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

06-02-2023 15:42 UTC-7

Smith Sprung a Trap on Ivey

Ollie Garland

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

Phil Ivey limped in on the button and John Smith checked back.

The flop came 9♣Q♦4♣. Smith now elected to start building a pot and put out a bet of 5,000 which Ivey called.

On a turn of the 6♥, Smith again fired 20,000 into the middle and Ivey called.

The 3♦ river did not slow Smith down as he fired for a third street to the tune of 40,000, again called by Ivey. Smith tabled A♠A♦ prompting Ivey to knock the table twice and muck his cards. Smith took a commanding lead in this heads up match.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Smith	234,000 137,000	137,000
Phil Ivey	66,000 -137,000	-137,000

Tags: John Smith Phil Ivey

06-02-2023 15:35 UTC-7

Chidwick Comes From Behind to Double

David Salituro

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

Stephen Chidwick open-shoved for 82,800 and Ben Yu, after confirming the amount, called with a chance to win the match.

Stephen Chidwick: Q♠9♥
Ben Yu: Q♦10♠

Chidwick was dominated but pulled in front on the 6♦9♦J♣ flop with a pair of nines, while Yu had an open-ended straight draw. The 4♣ turn was no help to Yu, and Chidwick secured his double up after the 7♦ fell on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Chidwick	165,000 71,000	71,000

Ben Yu	135,000 -71,000	-71,000

Tags: Stephen Chidwick Ben Yu

Level: 11

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 0

06-02-2023 15:30 UTC-7

Heinzl Knocks Off Larabi

David Salituro

Level 10 : 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

Joshua Heinzl limped in, then called when Bernard Larabi shoved for around 50,000.

Bernard Larabi: 10♦6♦
Joshua Heinzl: A♠6♠

Heinzl had Larabi dominated as the board ran out K♥4♣2♦J♥Q♦, sending him off to the next round.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joshua Heinzl	300,000 62,000	62,000
Bernard Larabi	Busted

Tags: Bernard Larabi Joshua Heinzl

06-02-2023 15:27 UTC-7

Kalas Can't Win a Hand

Adam Lamers

Level 10 : 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

Round 2: Blinds 600/1,200

Kevin Rabichow and Kane Kalas have also started their second-round match-up early and it's been pure domination from Rabichow in the early going. On a completed board of A♦J♣3♦10♥6♥, Rabichow checked to Kalas who bet 36,100 into a pot of around 30,000. Rabichow looked him up and Kalas tabled 8♣5♥ for air while Rabichow showed K♣J♦ for a pair of jacks.

"I don't think I've ever played a tournament where I haven't won a hand. That might happen. I haven't won one hand yet, not one hand," Kalas mumbled as Rabichow chuckled.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Rabichow	518,000 218,000	218,000

Kane Kalas	82,000 -218,000	-218,000

Tags: Kevin Rabichow Kane Kalas

06-02-2023 15:20 UTC-7

Three Matches Remain in the Opening Round

Adam Lamers

Level 10 : 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Joshua Heinzl	238,000 3,000	3,000
Ben Yu	206,000 91,000	91,000

Phil Ivey	203,000 64,000	64,000

John Smith	97,000 -64,000	-64,000
Stephen Chidwick	94,000 -1,531,000	-1,531,000

Bernard Larabi	62,000 -3,000	-3,000

06-02-2023 15:19 UTC-7

Soverel Falls to Perez

David Salituro

Level 10 : 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

Sam Soverel was all in for around 75,000 as opponent Roberto Perez had him at risk.

Sam Soverel: 9♥9♦
Roberto Perez: Q♦10♥

Perez hit two pair on the Q♥8♦10♣ flop, while Soverel picked up a straight draw. The 5♣ on the turn wasn't what he was looking for, while the 4♠ river sealed his elimination as Perez progressed to the next round.

There are now just three first round matches still in progress.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roberto Perez	300,000 90,000	90,000
Sam Soverel	Busted

Tags: Roberto Perez Sam Soverel

Level: 10

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 0

06-02-2023 15:14 UTC-7

Too Many Outs for D'Ambrosio

David Salituro

Level 9 : 2,000/4,000, 0 ante

Jimmy D'Ambrosio was all in for around 60,000 against Isaac Kempton.

Jimmy D'Ambrosio: K♠10♦
Isaac Kempton: 8♠8♥

"Put an eight out there," Kempton asked as the dealer turned over the 4♥2♦Q♣ flop. The J♠ on the turn gave D'Ambrosio an open-ended straight draw, but he missed the 3♥ river.

"Good game. Nice playing with you," the affable D'Ambrosio told Kempton.

"Good match," Kempton replied, shaking D'Ambrosio's hand.

"It was a good match. Aw, I had too many outs," D'Ambrosio added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Isaac Kempton	300,000 80,000	80,000
Jimmy D'Ambrosio	Busted

Tags: Isaac Kempton Jimmy D'Ambrosio

06-02-2023 15:11 UTC-7

Zinno Flips Keating to the Rail

Adam Lamers

Level 9 : 2,000/4,000, 0 ante

Just moments after Alex Keating doubled up, it didn't take long for him and Anthony Zinno to get all of their chips in the middle again. Zinno showed up with AxKx and was flipping against the JxJx of Keating.

The flop of AxKx6x gave Zinno a lead with two pair. The 4x and 6x runout was no help to Keating who was bounced in the first round.