$3,500 Main Event Day 1a | 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship

06-09-2023 19:49 UTC-7

Ripnick Rips It

Kirk Brown

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

On a heads-up flop of 8♣5♥5♣, Duane Mitchell had made it 15,000 and Jake Ripnick moved all in for not much more.

Mitchell made the call and the cards were tabled, with Ripnick at risk,

Jake Ripnick: K♥K♠
Duane Mitchell: 4♦4♥

Ripnick was a big favorite to double with his pocket kings, as he only had to dodge two fours or running six-seven for a straight for Mitchell.

Fortunately, the runout came A♦2♦ and his pocket kings held to award him the pot for the double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Duane Mitchell	91,000 91,000	91,000
Jake Ripnick	42,000 42,000	42,000

Tags: Duane Mitchell Jake Ripnick

06-09-2023 19:47 UTC-7

Turn Gives Spinella the Checkmark

Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Rodney Turvin opened to 2,000 form the hijack and called when Anthony Spinella jammed for 12,000 from the big blind.

Anthony Spinella: 8♦8♠
Rodney Turvin: K♦Q♦

The A♠J♠J♣ gave Turvin counterfeit outs and a gutshot to Broadway to accompany his overcards. However, the 8♣ turn delighted Spinella, giving him a full house and securing his survival. The 9♦ completed the board, and Spinella chipped up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Rodney Turvin	120,000 10,000	10,000
Anthony Spinella	26,500

Tags: Anthony Spinella Rodney Turvin

06-09-2023 19:34 UTC-7

Rosen Pairs Up to Double

Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

The action was caught on the Q♣8♣5♣ flop with 37,000 in the middle. The big blind, under the gun, the hijack checked to Steve Rosen on the button who jammed for 34,300. The big blind then shipped in his superior stack which folded out the remaining players.

Steve Rosen: J♥10♣
Big Blind: A♣K♦

Rosen was behind and his flush draw was dominated. The 5♦ turn had him with one foot out of the door but he paired up on the 10♣ river to scoop in the 112 big blind pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve Rosen	112,000 112,000	112,000

Tags: Steve Rosen

06-09-2023 19:28 UTC-7

Updated Stacks

Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Hastings	131,000

Michael Jozoff	101,000 41,000	41,000
Nathan Russler	100,000 40,000	40,000
Juha Helppi	100,000 5,000	5,000

Uri Reichenstein	40,000 40,000	40,000
Aliaksandr Shylko	Busted

06-09-2023 19:24 UTC-7

Metaal Makes the Call

Kirk Brown

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Thomas Coan opened to 2,500 and was then three-bet to 7,200 by Govert Metaal to his left. Coan made the call and the two went to a flop of 6♦5♦A♥.

Both players then decided to check through the turn 7♠ and went to the river A♦, where Coan led out for 10,000.

After pausing for just a second, Metaal made the call. Coan tabled Q♠Q♦ for a big two-pair but Metaal flipped over A♣9♣ for trip aces to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Coan	235,000 -25,000	-25,000

Govert Metaal	129,000 44,000	44,000

Tags: Govert Metaal Thomas Coan

06-09-2023 19:10 UTC-7

Round of Counts

Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Jim Farrelly	172,000 2,000	2,000

Victoria Livschitz	150,000 116,500	116,500
Farah Galfond	126,000 11,000	11,000
Shiva Dudani	110,000 -5,000	-5,000
Rodney Turvin	110,000 -44,000	-44,000
Landen Lucas	89,000
Adam Hendrix	86,000 3,000	3,000

Cherish Andrews	83,000 13,000	13,000
Nadya Magnus	82,000 13,000	13,000
Art Papazyan	70,000 -12,000	-12,000

Jonathan Jaffe	48,000

Albert Nguyen	45,000 -20,000	-20,000
Ethan Yau	42,000 42,000	42,000

Stephen Song	38,000

Aliaksandr Shylko	34,000 2,000	2,000
Robbi Jade Lew	28,500 -1,500	-1,500
Kenny Hallaert	14,200 -25,800	-25,800

06-09-2023 19:05 UTC-7

Lonis Caught Speeding

Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Paul Richardson opened to 2,200 from middle position and picked up calls from the button, Jesse Lonis in the small blind and the big blind.

The J♦9♦4♥ flop checked through to the J♥ turn. Lonis led out for 3,300, and only Richardson called.

Lonis then sized up to 7,500 on the 5♥ river, and after some brief thinking, his opponent called.

Lonis tabled his Q♣10♦ for a missed straight while Richardson had the winner with his A♣9♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Richardson	57,000
Jesse Lonis	56,000 11,000	11,000

Tags: Jesse Lonis Paul Richardson

Level: 7

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

06-09-2023 18:35 UTC-7

Break Time!

Kirk Brown

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

The remaining players are now on their third break of the day and will return to battle in 15 minutes.

There are currently 279 players remaining from a total of 421 entries and that number is expected to change by the time registration closes.

06-09-2023 18:33 UTC-7

Helppi Downs BetMGM Poker Qualifier and Weissman

Calum Grant

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

A BetMGM Poker qualifier jammed for 4,000 from middle position and was called by Juha Helppi on hid direct left. Joey Weissman defended his big blind, which left him with 13,500 behind.

Weissman check-called for 4,000 on the Q♥J♦2♣ flop, bringing in the 8♥ turn. Weissman checked once more and then called for his tournament life after Helppi put him all in.

BetMGM Poker Qualifier: A♦6♦
Joey Weissman: K♦Q♦
Juha Helppi: A♠Q♠

Helppi and Weissman had a pair of queens, but the ace kicker put Helppi in front. The 10♣ completed the board to secure the double elimination for Helppi.

Weissman then headed to reentry desk and now has a fresh stack of 40,000. However, if Weissman busts again today, he will have to wait until tomorrow's Day 1b to have another crack of the whip.

Player	Chips	Progress
Juha Helppi	95,000

Joey Weissman	40,000 23,000	23,000

Tags: Joey Weissman Juha Helppi