Slovenia’s Blaz Zerjav blocked Huck Seed from picking up his long-overdue second bracelet
The World Series of Poker continued its surprising trend this summer as no US player has yet to win a bracelet in a non-mixed game open event. That streak held steady after Slovenia’s Blaz Zerjav claimed his second title of the series by taking down Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
Zerjav outlasted a field of 566 players and defeated poker legend Huck Seed in an intense heads-up match that stretched nearly two hours. Seed, the 1996 Main Event champion, was seeking his fifth WSOP bracelet and his first in over two decades. Despite briefly taking the lead late in the match, he couldn’t close the deal, as Zerjav rallied from near elimination to regain control and seal the win.
The final day started with 11 players returning to the felt at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Jay Kerbel led the pack at the start of Day 3 but ultimately finished in fifth place. Michelle Konig, who had a legitimate shot at becoming the first female bracelet winner of the summer, exited in fourth. Sergei Tolkachov also saw his hopes slip away during three-handed play after briefly climbing to the top of the leaderboard.
For Zerjav, this marked his second bracelet of the 2024 WSOP, following a victory earlier in Event #22: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller. While his earlier win came in a big buy-in Hold ’em format, this stud hi-lo triumph showed his growth in mixed games. A seasoned online grinder known as “Scarmak3r,” Zerjav credits events like SCOOP and WCOOP for helping sharpen his skills.
Reflecting on the victory, Zerjav said this one hit him harder and faster than his first. He also praised Seed’s hand-reading skills and experience, acknowledging the match as a true test. With this win, Zerjav moves further into the spotlight—and the US bracelet drought continues.
