Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-10-2025 21:16 UTC-8

Yockey Takes Out Lamb

Brett Slezak

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Limits: 1,200-4,200

Richard Acovino opened to 2,500 from middle position and was called by Bryce Yockey in the hijack, Ben Lamb in the cutoff, and Allan Le in the big blind.

On the K♠9♣5♠ flop, the action checked to Yockey who bet 6,500. Lamb then potted to 31,300. The other folded, Yockey raised, and Lamb called all-in for 48,000.

Ben Lamb: A♠5♦4♣3♠ All in
Bryce Yockey: K♥K♣8♥8♦

Yockey held top set against the nut flush draw of Lamb who also had the only backdoor low. Lamb immediately made his flush on the 7♠ turn. However, the dealer peeled the 9♥ on the river as Yockey filled up to eliminate Lamb.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bryce Yockey	185,000 26,000	26,000

Ben Lamb	Busted

Tags: Allan Le Ben Lamb Bryce Yockey Richard Acovino

06-10-2025 21:22 UTC-8

Bronshtein Falls to Liberto

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Brett Slezak

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Limits: 1,200-4,200

Justin Liberto opened the button and then called after Yuval Bronshtein potted from the big blind.

On the 9♥8♠3♦ flop, Bronshtein led for pot, Liberto raised, and Bronshtein called all-in for 36,000.

Yuval Bronshtein: A♥7♣5♣3♥ All in
Justin Liberto: A♦10♠9♣4♣

Bronshtein had bottom pair and a gutter while Liberto had top pair and the better low draw. The board ran out 8♦J♣ as neither player made a low and the nines and eights of Liberto held to eliminate Bronshtein.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Liberto	175,000 130,000	130,000

Yuval Bronshtein	Busted

Tags: Justin Liberto Yuval Bronshtein

06-10-2025 21:29 UTC-8

Zack's Big River Bet Wins the Pot

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Tim Baker

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Limits: 1,200-4,200

Xixiang Luo raised to 2,400 from middle position and Dan Zack three-bet to 7,100 from the hijack. Luo made the call.

Both players checked the J♣8♠7♦ flop, to see the 10♥ appear on the turn. Luo bet 11,800, which Zack called.

Luo checked the 3♦ river and Zack bet 41,000. Luo took a few moments before he folded and the pot was awarded to Zack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Zack	95,000

Xixiang Luo	85,000 46,500	46,500

Tags: Xixiang Luo Dan Zack

06-10-2025 21:46 UTC-8

Kelsall and Ding Chop Up Zaret's Chips

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Brett Slezak

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Limits: 1,200-4,200

Biao Ding limped from early position before Zachary Zaret raised to 3,600 from the cutoff. In the big blind, Andrew Kelsall potted to 12,600 and both opponents called.

As the A♣7♠5♠ flop was being revealed, Kelsall announced "Thirty-three three," as he was all-in for 33,300 in the dark. Ding instantly called off his 24,400 stack. Zaret thought it over for a while before he said, "Let's try to win a big one," and called.

Andrew Kelsall: A♠A♥6♥2♥ All in
Biao Ding: 5♦4♣3♣2♠ All in
Zachary Zaret: A♦K♥K♣7♣

Kelsall flopped the case ace for top set while Biao had the nut low and a wheel wrap. The board ran out Q♥8♠ as Kelsall and Biao chopped up Zaret's chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Kelsall	55,000 5,000	5,000

Zachary Zaret	47,000 17,000	17,000

Biao Ding	45,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Andrew Kelsall Biao Ding Zachary Zaret

06-10-2025 22:20 UTC-8

Liberto Chips Up

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Tim Baker

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Limits: 1,500-5,500

Dylan Smith raised to 3,000 from early position and Justin Liberto called from the big blind.

Liberto check-called a bet of 3,000 from Smith on the 8♠7♣5♠ flop.

The turn came the 5♥ and Liberto check-called another bet from Smith, this time for 7,000.

Both players checked the K♥ river and Liberto took down the pot with A♣7♥6♥3♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Liberto	170,000 8,000	8,000

Dylan Smith	135,000 12,400	12,400

Tags: Dylan Smith Justin Liberto

06-10-2025 22:25 UTC-8

Soveral Takes the Rest from Merivirta

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Brett Slezak

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Limits: 1,500-5,500

Jyri Merivirta potted the hijack to 5,500 and Sam Soverel called from the big blind.

On the J♣7♥4♣ flop, Merivirta got his last 9,500 in the middle against Soveral.

Jyri Merivirta: A♦10♦8♣6♣ All in
Sam Soverel: A♠J♠9♠3♦

Merivirta had a flush draw and gutter against the top pair and superior low draw of Soverel. The board ran out 9♥9♣ as Merivirta made his flush but it was no good against the full house of Soverel as he hit the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sam Soverel	175,000 115,000	115,000

Jyri Merivirta	Busted

Tags: Jyri Merivirta Sam Soverel

06-10-2025 22:30 UTC-8

McNeil Spikes the River to KO Bojang

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Brett Slezak

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Limits: 1,500-5,500

Calen McNeil opened to 3,000 in early position and Ismael Bojang defended his big blind.

On the K♠9♣2♣ flop, Bojang opted to lead for 3,500. McNeil inquired how much Bojang was playing before he asked for the rest and Bojang was all-in for 26,500.

Ismael Bojang: K♦J♦9♦7♠ All in
Calen McNeil: A♥K♣5♠5♥

McNeil was in rough shape against Bojang's hand on the 6♣ turn. McNeil had just five outs to eliminate Bojang and many to chop, but he found the perfect A♠ on the river to make a better two pair and eliminate Bojang.

Player	Chips	Progress
Calen McNeil	80,000 46,000	46,000

Ismael Bojang	Busted

Tags: Calen McNeil Ismael Bojang

06-10-2025 22:36 UTC-8

Negreanu & Others Join the Field

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Tim Baker

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Limits: 1,500-5,500

Player	Chips	Progress
Felipe Ramos	60,000 60,000	60,000

Cliff Josephy	60,000 60,000	60,000

Daniel Negreanu	60,000 60,000	60,000

Taylor Wilson	60,000 60,000	60,000
Adam Friedman	60,000 60,000	60,000

Per Hildebrand	60,000 60,000	60,000

06-10-2025 22:55 UTC-8

Volpe Doubles Through Taylor

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Tim Baker

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Limits: 1,500-5,500

Thomas Taylor raised to 4,000 from early position with only Paul Volpe calling from the big blind.

On the 10♥6♣3♦ flop all of Volpe's 16,000 chips got into the middle with Taylor trying to bust him.

Paul Volpe: Q♠Q♥4♣2♥ All in
Thomas Taylor: A♥8♦4♦3♠

Volpe managed to win with a pair of queens as the 9♥ turn and J♠ river didn't help Taylor, meaning Volpe doubled up through Taylor.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Taylor	80,000 22,500	22,500
Paul Volpe	42,000 18,000	18,000

Tags: Paul Volpe Thomas Taylor

06-10-2025 23:00 UTC-8

Ivey Spikes the River to Take Out Kupin

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Brett Slezak

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Limits: 1,500-5,500

Aaron Kupin from under the gun and Phil Ivey from the cutoff were tangled in a pot heads-up.

On the A♦Q♦4♠ flop, a raising war broke out between the two which resulted in Kupin being all-in for 98,000 total, including the preflop bets which were missed.

Aaron Kupin: A♠A♥9♠7♠ All in
Phil Ivey: A♣10♣6♦2♦

Kupin held top set against the flush draw and superior low draw of Ivey. The 5♠ turn gave Ivey the low before the 3♦ river gave Ivey the flush for the scoop.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Ivey	375,000 148,000	148,000

Aaron Kupin	Busted

Tags: Aaron Kupin Phil Ivey