$3,500 Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2023 BetMGM Poker Championship
$3,500 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2023 BetMGM Poker Championship
Buy-in
$3,500
Prize Pool
$3,283,200
Entries
1,026
Level
33
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
56
Players Left
7
Leo Taffe Bags Chip Lead Ahead of BetMGM Poker Championship Final Table
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
After nine and a half levels of play, Day 3 of the 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship has come to an end with Leo Taffe bagging the overwhelming chip lead going into the final day.
Joining him at the final table is Stephen Song, Mike Vanier, Sundiata DeVore, Kevin Berthelsen, Johann Ibanez and Mo Zhou, after they survived the fast and furious action that took place inside the PokerGO Studio.
Final Table Seat Draw and Chip Counts
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sundiata DeVore | United States | 5,750,000 | 38 |
| 2 | Leo Taffe | United States | 17,175,000 | 115 |
| 3 | Mike Vanier | United States | 4,800,000 | 32 |
| 4 | Kevin Berthelsen | United States | 2,450,000 | 16 |
| 5 | Johann Ibanez | Colombia | 2,350,000 | 16 |
| 6 | Mo Zhou | China | 4,175,000 | 28 |
| 7 | Stephen Song | United States | 4,100,000 | 27 |
Day 3 Recap
The day started with 56 players, and the field was quickly whittled down to the last three tables following the exit of notable players such as Martin Jacobson (54th - $11,229), Jeremy Ausmus (40th - $12,542) and Brian Hastings (36th - $14,512).
There were four BetMGM qualifiers who made it through to the penultimate day but neither replicated last year’s qualifier Benji Felson, who had a deep run to the final table before bowing out in fifth place.
The qualifier who went the furthest this time around was Danny DeJesus, who exited in 28th place for $14,512.
The final three tables rapidly became two as six players departed in a short space of time. Among those to exit at this stage was Mark Dickstein (24th - $19,469), Anuj Agarwal (23rd - $19,469) and Fabrice Bigot (18th - $28,334).
Following the elimination of Nadya Magnus ($44,323), the unofficial nine-handed final table was formed. First to leave was Ivan Galinec ($56,044), and then the day closed when Bradley Hinson’s ($75,054) stack was collected by DeVore.
The final seven players return to the PokerGo Studio tomorrow (Tuesday, June 13), with play set to begin at 2:00 p.m. local time. The conclusion of the tournament is being live-streamed and is available to watch on PokerGO. The broadcast will go live at 3:00 p.m., and the PokerNews live updates will be delayed not to spoil the stream.
Final Table Payouts
Play resumes on Level 29, with 37 minutes and 45 seconds still on the clock. The blinds are 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 big blind ante. The finalists have all locked up $94,523, but all eyes will be on the $560,442 that awaits the winner.
| Place | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $560,442 |
| 2 | $392,704 |
| 3 | $254,645 |
| 4 | $188,193 |
| 5 | $142,655 |
| 6 | $114,157 |
| 7 | $94,523 |
As always, keep it locked in with PokerNews to find out the conclusion of the Championship event.
End of Day 3 Chip Counts (full)
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
17,175,000
1,875,000
|
1,875,000 |
|
||
|
5,750,000
1,300,000
|
1,300,000 |
|
4,800,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
4,175,000
-325,000
|
-325,000 |
|
4,100,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
||
|
2,450,000
-375,000
|
-375,000 |
|
2,350,000
-350,000
|
-350,000 |
Bradley Hinson Eliminated in 8th Place ($75,054)
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Sundiata DeVore opened to 300,000 from early position and called when Bradley Hinson moved all in for 1,200,000 on his direct left.
Bradley Hinson: A♣J♣
Sundiata DeVore: A♥K♣
DeVore hit his king on the [K♦10♥4♥ flop but Hinson could still survive if he made Broadway or went runner-runner. The 3♠ turn changed nothing and the 2♥ river confirmed his exit.
Day 3 has now closed, with the players bagging and tagging their stacks.
Chip counts and today's recap to follow shortly.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Ivan Galinec Eliminated in 9th Place ($56,044)
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Short-stacked Ivan Galinec got all 1,375,000 of his chips into the middle preflop against chip leader Leo Taffe to put himself at risk.
Ivan Galinec: 10♣10♦
Leo Taffe: J♠J♦
Ivan Galinec was in rough shape going into this battle with the inferior pair, and the flop of 9♦K♠J♣ was not his friend as it gave Taffe a set of jacks, although it did leave Galinec with a gunshot straight draw. Unfortunately, the runotu of 8♦A♦ did not do it for him and he was sent to the rail in 9th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,300,000
1,600,000
|
1,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Berthelsen's Turn to Double
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Mike Vanier opened to 300,000 from middle position and called when Kevin Berthelsen jammed for 1,225,000 on his direct left.
Kevin Berthelsen: A♥5♥
Mike Vanier: Q♠10♠
Bethelsen paired up to become stay the favorite after the A♣2♥4♦ flop but the Q♥ turn provided a sweat. The K♣ river completed the board and Berthelsen survived.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,700,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,200,000 | |
|
|
4,500,000
-350,000
|
-350,000 |
|
|
4,500,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,450,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
|
2,825,000
1,600,000
|
1,600,000 |
|
|
2,700,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
|
1,700,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
1,375,000
-550,000
|
-550,000 |
All-In Specialist Song Survives Again
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Stephen Song raised to 900,000 from the hijack, and called off the 975,000 he had behind when Bradley Hinson moved all in from the button.
Stephen Song: A♥3♥
Bradley Hinson: K♣K♦
Song spiked an ace on the A♦9♦8♠ flop and improved unnecessarily to two pair following the 5♠ turn and 3♠ river.
"This f****** guy," commentated one of the spectators.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,125,000
2,750,000
|
2,750,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,600,000
-1,250,000
|
-1,250,000 |
Level: 29
Blinds: 100,000/150,000
Ante: 150,000
Bathroom Break
Level 28
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
A five-minute break is taking place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,575,000
425,000
|
425,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
6,025,000
6,025,000
|
6,025,000 |
|
|
4,850,000
-350,000
|
-350,000 |
|
|
4,650,000
-150,000
|
-150,000 |
|
|
3,200,000
650,000
|
650,000 |
|
|
2,850,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
|
1,925,000
-275,000
|
-275,000 |
|
|
1,375,000
-825,000
|
-825,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,225,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Taffe Takes Down a Big One Preflop
Level 28
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
Mo Zhou opened from early position to 250,000 and then action folded to Leo Taffe in the cutoff who then announced a raise to 750,000. The remaining players got out of the way and it was back on Zhou, who then put in a cold four-bet to 2,000,000.
"Do you know how much you started the hand with?" Taffe asked him, but Zhou said nothing.
After a few seconds, Taffe moved all in, covering Zhou, and sent him into the tank. Ater using one of his time banks, Zhou checked his hand one last time before he sent it into the muck to award the large pot to Taffe.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,150,000
1,650,000
|
1,650,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,200,000
-900,000
|
-900,000 |