We talk with Matt Berkey while he's on break at the $1,000 Double Stack event. Berkey and [Removed:139] chat about his run in this tournament, signature WSOP events, and Solve For Why.
2018 World Series of Poker

Takao Shimizu raised to 200,000 from the cutoff and Ralph Wong defended from the big blind. The flop came and Wong checked to Shimizu who continued for 250,000. Wong thought for a moment and then made the call.
The paired the board on the turn and Wong thought for a minute before checking again. Shimizu quickly tossed in another bet of 500,000 and Wong's sped up the pace a bit as his cards flew to the muck.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
4,250,000
4,059,000
|
4,059,000 |
![]() |
970,000
1,760,000
|
1,760,000 |
Level: 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000

The action folded to Don Johnson in the cutoff who raised it up to 135,000. James Ostrowski three-bet to 375,000 from the small blind and Matt Stout put in a four-bet to 850,000 from the big blind. Johnson laid his hand down but Ostrowski called to go heads-up to a flop of .
Ostrowski checked to Stout who announced all in and Ostrowski snap-called to put himself at risk for 1,125,000. Stout flipped over while Ostrowski held the nut flush draw with
.
The turn brought the and Stout begged for the river to brick as well. It was not to be though, as the
landed on the river and Ostrowski made a flush to double through Stout in a chip-leading pot.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
4,150,000
1,470,000
|
1,470,000 |
![]() |
1,125,000
1,275,000
|
1,275,000 |

The player in early position opened to 135,000. Keith Ferrera, in the big blind, called.
A flop of was dealt. Ferrera checked. The original raiser bet 250,000. Ferrera check-called.
The turn brought the and Ferrera checked again. His opponent continued for 375,000. He called.
The river completed the board and was checked around. Ferrera tabled
. His opponent mucked.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
6,100,000
3,250,000
|
3,250,000 |

James Ostrowski opened to 130,000 from under the gun and Michael Moore pushed all in for 585,000 from middle position. The action folded back to Ostrowski who asked for a count and thought for a minute before making the call.
James Ostrowski:
Michael Moore:
The flop came and both players flopped top pair but Ostrowski held the better kicker. The turn brought the
which meant Moore was drawing dead to the
on the river. Moore's chips were sent the way of Ostrowski and the former headed for the payout desk.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
2,680,000
1,215,000
|
1,215,000 |
![]() |
Busted |

The player in middle position raised to 130,000. Timothy Miles three-bet shoved from one seat over for 500,000. Armand Alvarado, in the small blind reshoved for 780,000. The original raiser gave up his hand.
Armand Alvarado:
Timothy Miles:
The board came and Miles was sent to the rail.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
1,500,000
650,000
|
650,000 |
![]() |
Busted |

Seat | Table #420 | Table #421 | Table #422 |
---|---|---|---|
Seat 1 | Don Johnson | Derek Alley | Landon Brown |
Seat 2 | Matt Berkey | Ramin Hajiyev | Jayachandra Gangaiah |
Seat 3 | James Ostrowski | Nicholas Salimbene | Ralph Wong |
Seat 4 | Matt Stout | Ralph Massey | Pfizer Jordan |
Seat 5 | Michael Moore | Keith Ferrera | Tomas Teran Paredes |
Seat 6 | Carl Brewington | Daniel Eichhorn | Joshua Turner |
Seat 7 | Vladas Tamasauskas | Jacky Wong | Farzad Raji |
Seat 8 | Andrey Zaichenko | Timothy Miles | Steven Tymms |
Seat 9 | Robert Peacock | Pablo Fernandez | Takao Shimizu |

Matt Berkey opened to 130,000 from the cutoff and was called by Keith Ferrera in the big blind. The flop came and Ferrera checked to Berkey who continued for 150,000. Ferrera called and the
landed on the turn.
Ferrera checked again and Berkey barrelled another 350,000. Ferrera wasn't going anywhere though as he made the call to see the on the river. Ferrera checked one more time and Berkey tapped the table behind him. Ferrera tabled
for two pair and Berkey sent his cards to the muck.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
2,850,000
1,020,000
|
1,020,000 |
![]() |
1,140,000
890,000
|
890,000 |

Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
![]() |
4,300,000
3,310,000
|
3,310,000 |
![]() |
3,400,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
||
![]() |
2,275,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
![]() |
2,100,000
1,680,000
|
1,680,000 |
![]() |
1,300,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
![]() |
1,050,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
![]() |
850,000
200,000
|
200,000 |