturm who again was the conqueror, as he eliminated his second of what would become four victims at the final table. Foxen fell into the post-flop trap too as he moved all-in on an eight-high flop holding nine-eight himself. Sturm. However, had called to the flop with eight-six and hit two pair, so called it off and rode out turn and river to send the dangerous America pro to the rail for $512,824.

Superstar Bluff from Klein Ends Arends Hopes

With three players left, Dutch player Jans Arends was still involved. Having eliminated Kristen Foxen on Day 2 of the event, then seeing her husband Alex busted on the final day, Arends was in place to make a run at the gold. Then he ran into Bill Klein. The 75-year-old businessman and philanthropist, who was shooting for his first-ever WSOP bracelet, pulled the bluff of the World Series so far out of the bag and Arends folded the winning hand.

Bill Klein pulls off an absolutely MONSTER bluff against Jans Arends (@Graftekkel).

With Arends' fold, Klein takes over the chip lead while Arends drops to the shortest stack of the final three.

📺 – Watch live here: https://t.co/nAi7qdBuVj pic.twitter.com/3altEc2dmL

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 12, 2023

It was a pivotal moment, catapulting Klein into the lead and turning Arends’ chips into the shortest stack. If the Dutch player was hoping to get back into contention, he was sorely disappointed, as Sturm did for him as he would every single opponent he faced on the last day of action.

Arends moved all-in on a doomed flop too. It came 9-5-4 and Arends shoved with the perfectly reasonable ten-nine. It was a marginal decision for Sturm with queen-nine, but he made the call and his kicker played when a four then a three landed on turn and river. As important as the pot was for Arends, sending him to the rail for $694,019, it was vital for Sturm too, building his stack to 13.9 million. He was still some way behind Klein’s stack of 23.2 million after the opening exchanges of heads-up play… but he had a chance.

Sturm Wins Sneaky Showdown Then the Gold

Leon Sturm is known for his online play, Bill Klein has built a reputation for his live reads and fearless moves when he can see the whites of his opponent’s eyes. The clash was chalk and cheese, with Klein, half a century older than his opponent, appearing to have the edge not only in chips but style.

Sturm, however, is equally fearless and showed his tenacity in battling back. Close to parity, an inflated pot went to showdown where until the river card, the German had no value at all. His eight-four was well behind Klein’s ace-king on a board that failed to help either man’s cards. A four on the river changed all that, and Sturm went into a lead he would not lose.

Not long after that hand, the tournament was over. Sturm watched as Klein shoved with eight-five on a board showing J-8-3-6. It was an easy call for Sturm holding queen-jack and he faded the river to win a maiden WSOP bracelet and the top prize of over $1.5 million, by far the biggest live result of his fledgling career.

Klein will go again, but you have to wonder just how many more chances he’ll have that are better than the position he entered heads-up in. Poker, so often a game of gifts, can be merciless with its favor too. Here’s how the winning moment played out.

Leon Sturm (@LeonRumukulus) overcomes Bill Klein in @WSOP Event #23: $50K NLH High Roller to capture his first gold bracelet.

The 22-year old kicks off his young poker career with a splash, earning a first-place prize worth $1,546,024.

📺 – Event Replay: https://t.co/nAi7qdBuVj pic.twitter.com/JONgCpUu68

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 12, 2023