Event #17: $2,000 No-Limit Holdem Day 3 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-05-2025 19:31 UTC-8

Is It Worth Playing Cash Games During the WSOP?

Lyle Bateman

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

The focus of players heading to the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is on tournament poker, and rightly so because that is what the WSOP is all about.

One hundred live bracelet-awarding events plus 30 online events adorn the bustling 2025 WSOP schedule. It is fair to say that tournaments dominate Las Vegas when the WSOP is in town.

But what about cash games? Everyone knows Las Vegas is the place to be if you are a cash game grinder. Is it worth playing cash games during the WSOP? The answer is a resounding yes.

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Level: 32

Blinds: 120,000/240,000

Ante: 240,000

06-05-2025 19:56 UTC-8

Smith Shoves; Zhou Gets Value

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Kai Cocklin

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/240,000, 240,000 ante

The first two hands back from dinner brought some action.

First, Rafael Mota raised from middle position to 500,000 and Dusti Smith shipped in her stack of 6,405,000 from the small blind. When it got back to Mota, he tanked for around a minute before letting it go.

Next, Scott Bohlman opened to 480,000 from middle position and Quan Zhou called in the big blind.

They checked to the river on the 8♠7♥4♣Q♥4♦ board, where Zhou led out for 780,000. Bohlman called.

Zhou then flipped Q♣10♥ for a pair of queens, and Bohlman mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Quan Zhou	13,500,000 1,325,000	1,325,000
Dusti Smith	7,400,000 995,000	995,000

Rafael Mota	7,000,000 655,000	655,000
Scott Bohlman	6,300,000 1,600,000	1,600,000

Tags: Dusti Smith Quan Zhou Rafael Mota Scott Bohlman

06-05-2025 20:03 UTC-8

Babusukumar Doubles Up

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Nataly Sopacuaperu

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/240,000, 240,000 ante

Umesh Babusukumar open-shoved under the gun for 3,690,000. He got only one call from Rafael Mota from the small blind.

Umesh Babusukumar: 7♠7♣ All in
Rafael Mota: A♦Q♥

The dealer revealed the board: 4♦8♥3♦6♥5♦

The rail was cheering for Rafael Mota. However, it was Babusukumar who got a double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Umesh Babusukumar	7,900,000 4,000,000	4,000,000

Tags: Rafael Mota Umesh Babusukumar

06-05-2025 20:10 UTC-8

Rafael Mota Eliminated in 7th Place ($64,443)

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Roxanne Johnson

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/240,000, 240,000 ante

Rafael Mota has been eliminated in seventh place during the following hand:

The action was preflop when it folded to Mota on the button, and he glanced down to see a monster hand and moved all in for his last 1,955,000. The small blind folded, and Benjamin Williams woke up with a hand in the big blind and called with the superior stack.

Rafael Mota: A♦K♠ All in
Benjamin Williams: J♦J♠

The board ran out with 10♥8♥6♥7♣4♠, and Williams' pair held against the big slick of Mota.

Adding a touch of heartbreak to the moment, the Brazilian flag had just made its way to the rail, and Mota’s supporters were only beginning to rally behind him. But their chants will have to wait for another day, as Mota exits with a well-earned deep run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benjamin Williams	4,830,000 455,000	455,000
Rafael Mota	Busted

Tags: Benjamin WIlliams Rafael Mota

06-05-2025 20:16 UTC-8

Williams Wins It on the Turn

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Kai Cocklin

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/240,000, 240,000 ante

Umesh Babusukumar limped in from the small blind and Benjamin Williams checked his option from the big blind.

They saw a flop of 3♦4♠6♦, where Babusukumar bet 240,000 and Williams raised to 750,000. Babusukumar called.

A 5♦ hit the turn and after Babusukumar checked, Wiliams fired 700,000. Babusukumar snap-folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Umesh Babusukumar	9,800,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Benjamin Williams	5,200,000 370,000	370,000

Tags: Benjamin WIlliams Umesh Babusukumar

06-05-2025 20:19 UTC-8

Xiaohu Liu Eliminated in 6th Place ($85,056)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/240,000, 240,000 ante

Umesh Babusukumar raised to 500,000 from the cutoff and Xiaohu Liu made it 2,000,000 from the big blind. Babusukumar quickly shoved, and Liu called off his stack of around 7,500,000.

Xiaohu Liu: A♣K♣ All in
Umesh Babusukumar: 9♠9♥

Babusukumar had the best of it and kept his lead after the dealer put out a flop of 8♥3♥8♠. A 7♠ put Liu one step closer to the rail, and the 10♠ river meant he was out in sixth, while Babusukumar jumped into the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Umesh Babusukumar	17,500,000 7,700,000	7,700,000
Xiaohu Liu	Busted

Tags: Umesh Babusukumar Xiaohu Liu

06-05-2025 20:45 UTC-8

Bohlman Makes Zhou Fold

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Nataly Sopacuaperu

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/240,000, 240,000 ante

Quan Zhou opened in the cutoff to 525,000, Scott Bohlman raised to 1,300,000. Zhou hesitated but decided to reraise to 2,835,000. After some thinking, Bohlman moved all in. The action was to Zhou, who decided to fold and move away from this huge pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Scott Bohlman	15,500,000 9,200,000	9,200,000

Quan Zhou	10,500,000 3,000,000	3,000,000

Tags: Quan Zhou Scott Bohlman

Level: 33

Blinds: 150,000/300,000

Ante: 300,000

06-05-2025 20:59 UTC-8

Williams Almost Doubles his Stack

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Roxanne Johnson

Level 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

In an unusual turn of events, Scott Bohlman accidentally limped on the button, intending to raise but not putting out enough chips, so it was ruled a limp. Umesh Babusukumar seized the opportunity with a raise to 1,100,000 from the small blind, only to face a massive three-bet from Benjamin Williams in the big blind, who committed 4,465,000—leaving just 250,000 behind.

Bohlman got out of the way, and Babusukumar made the call, but mistakenly believed Williams was already all in and tried to table his hand. The dealer quickly stopped him, reminding the players that the action was still live.

Before the flop was dealt, Babusukumar tossed in the remaining chips to officially put Williams all in, and Williams snap-called as the cards hit the felt.

Benjamin Williams: Q♦Q♥ All in
Umesh Babusukumar: 10♥10♣

The board came out with J♠5♦J♣9♠7♠, and Williams' superior two pair earned him a bountiful pot.