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

05-30-2025 11:52 UTC-8

Ivey Gets a Fold on the River

Nick Vazquez

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 0 ante

Phil Ivey is matched up with Punnat Punsri to start the tournament.

Picking up the action on the turn, Punsri checked to Ivey, who fired 20,000 on the J♥5♣J♦3♠ board. Punsri thought and then made the call.

On the 6♠ river, Punsri checked again and Ivey bet 50,000. Punsri eventually folded, and Ivey scooped the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Ivey	185,000 35,000	35,000

Punnat Punsri	115,000 35,000	35,000

Tags: Phil Ivey Punnat Punsri

05-30-2025 11:51 UTC-8

Smith Picks Off River Bluff

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Erick Torres

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 0 ante

With roughly 10,000 in the middle on the board of 8♥5♦8♠10♥, Chance Kornuth bet out for 10,000 before getting called by John Smith.

The 2♣ river flipped over before Kornuth pushed out a bet of 25,000.

Smith took some time mulling over his situation before flicking out the call.

Kornuth announced "You're good" before showing 7♥9♦ for a missed straight draw.

Smith tabled J♦10♠ for top pair and took down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Smith	218,000 68,000	68,000
Chance Kornuth	82,000 68,000	68,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth John Smith

05-30-2025 11:50 UTC-8

Foxen Eliminates Madanzhiev

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Stewart Morrison

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 0 ante

Having already run up a commanding chip lead, Alex Foxen had Stoyan Madanzhiev all in and at risk for his remaining chips.

Alex Foxen: 5x5x
Stoyan Madanzhiev: 4x4x All in

The board was no help to Madanzhiev, and Foxen moves on to Round 2.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Foxen	300,000 27,000	27,000

Stoyan Madanzhiev	Busted

Tags: Alex Foxen Stoyan Madanzhiev

05-30-2025 11:43 UTC-8

Sebesta Cracks Keating's Aces

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Adam Lamers

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 0 ante

Alex Keating raised to 2,400 on the button and Edward Sebesta three-bet to 5,200 from the big blind. Keating responded with a four-bet to 23,200 and Sebesta five-bet jammed all in for 139,500. Keating snapped him off and the cards were tabled.

Edward Sebesta: J♥J♦ All in
Alex Keating: A♥A♣

"Let's watch this hand," Chance Kornuth said from the opposing match at the table.

"It's not over til it's over," John Smith chimed in as well, as they looked on.

The flop came K♦J♣3♥ with the jack in the window to vault Sebesta into the lead. The 9♠ and 5♦ runout was not enough to save Keating as he now faces a huge uphill battle.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edward Sebesta	279,000 129,000	129,000
Alex Keating	21,000 129,000	129,000

Tags: John Smith Edward Sebesta Chance Kornuth Alex Keating

05-30-2025 11:43 UTC-8

Kennedy and Yokosawa Trade Blows

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Stewart Morrison

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 0 ante

Masato Yokosawa raised on the button to 1,500, and was met with a three-bet to 6,000 by Patrick Kennedy.

Kennedy then checked the Q♠2♦9♦ flop, allowing Yokosawa to take over the betting, sliding out 4,000. Kennedy had a plan, though, and check-raised to 14,000.

Yokosawa relinquished his hand.

Just a few hands later, it was Yokosawa applying the pressure.

With 18,000 in the pot and the board reading 4♦A♥7♣3♣, Kennedy led out from the big blind for 13,000. Yokosawa called.

Kennedy checked the Q♥ river, and Yokosawa fired out a bet of 20,000. Enough to take it down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Masato Yokosawa	150,000
Patrick Kennedy	150,000

Tags: Masato Yokosawa Patrick Kennedy

05-30-2025 11:41 UTC-8

Foxen's Turn Jam Called by Madanzhiev

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Erick Torres

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 0 ante

Action picked up on the flop of 4♣6♦K♣.

Stoyan Madanzhiev checked the flop before Alex Foxen bet out for 12,000. Madanzhiev opted to raise to 25,000.

Foxen called, bringing in the 9♦ turn.

Madanzhiev slid out 45,000. Foxen slid out a time bank before deciding to jam for 109,100.

Madanzhiev went into the tank playing three time banks before sliding out the call putting Foxen at risk.

Alex Foxen: K♥9♣ All in
Stoyan Madanzhiev: Q♣6♣

Foxen was in the lead with top two pair, while Madanzhiev hoped to hit his flush draw or trips.

The K♠ river improved Foxen to a full house awarding him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Foxen	273,000 123,000	123,000

Stoyan Madanzhiev	27,000 123,000	123,000

Tags: Alex Foxen Stoyan Madanzhiev

Level: 2

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 0

05-30-2025 11:25 UTC-8

Eychenne's Straight Gives Early Lead

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Erick Torres

Level 1 : Blinds 300/600, 0 ante

Players were on the river with roughly 50,000 in the pot on the board of 6♠9♠Q♥5♦7♥.

James Gorham played a time bank before putting out a bet of 25,000 on the river.

Thomas Eychenne did not take long to call before showing 7♠8♠ for the straight to take down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Eychenne	195,000 45,000	45,000
James Gorham	105,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: James Gorham Thomas Eychenne

05-30-2025 11:25 UTC-8

Smith Scoping Things Out

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Stewart Morrison

Level 1 : Blinds 300/600, 0 ante

Chance Kornuth raised from the button to 1,300. John Smith called from the big blind.

Both players checked all the way to the river on a J♠6♥4♠Q♦2♣ board.

Smith decided to take a stab for 1,100. Kornuth looked him up with A♥7♠, which was enough to beat the 8♠5♣ of Smith.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Smith	150,000
Chance Kornuth	150,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth John Smith

05-30-2025 11:20 UTC-8

Heads-Up Bracket

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Adam Lamers

Level 1 : Blinds 300/600, 0 ante