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

06-17-2025 14:47 UTC-8

Hendred Wins a Flip

Stewart Morrison

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

Luciano Melo moved all in from under the gun for around 15,000,000. Action folded around to Roger Hendren in the big blind, who called for less.

Roger Hendren: A♠K♦ All in
Luciano Melo: 10♠10♦

The flop came a safe 2♥6♦5♠ for Melo, but the K♥ turn shot Hendren into the lead.

The river 9♠ offered no help to Melo, and he slid most of his stack one seat to his right.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roger Hendren	24,800,000 16,200,000	16,200,000
Luciano Melo	3,500,000 9,000,000	9,000,000

Tags: Luciano Melo Roger Hendren

06-17-2025 14:50 UTC-8

Melo Survives

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Nick Becker

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

Luciano Melo was down to one big blind and called in the cutoff to put himself at risk. Joey Couden raised to 3,500,000 on the button to isolate and both the players in the blinds folded.

Luciano Melo: A♣6♠ All in
Joey Couden: Q♦10♠

The board ran out 7♣2♣A♠7♠6♣ with Melo improving to two pair by the river to secure the much needed double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Couden	63,600,000 5,600,000	5,600,000

Luciano Melo	5,400,000 1,900,000	1,900,000

Tags: Joey Couden Luciano Melo

06-17-2025 14:51 UTC-8

Break Time

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Nick Becker

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

The remaining 10 players have been sent on another 15-minute break and will return to blinds at 800,000/1,600,000 with a 1,600,000 big blind ante.

Level: 39

Blinds: 800,000/1,600,000

Ante: 1,600,000

06-17-2025 15:12 UTC-8

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Couden	63,600,000

Alexander Savchenko	39,900,000 3,100,000	3,100,000
Ofer Saha	38,100,000 3,600,000	3,600,000

Roger Hendren	16,000,000 8,800,000	8,800,000
Brandon Sowers	12,000,000 1,100,000	1,100,000
Tim Caziarc	9,300,000 800,000	800,000
Richard Buckingham	8,200,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Yu Hsiang Huang	7,600,000 2,500,000	2,500,000
Samuel Choae	6,700,000 2,400,000	2,400,000
Luciano Melo	5,400,000 100,000	100,000

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

06-17-2025 15:33 UTC-8

Tim Caziarc Eliminated in 8th Place ($22,998)

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Stewart Morrison

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

Tim Caziarc moved all in from under the gun for final 5,300,000 chips. Action folded to Alexander Savchenko in the big blind, who made the call.

Tim Caziarc: A♠K♣ All in
Alexander Savchenko: K♠4♠

A promising situation soon turned ugly for Caziarc as the dealer fanned out the J♣4♣8♣, pairing Savchenko's kicker.

The turn 2♠ was no help for Caziarc, who was calling for a club, and the river 6♠ sealed his fate.

Savchenko pulled in the pot, and Caziark got directions to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexander Savchenko	49,500,000 9,600,000	9,600,000
Tim Caziarc	Busted

Tags: Alexander Savchenko Tim Caziarc

06-17-2025 15:39 UTC-8

Huang Still Alive

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Nick Becker

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

Action folded around to Yu Hsiang Huang in the small blind who moved all in for 2,800,000. Ofer Saha made the call in the big blind with the covering stack.

Yu Hsiang Huang: 9♥8♥ All in
Ofer Saha: Q♠3♥

The flop came 3♣5♣6♥ with Saha still in the lead with his pair of treys. The 7♦ landed on the turn, giving Huang the straight to lock up the double up and the meaningless 10♦ rolled off on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ofer Saha	33,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Yu Hsiang Huang	7,200,000 400,000	400,000

Tags: Ofer Saha Yu Hsiang Huang

06-17-2025 15:47 UTC-8

Huang Doubles Again

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Nick Becker

Level 40 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante

Alexander Savchenko raised to 3,300,000 in early position and Yu Hsiang Huang three-bet shoved for 9,000,000 in the cutoff to put himself at risk. Savchenko made the call.

Yu Hsiang Huang: A♠K♥ All in
Alexander Savchenko: A♦6♥

The board ran out 7♠Q♣3♠10♦4♣ and Huang survived another all in to surpass the 20,000,000 mark.