Level: 24
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #84: $50,000 High Roller
Day: 2
Aldemir Spikes a Queen to Stay Alive
Level 23
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Henrik Hecklen opened 425,000 in the cutoff and Koray Aldemir raised to 2,000,000 in the big blind. Hecklen wasted no time announcing all-in and after taking a peak at the other table, Aldemir called off his 2,200,000 total.
Hendrik Hecklen: A♦K♦
Koray Aldemir: A♣Q♥
Aldemir was in rough shape and the J♣8♠7♦ flop was no help. However, the Q♣ hit the turn, giving him the lead and the 7♣ river changed nothing as Aldemir collected his double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,700,000
2,300,000
|
2,300,000 |
|
||
|
3,350,000
-2,250,000
|
-2,250,000 |
Updated Chip Counts
Level 23
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,100,000
-750,000
|
-750,000 |
|
7,900,000 | |
|
||
|
6,500,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
5,700,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,600,000 | |
|
5,400,000
1,050,000
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
||
|
5,000,000
-250,000
|
-250,000 |
|
2,800,000
-1,600,000
|
-1,600,000 |
|
||
|
2,600,000
-1,200,000
|
-1,200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,400,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
|
||
Santhosh Suvarna Eliminated In 11th Place ($132,181)
Level 23
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
After splitting a pot against Johannes Straver as both players had the same hand, Santhosh Suvarna moved all in from the small blind for 1,750,000 chips. In the big blind, Henrik Hecklen made the call.
Santhosh Suvarna: A♥9♣
Henrik Hecklen: Q♠J♣
"You're ahead" said Suvarna's rail when the players flipped their cards. But it didn't last long because Hecklen hit a pair of queens on the flop 2♦Q♣K♣. The 6♥ came on the turn, and the J♠ on the river, giving two pairs to Hecklen.
With a big smile on his face, Santhosh Suvarna finished 11th for $132,181.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,600,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Do You Know Which Poker Player Just Set the Record of Cashing Seven Consecutive Live WSOP Main Events?
Level 23
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was the largest in history with 10,043 players, and for one player it proved to be a record-extending affair. From 2010-14, poker pro Ronnie Bardah cashed the WSOP Main Event a record five times, which was recognized on various ESPN broadcasts. However, that record seems to have fallen by the wayside as first brought to light by @TARKPOKER on Twitter.
You see, one player has managed to cash the WSOP Main Event, at least the live version, a record seven consecutive times (2016-23). The pandemic threw a monkey wrench into things in 2020 with the WSOP concocting an online-live hybrid Main Event, so technically this player didn’t cash every year. However, he has cashed the last seven live Main Events, an unrivaled accomplishment.
Damian Salas Eliminated in 12th Place ($101,149)
Level 23
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Jake Schindler raised 400,000 under the gun and Damian Salas jammed for 925,000 next to act. The action folded around to Daniel Smiljkovic in the big blind and he announced all-in for about 6,000,000. Schindler wasted little time before mucking A♦K♥ face up and both hands were on their backs.
Damian Salas: K♠9♠
Daniel Smiljkovic: Q♠Q♥
Unfortunately for Salas, he saw one of his kings already in the muck but the 9♦5♦2♥ flop gave him some extra outs. The 2♣ turn and 10♠ river were no help though as he hit the rail in 12th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,900,000
4,500,000
|
4,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,350,000
-2,350,000
|
-2,350,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Cary Katz Eliminated in 13th Place ($101,149)
Level 23
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Henrik Hecklen opened in early position before Cary Katz three-bet jammed for 1,600,000. Gergely Kulcsár was in the big blind and eyed up Hecklen's stack before making the call. Hecklen mucked and both hands were tabled.
Cary Katz: A♦Q♣
Gergely Kulcsár: 9♠9♦
It was a coinflip as the board ran out 10♠8♠4♥5♠K♣, for the pocket nines of Kulcsár to hold and eliminate Katz in 13th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,850,000
1,250,000
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
3,900,000
-1,300,000
|
-1,300,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level: 23
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Jacks for Straver
Level 22
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Johannes Straver opened 300,000 on the button and Koray Aldemir defended the big blind.
The dealer fanned a flop of 10♦6♦6♠, and Aldemir check-raised the bet of 150,000 to 450,000. Straver took about 15 seconds and made the call.
The 4♥ fell on the turn, and Aldemir slowed down with a check before Straver fired a bet of 450,000 into the middle. Aldemir called.
The K♣ completed the board and both players checked. Aldemir tabled 10♠8♣, but it was no good as Straver showed J♣J♠.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,100,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
|
|
2,500,000
-300,000
|
-300,000 |
|
|
||
Daniel Negreanu Eliminated in 14th Place ($101,149)
Level 22
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Gergely Kulcsár opened in the cutoff, and Daniel Negreanu called from the big blind.
There was no more action on the flop 7♣3♣6♦, as both players checked. But on the turn 5♥, Negreanu decided to bet 400,000.
In front of him, Kulcsár took a pile of blue chips worth 100,000 and put it in front of him. This raise was more than Negreanu's stack. Nevermind, the Canadian player took his camera and said "all in".
Daniel Negreanu: K♥8♠
Gergely Kulcsár: Q♦Q♣
Negreanu asked for a king on the river, but the 2♥ landed on the felt and eliminated Negreanu in 14th place for $101,149.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,600,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||