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

May 30, 2023

Urbanic Flops a Set Multiway

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Claudio Elizalde

Level 17 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

James Urbanic was raking in a massive pot over 620,000 whenPokernews approached the table.

A patchwork of excited explanations from the table shed some light on Urbanic's massive boon.

A limp in early position kicked off the action before a raise to 22,000 from late position somehow led to a four-way flop of 9♦7♠3♣. The preflop raiser ended up betting and was met with the shove of Urbanic while the other two opponents folded.

James Urbanic: 9♣9♥

Late Position: AxAx

The turn brought the 3♥, upgrading Urbanic to a boat and the 6♥ on the river sealed the huge double.

May 30, 2023

Epskamp Eliminated by Eaton

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Mike Patrick

Level 17 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Yori Epskamp was just seen standing up and collecting a payout ticket as he had been eliminated from the tournament.

Epskamp shared that after an early position raise to 13,000 from David Eaton, he moved all in for 110,000 from the cutoff, which sent Eaton into the tank.

After between two and three minutes, Eaton called, holding just slightly more than Epskamp.

Yori Epskamp: A♣K♣
David Eaton: A♦7♦

PokerNews' Head of Content had his money in great, but the Q♦10♦4♠ flop brought a flush draw to Eaton.

That draw came in on the turn with the 3♦, leaving Epskamp drawing dead before the 3♥ fell on the river.

With Epskamp's elimination, only Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen and Herbie Teope remain in the fold for Team PokerNews.

Tags: Chad Holloway David Eaton Herbie Teope Jesse Fullen Yori Epskamp

May 30, 2023

The Gattes Have Opened

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Claudio Elizalde

Level 17 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Kevin Gattes was all in and at risk from early position against a late-position opponent.

Kevin Gattes: 9♣9♥
Late Position: A♥J♠

The board ran out K♥8♠5♥Q♥7♣ , leaving Gattes sweating every street but ultimately victorious.

Tags: Kevin Gattes

Level: 17

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 8,000

May 30, 2023

Qatan Busts Player, Chips Up With Bottom Set

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Chris Land

Level 16 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

On a board of 10♣8♥4♥, the player in the big blind open shoved for 120,000, moving the action to Zaen Qatan on the button. Qatan called after a brief moment of deliberation and the cards are turned over.

Big Blind: 10♠8♦
Zaen Qatan: 4♠4♦

The turn and river ran out clean for Qatan as he eliminated the player in the small blind to chip up.

Tags: Zaen Qatan

May 30, 2023

Holloway Chops Down an Opponent

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Mike Patrick

Level 16 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

After an early position player moved all in for about 50,000, Chad Holloway moved all in from the hijack for over 200,000. A player in the cutoff was on fumes with just 10,000 and moved it in as well.

Cutoff: A♣K♠
Early Position: A♠10♦
Chad Holloway: A♥K♦

The board came 8♥4♦2♠6♥7♥, and Holloway and the cutoff chopped up the early position player's stack, with Holloway receiving the majority of it, while the cutoff earned a double-up worth of it.

Tags: Chad Holloway

May 30, 2023

Big Pots and Big Folds Going Into the Final Two Levels

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ollie Garland

Level 16 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

On a flop of 10♣4♣7♠, middle position bets 18,000 into two opponents. Brian Page on the button shoves all in for 181,000. After some consideration, the player in the big blind opted to call Page's raise putting the player in the middle position in a very tough spot.

After some considerable time in the tank the opponent in the middle position frustratingly folded QxQx face up as both remaining players tabled their hands.

Brian Page: 9♣8♣
Big Blind: 7♣5♣

The board ran out 10♣4♣7♠J♦10♦ giving Page a jack-high straight and the pot.