Event #68: $3,000 No-Limit Holdem Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-25-2025 11:25 UTC-8

First All-in, First All-out

Jerome Solomon

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Brian Etheridge earned the dubious honor of being the first knockout of the event, just 12 minutes into play.

Etheridge began the action against Amir Abbassi with a raise. He popped Abbassi's three-bet with another raise, before responding to Abbassi's five-bet with an all-in shove. Abbassi made the call.

Brian Etheridge: A♠K♠ All in
Amir Abbassi: A♦A♥

Etheridge did get some hope on the runout of 4♣3♥10♠J♥, picking up a straight draw on the turn, but the 4♠ on the river sent him out of the tournament.

Etheridge quickly registered again, using up the one reentry available in this event.

Player	Chips	Progress
Amir Abbassi	80,400 80,400	80,400
Brian Etheridge	Busted

Tags: Amir Abbassi Brian Etheridge

06-25-2025 11:56 UTC-8

Clarke Bites the Dust

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Myles Phago

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Erik Salaiz raised to 600 from late position, and Timothee Rey called from the cutoff. Bryn Clarke, who was short-stacked, then moved all-in from the big blind for his last 2,400, and both players called.

The flop came 2♠2♦6♥, Salaiz check-called Rey's 2,500 bet, and the players saw the K♥ come on the turn, to which they both checked.

The river brought the Q♥ and now Salaiz bet out for 4,500. Rey folded and Salaiz tabled 3♥4♥ for runner-runner flush, which crushed Clarke's Q♠9♣ and sent him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timothee Rey	62,000
Erik Salaiz	58,000
Bryn Clarke	Busted

Tags: Bryn Clarke Erik Salaiz Timothee Rey

06-25-2025 12:55 UTC-8

Mao's Day Improved With Aces

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jerome Solomon

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Jiawei Mao and Abhinav Iyer each put more than 10,000 in chips into the pot preflop. When the dealer placed 8♠J♠9♥ on the board, Mao checked under the gun. Iyer bet 5,200.

Mao considered his next move for a bit, then pushed all in. Iyer almost beat him into the pot with the call.

Abhinav Iyer: K♠K♦ All in
Jiawei Mao: A♦A♣

Unfortunately for Iyer, who won a bracelet in 2019, his big pair was big enough, and the turn and river 5♦4♠ brought no change to his fate.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jiawei Mao	81,500 81,500	81,500
Abhinav Iyer	Busted

Tags: Abhinav Iyer Jiawei Mao

06-25-2025 13:44 UTC-8

Devarshetty Not Fooled by Bluff

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jerome Solomon

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Clayton Kalisek raised to 5,400 chips preflop from middle position and was called by Sandeep Devarshetty in the cutoff.

When the flop hit K♥Q♣8♥ Kalisek checked and Devarshetty bet 5,500. Kalisek moved all in with his 12,400 remaining chips. Devarshetty quickly called.

Clayton Kalisek: A♥J♠ All in
Sandeep Devarshetty: K♣9♦

Kalisek was forced to exit because neither an ace or the gutshot straight came with the 2♦4♦ landing on the river and turn.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sandeep Devarshetty	63,000 63,000	63,000
Clayton Kalisek	Busted

Tags: Clayton Kalisek Sandeep Devarshetty

06-25-2025 13:49 UTC-8

Peacock Wings It with the Ladies

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Myles Phago

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

In a pre-flop raising war, all the feathers ended up in the middle between Fabien Guerreiro and Arthur Peacock.

Fabien Guerreiro: 10♥10♣ All in
Arthur Peacock: Q♦Q♠

A peck-tacular flop of 6♠2♣3♣ and the turn of J♦ nor K♥ river didn't ruffle any of Peacock's feathers as he sent Guerreiro packing

Player	Chips	Progress
Arthur Peacock	74,800
Fabien Guerreiro	Busted

Tags: Arthur Peacock Fabien Guerreiro

06-25-2025 14:08 UTC-8

Amorella Sours Rankich

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jerome Solomon

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

The river delivering on potential straights and flushes did not discourage Adrien Amorella from going all in on a board of A♠K♦9♠9♦J♠.

Gregory Rankich didn't hesitate in making the call. He let out a groan and threw his cards in when he saw Amorella had A♣A♥ for a full house.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adrien Amorella	93,900 93,900	93,900
Gregory Rankich	Busted

Tags: Adrien Amorella Gregory Rankich

06-25-2025 14:40 UTC-8

Queens a Welcome Sight for Anton

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Joseph Berg

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Alex Anton was all in from middle position and was up against Eric Hjelmstad and Danny Panagatos, having both opponents covered.

Eric Hjelmstad: A♠K♣ All in
Danny Panagatos: A♦K♥ All in
Alex Anton: Q♦Q♣

The dealer ran out a board of 7♦Q♠6♠8♠2♣, sending Panagatos and Hjelmstad to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Anton	82,300 82,300	82,300
Eric Hjelmstad	Busted
Danny Panagatos	Busted

Tags: Alex Anton Danny Panagatos Eric Hjelmstad

06-25-2025 14:51 UTC-8

Verderamo Busts Duffy With Aces

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Myles Phago

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

The action was joined with the flop reading 6♣5♥3♠ and the pot at around 12,000. Ciaran Duffy bet out for 10,000 only for Nicholas Verderamo to come over the top for 25,000, which put Duffy all in. This sent Duffy into the tank for two to three minutes before he made the call.

Ciaran Duffy: 10♣10♠ All in
Nicholas Verderamo: A♦A♠

No help for Duffy on the 3♣ turn, and when the 6♦ peeled off on the river he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Verderamo	64,000 64,000	64,000
Ciaran Duffy	Busted

Tags: Ciaran Duffy Nicholas Verderamo

06-25-2025 15:00 UTC-8

Makkar Making Comeback

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jerome Solomon

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Down to less than 10,000 in chips a level earlier, Gaurav Makkar's fortune has turned, with him knocking two players out of the tournament. Alexander Kartveli was the latest victim.

Kartveli went all in with the board already complete with 5♠7♦4♣6♥10♣ on display. Makkar made the call and showed 8♣5♦ for an eight-high straight.

The dealer inadvertently mucked Kartveli's hand without showing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gaurav Makkar	93,600 64,100	64,100
Alexander Kartveli	Busted

Tags: Alexander Kartveli Gaurav Makkar

06-25-2025 15:07 UTC-8

Ace-King Delivers for Helppi

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Joseph Berg

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Mohamed Benohod raised to 1,100 from middle position and was called by Mack McLaughlin in the cutoff. Edgard Saliba then three-bet to 2,800 from the button before Juha Helppi four-bet to 9,100 from the small blind. Action folded back around to Saliba, who made the call.

The dealer fanned a 5♦A♥9♥ flop. Helppi bet 4,500, and Saliba responded with a raise to 10,200. Helppi then moved all in for roughly 12,000 more, putting Saliba all in and at risk. After taking some time, Saliba made the call and tabled A♣J♣, which was second best to Helppi's A♦K♣.

The turn 6♦ and river 8♠ were no help to Saliba, sending him to the rail.