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

05-31-2023 19:28 UTC-7

McCormack Finds a Big Double

Chris Land

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

James Urbanic opened to 250,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Keith McCormack who three-bet shoved for his remaining 1,100,000. Action folded back to Urbanic who called to put another player at risk.

Keith McCormack: A♣K♣
James Urbanic: A♠Q♣

The dealer put a queen in the window but fanned the board out to reveal a king right behind it. On a final board of 3♣K♦Q♥J♣4♣, McCormack secured a full double to move himself up in the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,500,000 -1,600,000	-1,600,000
Keith McCormack	2,500,000 1,300,000	1,300,000

Tags: James Urbanic Keith McCormack

05-31-2023 19:35 UTC-7

Mark Kawamoto Eliminated in 10th Place ($4,477)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Mark Kawamoto was in late position when he went all-in for 335,000. Joe Pavan looked over the meager stack and reluctantly called.

Mark Kawamoto: J♠10♥

Joe Pavan: A♥4♠

Kawamoto looked geared up to double going into the river on a board of J♣Q♠7♣9♣ but the A♦ was a dagger to the heart. Kawamoto graciously circled the table and wished his opponents good luck in the remainder of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Pavan	2,800,000 700,000	700,000
Mark Kawamoto	Busted

Tags: Mark Kawamoto Joe Pavan

05-31-2023 19:47 UTC-7

Urbanic Forces a Fold From Jiang

Chris Land

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Bruce Jiang opened to 225,000 from the cutoff. The button and small blind folded making way for James Urbanic to call from the big blind to see a flop of 6♦K♣2♦.

Action checked through to a 10♥ turn which saw both players check again.

The river brought the 9♠ which prompted a bet of 300,000 from Urbanic. Jiang eventually decided on a fold and the pot was pushed to Urbanic.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,785,000 285,000	285,000
Bruce Jiang	2,075,000 -225,000	-225,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang James Urbanic

05-31-2023 20:00 UTC-7

Lisa Eckstein Eliminated in 9th Place ($5,686)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Benson Tam raised in late position and it folded to Lisa Eckstein in the big blind, who quickly put her approximately 1,000,000 chips into play. Tam called, easily covering and putting Eckstein at risk.

Lisa Eckstein: 10♣10♥

Benson Tam: Q♦J♠

The flop helped Tam immediately, rolling off K♥7♠J♦, the A♦ on the turn had some of the table rooting for a Queen on the river, but her dreams of winning a bracelet today were thwarted when the 9♠ completed the board on the river.

Eckstein was heard throughout the tournament claiming that a woman would win again this year, especially when she was the last one standing. According to a friend of Eckstein on the rail; she was born with a deck of cards in her hand and has a family packed full of card players. She congratulated her opponents around the table before collecting her belongings and heading to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benson Tam	5,100,000 1,390,000	1,390,000

Lisa Eckstein	Busted

Tags: Benson Tam Lisa Eckstein

05-31-2023 20:12 UTC-7

Aggression From Urbanic Takes Down a Three-Bet Pot

Chris Land

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

James Urbanic opened from the cutoff to 275,000 only to see a three-bet from Peter Thai in the small blind to 625,000. Urbanic called and a flop of J♣Q♣A♦ was spread.

Thai led into Urbanic for 700,000. After a brief moment of deliberation, Urbanic announced all in creating a clash between two of the biggest stacks at the table.

Thai seemed pained by the decision as he went into the tank for about three minutes. Eventually, he tossed his cards toward the muck and Urbanic climbed back up the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	6,500,000 1,715,000	1,715,000
Peter Thai	5,375,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: James Urbanic Peter Thai

05-31-2023 20:40 UTC-7

Jiang Catches Runners to Double

Chris Land

Level 30 : 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante

Action folded to Bruce Jiang in the cutoff who slid his last 375,000 into the middle. Peter Thai called in the small blind.

Bruce Jiang: J♦10♦
Peter Thai: Q♥7♦

The flop came 2♦4♠Q♦, giving Thai top pair and putting one foot out the door for Jiang. The 9♣ turn gave Jiang an open-ended straight draw and the 8♣ river completed the runner-runner nut straight for Jiang who survives another all in to double to 1,070,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Thai	5,400,000 25,000	25,000

Bruce Jiang	1,070,000 570,000	570,000

05-31-2023 21:12 UTC-7

Joe Pavan Eliminated in 8th Place ($7,337)

Chris Land

Level 31 : 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Bruce Jiang opened to 450,000 from middle position before action folded to Joe Pavan in the small blind who slid his remaining stack of 960,000 into the middle. Jiang called and both players turned their cards on their backs.

Joe Pavan: 6♠6♦
Bruce Jiang: 4♦4♥

The K♠2♥9♥ flop kept Pavan firmly in the lead as did the 8♠ turn. As a sizable dog, Jiang needed to find another set on the river to whittle the final table down to seven and he did exactly that, spiking the 4♠ and making a set on the river for the second time at tonight's final table.

The table let out a collective gasp as Pavan was eliminated in 8th place for $7,337.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bruce Jiang	3,750,000 350,000	350,000
Joe Pavan	Busted

Tags: Bruce Jiang Joe Pavan

05-31-2023 21:47 UTC-7

Urbanic Fades the World for a Full Double

Chris Land

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

James Urbanic opened to 400,000 from under the gun and Bruce Jiang called from the big blind to see a flop of 3♣9♠Q♦.

Jiang checked the action to Urbanic who bet out 375,000. Jiang counted out raising chips and slid out a check-raise worth 1,100,000 into the pot, putting Urbanic to a decision. After a brief moment, Urbanic announced all in for 3,485,000 total and Jiang thought about it while counting out calling chips before eventually making the call and putting Urbanic at risk.

James Urbanic: K♥K♣
Bruce Jiang: Q♠10♠

The turn came the K♠ giving a set to Urbanic but providing a lot of additional outs to Jiang. The 6♣ river was safe for Urbanic who doubled up back into the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	7,700,000 700,000	700,000
Bruce Jiang	4,300,000 -2,500,000	-2,500,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang James Urbanic

05-31-2023 22:27 UTC-7

Keith McCormack Eliminated in 7th Place ($9,617)

Chris Land

Level 32 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Action folded to Keith McCormack in the cutoff who shove for around 2,000,000. Bruce Jiang called from the button and Paul Blanchette quickly called off his remaining stack from the small blind, creating a three-way all in with two players at risk.

Paul Blanchette: 8♥6♥
Keith McCormack: A♥Q♦
Bruce Jiang: 5♣5♦

The board ran out K♣6♠8♠7♠10♠ giving Blanchette two pair good for more than a triple up while Jiang's fives held for the side pot, eliminating Keith McCormack in 7th place for $9,617.