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

05-30-2025 13:45 UTC-8

Sotiropoulos Versus Roberts

Barry Russell

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

Georgios Sotiropoulos raised in middle position to 85,000. Christian Roberts called in the big blind.

The flop came 6♠K♥10♥, and Sotiropoulos continued his aggression with a bet of 160,000. Roberts called. Sotiropoulos did not slow down when the 9♣ hit the turn with another bet of 550,000. Roberts called again.

Sotiropoulos shut down when the 6♣ fell on the river, and both players checked. Roberts quickly tabled Kx9♥ for two pair, and he took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Georgios Sotiropoulos	3,600,000 1,850,000	1,850,000

Christian Roberts	3,500,000 800,000	800,000

Tags: Christian Roberts Georgios Sotiropoulos

05-30-2025 13:46 UTC-8

Gafford Doubles Again

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Roxanne Johnson

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

Bradley Gafford raised from middle position to 155,000, and Jarod Ludemann three-bet all in on the big blind for the rest of Gafford's stack. Gafford made the call for his last 200,000, and they were off to the races.

Bradley Gafford: Q♠Q♥ All in
Jarod Ludemann: A♦7♠

The board ran out with 4♥5♦5♣2♣3♣ and Gafford survived with his two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jarod Ludemann	3,200,000 1,795,000	1,795,000
Bradley Gafford	550,000 310,000	310,000

Tags: Bradley Gafford Jarod Ludemann

05-30-2025 13:58 UTC-8

Gafford on a Heater

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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 14:18 UTC-8

The Up and Down of Karakikov

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Sava Krink

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

PokerNews caught the action with Pavlin Karakikov already all in preflop from the small blind, facing off against Uri Reichenstein in the big blind.

Pavlin Karakikov: K♦J♠ All in
Uri Reichenstein: K♠Q♠

Karakikov needed help, and he got it on a dramatic runout of 10♥J♦7♣8♠4♦, giving him a pair of jacks. It was a big double-up for Karakikov, flipping the momentum in his favor.

But the two tangled again just a few hands later. This time, Karakikov opened to 80,000 from the cutoff, only for Reichenstein to three-bet to 280,000 on the button. Karakikov moved all in, and Reichenstein called instantly.

Pavlin Karakikov: A♥K♠ All in
Uri Reichenstein: 10♥10♠

Reichenstein’s tens held firm as the board came 2♥7♠7♣6♣3♠. Karakikov was left with just 135,000 after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	3,670,000
Pavlin Karakikov	135,000

Tags: Pavlin Karakikov Uri Reichenstein

05-30-2025 14:29 UTC-8

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

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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.