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

06-24-2025 14:17 UTC-8

Shakerchi Bounces Back in Capped Pot

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

2-7 Triple Draw

Justin Liberto raised under the gun. Brian Breck called in the cutoff before Talal Shakerchi three-bet on the button. Liberto called, Breck four-bet, and Shakerchi capped the betting at five bets. Both Liberto and Breck called.

On the first draw, Liberto and Breck each drew two cards, while Shakerchi only needed one. The betting action checked to Shakerchi, who tossed in some chips. Liberto and Breck called, and the same drawing sequence took place on the second draw.

After it had checked to Shakerchi again, he bet. Liberto and Breck both stuck around with calls. On the final draw, Liberto drew one card, Breck still took two, and Shakerchi remained pat.

Liberto and Breck checked to Shakerchi once more, ultimately folding when Shakerchi flicked in a final bet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Breck	310,000 40,000	40,000
Justin Liberto	280,000 280,000	280,000

Talal Shakerchi	187,500 45,500	45,500

Tags: Brian Breck Justin Liberto Talal Shakerchi

06-24-2025 14:23 UTC-8

Benyamine Enters and Scoops a Huge One

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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

No Limit Hold'em

Brian Yoon opened the cutoff to 3,500 and was called by Cary Katz on the button and David Benyamine in the small blind. In the big blind, Daniel Negreanu three-bet to 15,500 and was called by all three opponents to create a pot of 64,000.

On the 7♦4♠4♥ flop, Negreanu continued for 16,000 and was called in no less than three spots as the four players went to a turn.

"Is this limit?" joked tablemate Mike Gorodinsky.

The 3♦ turn checked through to the 8♥ river which saw Benyamine lead for 25,000. Negreanu quickly folded, Yoon called, and Katz got out of the way. Benyamine tabled 6♦5♦ for a straight to drag the largest pot of the day so far.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Benyamine	415,000 415,000	415,000

Brian Yoon	275,000 15,000	15,000

Daniel Negreanu	260,000 65,000	65,000

Cary Katz	190,000 65,000	65,000

Tags: Brian Yoon Cary Katz Daniel Negreanu David Benyamine

06-24-2025 14:23 UTC-8

Portaro Shows a Wheel

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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

Bruno Portaro opened from the cutoff, Eric Persson called from the button and Matt Glantz three-bet from the small blind. Both opponents called. Glantz took two, Portaro took one and Persson took two.

After the first draw Glantz bet, Portaro called and Persson raised. Glantz called and Portaro called before all three players drew one.

Glantz checked after the second draw. Portaro bet, Persson called and Glantz called.

For the final draw, Glants drew one, Portaro stood pat and Persson drew one. The action then checked around to Portaro who bet and both opponents folded.

Portaro showed that he had 7x5x4x3x2x before dragging in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Persson	340,000 20,000	20,000
Bruno Portaro	270,000 40,000	40,000
Matt Glantz	262,000 38,000	38,000

Tags: Bruno Portaro Eric Persson Matt Glantz

06-24-2025 14:25 UTC-8

Chambers Gets There on the RIver in Three-Way Pot

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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 Hold'em

Viktor Blom bet from the big blind on a board of 8♦6♦K♦J♣ and Aaron Katz under the gun and button Walter Chambers both called.

The river was the 7♦ and Blom checked to Katz who bet. Chambers then raised and Blom folded, but Katz called.

Chambers showed A♦7♣ for the rivered nut flush and Katz mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Walter Chambers	310,000 10,000	10,000

Ali Eslami	300,000

Chris Hunichen	300,000

John Monnette	300,000

Maxx Coleman	300,000

Johannes Becker	300,000

Eric Wasserson	300,000

Justin Liberto	300,000 20,000	20,000

Aaron Katz	265,000 265,000	265,000

Viktor Blom	250,000 60,000	60,000

Tags: Aaron Katz Viktor Blom Walter Chambers

06-24-2025 14:32 UTC-8

Eslami Raises Out Yockey

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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

Stud Hi-Lo

Ali Eslami: XxXx/A♦8♥K♣
Bryce Yockey: XxXx/Q♣J♣2♣ - folded on fifth street

Ali Eslami bet on fourth street before Bryce Yockey raised. Eslami reraised and Yockey called.

Yockey then bet on fifth and Eslami raised again. Yockey took a few moments but eventually gave up his board this time as Eslami took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ali Eslami	330,000 30,000	30,000

Bryce Yockey	270,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Ali Eslami Bryce Yockey

06-24-2025 14:33 UTC-8

Roberts Staying Active

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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

Seven Card Stud

Christian Roberts: A♣Q♣8♦ / A♦2♠2♣J♣
Dylan Smith: XxXx / 10♦8♣K♦8♥ / Xx
Kevin Gerhart: XxXx / 2♥4♠5♦9♥ / Xx - folded on seventh street

Roberts completed and was called by Smith as Gerhart defended his bring-in.

Roberts checked fourth to Smith who bet. Gerhart called, Roberts raised, and both opponents called.

Roberts led on fifth. On sixth, Smith checked with open eights, Gerhart checked, Roberts bet, and both opponents called to see another card.

It checked to Roberts again on seventh who bet, Smith called, and Gerhart quickly folded. Roberts revealed his hole cards to reveal two pair, aces and deuces, which were good to drag another pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christian Roberts	380,000 90,000	90,000

Kevin Gerhart	285,000 10,000	10,000

Dylan Smith	250,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Christian Roberts Dylan Smith Kevin Gerhart

06-24-2025 14:33 UTC-8

Seiver Gets a Fold from Katz

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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

Seven Card Stud

Scott Seiver: XxXx/Q♦4♠K♥Q♥
Cary Katz: XxXx/K♣3♦2♣2♥ - folded on sixth street
Daniel Negreanu: XxXx/5♣ - folded bring in

Scott Seiver completed, Cary Katz raised and Seiver called.

Katz continued with a bet on fourth street and Seiver called. Both players then checked fifth street.

After catching a second queen on sixth street Seiver bet and Katz folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Negreanu	267,000 7,000	7,000

Scott Seiver	255,000 15,000	15,000

Cary Katz	205,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Cary Katz Daniel Negreanu Scott Seiver

06-24-2025 14:36 UTC-8

Lindgren Calls Gerhart Down

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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

Seven Card Stud

Erick Lindgren: 9♦8♠5♣/9♠7♦5♠K♦
Kevin Gerhart: Q♥Q♦Xx/3♠J♣10♠6♠

Erick Lindgren completed, Kevin Gerhart two-bet, and Lindgren called. Lindgren called or check-called Gerhart's bets up until seventh street, after which the players showed down.

Gerhart showed two queens, but Lindgren quickly tabled two pair. Gerhart patted the table and mucked his final card to send the pot to Lindgren.

Player	Chips	Progress
Erick Lindgren	390,000 10,000	10,000

Kevin Gerhart	280,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Erick Lindgren Kevin Gerhart

06-24-2025 14:36 UTC-8

Smith Picks Off Rocco

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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

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Dan Smith raised to 3,500 in the cutoff and Michael Rocco called in the small blind.

Smith drew one and Rocco two. Rocco then led out for 20,000 and Smith called.

Rocco flashed a nine, but Smith turned over 8x7x6x3x2x to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Smith	340,000 40,000	40,000

Michael Rocco	310,000

Tags: Dan Smith Michael Rocco

06-24-2025 14:43 UTC-8

Wheely Good Hand for Monnette

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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

Action picked up after the second draw as Bryce Yockey led from the small blind. John Monnette raised from the big blind, and Yockey called.

Yockey took one and Monnette was pat. Yockey then led, Monnette instantly raised, and Yockey reluctantly called. Monnette tabled 7x5x4x3x2x for a wheel to drag a modest pot off the 2024 runner-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Monnette	295,000 5,000	5,000

Bryce Yockey	285,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Bryce Yockey John Monnette