Event #3: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Day 2 | 2025 World Series of Poker

05-29-2025 19:56 UTC-8

Reichenstein Stuns Laskowitz

David Salituro

Level 17 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Uri Reichenstein was in the hijack with a raise of 60,000 in front of him before Sam Laskowitz moved all in for 212,000 on the button. "Show me ace-king," Reichenstein said as he called.

Sam Laskowitz: K♣K♥ All in
Uri Reichenstein: 9♠9♣

Laskowitz instead showed Reichenstein a higher pocket pair and was a big favorite to double up until the flop brought 9♥7♠7♥, giving Reichenstein a full house. The rest of the board ran out 10♣Q♥ and Laskowitz was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	1,400,000 580,000	580,000
Sam Laskowitz	Busted

Tags: Sam Laskowitz Uri Reichenstein

05-29-2025 20:04 UTC-8

Balleur Shows Down Aces to Take Out Two

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David Salituro

Level 17 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

David Litt moved all in for 60,000 from the small blind on a flop of K♥8♥3♣ and Boris Kolev called in the big blind. Gaetan Balleur then raised to 150,000 under the gun and Kolev called to create a side pot.

The turn was the 4♠ and Balleur moved all in, having Kolev's remaining 210,000 covered. Kolev spent several minutes in the tank and eventually called.

Kolev showed 10♥4♥ for a flush draw, Litt had 8♣7♣ for a pair of eights, but they were both behind Balleur's A♠A♣. The river Q♠ was no help to either player and Balleur scored the double knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gaetan Balleur	1,050,000 350,000	350,000
David Litt	Busted
Boris Kolev	Busted

Tags: Boris Kolev David Litt Gaetan Balleur

05-29-2025 20:11 UTC-8

Koller Pulls Ahead on the Turn to Bust Mandara

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Ryan Mandara had 50,000 in front of him from middle position, leaving only a few chips behind, and Ran Koller moved all in from early position. Mandara took a few minutes until the clock was called, allowing his timer nearly to reach zero before committing his last chips.

Ryan Mandara: J♠J♥ All in
Ran Koller: Q♦10♦

Mandara was ahead with his jacks as the flop came 10♥2♦4♠, but the Q♣ turn improved Koller to two pair. The river was the 6♣ and Mandara was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ran Koller	320,000 85,000	85,000

Ryan Mandara	Busted

Tags: Ran Koller Ryan Mandara

05-29-2025 20:13 UTC-8

Texas Mike Makes a Great Call

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John Avelino

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek raised preflop to 20,000 from under the gun. Dong Chen three-bet to 70,000 to go from middle position, Moncek made the call.

The flop was dealt 3♣8♠8♦, Moncek check-called Chen's bet of 60,000.

When the K♣ came on the turn, Moncek check-called again, with Chen putting 90,000 in the middle.

The river revealed a 7♣ and Moncek checked, after about two minutes Chen bet 400,000 and Moncek quickly made the call.

Chen showed A♣J♠ and Moncek flipped over K♦Q♦ for two pair kings and eights to take down a monster pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Moncek	1,320,000 750,000	750,000

Dong Chen	305,000 571,000	571,000

Tags: Dong Chen Michael Moncek

05-29-2025 20:26 UTC-8

Obara Fills Up to Bust Lee

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Kiat Lee bet 22,000 from the button on a flop of Q♠9♣5♣ and Jun Obara called in the big blind.

The turn was the 2♦ and Lee bet another 75,000. Obara then moved all in and Lee quickly called for his last 200,000.

Lee showed K♦Q♣ for top pair, but Lee had turned two pair with 5♥2♥. The 5♠ river improved him to a full house and Obara exchanged a fist bump with Lee before the Malaysian high roller made his way to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jun Obara	900,000 660,000	660,000
Kiat Lee	Busted

Tags: Jun Obara Wai Kiat Lee

05-29-2025 20:52 UTC-8

Ward Hits the Turn, Zhao Spikes the River For a Bustout

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Jared Ward was all in for 200,000 from the button as Jiaming Zhao put him at risk in the hijack.

Jared Ward: J♠J♥ All in
Jiaming Zhao: K♠K♦

Zhao was a big favorite with his two kings as the K♣10♠Q♦ flop gave him top set, but Ward spiked a straight on the 9♠ turn. Zhao began shouting out for help going to the river, which came the Q♣ to give him a full house and send Ward to the rail.

"The cheering worked," a tablemate said to Zhao after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jiaming Zhao	1,300,000 190,000	190,000
Jared Ward	Busted

Tags: Jared Ward Jiaming Zhao

05-29-2025 21:02 UTC-8

Paur on The Better Side of Cooler, Doubles through Sued

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John Avelino

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Kharlin Sued raised to 20,000 from late position and the action folded to Taylor Paur who three-bet to 100,000. Sued raised all in and Paur snap called.

Taylor Paur: A♥A♦ All in
Kharin Sued: K♣K♦

The board came 6♦4♥Q♥ which brought no help for Sued. The turn card was the A♠ which improved Paur to top set and had Sued drawing dead. The river was a meaningless 9♠, confirming Paur's double-up.

Sued remarked "He played two hands all day, aces both times, and he made a set each time." In which Paur smirked and laughed while raking in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Taylor Paur	848,000 528,000	528,000

Kharlin Sued	559,000 201,000	201,000

Tags: Kharlin Sued Taylor Paur

05-29-2025 21:32 UTC-8

Roberts Wakes Up With a Monster to Bust Smirnov

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Christian Roberts raised to 30,000 under the gun and Anton Smirnov called in middle position. Jiaming Zhao then three-bet to 85,000 in the cutoff and Roberts four-bet to 200,000.

Smirnov put in a five-bet to 455,000, leaving himself around 40,000 behind, and Zhao gave it some thought before eventually folding. Roberts then moved all in and Smirnov took a few minutes until the clock was called. His timer had nearly reached zero when he committed his last chips.

Anton Smirnov: A♦K♥ All in
Christian Roberts: A♥A♣

"No. 1," a tablemate said as Roberts turned over two aces. The 10♠J♣9♠ flop gave Smirnov some hope with a straight draw, but he improved no further on the 10♥ turn and J♦ river and was sent to the rail.

"Second place?" Roberts asked Zhao after the hand, who admitted he folded two queens.

"Second place. We're playing too deep," Roberts added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christian Roberts	2,000,000 700,000	700,000

Jiaming Zhao	1,250,000 50,000	50,000
Anton Smirnov	Busted

Tags: Anton Smirnov Christian Roberts Jiaming Zhao

05-29-2025 21:38 UTC-8

Only Trips or Better for Reichenstein

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Around 230,000 was already in the middle as Uri Reichenstein and Dong Chen went to the turn on a board of 5♦9♠6♥10♦. Reichenstein then bet 160,000 from middle position and Chen called in the hijack.

The river was the 3♠ and Reichenstein bet 540,000. Chen took a minute before calling as Reichenstein turned over 10♠10♥ for a set to win the big pot.

"I thought you had two pair. I'm disappointed," tablemate Frederic Normand said to him after the hand.

"I don't play hands as weak as two pair," Reichenstein replied.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	2,700,000 900,000	900,000
Dong Chen	450,000 750,000	750,000

Tags: Dong Chen Uri Reichenstein

05-29-2025 21:56 UTC-8

Mao On the Right Side Of Ultimate Cooler to Bust Two

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Thomas Cazayous raised to 30,000 under the gun and Frank Lagodich three-bet to 75,000 in the hijack. Renji Mao four-bet to 200,000 in the small blind and Cazayous moved all in for 320,000. Lagodich then reshoved for 700,000 and Mao snap-called.

Thomas Cazayous: K♠K♦ All in
Frank Lagodich: K♥K♣ All in
Renji Mao: A♥A♦

Both Cazayous and Lagodich showed down kings, but they were both drawing thin against Mao's two aces. The board ran out 10♣8♥5♦5♥3♥ and both Cazayous and Lagodich headed to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Renji Mao	1,800,000 1,200,000	1,200,000

Frank Lagodich	Busted
Thomas Cazayous	Busted

Tags: Frank Lagodich Renji Mao Thomas Cazayous