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

04-19-2024 13:08 UTC-5

Briere Catches Vijayaratnam Off Guard

Jeremy Geist

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

The action was opened in middle position to 1,100 before it folded to Jacques Briere in the cutoff who called. It folded to Senthuran Vijayaratnam in the small blind who took a moment and then put in a three-bet to 5,600.

The original raiser folded but Briere stuck around to see the K♦Q♦10♣ flop. Vijayaratnam continued for 5,000 and Briere called.

The blank 2♠ landed on the turn and Vijayaratnam sized-up with a bet of 12,500. Briere went deep into the tank. He picked up his cards multiple times and looked to be ready to fold. However, it may have just been a hollywood as after about a minute in the tank he announced he was all in.

Vijayaratnam smiled and shook his head a bit as if he was not expecting the jam. After only a moment he mucked and Briere scooped a healthy pot without showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Senthuran Vijayaratnam	50,000 50,000	50,000
Jacques Briere	45,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Jacques Briere Senthuran Vijayaratnam

04-19-2024 12:37 UTC-5

Pitcher Gets Trappy

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Jeremy Geist

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Michael Pitcher opened in early position to 1,100 and only got called by Philippe Belanger in the big blind.

The 9♠7♣9♦ flop laned and the action checked through to a A♣ turn. It surprisingly checked through again to an A♦ river.

Belanger checked and Pitcher didn't take long before throwing out a bet of 2,000. The Belanger snap called.

Pitcher rolled ever A♠J♠ for top boat and Belanger mucked. Its worth noting that this was a small loss for the stack of Belanger who is sitting healthy towards the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
Philippe Belanger	80,000 80,000	80,000
Michael Pitcher	45,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Michael Pitcher Philippe Belanger

Level: 4

Blinds: 300/500

Ante: 500

04-19-2024 12:10 UTC-5

Break Time

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Jeremy Geist

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Players in the Main Event are now on their first scheduled 15-minute break of the day.

04-19-2024 11:50 UTC-5

Gu Goes Big

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Jeremy Geist

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Dominique Prefontaine opened in late position to 900 before getting called by Karim Abdelhamid on the button and by the small blind. The action was then on Weiping Gu in the big blind who put in a three-bet to 4,200. Prefontaine and Abdelhamid called but the small blind folded.

They were three ways to a J♣3♠4♦ flop. Gu led for a large sizing of 7,200. Both players called on their way to a K♣ turn. Gu sat in the tank for almost two minutes before putting in an overbet of 41,300 into a pot of about 35,000.

Prefontaine quickly folded but Karim Abdelhamid sat in the tank for over three minute before he eventually found the fold. Gu dragged a massive pot without seeing a river or showing down his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Weiping Gu	70,000 70,000	70,000
Karim Abdelhamid	50,000 50,000	50,000
Dominique Prefontaine	15,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Dominique Prefontaine Gu Goes Big Karim Abdelhamid

Level: 3

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 400

04-19-2024 11:26 UTC-5

The Double Flat Works for Lavergne

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Jeremy Geist

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

There was a middle position open to 1,100 before Marc Lavergne called from the cutoff. It then folded to Michael Campitelli in the small blind who three-bet to 3,600. The original raiser folded but Lavergne put in the double flat call and they were off to a flop heads up.

The 7♦6♦8♠ flop landed and Campitelli continued for 2,500. Lavergne called and the 5♠ rolled off on the turn putting a four-liner on the board. Campitelli slowed down with a check and action was on Lavergne.

He sat in the tank for a moment and then put in a bet of 5,500. Campitelli seemed to be thinking it over hard as he tanked for almost three-minutes before returning his cards to the dealer.

Lavergne scooped and said "No bluff." when Campitelli asked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marc Lavergne	45,000 45,000	45,000
Michael Campitelli	25,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Marc Lavergne Michael Campitelli

04-19-2024 11:10 UTC-5

Kortbawi Calls Down

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Jeremy Geist

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Stephane Deneau opened under the gun to 700 before the action moved to the button who put in a three-bet to 2,200. the small blind folded and then the action was on Elie Kortbawi in the big bind who sat in the tank for over a minute before tossing in a cold call. Deneau called the three-bet and they were off to a flop three ways.

The 10♠10♣Q♠ flop landed and the action checked through to a 7♣ turn. It checked to Deneau who bet 2,200. The three-bettor on the button got out of the way but Kortbawi stuck around. The Q♦ river landed and the action checked to Deneau again. He took a moment and then put out another wager of 7,500.

Kortbawi mulled it over for a few seconds but called pretty quickly. Deneau rolled over 9♥7♥ for essentially nine-high and Kortbawi tabled pocket jacks for the win. He scooped a nice pot after hanging tough through multiple streets of aggression with just second pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Elie Kortbawi	46,000 46,000	46,000
Stephane Deneau	32,000 32,000	32,000

Level: 2

Blinds: 200/300

Ante: 300

04-19-2024 10:53 UTC-5

Arcaro Leads on a Scary Board

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Jeremy Geist

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Patrick Atallah opened under the gun to 500 and got called by and early position player, the cutoff, and Michael Arcaro in the big blind.

The 4♣A♣9♠ flop landed and the action checked to Atallah who continued for 700. Only Arcaro called.

The K♣ rolled off on the turn and the action quickly checked through to a 7♣ river. Arcaro took a moment in the tank before leading for 1,700. Atallah thought it over for a moment but eventually his cards found the muck. Arcaro scooped.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Arcaro	43,000 43,000	43,000
Patrick Atallah	38,000 38,000	38,000

Tags: Michael Arcaro Patrick Atallah