Hands of the Week: Poker Hall of Famer Rivers Royal Flush; Bicknell Bluffs It Off

Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager
4 min read
Jack McClelland

PokerNews is known throughout the world for our industry-leading live updates for both live and online events. In fact, right now we're offering various updates right here.

Over the years, we’ve captured memorable hands, many of which have become a part of poker history. In this new column, we will bring you some of the biggest hands of the week as reported in the PokerNews Live Updates.

Remember, if you’re playing an event PokerNews is covering, you can get in the updates via the MyStack App. You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.

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Here's a look at some highlights of big and interesting hands caught in the PokerNews live updates.

McClelland Rivers Royal Flush

Royal Flush
Royal Flush

In the 2021 WSOP.com Online Event #24: $400 NLH Monster Stack it was Level 9 (250/500/50) when Poker Hall of Famer Jack "Borgia92" McClelland (pictured in lead image) opened under the gun for 1,600 and found two callers, bringing action three-ways to the 1010A flop.

Action was checked to "matador1" who fired out 3,840 on the button and McClelland check-jammed for 30,799. Action folded back to "matador1" who called off their 21,029 stack.

"matador1": AJ
Jack "Borgia92" McClelland: KQ

"matador1" was ahead after pairing their ace on the flop but the 5 turn gave McClelland the flush and the J river improved his hand to a Royal Flush!

Welch Catches Bicknell's Bluff Ending Her Tournament

Kristen Bicknell
Kristen Bicknell

In the same tournament, it was Level 26 (10,000/20,000/2,000) when action folded to bracelet winner Carlos "CarlosWelch" Welch who raised to 40,000 on the button, Kristen "krissyb24" Bicknell defended her big blind and saw a J99 flop appear.

Bicknell check-raised to 87,411 after Welch continued for 32,000 and Welch called bringing the Q turn.

Bicknell led out for 84,225 and Welch called to see the 5 complete the board on the river. Bicknell continued with her aggression and moved all-in for 259,652 and once again Welch called.

Bicknell rolled over K8 for a missed gutshot while Welch Showed KJ ending her tournament in 98th place for $677.

Montes Bubbles With a Set of Nines

Jose Montes
Jose Montes

In the 2021 WSOP.com Online Event #32: $1,000 NLH Championship, it was on the money bubble in Level 22 (3,000/6,000/600) when Kyle "JackintheB0x" Miholich raised and then called the 51,478 three-bet jam Jose "suganills" Montes made from the cutoff.

Jose "suganills" Montes: 99
Kyle "JackintheB0x" Miholich: QQ

Miholich was way ahead with his pocket queens and took a monster lead after the 7Q3 flop gave him top-set.

The 9 turn kept Montes alive drawing to the case nine but the A river ended his tournament on the money bubble.

Click here to see who won the WSOP bracelet in this event!

Three Big Pocket Pairs Collide

Darin Utley
Darin Utley

In the live realm, the MSPT Riverside $1,100 Main Event proved to be a big one as the 2021 Iowa State Poker Championship attracted 928 entrants to Riverside Casino. With 18 players remaining in Level 25 (25,000/50,000/5,000), Darin Utley opened to 125,000 in early position and was flat-called by Jalen Heald one seat over.

Action folded around to the big blind, where Jim Erickson three-bet to a covering amount of 2 million. Utley called all in for 800,000 and Heald immediately called behind for 960,000 to put more than 2.5 million up for grabs between the three players.

Darin Utley: 1010
Jalen Heald: AA
Jim Erickson: QQ

Heald's aces were way out in front and pulled even further ahead on the flop A96. The turn 3 and river K completed the runout and both pots were sent his way, eliminating Utley in 18th place for $8.896 in the process.

Aces vs. Kings vs. Big Slick at MSPT Riverside

Jeremy Calverley
Jeremy Calverley had the worst of it.

Not long after with 13 players left in Level 26 (30,000/60,000/10,000), Mike Estes was under the gun and open-jammed for 460,000. Jeremy Calverley re-jammed for 900,000 on the button and Peyton Smith immediately called both shoves from the small blind thereafter.

Mike Estes: AA
Jeremy Calverley: AK
Peyton Smith: KK

Calverley found himself in an absolute cooler of a situation and was unable to find Broadway on a runout of 410726 to bring his elimination as Estes tripled and Smith took the side pot, roughly breaking even on the hand in the process. Calverley was eliminated in 13th place for $10,783.

To see what all PokerNews is live reporting today, simply click here.

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Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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