Event #40: $250,000 Super High Roller Day 1 | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-16-2023 17:37 UTC-8

Aldemir Wins a Long One

Adam Lamers

Level 5 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

On the last hand before the break, Steven Veneziano opened to 23,000 from under the gun and was called by Chance Kornuth in the hijack and Koray Aldemir on the button. Jonathan Jaffe three-bet to 115,000 from the small blind and all three players called.

The flop came J♠6♠4♣ and Jaffe continued with a bet of 135,000. Veneziano called, Kornuth stepped aside, and Aldemir also called. The turn was the 5♦ and Jaffe checked this time. Veneziano tossed in a bet of 135,000 and Aldemir called while Jaffe got out of the way.

The J♣ paired the board on the river and Veneziano splashed in a bet of 550,000. Aldemir used one of his time banks and then pushed all of his chips into the middle, other than 1,000. Veneziano wasted little time before throwing his cards away and Aldemir stacked the pot well into the break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Koray Aldemir	3,125,000 1,525,000	1,525,000

Steven Veneziano	2,960,000 -1,580,000	-1,580,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Jonathan Jaffe Koray Aldemir Steven Veneziano

06-16-2023 16:53 UTC-8

Decarolis Doubles Through Davies

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jim Murray

Level 4 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

PokerNews picked up the action on the turn where Alfred Decarolis check-raised a bet from Seth Davies to 325,000 and Davies called, on a board that read 9♣10♦5♠Q♠.

Decarolis snap moved all in on the 9♠ river for 355,000, sending Davies deep into the tank. Davies would use three time banks before ultimately deciding to call and showing down J♠J♦ for two pair, but it would not be good enough, as Decarolis tabled K♠J♣ for a king-high straight.

Player	Chips	Progress
Seth Davies	1,550,000 50,000	50,000
Alfred Decarolis	1,500,000 750,000	750,000

Tags: Alfred Decarolis Seth Davies

06-16-2023 16:26 UTC-8

Hunichen Gets the Best of Ivey

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Adam Lamers

Level 4 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Chris Hunichen raised to 18,000 in the hijack and Phil Ivey called from the cutoff. They went heads-up to a flop of 6♠5♦2♣ and Hunichen started with a check. Ivey tossed in a bet of 30,000 and Hunichen check-raised to 90,000 which Ivey called.

The 6♦ paired the board on the turn and Hunichen fired out a bet of 150,000. Ivey still called and the 8♣ completed the board. Hunichen announced a bet of 500,000 which forced Ivey to use three time banks before laying his hand down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Hunichen	2,260,000 305,000	305,000

Dustin Bailey	1,500,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Phil Ivey	1,500,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Chris Hunichen Phil Ivey

06-16-2023 16:06 UTC-8

Kornuth Puts Koon in the Tank

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Adam Lamers

Level 3 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Chance Kornuth and Jason Koon were heads-up in a pot with around 500,000 in the middle already. The action was picked up on the turn with the board reading A♦5♦3♥A♠ and Kornuth led out with a bet of 190,000 which Koon called.

The river brought the 8♠ and Kornuth used a time bank before announcing a bet of 600,000. Koon went deeper into the tank, using four time banks and over two minutes before finally sliding his cards to the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	2,010,000 810,000	810,000

John Hennigan	1,500,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Jason Koon	1,145,000 -360,000	-360,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Jason Koon

06-16-2023 15:52 UTC-8

Badziakouski Can't Shake Jaffe

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Adam Lamers

Level 3 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Chance Kornuth raised it up from the cutoff and was called by Jonathan Jaffe and Mikita Badziakouski in the blinds. The flop fell K♣Q♥5♠ and the blinds checked to Kornuth who bet 22,000. Jaffe called and Badziakouski check-raised to 80,000. Kornuth folded but Jaffe still called.

The 3♦ landed on the turn and both players checked to the K♦ on the river. Jaffe led out with a bet of 160,000 and Badziakouski used all 30 seconds before dumping his cards into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jonathan Jaffe	1,810,000 545,000	545,000
Mikita Badziakouski	1,260,000 -190,000	-190,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Jonathan Jaffe Mikita Badziakouski

06-16-2023 14:16 UTC-8

Quads for Steven

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jim Murray

Level 2 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

The action picked up on the 10♣ turn card for a board reading 5♦Q♥4♣10♣ in a hand between Brandon Steven and Talal Shakerchi.

Steven had put out a bet of 27,000 and was raised by Shakerchi to 105,000. Steven thought for a moment before re-raising to 237,000. Shakerchi would make the call and the dealer delivered the 10♦ on the river.

Steven bet 375,000 and Shakerchi quickly folded, prompting Steven to table his hand and announce, "just got four of these," while showing the other two tens.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Steven	1,550,000 100,000	100,000
Talal Shakerchi	925,000 -575,000	-575,000

Tags: Brandon Steven Talal Shakerchi

06-16-2023 14:12 UTC-8

Kulev Bluffs It All Off

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Adam Lamers

Level 2 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Chris Brewer opened to 13,000 and was called by Alex Kulev and Mikita Badziakouski. Steven Veneziano three-bet to 58,000 from the blinds and only Kulev called.

The flop came 9x7x5x and Veneziano led out with a bet of 83,000. Kulev called and the 2♣ landed on the turn, putting two clubs on the board. Veneziano tossed in another bet of 126,000 and Kulev raised to 440,000 this time which Veneziano called.

The river was the Q♦ and Veneziano led out with another bet of 325,000. Kulev shipped all in for just over 900,000 and Veneziano snap-called. Kulev tabled 6x6x but Veneziano flopped a straight with 8♠6♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steven Veneziano	4,305,000 2,055,000	2,055,000
Alex Kulev	Busted

Tags: Steven Veneziano Mikita Badziakouski Chris Brewer Alex Kulev

06-16-2023 13:50 UTC-8

Ivey Sits Down and Wins

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Adam Lamers

Level 1 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Phil Ivey just took his seat and was faced with a raise to 13,000 from Zachary Schwartz on the button. Ivey called from the big blind and the dealer fanned the flop of K♥Q♣3♠. Both players checked and the 9♣ landed on the turn.

Ivey led out with a bet of 20,000 on the turn and Schwartz stuck around for the A♥ on the river. Ivey checked this time and Schwartz fired out a bet of 30,000. Ivey looked puzzled but still called. Schwartz turned over 10♠10♦ but Ivey flopped pair of kings with K♣8♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Ivey	1,565,000 65,000	65,000

Zachary Schwartz	1,420,000 -80,000	-80,000

Tags: Phil Ivey Zachary Schwartz

06-16-2023 13:38 UTC-8

Chen Clashes with Hunichen in Three-Bet Pot

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jim Murray

Level 1 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

James Chen opened the action to 12,000 from early position and was three-bet by his neighbor, Chris Hunichen to 42,000.

Chen called and the two players saw a flop of 9♠9♦2♦, to which Chen check-called a bet of 30,000 from Hunichen. The dealer turned the A♦ and again, Chen check-called a bet from Hunichen, this time for 120,000.

The 2♥ on the river double-paired the board and after Chen checked to Hunichen a third time, Hunichen sized up to a bet of 400,000. After some deliberation in the form of a single time-bank, Chen's hand hit the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Hunichen	1,700,000 350,000	350,000

James Chen	1,200,000 -455,000	-455,000

Tags: Chen Clashes Chris Hunichen James Chen

06-16-2023 13:20 UTC-8

Smith, Hunichen and Kulev Involved in Multi-Way Pot Early

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Jim Murray

Level 1 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Alex Kulev opened the action in late position with a raise to 12,000 and was called by Dan Smith in the small blind and Chris Hunichen in the big blind.

Both players check-called a bet by Kulev on the 4♠9♥K♠ flop, which lead to Smith leading out for 45,000 on the J♣ turn. Things get interesting as Hunichen raised Smith's lead bet to 110,000 and Kulev re-raised both players to 450,000.

After some deliberation and one of Hunichen's time banks, both players decided to fold, sending the pot over to Kulev.