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

Jun 24, 2025

Liberto Plays a Four-Bet Pot Against Ruben

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

2-7 Triple Draw

Justin Liberto opened from middle position and Brad Ruben three-bet from the cutoff. Liberto four-bet and Ruben called, drawing two while LIberto drew one.

After the first draw Liberto bet and Ruben called. This time Ruben drew one while Liberto stood pat. Liberto then fired a second barrel and Ruben called again.

For the final draw Liberto stood pat and Ruben drew one before both players checked. Liberto had a nine-low with 9x8x6x4x3x to win the hand.

Tags: Brad Ruben Justin Liberto

Jun 24, 2025

Becker Shows Kyte a Straight

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Brett Slezak

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

Stud Hi-Lo

Jon Kyte: 5♠2♠ / 7♠2♥Q♠2♣ / 3♣
Johannes Becker: 5♣4♣ / 7♦6♥Q♣3♥ / K♣

Becker limped first to act, Kyte completed, and Becker called.

Becker then led on fourth. He did the same on fifth before Kyte raised, and Becker called.

Kyte led sixth with open twos, Becker raised, and Kyte called.

Kyte check-called a final bet on seventh and got shown the bad news as Becker made a straight and low. Kyte had trips and a flush draw but could not salvage half.

Tags: Johannes Becker Jon Kyte

Jun 24, 2025

Smith Fires at Ausmus

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

Seven Card Stud

Dylan Smith: XxXx/K♣2♦9♣5♣/Xx
Jeremy Ausmus: XxXx/J♣Q♦4♦5♦/Xx

Heads-up going to fifth street, Dylan Smith bet and Jeremy Ausmus called.

Smith bet again on sixth and Ausmus called down to seventh. Smith then put out another bet and Ausmus called once more.

Smith showed A♣Q♣Q♥ for a flush and Ausmus mucked.

Tags: Dylan Smith Jeremy Ausmus

Jun 24, 2025

Mercier Wins, JRB Lingers

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Connor Richards

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

2-7 Single Draw

Jason Mercier opened to 5,500 from under the gun and Dario Alioto three-bet to 16,000 on the button. Mercier called and stood pat as Alioto went deep into the tank, leading Mercier to ask where the action was before Alioto drew one.

"I thought I blacked out," said Mercier.

Both players then checked and Mercier showed 10♠5♠4♥3♥2♦ to win the pot with a ten. At the same time, Jean-Robert Bellande towered over to the tournament area in flip-flops and with a goblet of wine in hand as Shaun Deeb tried to convince him to register the tournament.

"We'll let you pick your table!" Deeb yelled as Bellande was walking away.

Tags: Dario Alioto Jason Mercier Jean-Robert Bellande Shaun Deeb

Jun 24, 2025

Shakerchi Fires Two Barrels

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

Omaha Hi-Lo

With three players seeing a board of 2♠4♥4♦ and around 30,000 in the middle Albert Daher checked from the big blind and Talal Shakerchi bet from the hijack. Eric Persson called and Daher called.

On the 3♦ turn Daher checked and Shakerchi bet. This time both opponents folded, and Shakerchi won the pot without showdown.

Tags: Albert Daher Eric Persson Talal Shakerchi

Jun 24, 2025

Sammartino Shows Ivey a Flush

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

Stud Hi-Lo

Dario Sammartino: XxXx/K♦3♥5♦2♦/Xx
Phil Ivey: XxXx/2♠K♠6♣6♥Xx

Jean-Robert Bellande was making the rounds of the room and stopped at Shaun Deeb's table. "Are you playing?" Deeb asked, and Bellande replied that he wasn't.

"What chance would I have at this table alone," Bellande said, pointing out that Deeb's table also included the likes of Mike Gorodinsky and Jason Mercier.

"Just look at the other tables and you'll want to play. Don't look at this table," Deeb replied.

Bellande eventually got to Phil Ivey's table and say hello to Bruno Fitoussi as Ivey and Dario Sammartino went heads-up to fourth street.

Both players checked to fifth where Sammartino bet. Ivey called that bet and another on sixth before Sammartino bet again on seventh. Ivey called once more.

Sammartino turned over A♦Q♣9♦ for a flush and Ivey mucked.

Tags: Dario Sammartino Phil Ivey

Jun 24, 2025

Barbero Survives Again

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Brett Slezak

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

Seven Card Stud

Nacho Barbero: K♣10♥ / K♦8♥3♠A♦ / Xx All in
Ben Lamb: XxXx / J♣Q♦2♠ - folded on fifth street
Kevin Gerhart: Q♠6♦ / 6♥5♥9♥4♠ / Xx

Barbero completed, Lamb called, and Gerhart defended his bring-in.

Barbero led on fourth and both called. He led all-in for 9,500 on fifth and only Gerhart called.

Barbero was ahead with kings against the sixes of Gerhart. Neither player improved on sixth or seventh, and Barbero survived again.

Tags: Ben Lamb Kevin Gerhart Nacho Barbero

Jun 24, 2025

Who's the Favorite to Win?

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kasey Taormino

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

https://twitter.com/PokerNews/status/1937714896122114423

Jun 24, 2025

Glaser Puts Yockey to the Test

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

2-7 Single Draw

Bryce Yockey opened to 6,000 from the cutoff and Benny Glaser three-bet to 21,000 from the button. Yockey called and both players drew one.

After the draw Yockey bet 18,000. Glaser raised to 105,000 and Yockey snap-mucked.

Tags: Benny Glaser Bryce Yockey

Jun 24, 2025

Glantz Stuns Wasserson on the River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 4

Limit Flop/Draw: 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,000 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 5,000 Completion, 5,000-10,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 2,500/3,500 Ante, 1,000-2,500 Blinds

Pot-Limit Omaha

Matt Glantz raised to 8,000 in the hijack and Andrew Yeh called in the small blind. Eric Wasserson then three-bet to 32,000 in the big blind. Glantz four-bet to 104,000 and Yeh got out of the way, but Wasserson moved all in for 240,000 and Glantz snap-called.

Eric Wasserson: A♣A♥8♦6♥ All in
Matt Glantz: A♠A♦J♦J♠

"You can just run this one out," tablemate Scott Seiver told the dealer as both players showed aces and were poised to chop the pot. The flop came 3♠5♦5♣, but the 7♣ turn gave Wasserson outs to a straight.

"Oh, oh," Seiver said heading to the river, but it was Glantz who found a miracle with the J♥ to hit a set and send Wasserson to the rail.

"That's f**king impossible," Wasserson said as he pushed over his stack and made a speedy exit from the room.

Tags: Andrew Yeh Eric Wasserson Matt Glantz