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

05-31-2023 14:58 UTC-8

Aces Hold to Double Up Kivela

Chris Land

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

Bruce Jiang opened to 125,000 in late position and was met with a three-bet shove from Kevin Kivela two seats to his left. Jiang went into a very short tank before asking, "Do you want a call?" to which Kivela responded, "Yes."

Jiang put in calling chips and the cards went onto their backs.

Kevin Kivela: A♦A♥
Bruce Jiang: 10♦10♥

The board ran out 8♠8♣9♦8♦2♣ which was safe for Kivela who found a much needed double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Kivela	1,200,000 400,000	400,000
Bruce Jiang	660,000 -125,000	-125,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang Kevin Kivela

05-31-2023 14:57 UTC-8

McCormack Finds The Double

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Claudio Elizalde

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

Keith McCormack was all-in and at risk against Peter Thai.

Keith McCormack: A♣J♠

Peter Thai: 4♣5♦

It's unclear how the action went but the board laid out was 9♦8♥4♣9♥J♦, providing a much needed double to McCormack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Thai	2,400,000 950,000	950,000

Keith McCormack	675,000 -825,000	-825,000

Tags: Keith McCormack Peter Thai

05-31-2023 14:52 UTC-8

Zavodnik Cracks Aces to Double

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Chris Land

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

Bruce Jiang opened to 125,000 and was called by Eric Zavodnik in the big blind to see a flop of J♦Q♠10♦.

Zavodnik checked to Jiang who bet out 300,000. Zavodnik check-shoved for the rest of his chips and was quickly called by Jiang.

Eric Zavodnik: Q♥J♣
Bruce Jiang: A♠A♦

The turn and river ran out 8♥ and 4♣, giving Zavodnik a full double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Zavodnik	1,395,000 1,035,000	1,035,000
Bruce Jiang	785,000 -515,000	-515,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang Eric Zavodnik

Level: 25

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 50,000

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.