Event #4: Tournament of Champions Day 1 | 2023 World Series of Poker

05-31-2023 21:24 UTC-8

PokerNews Staff 2023 WSOP Predictions – Will Ivey Play? Hellmuth vs. Negreanu?

Matt Hansen

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Last year marked 11 years since PokerNews started publishing predictions ahead of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and with three days to go they're back again ahead of the 2023 WSOP.

With the WSOP moving to its new home on the Las Vegas Strip at the Horseshoe and Paris, we asked nine members of the PokerNews team for their thoughts and predictions.

This year we spoke to Global Live Events Manager Shirley Ang, US Executive Editor and former WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway, Live Reporting Executive Matt Hansen, staff editors Matthew Pitt, Jon Sofen, Calum Grant and Connor Richards, and Community Manager Jesse Fullen.

Click Here for a Full List of PokerNews WSOP Predictions!

05-31-2023 21:37 UTC-8

Updated Counts and Eliminations

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Calum Grant

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Scarborough	300,000 130,000	130,000
Richard Doyen	255,000
Ryan Dell	215,000 90,000	90,000
Brandon Hamlet	180,000
Alden Palmer	150,000
Jonathan Therme	150,000

Robert Conner	Busted
Max Kruse	Busted

Justin Saliba	Busted

Shaun Deeb	Busted

05-31-2023 21:45 UTC-8

Michelle Takes on Three Players with Her Four-Bet Jam

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Ollie Garland

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

A player in middle position started proceedings with a raise to 2,400 which was called by the cutoff and squeezed to 7,500 by the button. Tiffany Michelle fearlessly jammed the entirety of her stack in the middle and successfully achieved a fold from every player at the table.

Michelle earned her spot in the Tournament of Champions by taking down the $400 No Limit Hold'em WSOPC Ring Event 14 in 2022 at Lake Tahoe and clearly has her eyes on her first bracelet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tiffany Michelle	76,300 76,300	76,300

05-31-2023 21:51 UTC-8

Lagodich Hits 100K

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Calum Grant

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

The middle position player opened to 2,400 and was called by the hijack, The small blind then three-bet to 10,000, Frank Lagodich, in the big blind, made it 22,000 and only the small blind called.

On the Q♣J♦J♣ flop, the small blind check-jammed for 19,500 after Lagodich bet 8,000. The latter called.

Small Blind: K♦Q♦
Frank Lagodich: K♣K♠

The 3♠ turn and 2♥ river confirmed Lagodich's hand as the winner.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Lagodich	100,000 43,000	43,000

Tags: Frank Lagodich

05-31-2023 22:05 UTC-8

Sharp Avoids Showdown with River Jam

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Ollie Garland

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Noah Sharp started the action by raising 2,400 from the cutoff only to be met by a three-bet to 10,800 from a player in the big blind.

Sharp's call sent both players to flop of J♣A♦4♠ to which the big blind continued for 4,800. Sharp called.

The J♠ saw no more additional chips added to the pot and both players reached the A♣ river. The big blind retook the lead betting out 11,500. Sharp mulled over his options before jamming all in on this double-paired board forcing a fold and claiming this pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Noah Sharp	105,000 105,000	105,000

Tags: Noah Sharp

05-31-2023 22:06 UTC-8

Dimitrov's Jacks Hold

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Calum Grant

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Dimitre Dimitrov opened from middle position and called the 26,000 jam from the opponent on his direct left.

Opponent: 10♣10♦
Dimitre Dimitrov: J♠J♥

The jacks remained best as the board ran out with the A♦9♣3♥5♥Q♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dimitre Dimitrov	140,000

Tags: Dimitre Dimitrov

05-31-2023 22:07 UTC-8

Ciccarello Gets Sneaky with Big Slick

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Jeremy Geist

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Kyle Ciccarello opened under the gun to 2,700 and only the button called.

The K♠4♠6♥ flop was quickly checked by Ciccarello and the button player decided on a sizing of 2,500. Ciccarello called.

The turn 8♠ brought in the front door flush and the action checked around.

The river rolled off a 9♣ and the action once again checked through.

Ciccarello tabled A♣K♥ for a flopped top/top and the button mucked.

Ciccarello earned his seat in the 2023 Tournament of Champions by way of an online circuit ring on Pennsylvania WSOP.com.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kyle Ciccarello	110,000 25,000	25,000

05-31-2023 22:27 UTC-8

Queen-High Good for Peloquin Against Madsen

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Calum Grant

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Jeff Madsen limped in from the button and was joined in the pot by the small blind and Richard Peloquin, who was in the big blind.

Peloquin led out for 3,500 on the A♣8♣5♦ flop before Madsen raised to 11,100. The small blind folded but Peloquin called.

The 5♥ turn and the K♦ river checked through to showdown.

"You win; I was on a draw," said Peloquin as he tabled his Q♣2♣, which was good for just queen-high.

However, Madsen slid his cards into the muck and Peloquin took in the pot to his surprise.

Player	Chips	Progress
Richard Peloquin	150,000 150,000	150,000
Jeff Madsen	75,000 -6,000	-6,000

Tags: Jeff Madsen Richard Peloquin

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

05-31-2023 22:29 UTC-8

Final Level

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Calum Grant

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Day 1 has now reached Level 10, and play will close upon its completion.

So far, there have been 724 entries, but just 279 remain. Anybody who survives the next level will bag and tag their stacks for tomorrow's Day 2, which begins at 12 p.m. local time. Late registration is open until Day 2 gets underway, so expect the number of entries to continue to grow.