The Super High Roller Bowl champion is Isaac Haxton, who continued the best year results-wise of his poker career by beating Andrew ‘Chewy’ Lichtenberger heads up for $2.76 million in Las Vegas last night. At a top-quality final table, the two Americans battled it out for the win after Haxton’s initial massive overnight lead was reduced to rubble by the short-stacked Andrew Lichtenberger. The comeback king was denied, however, after Haxton became the hero following an epic heads-up fight for the title.
An Early Elimination
It didn’t take long for one of the players to exit, as Bryn Kenney busted in sixth place, two short of the money. The All-Time Money List leader was flipping with pocket threes, but couldn’t hold, as British Poker Masters winner Stephen Chidwick paired a king on the river to take out the dangerous Long Island poker legend.
Out in fifth place was Chris Brewer, who was desperately unlucky to end up on the wrong side of lady luck on the stone bubble. Committing his last 695,000 chips with pocket aces, Lichtenberger was his caller with K♠10♠. A flop paired Chewy’s king but also brought two spades, giving him the flush draw and making him a betting favorite to win the hand. The A♠ on the turn and no pair card on the river gave him the scalp of Brewer and put everyone remaining in the event in the money. Brewer had played three days to bubble with pocket aces all-in pre-flop… high stakes poker is brutal.
Once the money places were reached, Jason Koon cashed for $600,000 in fourth place when his pocket kings suffered the same fate as Brewer’s pocket aces. This time, Chewy managed to outrun his opponent with jack-ten, turning a straight after Koon had flopped a set of cowboys. They stayed shot down on the river of a three and play was three-handed.
Haxton the Hero
Three left, but soon, a bust-out. Stephen Chidwick flopped top pair, but when the chips went in, Chewy struck gold again making two pair on the turn and holding to eliminate the bullish British player, who must be loving the Las Vegas life and his almost permanent place in the PokerGO Studio under the lights these days. He won’t have minded winning $960,000 in third place.
The heads-up, which got even between Haxton and Lichtenberger, hinged on an incredible hand where the luck was with Haxton. Both men played great and the tournament was effectively decided with the following pot going Haxton’s way.
Haxton’s lead was decisive and he mopped up Chewy’s loose change moments later, becoming the 2023 Super High Roller Bowl Champion.
The Lucky T-Shirt
If there is one constant – apart from excellent play, incredible focus and match-winning strategic poker – that has helped Ike Haxton win over $10 million in poker tournaments this year, maybe it’s his apparel. All year, he’s been sporting a particular t-shirt… washing it regularly, of course!
“I don’t think it’s for sale,” Haxton said in response to post-match questions about its increased value given his success while wearing it. “This thing may have hit $10 million in earnings today… it’s a very lucky t-shirt.”
As Haxton explained further, effortlessly modest about his immense poker skills, the secret to his success is luck-related. “When you’re all in for all the chips in the tournament, you should make a flush,” he laughed. “I don’t think I’m doing anything different this year than I was in previous years [but] I feel good about how I’ve been playing. Sometimes it’s your year.”
It seems certain now that 2023 will be remembered as the ‘Year of Isaac’.
Afterwards, Chewy paid tribute to his opponent for the title and expressed gratitude after his run from outside the money places to a runner-up score worth seven figures completed a truly memorable day.
“Thanks Chewy,” replied Haxton. “Always a pleasure playing with you, and you’re pretty tough yourself!”
“Appreciate the kind words and eagerly looking forward to our next encounter.” Said Chewy. Him along with every poker fan, then.
Here are the four players who cashed in the 2023 Super High Roller Bowl VIII:
| Super High Roller Bowl VIII 2023 Final Table Results: | |||
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1st | Isaac Haxton | United States | $2,760,000 |
| 2nd | Andrew Lichtenberger | United States | $1,680,000 |
| 3rd | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | $960,000 |
| 4th | Jason Koon | United States | $600,000 |
This article originally appeared on PokerStake.com
