2023 World Series of Poker
With roughly seven minutes near the end of Level 11, a tournament director identified four tables and asked the dealers to not pitch cards.
He then returned with plastic bags and asked the players to place their chips in the bags, and then seal it.
The tournament director announced all four tables would go to Paris and join most of the playing field.
Ryan Depaulo raised to 4,500 in middle position and was called by the button and the big blind.
When the flop came K♥9♦8♦, the big blind checked, and Depaulo continued for 4,500. The button made the call and the big blind mucked.
The A♥ hit the turn, and Depaulo checked before his opponent jammed all-in for about 38,000. Depaulo snap-called by dropping a chip across the line and tabling his hand.
Button: A♦4♦
Ryan Depaulo: K♠8♠
Depaulo had flopped two pair but was still dodging plenty of outs as his opponent turned top pair and the nut flush draw. The 6♥ river wasn't one of his opponents outs though as he hit the rail.
An early position player raised it up to 4,000 and Chris Smith in the next seat jammed his chips in for 26,000 and was called.
Chris Smith: Q♠Q♣
Early position player:A♥Q♦
The cards came 6♠K♠6♣5♥10♦ which gave Smith a second life.
Level: 12
Blinds: 1,000/2,500
Ante: 2,500
After a series of raises Patrick Royal had his opponent at risk for roughly 65,000 before the flop and both hands were tabled.
Opponent: A♠Q♠
Patrick Royal: Q♥Q♣
Royal was in great shape as the board ran out 8♣7♠4♦4♠5♣, eliminating his opponent and adding to his stack.
The player on the button shoved all of his chips 18,000 in to the pot and Bastien Ravalet called in the big blind.
Button: K♦J♦
Bastien Ravalet: Q♥Q♠
The board completed a flush for Ravalet when it ran out A♠K♥10♥9♥A♥.
It wasn’t hard to find the excitement in the room.
“Royal Flush!” a player screamed near the back of the Horseshoe tournament room. “I have a Royal Flush!”
“Congratulations,” a tournament director jokingly announced over the public address system. “The Main Event is over.”
The comment drew laughter from multiple tables in the room, and by the time PokerNews arrived at table #552 in the Orange section, the betting action was over.
But all the players at the table were smiling, laughing and taking photos of the board, which showed 7♣3♦10♣Q♣K♣. Also showing were David Clarke’s A♣J♣.
“Runner-runner Royal Flush!” David Clarke explained with a wide smile.
According to multiple players, including Clarke, at the table, Clarke’s opponent flopped a set with 10♥10♦. The chips moved in after the flop, Clarke said.
Clarke was short stacked before the hand began, and the flop provided the action with his opponent’s top set against Clarke’s nut flush draw. Clarke needed a club, but he hit the jackpot with Q♣ on the turn and K♣ on the river for poker’s highest hand.
The win also allowed Clarke to double up before the next break.
Phillip Walker shoved in middle position for 11,000 and Jonathan Ingalls called in the big blind.
Phillip Walker: 10♣10♥
Jonathan Ingalls: 9♦7♥
The board came 9♥J♣8♥A♣2♠ and Walker survived his all in.