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

06-17-2025 12:50 UTC-8

Hendren Wins Big Flip

Nick Becker

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

Roger Hendren shoved under the gun for 8,200,000 to put himself at risk and was called by Abraham Barbarian in the cutoff.

Roger Hendren: Q♣Q♥ All in
Abraham Barbarian: A♠K♦

It was a classic coin flip situation and Hendren's pair of queens remained best as the board ran out 4♦J♦7♠7♥2♦, earning him the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roger Hendren	18,400,000 10,200,000	10,200,000
Abraham Barbarian	4,100,000 8,200,000	8,200,000

Tags: Abraham Barbarian Roger Hendren

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 12:37 UTC-8

Chip Counts of Remaining Players

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Stewart Morrison

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

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Couden	24,000,000 10,600,000	10,600,000

Alexander Savchenko	23,800,000 8,750,000	8,750,000
Luciano Melo	14,700,000
Sebastian Medina	14,275,000 1,625,000	1,625,000
Richard Buckingham	14,250,000 12,750,000	12,750,000
Yu Hsiang Huang	14,000,000 1,800,000	1,800,000
Joseph Hernon	12,800,000 2,000,000	2,000,000
Abraham Barbarian	12,300,000 4,000,000	4,000,000
Tim Caziarc	12,200,000 550,000	550,000
Brandon Sowers	11,700,000 5,775,000	5,775,000
Charlemagne Benjamin	10,400,000 2,100,000	2,100,000
Samuel Choae	8,700,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Roger Hendren	8,200,000 100,000	100,000
Anthony Desai	6,600,000 2,600,000	2,600,000
Ofer Saha	4,360,000 3,140,000	3,140,000

Level: 36

Blinds: 400,000/800,000

Ante: 800,000

06-17-2025 12:15 UTC-8

Players Head for a Break

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Stewart Morrison

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

The remaining 16 players are heading for their first break of the day.

Scheduled for 15 minutes, play will resume at 1.28 p.m. local time.

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 12:10 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 12:04 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 12:00 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 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