Event #45: $500 SALUTE to Warriors | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-17-2025 11:50 UTC-8

Robert Gingher Eliminated in 18th Place ($7,214)

Josh Noy

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Robert Gingher shoved for 6,950,000 in the cutoff, and Yu Hsiang Huang went into the tank in the small blind. After taking some time, Gingher called the clock before Huang made the call.

Robert Gingher: A♠3♦ All in
Yu Hsiang Huang: J♠J♣

Gingher was flipping for his tournament life, but could not connect on the 10♠4♥K♣K♦6♠ runout. Huang raked in the pot, as Gingher was sent to the rail in 18th position.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yu Hsiang Huang	15,800,000 8,500,000	8,500,000
Robert Gingher	Busted

Tags: Robert Gingher Yu Hsiang Huang

06-17-2025 12:04 UTC-8

Keith Romer Eliminated in 17th Place ($8,927)

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Nick Becker

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Keith Romer open-shoved in the hijack for 3,775,000 and Brandon Sowers reshoved in the cutoff for 12,200,000 to isolate.

Keith Romer: A♥3♥ All in
Brandon Sowers: Q♦Q♥

Romer picked up additional outs with a gutshot on the 2♠7♦4♦ flop but was unable to get there as the board ran out 6♦, 6♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Sowers	17,475,000 4,075,000	4,075,000
Keith Romer	Busted

Tags: Brandon Sowers Keith Romer

06-17-2025 12:14 UTC-8

Kimon Fountoukidis Eliminated in 16th Place ($8,927)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Luciano Melo moved all in in early position, and when action folded round to Kimon Fountoukidis, he committed all of his chips, calling for less than the all-in.

Kimon Fountoukidis: 7♦7♠ All in
Luciano Melo: A♦8♥

An important flip for both players and the deck favoured Melo on this occasion.

The flop came down 3♥5♣8♣, giving Melo the lead.

The turn 8♠ meant Fountoukidis was left with just two outs and one opportunity to find one of them.

The river K♣ sealed his fate, though. Melo scooped a crucial pot, and Fountoukidis headed to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Luciano Melo	14,700,000 8,800,000	8,800,000
Kimon Fountoukidis	Busted

Tags: Kimon Fountoukidis Luciano Melo

06-17-2025 12:45 UTC-8

Anthony Desai Eliminated in 15th Place ($8,927)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

A short-stacked Anthony Desai moved all in for 6,600,000, and when action folded to Samuel Choae, he snap-called and turned his cards over straight away.

Anthony Desai: A♣7♣ All in
Samuel Choae: K♥K♦

It was a dire situation for Desai, and he knew it. "Dealer, I need this", he said.

The flop 9♣J♦6♠ didn't help him directly, but did give him some backdoor opportunities.

The turn 7♠ and river 8♦ were no help, though, and he vacated his seat.

Player	Chips	Progress
Samuel Choae	15,300,000 6,600,000	6,600,000
Anthony Desai	Busted

Tags: Anthony Desai Samuel Choae

06-17-2025 13:16 UTC-8

Charlemagne Benjamin Eliminated in 14th Place ($8,927)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Left with just 15,000 chips after a previous altercation, Charlemagne Benjamin was forced all in from the small blind.

Richard Buckingham was the only player to get involved and it was bad news for Benjamin.

Charlemagne Benjamin: 10♠5♣ All in
Richard Buckingham: A♠A♦

The board ran out 5♠2♥K♦Q♣2♣, and although the damage was done in the previous hand, there was no comeback to be had for Benjamin.

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Buckingham	28,000,000 13,750,000	13,750,000
Charlemagne Benjamin	Busted

Tags: Charlemagne Benjamin Richard Buckingham

06-17-2025 13:19 UTC-8

Joseph Hernon Eliminated in 13th Place ($11,152)

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Nick Becker

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Joey Couden raised to 1,600,000 in middle position and Joseph Hernon three-bet shoved for 5,400,000 on the button to put himself at risk. Couden thought for a brief moment before making the call.

Joseph Hernon: 10♥10♣ All in
Joey Couden: 2♥2♠

The flop came 3♣J♥3♦ with Hernon still far out in the lead. That was until the 2♦ landed on the turn, with Couden drilling the two-outer to pull ahead. The 7♦ rolled off on the river and Hernon's tournament run came to an end.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Couden	27,400,000 3,400,000	3,400,000

Joseph Hernon	Busted

Tags: Joseph Hernon

06-17-2025 13:37 UTC-8

Abraham Barbarian Eliminated in 12th Place ($11,152)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Joey Couden moved all in, and Abraham Barbarian called off the remainder of his stack, roughly 10,000,000. All other players vacated the pot.

Abraham Barbarian: A♠Q♥ All in
Joey Couden: J♦J♠

The flop 4♥K♦8♣ left Barbarian wanting, and the turn 2♠ didn't bring any help either.

The river 9♣ sealed his fate, and as Couden pulled in the pot, Barbarian headed to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Couden	32,000,000 4,600,000	4,600,000

Abraham Barbarian	Busted

Tags: Abraham Barbarian Joey Couden

06-17-2025 14:20 UTC-8

Sebastian Medina Eliminated in 11th Place ($14,063)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 38 : 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Sebastian Medina moved all in from the button for his remaining 4,500,000 chips. Ofer Saha called from the big blind, putting Medina at risk.

Sebastian Medina: A♥J♦ All in
Ofer Saha: K♣2♥

A crucial all-in for Medina, with the final table just one elimination away.

The flop brought help for Saha, though, coming down 7♠2♠6♦.

The turn Q♠ and river 8♦ offered no reprieve for Medina, and it was his turn to head to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ofer Saha	34,500,000 11,500,000	11,500,000

Sebastian Medina	Busted

Tags: Ofer Saha Sebastian Medina

06-17-2025 15:18 UTC-8

Samuel Choae Eliminated in 10th Place ($14,063)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 39 : Blinds 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante

Action folded to Samuel Choae in the small blind, who moved all in for his remaining 3,500,000 stack. Richard Buckingham, in the big blind, called to put Choae at risk.

Samuel Choae: K♦7♦ All in
Richard Buckingham: A♠5♠

The flop Q♥4♠2♣ gave Buckingham a straight draw, but more importantly, kept him ahead.

The turn 6♠ reduced Choae's outs, as Buckingham had now picked up a flush draw too.

Unfortunately for Choae, the river 6♣ was no help either, and he vacated his seat to head for the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Buckingham	11,500,000 3,300,000	3,300,000
Samuel Choae	Busted

Tags: Richard Buckingham Samuel Choae

06-17-2025 15:25 UTC-8

Luciano Melo Eliminated in 9th Place ($17,901)

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Nick Becker

Level 39 : Blinds 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante

Luciano Melo moved all in for 5,400,000 in early position and Ofer Saha thought for a moment before making the call in the big blind with th covering stack.

Luciano Melo: Q♠10♣ All in
Ofer Saha: K♣7♣

Saha pulled ahead even further on the 7♥K♦5♥ flop, improving to two pair, kings and sevens. The 8♣ turn and 6♣ river offered no help to Melo and his tournament run came to an end.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ofer Saha	35,000,000 3,100,000	3,100,000

Luciano Melo	Busted

Tags: Luciano Melo Ofer Saha