$3,500 Main Event Day 3 | 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship

06-12-2023 17:22 UTC-8

Nikitin Eliminated; Final Three Tables

Kirk Brown

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Short-stacked Anatoly Nikitin moved all in for his last 80,000 and then Fabrice Bigot re-raised to 200,000 to isolate. The other players got out of the way and the cards were tabled.

Anatoly Nikitin: Q♠Q♦
Fabrice Bigot: K♦4♦

Nikitin was in a good position to double up with his pocket queens but the flop of K♥A♦2♣ was heartbreaking as it gave Bigoit the lead with his pair of kings. The runout of J♦7♣ did not help Nikitin and he was sent to the payout desk.

With his elimination, the players are now down to the final three tables.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fabrice Bigot	2,200,000
Anatoly Nikitin	Busted

06-12-2023 17:19 UTC-8

Stellwagon Burns Through Timebanks; Stamm Chooses Javier's for Dinner

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Calum Grant

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Jeffrey Stellwagon raised to 415,000 from under the gun, leaving 20,000 behind. David Stamm called from the small blind.

Stamm put his opponent all in on the K♦4♦2♦ flop, and Stellwagon entered the tank. He then tossed his five timebank cards into the middle preemptively.

As Stellwagon's time ticked down, Stamm dug into his dinner which was from Javier's. He had some chips and salsa, with some beef and vegetables. As he washed it down with a diet coke, Stellwagon called.

Jeffrey Stellwagon: 5♦5♣
David Stamm: 6♥6♠

The 3♣7♦ completed the board and kept Stellwagon alive as he rivered a flush.

"That may have been the biggest all in of my life," said Stellwagon, who was looking to make the next payjump.

06-12-2023 16:44 UTC-8

Sai Triples with Treys

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Kirk Brown

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Benjamin Sai moved all in from the cutoff for 280,000 and was called by both Ivan Galinec and Fabrice Bigot.

The flop came out 5♣8♦8♠ and Galinec checked to Bigot who then bet 120,000 and Galinec called to see the 3♠ on the turn.

Galinec checked again to Bigot who chose to continue with the same saizing of 120,000 but this time Galinec folded and the cards were tabled.

Bigot tabled 7♣7♠ for a pair of sevens but then Sai flipped over 3♣3♦ for a turned full house, much to the table's amusement.

The river 9♠ completed the board and Bigot took his small sidepot while Sai scooped the main pot for a full triple-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fabrice Bigot	2,200,000 -200,000	-200,000
Ivan Galinec	1,050,000 -260,000	-260,000
Benjamin Sai	900,000 450,000	450,000

Tags: Benjamin Sai Fabrice Bigot Ivan Galinec

06-12-2023 15:52 UTC-8

Wu Eliminates Final BetMGM Qualifier

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Kirk Brown

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Danny DeJesus open-jammed from middle position for 500,000 and Jun Hao Wu flatted from the cutoff, then Paul Gunness re-shoved over the top for 1,400,000. Action folded back to Wu who snap-called to put both of his opponents at risk as the cards were tabled.

Danny DeJesus: A♥J♠
Paul Gunness: J♥J♦
Jun Hao Wu: A♠A♦

Gunness and DeJesus would need a lot of help to catch up to Wu's rockets, but the runout of 6♣5♠7♠2♣3♣ did them no favors and they were both sent to the payout desk. DeJesus was the last surviving BetMGM qualifier, and with his elimination, there are none left to make it to the final table.

Brett Bassock also found his way to the exit at a neighboring table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jun Hao Wu	3,250,000 1,150,000	1,150,000
Paul Gunness	Busted
Danny DeJesus	Busted

Brett Bassock	Busted

Tags: Danny DeJesus Jun Hao Wu Paul Gunness

06-12-2023 15:36 UTC-8

Bigot Busts Chu

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Kirk Brown

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

After some back-and-forth betting, Fabrice Bigot and Chi Jen Chu got all the money in the middle, with Bigot slightly covering,

Fabrice Bigot: A♥Q♠
Chi Jen Chu: K♣K♥

Chu was a favorite to double in this spot, but the runout of 5♠7♠5♥4♦A♠ gave Bigot the dreaded ace on the river to send him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fabrice Bigot	2,300,000 1,675,000	1,675,000
Chi Jen Chu	Busted

Tags: Chi Jen Chu Fabrice Bigot

06-12-2023 15:22 UTC-8

Ibanez Scores Double Knockout

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Kirk Brown

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

After a preflop betting war, Johann Ibanez, John McMurry, and Clemen Deng all got their chips into the middle before the flop, with Ibanez covering.

John McMurry: Ax6x
Clemen Deng: 8♣8♦
Johann Ibanez: 9♥9♠

Ibanez was in a great position with his superior pocket pair, and the runout of 2♦7♣Q♥J♦J♥ was pure for him and he was awarded the pot, eliminating Deng and McMurry.

Player	Chips	Progress
Johann Ibanez	3,200,000 850,000	850,000
John McMurry	Busted
Clemen Deng	Busted

Tags: Johann Ibanez John McMurray Kevin Deng

06-12-2023 15:15 UTC-8

Stamm Downs Palmer in Biggest Pot of the Day

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Calum Grant

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Ben Palmer opened from the hijack and picked up a caller. David Stamm squeezed to 300,000 from the big blind and only Palmer called.

Palmer called bets of 300,000 and 600,000 on the flop and turn for the final board to show 8♦7♥5♣7♣4♦. Stamm then jammed as the big stack and Palmer, with around 500,000 behind, called.

Stamm had the Q♣Q♥, while Palmer had pocket tens.

"I would've played ace-king the same way," said Stamm

Palmer seemed unsure about that but thanked Stamm for trying to "humour the fish."

Player	Chips	Progress
David Stamm	4,100,000 2,000,000	2,000,000
Ben Palmer	Busted

Tags: Ben Palmer David Stamm

06-12-2023 14:58 UTC-8

Agarwal Hero Calls for Tournament Life; Yunis Exits

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Kirk Brown

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

After checking through the 6♦Q♦K♠4♣ turn, Anuj Agarwal and Mike Vanier saw the river fall the 7♦.

Agarwal was first to act and he bet 125,000 into the pot of around 400,000 but then Vanier shoved all in, covering his opponent.

Agarwal then went deep into the tank, using all six of his time banks for this decision. As he reached the end of his clock, he set out a stack of chips and made the call, putting himself at risk.

Vanier did not like this call and flipped over J♣10♣ for a missed straight draw and jack-high, to which Agarwla jumped up and proudly flipped over K♣9♣ for just a pair of kings to win the massive pot.

Meanwhile, across the room, Nick Yunis was eliminated by Erfan Geula when his ace-ten couldn't improve against Geula's ace-queen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike "Vinny" Vanier	2,400,000 560,000	560,000

Erfan Geula	2,200,000 725,000	725,000
Anuj Agarwal	1,650,000 1,375,000	1,375,000

Nick Yunis	Busted

Tags: Anuj Agarwal Mike Vanier Erfan Geula Nick Yunis

06-12-2023 14:45 UTC-8

Nikitin Hits Ruver to Down Pastore

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Calum Grant

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Jonathan Pastore was all in for 125,000 from under the gun and was at risk to Anatoly Nikitin, who called from the big blind.

Jonathan Pastore: A♦7♠
Anatoly Nikitin: K♥6♥

Pastore paired up on the Q♣J♣7♦ to level Nikitin drawing to three outs. The Q♥ changed nothing but the K♠ river gave Nikitin a better pair and Pastore bust.

A bad bust for Pastore on the river https://t.co/aKTuEPfWgs https://t.co/9IhfIeIMvt
— BetMGM Poker (@BetMGMPoker)

Player	Chips	Progress
Anatoly Nikitin	2,200,000 350,000	350,000
Jonathan Pastore	Busted

Pablo Mariz	Busted

Tags: Anatoly Nikitin Jonathan Pastore

06-12-2023 14:13 UTC-8

Turmezey Jams into Kings

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Calum Grant

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Peter Turmezey opened to 50,000 from early position with David Stamm and Sundiata DeVore calling from middle position and the hijack.

Ben Palmer made it 265,000 from the small blind and Turmezey jammed for 290,000 total.

Peter Turmezey: Q♠Q♥
Ben Palmer: K♠K♣

Palmer called for a four following 7♥6♣5♦ flop as Palmer noted Turmezey as a "nice guy." The 9♠ brought in some chop outs but Palmer improved a set on the K♥ river to down his opponent.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ben Palmer	1,500,000 50,000	50,000

Peter Turmezey	Busted

Tags: Ben Palmer David Stamm Peter Turmezey Sundiata DeVore