Shaun Deeb breaks heads-up curse to win his ninth WSOP gold bracelet

Shaun Deeb defeated Dean Joe in the $1,500 eight-mix event to win his ninth WSOP gold bracelet and $181,625 in prize money, tying Glaser and Mizrachi's record.

The curse has been broken. The well-known shackles have been removed. Shaun Deeb's relentless pursuit of the World Series of Poker gold bracelet record took a significant step today at the final table of Event #74:$1,500 Eight Mixed Event.

After three runner-up finishes this year, Deeb finally won his ninth gold bracelet in a long and dramatic heads-up match against Dean Joe, tying Benny Glaser and Michael Mizrachi for the record set earlier in the series, becoming the ninth player in WSOP history to reach this milestone. This is Deeb's second victory since winning the same event in 2023.

This victory puts Deeb steadily on his path toward his ultimate goal: surpassing Phil Hellmuth's record of 17 gold bracelets. "I'm going to surpass Phil. I've been saying that for years. I could have gotten closer. I could have been far ahead of some other guys with nine, eight, or seven bracelets, but, you know, I show up every day, play in every tournament, participate in every buy-in, and sometimes you win," Deeb said after conquering a field of 766 players and taking home the $181,625 first-place prize.

Event #74: $1,500 Eight-Type Mixed Event Final Table Results

Deeb's last gold bracelet was only a year ago, but for a time, the ninth bracelet seemed like a cursed number. He was even supposedly cursed by pro wrestler Danhausen, orchestrated by Jeff Platt. Deeb finished as runner-up in both events at the WSOP Europe Prague this spring. Less than two weeks ago, Deeb had a huge chip lead in a $3,000 nine-way mixed match, but was ultimately defeated by Joey Couden who snatched the bracelet.

However, Deeb never felt cursed. Despite so many close calls and near misses, he continued doing what he always did—relentlessly honing his skills until victory finally arrived. "I know the volatility of poker. I could have easily lost this heads-up match. I could have won several other ones. I just showed up every day, played my game, and hoped to eventually have all the chips I have today," he said.

Deeb rose from the ashes on the third day.

Deeb had a lucky day. He was down to 300,000 chips at a nine-handed table, facing Michael Koenig's all-in A-6 with A-2. Deeb hit a 2 to survive, but the real turning point came later—Koenig held a 2 on a three-draw from 2-7, and Deeb drew a straight flush, completing a miraculous double-up.

Deeb soon eliminated Koenig in ninth place. "That 2-7 hand will bother me for a while," Koenig told Deeb. By the time the seven-handed final table was set, Deeb had climbed to 3,400,000, placing him third behind Fu Wong and Joe.

The eliminations started quickly at the final table. Jason Riesenberg went all-in with top two pair in Pot-Limit Omaha against Joe, who then made an even higher two pair on the turn, eliminating Riesenberg in seventh place. Short-stacked Patrick Mahoney (sixth place) and Itsuko Yoroi (fifth place) were eliminated in quick succession, as Deeb caught Blaz Zerjav's bluff in a 2-7 three-draw, reducing the two-time bracelet winner to almost nothing. Joe eliminated Zerjav a few hands later, then Wong in third place, entering heads-up play with a 12,500,000-6,500,000 chip lead.

The epic showdown between Deeb and Joe

Deeb gained a chip lead in a Razz hand and then extended it with a flush in Limit Texas Hold'em. However, Joe quickly regained momentum—he beat Deeb's 8-7-6 with 8-7-5, then hit a flush in Omaha High-Low, and finally showed trips in PLO, bringing Deeb down to 3,000,000.

However, Deeb bounced back strongly after calling Joe with a pair of kings in a seven-card stud. Deeb regained the chip lead in a cold flush draw, and the two then clashed in a Texas Hold'em pot. Joe check-raised to 1,600,000 on an 8-high flop, and Deeb called. After checking on the turn, Joe led out to 2,400,000 on the river, and Deeb called again. Joe showed a pair of eights, but Deeb made a straight on the river and won the huge pot.

Joe held on with Kings in PLO, doubling up once. A few hands later, in another Omaha pot, Deeb bet 2,850,000 on the flop and instantly called when Joe went all-in for 3,500,000. Deeb this time held two Kings against Joe's top pair, and Joe couldn't find any help on the turn and river. Deeb's pursuit of his ninth gold bracelet was finally over.

“I just happened to make the nuts in a lot of hands. I called a huge check-raise in PLO with a straight draw and a flush draw, and I hit both. Then, you know, I had a few hands left, and I just had a hand,” Deeb said. “When you make the best hand on the river in heads-up play, you usually win the tournament.”

Three years ago, Deeb won his sixth gold bracelet in the same event, defeating a larger field of 789 players. The low buy-in and the relative inexperience of many opponents in these games, combined with his mastery of all poker variations, make this event one of his favorites. "It's a great mix for me. The buy-in is low, so a lot of people aren't very familiar with all eight games, you know, and when I get some chips, I can be very lethal. I got some chips and kept winning pots," Deeb said.

It's not over yet: Deeb's WSOP honing continues in the pursuit of Player of the Year.

Today's victory will put Deeb back in familiar territory—at the top of the Player of the Year leaderboard. He has won twice, including last year, and is firmly set on defending his title. "It's always been my goal. I always want to win back-to-back. A week ago, or two weeks ago, three weeks ago, you know, I really didn't think I had a chance, but this was probably the closest Player of the Year competition ever," he said.

"Every day is the same. Win or lose, I'm here, participating in every match."

"There are so many top players competing. Every day, if you take the lead, someone in the top ten will either win a prize and overtake you, or make it to the final table, or win the tournament. So I have to get more results. I don't have enough prize money, so I have to play in more tournaments and play multiple tables at the same time, hoping to break even this summer."

Deeb's work won't stop. He's already planning to compete in the $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw event, while the $100,000 Pot Limit Omaha High Roller (the event he won last year) is his next target. Deeb fully embraces the WSOP experience. There are no rest days when there are more bracelets and Player of the Year points to accumulate.

"Every day is the same. Win or lose, I'm here, participating in every game," he said.

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