Event #66: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-24-2025 13:51 UTC-8

Blom and Rocco Chop Up Portaro

Ryan Lashmar

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Omaha Hi-Lo

Viktor Blom opened from under the gun and received a call from Bruno Portaro on the button. Michael Rocco then three-bet from the big blind, and they both called.

The flop came 4♦8♣Q♥ and Rocco bet. Blom raised, Portaro called and Rocco called.

Action checked around to Blom who bet on the J♦ turn. Both opponents called before all three players checked the 5♦ river.

Rocco had the nut-low with A♣5♣4♥2♥ while Blom had two pair, queens and jacks with A♦Q♣J♠4♣ for the other half.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Rocco	330,000 10,000	10,000

Viktor Blom	310,000 50,000	50,000
Bruno Portaro	278,000 22,000	22,000

Tags: Bruno Portaro Michael Rocco Viktor Blom

06-24-2025 13:52 UTC-8

Smith Flushes Livingston and Gerhart

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Brett Slezak

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Stud Hi-Lo

Alex Livingston: XxXx / 8♦4♦3♥J♦ / Xx
Dylan Smith: Q♣6♣2♥ / 9♣7♣2♣6♥
Kevin Gerhart: XxXx / 4♣7♠4♠9♥ / Xx

Action picked up on fourth in a two-bet pot three-ways. It checked to Gerhart on fourth who bet and both opponents called.

Fifth street checked through before it checked to Smith on sixth who fired a bet as three players remained to seventh.

Smith fired again on the end and was called in both spots. He revealed his queen-high flush which was good for the scoop as no player made a low. Smith is looking to repeat his final table run from last year.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dylan Smith	315,000 35,000	35,000
Kevin Gerhart	295,000 25,000	25,000

Alex Livingston	275,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Alex Livingston Dylan Smith Kevin Gerhart

06-24-2025 13:53 UTC-8

Smith Gives Up to Fitoussi

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David Salituro

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

Four players went to the first draw where Alex Livingston took three, Dylan Smith and Eric Persson two, and Bruno Fitoussi one. Smith then bet from under the gun and only Fitoussi called.

Both players drew one and Smith bet again. Fitoussi called and they both stood pat on the last draw.

Smith checked to Fitoussi who put out a bet, and Smith snap-folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dylan Smith	295,000 20,000	20,000
Bruno Fitoussi	270,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Bruno Fitoussi Dylan Smith

06-24-2025 13:58 UTC-8

Arieh Continues Hot Start

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David Salituro

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Razz

Josh Arieh: XxXx/9x5x9x3x
Michael Rocco: XxXx/6x10x2xQx - folded on sixth street
Dario Alioto: XxXx/QxAx - folded on fourth street

Josh Arieh bet on fourth street and Dario Alioto called. Michael Rocco then raised and Arieh reraised. Alioto got out of the way, while Rocco called.

Rocco then bet on fifth and Arieh called. Arieh opened the betting on sixth, and Rocco this time tossed his cards away.

Player	Chips	Progress
Josh Arieh	370,000 20,000	20,000

Michael Rocco	310,000 20,000	20,000

Dario Alioto	270,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Dario Alioto Josh Arieh Michael Rocco

06-24-2025 14:03 UTC-8

Shakerchi Having Bad Time in Stud Hi-Lo

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Frank Visser

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Stud Hi-Lo

Matthew Valeo: XxXx/2♦5♦3♠4♥
Talal Shakerchi: XxXx/6♣3♦2♣8♠ - folded on sixth street

Matthew Valeo brought in, Talal Shakerchi completed, and Shakerchi called once it had folded back to him. Shackerchi placed bets on fourth and fifth street, both of which were called by Valeo.

Valeo caught his fourth open wheel card on sixth street, slowing Shakerchi down as he checked. Valeo then bet, and Shakerchi mucked his cards as he gave up on the pot.

Maximilian Schindler: XxXx/5♣8♦A♠J♣/Xx
Matthew Valeo: XxXx/10♣4♠ - folded on fourth street
Brian Breck: XxXx/9♦ - folded on third street
Talal Shakerchi: XxXx/6♠A♥10♥J♠/Xx - folded on seventh street
Christopher Vitch: XxXx/6♣Q♣ - folded on fourth street

The next hand, Maximilian Schindler was the bring-in. Valeo completed, Brian Breck called, and Shakerchi raised. Christopher Vitch called before Schindler made it three bets to go. Breck was the only player who folded as the group went four-way to fourth street.

Shakerchi caught best and led out. Vitch called, and Schindler raised, prompting Valeo to fold. Shakerchi put in a third bet, also folding out Vitch. Schindler just called to fifth street, where he bet once Shakerchi checked.

Shakerchi called and check-called as well on sixth street. Schindler fired a final bet on seventh street, this time receiving a check-fold from Shakerchi as Schindler took down the big pot without showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maximilian Schindler	370,000 55,000	55,000
Brian Breck	350,000 5,000	5,000
Christopher Vitch	305,000 5,000	5,000

Matthew Valeo	267,500 2,500	2,500

Talal Shakerchi	160,000 165,000	165,000

Tags: Brian Breck Christopher Vitch Matthew Valeo Maximilian Schindler Talal Shakerchi

06-24-2025 14:03 UTC-8

Persson Wastes No Time Getting Involved

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Brett Slezak

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Stud Hi-Lo

Alex Livingston: XxXx / 10♠K♦9♥8♥ / Xx - folded on seventh street
Bruno Portaro: 9♦5♦3♦ / 9♣3♠K♥3♥
Eric Persson: A♥A♦4♦ / 2♣5♠7♣3♣

Livingston completed, Portaro called, Persson raised, and both called.

It checked to Persson on fourth who bet, and the exact same action followed on fifth with both opponents calling.

On sixth, Portaro led with open threes, Persson raised, Livingston called, Portaro made it three bets, and both opponents called.

Portaro led on seventh, Persson raised, Livingston folded, and Portaro called. Persson revealed his wheel for the low but Portaro had a full house for the high to get half.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Persson	320,000 20,000	20,000
Bruno Portaro	310,000 32,000	32,000
Alex Livingston	255,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Alex Livingston Bruno Portaro Eric Persson

06-24-2025 14:04 UTC-8

Negreanu's Nine is Best

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Brett Slezak

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

Cary Katz raised from the small blind and Daniel Negreanu defended his big blind.

Both drew two and Katz led. Negreanu raised, and Katz called.

Katz now took one and check-called a bet as Negreanu stood pat.

On the final draw, Katz took one and the action checked through.

Cary Katz: 8x8x6x5x3x
Daniel Negreanu: 9x7x5x4x3x

Katz had outs to beat Negreanu's nine but he paired his eight on the end as the defending champion dragged a modest pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Negreanu	325,000 25,000	25,000

Cary Katz	270,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Cary Katz Daniel Negreanu

06-24-2025 14:05 UTC-8

Katz Manifests His Win Over Seiver; Eveslage Destined to Win?

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David Salituro

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Limit 2-7 Triple Draw

Cary Katz raised on the button, Scott Seiver reraised in the big blind, and Katz called.

"I'm definitely going to beat you in this hand," Katz said as he drew two. Seiver took one.

"You better not fold, then," Seiver replied, putting out a bet. Katz called and they both stood pat on the second draw.

"I'm trapping," Katz said as action was checked around and they stood pat again. Seiver then checked and Katz bet. Seiver called and Katz showed 8x6x4x3x2x to win the pot.

"Never a doubt in my mind. I manifested it," Katz said as he took the pot.

Chad Eveslage took his seat at this table while this hand was in progress. "Chad is destined to win this tournament. He registered but it didn't click, and it showed he had busted. What kind of omen is that?" tablemate Mike Gorodinsky said.

Player	Chips	Progress
Cary Katz	310,000 40,000	40,000

Chad Eveslage	300,000 300,000	300,000

Scott Seiver	240,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Cary Katz Scott Seiver

06-24-2025 14:09 UTC-8

Schindler Gets Paid With Number Four

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

Christopher Vitch opened from the hijack, Maximilian Schindler three-bet from the cutoff, Talal Shakerchi four-bet from the big blind and both opponents called. Shakerchi and Vitch took one each while Schindler drew two.

After the first draw Shakerchi bet and both opponents called. Once again Vitch and Shakerchi took one each and Schindler took two.

Shakerchi checked after the second draw. Vitch bet, Schindler called and Shakerchi called.

For the final draw all three players drew one. Shakerchi checked, Vitch bet and Schindler raised. Shakerchi folded and Vitch called.

Schindler tabled a seven-low with 7x6x5x4x2x to take down another decent pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maximilian Schindler	405,000 35,000	35,000
Christopher Vitch	275,000 30,000	30,000

Talal Shakerchi	142,000 18,000	18,000

Tags: Christopher Vitch Maximilian Schindler Talal Shakerchi

06-24-2025 14:14 UTC-8

Seiver Gets It Back From Katz

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David Salituro

Level 1

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-2,500, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Stud Games: 500 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 2,500 Completion, 2,500-5,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1,500/2,000 Ante, 500-1,500 Blinds

Limit 2-7 Triple Draw

Scott Seiver bet from the cutoff after the first draw and Mike Gorodinsky called on the button. Cary Katz then raised in the big blind and Seiver reraised. Gorodinsky got out of the way, but Katz put in another raise and Seiver called.

Both players stood pat and Katz checked to Seiver who bet. Katz called and took one, while Seiver stood pat.

Katz didn't even wait for Seiver to bet again as he instantly tossed his cards into the muck. Seiver pretended to put in a chip in before scooping up the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Scott Seiver	270,000 30,000	30,000

Cary Katz	255,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: Cary Katz Scott Seiver