Event #1: $500 Casino Employees | 2023 World Series of Poker

05-31-2023 15:39 UTC-7

Randall Blair Eliminated in 20th Place ($2,411)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

There was a three-way all-in preflop between Guitong He, Paul Blanchette, and Randall Blair - the latter being the player at risk.

Randall Blair: J♠10♥

Paul Blanchette: A♣Q♦

Guitong He: A♠K♣

The board ran out Q♠10♣6♠6♣5♣, awarding the pot to the eager Paul Blanchette, nearly tripled up. Randall Blair was eliminated in 20th place and awarded $2,411 for his deep run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Guitong He	2,100,000 300,000	300,000
Paul Blanchette	650,000 25,000	25,000
Randall Blair	Busted

Tags: Guitong He Paul Blanchette Randall Blair

05-31-2023 15:40 UTC-7

Michael Gibbs Eliminated in 19th Place ($2,411)

Chris Land

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Benson Tam opened to 150,000 from under the gun. Action folded to Michael Gibbs in the cutoff who called for less.

Michael Gibbs: A♦8♥
Benson Tam: A♠J♥

The board of 2♣9♠6♣6♦5♦ was no help to Gibbs who was eliminated in 19th place for $2,411.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benson Tam	1,770,000 -930,000	-930,000

Michael Gibbs	Busted

Tags: Benson Tam Michael Gibbs

05-31-2023 16:17 UTC-7

Kenneth Weinstein Eliminated in 18th Place ($2,411)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 25 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Kenneth Weinstein was all in and at risk after raising from the button and getting reraised by Peter Thai in the small blind, ultimately leading them both getting all-in preflop.

Kenneth Weinstein: J♣J♥

Peter Thai: A♦A♠

The flop brought the QxAx6x and a brick on the turn and river sent Weinstein to the payouts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Thai	2,800,000 400,000	400,000

Kenneth Weinstein	Busted

Tags: Kenneth Weinstein Peter Thai

05-31-2023 16:49 UTC-7

Eric Zavodnik Eliminated in 17th Place; Guitong He Eliminated in 16th Place ($2,915)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Guitong He went all-in from early position, only to be called by Peter Thai in the small blind and Sean Balfour in the big blind.

All three players saw a flop of A♣Q♣8♠. Thai bet 175,000 into Balfour and he called.

The turn brought the 2♠, which Thai checked. Balfour then went all-in, forcing Thai out of the pot.

Guitong He: 6♣6♠
Sean Balfour: 8♣8♠

He was drawing dead and the river was an inconsequential brick, eliminating He in 16th place for $2,915.

Meanwhile, Eric Zavodnik was eliminated in 17th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Thai	3,500,000 700,000	700,000

Sean Balfour	2,100,000 95,000	95,000
Guitong He	Busted
Eric Zavodnik	Busted

Tags: Guitong He Peter Thai Sean Balfour

05-31-2023 16:55 UTC-7

Kevin Kivela Eliminated in 15th Place ($2,915)

Chris Land

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Michael McFadden opened to 150,000 before seeing Kevin Kivela three-bet shove for not much more. After making the call, the cards were turned on their backs.

Kevin Kivela: A♣K♣
Michael McFadden: K♦K♥

The board ran out 3♠6♥2♠8♠2♥, sending Kivela to the rail in 15th place for $2,915 as the tournament breaks for dinner.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Mcfadden	1,175,000 -1,675,000	-1,675,000
Kevin Kivela	Busted

Tags: Kevin Kivela Michael McFadden

05-31-2023 18:17 UTC-7

Joshua Honegger Eliminated in 14th Place ($2,915)

Chris Land

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Joe Pavan opened under the gun to 235,000 and faced a shove to his immediate left from Joshua Honegger for around 900,000. Action folded back to Pavan who called and turned his hand up.

Joshua Honegger: K♥Q♦
Joe Pavan: A♣K♣

The board ran out A♦8♣7♣6♦4♣ giving Pavan the nut flush and sending Honegger to the rail in 14th place for $2,915.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Pavan	2,075,000 575,000	575,000
Joshua Honegger	Busted

Tags: Joe Pavan Joshua Honegger

05-31-2023 18:23 UTC-7

Carlton Fitzgerald Eliminated in 13th Place ($3,583)

Chris Land

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Joe Pava Carlton Fitzgerald Mario Romera

Action folded around to Zaen Qatan on the button who opened to 160,000. The small blind folded before Carlton Fitzgerald called out of the big blind to see a flop of 7♥4♠4♦.

Fitzgerald open-shoved for around 300,000 and Qatan snap-called to put Fitzgerald at risk.

Carlton Fitzgerald: K♦8♣
Zaen Qatan: A♦A♥

The turn and river of 9♣ and K♥ weren't enough for Fitzgerald to come from behind and he was sent to the rail in 13th place for $3,583.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zaen Qatan	2,015,000 -85,000	-85,000
Carlton Fitzgerald	Busted

Tags: Carlton Fitzgerald Zaen Qatan

05-31-2023 18:34 UTC-7

Zaen Qatan Eliminated in 12th Place ($3,583)

reed17

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Facing a raise in late position from Zaen Qatan, James Urbanic three-bet from the small blind. Zaen Qatan then went all in for just under 2,000,000 in chips, which was quickly called by Urbanic.

Zaen Qatan: A♦K♣

James Urbanic: A♥A♠

Urbanic preemptively celebrated but did, indeed, have to sweat the board when the flop rolled the K♣8♣J♦.
However, the 6♣ on the turn and the 9♥ on the river catapult him into contention for the chiplead.

Zaen Qatan had the run of his life and did his best to remind PokerNews of his Iraqi heritage, proud that he could share this run with his family.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,850,000 2,400,000	2,400,000
Zaen Qatan	Busted

Tags: James Urbanic Zaen Qatan

05-31-2023 18:44 UTC-7

Michael McFadden Eliminated in 11th Place ($4,477)

Chris Land

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

On a board of A♥2♥7♠8♠K♦, James Urbanic bet enough to put Michael McFadden all in, sending McFadden deep into the tank. Eventually, he decided to call it off for his tournament life and Urbanic announced, "Top two." with the A♠K♠.

McFadden knuckled the table and turned up the A♦6♥ and was sent to the rail in 11th place for $4,477 as Urbanic secures the chip lead headed into the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Mcfadden	Busted

Tags: James Urbanic Michael McFadden

05-31-2023 19:02 UTC-7

Jiang Spikes a Seven on the River for a Full Double

Chris Land

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

James Urbanic opened from early position to 200,000. Action folded around to Bruce Jiang in the cutoff who three-bet shoved for his remaining 1,100,000. Action folded back to Urbanic who called to create our first at risk player of the final table.

Bruce Jiang: 7♦7♣
James Urbanic: 9♣9♠

The flop of 5♠6♣6♦ was clean for Urbanic as was the 10♣, but the dealer burned and turned the 7♥ on the river and Jiang came from behind to secure a full double.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	6,100,000 -570,000	-570,000
Bruce Jiang	2,300,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang James Urbanic