Israeli Poker Pro Assi Moshe Wins Fifth World Series of Poker Bracelet
Assi Moshe, a 42-year-old Israeli poker player, achieved a remarkable milestone by winning his fifth bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) during a No Limit Hold'em - Freezeout tournament with a $3,000 buy-in. The victory earned him $683,830 and took place in Las Vegas, where the WSOP is held annually, attracting the world's top poker players. Moshe's fifth bracelet places him tied for 33rd in WSOP history for the most bracelets won, with Phil Hellmuth holding the record at 17.
What makes Moshe's accomplishment even more impressive is that four of his five bracelets were won in No Limit Hold'em events, the most popular and competitive poker format with large player fields. Unlike many players who accumulate bracelets in less popular formats, Moshe has excelled in the toughest tournaments. Notably, Moshe is no longer a full-time professional poker player and currently works in the high-tech sector. He remarked after his win, "This is the first bracelet I have won not as a professional player, which is quite amazing. I hadn't played poker in a year before coming to Vegas."
The tournament featured 1,792 entries, and Moshe was the last remaining player. At the final table, he faced top online player Chris Moorman, who finished eighth. The heads-up match was against Chinese player Xiao Du. In the final hand, Xiao Du went all-in with Qh Th, and Moshe called with Ah Kd. The board ran 8d 2d 5h 5c 3c, securing Moshe's victory and sparking celebrations among his Israeli supporters.
Moshe is known for his aggressive playing style, which helped him build a large chip stack and maintain momentum throughout the tournament. He plans to continue playing daily in the ongoing WSOP events, including the Main Event and possibly the $10,000 six-handed tournament, before returning to Israel. He expressed gratitude to his wife and daughter for supporting his trip to Las Vegas.
Moshe's success highlights his enduring skill and status as one of Israel's most accomplished poker players, achieving this feat despite balancing a career outside of poker.
