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

Jun 24, 2025

Reigning Main Event Champ Jonathan Tamayo on New WSOP Rules & Folding Pocket Queens

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

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 30th episode, Connor talks with 2024 WSOP Main Event champion Jonathan Tamayo about growing up in Humble, Texas, studying hotel management at Cornell University, graduating during the 2008 recession, running deep in the 2009 and 2015 Main Events, his friendship with fellow Main Event champion Joe McKeehen, winning the biggest-ever WSOP Main Event for $10 million, and his first purchase as world champion.

Tamayo also spoke about his infamous fold with pocket queens late in the 2024 Main Event, which he says cost him $120,000 in equity, and gave his thoughts on new rules implemented at the 2025 WSOP in the wake of "LaptopGate," as well as the Main Event structure and Phil Hellmuth's proposed boycott that he has since rescinded.

Tags: Connor Richards Joe McKeehen Jonathan Tamayo

Jun 24, 2025

Vitch Frustrates Barbero

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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

Christopher Vitch: XxXx/6♠6♥7♥5♣/Xx
Nacho Barbero: XxXx/J♠A♦4♥K♣/Xx
Brian Breck: XxXx/Q♠A♥5♥7♣ - folded on sixth street

There was already a completion and raise in front of him before Brian Breck reraised. Christopher Vitch and Nacho Barbero called.

Vitch made a pair on fourth and bet as both opponents called. Vitch bet again on fifth and Barbero and Breck again called.

Barbero then bet on sixth and Breck folded, while Vitch stuck around and called. Both players then checked on seventh.

Vitch turned over 9♦9♥9♠ for a full house. "How?" Barbero shouted out, jumping out of his seat and flashing A♠K♦J♦ as he continued to mutter to himself while Vitch scooped in the pot.

Tags: Brian Breck Christopher Vitch Nacho Barbero

Jun 24, 2025

Arieh Slow-Plays Big Slick

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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

Chris Hunichen from early position and Josh Arieh from the big blind were heads-up to the turn in a single-raised pot with a little under 30,000 in the middle.

With the board reading Q♦J♣3♠K♠, Arieh check-called a bet of 16,000 from Hunichen.

On the 6♥ turn, Arieh checked for a third time to Hunichen who fired for 36,000 and Arieh quickly called.

"You're good," bemoaned Hunichen as Arieh tabled A♥K♣ for the winner.

Tags: Chris Hunichen Josh Arieh

Jun 24, 2025

Funkhouser Pushes Kupin Out

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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

Pot-Limit Omaha

Freddy Deeb opened to 4,000 in early position and Aaron Kupin called in the cutoff. David Funkhouser then three-bet to 25,000 in the big blind and only Kupin called.

The flop came A♣K♣6♦ and Funkhouser bet another 45,000. Kupin called to the 9♠ turn, where Funkhouser bet 150,000. Kupin quickly folded and Funkhouser took the pot.

Shaun Deeb (no relation to Freddy) just sat down at this table, while Phil Ivey also recently joined the field.

Tags: Aaron Kupin David Funkhouser

Jun 24, 2025

Eveslage's Coat of Many Colors

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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

Limit Hold'em

Chad Eveslage raised in late position and Justin Liberto three-bet in the big blind. Eveslage called.

Liberto continued on the flop of 6♦Q♣4♠ and Eveslage called. Liberto bet again on the 7♠ turn and Eveslage folded.

Eveslage is an excellent Razz player, and after the hand played out he proved he can also take being razzed by his tablemates like a champion. Scott Seiver and Eric Wasserson weren't fans of his colorful XL hoodie, which he got at Aria for $110.

"So it's like a four?" Eveslage asked a masseuse.

"It's binary," interjected Seiver. "It's a zero."

"I'm destined to wear basketball shorts all my life. Anytime I wear something else, this happens," Eveslage.

Tags: Chad Eveslage Eric Wasserson Justin Liberto Scott Seiver

Jun 24, 2025

Negreanu Scoops Blom

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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

Omaha Hi-Lo

Viktor Blom opened from middle position and Daniel Negreanu defended from the big blind.

Both players checked the A♠3♠8♠ flop leading to the 5♠ turn. Negreanu bet and Blom called.

Blom called another bet from Negreanu on the K♦ river. Negreanu tabled Q♦10♦7♠2♠, having seven-deuce for the low and a flush for the high. Blom mucked and Negreanu scooped the pot.

Tags: Daniel Negreanu Viktor Blom

Jun 24, 2025

Dan Cates the First to Hit the Rail

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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

Pot-Limit Omaha

Eric Wasserson potted to 7,000 under the gun and Matt Glantz called in the cutoff. In the big blind, Dan Cates repotted to 29,000 and both opponents called.

On the 8♠4♣2♦ flop, Cates jammed for his final 21,000, Wasserson folded, and Glantz snapped it off.

Dan Cates: A♦A♣9♣4♥ All in
Matt Glantz: 10♥8♦8♣7♥

Cates was in dire straits against the top set of Glantz. Cates picked up a gutter on the 5♠ turn but he could not be saved on the 10♠ river as he was first casualty for this year's PPC.

Tags: Dan Cates Eric Wasserson Matt Glantz

Jun 24, 2025

Dzivielevski Calls Down Smith

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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

Yuri Dzivielevski: XxXx/7♦8♦2♠Q♠/Xx
Dylan Smith: XxXx/10♥K♦A♥7♠/Xx

Heads-up going to fifth street, Dylan Smith bet and Yuri Dzivielevski called.

Smith bet again on sixth and Dzvielevski called. On seventh, Smith slowed down and checked to Dzivielevski who bet. Smith then raised and Dzivielevski called.

Smith showed 8♥7♥3♣, while Dzivielevski had A♦10♦2♦ for a flush to win the pot.

Tags: Dylan Smith Yuri Dzivielevski

Jun 24, 2025

Taylor Gets There Against Sammartino

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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

Limit Hold'em

Dario Sammartino raised under the gun and was called by David Oppenheim next to act and Esther Taylor in the big blind.

On the Q♠7♥6♠ flop, Sammartino continued and only Taylor called.

Taylor check-called again on the 10♥ turn before she led on the repeat Q♣ river, and Sammartino reluctantly called. Taylor showed Q♦J♦ for trip queens for the winner.

Tags: Dario Sammartino David Oppenheim Esther Taylor

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