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

06-17-2023 17:29 UTC-8

Monster Hand = Monster Pot for Varga; Smith Vows Revenge

Kirk Brown

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

William Smith opened to 2,400 and Peter Varga just ripped it in his face for 55,000. Smith considered his options for a bit and eventually decided to call it off and the cards were tabled.

Peter Varga: K♠7♥
William Smith: A♠Q♠

Smith was a favorite going into this matchup but the flop of K♣10♦3♦ immediately gave Varga the lead with his pair of kings. The runout of 5♠7♥ did nothing to help Smith and Varga scored a big double-up with his monster hand.

Smith has since vowed revenge and is eager to get another chance to battle with Varga, who says Smith is the "crazy man".

Player	Chips	Progress
William Smith	125,000
Peter Varga	42,500

Tags: Peter Varga William Smith

06-17-2023 17:52 UTC-8

Martini Shakes Up Zaric

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Ellis de-Vaney

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

On the heads up turn of 4♥4♦10♥A♥, there was around 48,000 in the pot when Amie Martini bet 8,000 after a check from her opponent, Dragan Zaric.

Zaric then made the call to see the Q♥ appear on the river.

Zaric checked once more only for Martini to go all in for 25,200.

After spending some time in the tank, Zaric shook his head and decided to let his hand go and the pot was awarded to Martini.

Zaric then revealed he folded pocket jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dragan Zaric	215,000 215,000	215,000
Amie Martini	73,000 73,000	73,000

Tags: Amie Martini Dragan Zaric

06-17-2023 17:58 UTC-8

Bhaloo Has The Bare Necessities

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Chris Bean

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

Four players went to the turn of K♦J♦10♠K♥ with 15,500 in the middle. The player in middle position bet 6,000 which was called by Arif Bhaloo on the button and Timothy Sullivan in early position while the big blind folded.

The inconsequential looking 2♥ completed the board and Bhaloo bet 11,000. Sullivan went into the tank but made the fold, as did the middle position player. Bhaloo is now back above starting stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Arif Bhaloo	72,000 6,200	6,200
Timothy Sullivan	37,000 12,000	12,000

Tags: Arif Bhaloo Timothy Sullivan

06-17-2023 18:15 UTC-8

DeGuzman Triples Before Dinner Break

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Chris Bean

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

Arsenio DeGuzman open-jammed from under-the-gun for 14,600. The hijack called and the big blind moved all in for 15,200. The hijack flicked in 600 additional chips.

Arsenio DeGuzman: J♦J♣
Big Blind: 7♠7♦
Hijack: A♠Q♦

DeGuzman was ahead and had a lock on the hand flopping a set on the J♥6♥5♦A♥9♠ board to secure a vital triple-up. The hijack picked up the 1,200 side-pot with top pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Arsenio DeGuzman	45,200

Tags: Arsenio DeGuzman

06-17-2023 18:18 UTC-8

Dinner Time

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Chris Bean

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

Players have exited both Paris and Horseshoe tournament areas for a 75-minute dinner break.

Play will restart at approximately 8.15 p.m. local time. Currently, 4,166 players have entered Day 1b, with 2,500 remaining.

06-17-2023 18:43 UTC-8

The Chad & Jesse Poker Show Episode #6: Jason Koon on Integrity, Personal Goals & Missing WSOP Main Event

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Chad Holloway

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

In the sixth episode of The Chad & Jesse Poker Show, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen are joined by GGPoker Ambassador Jason Koon, who took some time before jumping into the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $250,000 Super High Roller.

Koon talks about expecting his second child, and as fate would have it, the day after recording his wife went into labor and he had to pull out of the aforementioned tournament. In addition to sharing what it's like being a family man, Koon discusses integrity in poker, his personal goals, and a never-before-shared prop bet he has with Bill Perkins.

Koon, who currently sits fifth on the all-time poker money list according to The Hendon Mob with nearly $48 million, also discusses his love of poker history, shares a Doyle Brunson story, and just opens up about poker and life. Don't miss your chance to hear from one of the best.

Click here to watch the latest episode now!

06-17-2023 19:25 UTC-8

Play Has Resumed

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Chris Bean

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

All 2,500 players have returned to their seats and cards are back In the air.

Blinds are 1,000/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante.

Level: 9

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

06-17-2023 19:37 UTC-8

Varga Doubles Up the Fun Way

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Herbie Teope

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

Peter Varga was in a hand that saw heavy preflop action.

A player in late position raised 3,000, and then Varga three-bet to 10,000. If that wasn’t enough to get the adrenaline pumping, the small blind four-bet all in for his remaining stack of 25,000.

The player in late position tanked and pondered his situation, while Varga was jovial about the situation, playfully inviting the player to come in the pot. The player, however, showed his cards to a person who was standing off to the side and mucked his hand.

Varga, who had the small blind covered, tossed in 15,000 and the action went heads up.

Small blind: A♠K♦
Varga: 8♥8♦

“No ace!” Varga said to the dealer.

He aslso had to dodge a king, but his wish was met because the dealer ran out 7♣4♣7♠9♥7♥ to give Varga the hand and send his opponent to the rail.

As the players got ready for the next hand, it was revealed that the original raiser folder pocket jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Varga	105,000 62,500	62,500

Tags: Peter Varga

06-17-2023 19:42 UTC-8

Set Good for Kusumowidagdo

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Kirk Brown

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

The under-the-gun player opened to 2,500 and only Justin Kusumowidagdo called from middle position.

The flop came out A♦Q♣2♦ and the under-the-gun continued for 2,300 but then Kusumowidagdo raised it up to 6,900.

His opponent made the call and the duo went to the 3♠, which now saw a continuation from Kusumowidagdo for 16,000 which the under-the-gun player calls.

On the river 9♥, Kusumowidagdo fired again for 40,000 and his opponent went deep into the tank, saying that he missed diamonds but made the call anyway. He was then shown 2♦2♥ by Kusumowidagdo for a flopped set of deuces to scoop the huge pot, putting him over the 200,000 mark.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Kusumowidagdo	205,000 90,000	90,000

Tags: Justin Kusumowidagdo