Event #18: $10,000 Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship Day 2 | 2025 World Series of Poker

Jun 05, 2025

Sternheimer Picks Off Zack

David Salituro

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

Razz

Philip Sternheimer: XxXx/AxKxQx3x/Xx
Dan Zack: XxXx/AxQx8xKx/Xx

Dan Zack bet on fourth street and Philip Sternheimer called. Zack bet again on fifth and Sternheimer called before Sternheimer opened the betting on sixth.

Zack called to seventh, where he fired out a bet. Sternheimer called and Zack immediately mucked his hand. Sternheimer showed 7x4xAx for a queen-seven to win the pot.

Tags: Dan Zack Philip Sternheimer

Jun 05, 2025

Le Sends Hellmuth into a Frenzy

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Brett Slezak

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

Badugi

Phil Hellmuth raised from the cutoff, Allan Le three-bet from the small blind, and Hellmuth called.

Both players patted and the action checked through.

Both remained pat and Le led, which Hellmuth called as he scoffed and remarked, "You deserve it, buddy."

Le fired again after two more pats and Hellmuth called. Le revealed 9♠8♦7♥6♣ for a nine-badugi which was good as Hellmuth revealed that he had a ten.

"These guys that have no f*cking chance in mixed games always school me. What the f*ck!" complained Hellmuth in the post-mortem.

Hellmuth would continue well into the next few hands with language that is inappropriate for reporting purposes.

Tags: Allan Le Phil Hellmuth

Jun 05, 2025

Aaron Mermelstein Eliminated in 17th Place ($22,088)

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David Salituro

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

Pot-Limit Omaha

Aaron Mermelstein was all in for his last 90,000 from the button as Ryan Hoenig put him at risk in the small blind.

Hoenig had A♠A♥9♣7♣ and improved to top set on the turn as the board came 8♣9♦3♥A♣. Mermelstein instantly threw KxQ♠Qx8x across the table into the muck and didn't even wait to see the 2♥ river, as he was sent to the rail in 17th place.

Tags: Aaron Mermelstein Ryan Hoenig

Jun 05, 2025

Koji Fujimoto Eliminated in 18th Place ($20,680)

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Brett Slezak

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

Big O

Dylan Smith potted to 35,000 under the gun before Koji Fujimoto jammed for 65,000 next to act and Smith called.

Koji Fujimoto: A♥10♥9♦5♥2♥ All in
Dylan Smith: A♣Q♥Q♣9♣3♥

The J♣10♠7♥ flop gave Fujimoto more outs until the Q♠ turn gave Smith top set who filled up on the 7♣ river to eliminate Fujimoto.

Tags: Dylan Smith Koji Fujimoto

Jun 05, 2025

Hellmuth Stays Alive

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David Salituro

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

2-7 Razz

Phil Hellmuth was all in for his last 35,000 by fourth street and up against Andrew Kelsall.

Kelsall finished with AxAxJx10x9x7x4x for a J-10, but Hellmuth ended up with KxKx10x9x5x4x2x for 10-9 to win the pot and double up.

Tags: Phil Hellmuth Andrew Kelsall

Jun 05, 2025

Pot Odds Be Damned

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Brett Slezak

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

Big O

Dylan Smith potted the button to 35,000 and was called by Koji Fujimoto in the small blind and Adam Friedman in the big blind, both of whom were on short stacks.

The Q♠J♣9♥ flop checked through to the 4♥ turn which saw Fujimoto lead for 70,000. Friedman then jammed for 120,000 and Smith quickly folded. Despite the price he was being laid, Fujimoto had a decision.

"You're playing real well today, I appreciate the 70," needled Friedman, "Or you could call and hit something."

Fujimoto laid it down after some consideration to be left on fumes.

Tags: Adam Friedman Dylan Smith Koji Fujimoto

Jun 04, 2025

Le Takes a Big Chunk Off Hellmuth

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David Salituro

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

2-7 Razz

Allan Le: XxXx/5xAx6x4x/Xx
Phil Hellmuth: XxXx/Jx10x2x9x/Xx

Allan Le completed and Phil Hellmuth called.

Hellmuth then bet on fourth and fifth streets and Le called down to sixth. Le bet on sixth and Hellmuth called.

Le bet again on seventh and Hellmuth took a moment before calling. Le turned over Qx10x7x for 10-7-6-5-4 and Hellmuth mucked.

Tags: Allan Le Phil Hellmuth

Jun 04, 2025

Betil Trips Up Hansen

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David Salituro

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

5-Card Draw

Bariscan Betil raised to 25,000 in the hijack and Gus Hansen called in the cutoff.

Betil drew one and Hansen took three. Betil then bet 70,000 and Hansen tanked for a minute before calling.

Betil showed Q♦7♠7♣7♥2♦ for trips and Hansen mucked.

Tags: Bariscan Betil Gus Hansen

Jun 04, 2025

Hoenig Draws Best Against Kelsall

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Brett Slezak

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

Action was picked up on the second draw in a hand between Ryan Hoenig from the big blind and Andrew Kelsall froom the cutoff.

Hoenig took one and Kelsall took two. Hoenig check-called a bet from Kelsall.

On the final draw, Hoenig took one and Kelsall was pat. Hoenig opted to lead before Kelsall gave him a staredown and eventually flicked in the call. Hoenig tabled 8x7x4x3x2x for number ten to drag the pot.

Tags: Andrew Kelsall Ryan Hoenig

Jun 04, 2025

Kihara Pays Off Vengrin's Straight

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David Salituro

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 10,000-20,000, 20,000-40,000 Limits
Stud Games: 5,000 Ante, 5,000 Bring-In, 20,000 Completion 20,000-40,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 10,000/15,000 Ante, 5,000-10,000 Blinds