Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-29-2025 16:47 UTC-8

Lights Out for Arora

Calum Grant

Level 6

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/600, 900 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/600, 600 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 400/800, 1,200 Ante

Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

Kyle Arora called and so did Brad Ruben from the hijack. Filippos Stavrakis raised to 2,000 from the button and was called by both players.

The action checked to Stavrakis on the 9♥6♣3♣ flop, and he bet 5,000. Arora bet pot which put him all-in. Ruben got out of the way while Stavrakis snap-called.

Kyle Arora: A♠7♥6♠2♠ All in
Filippos Stavrakis: A♣K♥10♥10♣

Stavrakis had an over pair and the nut flush draw while Arora was drawing to the nut low. The board completed with the 3♠Q♦ and Arora was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Filippos Stavrakis	120,000 85,000	85,000

Bradley Ruben	30,000 5,000	5,000

Kyle Arora	Busted

Tags: Brad Ruben Filippos Stavrakis Kyle Arora

Level: 6

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/600, 900 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/600, 600 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 400/800, 1,200 Ante

06-29-2025 16:31 UTC-8

Two Pair for Gan

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Calum Grant

Level 5

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/500, 800 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/500, 500 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/600, 900 Ante

5 Card Draw

Yuichiro Ishimoto raised to 1,600 from the button and Jiyang Gan called from the small blind.

Gan discarded one, while Ishimoto drew two. Action checked through to showdown, where Gan's 10x5x5x4x4x was best.

Player	Chips	Progress
Huck Seed	26,000 4,900	4,900

Yuichiro Ishimoto	25,000 6,900	6,900
Jiyang Gan	7,000 19,700	19,700

Tags: Jiyang Gan Yuichiro Ishimoto

06-29-2025 16:27 UTC-8

"I Had a Lot Of Medium Things"

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Liam Gannon

Level 5

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/500, 800 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/500, 500 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/600, 900 Ante

Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

Action was picked up on the flop in a pot between Arthur Morris in first position, Ali Eslami in the hijack, Robert Gussoni in the small blind, and Travis Pearson in the big blind.

The flop read 9♠4♠10♣ and action checked around to Morris who bet the pot of 6,800 and only Eslami called.

On the turn 3♠, Morris moved all in for 16,000 total and Eslami folded.

"I had a lot of medium things," said Morris as he flashed 10♠6♠.

"The turn was what you needed," replied Eslami, continuing on to say that he had Morris beat on the flop.

"It's so much more fun to be lucky than good," Morris responded as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Gussoni	139,000 66,000	66,000

Arthur Morris	59,000
Travis Pearson	29,000 14,000	14,000
Ali Eslami	16,000 1,300	1,300

Tags: Ali Eslami Arthur Morris Robert Gussoni Travis Pearson

06-29-2025 16:18 UTC-8

Couden Downs Two

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Calum Grant

Level 5

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/500, 800 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/500, 500 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/600, 900 Ante

Pot-Limit Omaha

Joseph Couden opened to 1,400 from the hijack before Michael Byers three-bet to 5,000 from the cutoff. Tomer Daniel called off his stack for less from the small blind.

Byers only had a couple thousand heading to the 9♠7♠5♦ flop. Couden put Byers all-in, with the latter calling for his tournament life.

Tomer Daniel: Q♣J♦5♣4♥ All in
Michael Byers: A♦A♥J♠6♦ All in
Joseph Couden: 10♥9♥8♠6♥

Couden flopped the nut straight and held out to scoop the pot with a ten-high straight after the 8♦ turn and 6♣ river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joseph Couden	37,000 37,000	37,000

Tomer Daniel	Busted
Michael Byers	Busted

Tags: Joseph Couden Michael Byers Tomer Daniel

06-29-2025 16:10 UTC-8

Sternheimer With Nine-Seven

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Liam Gannon

Level 5

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/500, 800 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/500, 500 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/600, 900 Ante

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Philip Sternheimer raised to 1,100 and Carol Fuchs called in the big blind.

Fuchs drew two while Sternheimer drew one and Fuchs check-called a bet from Sternheimer to the tune of 3,800.

"Nine-seven," said Sternheimer as he turned over 9x7x6x4x2x and it was good for the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Philip Sternheimer	77,000 3,600	3,600

Carol Fuchs	65,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Carol Fuchs Philip Sternheimer

06-29-2025 16:08 UTC-8

Ten Good for Epstein

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Calum Grant

Level 5

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/500, 800 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/500, 500 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/600, 900 Ante

PL 2-7 Triple Draw

Gina Hecht limped in from under the gun and called when Alex Epstein made it 2,000 from the small blind.

Epstein drew one while, Hacht took two. Epstein bet 3,500 and was called.

Both players drew one on second draw, and action checked through. Epstein stood pat, while Hacht took one more. Both players checked again and Epstein took in the pot after Hacht couldn't beat his 10x9x7x4x3x.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Epstein	97,000 16,700	16,700

Gina Hecht	22,000 13,000	13,000

Tags: Alex Epstein Gina Hecht

Level: 5

No-Limit Hold’em: 300/500, 800 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 300/500, 500 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/600, 900 Ante

06-29-2025 15:56 UTC-8

Dreese With Both Halves

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Liam Gannon

Level 4

No-Limit Hold’em: 200/400, 600 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 200/400, 400 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/500, 800 Ante

Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

Jonathan Fhima raised to 1,000 from under the gun and Mike Dreese called in the hijack while Austin Wilson called on the button.

The flop rolled out 7♠6♦A♣ and Fhima checked to Dreese who bet 3,000, earning only a call from Wilson.

On the turn A♠, Dreese bet 6,000 and Wilson folded, then Dreese turned over A♦7♦3♠2♣ for nut high and low.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Dreese	48,000 4,000	4,000
Austin Wilson	34,000
Jonathan Fhima	27,000

Tags: Austin Wilson Jonathan Fhima Mike Dreese

06-29-2025 15:47 UTC-8

Should This Poker Player Get A Million-Dollar Bonus? | PokerNews Podcast #903

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Chad Holloway

Level 4

No-Limit Hold’em: 200/400, 600 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 200/400, 400 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 300/500, 800 Ante

In the 903rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is joined by special fill-in cohosts Team PokerStars Pro Jennifer Shahade and Josh Abady of Play Live Melbourne to discuss the latest in the poker industry, including the latest on the alleged chip-dumping incident from the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Millionaire Maker event. Winner Jesse Yaginuma did get paid the $1,000,000 bonus, but he and runner-up James Carroll are still awaiting a decision by WSOP officials on the regular prize money.

Another big story was Golden Nugget cancelling their $1 million guaranteed tournament, much to the dismay of several players, including Kyna England. The hosts discuss the decision and examine the larger concept of guarantees within the poker world. You'll then get highlights from a pair of Meet-Up Games (MUGs), including the PokerNews one at Planet Hollywood and the PokerStars one at Resorts World, where the first $5,300 Main Event seat to November's NAPT was awarded. See who the lucky winner was!

Next, get a sneak peek at the new show Hellmuth's Home Game presented by Poker Night in America (PNIA), a discussion on the state of poker in Australia, and a look ahead to the 2025 WSOP Main Event, which will kick off this week!

A new PokerNews Podcast will drop twice a week during the 2025 WSOP every Thursday and Sunday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!