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

05-31-2023 15:55 UTC-8

Kevin Kivela Eliminated in 15th Place ($2,915)

Chris Land

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Michael McFadden opened to 150,000 before seeing Kevin Kivela three-bet shove for not much more. After making the call, the cards were turned on their backs.

Kevin Kivela: A♣K♣
Michael McFadden: K♦K♥

The board ran out 3♠6♥2♠8♠2♥, sending Kivela to the rail in 15th place for $2,915 as the tournament breaks for dinner.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Mcfadden	1,175,000 -1,675,000	-1,675,000
Kevin Kivela	Busted

Tags: Kevin Kivela Michael McFadden

05-31-2023 15:49 UTC-8

Eric Zavodnik Eliminated in 17th Place; Guitong He Eliminated in 16th Place ($2,915)

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Guitong He went all-in from early position, only to be called by Peter Thai in the small blind and Sean Balfour in the big blind.

All three players saw a flop of A♣Q♣8♠. Thai bet 175,000 into Balfour and he called.

The turn brought the 2♠, which Thai checked. Balfour then went all-in, forcing Thai out of the pot.

Guitong He: 6♣6♠
Sean Balfour: 8♣8♠

He was drawing dead and the river was an inconsequential brick, eliminating He in 16th place for $2,915.

Meanwhile, Eric Zavodnik was eliminated in 17th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Thai	3,500,000 700,000	700,000

Sean Balfour	2,100,000 95,000	95,000
Guitong He	Busted
Eric Zavodnik	Busted

Tags: Guitong He Peter Thai Sean Balfour

05-31-2023 15:17 UTC-8

Kenneth Weinstein Eliminated in 18th Place ($2,411)

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Claudio Elizalde

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

Kenneth Weinstein was all in and at risk after raising from the button and getting reraised by Peter Thai in the small blind, ultimately leading them both getting all-in preflop.

Kenneth Weinstein: J♣J♥

Peter Thai: A♦A♠

The flop brought the QxAx6x and a brick on the turn and river sent Weinstein to the payouts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Thai	2,800,000 400,000	400,000

Kenneth Weinstein	Busted

Tags: Kenneth Weinstein Peter Thai

05-31-2023 14:40 UTC-8

Michael Gibbs Eliminated in 19th Place ($2,411)

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Chris Land

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Benson Tam opened to 150,000 from under the gun. Action folded to Michael Gibbs in the cutoff who called for less.

Michael Gibbs: A♦8♥
Benson Tam: A♠J♥

The board of 2♣9♠6♣6♦5♦ was no help to Gibbs who was eliminated in 19th place for $2,411.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benson Tam	1,770,000 -930,000	-930,000

Michael Gibbs	Busted

Tags: Benson Tam Michael Gibbs

05-31-2023 14:39 UTC-8

Randall Blair Eliminated in 20th Place ($2,411)

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

There was a three-way all-in preflop between Guitong He, Paul Blanchette, and Randall Blair - the latter being the player at risk.

Randall Blair: J♠10♥

Paul Blanchette: A♣Q♦

Guitong He: A♠K♣

The board ran out Q♠10♣6♠6♣5♣, awarding the pot to the eager Paul Blanchette, nearly tripled up. Randall Blair was eliminated in 20th place and awarded $2,411 for his deep run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Guitong He	2,100,000 300,000	300,000
Paul Blanchette	650,000 25,000	25,000
Randall Blair	Busted

Tags: Guitong He Paul Blanchette Randall Blair

05-31-2023 14:31 UTC-8

Kurt Haiss Eliminated in 21st Place ($2,411)

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Kurt Haiss went all-in preflop off from a short stack and was called after an extended tank from Sean Balfour. Unfortunately for Balfour, he was unable to coax the blinds into coming along.

Kurt Haiss: Q♣J♥

Sean Balfour: A♦A♠

The board ran out K♣10♠J♠7♥K♠, leaving Haiss sweating until the river to no avail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sean Balfour	2,005,000 130,000	130,000
Kurt Haiss	Busted

Tags: Kurt Haiss Sean Balfour

05-31-2023 14:15 UTC-8

Jacob Norman Eliminated in 22nd Place ($2,411)

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Chris Land

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Jacob Norman shoved his last 125,000 from late position and was called by Mark Kawamoto and Lisa Eckstein.

Jacob Norman: J♠J♣
Mark Kawamoto: A♣6♠
Lisa Eckstein: A♥J♥

The flop came 4♠A♠A♦ and Kawamoto shoved and received a call from Eckstein.

The turn and river came 2♦ and 4♥ pairing the board a second time and splitting the pot between Kawamoto and Eckstein while Norman was eliminated in 22nd place for $2,411.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lisa Eckstein	1,700,000 300,000	300,000
Mark Kawamoto	955,000 55,000	55,000
Jacob Norman	Busted

Tags: Jacob Norman Lisa Eckstein Mark Kawamoto

05-31-2023 14:02 UTC-8

Mario Romera Eliminated in 23rd Place ($2,411)

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Chris Land

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Mario Romera shoved his remaining chips in from the button and was isolated by Keith McCormack in the small blind.

Mario Romera: K♠J♦
Keith McCormack: 10♣8♣

The board ran out 8♠5♠2♥3♥Q♦ sending Romera to the rail in 23rd place for $2,411.

Player	Chips	Progress
Keith McCormack	1,500,000 500,000	500,000
Mario Romera	Busted

Tags: Keith McCormack Mario Romera

05-31-2023 13:37 UTC-8

Jason Pupillo Eliminated in 24th Place ($2,411)

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Chris Land

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Jason Pupillo open-shoved for 330,000 from middle position and was called by Guitong He to his immediate left.

Jason Pupillo: A♣4♠
Guitong He: 10♥10♦

The board ran out 5♦8♦7♦K♠3♦ giving He a flush and sending Pupillo home in 24th place for $2,411.

Player	Chips	Progress
Guitong He	1,800,000 700,000	700,000
Jason Pupillo	Busted

Tags: Guitong He Jason Pupillo

05-31-2023 13:30 UTC-8

Joshua Vallejo Eliminated 25th Place ($2,411)

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Joshua Vallejo went all in from early position for 160,000. The small blind and big blind, who both covered, ended up going all in as well.

Joshua Vallejo: A♦Q♠
Michael Gibbs: A♠K♥
Joshua Honneger: A♥K♣

The board ran out Jx10x6x5x9x and left the blinds chopping up Vallejo's chips, eliminating him in 25th place for $2,411.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joshua Honegger	1,250,000 350,000	350,000
Michael Gibbs	580,000 130,000	130,000
Joshua Vallejo	Busted

Tags: Joshua Honneger Joshua Vallejo Michael Gibbs