2021 World Series of Poker

Event #35: $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2021 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qq
Prize
$167,272
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Entries
2,930
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
2,000,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
2,930
Players Left
132

Chip and a Chair No Problem for Laino; Cancer Is Real Fight

Level 19 : 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Nelson Laino
Nelson Laino

The action picked up when Allen Kessler went all-in for his remaining 33,000.

Nelson Laino then shoved for his remaining stack of 19,000 and Todd Saffron from the button went all-in putting Kessler all-in for his remaining stack as well.

Nelson Laino: {k-Spades}{q-Spades}
Allen Kessler: {k-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}
Todd Saffron: {a-Spades}{a-Diamonds}

The board ran out {7-Hearts}{6-Spades}{2-Spades}{2-Hearts}{7-Spades} giving Laino the king-high flush and keeping the "chip and a chair" dream alive and triple up.

"More than beating poker players, I really want to beat cancer," Laino told the reporting team after the hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Nelson Laino us
Nelson Laino
61,000
60,000
60,000
Profile photo of Todd Saffron us
Todd Saffron
55,000
55,000
55,000
Profile photo of Allen Kessler us
Allen Kessler
Busted

Tags: Allen KesslerNelson LainoTodd Saffron

Azzaro Flops Quads to Bust Two

Level 19 : 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Mike Azzaro
Mike Azzaro

Mike Azzaro was part of a three-way all-in that also involved Tony Ho.

Mike Azzaro:{9-Clubs}{9-Spades}
Tony Ho: {a-Hearts}{5-Hearts}
Opponent: {k-Clubs}{k-Hearts}

Azzaro was behind but wouldn't stay that way for long as the flop came {9-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{q-Spades} to improve him to quad nines. He sent Ho and the other player to the rail after blanks came on the turn and river and is now contending for the chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Azzaro us
Michael Azzaro
700,000
480,000
480,000
Profile photo of Tony Ho us
Tony Ho
Busted

Tags: Mike AzzaroTony Ho

Takayama with a Massive Stack

Level 16 : 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Mike Takayama
Mike Takayama

The action picked up when a player in middle position raised to 16,000 and Mike Tatayama in the small blind went all-in.

Bertrand Grospellier in the big blind called putting himself at risk to be eliminated.

Bertrand Grospellier: {a-Clubs}{k-Hearts}
Mike Takayama: {j-Spades}{10-Clubs}

The board ran out {7-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{8-Clubs}{9-Hearts} giving Takayama the straight and eliminating Grospellier.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mike Takayama ph
Mike Takayama
820,000
820,000
820,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
Busted

Tags: Bertrand GrospellierMike Takayama

Deeb with a Big Stack

Level 15 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Shaun Deeb
Shaun Deeb

The action picked up when Shaun Deeb raised to 10,000 from the cutoff, the button called and the big blind went all-in for his remaining stack and Deeb was the only caller.

Big Blind Player: {a-Clubs}{6-Clubs}
Shaun Deeb: {a-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}

The board ran out {8-Spades}{7-Spades}{3-Spades}{k-Hearts}{a-Spades} and with that hand Deeb went over 400,000 in chips and is among the chip leaders.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Shaun Deeb us
Shaun Deeb
420,000
205,000
205,000
Team Lucky
WSOP 6X Winner

Tags: Shaun Deeb

Rich Gets Her Wish

Level 13 : 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Angelina Rich
Angelina Rich

The action was picked up with Angelina Rich in an all-in situation at risk for her tournament life against another opponent.

Angelina Rich: {a-Hearts}{k-Spades}
Opponent: {a-Spades}{j-Diamonds}

The board to the turn come {2-Clubs}{4-Spades}{10-Spades}{3-Spades} and then Rich stated "I'll take a five" and the river was the {5-Spades}.

The table was in disbelieve because it gave her the nut flush and Rich scooped the pot and double through her opponent.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Angelina Rich au
Angelina Rich
50,000
50,000
50,000

Tags: Angelina Rich

Grospellier Double with Aces

Level 12 : 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante
Bertrand Grospellier
Bertrand Grospellier

Bertrand Grospellier raised to 4,000 from under the gun and a player behind re-raised to 11,000.

Grospellier, also know as "Elky", shoved all-in and his opponent made the call.

Bertrand Grospellier: {a-Diamonds}{a-Spades}
Opponent: {a-Hearts}{k-Hearts}

The board ran out {5-Hearts}{k-Clubs}{6-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{7-Spades} and with that "Elky" now has over 100,000 in chips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
116,000
116,000
116,000

Tags: Bertrand Grospellier

Pedregon Doubles Up Through Masek

Level 10 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Alex Masek
Alex Masek

Lawrence Pedregon went all-in for his remaining 29,600 and nine-time circuit ring winner Alexandru Masek made the call from the button putting Pedreon at risk for his tournament life.

Lawrence Pedregon: {a-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}
Alexandru Masek: {10-Clubs}{10-Spades}

The board ran out {q-Spades}{9-Hearts}{4-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}{9-Spades} to give Pedregon the better hand with the queens and double him up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Lawrence Pedregon us
Lawrence Pedregon
60,000
60,000
60,000
Profile photo of Alexandru Masek us
Alexandru Masek
35,000
35,000
35,000

Tags: Alexandru MasekLawrence Pedregon

Kessler Double Starting Stack

Level 7 : 400/800, 800 ante
Allen Kessler
Allen Kessler

The hand was picked up on the flop of {6-Clubs}{k-Hearts}{2-Clubs} and the pot of 4,000.

Allen Kessler bet 2,600 and the only other player in the pot mucked.

More importantly for Kessler he's now doubled his original starting stack.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Allen Kessler us
Allen Kessler
52,000
27,000
27,000

PokerNews Reporter Jeff McMillan Double Up

Level 5 : 300/500, 500 ante
Jeff McMillan
Jeff McMillan

The action was picked up on the flop {a-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{10-Clubs} and the pot already at 9,400.

Jeff McMillan and the player behind him in middle position both checked to the turn.

The turn {7-Clubs}. McMillan checked and his opponent bet enough to McMillan all-in and he called.

Jeff McMillan: {a-Hearts}{k-Clubs}
Middle Position Player: {8-Hearts}{9-Hearts}

The river {k-Spades} only helped McMillan improve to two pair and scoop the pot.

At another table, voice actress Nika Futterman busted from the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jeff McMillan us
Jeff McMillan
28,000
22,000
22,000
PokerNews
Profile photo of Nika Futterman us
Nika Futterman
Busted

Tags: Jeff McMillanNika Futterman

Full House for Arnwine

Level 1 : 100/100, 100 ante
Justin Arnwine
Justin Arnwine

The action picked up on the board reading {4-Spades}{k-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{3-Hearts} and Justin Arnwine had all his remaining 13,700 in the middle.

His opponent tanked before making the call and Arnwine turned over {3-Clubs}{3-Spades} for the full house.

His opponent didn't show, mucked his hand and Arnwine scooped the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Justin Arnwine us
Justin Arnwine
60,000
60,000
60,000

Tags: Justin Arnwine