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

07-03-2025 12:30 UTC-8

Sinistaj Applies Pressure

Stewart Morrison

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Action was joined as Tom Sinistaj and Benjamin Ane were looking at a J♠5♣K♦ flop, and roughly 2,600 in the middle.

Ane, first to act, put out a bet of 1,700, which was quickly raised to 5,000 by Sinistaj. Ane made the call before both players chose to check the K♥ turn.

The river 10♣ prompted Ane to retake the betting lead, wagering 9,700. Sinistaj looked visibly uncomfortable, sitting back in his seat, deliberating. After a minute or so, he elected to raise, putting out 26,000.

It was then Ane's turn to go into the tank, and after a few minutes, he decided just to return his cards to the dealer.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tom Sinistaj	60,800 60,800	60,800
Benjamin Ane	44,800 44,800	44,800

Tags: Benjamin Ane Tom Sinistaj

07-03-2025 12:32 UTC-8

Lilly Gets Rivered by Frutchey, Blames It on a Friend

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David Salituro

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Four players went to a flop of J♣9♠3♣ when Timothy Lilly bet 2,200 from early position. Only David Frutchey called under the gun.

Lilly bet another 4,700 on the 10♦ turn and Frutchey again called. Frutchey checked to Lilly on the A♥ river, and this time Lilly checked back.

Frutchey turned over A♣10♣ for rivered two pair and Lilly mucked J♥10♥ for a smaller two pair.

Lilly's friend was watching the action by the table before going up to him after the hand. "You are the unluckiest motherf**ker around. And I say that in the nicest way possible," Lilly said with a laugh.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Frutchey	80,000 14,000	14,000
Timothy Lilly	48,000 48,000	48,000

Tags: David Frutchey Timothy Lilly

07-03-2025 12:33 UTC-8

Shin Chipping Up

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Barry Russell

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Yoon Shin raised to 400 in the hijack, Shota Kashiyama three-bet to 1,400 from the big blind, Shin called.

The flop came Q♣9♣K♥, Kashiyama continued his aggression with a bet of 2,000, Shin called.

Kashiyama slowed down with a check on the 9♦, Shin decided to bet 4,000 and Kashiyama quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yoon Shin	90,000 90,000	90,000
Shota Kashiyama	44,000 44,000	44,000

Tags: Shota Kashiyama Yoon Shin

07-03-2025 12:35 UTC-8

Table 592 for Feature?

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Frank Visser

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Xiang Liang raised to 600 in the hijack, then Paul Zappulla three-bet to 1,800 on the button. It folded back to Lian, who called to the 4♠J♦2♥ flop.

In the meantime, the other players were discussing their chances of becoming the featured table, which they deemed slim.

"I'm famous in Brazil!" poker pro Felipe Ketzer added to the conversation, and the table concluded they had a shot at TV time.

Meanwhile, Lian had check-called Zappulla's bets of 1,500 on the flop and of 4,000 on the A♣ turn. The Q♦ river was checked down, and Lian's A♠K♠ won the pot at showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiang Lian	68,500
Felipe Ketzer	68,000 8,000	8,000
Paul Zappulla	58,100 1,900	1,900

Tags: Felipe Ketzer Paul Zappulla Xian Lian

07-03-2025 12:37 UTC-8

Pentefountas Takes a Small One

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Stewart Morrison

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

John Hennigan started the action with a raise to 500 in the hijack. Daniel Myers called on the button before seeing Ioannis Pentefountas three-bet to 2,000 from the small blind. Hennigan folded, but Myers called once again.

The dealer revealed a 5♦J♠5♣ flop, on which Pentefountas continued for 2,700. Again, Myers called, and they took a turn.

There was no slowing down for Pentefountas on the 3♠ turn, who continued with a bet of 5,500. This was enough to see him claim the pot, as Myers threw his cards towards the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ioannis Pentefountas	65,700
John Hennigan	62,300 14,300	14,300

Daniel Myers	46,500

Tags: Daniel Myers Ioannis Pentefountas John Hennigan

07-03-2025 12:39 UTC-8

O'nan Claws Some Back

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Laura Fryer

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Steven O'nan opened to 500 from the hijack and Steve Sebbag called from the small blind.

The A♠9♠9♦ flop was checked by Sebbag and O'nan bet 600. Sabbag called.

Both checked the K♣ turn and A♦ river to get to showdown.

Sebbag showed Q♠J♠ but O'nan took the pot with K♠Q♣.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve Sebbag	54,000 54,000	54,000
Steven O'nan	36,500 400	400

Tags: Steve Sebbag Steven O'nan

07-03-2025 12:42 UTC-8

Williams Breathes a Sigh of Relief on the River

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David Salituro

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Mike Matusow and Daniel Negreanu are sitting back-to-back at adjacent tables in the Horseshoe Gold section, but it was the two players on either side of Matusow, Jeremiah Williams and Tal Avitan, who tangled in a big pot.

Williams and Avitan built a pot of around 15,000 as they both checked the 8♥6♠10♦ flop. Williams then bet 4,300 from the big blind on the 8♦ turn and Avitan called on the button.

The river was the 7♣ and Williams bet 15,000, sending Avitan deep into the tank. "It doesn't make sense, that river," Avitan said as he took several minutes, picking up the chips to call and shuffling them around in his hand.

Avitan eventually folded and Williams took the pot without showing.

"It's okay, buddy. You can breathe now. Here, let me feel your pulse," Matusow joked with Williams after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeremiah Williams	85,000 85,000	85,000
Mike Matusow	55,000 5,000	5,000

Daniel Negreanu	42,000 18,000	18,000

Tal Avitan	40,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Jeremiah Williams Tal Avitan

07-03-2025 12:43 UTC-8

Pudel Takes From Martirosian

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Dan O'Hair

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Artur Martirosian raised to 500 from the hijack and was three-bet to 2,000 by Nils Pudel in the cutoff. Action folded back to Martirosian, who called.

Martirosian check-called a 900 bet from Pudel on the A♦10♠A♣ flop and then both players checked on the 7♥ turn.

The 2♦ completed the board and Martirosian checked a final time — prompting a 4,500 bet from Pudel.

Martirosian laid his hand down without much thought and Pudel was awarded the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nils Pudel	66,000 6,000	6,000
Artur Martirosian	55,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Artur Martirosian Nils Pudel

07-03-2025 12:44 UTC-8

Howard Takes Min

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Laura Fryer

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Dana Howard limped from the small blind and Nan Min checked the big blind.

The 9♥Q♦5♣ flop was bet 200 by Howard, and Min called.

Both checked down the 5♥ turn to see the 6♣ river.

Howard checked, Min bet 600 and Howard thought before making the call.

Min turned over 10♣7♣ but Howard's Ace was enough to give her the pot as she showed A♦2♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dana Howard	71,000
Nan Min	33,000 33,000	33,000

Tags: Dana Howard Nan Min

07-03-2025 12:45 UTC-8

Last Year's Day 1b Chip Leader Busts First in Same Flight at 2025 WSOP Main Event

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Jon Sofen

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

One year you're the chip leader on Day 1b of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, the next you're barely making it past "shuffle up and deal."

That's George Dolofan's story after going from first to first out the door. The Floridian was a quick elimination from the 2025 edition of poker's World Championship event, 12 months after bagging the biggest stack in the same flight.

Read the Full Story Here

Tags: George Dolofan