Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-22-2023 17:37 UTC-8

Two In Quick Succession For Shakerchi

Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

Seven Card Stud

Talal Shakerchi: 10♣9♥ / A♣9♣
Brian Rast: A♠3♦ / 8♣4♦ folded on fourth street

Talal Shakerchi completed with an ace and Brian Rast raised for Shakerchi to call. On fourth street, Shakerchi check-raised and Rast folded.

Brian Rast: J♣10♠ / 8♣10♥A♣3♠ / 7♣
Talal Shakerchi: K♦8♥ / 7♥K♣2♣10♣ / J♦

Rast then completed with an eight showing and Shakerchi called. Fourth street saw Rast bet and Shakerchi check-called as Rast bet again on fifth street with his ace, Shakerchi called. Sixth street continued the betting lead of Rast with Shakerchi coming along and the final street was bet once more by Rast.

Shakerchi called with his pair of kings and dragged in the second pot in a row.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	18,625,000 -3,025,000	-3,025,000

Talal Shakerchi	5,650,000 3,825,000	3,825,000

Matthew Ashton	3,150,000 -525,000	-525,000

James Obst	2,275,000 -275,000	-275,000

Tags: Brian Rast Talal Shakerchi

06-22-2023 17:33 UTC-8

Ashton Shortens Shakerchi Again

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Mike Patrick

Level 25

Talal Shakerchi: J♠6♥/Q♦9♥J♥K♦/4♦
Matthew Ashton: 7♠5♠/9♠8♣5♦J♣/7♦
James Obst: K♠2♥/3♦ - folded bring-in

After Talal Shakerchi completed James Obst's bring-in, Matthew Ashton made it two bets to go with three to a flush. Obst folded, but Shakerchi called.

On fourth street, Shakerchi check-called a bet from Ashton to see fifth street, which paired each player with Shakerchi holding the better pair of jacks.

The players checked, and on sixth Shakerchi led right out with a bet which Ashton called.

Seventh street saw Ashton improve to two pair, sevens and fives, to make the best hand and after Shakerchi checked, the 2013 PPC champ checked back to take the pot and leave Shakerchi under two million again.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	21,650,000 -50,000	-50,000

Matthew Ashton	3,675,000 1,475,000	1,475,000

James Obst	2,550,000 -125,000	-125,000

Talal Shakerchi	1,825,000 -1,300,000	-1,300,000

Tags: James Obst Matthew Ashton Talal Shakerchi

06-22-2023 17:26 UTC-8

Kristopher Tong Eliminated in 5th Place ($303,071)

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

No-Limit Hold'em

Brian Rast opened to 300,000 on the button and then called the shove by Kristopher Tong out of the big blind for 3,200,000 total.

Kristopher Tong: 9♦9♣
Brian Rast: A♣K♣

The 10♥8♣2♣ flop gave Rast a lot more equity and the A♥ turn left Tong with just two outs. No miracle escape came on the 6♦ river and Tong had to settle for fifth place, which came with a payday of $303,071.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	21,700,000 3,500,000	3,500,000

Talal Shakerchi	3,125,000

James Obst	2,675,000

Matthew Ashton	2,200,000 75,000	75,000

Kristopher Tong	Busted

Tags: Brian Rast Kristopher Tong

06-22-2023 17:20 UTC-8

Tong Takes Two Pots in Quick Succession

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

No-Limit Hold'em

Brian Rast raised to 300,000 with the K♠4♣ and then folded when Kristopher Tong jammed for 2,200,000 with the 3♠3♦.

Soon after, both clashed again with Tong raising the K♠J♦ for 400,000. Rast defended the big blind with the J♣3♣ and neither player hit anything on the A♦Q♣8♦ flop. Rast checked and Tong bet 350,000 to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	18,200,000 -850,000	-850,000

Kristopher Tong	3,575,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Talal Shakerchi	3,125,000 750,000	750,000

James Obst	2,675,000 -450,000	-450,000

Matthew Ashton	2,125,000 -450,000	-450,000

Tags: Brian Rast Kristopher Tong

06-22-2023 17:17 UTC-8

Rast Approaching Twenty Million

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Mike Patrick

Level 25

James Obst raised on the button with 10x7x6x3x2x and got a call from Brian Rast in the big blind with 9x7x6x6x2x. Rast drew two while Obst only took one.

Rast checked after he made 8x7x6x5x2x, while Obst held Qx7x6x3x2x and bet. Rast then check-raised his eight which drew a call from Obst, who drew one after Rast stood pat.

Rast bet his eight, and Obst peeked at 7x7x6x3x2x, still needing to improve, but he called the bet to try and do so.

Rast remained pat before Obst took his card, making Jx7x6x3x2x on the end. Rast checked, as did Obst, and Rast's stack neared 20 million with the win.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	19,050,000 1,625,000	1,625,000

James Obst	3,125,000 -1,500,000	-1,500,000

Matthew Ashton	2,575,000

Kristopher Tong	2,575,000
Talal Shakerchi	2,375,000 -125,000	-125,000

Tags: Brian Rast James Obst

06-22-2023 17:09 UTC-8

Rast Runs Well to Cut Down Shakerchi's Momentum

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

Limit 2-7 Triple Draw

Brian Rast raised it up with the AxAx6x3x2x and Talal Shakerchi defended the KxXx7x6x2x. Both discarded two and Rast ended up with the 7x6x3x2x2x while Shakerchi made the 7x6x5x3x2x after the first draw already.

Shakerchi bet and Rast raised for Shakerchi to make it three bets, earning a call from Rast. Shakerchi patted while Rast discarded one and Rast instantly got there with the 7x6x4x3x2x as they ended up with number two for Rast against the number three of Shakerchi with one draw to go.

Shakerchi bet and Rast raised it up for Shakerchi to call. They patted the final draw and Shakerchi check-called to get shown the bad news, as the setup runout put a major dagger into the sudden rise for

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	17,425,000 3,250,000	3,250,000

James Obst	4,625,000 -375,000	-375,000

Matthew Ashton	2,575,000 250,000	250,000

Kristopher Tong	2,575,000 -375,000	-375,000
Talal Shakerchi	2,500,000 -2,750,000	-2,750,000

Tags: Brian Rast Talal Shakerchi

06-22-2023 17:04 UTC-8

Shakerchi Gets Healthy Versus Ashton

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Mike Patrick

Level 25

Limit 2-7 Triple Draw

Talal Shakerchi raised on the button with Ax10x7x3x2x and got called by Matthew Ashton in the big blind with AxKx8x5x4x. Each player then took two cards on the first draw.

Ashton's hand became Jx8x5x4x4x, while Shakerchi's was now Qx7x5x3x2x. Ashton check-called a bet from Shakerchi and then drew two, while Shakerchi drew one.

Ashton improved to 8x5x4x4x2x, while Shakerchi now held 7x5x3x3x2x. Ashton then check-called another Shakerchi bet and they each went to the final draw to take one card.

They each made hands, but Ashton's 9x8x5x4x2x was crushed by Shakerchi's 7x6x5x3x2x. Ashton however bet and was quickly raised by Shakerchi.

Ashton made the call to see the bad news, sending a big pot to Shakerchi who is firmly back in the mix.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	14,175,000 -375,000	-375,000

Talal Shakerchi	5,250,000 2,250,000	2,250,000

James Obst	5,000,000 375,000	375,000

Kristopher Tong	2,950,000
Matthew Ashton	2,325,000 -2,250,000	-2,250,000

Tags: Matthew Ashton Talal Shakerchi

06-22-2023 16:54 UTC-8

Fortunate Draws Secure Double for Shakerchi

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

Limit 2-7 Triple Draw

James Obst raised out of the small blind with the QxJx8x7x5x and Talal Shakerchi defended the KxKx4x4x2x.

Obst discarded two and Shakerchi took three, which gave Obst the Ax8x7x6x5x and Shakerchi the 7x7x5x4x2x. Obst bet and Shakerchi raised for Obst to call.

Obst discarded one and so did Shakerchi, which then gave Obst the 9x8x7x6x5x for a straight. Shakerchi had improved to the 7x6x5x4x2x and Obst checked, then sigh-called the all-in of Shakerchi.

Obst discarded the eight but it didn't matter anymore as the patted number two of Shakerchi had already locked up the double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	14,550,000 -50,000	-50,000

James Obst	4,625,000 -1,050,000	-1,050,000

Matthew Ashton	4,575,000 -50,000	-50,000

Talal Shakerchi	3,000,000 1,450,000	1,450,000

Kristopher Tong	2,950,000 -300,000	-300,000

Tags: James Obst Talal Shakerchi

06-22-2023 16:47 UTC-8

Obst Gets Ashton to Fold

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

Stud Hi-Lo

Matthew Ashton: 7♥4♥ / 4♣2♣10♦J♥ folded on sixth street
James Obst: K♦Q♦ / Q♠6♥A♦K♣

James Obst completed and Matthew Ashton as the bring-in called. Obst check-called a bet on fourth street and then bet on fifth street with the ace, earning a call from Ashton. On sixth street, Obst bet with another high-card and Ashton reluctantly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	14,600,000 200,000	200,000

James Obst	5,675,000 1,125,000	1,125,000

Matthew Ashton	4,625,000 -1,450,000	-1,450,000

Kristopher Tong	3,250,000 375,000	375,000
Talal Shakerchi	1,550,000 -250,000	-250,000

Tags: James Obst Matthew Ashton

06-22-2023 16:33 UTC-8

Tong Escapes From Major Setback

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 25

Stud Hi-Lo

Kristopher Tong: 8♥3♥ / A♥3♠J♣7♦ / 4♠
James Obst: A♣8♦ / A♠10♥3♣10♠ / 7♣

Kristopher Tong completed with a suited ace and James Obst raised with split aces for Tong to call. Obst bet fourth street to get called by Tong, who then check-called fifth street. Obst bet sixth and seventh street for Tong to escape from being reduced to just two bets thanks to running low cards for a chop.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	14,400,000 -125,000	-125,000

Matthew Ashton	6,075,000 -50,000	-50,000

James Obst	4,550,000 -250,000	-250,000

Kristopher Tong	2,875,000 475,000	475,000
Talal Shakerchi	1,800,000 -50,000	-50,000

Tags: James Obst Kristopher Tong