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

06-02-2023 17:07 UTC-7

Gaston Puts in Big River Raise to Take Early Lead

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 600/1,200, 0 ante

With around 40,000 in the middle on a board of 3♦8♦4♥J♦Q♣, Ranjeet Pawar bet 31,500.

Tyler Gaston then grabbed a pile of chips and tossed them into the middle for a raise, and Pawar snap-folded as Gaston took down an early big pot in this second-round match.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tyler Gaston	350,000 350,000	350,000
Ranjeet Pawar	250,000 -50,000	-50,000

Tags: Ranjeet Pawar Tyler Gaston

Level: 14

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 0

06-02-2023 16:58 UTC-7

Rabichow Fills Up to Advance

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Second Round: Blinds 2,000-4,000

Kevin Rabichow moved all in and Kane Kalas called for around 30,000.

Kane Kalas: A♦8♣
Kevin Rabichow: 6♦4♦

The 8♠ came in the window to give Kalas a pair, but it was followed by the 6♣4♥ as Rabichow made two pair. The 6♥ fell on the turn and Rabichow made a full house.

The river came the J♣ and Rabichow joined Chance Kornuth as the first players through to tomorrow's Round of 16.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Rabichow	600,000 39,000	39,000
Kane Kalas	Busted

Tags: Kane Kalas Kevin Rabichow

06-02-2023 16:58 UTC-7

Winter Rips on Ponakovs

Adam Lamers

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Blinds 800/1,600

Aleksejs Ponakovs raised to 4,000 on the button and Sean Winter made it 14,000 from the big blind. Ponakovs clicked it back to 42,000 and Winter five-bet ripped all in. Ponakovs was forced to give up his hand and Winter jumped out front in their heads-up match.

The rest of the second round matches are about to get underway with each player starting with 300,000 chips and the blinds at 600/1,200.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sean Winter	376,000 36,000	36,000
Aleksejs Ponakovs	224,000 -36,000	-36,000

Tags: Sean Winter Aleksejs Ponakovs

06-02-2023 16:52 UTC-7

Rabichow Gets Paid on the River, Kalas in the Danger Zone

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Second Round: Blinds 2,000-4,000

Kevin Rabichow and Kane Kalas built a pot of 23,000 heading to the turn on a board of Q♣2♥J♠6♣. Both players checked as the 2♦ fell on the river.

Rabichow now bet out 23,000 and Kalas went into his time banks before flicking in a green 25,000 chip to call. Rabichow turned over Q♠7♠ for two pair and Kalas mucked his hand to drop down to less than 10 big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Rabichow	561,000 31,000	31,000
Kane Kalas	39,000 -31,000	-31,000

Tags: Kane Kalas Kevin Rabichow

06-02-2023 16:44 UTC-7

Kalas Takes Two on the River

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Second Round; Blinds 1,500-3,000

Kevin Rabichow bet 9,500 on a flop of 9♣3♠9♥ and Kane Kalas called. Both players checked the Q♥ turn.

The river came the K♥ and Kalas used a time bank before leading out for 17,200. Rabichow gave it some thought before mucking.

"Kane, Kane, Kane. He's got the voice of an angel," Chance Kornuth began chanting from the rail.

The next hand, Rabichow bet 3,000 on a J♦3♦Q♠ flop and Kalas called.

The 4♥ turn was again checked through before Kalas bet 10,000 on the J♣ river. Rabichow once more gave up his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Rabichow	530,000 -5,300	-5,300
Kane Kalas	70,000 5,300	5,300

Tags: Kane Kalas Kevin Rabichow

06-02-2023 16:42 UTC-7

Rabichow Steals Another from Kalas

Adam Lamers

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Round 2: Blinds 1,500/3,000

Kevin Rabichow raised to 6,500 on the button and Kane Kalas called from the big blind. The flop came J♥J♦8♥ and both players checked to the 7♣ on the turn.

Kalas led out with a bet of 6,200 and Rabichow stuck around for the A♥ on the river. Kalas checked this time and Rabichow tossed in a bet of 13,500. Kalas laid his hand down and Rabichow scooped another pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Rabichow	535,300 5,300	5,300
Kane Kalas	64,700 -5,300	-5,300

Tags: Kevin Rabichow Kane Kalas

06-02-2023 16:40 UTC-7

Winters Bombs the River Against Ponakovs

Ollie Garland

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000

Aleksejs Ponakovs raised the button to 4,000 and Sean Winter called in the big blind.

On the board of 9♦2♣5♦ both players checked through to a turn of the 8♠. Winters now lead for 14,000 called by Ponakovs.

The 9♣ fell on the river and Winters continued the aggression bombing the river for 108,000. Ponakovs timer almost reached zero as he tossed his hand into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sean Winter	340,000 40,000	40,000
Aleksejs Ponakovs	260,000 -40,000	-40,000

Tags: Aleksejs Ponakovs Sean Winter

06-02-2023 16:38 UTC-7

Round 1 Completed

Adam Lamers

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

06-02-2023 16:31 UTC-7

Smith Finally Finishes Off Ivey

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Phil Ivey moved all in for around 100,000 and John Smith called.

Phil Ivey: A♥10♥
John Smith: K♠Q♦

The flop came 5♣Q♠Q♣, giving Smith trip queens. "That's a good flop for you," Ivey said.

"That's a really good flop," Smith replied.

The turn came the J♣ and Ivey was already standing up and going to shake Smith's hand as the dealer turned over the 8♠ river before making a quick exit from the tournament area.

"What a flop," Smith added as he awaited tournament officials to rack up his chips for the next round.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Smith	300,000 99,600	99,600
Phil Ivey	Busted

Tags: John Smith Phil Ivey