On Thursday, Brian Rast topped a field of 99 entries to win the 2023 World Series of Poker $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship and $1,324,747. It’s the third time Rast has won the prestigious event in its 17-year history, with his first two victories coming in 2011 ($1,720,328) and 2016 ($1,296,097). Rast, who is a candidate for the Poker Hall of Fame this year, also earned his sixth-career WSOP bracelet.
“This one meant a lot,” Rast told reporters after the win. “As I’ve gotten a little bit older, I’ve kind of learned, like you really have to enjoy it when things work out because it doesn’t happen all the time.”
On the Poker Hall of Fame, Rast deferred to the voters.
“I have my opinion, but the truth is, the people that vote are in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “What I think doesn’t matter. My job is to come to the poker table and play and compete. We’ll let the Poker Hall of Fame make that decision.”
In addition to his WSOP accolades, Rast has more than $25 million in lifetime tournament earnings and has competed in the biggest cash games on offer from Macau to Las Vegas.
Rast defeated English businessman Talal Shakerchi heads up, and joining them at the final table were former $50K PPC Champion Matthew Ashton and the legendary Phil Ivey.
2023 WSOP $50K Poker Players Championship Final Table
1. Brian Rast ($1,324,747)
2. Talal Shakerchi ($818,756)
3. Matthew Ashton ($573,679)
4. James Obst ($411,824)
5. Kristopher Tong ($303,071)
6. Phil Ivey ($228,793)
7. Ray Dehkhargani ($177,294)
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Photo courtesy of the World Series of Poker
