Event #8: $1,700 Main Event Day 1a | 2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground

04-18-2024 18:32 UTC-5

Boutin Wins After the Four-Bet

Jeremy Geist

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

There was an early position open to 5,000 before Louis Boutin three-bet to 15,000 from middle position. It then folded to Jean Brassard in the big blind who only took a moment before four-bet jamming for 20,000. The original raiser folded and Boutin flicked in the extra 5,000.

Jean Brassard: 2♦2♣ All in
Louis Boutin: A♠K♠

The full board ran out 4♦Q♥4♣K♥7♠ and with the king on the turn, Brassard hit the rail. He let the table know he would be back to battle tomorrow and wished them good luck as he departed.

Player	Chips	Progress
Louis Boutin	150,000 40,000	40,000
Jean Bassard	Busted

Tags: Jean Brassard Louis Boutin

Level: 12

Blinds: 1,500/2,500

Ante: 2,500

04-18-2024 19:10 UTC-5

Pillon Almost Hangs Around; Zhang Chipping Up

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Jeremy Geist

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

After losing a significant pot and being down to just 1.5 big blinds James Pillon moved all in for his last 3,500 from under the gun and got called in one spot by a player in middle position. The cards hit their backs.

James Pillon: 10♦6♦ All in
Middle Position: K♥10♥

Pillon flopped trips on the full board of 6♥6♣5♦Q♥K♣ and would make it to the next hand with a few more bigs.

The following hand, the action was opened in middle position by Jinrong Zhang to 6,000. It folded all the way to Pillon in the big blind who moved all in for his last 8,000. Zhang called.

James Pillon: 9♥5♣ All in
Jinrong Zhang: K♣6♣

The J♥10♠8♠ flop left Pillon open ended and he would get there on the Q♠ turn. Unfortunately, that joy would be short lived as the A♥ hit the river giving Zhang the better straight and sending Pillon to the rail in gross fashion.

Zhang now sits with a top three stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jinrong Zhang	340,000 340,000	340,000
James Pillon	Busted

Tags: James Pillon

04-18-2024 19:14 UTC-5

Life Outside Poker w/ Connor Richards: A New Podcast for PokerNews

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Jeremy Geist

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Life Outside Poker w/ Connor Richards is a new podcast for PokerNews that focuses on poker players with successful careers and lives outside of poker.

For the first episode, Connor Richards spoke with soap opera actress and high-stakes poker player Farah Fath Galfond, who talked about her acting career spanning more than a decade, first discovering poker in Atlantic City and balancing poker with raising a family.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the hourlong interview with Farah Galfond by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Find Out More About Life Outside Poker!

04-18-2024 19:18 UTC-5

Break Time

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Jeremy Geist

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Players in the main event are now on a 15-minute break.

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

04-18-2024 19:46 UTC-5

Hucker Sends Nguyen to the Rail

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Jeremy Geist

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

The action folded to Chi Do Nguyen in the cutoff who took a moment and then moved all in for about 65,000. It was then on Kyle Hucker on the button who didn't even ask for a count before moving all in for more. The remaining players folded and the cards hit their backs.

Chi Do Nguyen: K♥Q♣ All in
Kyle Hucker: A♥K♠

The full board ran out 3♦4♥J♠10♠4♣ and Hucker would scoop to send Nguyen to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kyle Hucker	165,000 165,000	165,000
Chi Do Nguyen	Busted

Tags: Chi Do Nguyen Kyle Hucker

04-18-2024 19:53 UTC-5

Registration has Closed and the Numbers are In!

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Jeremy Geist

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Registration has come to a close in Flight 1a of the Main Event.

The story by the numbers:
- 270 total entries
- 41 players paid
- $2,500 min-cash

The field will continue play until level 17 is reached or till they are down to 5%. Stay locked-in!

Level: 14

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000

04-18-2024 20:34 UTC-5

Zhang Tries to Five-Bet it Away; The Deck Wasn't Having It

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Jeremy Geist

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Pokernews was called over to hear about the following hand that just went down. The exact words from a few players were "The people reading it won't think its true" but they assured us it was.

The action was opened under the gun by Maxime Dube to 6,000. A player called in middle position before the action was on Jinrong Zhang in the big blind. He took a moment and then three-bet to 16,000.

Dube didn't waste much time before putting in a warm four-bet to 41,000.

The middle position player folded and then action was back on Zhang. After a moment in the tank he five-bet ripped it having Dube covered. Dube put in the chips for his tournament life.

Maxime Dube: A♠K♠
Jinrong Zhang: 10♣4♠

The table recounted that they were in a bit of shock when the hands were tabled but that they were flabbergasted when the dealer peeled the cold Kx10x4x flop. Zhang hinted at the fact that the five-bet bluff wasn't his proudest moment but after the 5x turn and Qx river hit, he sent Dube to the rail and is now the overwhelming chip leader.

Sometimes the poker gods just have your back.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jinrong Zhang	500,000 160,000	160,000
Maxime Dube	Busted

Tags: Maxime Dube Zhang Tries