Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker Day 1a | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-07-2023 11:43 UTC-8

"I Thought You Had the Ace!"

Geoff Paul

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

With the flop showing 4♥7♦A♠, Michael Sarabi checked from the small blind before calling a 2,200-chip bet from his opponent under the gun. Sarabi then check-called a bet of 4,000 on the 5♦ turn. The river came 6♣ and Sarabi immediately moved all in for 11,200. His opponent took some time before throwing in the call.

"Straight," said Sarabi, turning over 5♣8♣. His opponent tabled 4♠5♠ for two pair.

"Nice hand," said his opponent. "I thought you had the ace."

"I thought you had the ace," replied Sarabi as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Sarabi	38,200 38,200	38,200

Tags: Michael Sarabi

06-07-2023 11:50 UTC-8

Notable Players in the Field

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Jeremy Geist

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Preston McEwen	30,000
Jonathan Pardy	30,000
Drew Gonzalez	30,000

Brian Lamanna	30,000

Tags: Brian Lamanna Drew Gonzalez Jonathan Pardy Preston McEwen

Level: 6

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

06-07-2023 12:02 UTC-8

Vansteenland Straightens Out Opponent

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Geoff Paul

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With the board showing 3♠8♦4♠8♠ and facing a bet of 1,800 from the big blind, Benoni Vansteenland chose to call from early position.

The river came 2♣ and the big blind checked. Vansteenland led out for 3,600. His opponent took a few moments to call, but his 10♥4♥ did not hold up against the A♠5♣, which made a straight for Vansteenland.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benoni Vansteenland	142,600 142,600	142,600

Tags: Benoni Vansteenland

06-07-2023 12:12 UTC-8

Smith Wins the Flip

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Kirk Brown

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

After a quick betting war, Larry Smith and Mark Ferrell got all the chips in the middle preflop, with Smith at risk.

Larry Smith: A♦K♠
Mark Ferrell: Q♦Q♣

Ferrell was leading preflop with his pocket queens, and even still on the flop of J♠2♣10♠, but the K♣ on the turn brought his lead to a screeching halt as Smith paired his king. The 7♥ on the river changed nothing and Smith was awarded the pot for the double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Larry Smith	31,000
Mark Ferrell	25,000

Tags: Larry Smith Mark Ferrell

06-07-2023 12:16 UTC-8

Why the WSOP App is Perfect for Beginners

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Kaelaine Minton

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

What is preventing you from learning how to play poker? Maybe you are worried about looking silly because you don't fully know the rules and will invariably make a glaring mistake. If you are sitting nodding to any of those suggestions, you need the free-to-play WSOP App in your life.

The WSOP App is the official social gaming application of the World Series of Poker, the biggest brand and most trusted name in the poker world. The World Series of Poker has a reputation for being inclusive, and that shines through to the app because the WSOP App is for everyone, not only hardcore poker players.

See for yourself why the WSOP App is perfect for beginners

Level: 7

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

06-07-2023 12:39 UTC-8

Vistosa Doubles Up

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Geoff Paul

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Jern Vistosa opened the action preflop by raising to 4,000 from middle position. Action folded to the small blind, who raised to 15,500. Vistosa looked down at his cards, and then moved all in for 29,500. His opponent called.

Jern Vistosa: Q♠Q♣
Middle Position: J♦J♣

"Oh, good," said Vistosa. The board ran out K♥2♥7♥A♠A♥, doubling Vistosa up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jern Vistosa	62,500 62,500	62,500

Tags: Jern Vistosa

06-07-2023 12:48 UTC-8

Gonzalez Gets Goofy, Bakun Bets Big

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Jeremy Geist

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

After a few players folded, Drew "BetonDrew" Gonzalez, decided to have a little fun and let the table know that he opened to 2,000 after only looking at one card. The next player to act was Joseph Bakun who decided to pounce on the opportunity to take down the pot and jammed all in for about 19,000.

There was then another all in for about 40,000 and the action was back on Gonzalez, who decided to look at both cards...he had 10♣10♠. "Now I don't know what to do," says Gonzalez who was facing some very strong action preflop.

After about a minute in the tank, Gonzalez eventually announced a fold and the players are off to a flop.

Joesph Bakun: K♣K♥
Opponent: 9♦9♠

The 7♠Q♦10♥ flop had Gonzalez sick as he would've flopped middle set. The 4♦ turn landed and Bakun's cowboys are still in the lead. The K♦ river hit the felt and although Bakun didn't need the help, it was sure a relief for Gonzalez who then knew he would have lost.

Bakun chips up early and gets a boost going into next break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joseph Bakun	46,000 46,000	46,000
Drew Gonzalez	33,000 3,000	3,000

Tags: Drew Gonzalez Joseph Bakun

06-07-2023 12:51 UTC-8

$300 Flips in the Gladiator

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Kirk Brown

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

The action was picked up as three players were all in before the flop, with Rolindo Umagat covering.

Opponent 1: K♣J♥
Opponent 2: 5♦6♦
Rolindo Umagat: Q♣Q♦

Umagat was a big favorite going into this bout, although some players were expressing their love for the always-appealing suited connectors.

The flop of 4♣10♠8♥ brought in a gutshot draw for the five-six of Opponent 2, and the turn 5♥ improved him to a pair of fives, but the river J♦ did not do it and the two players were eliminated as Umagat scoops the pot.

When the table was asked if the player with king-jack had been a short stack, they replied,

"No, he had just sat down with starting stack, he said he wanted to do a $300 flip. I mean, what do you expect in a tournament like this?"