Event #2: $1,500 Millionaire Maker | 2023 WSOP Paradise

12-04-2023 21:38 UTC-5

Christopher Puetz Eliminated in 14th Place ($15,000); Mario Soares Jr Eliminated in 13th Place ($23,500)

Connor Richards

Level 11 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Christopher Puetz was forced all in from the big blind as Mario Soares Jr opened to 800,000 from under the gun and Nazar Buhaiov called in the small blind.

Buhaiov checked on the flop of J♣5♣7♦ and Soares continued for 525,000. Buhaiov check-raised to 1,050,000 and called as Soares three-bet jammed to put himself at risk.

Christopher Puetz: Q♥9♥
Mario Soares Jr: K♣J♠
Nazar Buhaiov: 5♦5♥

Buhaiov had flopped a set and scored a double knockout as the board finished out 2♣2♦ to improve him to a full house.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nazar Buhaiov	27,000,000 3,700,000	3,700,000
Mario Soares Jr	Busted
Christopher Puetz	Busted

Tags: Christopher Puetz Mario Soares Jr Nazar Buhaiov

Level: 11

Blinds: 250,000/500,000

Ante: 500,000

12-04-2023 21:35 UTC-5

Oliver Weis Eliminated in 15th Place ($15,000)

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Matt Hansen

Level 10 : 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Shortly after he found a couple of doubles to bring his stack back to life, Oliver Weis shoved with 4,700,000 from under the gun. Christopher Puetz responded with a jam for his last 6,350,000 from the next seat over and Hongru Zhang called for his last 5,550,000 from the cutoff. The button and blinds got out of the way and action was three ways with Weis and Zhang at risk.

Oliver Weis: A♦2♦
Christopher Puetz: A♣Q♥
Hongru Zhang: J♥J♠

The board ran out 4♦4♠8♣K♠6♣ and the jacks held for Zhang to eliminate Weis from the tournament in 15th place for $15,000 while he left Puetz with just over one big blind.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hongru Zhang	16,750,000 14,150,000	14,150,000
Christopher Puetz	675,000 -4,325,000	-4,325,000
Oliver Weis	Busted

Tags: Christopher Puetz Hongru Zhang Oliver Weis

12-04-2023 21:15 UTC-5

Aces Cracked By Quads — Again

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Connor Richards

Level 10 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Clemen Deng was all in for around 7,000,000 against Abdulla Ceesvin to his left, who had him covered.

Clemen Deng: Q♦Q♣
Abdulla Ceesvin: A♦A♥

Deng had run his queens into aces, but it wasn't a problem as the dealer fanned the Q♥9♣J♠ flop to give him a set before improving him to quads on the Q♠ turn. The 9♥ river was a formality as Deng earned the double from Ceesvin, who took the beat with a smile.

It is the second time today that aces have been cracked by quads.

Player	Chips	Progress
Clemen Deng	15,000,000 7,700,000	7,700,000
Abdulla Ceesvin	2,500,000 -9,500,000	-9,500,000

Tags: Abdulla Ceesvin Clemen Deng

12-04-2023 21:01 UTC-5

Jan Strazisar Eliminated in 16th Place ($15,000)

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Connor Richards

Level 10 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Jan Strazisar bet the majority of his stack and was called by Allan Mello to see a flop of 6♠4♣J♥. Strazisar bet his final 25,000 chip and Mello called.

Jan Strazisar: A♠5♣
Allan Mello: A♣A♥

Strazisar had run into aces and the 4♠9♣ runout didn't change anything to mark his elimination in 16th place in one of the first hands back from dinner break.

"Good call," joked Roland Israelashvili to bring laughter from the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Allan Mello	22,000,000 10,000,000	10,000,000

Jan Strazisar	Busted

Tags: Allan Mello Jan Strazisar

12-04-2023 20:58 UTC-5

Chip Counts After the Break

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Matt Hansen

Level 10 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Maksim Vaskresenski	25,900,000 -1,400,000	-1,400,000
Nazar Buhaiov	23,300,000 -1,500,000	-1,500,000
Allan Mello	18,600,000 6,600,000	6,600,000

Arnaud Enselme	12,200,000 5,000,000	5,000,000

Abdulla Ceesvin	12,000,000
Kasparas Klezys	11,250,000 -250,000	-250,000
Morten Norland	10,225,000 -775,000	-775,000
Clemen Deng	7,300,000 4,800,000	4,800,000
Alexandros Theologis	5,900,000 -500,000	-500,000
Mario Soares Jr	5,200,000 1,600,000	1,600,000
Christopher Puetz	5,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Roland Israelashvili	3,375,000 -3,125,000	-3,125,000
Hongru Zhang	2,600,000 -5,900,000	-5,900,000
Maxime Parys	2,150,000 -19,350,000	-19,350,000
Oliver Weis	700,000 -2,800,000	-2,800,000

Level: 10

Blinds: 200,000/400,000

Ante: 400,000

12-04-2023 20:34 UTC-5

PN Podcast: A Bracelet Winner Cheat, Win $100K, & Guest WPT Champ Frederic Normand

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Sandra Barbour

Level 9 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, and Matt Hansen share what they did for Thanksgiving, discuss the Brazilian poker player who was suspended for adding chips at BSOP Millions, and give their thoughts on the Formula 1 Grand Prix and their experiences with PokerStars and Oracle Red Bull Racing.

They then dive into Josh Reichard and Stephen Song winning rings at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Grand Victoria stop, Ian Auvil emerging victorious in the Bar Poker Open World Championship and Doug Polk & Company’s $100,000 promotion at The Lodge in Texas. Plus, the crew share which poker pros and celebrities are slated to attend the upcoming WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas Dec. 3-14.

Finally, while down at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open, Matt chatted with guest Frederic Normand, who was fresh off winning the WPT bestbet Scramble for $350k. Hear what the Canadian player had to say about his victory and plans for the future.

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast.

Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!

Tags: Chad Holloway Connor Richards Doug Polk Frederic Normand Ian Auvil Josh Reichard Matt Hansen Stephen Song

12-04-2023 20:14 UTC-5

Time for Dinner

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Matt Hansen

Level 9 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

The remaining 16 players have stepped out for a 45-minute dinner break. They are scheduled to return 8:55 p.m. local time.

12-04-2023 20:13 UTC-5

Phong Truong Eliminated in 18th Place ($11,000); Leon Sturm Eliminated in 17th Place ($15,000)

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Matt Hansen

Level 9 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Leon Sturm and Phong Truong were all in with similar stacks while Maksim Vaskresenski had them both at risk. The cards were already turned up and the dealer was ready for a runout.

Phong Truong: J♦J♥
Leon Sturm: K♠10♠
Maksim Vaskresenski: A♦K♥

The board ran out K♣4♦8♠5♦8♣ and Vaskresenski flopped a pair of kings with an ace kicker to eliminate both players just before the break. Sturm had slightly more so he takes 17th, while Truong is the 18th place finisher.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maksim Vaskresenski	27,300,000 13,300,000	13,300,000
Leon Sturm	Busted

Phong Truong	Busted

Tags: Leon Sturm Maksim Vaskresenski Phong Truong