Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-12-2025 21:24 UTC-8

Joseph Shoemakes Big Fold

Jacob Wilson

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

Justin Hall raised to 3,500 under the gun, and action folded around to Joseph Shoemaker on the button, who put in a call. Small blind Jonathan Ingalls then ripped in his almost 100,000 stack, putting Hall in a tough spot.

Hall, with only 14 big blinds behind, thought about his decision before finding a fold. Incredibly, Shoemaker then snap-folded A♣K♠ face up to the table's shock, however Ingalls showed him that he was indeed behind, and made the correct fold against the Q♠Q♣ of Ingalls.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jonathan Ingalls	109,000
Joseph Shoemaker	95,000 30,000	30,000
Justin Hall	22,000

Tags: Jonathan Ingalls Joseph Shoemaker Justin Hall

06-12-2025 21:35 UTC-8

Kiem's Aggression Pays Off

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Gabrielle Barredo

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

Peter Kiem opened on the button and got called by Dean Baranowski in the small blind. John Poulter in the big blind raised to 17,000. Kiem took a few seconds to stare Poulter down before making the call. Baranowski called after to see the flop.

The flop came 4♠A♥3♥. Baranowski checked and Poulter fired 10,000. Kiem called but Baranowski decided he's seen enough.

The turn 3♦ fell and both players knuckled. On the river Q♠, Poulter picked up chips worth 20,000 and started shuffling them. After a few seconds of shuffling, he checked. Kiem took the opportunity to take control and bet 18,000 into the pot.

Poulter leaned back, looked at the ceiling, thought for a moment then conceded his hand and the pot to Kiem.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dean Baranowski	80,000 41,500	41,500
John Poulter	74,000
Peter Kiem	70,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Dean Baranowski John Poulter Peter Kiem

06-12-2025 21:40 UTC-8

Seif Forces a Fold

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Gabrielle Barredo

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

Mark Seif opened with a 4,000 bet in late position. Paul Richardson in the small blind called to see a flop.

The flop came 4♣5♦9♠. Seif continued with 5,000 after action was passed. Richardson rode along to see the next card.

On the 5♠ turn, Seif fired 15,000 after another check. Richardson considered his options for a moment before folding his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Seif	83,000 32,000	32,000

Paul Richardson	74,000 6,000	6,000

Tags: Mark Seif Paul Richardson

06-12-2025 21:41 UTC-8

Ismen Flushed Out

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Jacob Wilson

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

Before any community cards were dealt, Tolga Ismen had shoved for 18,000, and was called by Lawrence Ross, with almost 10,000 in dead money in the middle.

Tolga Ismen: A♦8♦ All in
Lawrence Ross: A♣Q♠

The flop A♠7♥3♠ didn't give Ismen any help, with the exception of some unlikely backdoor chops, however the 8♠ turn gave him life again, as his two pair was now favourite to hold and give him a big double. He was still celebrating as the 2♠ river peeled off, giving Ross the backdoor flush, and sending Ismen home brutally.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lawrence Ross	135,000 135,000	135,000
Tolga Ismen	Busted

Tags: Lawrence Ross Tolga Ismen

06-12-2025 21:47 UTC-8

Auckland's Lucky Bell Gets Him a Double

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Joseph Berg

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

Daniel Auckland went all in and was at risk from early position for 17,500. Robert Alvarado then went all in himself from late position for roughly 33,000. The rest of the table folded, and the players were off to the races.

Daniel Auckland: A♠J♥ All in
Robert Alvarado: 7♦7♣

The board ran out 6♠2♠J♦4♦10♥, giving Daniel Auckland a much-needed double-up. Daniel Auckland had just brought out his lucky bell to the table, a recent purchase from a yard sale, and the bell delivered a double-up on its first hand in action

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Auckland	36,500 9,500	9,500
Robert Alvarado	16,200 35,800	35,800

Tags: Daniel Auckland Robert Alvarado

06-12-2025 22:00 UTC-8

Fountoukidis' Two Pair Counterfeited

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Gabrielle Barredo

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Kimon Fountoukidis raised to 3,500 under the gun and got called by Gary Herstein in hijack and Patrick Ray in the big blind. The flop drops Q♠2♥10♥.

After a check from the big blind, Fountoukidis bet another 3,500 which made Herstein fold. Ray called.

Once again, Ray check-called Fountoukidis bet 8,000 on the turn K♠. Fountoukidis slowed down checking after Ray on the river K♦.

Both players tabled their hands - Fountoukidis with Q♦10♦ and Ray with Q♥4♥. With Fountoukidis two pair counterfeited, the dealer split the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Patrick Ray	181,500 17,100	17,100

Kimon Fountoukidis	86,000
Gary Herstein	24,500

Tags: Gary Herstein Kimon Fountoukidis Patrick Ray

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

06-12-2025 22:10 UTC-8

Korn Eliminates Wiener

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Joseph Berg

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Action was picked up preflop with two players all in. Melvin Wiener was all in and at risk from the big blind for roughly 35,000 and was up against Andres Korn on the button.

Melvin Wiener: K♥3♣ All in
Andres Korn: A♥Q♣

The board ran out A♦2♦K♠6♠4♥, eliminating Wiener.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andres Korn	272,000 272,000	272,000

Melvin Wiener	Busted

Tags: Andres Korn Melvin Wiener

06-12-2025 22:24 UTC-8

Lehr's Kings Hold

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Gabrielle Barredo

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Keith Lehr opened to 5,500 in cutoff and received an all-in shove from Mark Jameson. Lehr called taking them to showdown.

Mark Jameson: J♠J♣ All in
Keith Lehr: K♠K♣

The board ran 4♥5♠6♥Q♥10♣. With Lehr's kings holding up, Jameson was sent to hit the rails at the last level of the day.

Player	Chips	Progress
Keith Lehr	82,000 82,000	82,000

Mark Jameson	Busted

Tags: Keith Lehr Mark Jameson

06-12-2025 22:31 UTC-8

Finkelberg Can't Take the Heat

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Gabrielle Barredo

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Roberto Finkelberg opened to 4,000 under the gun and received a three-bet to 15,500 from Gary Fisher in cutoff. Finkelberg checked Fisher's stack behind before making the call.

The flop came J♣5♠8♦. Finkelberg checked. Keeping the heat high, Fisher fired another 12,500 in the pot. Unable to pay such a high price to see another card, Finkelberg folded, conceding the pot to Fisher.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gary Fisher	190,000 190,000	190,000
Roberto Finkelberg	150,000 47,000	47,000

Tags: Gary Fisher Roberto Finkelberg