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

06-02-2023 16:21 UTC-7

Kornuth Downs Sullivan

Adam Lamers

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

Round 2: Blinds 1,500/3,000

Keir Sullivan limped in on the button and Chance Kornuth checked his option. The flop came 8♣5♠4♦ and Kornuth check-called a bet of 6,000 from Sullivan.

The turn was the Q♠ and Kornuth check-called another bet of 13,000 from Sullivan. The 2♦ completed the board and Kornuth checked for the third time. Sullivan jammed all in for 63,900 and Kornuth asked for a count before dipping into the tank.

Kornuth eventually made the call and Sullivan showed A♦8♥ for a pair of eights but was out-done by Kornuth's Q♥6♣ for a pair of queens. Kornuth has advanced to the third round now which will take place tomorrow.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	600,000 80,000	80,000

Keir Sullivan	Busted

Tags: Chance Kornuth Keir Sullivan

Level: 13

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 0

06-02-2023 16:11 UTC-7

Kornuth Shoves on Sullivan

David Salituro

Level 12 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000

Chance Kornuth bet 4,000 on a flop of 7♥J♥7♠ and Keir Sullivan called.

The turn came the 4♠ and Kornuth bet another 23,000. Sullivan tanked for a moment before he called to see the 2♦ river.

Kornuth now grabbed a stack of green 25,000 chips and shoved them in the middle, putting Sullivan all in. Sullivan, with around 80,000 remaining, leaned back in his chair and turned away from the table before he grabbed his cards and tossed them in the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	520,000 220,000	220,000

Keir Sullivan	80,000 -220,000	-220,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Keir Sullivan

06-02-2023 16:11 UTC-7

Kornuth causes Sullivan Confusion on the River

Ollie Garland

Level 12 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000

The board read K♠J♠5♣10♥6♦ as Chance Kornuth bombed the river with a huge bet of approximately 170,000 from the big blind, spiralling his opponent Keir Sullivan into the tank.

After much deliberation, Sullivan settled on folding but continued to speculate on the hand with Kornuth for some time afterwards.

"You had Ace-Queen?" Sullivan asked Kornuth as he revealed his own hand saying "I had queen Jack".

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	495,000 195,000	195,000

Keir Sullivan	105,000 -195,000	-195,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Keir Sullivan

06-02-2023 16:00 UTC-7

Yu Calls Off Incorrectly

Adam Lamers

Level 12 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

Ben Yu limped in on the button and Stephen Chidwick checked his option. The flop came 9♦4♦2♠ and both players checked to the 10♦ on the turn.

Chidwick checked again and Yu tossed in a bet of 10,000. Chidwick just called and the 8♠ landed on the river. Chidwick checked one more time and Yu flicked in a bet of 25,000. Chidwick check-raised all in for 136,400, enough to cover Yu's stack of around 124,000.

Yu went into the tank for a minute before dropping in some chips to call. Chidwick flipped over 5♦2♦ for a flush while Yu could only muster 10♥6♦ for top pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Chidwick	300,000 140,000	140,000

Ben Yu	Busted

Tags: Stephen Chidwick Ben Yu

06-02-2023 15:59 UTC-7

Kalas Sets a Trap, Rabichow Doesn't Take the Bait

David Salituro

Level 12 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000

Kevin Rabichow bet 2,000 on a flop of J♣K♥A♥ and Kane Kalas called from the big blind.

The turn came the K♣ and Rabichow continued for 5,300. Kalas again called as the 6♥ appeared on the river.

Kalas checked for a third time, and this time Rabichow checked behind. Kalas turned over K♣5♥ for trips and Rabichow mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Rabichow	530,000 12,000	12,000

Kane Kalas	70,000 -12,000	-12,000

Tags: Kane Kalas Kevin Rabichow

06-02-2023 15:56 UTC-7

Some of the Best Poker Players Who Haven't Won a WSOP Bracelet

Chad Holloway

Level 12 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

While winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker player can achieve, many of the greatest and most successful players in the game have yet to put one on their wrists.

PokerNews has had a decent track record with highlighting players without bracelets who have gone on to win them. Jason Koon won a maiden bracelet in 2021 after making the "Best Without a Bracelet" list that year, while Dan Smith and Alex Foxen both found bracelets in 2022 to be removed from that year's list.

With the 2023 WSOP happening now, here's a look at some of the best players who have yet to add a World Series bracelet to their long lists of accolades.

Check out our list of "Best Without a Bracelet" here!

06-02-2023 15:56 UTC-7

Ivey Doubles Through Smith

Ollie Garland

Level 12 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

Phil Ivey raised the button to 16,000 called by Smith in the big blind.

The flop came 9♠2♣3♠. Smith played in flow and Ivey continued for 8,000. Smith called.

The turned 9♣ paired the board and Smith once again checked. Ivey maintained the pressure with another bet of 15,000. This time, however, Smith played back with a jam putting Ivey to the test for all his remaining chips. There was no decision to be made for Ivey as he snap-called the bet.

Phil Ivey: K♥K♠
John Smith: A♠3♣

None of Smith's five outs came to fruition by the river and Ivey doubles.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Smith	200,400 -33,600	-33,600
Phil Ivey	99,600 33,600	33,600

Tags: John Smith Phil Ivey

Level: 12

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 0

06-02-2023 15:47 UTC-7

Back-and Forth They Go

David Salituro

Level 11 : 4,000/8,000, 0 ante

Ben Yu was all in for 110,000 as Stephen Chidwick had him covered and at risk.

Ben Yu: 9♣7♣
Stephen Chidwick: A♥2♥

"Another classic flip," Yu said heading to the 10♣A♣J♥ flop, which gave him a flush draw and Chidwick top pair. The 8♠ on the turn improved Yu to a straight, while the 6♣ river also gave him a flush as he doubled up.

A few hands later, Chidwick was all in for around 80,000.

Stephen Chidwick: A♦A♥
Ben Yu: K♣Q♣

Chidwick had woken up with aces, and there wouldn't be any help for Yu this time on the 2♣3♦9♠2♦8♠ board.

"Double up, double down," Yu said.