The first player registered for the 2025 World Series of Poker's $100,000 and $250,000 Super High Roller events isn’t a household name like Bonomo, Chidwick, or Ivey, and it’s not often the poker world pauses at the very first name on a registration list.
But as eyes begin to turn to the two biggest buy-in events at this year's WSOP, one name has drawn a double-take: Matt Belcher.
The remaining 79 players are taking a 15-minute break.
When they return, they will be just 20 eliminations away from the money.
Brock Wilson sat in the small blind and got his stack of 294,000 in against Punnat Punsri under the gun, who had him covered.
Brock Wilson: 7♥7♦ 
Punnat Punsri: A♣Q♣
Punsri flopped top pair on 10♥4♠Q♠, and Wilson could not catch up on the 5♦5♠ runout, resulting in his exit.
Michael Moncek raised to 32,000 under the gun. Orpen Kisacikoglu three-bet to 138,000 in the small blind, and Moncek called to the 2♥4♠J♥ flop.
Kisacikoglu slowed down, checking to "Texas Mike", who took the initiative with a bet of 88,000. Kisacikoglu called before checking the 5♦ turn again.
Moncek promptly shoved all in for 413,000, and Kisacikoglu snapped with the covering stack.
Michael Moncek: 7♥6♥
Orpen Kisacikoglu: A♠A♦
Kisacikoglu had trapped with his aces, and he won the pot when Moncek missed both his draws on the 5♠ river, sending him to the rail.
Michael Moncek raised to 32,000 from early position and only OIpen Kisacikoglu called from the big blind.
Both players checked the 3♦7♠9♣ flop to see the 4♦ appear on the turn. Kisacikoglu bet 44,000, which Moncek called.
The 9♠ hit the river and Kisacikoglu bet out for 118,000. Moncek called and then mucked after Kisacikoglu turned over K♦9♥ for trip nines.
Sean Winter got his 199,000 chips in the middle from the button, and was looked up by Aliaksei Boika in the hijack.
Sean Winter: 5♠5♥
Aliaksei Boika: A♦10♠
Boika turned an open-ender on J♦6♥8♣9♣, but the 9♦ provided to further help to him, and Winter doubled up.
Ben Tollerene opened to 32,000 from the hijack, and only Matthew Belcher called in the big blind.
On a 8♠K♥10♥ flop, Belcher check-called a bet of 55,000.
Belcher checked for a second time on the 4♠ turn, and Tollerene continued the aggression, this time for 110,000. Belcher took a moment before moving all in, covering Tollerene's remaining stack. Tollerene snapped, and the players tabled their cards, ready for a runout.
Ben Tollerene: K♦Q♣
Matthew Belcher: K♣J♥
The river A♠ was safe for Tollerene as he collected twice as many chips as he started the hand with.
Joao Simao raised to 32,000 from under the gun and Shaneil Stokes jammed for 170,000 from the small blind. Simao called to put Stokes at risk.
Shaneil Stokes: A♦5♦
Joao Simao: K♣Q♣
Stokes held a slight lead with ace-high before the flop came down Q♥J♦2♥, giving Simao top pair. The 5♣ turn and 10♣ river didn't change anything, and Stokes was out of the tournament.
Mikita Badziakouski called from the small blind and Mathew Frankland raised to 43,000 from the big blind. Badziakouski called.
Badziakouski checked the J♣10♣Q♦ flop, and Frankland bet 40,000. Badziakouski check-raised to 80,000 with around 120,000 behind. Frankland jammed, and Badziakouski called for the remainder of his stack.
Mikita Badziakouski: 8♣5♣
Mathew Frankland: A♠A♦
Frankland had aces, but Badziakouski had a lot of outs he could hit to crack them. The rest of the board ran out 3♠4♥, leaving Badziakouski with eight-high. The pot was sent to Frankland and Badziakouski headed to the rail.
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