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

06-24-2025 15:21 UTC-8

Champion on Champion Violence

Connor Richards

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

Pot-Limit Omaha

Mike Gorodinsky opened to 4,000 in the hijack and said "no shot Daniel folds" as it folded to Daniel Negreanu in the big blind. Negreanu called.

"Look at the live reads you've picked up," said Cary Katz.

"It's not a live read, he's just been obliterating me," Gorodinsky replied.

Negreanu checked on the flop of A♠2♠K♥ and Gorodinsky bet. Negreanu called. Both players then checked on the 8♠ turn. The river brought the 5♥ and Negreanu bet 18,000 to bring a fold from the fellow PPC champion.

"He was a good boy! He didn't try it," Negreanu cheered.

"I didn't try it because I actually had a hand," replied Gorodinsky.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Negreanu	325,000 63,500	63,500

Mike Gorodinsky	280,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: Cary Katz Daniel Negreanu Mike Gorodinsky

06-24-2025 15:24 UTC-8

Valeo Gets Some Back

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Brett Slezak

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

Razz

Christopher Vitch: XxXx / 5x9xQxQx / Xx
Maximilian Schindler: XxXx / 5x9xKx10x / Xx
Matthew Valeo: 8x7x / Ax3x6x10x / Jx

Action picked up on sixth as Valeo led with the lowest board and both opponents called.

On seventh, Valeo bet dark and got paid by both opponents. Valeo revealed his hole cards to show an eight-seven which was the winner.

"That must feel nice," joked a tablemate.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maximilian Schindler	320,000 71,500	71,500
Matthew Valeo	290,000 73,000	73,000

Christopher Vitch	255,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Christopher Vitch Matthew Valeo Maximilian Schindler

06-24-2025 15:26 UTC-8

Kyte Folds Out Livingston

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

Seven Card Stud

Jon Kyte: XxXx/7♥A♥3♦K♦/Xx
Alex Livingston: XxXx/8♣J♥K♠J♦ - folded on sixth street

Jon Kyte completed and Alex Livingston raised. Kyte called.

Both players checked fourth and fifth street. Livingston then bet sixth after pairing his jack and Kyte called.

On seventh street Livingston checked, Kyte bet and Livingston folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	338,000 38,000	38,000
Alex Livingston	255,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Alex Livingston Jon Kyte

06-24-2025 15:29 UTC-8

Gorodinsky Has a Better King

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

Limit Hold'em

Heads-up on a flop of K♠4♦7♥, David Benyamine bet from the cutoff and Mike Gorodinsky raised in the big blind. Benyamine called and they saw the 9♣ fall on the turn.

Gorodinsky led out with a bet and Benyamine raised. Gorodinsky called and the J♦ river was checked down.

Gorodinsky showed K♥Q♠ for top pair, while Benyamine tossed K♣10♣ into the muck as Gorodinsky took the pot with his queen-kicker.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Gorodinsky	380,000 100,000	100,000

David Benyamine	380,000 65,000	65,000

Tags: David Benyamine Mike Gorodinsky

06-24-2025 15:30 UTC-8

Rheem Outdraws Chambers

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

Chino Rheem and Walter Chambers drew two on the first draw and Chambers bet from the small blind. Rheem called in middle position.

Chambers then stood pat and Rheem took one. Chambers bet again and Rheem called.

Chambers patted the last draw and Rheem took one. Chambers slowed down and checked to Rheem, who put out a bet as Chambers called. Rheem then showed 8x7x5x4x2x and Chambers mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chino Rheem	380,000 35,000	35,000
Walter Chambers	280,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Chino Rheem Walter Chambers

06-24-2025 15:34 UTC-8

Portaro Takes from Hoenig

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

Razz

Bruno Portaro: XxXx/8xAxAx2x
Ryan Hoenig: XxXx/8x10x3xJx - folded on sixth street

Ryan Hoenig completed and Bruno Portaro called. Portaro then bet fourth street and Hoenig called.

On fifth street Hoenig bet after Portaro paired his ace. Portaro called.

Hoenig checked sixth street, Portaro bet and Hoenig folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Hoenig	347,000 3,000	3,000

Bruno Portaro	286,000 6,000	6,000

Tags: Bruno Portaro Ryan Hoenig

06-24-2025 15:34 UTC-8

Seiver Has That Dawg in Him

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Connor Richards

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

No-Limit Hold'em

Scott Seiver raised in the cutoff and Erick Lindgren called on the button as John Hennigan defended his big blind.

Hennigan checked on the flop of 6♦8♣Q♠ and Seiver continued for 7,000. Lindgren called and Hennigan folded. Seiver then sized up to 24,000 on the 8♠ turn and Lindgren again called.

The river brought the J♠ and Seiver bet 65,000, which was enough to bring a fold from "E-Dawg."

Player	Chips	Progress
John Hennigan	320,000 29,500	29,500

Erick Lindgren	320,000 40,000	40,000

Scott Seiver	190,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Erick Lindgren John Hennigan Scott Seiver

06-24-2025 15:36 UTC-8

Overbet Met with Resistance

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Brett Slezak

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

No-Limit Hold'em

Action picked up to a completed board of 10♥7♣3♠A♠10♦ in a hand between Dan Smith from under the gun and Michael Rocco from the cutoff with 24,000 in the middle.

Smith checked to Rocco who put in an overbet of 50,000. Smith would tank some time before he put in a check-raise to 250,000. Rocco had 228,000 behind after his bet as he went deep into the tank. After around two minutes he could only shrug and release his hand as Smith collected the pot uncontested.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Smith	410,000 82,000	82,000

Michael Rocco	228,000 98,500	98,500

Tags: Dan Smith Michael Rocco

06-24-2025 15:37 UTC-8

Taylor Gets Two Streets Off Katz

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

No-Limit Hold'em

With around 35,000 in the pot on a flop of J♠7♣3♠, Esther Taylor bet 21,500 from the big blind and Aaron Katz called in the small blind.

The turn was the A♦ and Taylor bet another 30,000. Katz again called and checked to Taylor on the 9♥ river. Taylor checked back this time.

"One pair, seven," Katz announced, but Taylor showed A♣K♣ for a pair of aces to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Esther Taylor	320,000 70,000	70,000

Aaron Katz	210,000 95,000	95,000

Tags: Aaron Katz Esther Taylor

06-24-2025 15:46 UTC-8

Big Huni Takes One

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Brett Slezak

Level 2

Limit Flop/Draw: 1,500-3,000, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 1,000 Bring-In, 3,000 Completion, 3,000-6,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 1500/2500 Ante, 1000-1500 Blinds

Pot-Limit Omaha

After a limp, Chris Hunichen made it 6,000 from the hijack and Young Ko called in the small blind. In the big blind, Ryan Hoenig potted to 25,500, the limper folded, and both Hunichen and Ko called.

On the K♠6♦5♥ flop, the action checked to Hunichen who bet 36,000. Both opponents folded with little resistance.