Event #56: $500 Salute to Warriors | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-27-2023 10:58 UTC-8

Elisofon Doubles Through Gall

Yori Epskamp

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

David Elisofon (middle) and Kelly Gall (right)

Raffaello Locatelli made it 2,000,000 to go in early position. David Elisofon three-bet shoved 11,600,000 from the small blind, Kelly Gall reshoved from the big blind, and Locatelli got out of the way.

David Elisofon: 8♣8♥
Kelly Gall: A♣10♣

Elisofon's pair held up during the 9♠4♣3♠J♥5♠ rundown to keep nine players at the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Raffaello Locatelli	37,600,000 7,900,000	7,900,000
David Elisofon	27,200,000 8,300,000	8,300,000
Kelly Gall	23,000,000 7,200,000	7,200,000

Tags: David Elisofon Kelly Gall Raffaello Locatelli

06-27-2023 11:05 UTC-8

Alawadhi Doubles Through Locatelli in Massive Blind Versus Blind Confrontation

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Chris Land

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Action folded to Raffaello Locatelli in the small blind who limped. Ali Alawadhi answered raising to 2,400,000 from the big blind. Locatelli paused briefly before announcing all in and seeing a snap-call from Alawadhi, putting himself at risk and sending the pair to a runout.

Ali Alawadhi: A♦A♠
Raffaello Locatelli: A♥K♠

In what quickly became a massive blind versus blind confrontation with over 50,000,000 chips in the middle, the board ran out 8♦3♠5♣3♦A♣ to secure a huge double for Alawadhi and catapult him to the top of the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ali Alawadhi	51,000,000 31,700,000	31,700,000
Raffaello Locatelli	11,000,000 26,600,000	26,600,000

Tags: Ali Alawadhi Raffaello Locatelli

06-27-2023 11:09 UTC-8

Alawadhi Carves Up Butcher

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Yori Epskamp

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Ali Alawadhi opened to 2,200,000 in the cutoff and Will Butcher defended the big blind. Both players checked the J♣J♥6♠ flop. Butcher checked the K♦ on the turn, Alawadhi bet 2,000,000, and Butcher called.

The river was the 8♥ and Alawadhi bet 4,000,000 after a check. Butcher called but was shown the bad news as Alawadhi tabled J♦9♥ for trip jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ali Alawadhi	58,000,000 7,000,000	7,000,000
William Butcher	15,500,000 5,500,000	5,500,000

Tags: Ali Alawadhi Will Butcher

06-27-2023 11:12 UTC-8

Dejuante Alexander Eliminated in 9th Place ($19,910)

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Yori Epskamp

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Second to act, Dejuante Alexander open-shoved 11,500,000 and action folded to Ryan Stephens in the big blind. Stephens flicked in a quick call to put Alexander at risk.

Dejuante Alexander: A♥K♥
Ryan Stephens: A♣A♦

Not for the first time at the final table, ace-king was up against the blades. There was no escape for the lone bracelet winner remaining as the board ran out 9♠8♥6♠4♠A♠, making Alexander the first casualty at the FT.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Stephens	41,000,000 17,400,000	17,400,000

Dejuante Alexander	Busted

Tags: Dejuante Alexander Ryan Stephens

06-27-2023 11:19 UTC-8

Locatelli Doubles Through Stephens

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Chris Land

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Raffaello Locatelli raised to 2,100,000 from middle position. Action folded to Ryan Stephens in the big blind who jammed to put Locatelli at risk. Locatelli called to send the duo to a runout.

Raffaello Locatelli: K♠10♦
Ryan Stephens: A♣J♥

The board of 10♣5♠8♣2♥6♥ ran out favorably for Locatelli who was able to flop a ten and hold to secure a full double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Stephens	32,100,000 8,900,000	8,900,000

Raffaello Locatelli	19,000,000 8,000,000	8,000,000

Tags: Raffaello Locatelli Ryan Stephens

Level: 38

Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000

Ante: 1,200,000

06-27-2023 11:23 UTC-8

Two Shoves by Hicham

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Yori Epskamp

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Youssef Hicham has been hovering around the ten big blind mark for a while, but bought himself a bit of a breather with two uncontested shoves in short succession.

The blinds moved up in between the hands, while Hicham worked his way back up to nearly 15 million.

Player	Chips	Progress
Youssef Hicham	14,700,000 4,100,000	4,100,000

Tags: Youssef Hicham

06-27-2023 11:35 UTC-8

Youssef Hicham Eliminated in 8th Place ($25,512)

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Chris Land

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Kelly Gall raised to 4,000,000 from middle position. Action folded to Youssef Hicham in the big blind who jammed for 12,300,000 total. Gall paused briefly before announcing a call to send the pair to a runout with Hicham at risk.

Youssef Hicham: 9♣9♥
Kelly Gall: K♣J♦

The flop came 10♦5♦Q♠, giving Gall an open-ended straight draw to go with his two over cards to Hicham's nines.

The J♣ put Gall in the lead with one card to come and the 6♥ completed the board without improving Hicham, sending him to the rail in eighth for $25,512.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kelly Gall	41,000,000 18,000,000	18,000,000
Youssef Hicham	Busted

Tags: Kelly Gall Youssef Hicham

06-27-2023 11:39 UTC-8

Butcher Doubles Through Genovese

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Yori Epskamp

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Steven Genovese made it 3,000,000 to go on the button and Will Butcher three-bet shoved 15,100,000 from the small blind. Genovese asked for a count and pondered for a while before calling it off.

Will Butcher: K♥K♠
Steven Genovese: K♣Q♦

Butcher found himself in a fantastic spot to double up and did so after the J♣7♠5♠8♥3♥ board remained safe.

Player	Chips	Progress
William Butcher	32,600,000 17,100,000	17,100,000
Steven Genovese	22,100,000 11,900,000	11,900,000

Tags: Will Butcher Steven Genovese

06-27-2023 11:42 UTC-8

Raffaello Locatelli Eliminated in 7th Place ($32,969)

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Yori Epskamp

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

After defending his big blind against an open from Ryan Stephens, Raffaello Locatelli saw a flop of 9♣7♣5♥ appear and decided to open-shove for 6,400,000. Stephens called it off after some thought.

Raffaello Locatelli: J♠8♠
Ryan Stephens: A♠4♥

Locatelli had plenty of outs with his double gutter and live cards but neither the 5♠ turn nor 7♠ river brought the help he needed.