2023 World Series of Poker

Event #88: $1,500 The Closer
Day: 1a
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q2
Prize
$606,810
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$4,713,885
Entries
3,531
Level Info
Level
43
Blinds
2,500,000 / 5,000,000
Ante
5,000,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
1,141
Players Left
76

Duta Takes One from Spee

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Florian Duta
Florian Duta

The pot stood at approximately 12,000 with three players looking at a board that read 287.

All three players checked to the 10 on the turn. Florian Duta in the big blind took the lead for 8,500, a player in early position folded and Arnold Spee in middle position called.

The 4 river checked to a showdown. Duta tabled 64 for just fourth pair. Seemingly out in front of Spee's hand, Duta claimed this pot.

Player Chips Progress
Arnold Spee us
Arnold Spee
192,000
108,000
108,000
Florian Duta ro
Florian Duta
64,000
64,000
64,000

Vijayaratnam Misses Straight Draw; Still Wins the Pot

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Senthuran Vijayaratnam
Senthuran Vijayaratnam

On the KJJ flop there was about 9,000 in the middle, and Senthuran Vijayaratnam check-called a bet of 2,000 from his opponent.

The 6 fell on the turn, and Vijayaratnam check-called once again, this time the opponent bet 4,000.

When the 10 completed the board, both players checked. Vijayaratnam tabled Q10, missing his open-ended straight draw but rivering a ten. His opponent mucked his hand, and the dealer pushed the pot to Vijayaratnam.

Player Chips Progress
Senthuran Vijayaratnam ca
Senthuran Vijayaratnam
252,300
1,300
1,300

Tags: Senthuran Vijayaratnam

Cold Deck for Yaginuma, Lin Wins Big

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Jesse Yaginuma
Jesse Yaginuma

The player under the gun raised to 3,600, finding three callers; Ross Denny in middle position, Jesse Yaginuma in the hijack and Hung Sheng Lin defending in the big blind.

On a flop of Q59, the action checked to Yaginuma, who bet out for 6,000. Only Lin and Denny continued.

The J turn checked through to the 2 on the river. Lin took the lead for 12,000, Denny folded and Yaginuma moved all in for 43,000.

Lin remained in the tank for some time before reluctantly making the call.

Jesse Yaginuma: 76
Hung Sheng Lin: K10

Flush over flush sent Yaginuma to the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Hung Sheng Lin
Hung Sheng Lin
217,000
169,000
169,000
Ross Denny us
Ross Denny
131,500
1,700
1,700
Jesse Yaginuma us
Jesse Yaginuma
Busted

Tags: Hung Sheng LinJesse YaginumaRoss Denny

Baby Shark Eliminated Rest of Table Mad

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Christina Gollins
Christina Gollins

According to the players at the table Christina Gollins aka "Baby Shark", just sat down and was under the gun when she raised to 2,500 and the small blind called and Justin Fawcett called from the big blind. The flop came down KQ3x, the two blinds checked and Gollins bet out 5,500 and only Fawcett made the call.

The turn brought the 9x and Fawcett checked and Gollins bet 14,000. Fawcett queried, "You are betting that amount so that it all gets in on the river?" Fawcett then made the call.

Fawcett checked the river 6x and Gollins obliged and went all in for 26,800. Then Fawcett closed his eyes and stated, "I can always buy in tomorrow", and made the call for most of his stack.

Christina Gollins: AJ for the missed royal flush.
Justin Fawcett: Kx8x with the pair of kings.

The rest of the table was upset at Fawcett as they wanted to play with Baby Shark.

Player Chips Progress
Justin Fawcett us
Justin Fawcett
108,800
-3,000
-3,000
Christina Gollins us
Christina Gollins
Busted

Tags: Christina GollinsJustin Fawcett

McEwen Lets It Go on the River

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Preston McEwen
Preston McEwen

Preston McEwen opened for 2,500 under the gun and Hung Sheng Lin called in the hijack before the big blind defended.

The dealer spread a flop of Q55, and the big blind check-folded to a continuation bet of 3,000 from McEwen, but Lin made the call.

The Q double-paired the board, and McEwen slowed down with a check before Lin fired a bet of 5,500. McEwen called.

The A completed the board on the river, and McEwen checked once again before Lin pushed his whole stack of 21,700 across the line. McEwen tanked for about 45 seconds before pitching his cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Preston McEwen us
Preston McEwen
131,000
33,200
33,200
Hung Sheng Lin
Hung Sheng Lin
48,000
48,000
48,000

Tags: Hung Sheng LinPreston McEwen

Rose Piles on the Pressure

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Shane Rose
Shane Rose

Fresh from his tenth place finish in Event #81: $600 Ultra Stack yesterday, Shane Rose has entered the field.

The player in middle position opened to 1,600, the hijack called, as did the button. Rose three-bet out of the small blind to 8,400. Only the hijack continued.

Rose continued for 10,000 on a flop of 842. The hijack called.

The 8 turned and Rose fired another bet of 20,000. After some time in the tank, his opponent elected to fold.

Player Chips Progress
Shane Rose us
Shane Rose
160,000
160,000
160,000

Tags: Shane Rose

Norris Gets Maximum Value

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Steven Norris
Steven Norris

The under-the-gun player raised to 1,200, and the player to their left called, as did Steven Norris on the button. The big blind three-bet to 3,700 and all remaining players called.

The action checked to Norris on a flop of A59, who bet out 6,600. Only the big blind continued.

The 7 on the turn saw the big blind check-call another bet of 12,600 from Norris.

The 3 on the river saw a repeat of the action, this time Norris betting out 15,300.

Steven Norris: A6
Big Blind: JJ

Norris scooped a big pot much to his opponent's frustration.

Player Chips Progress
Steven Norris us
Steven Norris
189,000
189,000
189,000

Tags: Steven Norris

Three Players See a Flop in a Four-Bet Pot

Level 3 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Charles Lineberry
Charles Lineberry

The under-the-gun player limped in, the hijack raised to 1,200, Charles Lineberry in the cutoff called and the button three-bet to 4,000. The small blind cold-called the raise, under the gun got out of the way, and the hijack four-bet to 14,000.

Action back on Lineberry, he called, the button folded and the small blind called.

Three-ways to a flop of 33J. The action checked to the hijack who bet out for 12,000. Lineberry shoved all in for 34,500 and the small blind came over the top for their last 35,100. The hijack folded.

Charles Lineberry: KK
Small Blind: AJ

The turn and river came the 9 and the 9 respectively and Lineberry secured a massive pot.

Player Chips Progress
Charles Lineberry us
Charles Lineberry
119,000
119,000
119,000

Tags: Charles Lineberry

Gargiulo on a Heater

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Joey Gargiulo
Joey Gargiulo

The pot stood at 4,300 with two players looking at a full board reading 853A4.

The big blind checked the action to Joey Gargiulo in the cutoff who bet out for 5,000. The big blind was deep in the tank before finally folding, flashing the 7 as they did so. Gargiulo showed 52 for a straight he'd turned into a bluff, folding out the better hand.

The very next hand Gargiulo raised from the hijack to 600, the player in the cutoff three-bet to 1,800 and Gargiulo called.

The flop came Q28 and Gargiulo checked then called a bet of 1,600 from his opponent.

The 10 turn saw a repeat of the action, this time the cutoff sizing up to 3,200.

The river fell the 3 and the hand checked to a showdown. Gargiulo tabled 98 for a pair of eights, which was good enough to win a second pot in a row.

Player Chips Progress
Joey Gargiulo us
Joey Gargiulo
46,000
46,000
46,000

Tags: Joey Gargiulo

Seif off to a Good Start

Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Mark Seif
Mark Seif

Mark Seif was in the cutoff and raised to 300 and was called by the big and small blinds. The flop came out 9310 and the blinds checked and Seif led out with a continuation bet of 800. The small blind folded and the big blind called.

The turn brought the 3 and Seif continued with 1,100 and received a call.

On the river Q both players elected to check and the big blind turned over J4 for the missed flush draw and Seif turned over 710 for two pair.

Player Chips Progress
Mark Seif us
Mark Seif
54,000
54,000
54,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Mark Seif