2025 World Series of Poker
With 1,809 players left on for 1,800 places in the money, the tournament's director instructed the dealers to stand up before the start of the Hand for Hand play.
Benh Kieu opened for 8,000 in middle position and got called by the man to his immediate left Benjamin Leblond to see a flop.
The flop came 10♣9♦8♠ which both players checked. The turn A♣ fell and Kieu shot out 6,000. As the floor announced hand-for-hand playe on the next hand, Leblond raised to 18,000 sending Kieu to think of what to do with only about 50,000 behind.
He ultimately folded conceding the pot to Leblond.
Venkata Tayi started with a raise from the cutoff to 12,000 on a flop of J♠A♣10♠. June Kim three-bet it to 28,000 chips.
After much study, Tayi went all in with enough chips to put Kim to the test for all of his chips with the bubble looming.
Kim made the call.
June Kim: K♥Q♣
Venkata Tayi: A♠3♥
With the top straight on the flop, Kim didn't need any help. The runout of Q♥2♣ didn't change anything, and Kim got the crucial double-up.
David Marshall raised to 8,000 from the cutoff, and Andrew Crookston three-bet to 25,000 on the button. Marshall called.
The flop came 7♣Q♦Q♣. Marshall checked, Crookston bet 16,000, and Marshall called.
Both players checked the 7♦ turn.
The river was the 9♥. Marshall checked again, and Crookston bet 55,000. After some time, Marshall folded, Crookston windmilled J♥8♠ face-up. As he dragged in the sizable pot, Crookston told Marshall, 'You made me sweat.
Heads up to a flop of Q♦J♦8♣ saw Igor Zektser check and Jacobo Davila followed suit.
The J♣ came on the turn and both players checked again.
Zekster bet 4,000 when the 2♦ completed and he soon faced a raise to 15,000 from Davila.
It appeared Zekster was counting combinations of hands his opponents could have and eventually he flicked in the call.
Davila tabled A♦3♦ for the nut flush and Zekster mucked his hand, nodding as if that hand was indeed on his mental list.
Action was picked up on the flop of 7♦2♣9♠ and a pot of 20,000. After a check, Daewoong Song from cutoff bet out 8,000 and got called by Joon Park on the button. Sascha Manns in the big blind folded leading the other two to the turn.
The turn 9♣ dropped and Song check-called Park's bet of 18,000. The same thing happened on the river 2♦ with Park betting 30,000 and Song calling.
Park showed J♦10♣ for a paired board with his jack as a kicker while Song tabled A♣7♥ for two pair with the board and his ace as the kciker.
Daniel Gonzalez was all-in from the hijack for his remaining 35,000 and went heads-up against Lucas Pochat in a middle position.
Daniel Gonzalez: A♠Q♣
Lucas Pochat: J♦J♣
Gonzalez needed to improve and was behind on the 5♣K♦2♠ flop, and the 10♣ turn.
His luck changed on the Q♠ river and he retook his seat, doubling his stack.