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

06-24-2025 19:53 UTC-8

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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Liberto	468,000 72,000	72,000

Brad Ruben	283,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Justin Liberto

06-24-2025 19:52 UTC-8

Becker Shows Kyte a Straight

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	650,000 75,000	75,000
Johannes Becker	325,000 83,500	83,500

Tags: Johannes Becker Jon Kyte

06-24-2025 19:45 UTC-8

Smith Fires at Ausmus

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeremy Ausmus	420,000 80,000	80,000

Dylan Smith	220,000 82,000	82,000

Tags: Dylan Smith Jeremy Ausmus

06-24-2025 19:39 UTC-8

Mercier Wins, JRB Lingers

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dario Alioto	600,000 302,000	302,000

Jason Mercier	260,000 22,000	22,000

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

06-24-2025 19:39 UTC-8

Shakerchi Fires Two Barrels

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Albert Daher	560,000
Talal Shakerchi	247,000 47,000	47,000
Eric Persson	81,000 131,000	131,000

Tags: Albert Daher Eric Persson Talal Shakerchi

06-24-2025 19:39 UTC-8

Sammartino Shows Ivey a Flush

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dario Sammartino	400,000 210,000	210,000

Phil Ivey	280,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: Dario Sammartino Phil Ivey

06-24-2025 19:39 UTC-8

Barbero Survives Again

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Gerhart	370,000 23,000	23,000

Ben Lamb	340,000 30,000	30,000

Nacho Barbero	58,000 24,000	24,000

Tags: Ben Lamb Kevin Gerhart Nacho Barbero

06-24-2025 19:38 UTC-8

Who's the Favorite to Win?

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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

06-24-2025 19:31 UTC-8

Glaser Puts Yockey to the Test

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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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benny Glaser	328,000

Bryce Yockey	288,000 36,000	36,000

Tags: Benny Glaser Bryce Yockey

06-24-2025 19:31 UTC-8

Glantz Stuns Wasserson on the River

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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.