Event #88: $1,500 The Closer Day 1b | 2023 World Series of Poker

07-15-2023 17:26 UTC-8

Player	Chips	Progress
Ross Denny	295,000 295,000	295,000
Will Berry	257,000 163,000	163,000
Pat Lyons	235,000 55,000	55,000

Ben Yu	194,000 194,000	194,000

Loni Hui	163,500 9,500	9,500

Dara O'Kearney	113,000 113,000	113,000

DJ Alexander	112,000 112,000	112,000

Jason Kapoor	105,500 34,500	34,500
Pei Li	103,000 103,000	103,000

Sonia-Veronika Shashikhina	100,000 6,900	6,900
Steve Foutty	95,000 95,000	95,000
Rob Perelman	81,500 18,000	18,000
Michael Marder	75,000 75,000	75,000
Ryan Riess	67,500 4,000	4,000

Will Kassouf	60,000 28,000	28,000
Ebony Kenney	57,500 18,500	18,500
Camille Brown	56,500 29,000	29,000
Bob Mather	55,500 55,500	55,500
Jesse Lonis	46,500 46,500	46,500

Frisky Raise for Ivanov

Roxanne Johnson

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Vladislav Ivanov raised from the cutoff to 10,500 and the big blind defended. The flop came out Q♣J♥A♦ and Ivanov continued with a bet of 8,000 after the big blind checked. The big blind stayed for the turn.

The turn came out the J♦ and both players checked.

On the river 9♠ Ivanov came out betting again for 13,000 and the big blind called and mucked once Ivanov turned over A♥4♠ for two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vladislav Ivanov	125,000

Tags: Vladislav Ivanov

07-15-2023 17:40 UTC-8

Castillo Scores with Fours

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Roxanne Johnson

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Joseph Castillo raised all in for about 39,000 and the button three-bet all in with the superior stack for about 215,000 and the blinds folded.

Joseph Castillo: 4♦4♥
Button: 7♥8♥

The board played out pretty scary looking for fours with Q♦K♣9♦10♠10♦ and after dodging the straight and over cards Castillo scored.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joseph Castillo	59,000

Tags: Joseph Castillo

07-15-2023 17:42 UTC-8

Almost a Triple for Loire

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Tyler Foran

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Three players got the chips in the middle before the flop, Julien Loire was at risk for 146,500, having one opponent covered who had 140,000, while the third player had both covered.

Julien Loire: Q♥Q♣
All-in Player: A♥Q♠
Opponent #2: J♠J♥

Loire was in great shape as the board ran out 10♥3♥3♠10♠3♦, giving him threes full of queens to eliminate one, and double through the other.

Player	Chips	Progress
Julien Loire	430,000

Tags: Julien Loire

07-15-2023 17:43 UTC-8

Allison Takes One With Ace-High

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Andrew Knowles

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

In a heads-up pot with close to 30,000 in the middle on a board showing 10♥6♣4♠8♦, Alexander Allison checked from the big blind to a player on the button who tossed out a bet of 11,000. Allison made the call and the 6♠ completed the board.

Allison checked again and the button tapped the table to check back. Allison rolled over A♦5♣ for ace-high and took down the pot when his opponent mucked their cards.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexander Allison	154,000 32,000	32,000

Tags: Alexander Allison

Level: 15

Blinds: 2,500/5,000

Ante: 5,000

07-15-2023 17:46 UTC-8

Baize Makes a Full House for Massive Pot

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Tyler Foran

Level 15 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

David Baize limped under the gun before there was a raise to 20,000 in middle position. The cutoff called, as well as Baize.

The dealer fanned a flop of K♦9♦2♣, and all three players checked.

The 2♣ hit the turn, and Baize quickly bet 20,000, and the preflop raiser jammed for about 112,000. The cutoff snap mucked, and Baize instantly put all of the chips across the line.

All-in Player: A♦Q♠
David Baize: K♥2♥

Baize had flopped two pair, while the original raiser turned top pair, and the 2♦ river improved Baize to a full house as he eliminated his opponent from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Baize	410,000 410,000	410,000

Tags: David Baize

07-15-2023 18:00 UTC-8

Kassouf Can't Win a Flip

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Andrew Knowles

Level 15 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

The action was picked up when all the chips hit the middle preflop between a player in early position and Will Kassouf in the cutoff, who was all in and at risk for his stack of close to 100,000.

Will Kassouf: A♣K♣
Early Position: 9♥9♦

It was a classic flip-situation, but when the board ran out J♠7♠3♠4♦Q♣, it was the nines that held up to send Kassouf to the rail.

"Sick cooler, can't win a flip to save my life," said Kassouf as he wished the table good luck and made his way to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Will Kassouf	Busted

Tags: Will Kassouf

07-15-2023 18:05 UTC-8

Ace High Holds for Saigai

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Roxanne Johnson

Level 15 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

A middle position player raised for 12,000 and a late position player and the hijack both flat called. Jasven Saigai was having none of that and three-bet all in for 65,000 and received a call from the middle position player only.

Jasven Saigai: A♣K♥
Middle Position Player: J♠Q♠

The board came out with 9♥4♥5♣2♦6♥ and the ace high withstood the heat and doubled up Saigai.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jasven Saigai	121,000 121,000	121,000

Tags: Jasven Saigai

07-15-2023 18:05 UTC-8

Registration Closed; Day 1b Payouts Announced

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Tyler Foran

Level 15 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

Day 1b registration has officially closed in Event #88: $1,500 The Closer, reaching a massive total of 2,390 entries, and adding $3,190,650 to the prize pool. The first flight had 1,141 entries and created a prize pool of $1,523,235, for a total prize pool of $4,713,885.

359 players will reach the minimum cash of $2,403, and play will continue until the end of level 22. All remaining players will combine with Flight A on July 16th at 10 a.m.