The Free Poker Network Chasin’ Bracelets National Championship has come to an end and Joel Smith has claimed the FPN bracelet and a $11,500 Main Event prize package. This is Smith’s second FPN National Championship after he first claimed victory in 2015.
Smith outlasted a field of 225 qualifiers to emerge victorious after he defeated Greg Larson in heads-up play. He caps off a brilliant weekend that saw a deep run to fourth place in the Tag Team Championship with his wife, Nikki.
Larson and the rest of the top-20 finishers took home $1,500. Brett Zimmerman finished in third, while Lester Hauglid and Brad Craig rounded out the top five.
“It’s surreal. I don’t really know what to say,” Smith said in his post-win interview with PokerNews.
Smith was down early at the final table, but he’s been in spots like this before. Smith fought back from a 3:1 deficit in heads-up play to take the lead with a better kicker after players flopped the top pair.
“I didn’t give up. You just never know. Any hand can be the one that turns things around and makes things go your way.”
Smith attends the WSOP regularly, but the $11,500 Main Event package will make this one unique.
“We usually play the other events every Summer, like the Colossus and other small buy-ins. This will be very special.”
2023 FPN Chasin’ Bracelets National Championship Final Table Results
| Rank | Name | Home State | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Smith | Minnesota | $11,500 |
| 2 | Greg Larson | Minnesota | $1,500 |
| 3 | Brett Zimmerman | Illinois | $1,500 |
| 4 | Lester Hauglid | Minnesota | $1,500 |
| 5 | Brad Craig | North Dakota | $1,500 |
| 6 | Kevin Spain | Illinois | $1,500 |
| 7 | David Kalet | Nebraska | $1,500 |
| 8 | Craig Ashley | Illinois | $1,500 |
| 9 | Ed Cavaciuti | Delaware | $1,500 |
Players came from all over the country after winning their seats in local and online tournaments, as well as through instant win opportunities and other drawings. Those that did not qualify throughout the year still had the chance to come to Las Vegas to play in four different qualifiers that were offered throughout the weekend.
Among those that found their way to the winner’s circle but couldn’t make it to the final table are Ken Beach, Al Reese, Boyd Brandsrud, Lori Salmon, Larry Sundberg, Andy Lagarge, Nels Peterson, John Aduana, Maya Cuccaro, Adam Sabatka, and Russ Neil.
Final Table Action
Zimmerman came into the final table with the only stack over 1,000,000, and Larson was not far behind in second. The first to go was Ed Cavaciuti in ninth place when he got it all in with two callers, but David Kalet beat him with a pair of pocket kings.
Soon after, Craig Ashley hit the rail when he got it in with the best hand, but the board brought a full house for Larson and Ashley was out in eighth. On the very next hand, it was Kalet who got it in with ace-jack against Smith’s suited ace-eighth, but Smith spiked an eight on the river to send Kalet home in seventh place.
Kevin Spain came back from a short break and shoved with a pair of pocket tens. The two callers checked it down to the end, but Larson made a pair of kings to eliminate him in sixth place.
Five-handed play stretched out as players jockeyed for position down the stretch. After nearly two levels without an elimination, but Craig broke the stalemate when he shoved with a suited nine-seven, but Larson took him out in fifth place with queen-ten.
Hauglid was out in fourth place as the blinds escalated rapidly. He got it in with a suited ace-five, but Larson was there once again to score the knockout with Big Slick.
Three-handed play lasted a matter of moments before Zimmerman was committed to the pot with his small stack. Smith flopped a flush to take him out and bring the tournament to heads-up play.
Larson had a big lead going into heads-up play with over 3,000,000 chips to Smith’s sub-million stack, but Smith went on the comeback trail quickly and retook the lead with the better kicker after both players flopped a pair.
Smith didn’t look back after he took the lead and the big moment came when Larson shoved with mid-pair and Smith eliminated him with the top pair of queens.
What's Next for FPN?
Free Poker Network will return to Las Vegas January 4-7, 2024 for the FPN Vegas $100,000 World Championship and the race is on for players to grab their spot.
New changes to the format for 2023 include:
- A new weekly national qualifier where the top three players in every league game will earn an invitation to play. Weekly national qualifier tournament winners will take home a direct seat in the 2024 FPN $100K World Championship Main Event.
- League champions will earn a direct seat into the FPN Vegas $100K World Championship Main Event.
- Pre-qualify for up to 4x starting stack (previously 3x)
Players can still qualify through normal means, including online and local tournaments, drawings, instant win scratch cards, and the Tournament of Champions.
