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

06-16-2023 17:45 UTC-8

Vazquez With the Hero Shove

Chris Bean

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Brian Vazquez bet 2,500 from the cutoff and was called by the big blind. The flop came 9♣5♠3♠ and Vazquez continued for 2,600. The big blind raised to 10,000 which was called by Vazquez.

The big blind bet 25,000 on the K♠ turn and Vazquez went deep into the tank as they only had 32,000 in front of them. They eventually decided to put all of their chips on the line and the big blind called the 7,000 extra.

Brian Vazquez: 6♣6♦
Big Blind: A♣Q♣

Vazquez's pair of sixes were ahead, but the big blind could hit any ace, queen, or club to take the pot. Before the river was dealt Vazquez told the dealer "If you give me a brick I will give you two percent of my action!" The dealer duly obliged as the 2♥ completed the board meaning Mario the dealer will be sweating the Uruguayan for the rest of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Vazquez	130,000

Tags: Brian Vazquez

06-16-2023 17:52 UTC-8

Zaskodny Cracks Poker Kings with Big Ace

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Herbie Teope

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

WSOP bracelet winner Lukas Zaskodny got involved in a heavy preflop betting war with the opponent to his immediate left.

Zaskodny raised first, but then the player to his right three-bet. Zaskodny, who had his opponent covered, then four-bet all in, and his opponent snapped-called to put his tournament life at stake.

Opponent: K♥K♦
Lucas Zaskodny: A♥Q♣

Zaskondy’s opponent started gathering his belongings and appeared resigned to his fate, even though he was ahead before cards hit the board. Then, then the dealer fanned 4♦6♣A♣ on the flop.

“Of course there’s an ace,” Zaskodny’s opponent said.

The dealer then placed 6♣ on the turn and 7♣ on the river to give Zaskodny the hand and send the other player to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lukas Zaskodny	161,500 161,500	161,500

Tags: Lukas Zaskodny

06-16-2023 17:58 UTC-8

Greenstein All in for Tournament Life

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Action was picked up just before the flop. Barry Greenstein was all in from the cutoff versus one opponent from middle position who had him covered.

Barry Greinstein: K♠J♠
Opponent: A♣Q♠

Greenstein was behind but the K♣J♦3♥ flop quickly turned things around. The 8♠ turn changed nothing and the J♥ river gave Greenstein a full house and a key double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Barry Greenstein	53,200 15,800	15,800

Tags: Barry Greenstein

06-16-2023 18:04 UTC-8

Lodge Wins Tangle With Lew

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Chris Bean

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

There was 15,000 in the middle at the turn with the board showing Q♦J♠5♥2♠ and Robbi Jade Lew bet 6,000 from the cutoff. Harry Lodge check-raised to 19,000 from middle position and was called by Lew.

The K♥ fell on the river and both players opted to check. Lodge tabled A♠A♦ which shocked Lew as she showed that they had 10♥10♦ and threw them into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Harry Lodge	250,000 250,000	250,000

Robbi Jade Lew	81,500 35,300	35,300

Tags: Harry Lodge Robbi Jade Lew

06-16-2023 18:09 UTC-8

Dinner Break

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Players are currently on a 75-minute dinner break. The field has expended to 3,752 players and will continue to grow until late registration ends after two more levels of play.

06-16-2023 18:45 UTC-8

Phil Galfond Offers Poker Hall of Fame Pick; Says Two Should Be Inducted Per Year

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Lyle Bateman

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Phil Galfond has yet to make an appearance at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP), and as he told PokerNews, right now he has no plans to play live.

“But who knows, plans change,” added Galfond, who has been playing online at WSOP.com.

While Galfond hasn’t been at the WSOP – well, at least Phil as his wife, Farah Galfond, has been competing – the three-time bracelet winner is still weighing in by his relatively new newsletter “PG’s Takes of the Week.”

One of the topics the online poker legend, who prior to the WSOP inserted himself in some drama involving Doug Polk and Charlie Carrel with a pointed letter, was that of the Poker Hall of Fame. Right now, the public is being solicited for nomination.

“The nominations for the Poker Hall of Fame are now open, presenting voters with a familiar dilemma: there are simply too many great options to choose from,” Galfond wrote before giving his picks.

Click here to see Phil Galfond's PHoF picks!

Level: 9

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

06-16-2023 19:26 UTC-8

Selected Dinner Break Counts From Horseshoe

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Chris Bean

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Adrian Bertini	399,000 399,000	399,000
Harry Lodge	336,500 86,500	86,500

Shane Freeman	322,000 322,000	322,000
Girish Reknar	315,500 315,500	315,500
Steve Frakes	301,000 16,000	16,000
Ronald Anderson	285,000 55,000	55,000
Narayan Patel	277,500 277,500	277,500
Chris Da-Silva	205,000 144,600	144,600
John Bousfield	112,000 40,300	40,300

06-16-2023 19:53 UTC-8

Lech’s Jacks Deliver Knockout Blow

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Herbie Teope

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

WSOP bracelet winner Michael Lech raised 4,000 in early position and received a call from a player in middle position.

The player in the big blind then three-bet to 30,000, only to see Lech, who had his opponent covered, four-bet all in. The player in middle position folded and the player in the big blind called to put his tournament life on the line.

Opponent: 9♠9♥
Michael Lech: J♥J♠

The dealer fanned out K♦5♥K♠, prompting Lech’s opponent to stand and gather his belongings. The turn showed 4♣ and the river brought 4♥ to officially send the player to rail, as the dealer pushed the pot to Lech.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Lech	197,000 197,000	197,000

Tags: Michael Lech

06-16-2023 19:54 UTC-8

Zentner Doubles Through Da-Silva

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Chris Bean

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Chris Da-Silva opened to 3,000 from the hijack and was called by Ronald Anderson on the button. John Zentner in the small blind moved all in for 19,500. Da-Silva made the call and Anderson got out of the way.

John Zentner: A♥K♠
Chris Da-Silva: A♠Q♣

Zentner got Big Slick at just the right moment and despite Da-Silva picking up additional chop outs on the turn the board of 9♣4♦3♠4♥6♦ was safe for Zentner and secured the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ronald Anderson	277,000 8,000	8,000
Chris Da-Silva	182,000 23,000	23,000
John Zentner	44,000

Tags: Chris Da-Silva John Zentner Ronald Anderson