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

07-04-2025 20:18 UTC-8

Brownscombe Clears Out the Field

Stewart Morrison

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Matas Budginas raised from middle position to 1,100, which saw both the cutoff and the button call. Thomas Brownscombe, in the big blind, increased the price of poker, three-betting to 5,500. Budginas called, but the two in-position players folded.

The postflop action was short and sweet. Once the dealer had burned and turned the 3♣10♠2♣ flop, Brownscombe constructed a bet of 5,000. No sooner had he slid it into the middle than Budgnis had surrendered, tossing his cards towards the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Brownscombe	90,000 90,000	90,000
Matas Budginas	48,100 48,100	48,100

Tags: Matas Budginas Thomas Brownscombe

07-04-2025 20:18 UTC-8

Hunichen Outkicked

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Frank Visser

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Chris Hunichen raised to 1,200 in middle position. Gabriel Abusada called in the cutoff, and Robert Kieras and Yoon Choi followed in the blinds.

It checked to Hunichen on the 6♦J♦7♦ flop, and he bet 1,500. Kieras was the only caller, and he check-called Hunichen's bet of 6,000 on the 3♣ turn as well.

Hunichen fired another 8,000 on the 6♥ river, quickly being check-called again. Hunichen showed K♣J♠ for top pair, but Kieras had the better kicker with A♥J♥ and was awarded the pot.

"I tried to tell you I had something," Kieras told Hunichen as he raked in the chips.

"I know you had something. I just hoped it was queen-jack," Hunichen responded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Echols	140,000 27,900	27,900
Yoon Choi	137,500
Robert Kieras	95,000
Chris Hunichen	86,000 9,000	9,000

Gabriel Abusada	21,500 16,300	16,300

Tags: Chris Hunichen Gabriel Abusada Robert Kieras Yoon Choi

07-04-2025 20:20 UTC-8

Schroeder Calls to See the Nuts of Darland

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

From the big blind, Gabriel Schroeder fired out a bet of 12,500 on the turn of a board that showed 3♥8♠6♣5♥. Jason Darland jammed over the top for 49,600 from middle position, causing Schroeder to ponder for a while before ultimately making the call.

Jason Darland: 9♦7♦ All in
Gabriel Schroeder: 6♦3♣

Darland had the nut straight against the two pair of Schroeder and just needed to fade a board-pairing river to double-up into the six-figure club.

A clean K♥ dropped on the river and Darland doubled up at the expense of Schroeder.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Darland	105,000 105,000	105,000
Gabriel Schroeder	85,000 65,600	65,600

Tags: Gabriel Schroeder Jason Darland

07-04-2025 20:25 UTC-8

Hopping In Late as Exits Start Flowing

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Frank Visser

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Hal Rotholz	60,000 60,000	60,000

James Obst	60,000 60,000	60,000

Sam Soverel	60,000 60,000	60,000

Gab Yong Kim	60,000 60,000	60,000
Travis Pearson	60,000 60,000	60,000
Hakim Zoufri	60,000 60,000	60,000
Nam Le	60,000 60,000	60,000
Cesar Del Pino	60,000 60,000	60,000
Bradley Rich	Busted
Lawrence Brandt	Busted

Ognyan Dimov	Busted

Ryan Bambrick	Busted

07-04-2025 20:26 UTC-8

Hochman Doesn't Back Down

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Dan O'Hair

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Kyle Ho opened to 1,200 from the hijack and was called by Gerald Denicholas in the cutoff. Corey Hochman then squeezed to 6,000 on the button, which was met with a four-bet to 16,200 from Ho.

Denicholas quickly got out of the way, but Hochman announced he was all in for approximately 65,000 total.

Ho sat still for a while, but eventually slid his hand into the muck and Hochman added to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Corey Hochman	88,000 88,000	88,000
Kyle Ho	40,000 40,000	40,000
Gerald Denicholas	27,000 27,000	27,000

Tags: Corey Hochman Gerald Denicholas Kyle Ho

07-04-2025 20:30 UTC-8

Pearson Calls Three Barrels with Nines

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Maxime Taldir

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Travis Pearson opened to 1,100 from middle position but Dong Pei in the big blind three-bet to 3,500.

Pearson called and called a continuation bet of 2,200 on the 2♦2♣Q♦ flop.

Pei fired a second barrel of 6,000 on the 4♣ turn, and even a third barrel of 10,000 on the 4♦ river. Pearson called both times with 9♣9♥ and caught Pei bluffing with A♣10♣ for a missed flush draw.

Player	Chips	Progress
Travis Pearson	73,000 13,000	13,000
Dong Pei	10,000

07-04-2025 20:32 UTC-8

Blom Puts Zacconi in the Blender

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

With around 10,500 in the middle on a flop of 4♣9♦7♣, Viktor Blom checked from the small blind and faced a bet of 3,000 by Marcio Zacconi out of the big blind. Blom threw in the call.

The 6♣ turn checked through for the Q♣ to roll off on the river. Blom bet 8,500, and after a long tank, Zacconi let go of his hand, and the pot was awarded to Blom.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marcio Zacconi	114,000 19,000	19,000
Viktor Blom	65,300 29,300	29,300

Tags: Marcio Zacconi

07-04-2025 20:32 UTC-8

A Big Stack and Aces: Poker's Match Made in Heaven

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Stewart Morrison

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Sorin Cristea raised from the cutoff to 1,500, and both the player on the button and Andre Cohen, in the big blind, called.

Cohen check-called a bet of 2,000 on the 6♣8♦5♦ flop, before both players checked the 3♦ turn.

The dealer then flipped over the K♥ river, on which Cohen decided to take over the initiative, placing a bet of 4,200. It was a non-decision for Cristea, who flicked in a call straight away.

Cohen had concerns that his opponent had rivered a king, but it was worse than that. Cristea revealed he had A♠A♥, which was more than good enough versus Cohen's 7♠7♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sorin Cristea	113,000 113,000	113,000
Andre Cohen	33,900 33,900	33,900

Tags: Andre Cohen Sorin Cristea

07-04-2025 20:32 UTC-8

Kyte Doubles Through Sturzeneker

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Iago Sturzeneker opened to 1,200 from the button, Easton Oreman called from the small blind and Jon Kyte three-bet to 8,000 from the big blind. Only Sturzeneker called.

The flop came 5♥J♣7♣. and Sturzeneker called a 9,000 continuation bet from Kyte.

Both players checked the 6♦ turn leading to the A♦ river. Kyte checked and Sturzeneker shoved, covering Kyte who had 51,000 behind. Kyte contemplated for a couple minutes before calling off for his tournament life.

Sturzeneker showed 8♥8♠ for a pair and two blockers to the nut-straight. Kyte tabled A♣6♠ for two pair to secure a full double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	145,000 80,000	80,000
Iago Sturzeneker	116,000 4,000	4,000
Easton Oreman	16,000 1,500	1,500

Tags: Easton Oreman Iago Sturzeneker Jon Kyte

07-04-2025 20:35 UTC-8

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

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Chad Holloway

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 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!