Championship Event | 2023 Free Poker Network National Championship – PokerNews.com
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 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 | <…….
|