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

06-24-2025 17:52 UTC-8

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	300,000

Brian Tate	300,000
Phil Hui	300,000

Philip Sternheimer	300,000

Kristopher Tong	300,000

Dzmitry Urbanovich	300,000
Roy Thung	300,000

Ruben Gets Value From Ivey

David Salituro

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

No-Limit Hold'em

Phil Ivey bet 15,000 from the cutoff on a board of J♣7♥5♣ and Brad Ruben called in the big blind.

Both players checked the 8♥ turn. Ruben then led out for 27,000 on the 2♦ river and Ivey took a minute before calling.

Ruben turned over 9♠9♦ and Ivey mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brad Ruben	310,000 88,000	88,000

Phil Ivey	200,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Phil Ivey

06-24-2025 17:50 UTC-8

Triple Draw Action at Table #69

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Brett Slezak

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

David Oppenheim raised second to act, Dario Alioto three-bet from the hijack, and Oppenheim called.

Oppenheim took two and checked as Alioto took one and bet. Oppenheim raised and Alioto called.

Oppenheim was now pat and bet. Alioto drew one and raised, which Oppenheim called.

Both patted and the action checked through. Oppenheim announced a nine-six while Alioto tabled 8x7x5x4x2x for number twelve to win.

The next hand, Alioto raised, Mike Gorodinsky three-bet from the hijack, and Alioto called.

Alioto took two and check-called a bet from Gorodinsky who took one.

On the second draw, both took one and Alioto check-called another bet.

Alioto still needed one and he check-folded to a bet from Gorodinsky who was pat.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Gorodinsky	580,000 200,000	200,000

Dario Alioto	350,000 20,000	20,000

David Oppenheim	285,000 12,000	12,000

Tags: Dario Alioto David Oppenheim Mike Gorodinsky

06-24-2025 17:48 UTC-8

Gerhart Raises Schindler on Sixth

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

Razz

Kevin Gerhart: 4x3x/2xKx9x6x/3x
Maximilian Schindler: XxXx/7xAx10x3x/Xx
Christopher Vitch: XxXx/Qx - folded bring in

Maximilian Schindler completed and Kevin Gerhart three-bet. Christopher Vitch folded from the bring in and Schindler called.

Schindler bet fourth, fifth and sixth street. Gerhart called on fourth and fifth before putting in a raise on sixth. Schindler called.

Both players checked seventh street. Gerhart showed a nine-low and Schindler mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Gerhart	380,000 52,000	52,000

Maximilian Schindler	373,000 21,000	21,000
Christopher Vitch	352,000 68,000	68,000

Tags: Christopher Vitch Kevin Gerhart Maximilian Schindler

06-24-2025 17:45 UTC-8

Funkhouser Three-Bets After the Draw

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Connor Richards

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Aaron Kupin raised to 5,000 in the cutoff and David Funkhouser called in the big blind. Both players drew one.

Funkhouser led out for 5,000 after the draw and Kupin raised to 25,000. Funkhouser clicked it back to 70,000 and Kupin quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Funkhouser	400,000 50,000	50,000

Aaron Kupin	150,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Aaron Kupin David Funkhouser

06-24-2025 17:41 UTC-8

Persson Bets Out Valeo on the River; Negreanu Receives a Needle From the Rail

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David Salituro

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

Limit Hold'em

"Hey Bruno, must be fun playing with these two great players," Michael Mizrachi's brother Eric shouted out to Bruno Fitoussi from the rail, referring to Michael and Daniel Negreanu.

"What about the others? That's not nice," Michael replied.

"Daniel won it last year? You still have two more to go to catch Mike," Eric added.

Meanwhile, Matthew Valeo and Eric Persson went heads-up to a flop of A♥10♣K♠ where Persson bet from the big blind. Valeo called in the small blind.

Persson bet again on the A♠ turn, but this time Valeo came back with a raise. Persson called and the 5♣ fell on the river. Valeo slowed down and checked, then folded when Persson bet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matthew Valeo	280,000 71,000	71,000

Eric Persson	260,000 38,500	38,500

Tags: Eric Persson Matthew Valeo

06-24-2025 17:41 UTC-8

Kyte Puts Rast in the Blender

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Brett Slezak

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

No-Limit Hold'em

Jon Kyte opened the button to 6,000 before Brian Rast three-bet to 25,000 from the small blind. Kyte then four-bet to 63,000, and Rast called.

On the Q♣4♥4♦ flop, Rast checked to Kyte who continued for 33,000, and Rast called.

Rast check-called again on the 3♣ turn, this time to the tune of 80,000.

On the 5♣ river, Rast checked for a third time to Kyte who put forward a bet of 132,500, leaving himself just 5,000 back. Rast went deep into the tank as this amount represented the vast majority of his remaining chips.

"If I don't fold this hand then I don't really fold anything," Rast lamented.

After over three minutes, the clock was called and Rast quickly disposed of his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	495,000 212,500	212,500
Brian Rast	150,500 118,000	118,000

Tags: Brian Rast Jon Kyte

06-24-2025 17:30 UTC-8

Lindgren Scoops Big Multiway Hand

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

Stud Hi-Lo

Erick Lindgren: A♣J♥/2♠J♠4♠A♦/A♦
David Oppenheim: XxXx/7♠3♠10♣10♥/Xx
Brad Ruben: XxXx/8♦6♠2♣5♦/Xx
Dario Sammartino: XxXx/9♥Q♣6♣ - folded on fifth street

Brad Ruben completed and Dario Sammartino raised. David Oppenheim called, Erick Lindgren called from the bring in and Ruben called.

Sammartino checked on fourth street and Oppenheim bet. All three opponents called.

Action checked around to Ruben who bet on fifth street. Sammartino called, Oppenheim called and Lindgren raised. Ruben made it three big bets, Sammartino folded, Oppenheim called and Lindgren called.

Ruben bet again when checked to on sixth street and both remaining opponents called. On seventh street Oppenheim checked, Lindgren bet, Ruben called and Oppenheim called.

Lindgren showed a boat with aces full of jacks. Ruben mucked and Oppenheim showed that he had the 10♦ for at least trip tens before conceding the massive pot to Lindgren.

Player	Chips	Progress
Erick Lindgren	390,000 121,000	121,000

Dario Sammartino	305,000 15,000	15,000
David Oppenheim	297,000 38,000	38,000

Brad Ruben	222,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Brad Ruben David Oppenheim Erick Lindgren Dario Sammartino

06-24-2025 17:26 UTC-8

King is Good For Arieh

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David Salituro

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

Seven Card Stud

Josh Arieh: XxXx/10♥5♥K♣Q♣/Xx
Young Ko: XxXx/A♥2♠3♠J♦/Xx

Young Ko completed, Josh Arieh raised, and Ko called.

Arieh continued betting on each street down to seventh as Ko called him down. Arieh then bet again on seventh and Ko called once more.

Arieh turned over K♥9♠2♦ for a pair of kings and Ko mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Josh Arieh	510,000 15,000	15,000

Young Ko	150,000 137,000	137,000

Tags: Josh Arieh Young Ko

06-24-2025 17:25 UTC-8

Runner-Runner Never Funner

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Brett Slezak

Level 3

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,000-4,000, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 4,000 Completion, 4,000-8,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,000/3,000 Ante, 1,000-2,000 Blinds

Omaha Hi-Lo

Matthew Ashton raised from the cutoff, Dylan Smith three-bet from the button, and Ashton called.

Ashton check-called a bet on the K♣7♦6♣ flop.

On the 10♥ turn, Ashton check-called another bet.

The river was a repeat 10♠. Ashton opted to lead and Smith shrugged as he tossed in the call. Ashton tabled A♥10♣8♥2♥ for trip tens which were good to drag the pot.