Paul Saso raised to 1,000,000 from the cutoff and Franco Spitale three-bet to 2,500,000 from the button. Damien Gayer then moved all in from the big blind for 5,850,000. Saso got out the way, but Spitale made the call.
Damien Gayer: J♥J♦ 
Franco Spitale A♦K♥
The 4♣7♠6♠K♦5♦ runout gave Spitale the winner with a pair of kings.
Damien Gayer raised to 1,000,000 from under the gun. Daniel Lipszyc then went all in for 5,525,000 and was at risk. Charles Kersey four-bet to 12,400,000. Gayer folded and the players tabled their hands.
Daniel Lipszyc: Q♣Q♠
Charles Kersey: A♦Q♦
The board ran out 8♦7♦9♦K♥A♠ flopping Kersey an ace-high flush and sending Lipszyc to the payout desk.
In 2003, the game of poker changed forever after Chris Moneymaker topped a field of 839 players to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event for $2.5 million. By doing so, the Moneymaker effect ignited the “Poker Boom,” which saw the tournament field triple the following year.
The 2004 Main Event was the last to be held at the birthplace of the WSOP – Binion’s Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas. The venue was packed to the rafters with 2,576 players entering that year’s tournament, and with the ESPN cameras capturing all the action several poker players made a name for themselves that year including young guns David Williams and Josh Arieh, while 1995 WSOP Main Event champ Dan Harrington made history by following up his third-place finish in the 2003 WSOP Main Event by placing fourth in 2004 for $1.5 million.
However, when the dust settled it was a patent attorney from Connecticut by the name of Greg Raymer winning the whole thing for a smooth $5 million and a gold bracelet. While attempting to defend his title in 2005, which doubled from the year prior by attracting 5,619 players, Raymer proved his win was no fluke by making another deep run, ultimately falling in 25th place for $304,680.
It’s been 20 years since Raymer’s victory, but he hasn’t slowed down as he’s continued to play poker all across the globe. In recognition of Raymer’s anniversary, PokerNews caught up with the champ, who will be at the 2024 WSOP!
Level: 35
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
On a board of 2♣2♠6♠9♦, Stephen Dauphinais bet 600,000 out of the big blind and Jaspal Brar made the call from middle position.
The river came the A♥ which saw both players check. Dauphinais turned over Q♦6♦ for a pair of sxies. However, Brar had Q♠9♠ for a pair of nines to win the pot.
Caleb Levesque was all in and at risk from the small blind against Charles Kersey in the cutoff.
Caleb Levesque: A♦8♦
Charles Kersey: Q♦Q♣
The board ran out Q♠7♦3♠2♥2♦ improving Kersey to queens-full and eliminating Levesque.
Max Neugebauer moved all in for roughly 4,000,000 from early position and was called by Paul Saso on the button.
Max Neugebauer: 3♥3♣
Paul Saso: A♠K♥
The board ran out favorably for Saso as it came K♠2♦9♣2♥8♠, giving him a pair of kings to eliminate Neugebauer.
Virgile Turchi open-shoved from late position for roughly 3,000,000 and was called by Ramon Rivera on the button.
Virgile Turchi: 2♦2♥
Ramon Rivera: 4♠4♥
The board ran out 10♣K♥3♣J♣7♠, sending Turchi to the payout desk.
In a blind-on-blind encounter, Sean Ragozzini bet 650,000 on a board of Q♣10♣4♣K♠. Sen Mu then raised to 2,200,000 and Ragozzini called.
The J♠ river got checked through and Ragozzini took down the pot with A♦K♣ for Broadway.
After Larry Quang raised in late position, Alessandro Predaroli moved all in out of the blinds. Quang made the call to put Predaroli at risk.
Alessandro Predaroli: A♠8♣
Larry Quang: J♠10♣
The dealer fanned K♠5♣J♦ on the flop, giving Quang the lead with a pair of jacks. The 5♦ on the turn and 6♦ on the river ended Predaroli’s tournament.
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