Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Day 1 | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-18-2023 22:09 UTC-8

Deeb Jams and Shows Ladies

Connor Richards

Level 5

Pot-Limit Omaha

Shaun Deeb opened to 6,000 in the cutoff and Yong Wang three-bet to 21,000 on the button. Jared Bleznick called in the big blind and Deeb also called.

Bleznick led out for 36,000 on the 8♦7♥4♠ flop and Deeb raised the pot for around 170,000. Wang folded and Bleznick followed suit.

"Almost starting stack," Deeb said as he took down the pot. "Almost got my rebuy in."

Player	Chips	Progress
Yong Wang	340,000 90,000	90,000
Jared Bleznick	280,000 5,000	5,000

Shaun Deeb	250,000 120,000	120,000

Tags: Jared Bleznick Shaun Deeb Yong Wang

06-18-2023 22:09 UTC-8

Ivey Scores Massive Double-Up Through Ashton

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Mike Patrick

Level 5

Pot-Limit Omaha

Phil Ivey has rocketed to the top of the chip counts after the largest pot of the day was sent his direction.

After Greg Mueller raised to 6,500 in the cutoff and Matthew Ashton called in the small blind, Ivey three-bet to 26,000 in the big blind. Both Mueller and Ashton called, and a big pot that would get a lot bigger was brewing.

The flop came Q♦3♥9♦ and Ashton led out for 32,000. Ivey took some time to think and then made the call. Action was on Mueller now and he also called, leaving himself 64,000 behind.

The turn came 4♣ and after about a minute of thought, Ashton bet the pot, sliding out a stack of green T-25,000 chips that totaled 275,000.

Ivey then went into the tank, covering his mouth as he thought through his decision for over two minutes, then cutting out his chips and sliding them all forward to the tune of 347,000.

Mueller then went into the tank for about a minute before deciding to fold and preserve his remaining stack.

Ashton dropped a call in and the hands were revealed that would either double up or eliminate Ivey.

Phil Ivey: A♥K♦Q♠J♣
Matthew Ashton: A♦K♠2♦2♠

Ashton's aggression with his flush draw and wheel draw had been picked off by Ivey's pair of queens and straight draw.

The river brought the 10♠, giving Ivey his straight to win the massive pot and send him to the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Ivey	868,000

Matthew Ashton	400,000

Greg Mueller	64,000

Tags: Greg Mueller Matthew Ashton Phil Ivey

06-18-2023 22:21 UTC-8

Smith Puts on the Pressure

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Jeremy Geist

Level 5

No-Limit Hold'em

David "ODB" Baker opened under the gun to 6,000. Dan Smith called in middle position and Brian Yoon defended his big blind.

The K♠5♦3♠ board checked to Baker who put out a bet of 20,000. Dan Smith was next to act and put in the raise to 60,000. Yoon got out of the way and Baker went into the tank for about a minute before he made the call.

The 4♥ turn hit the board and Baker checked again. Smith went into the tank for almost two minutes before putting out another bet of 75,000. Baker looked over his chips, did some accounting of Smith's, and eventually decided to return his cards to the dealer.

Smith dragged a much needed pot to get him back over starting stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Smith	325,000 10,000	10,000

David "ODB" Baker	270,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Brian Yoon Dan Smith Smith Puts

06-18-2023 22:25 UTC-8

Final Break

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Connor Richards

Level 5

Players have been sent on their final 15-minute break of the day. They will play one more 100-minute level when they return and then will bag for the evening.

One player who won't be returning is Kane Kalas, who was eliminated on the final hand before break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kane Kalas	Busted

Level: 6

Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits, 1,500 Ante
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500-3,000, 3,000/4,500 Ante

06-18-2023 22:50 UTC-8

Paur Versus Urbanovich

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Mike Patrick

Level 6

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Dzmitry Urbanovich raised to 7,500 in the cutoff and got a call from Taylor Paur in the small blind.

Each player drew one, and then Paur led out for 7,000. Urbanovich flicked in a call to see Paur's 8x7x6x4x3x to help boost his stack back toward its starting point.

Player	Chips	Progress
Taylor Paur	195,000 45,000	45,000

Dzmitry Urbanovich	188,000 16,000	16,000

Tags: Dzmitry Urbanovich Taylor Paur

06-18-2023 22:55 UTC-8

Ivey Takes More From Ashton

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Connor Richards

Level 6

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Phil Ivey: 8♣8♠5♦/A♦J♣6♦3♠
Matthew Ashton: XxXx/Q♠3♦9♣4♥/Xx

Phil Ivey won a massive pot off Matthew Ashton for the chip lead in the previous level and just won some more off the 2013 PPC champ.

Picking up the action on sixth street, Ivey checked and Ashton checked back. Ivey then led out on seventh street and Ashton called, only to muck as Ivey showed the winner.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Ivey	890,000 22,000	22,000

Matthew Ashton	500,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Matthew Ashton Phil Ivey

06-18-2023 23:05 UTC-8

Barbero Battles Eveslage

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Jeremy Geist

Level 6

Seven Card Stud

Nacho Barbero: XxXxXx/7♥4♣7♠Q♣
Chad Eveslage: XxXxXx/5♠J♣5♣K♦

Chad Eveslage brought it in and Nacho Barbero completed. Eveslage made the call and and they were off to fourth street which went bet and call. Fifth street landed and Eveslage called Barbero's bet again. Sixth street slowed down and went check check.

The dealer tossed each player a river and Barbero put his foot back on the gas with a bet. Eveslage appeared to have a tough decision and was in the tank for almost two minutes before eventually laying it down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nacho Barbero	450,000 126,000	126,000

Chad Eveslage	55,000 60,000	60,000

Tags: Nacho Barbero Chad Eveslage

06-18-2023 23:07 UTC-8

Barbero Cracks Aces

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Connor Richards

Level 6

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Nacho Barbero raised from the cutoff and Michael Moncek three-bet on the button. Barbero called.

The flop of 6♣4♠7♥ checked through and Barbero led out on the Q♠ turn. Moncek called. Barbero bet again on the 3♥ river and Moncek again called.

Barbero showed A♦J♥5♠2♠ for a rivered straight and the nut low as Moncek showed A♠A♣ and mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nacho Barbero	590,000 140,000	140,000

Michael Moncek	425,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Michael Moncek Nacho Barbero

06-18-2023 23:07 UTC-8

Rotholz Dents the Terminator

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Mike Patrick

Level 6

Omaha Hi-Lo

After Hal Rotholz limped his small blind, Dan Cates raised in the big blind. Rotholz called and the flop came Q♣10♦2♠.

The players checked to see the 7♦ on the turn, and then Rotholz check-called a bet from Cates.

The river brought the 9♦ and after another check from Rotholz, Cates bet a final time. Rotholz thought briefly then put in the call.

"Ace-high" said Cates in his best Terminator voice before Rotholz turned over 8♣5♠2♥2♣ for a winning set of deuces.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Cates	335,000 15,000	15,000

Hal Rotholz	140,000 2,000	2,000

Tags: Dan Cates Hal Rotholz