5 Big Hands from the WPT Voyage – Cracked Aces Leads to Andrew Neeme’s Demise

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Apr 05, 2024 3 min read

The WPT Voyage $5,000 Main Event attracted 293 runners, and after three long days of play it was Aram Oganyan who came out on top for $214,245 after a three-way deal with Carlo Basurto and Austin Srur.

The tournament was a fun one taking place on the high seas on Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. Between Days 1 and 2, there was even a stop at George Town in the Cayman Islands. Throughout the event, the World Poker Tour (WPT) live reporting team of BJ Nemeth and Mickey Doft were on hand to capture all the action.

During that time, they caught some either interesting or game-changing hands. Check out five of them below.

Popular Brazilian Blogger Busts One

On Day 1 in Level 10 (1,000/2,000/2,000), WPT champions Club member Matthew Wantman raised to 4,500 and Brazilian vlogger Romulo Dorea three-bet to 13,000 from the cutoff before Kayvan Payman four-bet jammed for 50,000 from the small blind.

Wantman got out of the way but Dorea wasted little time in calling with the A♥Q♥, which was behind the K♣K♠ of Payman. The Q♦9♠6♣ flop gave Dorea a little help, but it was the A♠ on the turn that gave him the lead.

The 2♥ river was no help to Payman, and the pot was pushed to Dorea, who was recently interviewed by Lance Bradley in this feature article on WPT’s website.

PokerNews Reporter Done in By WPT World Champion

On Day 1 in Level 8 (600/1,200/1,200), PokerNews Podcast host Chad Holloway moved all in for 15,200 from the button only to have reigning WPT World Champion Dan Sepiol, who won $5.3 million at the Wynn Las Vegas last December, call from the small blind.

Holloway held the A♥6♥ but was behind the A♠8♣. The K♥Q♦J♣ flop made a chop likely, and indeed the 9♦ turn meant the two would split the pot if neither paired their kicker on the river. Well, this is the WPT World Champ we’re talking about, so it only made sense the 8♥ spiked on the river to give Sepiol the win, which he put to good use by making it all the way to fifth place in the tournament.

Check out the WPT Hub on PokerNews here!

The Rise and Fall of a Bearded Russell Thomas

On Day 1 in Level 12 (1,500/3,000/3,000), former WSOP November Niner Russell Thomas raised to 6,000 from the cutoff and then called when Jesse Lonis three-bet jammed for 65,000.

Russell Thomas: 9♠9♣
Jesse Lonis: A♠J♦

It was a flip and the proverbial coin came down in Thomas’ favor after the board ran out 8♠8♦5♥5♣6♠ to dispatch Lonis.

Five levels later in Level 17 (5,000/10,000/10,000), it was Thomas moving all in from middle position for 40,000 and Sepiol three-bet to 70,000 from the hijack to clear the field. Thomas tabled the K♠J♦ and was looking to get there against the A♣9♦ of Sepiol.

That proved easier said than done though as the board ran out 10♦7♠5♣8♥10♠ to send Thomas to the rail.

WPT Ambassador Andrew Neeme Makes a Deep Run

On Day 2 in Level 21 (15,000/25,000/25,000), WPT Ambassador and vlogging godfather Andrew Neeme was in the big blind and checked a flop of K♠9♣4♦, which opened the door for Farid Jattin to bet 50,000 from early position.

Neeme called and then checked the J♥. Jattin bet 140,000, Neeme called, and the K♦ completed the board on the river. Neeme checked for a third time and Jattin moved all in. Neeme called off for 470,000 with the A♥A♦, but it was no good as Jattin rolled over the K♣5♣ for trips to crack Neeme’s pocket aces and send him out the door in 19th place for $17,000.

ClubWPT Regular Josh Guindon Finishers in 11th Place

Also, on Day 2 in Level 23 (20,000/40,000/40,000), ClubWPT and Stream Team Regular Josh Guindon called from the small blind before Sepiol moved all in from the big. Guindon called off for 650,000 with the A♥K♥ and was primed to double against the Q♣6♣ of Sepiol.

However, the 9♠8♣7♠ flop gave Sepiol both straight and flush draws, while the 9♦ turn added some chop outs. Unfortunately for Guindon, the 3♣ river gave Sepiol a club flush and ended the ClubWPT regular’s run in 11th place for $24,000. Not too shabby given Guindon came on the cruise after winning a seat into the WPT Prime Voyage Championship and opted to buy into the Main Event as well.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

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

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