Kane Kalas knocked off back-to-back $10k Heads-Up Championship Runner-Up John Smith in the first round of this year's event. He tells us how he was able to gain the upper hand against an absolute legend.
Justin Bonomo limped from the button, David Laka raised from the big blind, and Bonomo called.
The flop came down 
, Laka continued and Bonomo called. The turn was the 
and Laka bet 18,500. Bonomo called, the 
river landed, and Laka jammed for about 51,000.
Bonomo called with 
for a flush, besting Laka's 
to win the match and advance to the Round of 32.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
200,000
91,400
|
91,400 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Joe Cada opened to 9,000 from the button, Ryan Riess reraised all in with a covering stack from the big blind, and Cada called all in for about 80,000 with 
, trailing Riess' 
.
The board came down 
, no help to Cada, locking up the victory for Riess.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
200,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Daniel McAulay had a daunting opponent sitting across from him in Round Two of the $10,000 Heads-Up Championship. But in the end, he had defeated Phil Ivey at a World Series of Poker bracelet event.
We got there on the river but Bonomo was kind enough to fill us in on the details after the hand was over.
Justin Bonomo opened the action with a raise to 2,700 and Jake Schindler three-bet to 11,000. Bonomo called.
The flop came 
and Schindler checked. Bonomo bet 9,000 and Schindler called.
Schindler check-called another 30,000 on the turn before the completed the board. Schindler checked once more and Bonomo shoved for 146,700. Schindler tanked for several minutes before Bonomo called the clock. Schindler eventually decided to call but his 
ended up in the muck face down soon enough as Bonomo tabled 
.
Schindler was down to just three big blinds after the hand and was soon playing for all of it. Two hands later, Bonomo shoved the button and Schindler called.
Jake Schindler:
Justin Bonomo: 
The board ran out 
and Bonomo secured himself a ticket for Day 2 while Schindler left the tournament empty-handed.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
400,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Julien Martini raised to 5,200 and Corey Cresenzi moved all in for what appeared to be 45,000, Martini snap-called.
Corey Cresenzi:
Julien Martini: 
The board came 
and the Frenchman, who already won a bracelet during the 2018 World Series of Poker, booked his seat into the next round on Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
400,000
96,600
|
96,600 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
As recapped to us by Scott Seiver, Ben Tollerene raised to 6,500 from the button and Seiver three-bet to 23,500 from the big blind. Tollerene called and the flop fell 
.
Seiver continued for 15,000, Tollerene called and the turn fell. Seiver bet 45,000, Tollerene raised all in for about 145,000, and Seiver called with 
, leading Tollerene's .
The river was the 
, no help to Tollerene, locking up the match and a spot in the Round of 16 for Seiver.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
400,000
148,000
|
148,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Ryan Riess called and Martijn Gerrits checked.
The flop came , Gerrits check-called the 4,000 bet of Riess.
The turn brought them the 
, Gerrits checked. Riess bet 18,000 and Gerrits shoved, having Riess covered. Riess looked at his cards again and then called.
Ryan Riess: 
Martijn Gerrits:
Riess held top pair and the flush draw but Gerrits had turned a straight. The 
on the river was not one of the cards Riess was looking for and the two players shook hands while Gerrits got his details written down to invite a ticket for Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
400,000
89,400
|
89,400 |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Michael Gagliano and Niall Farrell were more jovial and talkative in their match than any of the others matchups that have taken place today, and a friendly slowroll from Farrell ended the match with laughs all around.
Gagliano raised all in from the button and Farrell asked for a count.
"This could be the one," said Farrell to onlooker Daniel Strelitz a table away. "It's close."
Gagliano counted out 96,300, and Farrell took another look at Strelitz before calling and showing , drawing laughs from Strelitz and Gagliano, who showed .
"I knew it!" said Strelitz.
"Now watch for the justice," replied Farrell.
The board came down 
, no help to Gagliano, pushing Farrell through to the Round of 16.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
400,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
