Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack Day 1a | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-16-2023 15:23 UTC-8

Loosening Up the Table

Herbie Teope

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Poker is full of competition and players can get caught up in heated moments, such as when a player hits a miracle card on the river or a hand that was ahead suddenly loses.

In either situation, tensions can run high.

Mike Golack noticed the mood at Table 224 had changed to a somber atmosphere after a player watched an opponent come from behind to win. Golak decided to lighten the mood and took it upon himself to ask a server to bring shots of alcohol or alcohol beverages of choice to everyone at the table.

The results proved positive.

PokerNews walked up to the table just as the server arrived and handed out the drinks. All the players stood, asked the dealer to hold off a hand, and then they toasted each other as they smiled and laughed before action resumed.

“Poker is supposed to be fun,” Golak told PokerNews with a wide smile. “That’s why we got the shots.”

Anthony Serino, who was seated to Golak’s immediate left, agreed.

“That’s what is great about the Monster Stack,” Serino said. “It brings out the recs, the weekend warriors. It’s fun.”

Tags: Anthony Serino Mike Golack

06-16-2023 15:32 UTC-8

Ainsworth Set Gets a Full Double

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Chris Bean

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

PokerNews arrived at the table on a completed board of A♥5♣2♠9♦J♥ with around 73,000 in the middle.

The middle position player bet 25,000 and was met with an all-in from Jason Ainsworth on the button for 31,000. Middle position made the call and Ainsworth showed 5♦5♠. The middle position player tried to muck their cards but was forced to showdown A♣Q♦ for top pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Ainsworth	130,200

Tags: Jason Ainsworth

06-16-2023 15:43 UTC-8

Korenev Takes Pot

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Chris Bean

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Roman Korenev was under the gun and bet 1,800. The player in early position and John Bousfield in the big blind made the call.

The flop came 10♣7♠4♦ and the early position player bet 2,300. Bousfield got out of the way and Korenev check-raised to 7,500. Early position made the call.

The 5♠ fell on the turn and Korenev bet 12,000 which was quickly called. The J♠ on the river brought in the backdoor flush. Both players checked. Korenev tabled A♠A♥, while the early position player said "I lost the minimum! I had a feeling" and revealed they had K♠K♥

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Korenev	96,000

John Bousfield	71,700

06-16-2023 15:47 UTC-8

Sanchez Triples Up with Trips

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Herbie Teope

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Efrem Sanchez got involved in a three-way pot and it helped extend his tournament.

With two players, including Sanchez, already in for 1,600, a player then raised all in for 10,200. Sanchez had the player covered and called, which prompted a player in the big blind, who had both players covered, to back-raise all in. Sanchez called to put his tournament life on the line.

First Opponent to move all in: 8♥8♠
Efrem Sanchez: A♣5♣
Player in big blind: K♣J♦

The dealer fanned 5♦2♣Q♦5♥, giving Sanchez trip fives. He secured the hand when the river produced a blank, giving him a triple up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Efrem Sanchez	61,000 61,000	61,000

Tags: Efrem Sanchez

06-16-2023 15:48 UTC-8

Twenty-Minute Break

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Players are on their third twenty-minute break of the day. The field continues to grow and currently sits at 3,628 players.

06-16-2023 15:53 UTC-8

Aces, Kings, Kings, and Queens - You Won't Believe this Epic 2023 WSOP Hand

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Jon Sofen

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Kevin Martin snapped a video from the table he was at, which he shared on Twitter Thursday, of what just might be the craziest hand played thus far at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

The hand involved four premium pocket pairs and took place on Day 1 of Event #37: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em. PokerNews' live reporting team was also at the table to record the wild action.

Read the Full Story Here

Tags: Kevin Martin

Level: 7

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

06-16-2023 16:09 UTC-8

Big Stacks and Notables at Break in Horseshoe

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Chris Bean

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve Frakes	307,000 307,000	307,000
Leo Soma	231,000 168,400	168,400

Ronald Anderson	230,000
Boris Berthomet	201,100 201,100	201,100
David Luong	197,300 197,300	197,300
Brian Brunner	179,100 179,100	179,100
Jonathan Kramer	174,000 174,000	174,000
Drew Gonzalez	77,700 3,300	3,300

Andrew Neeme	65,000 2,900	2,900
Chris Da-Silva	60,400 21,100	21,100
Eoghan O'Dea	54,500 54,500	54,500

Robbi Jade Lew	46,200 12,800	12,800

06-16-2023 16:17 UTC-8

Max Value for Lee

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Action was picked up on the river with players heads up and the board showing J♠Q♥8♣7♣2♥ and about 42,000 in the pot. Dan Lee bet 44,000 putting his opponent deep into the tank.

After about 90 seconds his opponent made the call, and Lee tabled 10♥9♥ for a straight to take down a pot worth well over 100,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Lee	159,500 159,500	159,500

Tags: Dan Lee

06-16-2023 16:29 UTC-8

Bui Digs Deep to Make Call

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Herbie Teope

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Ricky Bui spent up to a minute in the blender, but found a way to make a call for a profit.

A player in early position previously raised 2,000 before the flop, and Bui made the call in the cutoff and the big blind called.

The dealer placed 10♥5♣K♦ on the board, which the big blind checked. The player under the gun bet 3,500, which Bui called and the big blind elected to fold.

The turn saw 7♠, which both players checked to bring K♣ on the river. Bui’s opponent led out with 4,000, and this caused a pause in action. Bui alternated looks between the board and his opponent, all the while shuffling chips in his right hand while he pondered a decision.

After almost a full minute, Bui reached into his stack and made the call. His opponent showed Q♠8♠, and then Bui tabled A♥J♦ to win the hand with ace-high.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ricky Bui	53,400 53,400	53,400

Tags: Ricky Bui