$3,500 Main Event | 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship

06-13-2023 17:17 UTC-7

Taffe Putting the Pressure On

Calum Grant

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

As play resumed, Leo Taffe has been piling on the pressure by moving all in preflop as the big stack on several occasions.

Neither of his opponents have been willing to call off their stacks and Taffe's lead continues to extend.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	27,400,000 1,250,000	1,250,000

Mike Vanier	5,400,000 -755,000	-755,000
Stephen Song	4,450,000

Mo Zhou	3,550,000 -500,000	-500,000

Tags: Leo Taffe

06-13-2023 17:13 UTC-7

Play Resumes

Calum Grant

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Action has restarted with four players remaining.

Level: 31

Blinds: 125,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000

06-13-2023 16:44 UTC-7

Song Jams Preflop; Break Begins

Calum Grant

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Mo Zhou opened to 425,000 first to act with A♣9♣. Steohen Song then jammed for 3,525,000 from the button with pocket sixes. Nobody called.

The players have now been sent on a 20-minute break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	26,150,000 -300,000	-300,000

Mike Vanier	6,155,000 455,000	455,000
Stephen Song	4,450,000 -125,000	-125,000

Mo Zhou	4,050,000 -25,000	-25,000

06-13-2023 16:40 UTC-7

Vanier Flops Trips to Double

Kirk Brown

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Mo Zhou opened to 425,000 from the cutoff with pocket bines and Mike Vanier moved all in behind with A♦10♠ .

The other players quickly got out of the way and the cards were then tabled with Vanier at risk.

The flop came out 10♦10♣J♥ to give Vanier a big lead with trip tens.

The 8♠ on the turn gave Zhou some more outs as any seve or queen would now give him a straight.

Fortunately for Vanier, the K♠ on the river was safe for him and he survived the encounter to receive a big double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	26,450,000 -100,000	-100,000

Mike Vanier	5,700,000 2,800,000	2,800,000
Stephen Song	4,575,000

Mo Zhou	4,075,000 -2,700,000	-2,700,000

Tags: Mike Vanier Mo Zhou

06-13-2023 16:32 UTC-7

Sundiata DeVore Eliminated in 5th Place ($142,655)

Calum Grant

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Sundiata DeVore jammed for 3,625,000 from the small blind and was snap-called by Leo Taffe from the big blind.

Sundiata DeVore: 2♠2♣
Leo Taffe: A♠A♣

Taffe woke up with aces again and they held out for a second time following the Q♣7♥5♥3♣A♥ runout.

.@SundiataDeVore was eliminated in fifth place, earning $142,655. Earlier this year, DeVore had a remarkable run at… https://t.co/hE6Fl7Mebw
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	26,550,000 2,975,000	2,975,000

Mo Zhou	6,775,000 -525,000	-525,000
Stephen Song	4,575,000 650,000	650,000

Mike Vanier	2,900,000
Sundiata DeVore	Busted

Tags: Sundiata DeVore

06-13-2023 16:28 UTC-7

Zhou Gets a Bluff Through

Calum Grant

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Sundiata DeVore opened to 400,000 from the cutoff with the A♦J♥. Leo Taffe folded 3♥3♦ from the small blind before Mo Zhou defended his big blind with Q♦10♣.

Action checked through on the K♣9♠8♣ flop to the 3♠ turn. Zhou led out for 600,000, and DeVore laid it down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	23,575,000 100,000	100,000

Mo Zhou	7,300,000 400,000	400,000
Stephen Song	3,925,000 -500,000	-500,000

Sundiata DeVore	3,100,000 -400,000	-400,000
Mike Vanier	2,900,000 300,000	300,000

Tags: Leo Taffe Mo Zhou Sundiata DeVore

06-13-2023 16:20 UTC-7

Huge Hand for Zhou

Kirk Brown

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Leo Taffe opened to 400,000 from the button with J♠2♣ and Mo Zhoe defended from the small blind with A♦6♦.

Action checked through the flop of J♦A♠6♣ but then Zhou decided to fire 350,000 on the 9♦ turn with his two-pair and flush draw.

Taffe made the call and the two went to the river 7♣ where Zhou fired again for 1,100,000 and Taffe made the correct laydown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	23,475,000 200,000	200,000

Mo Zhou	6,900,000 850,000	850,000
Stephen Song	4,425,000 -450,000	-450,000

Sundiata DeVore	3,500,000 -100,000	-100,000
Mike Vanier	2,600,000 -400,000	-400,000

Tags: Leo Taffe Mo Zhoe

06-13-2023 16:15 UTC-7

DeVore Doubles with Eights

Calum Grant

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Leo Taffe moved all in first to act, covering everyone else at the table. Action folded to Sundiata DeVore in the big blind, who called off his 1,650,000 stack.

Sundiata DeVore: 8♦8♣
Leo Taffe: Q♦J♦

It was a flip, and DeVore still had the best of it following the 7♠4♥3♥ flop and A♠ turn. The 2♠ completed the board and DeVore doubled.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	23,275,000 -1,650,000	-1,650,000

Mo Zhou	6,050,000
Stephen Song	4,875,000 -100,000	-100,000

Sundiata DeVore	3,600,000 1,750,000	1,750,000
Mike Vanier	3,000,000

Tags: Leo Taffe Sundiata DeVore

06-13-2023 16:12 UTC-7

Zhou Doubles Through Vanier

Kirk Brown

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Leo Taffe opened to 400,000 with 3♠2♠ and Mike Vanier made the call on the button with A♦J♣.

Mo Zhou then moved all in for 2,625,000 from the small blind with A♠Q♣ and Vanier went into the tank before flicking in a chip to put Zhou at risk.

The board ran out 2♦4♦K♦2♦3♣ to give Zhou the win with his superior ace-high for the double-up.

Sweat on the river for Mo Zhou as he doubles up
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	24,925,000 100,000	100,000

Mo Zhou	6,050,000 3,025,000	3,025,000
Stephen Song	4,975,000 -400,000	-400,000

Mike Vanier	3,000,000 -2,725,000	-2,725,000
Sundiata DeVore	1,850,000

Tags: Leo Taffe Mike Vanier Mo Zhou