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Level: 3
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
In a special 974th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow come to you from the floor of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and are joined by a special guest in 2006 WSOP Player of the Year Jeff Madsen.
With co-host Chad Holloway away for the week, the three discuss Holtz winning his second bracelet in Event #31: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em. The two-time WSOP.com POY topped a field of 2,103 entries and defeated heads-up opponent Mei Seow to win a career-best $238,097 and his first live bracelet.
Holtz, who had a rowdy rail that included Ludlow and Madsen, also delivered one of the most epic bracelet win celebrations in recent memory.
Players have been sent on the first 15-minute break of the day and will return to blinds at 4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante.
Nick Petrangelo in middle position raised to 14,000 but Ignacio Moron in the cutoff three-bet to 54,000. The button and the blinds folded and Petrangelo called.
The dealer fanned a flop of Q♠2♠6♦ and Moron continued for 52,000. Petrangelo check-raised to 150,000 and managed to make Moron fold.
The action was picked up on a board of 4♣5♥2♠6♠ with Alex Kulev in the hijack betting 28,000. Vinny Lingham in the cutoff raised to 65,000 and Kulev called.
Kulev checked the 8♠ turn. Lingham bet 125,000 and Kulev eventually folded.
Jason Koon raised to 13,000 from under the gun and Stephen Chidwick flatted in the cutoff.
The flop came 2♥A♣10♣ and Koon check-called a bet of 25,000 from Chidwick.
On the 3♥ turn, Koon check-folded when Chidwick fired out a bet of 75,000.
Aleksejs Ponakovs in middle position raised to 13,000 and was called by both Christoph Vogelsang in the cutoff and Dejan Kaladjurdjevic in the big blind.
After Kaladjurdjevic and Ponakovs checked the 2♥4♦2♠ flop, Vogelsang bet 14,000. Kaladjurdjevic called but Ponakovs raised to 55,000. Vogelsang folded, then Kaladjurdjevic reraised to 138,000. Ponakovs made the call.
Kaladjurdjevic asked for 260,000 on the 10♠ turn and was called, then moved all-in for 712,000 on the 7♥ river.
Ponakovs went into the tank for almost two minutes and eventually called off his last 667,000 with A♥A♦. Kaladjurdjevic only had 5♣3♥ for a missed straight draw and was left on fumes.
Action went three-ways to a flop of 6♦J♥5♠ in a hand between Alex Kulev on the button, Vinny Lingham in the small blind, and Samuel Mullur in the big blind.
It checked around to Kulev, who bet 17,000, and both of his opponents continued to the 10♦ turn. It checked through to the 2♥ river, where the trio checked around again.
"I have a five," said Lingham before Mullur mucked his cards.
"Five is a winner," responded Kulev as he tossed his cards into the muck.
Dejan Kaladjurdjevic raised to 15,000 from the cutoff. Thomas Boivin defended from the big blind.
Both players checked the 9♦6♦Q♣ flop leading to the A♠ turn which was checked by Boivin again. Kaladjurdjevic bet 52,000 but Boivin didn't back down and called.
They checked the A♦ river and Boivin flipped over Q♠2♠ for two pair. Kaladjurdjevic sent his cards into the muck.
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