Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

Jun 04, 2025

Fives Are Wild

Jerome Solomon

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Limits: 2,500-8,500

After calling a 17,000-chip three-bet preflop, Wade Kotarba couldn't wait to get the remainder of his chips into the pot. Ankit Ahuja obliged, calling the all-in bet after 5♠
5♣10♣ hit the board.

Wade Kotarba: A♣6♥5♦2♦
Ankit Ahuja: A♠Q♣2♣2♠

Kotarba had three fives, Ankit had a flush draw, and each had ace-deuce if a backdoor low were to hit.

Then one of the other players at the table incorrectly stated that that this year is the Chinese Year of Five, or Year of the Dragon (it was 2024). That didn't matter to Kotarba, as for him, this was the hand of fives.

After J♥ on the turn, Kotarba made quads with the 5♥ on the river. And how many chips did he have left for Ahuja had to cover? Fifty-five thousand, of course.

Tags: Ankit Ahuja Wade Kotarba

Jun 04, 2025

Updated Chip Counts

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Tim Baker

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Limits: 2,500-8,500

Level: 12

Limits: 2,500-8,500

Jun 04, 2025

Aces Flushed Out of the Tournament

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Jerome Solomon

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Limits: 2,000-7,000

Matthew Kursar had a nice looking hi-low hand and went all-in with it. Three-time bracelet winner Scott Clements made the call.

Matthew Kursar: A♣A♦3♥2♦
Scott Clements: 6♠3♦2♣2♠

The runout 4♥4♠5♠10♠5♣ was brutal for the pocket aces and nice low draw cards. The low didn't make it and Kursar's aces-up lost to the tiny flush Clements held.

Tags: Matthew Kursar Scott Clements

Jun 04, 2025

Prize Pool & Payouts

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Tim Baker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Limits: 2,000-7,000

With 1,176 entries recorded in Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better at the 2025 World Series of Poker, the prize pool totaled $1,561,140

There will be 177 players paid, with a min-cash being worth $3,022, while the eventual champion will walk away with $248,245. 

Place	Prize	Place	Prize
1	$248,245	16 - 23	$9,851
2	$165,447	24 - 31	$8,101
3	$116,672	32 - 39	$6,773
4	$83,465	40 - 47	$5,761
5	$60,584	48 - 55	$4,985
6	$44,630	56 - 63	$4,391
7	$33,374	64 - 71	$3,938
8	$25,339	72 - 79	$3,596
9	$19,538	80 - 99	$3,346
10 - 11	$15,304	100 - 117	$3,173
12 - 15	$12,179	118 - 177	$3,022

Jun 04, 2025

McClelland Sends Raymer to the Rail

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Tim Baker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Limits: 2,000-7,000

Aleksandr Iasnogorodskii raised from early position with Hunter McClelland calling on the button, and Greg Raymer defending his big blind.

When it checked to McClelland on the 3♣6♦9♦ flop, he bet 11,000 before Raymer check-jammed for 37,000. Iasnogorodskii folded, but McClelland called to put Raymer at risk.

Greg Raymer: K♣5♥4♠2♥ All in
Hunter McClelland: A♦K♦K♥4♦

Raymer was in trouble against the overpair and flush draw of McClelland. The rest of the board ran out Q♥Q♠, keeping McClelland's pocket kings ahead to the river, eliminating the 2004 WSOP Main Event Champ.

Raymer pulled out a copy of his book before asking McClelland for the correct spelling of his name. The previous champ handed McClelland a signed copy and headed out the door.