Nick Schulman, in his first year of eligibility, reached the pinnacle of his industry on Friday when he was revealed as the 2025 Poker Hall of Fame inductee.
The 40-year-old pool shark-turned poker pro from New York won his seventh World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet this summer, and was honored during a ceremony at Horseshoe Las Vegas on Day 1 of Event #92: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty.
There were roughly 180,000 chips in the pot on a board of 2♥K♥J♥9♠ when Jesse Rockowitz in the big blind checked to Josh Reichard in the cutoff and he bet 78,000. Rockowitz check-called.
Action did not slow down on the 3♠ river as Rockowitz announced all in for 158,000. Reichard took a few minutes before he decided to fold and flashed Q♥6♥ for a flopped flush.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
780,000
317,000
|
317,000 |
|
550,000
285,000
|
285,000 |
|
||
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,100,000
1,150,000
|
1,150,000 |
|
2,340,000
595,000
|
595,000 |
|
1,970,000
310,000
|
310,000 |
|
1,880,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
1,780,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
1,220,000
412,000
|
412,000 |
|
1,040,000
507,000
|
507,000 |
|
||
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Brett Elder opened the action from the hijack with a raise to 40,000. Michael Kamran potted it to 128,000 from the big blind, Elder shoved, and Kamran snapped it off.
Michael Kamran: A♦Q♠J♠9♠ 
Brett Elder: A♣J♥J♦9♦
It was a flip of sorts, as Kamran was looking for an ace or a queen to take the lead. Just one wasn't enough for him, as he flopped both on A♥Q♦8♣ He held as the board ran out 5♥K♣ and the dealer questioned why he had chosen to get out of his chair as if to leave. He sat back down and collected his winnings.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
883,000
137,000
|
137,000 |
|
384,000
9,000
|
9,000 |
Chip leader Paul Gunness checked the 8♠3♣10♦10♣ turn from the big blind, and Andrew Ostapchenko slid out a bet of 16,000 in the cutoff.
Gunness then check-raised to 75,000, adding more chips to his stack as Ostapchenko slid his cards into the muck.
As Gunness collected the pot, the table broke with the tournament down to 36 players.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,240,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
910,000
649,000
|
649,000 |
|
|
||
Anik Ajmera raised to 56,000 from under the gun, Adam Johnson announced "pot", and threw in 176,000 chips, Ajmera called.
The flop came 9♦3♦6♠, Johnson said "all in" which was around 300,000, Ajmera asked for a count and called when the chip amount got confirmed.
Adam Johnson: A♣A♥4♠2♠
Anik Ajmera: K♣J♥9♥8♣
The turn was the 5♥, and Johnson improved to top set on the A♠ river for a huge double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
950,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
475,000
310,000
|
310,000 |
Shrey Maheshwary opened the action under the gun with a raise to 35,000. Dario Alioto potted it from the button, leaving just 28,000 behind, and Maheshwary called to see a flop. He the put Alioto all in on 10♦K♣5♥ and got snap-called.
Dario Alioto: K♦K♥Q♥3♣
Shrey Maheshwary: A♦7♦4♥3♥
Maheshwary had only backdoors, with the A♥ turn meaning only a deuce could help him score an elimination. Alioto filled up on the 5♦ river, however exited the tournament shortly after.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
800,000
460,000
|
460,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
982,000
58,000
|
58,000 |
|
|
||
|
840,000
620,000
|
620,000 |
|
570,000
332,000
|
332,000 |
|
|
474,000
280,000
|
280,000 |
|
260,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
240,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
Roel van Gestel was all in and at risk against chip leader Paul Gunness.
Roel van Gestel: A♠A♥10♣8♥
Paul Gunness: A♣K♦10♦6♣
Gunness went runner-runner to make a flush on the J♥J♣9♠5♣9♣ board, sending Van Gestel and his pocket aces to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,560,000
320,000
|
320,000 |
|
Busted |
