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

05-30-2025 13:13 UTC-8

Gafford Triples Up with Top Pair

Sava Krink

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Justin Liberto opened the action with a raise to 60,000, and Georgios Sotiropoulos called from the small blind. In the big blind, Bradley Gafford had just 75,000 behind and decided to come along as well.

The flop came 7♥10♥8♥, and after Sotiropoulos checked, Gafford moved all in for his remaining 15,000. Both Liberto and Sotiropoulos made the call.

The turn brought the 4♣, and it was checked through.

On the 2♣ river, Sotiropoulos led out for 50,000, which got a quick fold from Liberto. Sotiropoulos revealed A♦8♣ for a pair of eights, but Gafford tabled Q♣10♦ for a better pair of tens to scoop the main pot and stay alive with a much-needed triple-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Georgios Sotiropoulos	5,450,000 50,000	50,000

Bradley Gafford	240,000 165,000	165,000

Justin Liberto	100,000 1,008,000	1,008,000

Tags: Bradley Gafford Georgios Sotiropoulos Justin Liberto

05-30-2025 13:58 UTC-8

Gafford on a Heater

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Roxanne Johnson

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

It was a battle of the blinds, and Uri Reichenstein moved all in from the small blind to put pressure on Bradley Gafford, who was sitting as the short stack. Gafford made the call.

Bradley Gafford: A♥4♥ All in
Uri Reichenstein: Q♦9♦

Uri Reichenstein announced, "No sweat at all?" when the board ran out with 3♠K♣A♠9♠K♠, giving Gafford the win.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	2,800,000
Bradley Gafford	1,040,000 490,000	490,000

Tags: Bradley Gafford Uri Reichenstein

05-30-2025 14:05 UTC-8

Jiaming Zhao Eliminated in 16th Place ($22,552)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

John Avelino

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Jiaming Zhao moved all in for 420,000 from middle position and was called by Frederic Normand in the small blind.

Jiaming Zhao: K♥Q♦ All in
Frederic Normand: J♣J♦

The flop brought Zhao an open-ended straight draw with 6♥10♠J♥, but also gave Normand a set of jacks. Looking for an ace or a nine, the turn 5♠ was no help for Zhao. The river 8♠ sealed Zhao's fate for the event as he made his way to the payout cage.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frederic Normand	5,020,000 520,000	520,000
Jiaming Zhao	Busted

Tags: Frederic Normand Jiaming Zhao

05-30-2025 14:13 UTC-8

Justin Saliba Eliminated in 15th Place ($27,666)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

John Avelino

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Justin Saliba moved all in for 900,000 from the cutoff, but the bad news came quick as Frederic Normand snap-called on the button.

Justin Saliba: 10♥10♦ All in
Frederic Normand: A♠A♣

On a flop of J♠4♦Q♦ Saliba was still looking to improve against Normand's aces. The turn brought the 7♠. Saliba needed a 10 to stay alive, but the river card was the 4♥ sending him to the rail after a deep run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frederic Normand	6,100,000 1,080,000	1,080,000
Justin Saliba	Busted

05-30-2025 14:17 UTC-8

Raj Vohra Eliminated in 14th Place ($27,666)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Barry Russell

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Action was picked up as Raj Vohra was in all in for 2,200,000 from the cutoff against Frederic Normand in the big blind.

Raj Vohra: A♦K♦ All in
Frederic Normand: Q♠Q♦

Very bad start for Vohra as the flop came 9♠A♠Q♥ and was eliminated when the 3♣ hit the turn, a 2♠ completed the board.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frederic Normand	5,500,000 600,000	600,000
Raj Vohra	Busted

Tags: Frederic Normand Raj Vohra

05-30-2025 14:29 UTC-8

Pavlin Karakikov Eliminated in 13th Place ($27,666)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Sava Krink

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Michael Moncek kicked off the action with a raise to 80,000 from under the gun. Pavlin Karakikov, sitting in middle position with just 135,000 behind, moved all in. Action folded to Turbo Nguyen in the big blind, who reshoved, forcing Moncek to get out of the way.

Pavlin Karakikov: A♠3♥ All in
Turbo Nguyen: 10♦10♣

Karakikov once again found himself up against pocket tens and behind in the hand. And once again, the board offered no salvation, running out Q♠Q♣5♥3♠6♣. Karakikov picked up a small pair on the turn, but it wasn’t enough, and his tournament run came to an end.

Player	Chips	Progress
Turbo Nguyen	1,020,000 120,000	120,000
Michael Moncek	800,000 20,000	20,000

Pavlin Karakikov	Busted

Tags: Michael Moncek Pavlin Karakikov Turbo Nguyen

05-30-2025 14:48 UTC-8

Turbo Nguyen Eliminated in 12th Place ($27,666)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Roxanne Johnson

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Turbo Nguyen moved all in from the cutoff for 550,000, and Michael Moncek made the call from the button.

Turbo Nguyen: K♦Q♠ All in
Michael Moncek: 9♦9♣

The board was much kinder to Moncek with 6♥4♥6♠3♦9♠ giving him the full house for the win and the knock-out.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Moncek	2,500,000 1,200,000	1,200,000

Turbo Nguyen	Busted

Tags: Michael Moncek Turbo Nguyen

05-30-2025 14:58 UTC-8

Reichenstein Picks Up a Monster Pot

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Myles Phago

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Uri Reichenstein raised from the button to 120,000 and was called from the big blind by Frederic Normand.

The flop came 6♣3♣9♦ and both players checked.

The turn brought the 8♥ and now Normand decided to lead out for 375,000. Reichenstein called.

The J♠ fell on the river and Normand this time bet out for 1,500,000. Reichenstein snap-called and tabled 8♠8♦ for a turned set. Normand sheepishly showed the 10♥5♥ for total air and the massive pot was pushed Reichenstein' way.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frederic Normand	5,200,000
Uri Reichenstein	4,300,000 630,000	630,000

Tags: Frederic Normand Uri Reichenstein

05-30-2025 15:07 UTC-8

Bradley Gafford Eliminated in 11th Place ($34,578)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Barry Russell

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Uri Reichenstein opened the action on the button with a raise to 115,000. From the small blind, Bradley Gafford quickly moved all in for 850,000. Reichenstein snap-called, putting Gafford at risk.

Bradley Gafford: A♦Q♦ All in
Uri Reichenstein: K♠K♣

Terrible start for Gafford as the flop came K♥9♥Q♠, but the Q♥ on the turn gave him some hope but no luck as the 10♠ hit the river and Gafford was eliminated.

Reichenstein now playing a stack of 6,000,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	6,000,000 1,700,000	1,700,000
Bradley Gafford	Busted

05-30-2025 15:21 UTC-8

Jarod Ludemann Eliminated in 10th Place ($34,578)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Sava Krink

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Jarod Ludemann opened the action from the cutoff with a raise to 500,000. Renji Mao, in the small blind, looked a bit puzzled by the sizing but eventually moved all in, putting Ludemann at risk. After a short pause, Ludemann made the call, and it went to a showdown.

Jarod Ludemann: 6♦6♥ All in
Renji Mao: 7♣7♦

The 3♥2♦5♣ flop gave Ludemann a few outs to a straight, but the 10♣ on the turn and K♣ on the river brought no further help. Just one elimination shy of the final table, Ludemann hit the rail while Mao stacked the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Renji Mao	2,800,000 800,000	800,000

Jarod Ludemann	Busted

Tags: Jarod Ludemann Renji Mao