Event #9: $25,000 WSOP Super Main Event Day 1c | 2024 WSOP Paradise

Dec 14, 2024

Botez Sends Dwek Into the Tank

David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Jonathan Dwek raised to 9,000 in middle position and Romain Lewis called in the hijack. Alexandra Botez then three-bet to 32,000 on the button and Dwek four-bet to 85,000.

Lewis got out of the way, but Botez put in a five-bet to 200,000 and Dwek called. The flop came 9♦2♦2♥ and Botez continued for 250,000.

Dwek tanked for several minutes as Botez covered her eyes. Dwek eventually let out a loud sigh and mucked his cards while Botez took the pot.

"Breathe. We're playing street poker," tablemate Sorel Mizzi said to her after the hand.

Tags: Alexandra Botez Jonathan Dwek

Dec 14, 2024

Berg Makes the Right Call Against Asipauskas

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Brett Slezak

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

A pot of 225,000 had been built on the turn in a hand between Rokas Asipauskas from the big blind and Elijah Berg in middle position.

With the board reading 9♥5♠2♥K♥, Asipauskas led for 75,000 and Berg put in the call.

The river brought the 7♦ as Asipauskas fired a third barrel for 175,000. Berg contemplated his decision for almost two minutes before he tossed in calling chips.

"Good call," announced Asipauskas as he mucked and Berg collected the pot with his mystery hand in a huge pot.

Tags: Elijah Berg Rokas Asipauskas

Dec 14, 2024

Alkamli Jams the Flop

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Tyler Foran

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

John Krpan opened 7,000 in the cutoff and Lucas Greenwood called on the button before Tamer Alkamli put in a three-bet to 35,000 from the small blind. Krpan stuck around with a call while Greenwood mucked his hand.

When the 10♠9♠7♥ flop hit the felt, Alkamli took about 30 seconds before deciding to jam all in for 155,000 which was enough to earn the pot.

Tags: John Krpan Lucas Greenwood Tamer Alkamli

Dec 14, 2024

Soncin Raises the Flop With Queens

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Ezequiel Kleinman bet 10,000 from the button on a flop of K♥8♣2♠ and Artyom Smatyan raised to 37,000 in the big blind. Luigi Soncin then put in 55,000 from middle position, but it was ruled he had to make it at least 64,000.

He put in the extra chips and Kleinman quickly folded, but Smatyan stuck around to see the 7♥ turn. Both players then checked to the 4♣ river, where action was again quickly checked through.

Smatyan showed 10♥9♠ for just ten-high, while Soncin had Q♠Q♣ to win the pot.

Tags: Artyom Smatyan Ezequiel Kleinman Luigi Soncin

Dec 14, 2024

Music Icon & Bracelet Winner Steve Albini's Death Puts Fabled 20-Year Poker Home Game on Pause

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Connor Richards

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

The death of musician, recording engineer and poker player Steve Albini hit the music world with a force like that of the incendiary device aimed at Earth pictured on Big Black's 1986 debut album Atomizer. It may have hit one group of Chicago poker players the hardest.

Albini, a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner who recorded landmark works by bands like Nirvana and Pixies and who The New York Times described as "one of the most admired, and most divisive, figures in rock," was a key figure in a friend group that bonded, joked and supported one another over the poker table.

For 20 years, they played in a weekly low-stakes Chicago home game often held in Electrical Audio that included bracelet winners like Jason Gola, Eric Rodawig and Brian Hastings. Now, the game is on hiatus after Albini's death in May as the group of poker pros, musicians and audio engineers adapts to a world without its figurehead.

PokerNews spoke with two of Albini's closest friends who were regulars in the game, Brandon Shack-Harris and Andrew Kosinski.

Tags: Andrew Kosinski Brandon Shack-Harris Steve Albini

Dec 14, 2024

Tondeur Sent to the Cashier by Hudon

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Tyler Foran

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Roger Tondeur opened 8,000 on the button and Eliot Hudon came along from the small blind.

The dealer spread a flop of 4♥4♠2♠, and Hudon check-raised a bet of 7,000 to 33,000. Tondeur asked Hudon, "Pocket tens again?"

Hudon responded, "Let me check," as he looked at his cards.

Tondeur then put in another raise to 83,000, putting the decision back on Hudon.

Tondeur helped Hudon with the math, "33 to 83, 50 more."

Hudon made the call and checked the 6♦ turn before facing an all-in jam of about 175,000 from Tondeur.

"Are you going to rebuy?" Asked Hudon as he thought about his decision.

"It's possible. Maybe two more times today," He replied.

Hudon tossed in the call and both hands were tabled.

Roger Tondeur: Q♣Q♦ All in
Eliot Hudon: 7♠6♠

Tondeur was ahead with his overpair but the 3♠ river was not what he was looking for as Hudon improved to a flush, sending him to the cage to rebuy.

Tags: Eliot Hudon Roger Tondeur

Dec 14, 2024

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Dec 14, 2024

Meneguetti Bombs the River on Lin

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Jianwei Lin and Renan Meneguetti built a pot of around 90,000 as they went heads-up to the turn on a board of 5♠K♥8♥3♣. Lin then bet 50,000 from the big blind and Meneguetti called in early position.

Lin checked the 7♦ river and Meneguetti bet 250,000. Lin took a minute before folding as Meneguetti took the pot.

Tags: Jianwei Lin Renan Meneguetti

Dec 14, 2024

Rizzo Picks off Greenwood in Massive Pot

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Brett Slezak

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

A pot of around 140,000 had been formed on the river in a pot between Leonardo Rizzo from the big blind and Lucas Greenwood from middle position.

With the board reading 9♠6♥5♠A♠4♦, Rizzo checked to Greenwood who fired a massive overbet of 300,000. Rizzo went deep into the tank as he contemplated his decision before he ultimately flicked in a chip to call.

Lucas Greenwood: K♠J♦
Leonardo Rizzo: 9♥6♦

Rizzo had flopped two pair while Greenwood was bluffing with the nut flush blocker as Rizzo's hero call put him to the top of the chip counts early in the day.

Tags: Leonardo Rizzo Lucas Greenwood

Dec 14, 2024

Boianovsky Gets a Feel for Boob

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Connor Richards

Level 2 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Vinay Boob raised in early position and Felipe Boianovsky called on the button as Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel called from the small blind.

Seidel and Boob both checked on the flop of 4♣J♣Q♦ and Boianovsky bet 8,000. Both players called. Seidel and Boob checked again on the 6♣ turn and Boianovsky checked back.

Seidel and Boob checked again on the 3♥ river and Boianovsky bet 27,000. Both opponents folded.

Tags: Felipe Boianovsky Erik Seidel Vinay Boob