$3,500 Main Event Day 1b | 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship

06-10-2023 13:00 UTC-7

Long Wins at Showdown, Without Showing

Kirk Brown

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

The button made it 600 to go preflop and Jacob Long defended from the small blind and the big blind came along as well.

The flop came 5♣A♠K♣ and the blinds checked to the button who continued for 500. Long and the big blind both called and the trio went to the turn 10♣ where the action checked around.

On the river 3♣, it checked back to the button who then announced a bet of 1,600 which Long called while the big blind got out of the way.

The button player then mucked his cards to award Long the pot without having to show, although he did admit to having an ace.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jacob Long	57,000

06-10-2023 13:05 UTC-7

Can Qualifier Felson Go the Distance?

Calum Grant

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

At the 2022 BetMGM Poker Championship, Benji Felson was the last qualifier standing and had a deep run to the final table.

Felson eventually bowed out in fifth place for $51,587, which is quite the return when it took him just $500 to win his seat.

He qualified again for this year, but he noted that it might've been easier to just have bought in directly this time around.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benji Felson	40,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Benji Felson

Level: 2

Blinds: 200/300

Ante: 300

06-10-2023 13:11 UTC-7

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Stepuchin	40,000 40,000	40,000

James Romero	40,000 40,000	40,000

Cliff Josephy	40,000

Julien Sitbon	40,000

Shen Bombs River

Kirk Brown

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

After a raise to 2,200 preflop, Frank Stepuchin, Zejin Shen and one other player went to a fop of 5♥Q♥Q♠.

Action checked to Stepuchin on the button who then made it 2,000 to go and only Shen made the call.

The turn came the 5♠ to double-pair the board and both players decided to check to the river 5♦, which put a full house on the board.

Shen then fired for 15,000 and Stepuchin went into the tank for a few moments before deciding to toss in his cards to award the pot to Shen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zejin Shen	42,000
Frank Stepuchin	31,000 -9,000	-9,000

Tags: Frank Stepuchin Zejin Shen

06-10-2023 13:36 UTC-7

Misclick for Brannan Pays Off

Calum Grant

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Frank Brannan, with a fresh starting stack, opened to 5,200 from early position, and the cutoff moved all in for 40,700. Action folded back to Brannan, who found himself in quite the spot.

He commented that he had made a misclick and added, "This is so sick. I have a hand."

After about a minute, Brannan called, and the cards were exposed.

Frank Brannan: 9♣9♠
Cutoff: A♣K♠

Brannan was ahead preflop but the cutoff spiked an ace on the A♣6♦4♦ flop to move in front. The cutoff's lead was shortlived as the 9♦ turn improved the Brannan to a set of nines, the J♠ completed the board, and Brannan doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Brannan	80,000 80,000	80,000

Tags: Frank Branman

06-10-2023 13:44 UTC-7

Botez Finds Redemption with Role Reversal

Kirk Brown

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Alexandra Botez had made it 5,000 to go preflop when the player to her left raised her to 10,900. Botez then decided this was not quite enough and she quickly moved all in for around 35,000. Her opponent quickly made the call for less, putting himself at risk, and the cards were tabled.

Opponent: A♣K♥
Alexandra Botez: A♥A♦

Botez, who had busted her first bullet on the opposing side of this same situation, now found herself with upper hand and the 6♥3♦8♣2♣8♦ runout secured her victory in the big pot.

My luck turned around!! This time I got the pocket aces # - @alexandrabotez https://t.co/5b7A8jlPvb
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandra Botez	77,000 43,000	43,000

Tags: Alexandra Botez

06-10-2023 13:52 UTC-7

Qualifier Felson Loses a Small One; Still Having a Good Start

Calum Grant

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

BetMGM Poker qualifier Benji Felson opened to 700 from the cutoff and was called by the big blind.

The flop and turn checked through to the river for the board to read K♦9♠7♦5♠J♠. The big blind bet 1,000 and Felson folded.

Despite losing the small pot, Felson is on the up and has a stack of 62,000. He's sharing the table with James Romero, who is also above starting stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benji Felson	62,000 22,000	22,000

James Romero	54,500 14,500	14,500

Tags: Benji Felson James Romero

06-10-2023 13:54 UTC-7

Last Chance to Qualify for Day 2 of BetMGM Poker Championship

Calum Grant

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Day 1B has officially started @ARIAPoker #BetMGMPokerChamp
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

06-10-2023 14:04 UTC-7

Black Kings Good for Torre

Kirk Brown

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Giovani Torre had made it 2,500 preflop when he was three-bet by Eric Seneg to 6,000. Torre made the call and the two went to the flop 9♦5♦7♦ which saw a check from Torre and a continuation from Seneg for 5,000.

Torre made the call again to see the 2♣ appear on the turn and both players decided to check to the J♠ river.

The action went check-check again and Seneg turned over A♦K♥ for a missed flush draw to leave him with ace-high while Torre flipped over K♣K♠ for a pair of kings to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giovani Torre	54,000
Eric Seneg	23,000 23,000	23,000

Tags: Eric Seneg Giovanni Torre