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

06-09-2023 18:30 UTC-7

Player	Chips	Progress
Farah Galfond	115,000 34,000	34,000
Malcolm Glenn-Adams	75,000 34,500	34,500
Harry Lodge	70,000 -3,000	-3,000

Wasim Mahfooth	70,000 -12,000	-12,000

Aliaksandr Shylko	32,000 -18,000	-18,000
Ethan Yau	Busted

Uri Reichenstein	Busted

Olonoh Forces Fold from Full House

Kirk Brown

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

After raising preflop, Chris Basile continued for 1,600 on the flop of A♥3♥A♦ and was called by his opponent, Adekunle Olonoh.

The turn brought the out the A♠ and Basile fired again for 3,600, which Olonoh called once more.

On the river 8♠, Basile barreled for 13,500 but this time Olonoh did not call. Instead, he raised all-in, covering Basile.

Basile quickly tossed in his cards, face-up, showing Q♦Q♠ as the pot was awarded to Olonoh.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adekunle Olonoh	115,000
Chris Basile	51,000 2,000	2,000

Tags: Adekunle Olonoh Chris Basile

06-09-2023 18:09 UTC-7

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Coan	260,000 46,000	46,000

Jared Jaffee	64,000
Kenny Hallaert	40,000 8,000	8,000

Lori Persinger	Busted
Brendan Corneby	Busted

Yau Wins a Small One Before Losing Big Flip

Calum Grant

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Action was caught on the turn with around 7,000 in the middle on the A♥K♠3♥8♠ board. Victoria Livschitz checked from the big blind before Ethan Yau bet 6,500 from under the gun. Jim Farrelly called from two seats over and Livschitz folded.

Yau sized up to 22,000 on the 7♣ river and his opponent conceded the pot.

The following hand, Yau and Rodney Turvin got into a preflop-raising war which saw the latter all in for 76,000. Yau called and the cards were tabled.

Rodney Turvin: A♦K♦
Ethan Yau: Q♣Q♠

It was a classic race and Yau's headstart was shortlived as Turvin made two pair on the A♣K♥3♦ flop. The A♥ turn gave Turvin the checkmark and the 6♥ completed the board.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jim Farrelly	170,000 98,000	98,000

Rodney Turvin	154,000 154,000	154,000
Laura Church	40,000 -15,000	-15,000

Sean Alper	39,000 -17,000	-17,000

Ethan Yau	12,000 -23,300	-23,300

Tags: Ethan Yau Jim Farrelly Rodney Turvin Victoria Livschitz

06-09-2023 17:48 UTC-7

Updated Stacks

Calum Grant

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandre Vuilleumier	135,000 97,000	97,000

Darren Elias	88,000 48,000	48,000

Michael Gathy	67,000 15,000	15,000

Noah Schwartz	58,500 -6,500	-6,500

Philip Shing	45,000 17,000	17,000

06-09-2023 17:47 UTC-7

Shylko Wins a Small One

Calum Grant

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

The middle position player opened to 1,400 and was called by 2023 PSPC champ Aliaksandr Shylko. The big blind called as well.

Action checked to Shylko on the Q♦10♦8♦ flop, and he bet 2,000 which folded out both opponents.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aliaksandr Shylko	50,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Aliaksandr Shylko

06-09-2023 17:43 UTC-7

Papazyan Takes From Defending Champion

Calum Grant

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

There was 16,000 in the pot on the A♥9♥6♦K♦ board with Art Papazyan and Joey Weissman heads-up. Papazyan bet 8,000 from the small blind and Weissman called from the cutoff.

The 3♥ completed the board and action checked through to showdown. Papazyan tabled his A♦2♦ for a pair of aces and Weissman mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Art Papazyan	82,000 82,000	82,000

Joey Weissman	17,000 -23,000	-23,000

06-09-2023 17:42 UTC-7

Tice Wins Soma Them Chips

Kirk Brown

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

In a heads-up pot between Landon Tice and Leo Soma, the board read 8♠6♠9♠7♥ when Tice bet 6,000 into the 31,000 that was already in the middle.

Soma thought for a second before making the call, and the duo saw the Q♦ fall on the river. Soma quickly checked over to Tice who paused for a moment before moving all in for around 28,000.

Soma was not happy with this move and shook his head as he checked his cards one last time before tossing them into the muck. The pot was then pushed to Tice to bring his stack to a little over 70,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Landon Tice	72,000 34,000	34,000

Leo Soma	71,000 71,000	71,000

Tags: Landon Tice Leo Soma

Level: 6

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

06-09-2023 17:27 UTC-7

Russler Flops a Set

Calum Grant

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Michael Jozoff opened to 1,300 from under the gun and was called by Nathan Russler from the hijack. The big blind also called which brought in the K♠3♣2♣ flop. The big blind led out for 2,000 and Jozoff quickly folded. Russler then tried engaging with some table talk with the shorter stacked big blind.

"Do you have any blues?" asked Russler, referring to the T-5,000 tournament chips.

"Two," answered the big blind. "Do you want them?"

"Only if you're willing to gamble," Russler replied.

Russler then raised to 6,000 and the big blind called. On the J♠ turn, Russler fired another 6,000 and was quickly called.

The big blind, with 8,900 behind, checked the 3♥ river over to Russler. The latter then put the big blind all in, who quickly called.

The big blind tabled his A♣K♥ for a pair of aces, but Russler had flopped a set with his 2♦2♠ and took in the pot.

"You lose to me, I had jacks," said Jozoff. "I'm glad you folded," quipped Russler.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nathan Russler	60,000 30,000	30,000
Michael Jozoff	60,000 8,000	8,000
Michael Wang	35,000 -7,000	-7,000

Tags: Michael Jozoff Nathan Russler