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

07-15-2023 18:42 UTC-7

Player	Chips	Progress
Julien Loire	430,000

Lamers Flops a Set to Double

Tyler Foran

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

The cutoff opened 11,500 and Adam Lamers shoved 21,500 in the big blind. The cutoff snap-called.

Adam Lamers: 10♣10♠
Cutoff: A♦K♦

It was a flip until the A♥10♥6♠ flop hit the felt, giving Lamers a set. The 7♦ fell on the turn and when the A♠ hit the river, the cutoff had thought he won the hand. However, Lamers dragged his double up with a full house.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adam Lamers	46,000

Tags: Adam Lamers

07-15-2023 18:06 UTC-7

Ace on the River for Ahuja to Send Two Out

Tyler Foran

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

All of the chips went in the middle before the flop, with the hijack at risk for 13,500 and the big blind at risk for 110,000. Ankit Ahuja was on the button and was looking for the double knockout.

Hijack: K♥J♦
Big Blind: 10♠10♣
Ankit Ahuja: A♥K♣

The board ran out J♠6♣2♣5♣A♠, for Ahuja to river an ace and eliminate both players.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ankit Ahuja	252,000 252,000	252,000

Tags: Ankit Ahuja

07-15-2023 17:51 UTC-7

Ivey's $1,500 Closer Event Short-Lived

Tyler Foran

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Phil Ivey registered during the break, shortly before it closed. It didn't take long for him to get involved in the action, raising in early position. Only Guillermo Vargas came along in the big blind.

The flop came 9♠4♣2♥, and Vargas check-raised the continuation bet of 4,000 to 8,000. Ivey called.

The 7♥ hit the turn, and Vargas fired 10,000. Ivey called once again.

When the 6♣ completed the board, Vargas moved all in. Ivey had about 26,000 remaining and called it off. Vargas tabled 4♠4♥ for a set of fours, and Ivey whipped is hand into the muck as he was eliminated from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Guillermo Vargas	290,000
Phil Ivey	Busted

Tags: Phil Ivey Guillermo Vargas

07-15-2023 17:46 UTC-7

The Clozer Doubles in the Closer

Chad Holloway

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Jason Kapoor, who plays online as "Clozer," max late regged the tournament and immediately got to work.

He jammed for 33,500 and action folded to the player in the big blind, who couldn't call fast enough.

Jason Kapoor: J♣J♦
Opponent: A♠A♣

Kapoor was in dire straits but a jack in the window on the J♥2♥3♣ flop was music to his ears.

Neither the 7♣ turn nor Q♦ river changed a thing and "Clozer" shipped a double in the Closer!

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Kapoor	71,000 71,000	71,000

Tags: Jason Kapoor

07-15-2023 17:31 UTC-7

Top Set Earns a Double for Burlacu

Tyler Foran

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Robert Burlacu opened 6,000 in middle position, and he was called by both the cutoff and the big blind.

The dealer spread a flop of J♠6♦5♦, and the action checked to the cutoff who fired a bet of 5,000. The big blind check-raised 16,000, and both Burlacu and the cutoff called.

When the 7♣ hit the turn, the big blind continued for 36,000. Burlacu called off his stack of 29,000, while the cutoff surrendered the pot.

Robert Burlacu: J♦J♥
Big blind: 7♦3♥

Burlacu flopped top set and was able to fade the straight draw of his opponent as the board completed with the 3♥ on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Burlacu	121,500 121,500	121,500

Tags: Robert Burlacu

07-15-2023 16:25 UTC-7

Matakis In The Mix

Andrew Knowles

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Having just come off a third place finish in Event #82: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $205,969, Ian Matakis joined the action with an open to 5,000 from the cutoff. The big blind made the call and the flop fanned out K♦9♥3♠.

The big blind checked to Matakis who continued for 3,500, and took down the pot when his opponent tossed their cards into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ian Matakis	57,000

Tags: Ian Matakis

07-15-2023 16:10 UTC-7

Will A Different Nguyen Win the Closer?

Roxanne Johnson

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

PokerNews went over to talk to Men "The Master" Nguyen to see if he knew if Minh Nguyen, the winner from last year was entered in the tournament this year. Men Nguyen stated that he actually does not know Minh Nguyen that won last year and that one of his students had the same name but was a different person.

As PokerNews was at the table this hand was witnessed with a different Nguyen in it ironically.

Hai Nguyen raised from the the hijack position to 6,000 and the player in the cutoff three-bet all in for 23,100 and everyone else folded and Nguyen made the call.

Cutoff player: A♦10♣
Hai Nguyen: A♦5♣

The board came K♥5♠9♣8♦9♠ and a completely different Nguyen won the pot with two pair achieved the knockout.

Hai Nguyen said, "So I am sitting next to Men "The Master" Nguyen?"

Men "The Master" Nguyen said, "One third of the country has the name Nguyen", which triggered a laugh.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hai Nguyen	211,000 211,000	211,000
Men Nguyen	33,000 33,000	33,000

Tags: Hai Nguyen Men Nguyen

07-15-2023 15:55 UTC-7

Stepuchin Attempts to Engage in Coversation

Tyler Foran

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

With a pot brewed of 19,500 on the turn of A♥5♦3♥9♦, Andy Su bet 5,500. Frank Stepuchin went into the tank, deciding what to do.

"First time all day you haven't said a word," Said Stepuchin.

After about 30 seconds, Stepuchin raised to 12,300, and Su made the call.

When the J♣ hit the river, Su instantly checked, and Stepuchin took his time once again as he started talking aloud.

"What do you do if I shove?" He asked, "Look at me when you're talking to me."

Su stayed silent and still as Stepuchin continued, "27 more seconds," and proceeded to count himself down. "Look at me, come on."

Eventually, Stepuchin announced that he gave up, and checked behind. Su instantly tabled A♠10♠ for a pair of aces and Stepuchin mucked his hand.

"Now we can talk about it," said Su as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Su	101,000
Frank Stepuchin	59,800

Tags: Andy Su Frank Stepuchin

07-15-2023 14:20 UTC-7

Lane Stays in the Straight Lane

Roxanne Johnson

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Ronald Lane raised from under the gun to 2,000 and the player in early position three-bet to 6,500 and Lane made the call. The flop came 7♣8♣3♥ and Lane checked and the early position player moved all in for 13,000. Lane made the call with the up and down straight draw and we were off to the turn.

Early position player: K♠K♦
Ronald Lane: 10♦9♦

The turn brought the card that Lane was looking for, the 6♥ and the river 10♣ was redundant after Lane made the straight and knocked out a player.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ronald Lane	60,000

Tags: Ronald Lane