2025 WSOP Circuit Aix-en-Provence
Level: 6
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Etienne Silva de Oliveira opened to 1,2000 from middle position. Christian Alilovic called from the button, as well as Timothée Rey in the big blind.
Both Rey and "EtiennePKR" chechecked the 7♦K♥5♠, but Alilovic bet 1,500. Rey folded at this point, while EtiennePKR Made the call.
On the 9♥, Alilovic fired a second barrel of 2,500 and made EtiennePKR fold. "1,500 is the same bet as 2,500," he joked while scooping the pot.
Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
In the 26th episode, Connor speaks with chess streamer and GGPoker ambassador Alexandra Botez about learning chess and poker from her dad, getting into streaming at Stanford, dealing with online trolls, creating content with her sister Andrea Botez and the similarities between chess and poker.
Botez also talked about winning $456,900 in a legendary 2022 Hustler Casino Live stream that included Phil Hellmuth, Mr. Beast and Ninja, as well as signing on as a GGPoker ambassador and securing two career-high cashes at World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise (she finished 60th in the $10,000 GGMillion$ Championship for $22,190 before finishing 187th in the $25,000 Super Main Event for $67,300).
The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Alexandra Botez by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.
Be sure to follow Alexandra Botez and Connor Richards on X.
Level: 5
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
A player opened to 1,200 from under the gun and was called by Bruno Fitoussi in the hijack and Jean-Charles Remaud in the big blind.
Remaud and the under-the-gun player checked 10♣4♥A♦, but not Fitoussi who bet 2,000. He was called twice.
All three players checked the 10♦ turn leading to the 2♣ river which didn't bring more action. Remaud was the first player to show his cards, A♥5♥ for two pair, and it was the winning hand.
In a three-bet pot, Pierre Merlin on the button continue for 5,600 on 9♥3♠7♠, then fired a second barrel of 12,400 on the Q♣ turn.
Oleksandr Shevchenko in middle position check-called on the flop, but check-raised all-in turn. Merlin went deep into the tank and eventually made the call, finding himself at risk for 35,500.
Pierre Merlin: K♥K♠
Oleksandr Shevchenko: 9♣7♣
Shevchenko flopped two pair and was on his way to crack Merlin's king, but the Q♠ river gave a better two pair to Merlin, who doubled up.
Four players discovered a flop of 3♣7♦J♦ where the small blind led out for 1,200. Silma Macalou in the big blind folded, but Jérémie Zouari in early position and the hijack called.
On the 6♣ turn, the small blind checked then was the only player who called after Zouari bet 5,500.
Zouari bet 11,500 on the 10♣ river. The small blind check-called, but sent his cards into the muck when Zouari revealed J♠10♥ for two pair.
Level: 4
Blinds: 200/500
Ante: 500
The 233 players of Day 1b are on a 20-minute break.