Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship Day 1b | 2025 World Series of Poker

07-03-2025 12:14 UTC-8

Good Start for Baldwin

Dan O'Hair

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Heads-up in a raised pot on a flop of A♦A♥Q♥, Eric Baldwin checked from the cutoff and David-Alexander Jimenez-Murcia bet 500 on the button. Baldwin called.

Both players checked on the 7♦ turn and then Baldwin led out for 1,200 after the K♥ completed the board.

Jimenez-Murcia checked his hole cards and then stuck in a call. Baldwin turned over 10♥8♥ for a flush and Jimenez-Murcia mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Baldwin	83,000 23,000	23,000

David-Alexander Jimenez-Murcia	72,000 72,000	72,000

Tags: David-Alexander Jimenez-Murcia Eric Baldwin

07-03-2025 12:13 UTC-8

Yang Bets Big

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Maxime Taldir

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Heads-up on a board of 7♠9♣A♦, Monika Zukowicz in the cutoff bet 1,700, but Kai Yang on the button raised to 4,500.

Zukowicz went into the tank and called. She checked the 8♦ turn to see Yang bet 7,100. This time, it didn't take long for Zukowicz to fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kai Yang	65,000 65,000	65,000
Monika Zukowicz	63,000 3,000	3,000

Tags: Kai Yang Monika Zukowicz

07-03-2025 12:09 UTC-8

Frutchey Slowly Climbs

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Laura Fryer

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Kevin Gimble opened to 600 from the hijack, and Lam Loi called from the cutoff.
David Frutchey also defended from the big blind and players went three-ways to the flop.

The 8♠7♣10♣ flop was checked around to see the 5♥ turn. Frutchey bet out 1,200 and only Gimble called.

Both checked the 8♥ river, and Frutchey showed 10♠7♠ for two pair. Gimble mucked, and Frutchey picked up a healthy pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Frutchey	66,000
Kevin Gimble	53,500
Lam Loi	51,800

Tags: David Frutchey Kevin Gimble Lam Loi

07-03-2025 12:08 UTC-8

Ali Fills Up For a Big Pot Off Mermell

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David Salituro

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Around 15,000 was already in the pot as Ihab Ali and Clifford Mermell went to the turn on a board of J♠10♥7♣A♣.

Ali then bet 6,100 from the big blind, and Mermell called in the hijack. The river was the A♦ and Ali bet 10,100. Mermell again quickly called.

Ali showed 10♦10♣ for a full house, and Mermell mucked A♠K♦.

"Couldn't get away from that," Mermell lamented as Ali raked in the big pot.

Fernando Romano, who lost most of his stack to Robert Zeidman's quads earlier, was recently eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ihab Ali	80,000 80,000	80,000
Clifford Mermell	32,000 32,000	32,000
Fernando Romano	Busted

Tags: Clifford Mermell Fernando Romano Ihab Ali

07-03-2025 12:07 UTC-8

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergi Reixach	60,000 60,000	60,000
Andres Korn	60,000 60,000	60,000

Michael Krescanko Jr	60,000 60,000	60,000
Artur Martirosian	60,000 60,000	60,000

Aylar Lie	60,000 60,000	60,000
Andrew Brown	60,000 60,000	60,000

Christopher Wallace	60,000 60,000	60,000

Michael Reed	60,000 60,000	60,000
Petko Tsakov	60,000 60,000	60,000
Georgios Skarparis	60,000 60,000	60,000

Mike Krescanko	60,000 60,000	60,000
Nozomu Shimizu	60,000 60,000	60,000
Adrian Strobel	60,000 60,000	60,000
Max Hoffman	60,000 60,000	60,000
Cedric Schwaederle	60,000 60,000	60,000
Ron Ware	60,000 60,000	60,000

Max Pain in Level 1 of Main Event Day 1B

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Kaelaine Minton

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

https://twitter.com/WSOP/status/1940858664430207355

07-03-2025 11:59 UTC-8

WSOP Rules in Chip Dumping Controversy; Shiina Okamoto Makes Poker History | PokerNews Podcast #904

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Chad Holloway

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

In the 904th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz are joined by Grosvenor Poker Pro Jamie Nixon at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas to talk about the latest from the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP). That includes the WSOP's controversial decision regarding the alleged Millionaire Maker chip dumping between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll, which may or may not include lifetime bans. It's a lively debate that examines the situation from multiple angles, including the likely involvement of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

They then take a look at a controversial hand posted by Lexy Gavin-Mather where a dealer error that may have brought a much-needed seven out of the muck had the poker world talking. From there, the trio highlight the historic win by Shiina Okamoto, who successfully defended her Ladies Event title after finishing runner-up three years ago. She also had to put up with Phil Hellmuth Jr., for better or worse, as the crew debated. That wasn't the only historic win, as Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi won the prestigious $50,000 Poker Players Championship for an unbelievable fourth time. Toss in the first gold bracelet won by Darren Elias, and there were some big winners to be celebrated.

Jamie Nixon then talks about Grosvenor Poker and the upcoming Goliath in Coventry, how his buddy is running a daily bracket of funny poker names, and then Chad explains why there's a giant cutout of Espan Jorstad's head on the set (Hint: it came from the recent GTOWizard party).

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!

07-03-2025 11:57 UTC-8

Kurtzman Doubles, Martin Eliminated

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Stewart Morrison

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

As Shane Martin was heading out of the tournament area, having been eliminated, his vanquisher, Eben Kurtzman, recalled the action that led to his demise.

Martin raised to 600, and Kurtzman called from the big blind.

On a flop of 9♦10♣Q♣, Kurtzman checked and Martin continued for a bet of 1,000. Kurtzman then check-raised to 2,000, but that didn't put an end to the raising. Martin responded with another raise to 7,000, to which Kurtzman responded by moving all in for 59,300.

Martin was the covered player by a couple of thousand and made the call.

Shane Martin: K♣J♥ All in
Eben Kurtzman: 10♥9♥

Kurtzman was in trouble, with his opponent having flopped a straight versus his two pair. He was unable to find any help on the 6♠ turn, but the river 10♠ came to his rescue, improving him to a full house and sending Martin to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eben Kurtzman	119,400 119,400	119,400
Shane Martin	Busted

Tags: Eben Kurtzman Shane Martin

07-03-2025 11:57 UTC-8

Belforti Takes Small from Chu

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Laura Fryer

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Justin Belforti opened to 600 and Victor Chu called from the big blind.

The Q♣Q♥10♦ flop saw Chu check-call after Belforti bet 500.

The K♣ turn was checked to the 8♣ river and again to showdown.

Belforti showed A♦10♥ and Chu turned over A♥3♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Belforti	69,000 69,000	69,000
Victor Chu	45,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Justin Belforti Victor Chu

07-03-2025 11:56 UTC-8

Elia Outflops the Ladies

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Jacob Wilson

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Jonathan Fader opened up the action with a raise to 500 from the hijack. Steven O'nan three-bet from the button, and Bassam Elia four-bet to 6,100 from the small blind. Only O'nan made the call.

On a flop of 6♦3♣9♥ Elia kept up the aggression with a bet of 9,000. O'nan called, then called again following Elia's bet of 12,000 on the 5♦ turn. The 10♦ river completed the backdoor flush, and Elia slowed down with a check. O'nan checked behind, and his Q♣Q♦ lost out to Elia's flopped set with 6♠6♣.