$3,500 Main Event Day 3 | 2022 BetMGM Poker Championship

06-25-2022 19:31 UTC-7

Joey Weissman Leads Final Six in BetMGM Poker Championship Main Event

Connor Richards

Level 24 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Day 3 has wrapped in the 2022 BetMGM Poker Championship $3,500 Main Event in the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort and Casino with six players remaining after seven hours of play. Joey Weissman leads the way with a stack of 5,185,000 after eliminating Zachary Donovan to end the day.

Close on the tail of Weissman, a World Series of Poker bracelet winner who is looking to add to his $4.1 million in career earnings, is fellow bracelet winner Michael Wang, who bagged second in chips with a stack of 4,210,000. Wang doubled through another bracelet winner, Paul Hoefer, late in the day to leave Hoefer playing the short stack with 600,000.

Other players to survive the day include Noel Rodriguez (3,850,000), Joe Kuether (2,020,000) and BetMGM Poker qualifier Benji Felson (1,405,000).

BetMGM Poker Championship Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

SEAT	PLAYER	CHIP COUNT
1	Michael Wang	4,210,000
2	Paul Hoefer	600,000
3	Joe Kuether	2,020,000
4	Joey Weissman	5,185,000
5	Noel Rodriguez	3,850,000
6	Benji Felson	1,405,000

Day 3 of the BetMGM Poker Championship Main Event began with 26 players and quickly dwindled down to two tables within the first two hours. Some of the players to make early exits include Ankush Mandavia (25th - $8,781), Gediminas Uselis (23rd - $10,208) and Michael Gathy (22nd - $10,208).

Isaac Kempton had over a million in chips with two tables left but was sent out in 18th place when he ran a big river bluff with six-high and was looked up by the second pair of Weissman in a hand that accelerated Weissman's chip lead.

Albert Nguyen was the first to go at the nine-handed final table when he ran his pocket nines into the pocket aces of Felson and couldn't improve. Next out was Todd Ivens, who fell in eighth when his pocket eights couldn't hold against the ace-queen of Kuether.

Day 4 action will pick up at 3 p.m. PST in the PokerGO Studio. The six-handed final table will be streamed beginning at 4 p.m. and PokerNews will report on alongside the stream as to avoid any spoilers. The day will play down to a winner, who will take home the top prize of $224,236 in addition to the glamorous golden trophy.

PokerNews will be back tomorrow for continued coverage of the inaugural BetMGM Poker Championship Main Event.

06-25-2022 18:57 UTC-7

Zachary Donovan Eliminated in 7th Place ($34,026)

Connor Richards

Level 24 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Zachary Donovan raised to 400,000 from the button with just a few chips behind. Joey Weissman three-bet shoved from the big blind and Donovan called it off.

Zachary Donovan:
Joey Weissman:

"F*** off!" Donovan cried when he saw he was dominated. "What can't you have ace-ten?"

The flop of all but sealed it for Weissman as he paired his ace and the board finished out to confirm Donovan's elimination in seventh place.

Day 3 has ended and the remaining six players will return tomorrow at noon PST to finish out the final table. Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Weissman	5,185,000	585,000
Zachary Donovan	Busted

06-25-2022 18:51 UTC-7

Wang Gets Huge Double from Hoefer

Calum Grant

Level 24 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Michael Wang opened to 150,000 from the small blind before Paul Hoefer jammed for just under 2,700,000 from the big blind. Wang snap-called.

Michael Wang:
Paul Hoefer:

Wang was in a strong position to become one of the chip leading stacks as well as leaving a formidable opponent on life support.

The queens held out and Wang raked in a pile of chips after the runout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Wang	4,160,000	2,160,000
Paul Hoefer	500,000	-2,300,000

06-25-2022 18:20 UTC-7

Todd Ivens Eliminated in 8th Place ($28,538)

Calum Grant

Level 24 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Todd Ivens put in his last 475,000 chips from middle position and was called by Joe Kuether in the hijack.

Todd Ivens:
Joe Kuether:

Ivens' pair of eights remained best on the flop and turn. However, the hit the river to give Kuether the best hand.

Ivens exited the event in eighth-place. Day 3 will come to a close when one more player is eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Kuether	3,150,000	850,000
Todd Ivens	Busted

06-25-2022 17:53 UTC-7

Felson Gets Aces Again

Calum Grant

Level 23 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Benji Felson opened to 80,000 from middle position before Zachary Donovan jammed from the big blind. Felson, with 775,000, called off for his tournament life.

"How do you have aces again?" asked Donovan, as he saw his opponent table his cards.

Benji Felson:
Zachary Donovan:

The aces were never threatened and Felson scooped after the runout.

Donovan then shipped in his stack in back-to-back hands, he received no action but was able to reclaim back some lost chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benji Felson	1,600,000	400,000
Zachary Donovan	815,000	-885,000

06-25-2022 17:15 UTC-7

Albert Nguyen Eliminated in 9th Place ($24,147)

Connor Richards

Level 23 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Benji Felson opened to 80,000 in middle position and Albert Nguyen three-bet jammed a stack of 360,000 from the cutoff. Felson called when the action folded back around.

Albert Nguyen:
Benji Felson:

Nguyen couldn't improve against the aces of Felson as the board ran out and he was eliminated in ninth place after starting the day with the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benji Felson	1,200,000	450,000
Albert Nguyen	Busted

06-25-2022 17:04 UTC-7

William McCracken Eliminated in 10th Place ($19,757)

Calum Grant

Level 23 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

William McCracken jammed for 900,000 from the button and was called by Noel Rodriguez from the big blind.

William McCracken:
Noel Rodriguez:

Rodriguez made a set on the flop and sent McCracken out on the unofficial final table bubble following the runout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Noel Rodriguez	3,100,000	1,000,000
William McCracken	Busted

06-25-2022 16:21 UTC-7

Ryan Shinevare Eliminated in 11th Place ($19,757)

Connor Richards

Level 22 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Ryan Shinevare open-shoved a stack of 370,000 from the hijack and Noel Rodriguez called out of the big blind.

Ryan Shinevare:
Noel Rodriguez:

The flop came to give Shinevare a massive lead with two pair, though the on the turn gave Rodriguez some hope. The peeled off on the river to give Rodriguez a better two pair as those at the table gasped in disbelief.

"Oh geez!" reacted Zachary Donovan as Shinevare hit the rail in 11th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Noel Rodriguez	2,100,000	400,000
Ryan Shinevare	Busted

06-25-2022 16:02 UTC-7

Steve Bayyouk Eliminated in 12th Place ($19,757)

Calum Grant

Level 22 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Action folded to Steve Bayyouk in the small blind and he jammed for 600,000. Zachary Donovan in the big blind quickly called.

BetMGM Poker qualifier Bayyouk grimaced when his oppponent put his chips into the middle. "I was only trying to steal," he said.

Steve Bayyouk:
Zachary Donovan:

Bayyouk was unable to connect and was ousted from the event after the runout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zachary Donovan	1,350,000	840,000
Steve Bayyouk	Busted

06-25-2022 15:51 UTC-7

Nick Sena-Hopkins Eliminated in 13th Place ($16,464)

Calum Grant

Level 22 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Just as Shankar Pillai bust, Nick Sena-Hopkins moved all in from the button for 265,000. Albert Nguyen called from the small blind.

Nick Sena-Hopkins:
Albert Nguyen:

The pair of sevens were still in front following the flop but Nguyen added flush outs to his overcards. The turn was a brick but the river gave Nguyen the flush to send out Sena-Hopkins in 13th Place

Player	Chips	Progress
Albert Nguyen	1,900,000	300,000
Nick Sena-Hopkins	Busted