$3,500 Main Event | 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship

06-13-2023 17:54 UTC-7

Taffe Does it Again

Kirk Brown

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

Mike Vanier limped in with 5♣6♣ from the button and surprisingly, Leo Taffe checked his option with K♥10♣.

On the flop 8♦3♥3♦, Taffe led out for 250,000 and Vanier made the call to see the 5♦ on the turn.

Taffe continued for 950,000 and Vanier made the call and the duo went to the river 9♥.

Taffe then fired again for 2,400,000 and Vanier went into the tank before deciding to lay down the best hand and Taffe was shipped the pot.

Vanier laying down a big hand for Taffe to get another one through
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	31,150,000 2,700,000	2,700,000

Mo Zhou	6,350,000 975,000	975,000
Mike Vanier	3,300,000 -3,675,000	-3,675,000

Tags: Leo Taffe Mike Vanier

06-13-2023 17:44 UTC-7

Stephen Song Eliminated in 4th Place ($188,193)

Calum Grant

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

Stephen Song moved all in for 3,200,000 from the button, before Leo Taffe reshoved from the small blind.

Stephen Song: A♠2♥
Leo Taffe: Q♥Q♦

"Queens!" cried Song as the cards were tabled. It was the third situation where a player had moved all in on Taffe while he had a premium hand.

Song, an all-in specialist, still had some hope with his one overcard. The J♠9♣6♣ flop kept Taffe ahead, as did the 8♥ turn. The 10♦ river improved Taffe to a straight, and Song's pursuit of his tenth live tournament win was over.

Stephen Song (@songstephen11) is eliminated in 4th place from the @BetMGMPoker Championship.
— PokerGO (@PokerGO)

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	28,450,000 3,325,000	3,325,000

Mike Vanier	6,975,000 475,000	475,000
Mo Zhou	5,375,000 -475,000	-475,000
Stephen Song	Busted

06-13-2023 17:34 UTC-7

Zhou Flops Nuts to Double

Kirk Brown

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

Leo Taffe open-shoved with A♠6♣ under-the-gun and Mo Zhou wasted no time to make the call from the small blind with A♥8♥.

The cards were then tabled, with Zhou at risk of elimination.

Zhou was already ahead going into this battle, and the flop of K♥10♥9♥ immediately gave him the win with the nut flush.

The meaningless 5♣2♦ completed the board and secured Zou's victory for the double-up.

Another double up for Mo Zhou as he flops the nuts
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	25,125,000 -2,675,000	-2,675,000

Mike Vanier	6,500,000
Mo Zhou	5,850,000 3,175,000	3,175,000
Stephen Song	3,325,000 -500,000	-500,000

Tags: Leo Taffe 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 16:12 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

06-13-2023 15:28 UTC-7

Taffe Puts DeVore to the Test

Kirk Brown

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Leo Taffe opened to 300,000 under-the-gun with K♠K♦ and Mike Vanier made the call to his left with 6♠6♣. The action folded around to Sundiata DeVore who woke up with J♥J♣ and puts in a three-bet to 1,100,000.

Taffe then clicked it back to 1,900,000 and DeVore went into the tank before making the call and the two players went to a flop of 10♠9♣4♣.

DeVore checked over to Taffe who then continued for 700,000 and DeVore made the call.

The turn came out the 4♠ and DeVore checked again to Taffe who then moved all in to cover.

DeVore burned through all of his time banks before he finally decided to make the correct fold, awarding the huge pot to the chip leader.

The @BetMGMPoker Championship final table kicked off with fireworks between chip leader Leo Taffe and… https://t.co/c2BY9TIGV2
— PokerGO (@PokerGO)

Player	Chips	Progress
Leo Taffe	18,750,000 3,125,000	3,125,000

Mike Vanier	8,250,000 -300,000	-300,000
Mo Zhou	4,100,000
Sundiata DeVore	3,000,000 -2,750,000	-2,750,000
Stephen Song	2,725,000

Kevin Berthelsen	2,075,000
Johann Ibanez	1,975,000

Tags: Leo Taffe Mike Vanier Sundiata DeVore

06-13-2023 14:45 UTC-7

Can Anyone Catch Taffe?

Calum Grant

Leo Taffe is the chip leader with a massive stack!
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

06-13-2023 14:24 UTC-7

Take Look Behind the Scenes

Calum Grant

Players are arriving at @PokerGO studios for a quick interview with @jeffplatt before having a seat. GL to all the… https://t.co/3KUBK4CTxG
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)