Dusti Smith raised to 1,150,000 from the button, and Umesh Babusukumar called from the big blind. The flop came out with 4♣10♣A♥, and Babusukumar checked, and Smith made a continuation bet of 1,250,000. Babusukumar made the call.
Both players checked the turn 9♦.
On the river 8♥ Babusukumar took the lead and bet out 2,200,000. Smith went into the think tank and eventually made a heroic call that was rewarded.
Babusukumar showed K♠Q♠ for king high with a missed straight draw, and Smith showed 9♠7♠ for a pair of nines and the win.
The rail went crazy for Smith and shouted, "That's the hero call we need".
Scott Bohlman raised to 1,000,000 on the button and Dusti Smith called from the big blind.
Both players checked the 10♠K♥10♥ flop and the 5♠ turn.
Smith checked the 9♣ river, Bohlman bet 2,000,000, and Smith called after a while. Bohlman showed Q♦J♠ for a straight and Smith's cards quickly hit the muck.
Ten minutes before the end of the level, Umesh Babusukumar raised on the button to 1,000,000. Scott Bohlman asked how big his stack was, and Babusukumar raised his arms for Bohlman to take a look. Bohlman decided to call.
The flop was 4♦6♦9♦. Bohlman checked, Babusukumar bet 1,000,000, Bohlman check-raised to 10,000,000. Babusukumar took another good look at his cards and called it off for 7,900,000 total.
Umesh Babusukuma: 10♣10♦
Scott Bohlman: A♦9♣
Babusukuma was ahead with a pair of tens while Bohlman had a pair of nines. The turn brought the 8♣ and the river the K♦ to turn the tables, as Bohlman made the nut flush. Babusukuma was sent to the rail in third place.
After three full days of playing, Event #17: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em at the 2025 World Series of Poker is still without its champion. On Friday at 1 p.m. local time, Scott Bohlman and Dusti Smith will return to determine whether Bohlman becomes a two-time bracelet winner, or Smith becomes the first woman to win a bracelet since Vivian Saliba last year. Bohlman and Smith are the final two standing from a field that once had 1,692 hopefuls.
Bohlman will return with the chip lead of 30,500,000 in chips, while Smith bagged 20,500,000 to close out the night. The winner will take home $436,044, with the runner-up receiving $290,588. The remaining $3,011,760 of the prize pool has already been awarded to the other players.
The day’s action was fast and furious, with knockouts left and right including such luminaries as bracelet winners Pete Chen and Jesse Lonis.
The final table was an international affair, with representatives from six countries. Canadian Allen Shen was the first to be eliminated when Smith outdrew him in a race. Samy Boujmala was the next victim to be knocked out in a battle against Bohlman, leaving in ninth place.
Quan Zhou crushed Dutch professional Henrik Juncker, who played a steady and solid game throughout. Brazil's Rafael Mota, whose exuberant rail cheered “Brazil” and waved the Brazilian flag, left in seventh place. China’s Xiaohu Liu was the next to depart in sixth place when he battled against Umesh Babusukumar and did not prevail. Benjamin Williams exited in fifth place with his best career cash of $113,617.
Zhou's deep run came to an end in a pivotal pot against Smith, before Bohlman eliminated Babusukumar when Bohlman make a nut flush versus Babusukumar’s pair of tens. Smith and Bohlman bagged for the night shortly after.
With the bracelet in sight and stacks deep, expect fireworks as they battle toward crowning the next World Series of Poker champion.
Play will resume at 1 p.m. local time in Level 36 with blinds at 300,000/600,000 and a 600,000 big blind ante. Levels will be 60 minutes throughout.
Stay glued to PokerNews to make sure you don’t miss a single moment of the action here at the 2025 World Series of Poker.
