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

06-17-2025 11:30 UTC-8

Hernon Doubles with Aces

Josh Noy

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

Charlemagne Benjamin raised to 1,125,000 from under the gun and called after Joseph Hernon three-bet to 2,700,000 in the big blind.

Hernon moved all in on the 2♠Q♣7♥ flop and Benjamin called.

Joseph Hernon: A♥A♦ All in
Charlemagne Benjamin: A♣Q♦

Benjamin's top pair was trailing Hernon's pocket aces, and the 4♦ turn changed nothing. Hernon improved on the A♠ river, making a set to cement his double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joseph Hernon	14,550,000 2,550,000	2,550,000
Charlemagne Benjamin	10,500,000 6,150,000	6,150,000

Tags: Charlemagne Benjamin Joseph Hernon

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

Level: 35

Blinds: 300,000/600,000

Ante: 600,000

06-17-2025 11:38 UTC-8

Two Table Redraw

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Stewart Morrison

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

Table	Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
648	1	Roger Hendren	United States	8,100,000	16
648	2	Robert Gingher	United States	8,350,000	17
648	3	Anthony Desai	United States	9,200,000	18
648	4	Yu Hsiang Huang	Taiwan	7,300,000	15
648	5	Abraham Barbarian	United States	8,300,000	17
648	6	Kimon Fountoukidis	Poland	4,600,000	9
648	7	Joseph Hernon	United States	14,800,000	30
648	8	Samuel Choae	United States	7,700,000	15
648	9	Luciano Melo	Brazil	5,900,000	12

649	1	Brandon Sowers	United States	13,400,000	27
649	2	Joey Couden	United States	8,275,000	17
649	2	Alexander Savchenko	Russian Federation	8,000,000	16
649	4	Richard Buckingham	United States	27,000,000	54
649	5	Charlemagne Benjamin	United States	12,500,000	25
649	6	Sebastian Medina	Colombia	17,500,000	35
649	7	Tim Caziarc	United States	11,650,000	23
649	8	Ofer Saha	United States	13,250,000	27
649	9	Keith Romer	United States	3,725,000	7

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Buckingham	27,000,000 8,500,000	8,500,000
Sebastian Medina	17,500,000 10,725,000	10,725,000
Joseph Hernon	14,800,000 250,000	250,000
Brandon Sowers	13,400,000 2,200,000	2,200,000
Ofer Saha	13,250,000

Charlemagne Benjamin	12,500,000 2,000,000	2,000,000
Tim Caziarc	11,650,000 4,650,000	4,650,000
Anthony Desai	9,200,000 3,575,000	3,575,000
Robert Gingher	8,350,000 3,650,000	3,650,000
Abraham Barbarian	8,300,000 775,000	775,000
Joey Couden	8,275,000 1,550,000	1,550,000

Roger Hendren	8,100,000 100,000	100,000
Alexander Savchenko	8,000,000 1,500,000	1,500,000
Samuel Choae	7,700,000 4,600,000	4,600,000
Yu Hsiang Huang	7,300,000 900,000	900,000
Luciano Melo	5,900,000 5,875,000	5,875,000
Kimon Fountoukidis	4,600,000 4,900,000	4,900,000
Keith Romer	3,725,000 700,000	700,000

Tags: Abraham Barbarian Alexander Savchenko Anthony Desai Brandon Sowers Charlemagne Benjamin Joey Couden Joseph Hernon Keith Romer Kimon Fountoukidis Luciano Melo Ofer Saha Richard Buckingham Robert Gingher Roger Hendren Samuel Choae Sebastian Medina Tim Caziarc Yu Hsiang Huang

06-17-2025 11:50 UTC-8

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

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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 12:00 UTC-8

Savchenko Wins Flip to Double

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Nick Becker

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

Sebastian Medina raised to 1,200,000 in middle position, Ofer Saha flatted in the hijack, and Alexander Savchenko three-bet jammed in the big blind for 7,375,000 to put himself at risk. Medina got out of the way and Saha made the call.

Alexander Savchenko: A♦Q♥ All in
Ofer Saha: 3♣3♥

Savchenko pulled ahead on the 8♥4♥Q♣ flop, pairing his queen. The A♣ turn and 7♥ river secured him the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sebastian Medina	15,900,000 1,600,000	1,600,000
Ofer Saha	15,550,000 2,300,000	2,300,000

Alexander Savchenko	15,050,000 7,050,000	7,050,000

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 12:10 UTC-8

Couden Snaps Off a Double

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Josh Noy

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

Action was heads-up on the 5♣A♣2♥ flop, with around 4,000,000 chips already in the middle. Ofer Saha checked the 6♥ turn from the big blind and Joey Couden fired 1,550,000 from early position.

Saha made the call and announced all in on the J♦ river. Coudon snapped it off, making the quick call.

Joey Couden: A♥A♦ All in
Ofer Saha: 8♥3♥

Saha tabled his missed straight and flush draws, while Couden showed his set of aces to earn the full double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Couden	13,400,000 5,125,000	5,125,000

Ofer Saha	7,500,000 8,050,000	8,050,000

Tags: Joey Couden Ofer Saha

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.