2025 World Series of Poker
Heads-up on a board of J♦9♠7♥5♣ with approximately 20,000 already in the middle, Baptiste Audoli bet 16,000 from the big blind and Josh Arieh called from the hijack after a bit of thought.
The Q♦ filled the river and Audoli fired 45,000 into the middle — sending Arieh deep into the tank.
Arieh asked the dealer to spread the pot and he counted out his own stack, clearly struggling with the decision.
After a couple of minutes, Arieh stuck in a call and Audoli could only turn over 10♥4♥ for a bluff.
Arieh revealed A♠9♣ for a pair of nines and was awarded the pot.
"You're sick," Kornuth said to Arieh from across the table.
Garry Gurevich, one of the youngest players in the field, has more than doubled his chip stack in one and a half levels of play on Day 2.
Gurevich, who turned 21 three months ago, picked up a huge double-up when he made a straight against Roberto Saenz' overpair.
"Yes!" someone shouted in the Bronze section of the Horseshoe Events Center. After arriving at Table 603, it was Jun Lai who had his hands in the air with all of his chips in the middle. However, the hand wasn't finished and his opponent, Michael Thompson, was still drawing live.
The board read A♥9♦6♣J♣ and Lai was indeed ahead with A♠J♠ for two pair but Thompson held A♣K♣ for a possible better two pair along with a flush draw. Lai was out of his seat already when the 7♦ completed the board.
"Yes!" Lai shouted again. "This is my moment!"
"Nice hand," Thompson acknowledged despite being dwindled down to just over 10 big blinds.
Mike Takayama opened to 2,200 in middle position and got called by Jibok Park to see the flop.
Both players checked the flop of K♠6♥3♥. The turn 7♠ dropped and Park checked once again. Takayama bet 3,000 which was enough to make Park fold.
Adin Aragon, who was also on the table, started asking Takayama what he had and the latter showed one card K♦. Park chimed in saying that he knew how Takayama played, which was why he folded.
Jesse Lonis opened to 2,200 from middle position. Steven Hamm called on the button, and Rajiv Sakaria defended his big blind. Lonis continued for 2,300 on the A♠K♦K♠ flop, seeing Hamm call and Sakaria check-call.
It then checked to Hamm on the 7♥ turn, who fired a bet of 6,000. Sakiria called, prompting Lonis to get out of the way. The 8♥ river was quickly checked to showdown, where Hamm's K♥10♠ awarded him the pot.
Martin Knorr opened from late position to 2,200 and Brandon Mitchell called from the hijack. Joel Micka made the bet 7,500 from the cutoff and both players called.
The A♥J♦6♠ flop was checked to Micka who bet 8,200. Knorr folded, but Mitchell called.
A 4♥ came on the turn and Mitchell checked. Micka bet 25,000 and Mitchell called.
The J♥ river prompted Mitchell to bet and Micka quickly threw his cards into the muck, passing the pot to Mitchell.
A completed board of A♦Q♥J♣K♣Q♣ was spread across the felt with only a small pot of around 4,500 in the middle. Benjamin Dellemann led out with a bet of 2,000 but his opponent quickly threw his cards away.
However, Dellemann couldn't help but show his A♣10♣ for a Royal Flush as he picked up a small pot.
"First one," Dellemann said about his Royal Flush.
"No better time than the Main Event," another player responded.
With around 5,000 in the middle on a flop of 3♠10♣3♥ Najeem Ajez checked from the big blind and then called a bet of 1,000 out of Joseph Krasner from middle position.
The 5♣ rolled off on the turn and Ajez check-called another bet from Krasner, this time for 4,000.
The Q♣ hit the river, and Ajez checked for the last time before Krasner put out a huge overbet of 35,000. Ajez looked visibly perplexed by the bet and took a few moments before choosing to fold.