One of the most classic setups in No-Limit Hold'em tournament poker unfolded over on table 482 when John Auville was all-in and at risk with the A♦A♥. They were up against the K♥K♣ of Michael Capener and no upset came to be on the Q♥J♠4♣6♣4♦ board for Auville to dent the stack of his table neighbour.
Steven Merwin raised to 2,500 on the button, and only Bryan Allen made the call, defending his big blind.
The dealer spread a 10♦4♦A♠ flop, and Allen checked in flow. Merwin continued with a bet of 3,000 and was met with a check-raise to 8,200. Merwin called, and the two took a turn.
Allen continued with a bet of 3,600 on the 10♥ turn, but it was his turn to get raised. Merwin put in a more substantial 18,000. Allen called to see one more card.
The 6♦ turned out to be an action river card, as Allen took back the betting lead, moving all in, covering his opponent.
"I thought I priced you out of the flush draw", was Merwin's immediate thought process. He took less than a minute to consider before saying "I have to call" and moving his remaining stack into the middle.
Allen turned over A♦9♥, for two pair, which could not beat the trips of Merwin, who turned over Q♥10♠.
Calvin Anderson raised to 2,500 under the gun and Barry Fleishman moved all in for 35,900 in early position. Kenneth Lin called on the button, but Anderson reshoved. Lin had around 70,000 remaining and took a minute before folding, later saying he had two jacks.
Barry Fleishman: 10♥10♣ 
Calvin Anderson: K♦K♣
Fleishman had run into Anderson's kings and the flop came A♥K♥4♥ to give Anderson a set, while Fleishman picked up a flush draw. The A♠ turn removed all hope for Fleishman as Anderson improved to a full house, while the river was the 8♣ and Fleishman was sent to the rail.
The board 5♠5♥K♦J♦8♣ was already dealt with a pot containing more than 110,000. Xiaozhe Liu bet 150,000, putting Artem Babakhanian at risk with a shorter stack and the latter called.
Liu tabled K♣K♠ for the full house and Babakhanian quickly sent K♥Q♣ into the muck before leaving the room.
Marshal Keisling raised to 2,600 in early position and only got called by Adrian Mateos seated in the small blind.
Both checked on the A♥10♠4♥ flop and a 4♣ landed on the turn. Mateos led out for 7,000 and after a minute of thinking, Keisling called.
The river was the K♥ and Mateos checked to Keisling who bet 13,000. Mateos tanked and eventually folded.
Dakota Baggett raised from early position and Juan Yelamo Bolivar made it 7,200 from middle position. Curtis Nare cold-called from the hijack, and Baggett called.
The flop came Q♣K♣10♠ and after Baggett checked, Bolivar threw in a green chip, worth 25,000, and bet 10,000 of it. Nare and Baggett both quickly folded, allowing Bolivar's stack to grow a little.
Baggett came through Day 1b with the second-largest stack, only behind to the one and only Michael Mizrachi.
“It’s not personal… It’s just business,” said Daniel Negreanu, who wants players to draw a line in the sand when it comes to slow play in the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event.
The seven-time bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer took to social media to tell players it’s time to normalize calling the clock and not to feel bad about it.
Negreanu encouraged players to take action when opponents drag their feet, especially those who seem to tank on every street.
He made it clear that he’s not trying to create friction at the table. In KidPoker's view, there’s nothing wrong with players taking extra time on a big river spot, particularly those who normally play at a decent pace. But for the habitual tankers? The gloves are off.
Mark Remnant raised to 2,500 from under the gun and found calls from Sorin Cristea in the small blind and Owen Savir in the big blind.
The flop came 9♦7♠2♣, and it was checked to Remnant, who continued for 4,500. Cristea called, and Savir folded.
The turn saw the Q♦ peel off and Cristea check-called Remnant's 8,300 bet, and when the 7♦ came on the river to pair the board, Cristea again checked over to Remnant, who this time put out a bet of 10,000.
Cristea called and was disgusted when Remnant flipped over K♥K♣ as the river had just counterfeited his Q♣9♣ and the pot was shipped to Remnant.
Players were already heads-up on the 7♦5♠5♦ flop. The pot stood at around 15,000 and Hartt Stearns bet 7,000 from under the gun. Maximiliano Castagnini moved all in for his remaining 20,200 from middle position.
Stearns counted out his stack before making the call and the players flipped thier hands.
Maximiliano Castagnini: K♥K♣
Hartt Stearns: K♠7♠
Castagnini was head with the better two pair, but the Q♠ turn brought in a sweat, giving Stearns a flush draw.
Castagnini secured the double after the dealer placed the 3♥ river, and he was passed the huge pot, with a player commenting to him "It's always a sweat".
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