Steven Hubbard won his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw

Steven Hubbard became the champion of the 2024 WSOP in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event, defeating 626 opponents and earning $155,819 and his first gold bracelet.

Stephen Hubbard claimed victory in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event at the 2024 World Series of Poker, earning his first WSOP gold bracelet and a prize of $155,819. In the final heads-up, he defeated Gabriel Paul, overcoming a field of 626 entrants. Final Table Results: Who Won What Six players advanced to the final day of the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event at the WSOP, held at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Each of them was aiming for their first WSOP bracelet. Stephen Hubbard started the final day as the chip leader, giving him a significant advantage from the outset. Final table results: 1st place: Stephen Hubbard — $155,819 2nd place: Gabriel Paul — $102,518 3rd place: Dylan Smith — $68,294 4th place: Timothy Wong — $46,286 5th place: Anthony Lamps — $32,129 6th place: Philip Jaffe — $22,813 The total prize pool was generated from 626 entries, confirming the strong interest in the 2-7 Lowball Draw format among players of all levels. Quick “Comeback”: Hubbard’s Path to the Bracelet This triumph was especially meaningful for Stephen Hubbard, coming shortly after his fifth-place finish in Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, where he also earned a six-figure payout. Hubbard himself called the 2-7 Lowball Draw victory a “true comeback” after falling just short of a bracelet in the previous event. According to Hubbard, making two such deep runs in a row was a surprise: “It’s incredible that I managed to go this deep twice in such a short time.” He noted that, despite having other titles, this bracelet holds special significance for him. In recent months, Hubbard has consistently shown excellent results: two PokerGO Tour titles in PLO events, and according to The Hendon Mob, his last four cashes include three first-place finishes and one fifth. The player modestly attributes his success to “probably just a build-up of luck.” Although most of his achievements are in Pot-Limit Omaha, Hubbard emphasizes that he intends to develop his skills in other disciplines as well. He finds the Deuce to Seven (2-7) format interesting because it allows you to put opponents in tough spots. He also does not rule out returning to classic No-Limit Hold’em. After his win, Hubbard immediately registered for the next event — $1,500 Mixed: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, and plans to have a busy summer at the WSOP, including playing the Main Event. Final Day Showdown: Key Hands and Eliminations At the start of Day 3, six contenders for the bracelet remained at the table. Stephen Hubbard led in chips, while Philip Jaffe had the second-shortest stack. Just half an hour after play began, Jaffe went all-in against Gabriel Paul with a seven-draw. Paul showed a made ten, and Jaffe drew an ace, becoming the first elimination of the final day. After several rounds of cautious play, it was Anthony Lamps’ turn. In a preflop raising battle against Hubbard, he went all-in for nearly 50 big blinds with a made ten. Hubbard had a four-card eight-draw, and after the draw, he made a nine, sending Lamps out in fifth place. Strengthening his lead, Hubbard won several big pots, including one against Dylan Smith. In one hand, he called a large bet with a pair of deuces, allowing him to accumulate nearly half the chips in play. Timothy Wong couldn’t gain momentum and ended up in a three-way all-in with the shortest stack against Smith and Paul. Smith had a chance for a double knockout, but Paul held on with a made nine, doubled up, and eliminated Wong. After this, Hubbard’s stack dipped slightly due to some unsuccessful bluffs, but he soon regained and even increased his chips by winning a huge pot against Smith. In that hand, both players drew one card, but Hubbard made an eight while Smith made a ten, resulting in Smith’s elimination in third place. Heads-Up: Comeback and Final Showdown In the duel for the title, Stephen Hubbard started with a 2:1 chip lead over Gabriel Paul. However, Paul quickly showed he wasn’t giving up. He skillfully caught Hubbard bluffing with a pair and then made a hero call with a king against a big bet, nearly evening up the stacks. Riding the momentum, Paul continued to win pots and even took the lead, holding a 2:1 chip advantage himself. Hubbard admitted that he felt the pressure at that point: “Yeah, I felt it, the first five big pots didn’t go my way, but I took a couple of deep breaths and tried to stay calm.” Despite losing the lead, Hubbard managed to get back into the game and even up the stacks. The key hand came next: Hubbard raised, Paul reraised, and Hubbard went all-in. Paul, with a slightly bigger stack, called. Paul had a seven-draw, while Hubbard had a made jack. Paul was one card short of victory but paired up, while Hubbard doubled up and regained the chip lead. A few hands later, Paul went all-in with a ten-draw against Hubbard’s eight-draw. Hubbard showed his cards first, revealing a pair of threes, giving Paul a chance, but Paul also paired eights. As a result, Paul finished second, and Stephen Hubbard became the tournament champion. Context: The Series, Format, and Participants The $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event was part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) — the most prestigious poker series in the world, bringing together the best players at the largest venues in Las Vegas. The 2-7 Lowball Draw format differs from the usual disciplines: the goal is to make the lowest five-card hand, and aces count only as high cards. The tournament used a no-limit betting structure, adding excitement and strategic depth. The final table featured players such as Anthony Lamps, Dylan Smith, Gabriel Paul, Philip Jaffe, and Timothy Wong. For each of them, this final table was a chance to win their first WSOP bracelet. Stephen Hubbard, despite his reputation as a Pot-Limit Omaha specialist, demonstrated versatility and high skill in another discipline. This victory marked Hubbard’s second six-figure cash of the current series and solidified his position as #2 on the list of Utah’s most successful players according to The Hendon Mob. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Stephen Hubbard’s victory in the 2-7 Lowball Draw event clearly shows that even players who specialize in one discipline can succeed in other formats. For PPPoker club members, this is a great incentive to try their hand at less popular but strategically interesting games like 2-7 Lowball Draw, Badugi, Stud, and other poker variants available on the platform. Another important takeaway is the value of being able to adapt to different opponents’ styles and game situations. As seen at the final table, even with a chip lead, you can’t lose focus: the dynamics of the game can change at any moment. Practicing various formats on PPPoker helps develop mental flexibility and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure. Finally, Hubbard’s experience confirms that regularly playing tournaments of different levels and disciplines is key to professional growth. PPPoker clubs regularly host tournaments in a wide range of formats, and every player can use this to expand their poker arsenal and reach new heights.