2023 World Series of Poker

Event #79: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$682,436
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$4,601,300
Entries
2,068
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
310
Players Left
24

Davies Looks For First Bracelet in the Star-Studded $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Day 2

Seth Davies
Seth Davies

As the series nears it’s close, Event #79: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em has 310 players returning for Day 2 with hopes of securing a prestigious bracelet. The event that saw 1,349 players enter last year, saw a much higher turnout of 2,070 entries creating a prize pool worth $4,601,300 and a first place prize of $682,436 to go along with the bracelet.

Leading the way into the day is respected high-stakes player Seth Davies, who comes into today with a whopping 1,113,000. Over the past few years on the high-stakes circuit, Davies has carved out a reputation as one of the most respectable and best players in the game today. Despite all of this a WSOP bracelet has eluded him thus far, as his best WSOP finish was in 2021, fourth place in the $250,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $930,791. With $21,193,154 in reported live earnings and the massive chip lead, he will be a force to be reckoned with coming into the second day of this event.

Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Seth DaviesUnited States1,113,000111
2Ramon FernandezSpain1,025,000103
3Alex LindopUnited Kingdom858,00086
4Valentyn ShabelnykUkraine776,00078
5Daniel RuddUnited Kingdom774,00077
6Diego Vaz SorgattoBrazil757,00076
7Galen HallUnited States743,00074
8Alex GreenblattUnited States739,00074
9Elias FiszNetherlands690,00069
10Ignas JasineviciusLithuania682,00068

Other notables that made it through Day 1 include Viet Vo (595,000), Joey Couden (516,000), Brazilian bracelet winners Renan Bruschi (493,000) and Rafael Reis (475,000), Jake Schwartz (201,000), Chad Eveslage (171,000), Brian Yoon (93,000), and 2021 WSOP Main Event champion Koray Aldemir (154,000). Each one of them is looking to collect this bracelet and add to their own illustrious resumes.

Players will return to the Horseshoe Ballroom at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11th. The blinds have increased to 60 minutes each, rather than the previous 40 minutes per level. The day will begin at Level 18 with blinds at 5,000/10,000 and a 10,000 big blind ante. Ten levels will be played with a 15-minute break following the completion of every two levels, with a 60-minute dinner break to occur at the end of Level 23 (about 4:30 p.m.).

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding this and other events at the World Series of Poker.

Tags: Alex GreenblattAlex LindopBrian YoonChad EveslageDaniel RuddDiego VazsorgattoElias FiszGalen HallIgnas JasineviciusJake SchwartzJoey CoudenKoray AldemirRafael ReisRamon FernandezRenan BruschiSeth DaviesValentyn ShabelnykViet Vo

Aldemir Hero Calls To Double

Level 18 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Koray Aldemir
Koray Aldemir

Michael Fan raised to 23,000 on the button and in the big blind, Koray Aldemir defended.

The flop peeled out K410 and Aldemir check-called a bet of 25,000 from Fan.

On the 4 turn, Aldemir checked again to Fan, who moved all in for 96,000 effective, which caused Aldemir to think about his decision for a bit before calling for his tournament life.

Koray Aldemir: 108
Michael Fan: J7

The river 4 kept Aldemir in the lead and the WSOP Main Event champion took down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Fan us
Michael Fan
419,000
-175,000
-175,000
Koray Aldemir de
Koray Aldemir
303,000
149,000
149,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Koray AldemirMichael Fan

Schwartz Knocks Out Both Women At His Table

Level 19 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Jake Schwartz
Jake Schwartz

Lara Eisenberg raised to 76,000 in the small blind and Jake Schwartz moved all in and immediately turned his hand over, without realizing that Eisenberg was not all in, as she had 1,000 behind. After a few seconds she called and the cards were on their back.

Lara Eisenberg: K6
Jake Schwartz: A3

The board ran out A8234 and the ace-three made two pair for Schwartz, while the WSOP bracelet winner exited the tournament.

The following hand saw Kane Kalas raise to 24,000 on the button which saw Jake Schwartz call in the small blind and Barbara Enright call in the big blind.

On the J87 flop, Schwartz checked to Enright who moved all in for 74,000 which saw Kalas fold and Schwartz call.

Barbara Enright: A7
Jake Schwartz: AJ

The board ran out 34 and the top pair held up for Schwartz to give him another elimination, and the WSOP bracelet winner exited the tournament at the hands of Schwartz. The table which had the most women at any single table in this tournament, has now seen both depart.

"Do you just hate women, man?" another player at the table asked jokingly.

"I am a massive misogynist," joked Schwartz as he nearly tripled his starting stack.

At another table, Kami Hudson was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Jake Schwartz us
Jake Schwartz
465,000
264,000
264,000
$25K Fantasy
Kane Kalas us
Kane Kalas
423,000
163,000
163,000
$25K Fantasy
Lara Eisenberg us
Lara Eisenberg
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
Barbara Enright us
Barbara Enright
Busted
WSOP 3X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Kami Hudson us
Kami Hudson
Busted

Tags: Barbara EnrightJake SchwartzKami HudsonKane KalasLara Eisenberg

Serock Loses A Flip

Level 20 : Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante
Joe Serock
Joe Serock

Joe Serock moved all in for 280,000 from the hijack and on the button, Samuel Bernabeu moved all in for more which saw all subsequent action fold.

Joe Serock: AQ
Samuel Bernabeu: JJ

The board ran out 109489 and Serock's ace-queen was unable to find any help against Bernabeu and he exited the tournament area.

Player Chips Progress
Samuel Bernabeu es
Samuel Bernabeu
1,320,000
319,500
319,500
WSOP 1X Winner
Joe Serock us
Joe Serock
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Joe SerockSamuel Bernabeu

Reis Knocked out in Three Way All in

Level 20 : Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante
Rafael Reis
Rafael Reis

Rafael Reis pushed his stack in for 210,000 and the button Can Miral called and the big blind Ali Zebarjad also shoved for 320,000. Miral made the second call as well.

Rafael Reis: AQ
Ali Zebarjad: 88
Can Miral: AK

The board ran out J8594 and the eights of Zebarjad knocked out Reis and took a big chunk from Miral.

Player Chips Progress
Ali Zebarjad au
Ali Zebarjad
660,000
551,000
551,000
Can Miral tr
Can Miral
310,000
237,000
237,000
Rafael Reis br
Rafael Reis
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Ali ZebarjadCan MiralRafael ReisReis Knocked

Smith Flops the Joint to Double

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
William Smith
William Smith

William Smith opened to 45,000 preflop from the button and Alex Greenblatt defended from the big blind.

The flop came out K10J and Greenblatt checked to Smith who continued for 40,000.

Greenblatt thought about it for a second before he shoved all-in and Smith snap-called and rolled over AQ for flopped Broadway while Greenblatt sighed and flipped over J10 for two-pair.

The board ran out clean for Smith with the 72 and he scooped the large pot for a big double-up that puts him right over 1,000,000.

Player Chips Progress
William Smith us
William Smith
1,070,000
780,000
780,000
Alex Greenblatt us
Alex Greenblatt
560,000
-179,000
-179,000

Tags: William SmithAlex Greenblatt

Galen's Kings Rule

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Galen Hall
Galen Hall

Galen Hall raised from the cutoff to 45,000 and Justin Kindred flat called from the button. Boris Smuskevicius moved all in for 680,000 from the small blind. Hall called and Kindred folded.

Boris Smuskevicius: 88
Galen Hall: KK

The eights could not defeat the kings when the board was 9J45K. Hall added to his significant stack with his set and Smuskevicius was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Galen Hall us
Galen Hall
1,750,000
1,180,000
1,180,000
WSOP 1X Winner
StakeKings
Justin Kindred us
Justin Kindred
520,000
-157,000
-157,000
Boris Smuskevicius lt
Boris Smuskevicius
Busted

Tags: Boris SmuskeviciusGalen HallJustin Kindred

Macdonnell Hits the Boat

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Marc Macdonnell
Marc Macdonnell

Roberto Romanello raised from middle position to 50,000 and Marc Macdonnell three-bet all in for 450,000. Rintaro Kagawa four-bet all in for 950,000 with the biggest stack and it folded back around to Romanello who also folded.

Marc Macdonnell: QJ
Rintaro Kagawa: AK

The board came out with something for everyone with 3QK but the turn J and the river J spelled bad news for Kagawa and good news for Macdonnell as he hit his full house for the win.

Player Chips Progress
Marc Macdonnell ie
Marc Macdonnell
1,050,000
760,000
760,000
Rintaro Kagawa jp
Rintaro Kagawa
400,000
231,000
231,000
Roberto Romanello gb
Roberto Romanello
300,000
-650,000
-650,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Marc MacdonnellRintaro KagawaRoberto Romanello

Romanello More Than Doubles With Kings

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Roberto Romanello
Roberto Romanello

Roberto Romanello raised to 50,000 on the button with Charles Kassin having been forced all in from the small blind and Derek Normand in the big blind moved all in for 390,000 effective which Romanello called.

Charles Kassin: 103
Roberto Romanello: KK
Derek Normand: AQ

The board ran out 5884J and the kings held up for Romanello to more than double while Kassin exited the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Derek Normand us
Derek Normand
1,650,000
-300,000
-300,000
Roberto Romanello gb
Roberto Romanello
820,000
520,000
520,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Charles Kassin us
Charles Kassin
Busted

Tags: Charles KassinDerek NormandRoberto Romanello

Davies Floats with Nine-High

Level 25 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Seth Davies
Seth Davies

Derek Normand opened to 80,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to Seth Davies in the big blind who made the call and the two went to a flop of 6Q5.

Davies checked to Normand who continued for 120,000 but then Davies check-raised to 300,000. Normand decided that wasn't quite enough and reraised to 520,000 which Davies called to see the Q on the turn.

The action then went check-check and they went to the river 9 which saw Davies check once more.

Normand then gathered a stack of chips and set them in the middle for a bet totaling 585,000 and Davies thought about it for a good 30 seconds before he flicked in a call.

Normand rolled over A4 for ace-high and Davies flipped over 89 for a nine on the river to win the pot.

"So, that's how y'all do it, huh?" Normand said to him. "Just float with the nine high and they give you whatever you want... you just put me on the ol' airball?"

Davies just smiled as he raked in the substantial pot to put him at 3,775,000 while Normand was reduced to 1,400,000.

Davies then went on to win another decent pot and is now sitting at 4,200,000 as the chip leader.

Player Chips Progress
Seth Davies us
Seth Davies
4,200,000
1,100,000
1,100,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
$25K Fantasy
StakeKings
Derek Normand us
Derek Normand
1,400,000
-250,000
-250,000

Tags: Derek NormandSeth Dabvies