Event #88: $1,500 The Closer Day 1a | 2023 World Series of Poker

07-14-2023 08:53 UTC-7

Who Will Capture One of the Remaining Gold Bracelets in Event #88: $1,500 The Closer?

Roxanne Johnson

With the end of the 2023 World Series of Poker coming into view, it is appropriate that today the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas will be hosting Event #88: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold'em. Last year New Jersey’s Minh Nguyen was the winner of one of the last bracelets of the summer.

The 2022 event drew 2,039 entries and generated a prize pool of $962,280. Nguyen outlasted 17 returning players on the tournament’s final day to defeat Ahmed Karrim in heads-up play to win $536,280 and his first WSOP gold bracelet.

2022 $1,500 The Closer Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Minh Nguyen	United States	$536,280
2	Ahmed Karrim	South Africa	$331,470
3	Michael Liang	United States	$247,890
4	Madelyn Carr	United States	$186,770
5	Manuel Herrera Garcia	United States	$141,770
6	Daniel Tabello	United States	$108,420
7	Samuel Brown	United States	$83,540
8	Rudy Cervantes	United States	$64,870
9	Zach Johnson	United States	$59,759
10	Vincent Lam	Canada	$40,020

Today at 10 a.m. local time Day 1a, the first of two starting flights, will commence and Day 1b will be played tomorrow, Saturday, July 15th, at the same time. The survivors of both starting flights will return for the final day on Sunday, July 16th, and will play until a winner is crowned. Both Day 1's will play 22 levels. Players will sit down with 50,000 in chips in their starting stacks and blinds will start at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. Levels will last 30 minutes each, with a 20-minute break scheduled after every fourth level.

There will be a 75-minute dinner break after Level 16, expected to be around 7 p.m. local time. Players can rebuy once per starting flight, with late registration closing at the end of Level 12, approximately 5:00 p.m. local time.

Be sure to keep it here as PokerNews will be on hand to provide live updates from the floor of all of the remaining 2023 WSOP bracelet tournaments.

Tags: Ahmed Karrim Daniel Tabello Madelyn Carr Manuel Herrera Garcia Michael Liang Minh Nguyen Rudy Cervantes Samuel Brown Zach Johnson

07-14-2023 10:33 UTC-7

Seif off to a Good Start

Roxanne Johnson

Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante

Mark Seif was in the cutoff and raised to 300 and was called by the big and small blinds. The flop came out 9♥3♣10♣ 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 J♣4♣ for the missed flush draw and Seif turned over 7♥10♦ for two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Seif	54,000 54,000	54,000

Tags: Mark Seif

07-14-2023 11:02 UTC-7

Gargiulo on a Heater

Ollie Garland

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

The pot stood at 4,300 with two players looking at a full board reading 8♣5♣3♣A♣4♥.

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 5♥2♦ 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 Q♣2♥8♦ 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 9♦8♠ for a pair of eights, which was good enough to win a second pot in a row.

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

Tags: Joey Gargiulo

07-14-2023 11:30 UTC-7

Three Players See a Flop in a Four-Bet Pot

Ollie Garland

Level 3 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

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 3♠3♥J♣. 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: K♥K♦
Small Blind: A♥J♥

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

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

Tags: Charles Lineberry

07-14-2023 13:11 UTC-7

Norris Gets Maximum Value

Ollie Garland

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

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 A♠5♥9♦, 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: A♣6♣
Big Blind: J♣J♥

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

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

Tags: Steven Norris

07-14-2023 13:46 UTC-7

Rose Piles on the Pressure

Ollie Garland

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

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 8♥4♣2♥. 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	160,000 160,000	160,000

Tags: Shane Rose

07-14-2023 15:13 UTC-7

McEwen Lets It Go on the River

Tyler Foran

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

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 Q♣5♠5♥, 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	131,000 33,200	33,200
Hung Sheng Lin	48,000 48,000	48,000

Tags: Hung Sheng Lin Preston McEwen

07-14-2023 15:15 UTC-7

Baby Shark Eliminated Rest of Table Mad

Roxanne Johnson

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

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 K♠Q♠3x, 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: A♠J♠ 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	108,800 -3,000	-3,000
Christina Gollins	Busted

Tags: Christina Gollins Justin Fawcett

07-14-2023 15:31 UTC-7

Cold Deck for Yaginuma, Lin Wins Big

Ollie Garland

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

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 Q♠5♠9♦, 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: 7♠6♠
Hung Sheng Lin: K♠10♠

Flush over flush sent Yaginuma to the rail.

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

Tags: Hung Sheng Lin Jesse Yaginuma Ross Denny

07-14-2023 15:34 UTC-7

Vijayaratnam Misses Straight Draw; Still Wins the Pot

Tyler Foran

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

On the K♦J♥J♣ 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 Q♥10♠, 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	252,300 1,300	1,300

Tags: Senthuran Vijayaratnam