Event #50: $10,000 Razz Championship Day 2 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-17-2025 12:30 UTC-8

Eslami Sent Massive Pot, Okamura Eliminated

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Dan O'Hair

Level 11

Ante: 1,000
Bring In: 1,000
Completion: 4,000
Limits: 4,000-8,000

Motoyoshi Okamura: Jx6x2x/7x3xKxKx All in
Ali Eslami: 10x2xAx/4xQx3x6x
Nikolay Ponomarev: 8x5xAx/3x6xAx9x

Motoyoshi Okamura completed and was raised by Nikolay Ponomarev. Ali Eslami called cold and action folded back to Okamura, who made it three bets to go. Ponomarev four-bet and Eslami capped it at five bets. Okamura called all in and Ponomarev called as well.

Eslami called bets from Ponomarev on fourth and fifth street and then Ponomarev check-called bets from Eslami on sixth and seventh.

Eslami turned over 10x2xAx for six-perfect, which was good for it all to score the massive pot and eliminate Okamura.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ali Eslami	200,000 90,500	90,500

Nikolay Ponomarev	110,000 55,000	55,000
Motoyoshi Okamura	Busted

Tags: Ali Eslami Motoyoshi Okamura Nikolay Ponomarev

06-17-2025 12:25 UTC-8

2000s Poker Icon Smith Falls Early

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Calum Grant

Level 11

Ante: 1,000
Bring In: 1,000
Completion: 4,000
Limits: 4,000-8,000

Justin Smith: JxXx / Ax8x2x7x / Xx
Qiang Xu: Ax6x / 10x4xKx7x / 6x

Late 2000s poker phenom Justin Smith completed with Qiang Xu calling from the next seat over.

Xu, who finished third in the $10,000 Stud Championship for $135,828, called all of Smith's bets from fourth to seventh street.

Smith was caught speeding as he sheepishly showed a jack-low. Xu tabled Ax6x6x for a T-7-6-4-A to take the pot.

Smith was left with just 12,000 after the hand and was eliminated shortly after.

PokerNews caught up with Smith at the 2024 WSOP, where he made his first appearance in nine years. You can find out what he's been up in this article.

Player	Chips	Progress
Qiang Xu	210,000 36,000	36,000

Justin Smith	Busted

Tags: Justin Smith Qiang Xu

06-17-2025 12:19 UTC-8

Lin Peels "Lady Gaga"

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Calum Grant

Level 11

Ante: 1,000
Bring In: 1,000
Completion: 4,000
Limits: 4,000-8,000

John Hennigan: 2x3x / 5x7x3xAx / Qx
Ren Lin: 6x3x / Ax7x2x9x / Xx

John Hennigan completed and then called when Ren Lin raised on his direct left.

Hennigan called bets on fourth and fifth street with both players showing strong Razz boards. Hennigan's got a little better on sixth street when he picked up an ace, and he bet. Lin called to bring in seventh street where Hennigan bet before seeing his final card.

Lin also called before seeing what his seventh card was.

Hennigan had Qx3x2x in the hole for a seven five.

Lin, who first showed he had 6x3x needed a two-spotter to have any hope of taking some of the pot.

"Lady Gaga," shouted Lin as he peeled his final card, showing the Qx, leaving him with a no good seven-six. This even got a laugh out of Hennigan.

"Did I play it right coach?" Lin asked Daniel Negreanu, with the Canadian shaking his head from side to side.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Hennigan	155,000 25,000	25,000

Ren Lin	90,000 96,500	96,500

Tags: Daniel Negreanu John Hennigan Ren Lin

06-17-2025 10:42 UTC-8

Coleman Leads Stacked Field in $10,000 Razz Championship

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Dan O'Hair

It's time to Razz and shine, as Day 2 of the $10,000 Razz Championship gets underway today at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas with 47 players returning to battle for one of the most prestigious lowball bracelets offered at the World Series of Poker.

Leading the way is two-time bracelet winner Maxx Coleman, who bagged an impressive 319,500 thanks to sussing out a bluff late in Day 1. Further down the chip road are Sebastian Pauli (235,500) and Ivan Schertzer (214,500) to round out the top three.

Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Bets
1	Maxx Coleman	United States	319,500	40
2	Sebastian Pauli	Germany	235,500	29
3	Ivan Schertzer	United States	214,500	27
4	Eric Rodawig	United States	196,500	25
5	Ray Fishman	United States	195,000	25
6	Max Pescatori	Italy	188,500	24
7	Ren Lin	China	186,500	23
8	John Racener	United States	185,500	23
9	Max Hoffman	United States	184,000	23
10	Qiang Xu	China	174,000	22

Also still in contention are Nick Schulman (129,000), John Hennigan (130,000), Brian Yoon (156,000), John Racener (185,500), and defending champion George Alexander — who will bring an above-average stack of 169,500 with him en route to his quest for another Razz title.

However, many players are still expected to join the fray, as late registration will stay open through Level 11 and officially close at the start of Level 12.

The action is set to get underway at 1 p.m. with the start of Level 11, featuring 1,000 antes and 4,000/8,000 betting limits. Levels will last 60 minutes apiece until Level 15, after which they will increase to 90 minutes for the remainder of the tournament. Scheduled breaks will take place following Levels 11, 13, 16, and 17, with a 60-minute dinner break coming after Level 15.

Stay tuned to PokerNews as we continue to bring you all the action from the floor leading to the final table and eventual next Razz champion.

Tags: Big Bets Brian Yoon Eric Rodawig George Alexander Ivan Schertzer John Hennigan John Racener Maxx Coleman Nick Schulman Qiang Xu Ray Fishman Ren Lin Sebastian Pauli