$5,300 NAPT High Roller Day 1 | 2023 NAPT Las Vegas

11-10-2023 14:30 UTC-7

Berk Bombs the Turn

Jeremy Geist

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

The action was opened under the gun to 500 before the button called and action was on Michael Berk in the small blind. He took a moment and then put out a three-bet to 3,100. Michael Wang was in the big blind and quickly cold-called. The under the gun player and the button surprisingly got out of the way and just the blinds were off to a flop heads up.

The 2♣6♣7♠ flop landed and action slowed down and checked through to a 6♠ turn. Berk sat in the tank for a moment before putting out an over-bet of 8,000.

Wang took a second but thought better of a call and mucked. Berk snagged the pot and chipped up early in the day.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Berk	56,000
Michael Wang	48,000 -2,000	-2,000

Tags: Michael Berk Michael Wang

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/300

Ante: 300

11-10-2023 14:36 UTC-7

Mullaly Takes an Early Pot

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Matt Hansen

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

A player in late position raised to 500 and Myles Mullaly called from the cutoff before Rodriguez Jimenez came along from the big blind.

The flop was 9♠A♥3♦ and the player in late position bet 1,000. Mullaly called and Jimenez raised to 3,400, which sent the late position player into the muck. Mullaly called the raise and the turn was K♦.

Both players checked the turn to see 7♠ on the river. Jimenez fired 7,500 and Mullaly used two time banks before he tossed out the chips to call. Mullaly turned over A♦J♦ to take the pot with a pair of aces while Jimenez showed 4♦2♦ and tossed it in the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Myles Mullaly	57,500 57,500	57,500
Rodriguez Jimenez	27,600 27,600	27,600

Tags: Myles Mullaly Rodriguez Jimenez

11-10-2023 14:48 UTC-7

Moreno Gets Around the Four-Bettor

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Jeremy Geist

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

The action was opened in middle position to 500 before Andrew Moreno three-bet from the button to 1,600. It then folded back to the middle position player who sat in the tank and went over his options. After about a minute in the tank he opted to put in a four-bet to the tune of 4,500.

Moreno flat called the four-bet fairly quickly and they were off to a A♥J♥10♥ flop. The middle position player continued for 2,500 and Moreno called.

The 10♠ rolled off on the turn and the middle position player slowed down with a check. Moreno didn't take long and then put out a bet of 10,200.

The middle position player tanked for about a minute but eventually found a fold. Moreno dragged another pot after hanging tough against the four-bettor while in-position.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Moreno	59,000

Tags: Andrew Moreno

11-10-2023 15:02 UTC-7

Stamm Has Opponent Pipped

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Jeremy Geist

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

It folded all the way to the small blind who limped before David Stamm raised to 1,200 from the big blind. The small blind called and they were off to a flop heads up.

The 9♠Q♠4♥ flop landed and action checked to Stamm who checked back on their way to a 3♣ turn. The action checked through once more and the 8♣ rolled off on the river.

The small blind opted to lead this card for 1,300. Stamm thought it over for a moment and then called. The small blind tabled K♥8♠ and Stamm tabled A♠8♥ for the slightly better pair of eights.

As the hand was finishing recent phenom Jeremy Becker took a day off from the dailies and sat down at the table in the $5,300 High Roller.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Stamm	53,000
Jeremy Becker	50,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: David Stamm Jeremy Becker

11-10-2023 15:03 UTC-7

Early Traction for Konnikova

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Matt Hansen

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Maria Konnikova, one of PokerStars' newest ambassadors, has chipped up in the early levels at Table 13. She is accompanied by her "emotional support shark," which doesn't appear to have a name yet.

The table has speculated about the unknown object in the shark's fin. Most believe it is a racing helmet, but that is also unknown at this time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maria Konnikova	65,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Maria Konnikova

11-10-2023 15:26 UTC-7

Sverko Wins With River Bet

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Matt Hansen

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

A player in the under-the-gun position raised to 700 and Maureen Bloechlinger called from late position before Gregor Sverko came along from the big blind.

The flop was 4♣J♥3♠ and Sverko checked into a 900 bet from the player under the gun. Bloechlinger called and Sverko came along before the turn was 9♣.

All three players checked the turn and 7♠ fell on the river. Sverko tossed out 4,000 and took the pot when the other two players went into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gregor Sverko	49,000
Maureen Bloechlinger	45,400

Tags: Gregor Sverko Maureen Bloechlinger

11-10-2023 15:29 UTC-7

Hickey Sets the Trap

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Jeremy Geist

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

After an open from under the gun, the action folded to Jason Hickey who defended his big blind and they were off to a flop heads up.

The 6♦6♥3♣ flop landed and action checked in flow to the original raiser, who continued for 700. Hickey only took a moment before putting in the check-raise to 1,900. The under-the-gun player called and the 9♠ hit the turn.

Hickey continued the story for 3,500 and once again the original raiser called on their way to a 7♦ river.

Hickey sat in the tank for a moment and then gathered enough chips to put out a large bet of 9,000. The original raiser thought it over for about a minute and then put in the chips.

Hickey tabled K♣K♠ for a premium that he slow-played preflop and the under-the-gun player mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Hickey	74,000 74,000	74,000

Tags: Jason Hickey

11-10-2023 15:30 UTC-7

Break Time

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Jeremy Geist

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Players are now on a 20-minute break.

11-10-2023 15:44 UTC-7

Two Loose Cannons: Find Out Who Won $50k Stakes to Play PokerStars Big Game

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Kaelaine Minton

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Via an American Idol style competition, Nikki Limo and Lily Newhouse were chosen as the first PokerStars Big Game "loose cannons" in over a decade. As such, they will receive a $50,000 stake to compete in a high-stakes cash game against pros and entertaining recreational players.

The contest began on Sunday from the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) with a free qualifier shootout poker tournament at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Each table winner — 20 players — then advanced to an intense interview process on Monday judged by Nadya Magnus, Joe Stapleton, and James Hartigan.

Magnus was one of the original loose cannons when the popular show first aired in 2010-2011. She won over $60,000 on that day, her first introduction to televised poker. Stapleton and Hartigan will commentate on the show when it airs in 2024. Filming will take place at Resorts World this week, however.

The purpose of the audition phase was to find the two individuals who best exemplify a true loose cannon — is at least a somewhat competent poker player, would benefit greatly from winning a significant amount in the game, and has a colorful personality.

Click here to learn more about what happened!