Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

05-30-2025 15:15 UTC-8

Boika Defeats Belcher

Nick Vazquez

Level 11 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 0 ante

Despite the failed bluff attempt that led to his opponent doubling up, Aliaksei Boika chipped away and eventually had the lead over Matthew Belcher.

In this hand, Boika raised to 20,000, and Belcher went all in and was at risk.

Boika: A♠J♥
Belcher: A♥2♦ All in

The board came out 10♠9♦8♦6♥5♥ which was no help for Belcher, and Boika advanced to the next round.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aliaksei Boika	300,000 80,000	80,000
Matthew Belcher	Busted

05-30-2025 15:20 UTC-8

Khun Wins Flip to Bring Round One to a Close

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Stewart Morrison

Level 11 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 0 ante

With stacks getting short, Chanracy Khun and Andrew Ostapchenko had already each won an all-in at showdown to stay alive.

The third all-in between the two players went the way of the larger stack, though.

Ostapchenko open-jammed on the button for 122,000, and Khun snap-called.

Andrew Ostapchenko: A♦10♣ All in
Chanracy Khun: 6♠6♣

The board ran out 7♣4♦3♣K♣K♦, giving Khun the win and moving him through to round two.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chanracy Khun	300,000 82,000	82,000

Andrew Ostapchenko	Busted

Tags: Andrew Ostapchenko Chanracy Khun

05-30-2025 16:34 UTC-8

Castro First to Advance Into Round Three

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Adam Lamers

Level 14 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante

Harvey Castro and Scott Seiver were facing a flop of Q♥6♦5♥, and Castro check-called a bet of 8,000 from Seiver on the flop. The turn was the 9♣ and Castro checked again. Seiver tossed in a bet of 28,000 and Castro called to see the 9♥ on the river.

Castro checked for the third time and Seiver shipped all in for his last 83,500. Castro deliberated for a minute before dropping in the chips to call. Seiver turned over Q♣10♦ for top pair but Castro held A♥A♣ for an overpair, eliminating Seiver and advancing to round three tomorrow.

Player	Chips	Progress
Harvey Castro	600,000 220,000	220,000
Scott Seiver	Busted

Tags: Harvey Castro Scott Seiver

05-30-2025 16:43 UTC-8

Cooler Leaves Lonis on the Brink

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Stewart Morrison

Level 14 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante

Joining the hand with the river already dealt, both players already had all their chips in the middle.
Jesse Lonis was on the wrong side of a nasty cooler versus his second-round opponent, Matthew Wantman.

Jesse Lonis: 6♦6♠
Matthew Wantman: Q♥8♥ All in

Lonis' set not enough versus the rivered flush of Wantman on 3♣7♥6♥Q♣K♥ board.

Lonis still had some chips behind, roughly 10,000. He moved all in the following hand and was called by Wantman.

Jesse Lonis: A♠9♥ All in
Matthew Wantman: Q♥2♣

The board ran out of8♦Q♣3♦K♥K♦ to send Lonis to the rail and Wantman to the next round.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matthew Wantman	600,000 300,000	300,000

Jesse Lonis	Busted

Tags: Jesse Lonis Matthew Wantman

05-30-2025 17:22 UTC-8

"Westside" Wesley Heads to the Rail

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Stewart Morrison

Level 17 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 0 ante

The table is empty, but the dealer was on hand to advise on the brutal end to Wesley Fei's heads-up match versus Brandon Brown.

Both players had seen a board of 2x3x5x before the players got all the chips in the middle.

Wesley Fei: Ax4x All in
Brandon Brown 6x4x

Both players had flopped a straight, but Brown had the better end of it.

Brown had Fei covered and will progress to the next round.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Brown	600,000 147,000	147,000
Wesley Fei	Busted

Tags: Brandon Brown Wesley Fei

05-30-2025 17:27 UTC-8

Eychenne Doubles, Wisbrod Bounces

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Adam Lamers

Level 17 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 0 ante

Barak Wisbrod raised it up on the button and Thomas Eychenne reraised to 25,000 from the big blind. Wisbrod called and the flop of 8♠6♠2♦ hit the felt.

Eychenne led out with a large bet of 65,000 and Wisbrod jammed all in. As the dealer was in the midst of counting chips, Eychenne decided to call anyway.

Thomas Eychenne: J♠J♥ All in
Barak Wisbrod: K♠Q♠

Eychenne still held the best hand but Wisbrod held two overcards and a flush draw. The 2♥ on the turn was a brick and the A♥ on the river also changed nothing.

Wisbrod was under the impression that Eychenne had the bigger stack and bounced from the tournament area. After closer investigation, it was Eychenne who was all in for 270,100 and Wisbrod still had 10,000 chips left. Despite returning to his short stack, Wisbrod was eliminated on the next hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Eychenne	600,000 300,000	300,000
Barak Wisbrod	Busted

Tags: Thomas Eychenne Barak Wisbrod

05-30-2025 18:11 UTC-8

Green Downs Foxen in a Cooler

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Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

Richard Green raised it up on the button and Kristen Foxen called from the big blind. The flop came 7♦3♦2♦ and Foxen check-called a bet of 8,000 from Green.

The turn was the A♣ and Foxen checked again. Green made a bet of 19,500 and Foxen still called. The 4♥ completed the board and Foxen checked once more. Green threw in a stack of T25,000 chips and Foxen had a decision for her final 92,000 chips.

After using her last two time banks, Foxen shrugged as she made the call. Green flipped over 7♥7♣ for a set of sevens while Foxen held A♦4♣ for just two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Green	600,000 177,000	177,000
Kristen Foxen	Busted

Tags: Richard Green Kristen Foxen

05-30-2025 18:16 UTC-8

Elias Hits the Rail

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Stewart Morrison

Level 19 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

Michael Shi raised the button to 7,000, and Darren Elias called from the big blind.

On a 4♦3♠8♣ flop, Elias check-raised Shi's bet of 5,000 to 15,000, which Shi called.

Elias continued for 30,000 on the 10♣ turn, again Shi called.

The Q♣ river saw sparks fly. Elias once again opted to bet, this time for 75,000. Shi, covering Elias, moved all-in.

Elias took some time considering his options before flicking in a chip to signify a call.

Michael Shi: K♣5♣
Darren Elias: Q♠8♥

An unfortunate river for Elias, improving him to two-pair but also giving his opponent a flush.

The duo exchanged a handshake and went their separate ways.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Shi	600,000 367,000	367,000
Darren Elias	Busted

Tags: Darren Elias Michael Shi

05-30-2025 18:23 UTC-8

Kornuth Cracks Sebesta's Kings

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Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

A completed board of Q♦10♥3♥6♠2♠ was spread across the table with around 100,000 in the middle already. Chance Kornuth checked to Edward Sebesta who made a bet of 30,000. Kornuth check-raised all in and Sebesta hesitated for a moment before calling off his stack of 168,000.

Kornuth flipped over Q♥2♦ for a rivered two pair while Sebesta slammed his K♠K♦ on the table before exiting the tournament area.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	600,000

Edward Sebesta	Busted

Tags: Chance Kornuth Edward Sebesta

05-30-2025 18:27 UTC-8

Kornuth Cracks Sebesta's Kings

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Adam Lamers

Level 19 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

A completed board of Q♦10♥3♥6♠2♠ was spread across the table with around 100,000 in the middle already. Chance Kornuth checked to Edward Sebesta who made a bet of 30,000. Kornuth check-raised all in and Sebesta hesitated for a moment before calling off his stack of 168,000.

Kornuth flipped over Q♥2♦ for a rivered two pair while Sebesta slammed his K♠K♦ on the table before exiting the tournament area.