The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is making a move that will change the online poker game in the US with the launch of WSOP Online, a new platform that will bring players from three states together.
Poker players in Nevada and New Jersey are already competing against each other on WSOP.com, while those in Michigan have a separate single-state site. But that is changing with the trio of states being merged together on one online poker site ahead of the 2024 WSOP. Pennsylvania's WSOP site will not be part of the shared liquidity deal.
On top of the merger news, the WSOP has announced 30 online bracelet events this summer on the new WSOP Online.
Steve Zolotow raised 600,000 in the small blind and Chino Rheem defended the big blind.
The dealer spread a flop of K♣J♦4♠, and Zolotow continued for 700,000. Rheem called.
When the Q♦ hit the turn, Zolotow paused for a moment before checking to Rheem who jammed for 2,240,000. Zolotow thought about it for about 30 seconds before surrendering the pot.
Dylan Weisman limped the button, Steve Zolotow called in the small blind and Chino Rheem raised to 800,000 from the big blind. Both Weisman and Zolotow called.
When the 9♠8♣4♣ flop hit the felt, Rheem checked to Weisman who fired 1,300,000. Both Zolotow and Rheem mucked their hands.
Stausholm, a poker player from Denmark, was one of the 823 entries to make up the field. From Day 1, 239 out of 660 made it over the first hurdle, and they were joined by 163 more players who took advantage of the Day 2 registration.
With that, 402 players were in contention for the $660,284 first-place prize, but only 124 of them could make the money and take a share of the $3,785,800 prize pool.
At 125 remaining, Stausholm had a run-in with Alex Keating, which featured a premature announcement.
Steve Zolotow limped the small blind before Chino Rheem raised 600,000 in the big blind. Zolotow called.
Both players checked to the A♥J♥2♥8♦ turn where Zolotow bet 400,000 and Rheem called.
The 3♦ completed the board and Zolotow continued for 1,200,000. Rheem went deep into the tank. After about a minute, it looked like Rheem was going to fold and Zolotow pretended to take his chips back.
"You're so happy I'm going to fold. I know you have the king of hearts, but do you have three black cards with it?" Asked Rheem.
He continued, "I wish I had more than one pair to call off all of these chips. That's what I have, I swear to god."
After another 30 seconds or so, he mucked his hand and asked Zolotow to show three black cards.
Zolotow flashed K♥Q♠ while saying, "The rest of my cards are hearts, I can't show."