Event #16: $25,000 High Roller (8-Handed) | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-08-2023 13:34 UTC-7

Rast Continues to Pressure

Adam Lamers

Level 20 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Brian Rast opened to 240,000 under the gun and Ryan O'Donnell defended from the big blind. The flop came 9♠9♥3♥ and Rast managed to scoop the pot with a bet of 220,000.

On the next hand, Roman Hrabec raised to 240,000 in the cutoff and Rast three-bet to 940,000 in the big blind. Hrabec was forced to muck his cards and Rast added to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	7,640,000 360,000	360,000

Roman Hrabec	5,850,000 750,000	750,000

Ryan O'Donnell	3,030,000 330,000	330,000

Tags: Ryan O'Donnell Roman Hrabec Brian Rast

Level: 20

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 120,000

06-08-2023 13:11 UTC-7

Funaro Tops Ponakovs in the Blinds

Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

The action folded to Aleksejs Ponakovs in the small blind who just limped in. Frank Funaro raised to 400,000 in the big blind and Ponakovs called to see a flop of Q♠10♥5♠.

Ponakovs checked to Funaro who continued with a bet of 300,000 and Ponakovs called. The turn was the 3♠ and Ponakovs led out with a bet of 250,000. Funaro just called and the 4♦ completed the board.

Ponakovs checked this time and Funaro announced a bet of 1,300,000. Ponakovs used one of his time banks before dropping in the call. Funaro flipped over A♠Q♦ for top pair and Ponakovs conceded the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Funaro	6,310,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Aleksejs Ponakovs	2,370,000 -2,100,000	-2,100,000

Tags: Frank Funaro Aleksejs Ponakovs

06-08-2023 13:06 UTC-7

Rast Takes Over The Chip Lead

Liam Gannon

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Brian Rast raised to 200,000 from the cutoff and in the small blind Roman Hrabec three bet to 700,000. Rast moved all in for 3,540,000 and Hrabec called to put him at risk.

Brian Rast: K♣K♠
Roman Hrabec: A♠K♦

The board ran out J♣5♦4♦7♠7♦ and Rast's kings up won the pot to take over the chip lead from Hrabec.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	7,280,000 2,420,000	2,420,000

Roman Hrabec	5,100,000 -750,000	-750,000

Tags: Brian Rast Roman Hrabec

06-08-2023 12:49 UTC-7

Funaro Catches a Pair on the River

Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Frank Funaro raised it up on the button and Lewis Spencer called from the big blind. The flop came 9♣7♠3♠ and Spencer check-called a bet of 325,000 from Funaro.

The 7♥ paired the board on the turn and Spencer led out with a bet of 290,000. Funaro raised to 750,000 and Spencer stuck around for the J♦ on the river. Spencer checked this time and Funaro instantly tapped the table as well. Spencer turned over 9♠5♠ but Funaro rivered the best pair with J♥8♥ to scoop the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Funaro	4,310,000 1,310,000	1,310,000

Lewis Spencer	1,900,000 -805,000	-805,000

Tags: Lewis Spencer Frank Funaro

06-08-2023 12:44 UTC-7

Kristen Foxen Eliminated In 12th Place ($79,335)

Liam Gannon

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Roman Hrabec moved all in from the small blind for 1,900,000 effective and in the big blind, Kristen Foxen called to put herself at risk.

Kristen Foxen: A♦9♦
Roman Hrabec: 8♦7♣

The flop of 7♥6♦Q♦ saw Hrabec pick up a pair of sevens while Foxen flopped a flush draw to go with her two lives pair outs. The board ran out 3♣4♥ and no help was brought to the Canadian who exited the tournament in twelfth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Hrabec	8,300,000 2,450,000	2,450,000

Kristen Foxen	Busted

Tags: Kristen Foxen Roman Hrabec

06-08-2023 12:39 UTC-7

Taylor von Kriegenbergh Eliminated in 13th Place ($79,335)

Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Isaac Haxton raised to 215,000 and Taylor von Kriegenbergh three-bet to 650,000 on the button. Haxton responded with a four-bet shove and Von Kriegenbergh instantly called off his stack of 2,630,000.

Taylor von Kriegenbergh: A♥K♣
Isaac Haxton: Q♠Q♣

It was a classic flip and the flop of 10♣6♠4♦ favored Haxton with the pocket queens. The 4♠ on the turn and the 7♣ on the river changed nothing and Von Kriegenbergh was eliminated in 13th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Isaac Haxton	6,550,000 2,730,000	2,730,000

Taylor von Kriegenbergh	Busted

Tags: Taylor von Kriegenbergh Isaac Haxton

06-08-2023 12:26 UTC-7

Rast Showing Some Early Aggression

Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

There hasn't been much to report from the feature table as of yet, other than Brian Rast picking up quite a few small pots. Rast raised it up on the button and Roman Hrabec defended from the big blind. The flop came K♥5♠4♦ and Rast picked up the pot with a bet of 150,000 on the flop.

On the next hand, Rast raised to 200,000 again and Kristen Foxen called from the big blind The flop fell A♥K♥5♠ and both players checked to the 9♥ on the turn.

Foxen checked again and Rast sized up a bet of 360,000. Foxen dispatched her cards and Rast raked in another pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Hrabec	5,850,000 -200,000	-200,000

Brian Rast	4,860,000 895,000	895,000

Kristen Foxen	2,275,000 -400,000	-400,000

Tags: Roman Hrabec Kristen Foxen Brian Rast

06-08-2023 12:17 UTC-7

Jozoff Doubles Through Funaro

Liam Gannon

Level 19 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Frank Funaro raised to 200,000 in late position and on the button Michael Jozoff raised to 460,000. Action folded back around to Funaro who moved all in for 2,030,000 effective and Jozoff snap called.

Michael Jozoff: A♥A♠
Frank Funaro: 9♣9♦

The board ran out J♣8♥5♠2♠5♥ and the aces held up for Jozoff who doubled at the expense of Funaro.