2025 World Series of Poker
In the 906th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz are back at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas to discuss the latest news and highlights from the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), including Daniel Negreanu suggesting that poker players shouldn't hesitate to call the clock on other slow-acting players.
Other stories include Will Kassouf being back in the poker spotlight, for better or worse, as well as how the PokerNews Podcast crew did in the 2025 WSOP Main Event. Hint: Kyna, who is now representing Tilted Compass, did an interview with Jeff Platt while Chad got pulled up on the PokerGO live stream. They also highlight Shaun Deeb capturing his seventh bracelet and setting himself up to win POY, Nick Ahmadi taking down the PokerNews Deepstack Championship, PokerGO founder Cary Katz claiming his first bracelet, and Chris Moneymaker winning another Moneymaker Tour title.
Finally, Maria Ho talks about releasing Pokerriculum (viewers/listeners have a chance to win a free copy of the game), and an update on the PokerNews Podcast Fantasy League between Mike, Chad/Kyna, Joey Ingram, and Christina Gollins.
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!
The remaining 391 players are on a 20-minute break.
Action was picked up with an all-in shove from Scott Fitzhugh for around 162,000 on the button after hijack player Yi Li bet 80,000 on a flop of 9♠4♦6♦ and a pot of 120,000. With action back to him, Li called with a chance to eliminate Fitzhugh.
Scott Fitzhugh: 10♦9♥6♠4♠
Yi Li: J♣9♣8♣7♦
Fitzhugh was ahead with two pair while Li had a pair and a wrap. The turn 2♣ didn't change the situation. But Li took the lead with the 8♠ river, catching the higher two pair. Li scooped the pot as Fitzhugh left the table.
James Cheung raised to 23,000 from the hijack, Rhett Wiseman called from the cutoff, Amit Benyacov called from the small blind, and Mark Gregorich three-bet from the big blind to 135,000. Cheung folded, Wiseman moved all in for his last 161,000, Benyacov folded, and Gregorich called for the remaining 26,000.
Rhett Wiseman: K♦K♥10♠3♦
Mark Gregorich: A♠A♦Q♣9♦
The board came out with 4♥3♠6♣6♠4♦, and Gregorich sat with the better two pair and the win, sending Wiseman to the payout desk.
The flop read 10♣K♠7♦ in a three-way pot when Jake Parsons checked to Ludovic Geilich who bet 100,000. Ben Yu called all in for his last 98,000 and Parsons made the call to create a side pot.
The 7♥ came on the turn and Parsons check-called Geilish for 87,000. Both checked on the 6♦ river and they tabled their cards.
Yu showed Q♥J♥10♥J♠ while Parsons revealed K♣Q♠J♦8♦ but the pot was awarded to Geikish who showed A♥K♥XxXx to bust Yu.
Nicholas Gonzalez opened on the button for 20,000 and got the blinds, Gabriel Ramos in the small blind and Jie Xu in the big blind, to call.
The trio saw a K♦4♥9♠ flop. After the blinds checked, Gonzalez continued for 25,000, which made Ramos fold. Xu stayed on to see the next card.
Xu check-called the turn 2♥ after Gonzalez bet 80,000 to keep the action going.
After another check on the river 8♠, Gonzalez put maximum pressure with an all-in shove for 280,000. Xu didn't hesitate to make the call, putting his tournament life on the line.
Gonzalez showed A♦J♥9♥9♣ for a set on the flop. Xu mucked his hand, stood up and left.
All the chips went in the middle on a flop 5♣10♠4♠ between Michael Bell, Vadim Zakharyan and Gregory Fournier who was covering them both :
Michael Bell: 10♣9♦7♦4♦
Vadim Zakharyan: A♦A♠K♣8♠
Gregory Fournier: J♦5♦5♥3♦
Fournier had hit a set and stayed ahead as the rest of the board brought 8♥9♥ to score a double knockout.