Event #3: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

05-28-2025 14:44 UTC-8

Nice Pot for Ferguson

Barry Russell

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Action was picked up with 12,000 already in the pot on a board of K♥9♦Q♠6♠, as Charles Pinckernell bet 4,000 from under the gun. Jorge Rivera called in middle position, and Natalie Ferguson raised to 12,000 from the cutoff. Pinckernell folded, but Rivera made the call.

The river brought the 6♥, and both players checked. Ferguson tabled K♠Q♦ for top two pair and scooped the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Natalie Ferguson	84,000 84,000	84,000
Charles Pinckernell	42,100 42,100	42,100
Jorge Rivera	22,000 22,000	22,000

Tags: Charles Pinckernell Jorge Rivera Natalie Ferguson

05-28-2025 14:47 UTC-8

Rivera Doubles Through Gardner

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

With around 30,000 chips in the pot on a 4♠7♠8♠5♥4♣ board, Jorge Rivera had his remaining stack of 19,700 in the middle and was put at risk by Jason Gardner.

Rivera held 7♦6♦ for a straight, which was enough to earn him the double-up as Gardner's cards were already in the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jorge Rivera	70,000 48,000	48,000
Jason Gardner	30,000

Tags: Jason Gardner Jorge Rivera

05-28-2025 14:50 UTC-8

Massey Takes it Down

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Stewart Morrison

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Patrick Leonard raised to 1,100 in middle position, Aaron Massey three-bet to 3,000 in the cut off. Action folded back to Leonard, who called.

Seeing a K♠8♦3♥ flop, Leonard played in flow and checked to Massey who continutation-bet for 1,400. Leonard had other plans though and check-raised to 4,700. Massey called.

Both players chose to check the A♣ turn.

The river rolled off the 4♦ and Leonard led out for 3,200. Massey decided this wasn't enough and raised to 14,200.

Leonard took his time considering his options, but ultimately folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aaron Massey	59,000 59,000	59,000
Patrick Leonard	21,000 19,000	19,000

Tags: Aaron Massey Patrick Leonard

05-28-2025 14:53 UTC-8

Ausmus Playing Over 100,000 Stack

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Barry Russell

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

There were roughly 29,000 chips in the pot on a board of 4♥9♠7♥K♥6♥. Edward Pak bet 16,000 from middle position and got quickly called by Jeremy Ausmus in the small blind. Pak tabled Q♣9♣ and Ausmus showed 9♦9♥ and took the pot.

Ausmus now playing a stack over 200 big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeremy Ausmus	110,000 110,000	110,000

Edward Pak	34,000 34,000	34,000

Tags: Edward Pak Jeremy Ausmus

05-28-2025 15:00 UTC-8

Gafford Wins a Flip Against Moorman

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Chris Moorman opened the cutoff and Bradley Gafford made a three-bet from the small blind. Moorman then four-bet to 10,200, Gafford shoved 30,000, and Moorman called.

Bradley Gafford: Q♦Q♣ All in
Chris Moorman: A♦K♣

Gafford was flipping for his tournament life and his pocket queens managed to keep him alive as the 10♥J♥2♠8♦3♥ runout earned him a double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bradley Gafford	61,000 61,000	61,000

Chris Moorman	50,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Bradley Gafford Chris Moorman

05-28-2025 15:10 UTC-8

To Fire, or not to Fire

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Robert Jones

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Timothy Reilly opened the action from the cutoff with a raise to 1,200. On his immediate left, was Matthew Mcewan sitting on the button, who elected that raising the price to 4,200 was his best option.

Heads up to a flop of J♥4♥4♦ with roughly 9,500 in the middle. Reilly checked and quickly put out a bet of 6,500. Reilly obliged.

A 6♣ fell on the turn. After another check from Reilly, Mcewan entered the tank weighing his options. Eventually though, he landed on check.

After the 10♥ peeled off on the river, Reilly sent out a bet of 5,500. Mcewan mucked his hand instantly.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timothy Reilly	123,000
Matthew McEwan	82,000 8,000	8,000

Tags: Timothy Reilly Matthew Mcewan

05-28-2025 15:14 UTC-8

Ostapchenko Chipping Up

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Stewart Morrison

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Andrew Ostapchenko, Allison Stoloff and Samuel Laskowitz went three ways to a flop of A♥3♦4♠ with roughly 5,500 chips in the middle.

Ostapchenko checked in the small blind, allowing Stoloff the opportunity to bet 2,200. Laskowitz folded the button before Ostapchenko called.

Ostapchenko elected to lead out for 3,000 on the 5♣ turn, Stoloff hung around to see the river.

Another bet of 5,000 on the 9♥ river by Ostapchenko was enough to see Stoloff relinquish her hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Ostapchenko	115,000 20,000	20,000

Samuel Laskowitz	80,000 80,000	80,000
Allison Stoloff	7,500 9,500	9,500

Tags: Allison Stoloff Andrew Ostapchenko Samuel Laskowitz

05-28-2025 15:15 UTC-8

Break Time

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

The remaining 271 players are heading on a 15-minute break.

Level: 5

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

05-28-2025 15:33 UTC-8

Some of the Top Stack Returning From Break

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Stewart Morrison

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Aaron Kweskin	170,000
Antonio Galiana	155,000 15,000	15,000

Jesse Kertland	150,000 65,000	65,000
Michael Rossitto	140,000 140,000	140,000
Jun Obara	140,000
Mustapha Kanit	135,000

Ian Carpenter	135,000 135,000	135,000
Anatoly Nikitin	130,000 30,000	30,000
Marko Grujic	129,000
Shawn Daniels	120,000

Jon Vallinas	120,000
Sridhar Sangannagari	120,000 30,000	30,000
Viktor Blom	120,000 8,000	8,000
Anthony Ibrahim	120,000 25,000	25,000
Sumit Deb	115,000 15,000	15,000
Andrew Ostapchenko	115,000

Harvey Castro	114,100 34,100	34,100
Shundan Xiao	113,600 26,400	26,400
Hugues Girard	111,000 30,000	30,000