Event #1: $500 Casino Employees | 2023 World Series of Poker

05-31-2023 19:12 UTC-8

Aggression From Urbanic Takes Down a Three-Bet Pot

Chris Land

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

James Urbanic opened from the cutoff to 275,000 only to see a three-bet from Peter Thai in the small blind to 625,000. Urbanic called and a flop of J♣Q♣A♦ was spread.

Thai led into Urbanic for 700,000. After a brief moment of deliberation, Urbanic announced all in creating a clash between two of the biggest stacks at the table.

Thai seemed pained by the decision as he went into the tank for about three minutes. Eventually, he tossed his cards toward the muck and Urbanic climbed back up the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	6,500,000 1,715,000	1,715,000
Peter Thai	5,375,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: James Urbanic Peter Thai

05-31-2023 19:00 UTC-8

Lisa Eckstein Eliminated in 9th Place ($5,686)

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Benson Tam raised in late position and it folded to Lisa Eckstein in the big blind, who quickly put her approximately 1,000,000 chips into play. Tam called, easily covering and putting Eckstein at risk.

Lisa Eckstein: 10♣10♥

Benson Tam: Q♦J♠

The flop helped Tam immediately, rolling off K♥7♠J♦, the A♦ on the turn had some of the table rooting for a Queen on the river, but her dreams of winning a bracelet today were thwarted when the 9♠ completed the board on the river.

Eckstein was heard throughout the tournament claiming that a woman would win again this year, especially when she was the last one standing. According to a friend of Eckstein on the rail; she was born with a deck of cards in her hand and has a family packed full of card players. She congratulated her opponents around the table before collecting her belongings and heading to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benson Tam	5,100,000 1,390,000	1,390,000

Lisa Eckstein	Busted

Tags: Benson Tam Lisa Eckstein

05-31-2023 18:47 UTC-8

Urbanic Forces a Fold From Jiang

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Chris Land

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Bruce Jiang opened to 225,000 from the cutoff. The button and small blind folded making way for James Urbanic to call from the big blind to see a flop of 6♦K♣2♦.

Action checked through to a 10♥ turn which saw both players check again.

The river brought the 9♠ which prompted a bet of 300,000 from Urbanic. Jiang eventually decided on a fold and the pot was pushed to Urbanic.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,785,000 285,000	285,000
Bruce Jiang	2,075,000 -225,000	-225,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang James Urbanic

05-31-2023 18:35 UTC-8

Mark Kawamoto Eliminated in 10th Place ($4,477)

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Mark Kawamoto was in late position when he went all-in for 335,000. Joe Pavan looked over the meager stack and reluctantly called.

Mark Kawamoto: J♠10♥

Joe Pavan: A♥4♠

Kawamoto looked geared up to double going into the river on a board of J♣Q♠7♣9♣ but the A♦ was a dagger to the heart. Kawamoto graciously circled the table and wished his opponents good luck in the remainder of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Pavan	2,800,000 700,000	700,000
Mark Kawamoto	Busted

Tags: Mark Kawamoto Joe Pavan

05-31-2023 18:28 UTC-8

McCormack Finds a Big Double

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Chris Land

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

James Urbanic opened to 250,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Keith McCormack who three-bet shoved for his remaining 1,100,000. Action folded back to Urbanic who called to put another player at risk.

Keith McCormack: A♣K♣
James Urbanic: A♠Q♣

The dealer put a queen in the window but fanned the board out to reveal a king right behind it. On a final board of 3♣K♦Q♥J♣4♣, McCormack secured a full double to move himself up in the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,500,000 -1,600,000	-1,600,000
Keith McCormack	2,500,000 1,300,000	1,300,000

Tags: James Urbanic Keith McCormack

05-31-2023 18:02 UTC-8

Jiang Spikes a Seven on the River for a Full Double

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Chris Land

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

James Urbanic opened from early position to 200,000. Action folded around to Bruce Jiang in the cutoff who three-bet shoved for his remaining 1,100,000. Action folded back to Urbanic who called to create our first at risk player of the final table.

Bruce Jiang: 7♦7♣
James Urbanic: 9♣9♠

The flop of 5♠6♣6♦ was clean for Urbanic as was the 10♣, but the dealer burned and turned the 7♥ on the river and Jiang came from behind to secure a full double.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	6,100,000 -570,000	-570,000
Bruce Jiang	2,300,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang James Urbanic

05-31-2023 17:44 UTC-8

Michael McFadden Eliminated in 11th Place ($4,477)

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Chris Land

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

On a board of A♥2♥7♠8♠K♦, James Urbanic bet enough to put Michael McFadden all in, sending McFadden deep into the tank. Eventually, he decided to call it off for his tournament life and Urbanic announced, "Top two." with the A♠K♠.

McFadden knuckled the table and turned up the A♦6♥ and was sent to the rail in 11th place for $4,477 as Urbanic secures the chip lead headed into the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Mcfadden	Busted

Tags: James Urbanic Michael McFadden

05-31-2023 17:34 UTC-8

Zaen Qatan Eliminated in 12th Place ($3,583)

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reed17

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Facing a raise in late position from Zaen Qatan, James Urbanic three-bet from the small blind. Zaen Qatan then went all in for just under 2,000,000 in chips, which was quickly called by Urbanic.

Zaen Qatan: A♦K♣

James Urbanic: A♥A♠

Urbanic preemptively celebrated but did, indeed, have to sweat the board when the flop rolled the K♣8♣J♦.
However, the 6♣ on the turn and the 9♥ on the river catapult him into contention for the chiplead.

Zaen Qatan had the run of his life and did his best to remind PokerNews of his Iraqi heritage, proud that he could share this run with his family.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,850,000 2,400,000	2,400,000
Zaen Qatan	Busted

Tags: James Urbanic Zaen Qatan

05-31-2023 17:23 UTC-8

Carlton Fitzgerald Eliminated in 13th Place ($3,583)

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Chris Land

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Joe Pava Carlton Fitzgerald Mario Romera

Action folded around to Zaen Qatan on the button who opened to 160,000. The small blind folded before Carlton Fitzgerald called out of the big blind to see a flop of 7♥4♠4♦.

Fitzgerald open-shoved for around 300,000 and Qatan snap-called to put Fitzgerald at risk.

Carlton Fitzgerald: K♦8♣
Zaen Qatan: A♦A♥

The turn and river of 9♣ and K♥ weren't enough for Fitzgerald to come from behind and he was sent to the rail in 13th place for $3,583.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zaen Qatan	2,015,000 -85,000	-85,000
Carlton Fitzgerald	Busted

Tags: Carlton Fitzgerald Zaen Qatan

05-31-2023 17:17 UTC-8

Joshua Honegger Eliminated in 14th Place ($2,915)

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Chris Land

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Joe Pavan opened under the gun to 235,000 and faced a shove to his immediate left from Joshua Honegger for around 900,000. Action folded back to Pavan who called and turned his hand up.

Joshua Honegger: K♥Q♦
Joe Pavan: A♣K♣

The board ran out A♦8♣7♣6♦4♣ giving Pavan the nut flush and sending Honegger to the rail in 14th place for $2,915.