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

06-17-2025 10:08 UTC-8

Hendren Knocks Out Youngblood on First Hand

Erick Torres

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Randy Youngblood's Day 3 journey was a brief one, as he was eliminated on the first hand of the day.

The hand began when Youngblood shoved for 4,200,000 from late position and was called by Roger Hendren in the small blind, who had him covered with 4,600,0000.

Randy Youngblood: A♣Q♠ All in
Roger Hendren: A♥K♥

Youngblood found no solace on the 6♥5♥10♣7♦8♠ board to send him out of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roger Hendren	8,800,000 3,800,000	3,800,000
Randy Youngblood	Busted

Tags: Randy Youngblood Roger Hendren

06-17-2025 10:20 UTC-8

All About the Benjamin

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Erick Torres

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Charlemagne Benjamin is on a rush to start Day 3 as he knocked out two players back-to-back in the first level of the day.

The first hand occurred after Giovanni Spataro jammed with his dwindling stack after losing an all-in earlier from early position, and Benjamin called from the small blind.

Giovanni Spataro: J♦9♠ All in
Charlemagne Benjamin: A♥7♦

The 8♠K♦8♦2♥3♥ board was no help to Spataro as Benjamin eliminated him from the tournament with ace high.

The very next hand, Benjamin opened the action with a jam from the button into two smaller stacks in the blinds. Stanislav Kriventsov called to put himself at risk.

Stanislav Kriventsov: Q♣10♠ All in
Charlemagne Benjamin: A♦6♥

Benjamin hit his ace immediately when the flop came A♠9♣K♠. The 7♠ turn drummed up some drama as it gave Kriventsov a flush draw, but the 10♥ was a blank to send him out of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Charlemagne Benjamin	10,500,000 4,850,000	4,850,000
Giovanni Spataro	Busted

Stanislav Kriventsov	Busted

Tags: Charlemagne Benjamin Giovanni Spataro Stanislav Kriventsov

06-17-2025 10:41 UTC-8

Sean Hansen Eliminated in 27th Place ($5,887)

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Erick Torres

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Sean Hansen committed his last 3,500,000 from early position and was called by Richard Buckingham in the next seat over.

Sean Hansen: A♥Q♠ All in
Richard Buckingham: A♠J♣

Hansen had the better ace and looked primed for a double when the flop and turn ran 2♠K♠K♥8♥, but the J♠ was a disastrous river to send Hansen out in 27th place. Hansen earned $5,887 for his efforts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Buckingham	25,000,000 4,000,000	4,000,000
Sean Hansen	Busted

Tags: Richard Buckingham Sean Hansen

06-17-2025 10:46 UTC-8

Steven Glasscock Eliminated in 26th Place ($7,214)

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Nick Becker

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Brandon Sowers open-shoved in late position for about 6,200,000 and Steven Glasscock called in the hijack for 3,550,000 to put himself at risk.

Steven Glasscock: A♥J♦ All in
Brandon Sowers: J♣J♠

Sowers' pair of jacks remained in the lead all the way as the board ran out 4♥8♠K♥K♣J♥, ending Glasscock's tournament run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Sowers	10,750,000 4,850,000	4,850,000
Steven Glasscock	Busted

Tags: Brandon Sowers Steven Glasscock

06-17-2025 10:53 UTC-8

Tyler Green Eliminated in 25th Place ($7,214)

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Stewart Morrison

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Tyler Green was nursing a short stack of just 1,325,000, or a little over four big blinds. He put them all to use, moving all in from middle position. Action folded to Richard Buckingham in the small blind, who also moved all in, causing the big blind to fold.

Tyler Green: 7♠7♥ All in
Richard Buckingham: K♣8♥

A flip to decide whether Green would stay in the tournament or whether Buckingham would absorb his remaining chips into his growing stack.

The flop 6♣5♠2♥ was safe for Green, as was the J♣ turn. However, the river K♠ was all Buckingham needed to claim the pot, and Green headed toward the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Buckingham	18,500,000 6,500,000	6,500,000
Tyler Green	Busted

Tags: Richard Buckingham Tyler Green

06-17-2025 10:59 UTC-8

Oliver Heidel Eliminated in 24th Place ($7,214)

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Erick Torres

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Oliver Heidel put in his last 1,700,000 and ran into Brandon Sowers, who called to put Heidel at risk.

Oliver Heidel: Q♠8♠ All in
Brandon Sowers: A♠A♦

Heidel could not find a way to crack Sowers' aces when the board ran 10♣K♠3♥J♣7♦ to hit the rail. Heidel earned $7,214 for his 24th-place finish.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Sowers	15,600,000 4,850,000	4,850,000
Oliver Heidel	Busted

Tags: Brandon Sowers Oliver Heidel

06-17-2025 11:03 UTC-8

Timothy Shifflet Eliminated in 23rd Place ($7,214)

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Erick Torres

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Timothy Shifflet was down to his final 100,000 after he paid for the blinds and ante, leaving him in a precarious situation.

Brandon Sowers called from the button, and Kimon Fountoukidis also called from the small blind. Shifflet put in his final 100,000 and was called in both spots.

Sowers and Fountoukidis checked down the board of 8♣3♠K♠A♣10♥ to send the three to a showdown.

Shifflet showed Q♥6♦ for queen high. Fountoukidis showed 3♦4♥ for a pair of threes, which was good enough to eliminate Shifflet and scoop the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Sowers	15,600,000
Kimon Fountoukidis	9,500,000 300,000	300,000
Timothy Shifflet	Busted

Tags: Brandon Sowers Kimon Fountoukidis Timothy Shifflet

06-17-2025 11:12 UTC-8

Clark Reynolds Eliminated in 22nd Place ($7,214)

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Nick Becker

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Ofer Saha open-shoved in the hijack for just over 9,000,000 and Clark Reynolds called on the button for a little over 2,000,000. Joey Couden thought for a moment in the small blind before committing his stack of around 5,000,000.

Clark Reynolds: A♠10♣ All in
Joey Couden: A♣Q♣ All in
Ofer Saha: A♥Q♥

The board ran out 2♠K♥7♠3♥4♣ and Reynolds was sent to the rail. Couden and Saha chopped the pot to chip up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ofer Saha	10,800,000 4,900,000	4,900,000

Joey Couden	6,725,000 375,000	375,000

Clark Reynolds	Busted

Tags: Clark Reynolds Joey Couden Ofer Saha

06-17-2025 11:23 UTC-8

James Reed Eliminated in 21st Place ($7,214)

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Nick Becker

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Charlemagne Benjamin raised to 1,200,000 in the cutoff and James Reed three-bet shoved in the big blind for 4,875,000 to put himself at risk. Benjamin thought for a brief moment before making the call.

James Reed: A♥K♥ All in
Charlemagne Benjamin: 5♦5♣

Benjamin came out on top, winning the coin flip as the board ran out 10♦9♦3♠4♦J♦ to send Reed to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Charlemagne Benjamin	16,650,000 7,450,000	7,450,000
James Reed	Busted

Tags: Charlemagne Benjamin James Reed

06-17-2025 11:34 UTC-8

Jaehyun Park Eliminated in 19th Place ($7,214); Mike Gao Eliminated in 20th Place ($7,214)

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Erick Torres

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Jaehyun Park and Mike Gao met their fate against Ofer Saha in a three-way all-in pot that began when Jaehyun Park jammed from the button for 3,325,000. Mike Gao also committed his stack and jammed from the small blind for less. Ofer Saha woke up with a hand in the big blind and called, covering both players to put them at risk.

Jaehyun Park: 10♥4♦ All in
Mike Gao: J♠J♣ All in
Ofer Saha: A♦K♣

Gao led the pack as they headed into the runout, and his lead held when the 10♠9♣3♦ flop came. However, the K♥ on the turn vaulted Saha into the lead. The 3♥ river shut the door on Park and Gao sending them out in 19th and 20th place respectively.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ofer Saha	13,250,000 2,450,000	2,450,000

Jaehyun Park	Busted
Mike Gao	Busted

Tags: Jaehyun Park Mike Gao