Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship Day 1 | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-02-2023 13:04 UTC-7

Brannan Next Through

David Salituro

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Frank Brannan has defeated Japanese vlogging superstar Masato Yokosawa to advance to the next round.

According to Brannan, he raised to 2,000 preflop and Yokosawa called to see the AxKx5x flop with one diamond. Brannan continued for 3,000 and Yokosawa called.

Yokosawa called another 20,000 on the 10♦ turn before calling all in on the 3♦ river with A♣8♦. Brannan, though, had 7♦4♦ for a flush to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Brannan	300,000 150,000	150,000

Masato Yokosawa	Busted

Tags: Frank Brannan Masato Yokosawa

06-02-2023 13:00 UTC-7

Kono Advances to Play Puustinen in the Next Round

Adam Lamers

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Reiji Kono was seen filling out a winner's paper after defeating Jordan Scott in his heads-up match. As relayed after the hand, Scott flopped two pair with Kx3x on a Kx5x3x flop. The turn was a 2x and the two players got all of their chips in the middle.4

Kono flipped over 6x4x for a turned straight and Scott was facing elimination. The river was an Ax and Kono held on to advance to the next round where he will take on Henri Puustinen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Reiji Kono	300,000 150,000	150,000
Jordan Scott	Busted

Tags: Reiji Kono Jordan Scott Henri Puustinen

06-02-2023 12:58 UTC-7

Puustinen First to Advance as Bonomo Misses

David Salituro

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Justin Bonomo found himself all in for around 120,000 on a flop of 8♥3♦3♥ and at risk against Henri Puustinen.

Justin Bonomo: A♥9♥
Henri Puustinen: 9♦9♣

Bonomo needed to complete his flush draw or hit an ace to stay in the tournament but got no help on the 10♦ turn or 7♣ river as he became the first elimination.

According to Puustinen, he bet the flop, Bonomo raised, Puustinen jammed, and Bonomo called off his last chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Henri Puustinen	300,000
Justin Bonomo	Busted

Tags: Henri Puustinen Justin Bonomo

06-02-2023 12:57 UTC-7

Tice Bets Smith on the Flop

Ollie Garland

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Dan Smith started proceedings by raising the button to 2,300 into the big blind of Landon Tice. Tice three-bet to 9,500 and Smith called.

Going to a flop of 8♠2♣A♣, Tice continued his aggression betting 5,000 into Smith, who decided to fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Landon Tice	183,800 53,800	53,800
Dan Smith	116,200 -53,800	-53,800

Tags: Dan Smith Landon Tice

06-02-2023 12:55 UTC-7

A "Reasonable" Runout?

Adam Lamers

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Shunta Someya opened to 2,000 on the button and Doug Polk three-bet to 8,400 in the big blind. Someya called and the dealer fanned the flop of A♣K♣Q♦. Polk continued with a bet of 11,400 and Someya called to see the 6♠ on the turn.

Both players checked and the J♦ completed the board. Polk led out with a bet of 27,200 and Someya raised to 67,000 which Polk quickly called. Someya tabled Q♣10♣ for a straight and Polk flipped over 10♦7♥ for the same hand.

"Seems like a reasonable runout," Polk joked after getting lucky to chop the pot on the river. After the pot was chopped, Polk realized on the following hand that he received too many chips from the pot. After a lengthy discussion, Polk opted to give half of the river bet back to Someya, and the action carried on.

Player	Chips	Progress
Shunta Someya	160,000 10,000	10,000
Doug Polk	140,000 -10,000	-10,000

Tags: Doug Polk Shunta Someya

06-02-2023 12:52 UTC-7

Seidel Runs Into Szabo's Straight

David Salituro

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Gabor Szabo bet 15,000 on a flop of J♠5♠6♦ and Erik Seidel called.

The turn came the 8♦ and Szabo bet another 31,000. Seidel again called to see the Q♦ river, where Szabo put in a green 25,000 chip and announced he was all in.

Seidel asked for a count and tanked for a moment before announcing a call. Szabo turned over 9♣7♣ for the straight and Seidel flashed A♦J♥ before mucking as Szabo, runner-up to Jason Koon in this event two years ago, doubled up for 92,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gabor Szabo	285,000 135,000	135,000
Erik Seidel	15,000 -135,000	-135,000

Tags: Erik Seidel Gabor Szabo

06-02-2023 12:49 UTC-7

Nitsche Gets Value from Second Pair on the River

Adam Lamers

Level 3 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

By the turn, the pot stood at 4,000 as Dominick Nitsche from the big blind led out for 3,000 on a board of J♥3♥6♠9♦. Called by Adrian Mateos, both players went to the river.

The river brought the K♥ prompting Nitsche to fire another 3,500 into the middle. Mateos called and Nitsche tabled J♣10♥ for the winner.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adrian Mateos	2,185,000 2,035,000	2,035,000

Dominik Nitsche	81,500 -68,500	-68,500

Tags: Adrian Mateos Dominick Niche

Level: 3

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 0

06-02-2023 12:45 UTC-7

Weng Suspicious of Negreanu

David Salituro

Level 2 : 400/800, 0 ante

Daniel Negreanu bet 6,000 on a board of 3♦J♠9♦8♠ and Bin Weng called to see the 3♣ river.

Weng checked over to Negreanu, who this time fired out 30,000. Weng used up a time bank before he folded.

"You bluff me," he asked Negreanu following the hand, and Negreanu shook his head as he took the pot.

Negreanu has opened up a sizeable chip lead so far in this match.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Negreanu	235,000 85,000	85,000

Bin Weng	65,000 -85,000	-85,000

Tags: Bin Weng Daniel Negreanu

06-02-2023 12:39 UTC-7

Vuilleumier Bets Big on the River

David Salituro

Level 2 : 400/800, 0 ante

Alexandre Vuilleumier, champion of the $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em event last night, is back in action today and just took a big pot off Young Ko.

There was already around 70,000 in the middle as they headed to the river on a board of 9♠4♦10♣9♦A♦. Vuilleumier, in the big blind, led out for 42,000.

Ko used up one time bank and nearly let another 30 seconds elapse before he tossed his cards into the muck.