Event #70: $400 Colossus | 2023 World Series of Poker

07-03-2023 12:14 UTC-8

Sakato Doubles Through Akari After Cold Runout

Jeremy Geist

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Action was opened to 1,600,000 by Ghadi Akari in late position. It then folded to Toshimasa Sakato in the big blind who jammed for 10,600,000. The action was back on Akari who got a count and quickly called.

Toshimasa Sakato: A♥6♠
Ghadi Akari: A♠K♥

Akari was in great position to get a knockout and scoop. The Q♠Q♥9♦ flop was great but the 6♣ turn vaulted Sakato in to the lead. The J♥ river would bring no help. Sakato would get a pure double late in Day 3.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toshimasa Sakato	22,000,000 6,075,000	6,075,000
Ghadi Akari	8,400,000 -12,600,000	-12,600,000

Tags: Toshimasa Sakato

07-03-2023 12:05 UTC-8

Bust Outs After Break

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Andre Clarke	Busted
Olga Iermolcheva	Busted
Erdenbold Begzjav	Busted
Adam Velez	Busted
Gibran Baraan	Busted

Level: 37

Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000

Ante: 1,000,000

07-03-2023 11:56 UTC-8

Russo Gets the Better of Halevy

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Michael Halevy and Nikhil Nair got all their chips in the middle preflop with both sides feeling confident in their holdings. That changed when their hands were revealed.

Michael Halevy: J♦J♠
Louis Russo: Q♥Q♦

Halevy needed to find a jack or a miracle. The flop did help him some as the dealer presented, 9♥7♣10♣, making it so he could add an eight to the short list of his available outs. The turn was the A♠ and once the 6♣ fell, there was no more hope to fall back on as Halevy was sent to the payouts.

Nikhil Nair was also seen at this table and it seems he's been quietly accumulating chips as the day marches on.

Player	Chips	Progress
Louis Russo	26,500,000 -9,500,000	-9,500,000
Nikhil Nair	25,800,000 25,800,000	25,800,000
Michael Halevy	Busted

Tags: Louis Russo Michael Halevy Nikhil Nair

07-03-2023 11:43 UTC-8

Rann and Baraan Act Professional

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Gibran Baraan and James Rann tangoed with an all in preflop. When the cards were on their backs, Baraan had the advantage with a big pair.

James Rann: A♠Q♠
Gibran Baraan: K♥K♦

Rann got there right away as the flop scrolled across, Q♦4♥A♥. A stoic Baraan awaited the next two cards, as he needed to catch a king. The 7♣ and 9♥ were of no help to him and he patiently awaited the dealer's count to pay what he owed. He then gently knocked the table and congratulated his opponent. There were no big celebrations from Rann, as both these players seem to know it's a long road to the top.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Rann	22,500,000 10,475,000	10,475,000
Gibran Baraan	3,300,000 -675,000	-675,000

Tags: Gibran Baraan James Rann

07-03-2023 11:40 UTC-8

Akari Gets Knockout and Takes From Arreola

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Jeremy Geist

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Action is joined with Darrick Arreola leading from the small blind to 2,500,000 on a board of 2♥4♦5♣8♣. Ghadi Akari is in middle position and goes into the tank. Eventually he lands on a flat call. Ryan Ramsdell is the third player in the hand and was all in before the turn.

The river is the 4♣ and Arreola snap checks. Action was back on Akari who doesn't take long before announcing he is all in.

Arreola shows A♠6♥ and folds. Akari rolled over A♣3♣ for a flopped wheel, turned flush draw, and rivered nut flush. Unfortunately, Ramsdell was just holding a pair of threes and would hit the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Darrick Arreola	29,000,000 100,000	100,000
Ghadi Akari	21,000,000 2,300,000	2,300,000
Ryan Ramsdell	Busted

Tags: Darrick Arreola Ghadi Akari Ryan Ramsdell

07-03-2023 11:30 UTC-8

Kertland Back to Where He Started

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Claudio Elizalde

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Derek Romanowsky went all in against Jesse Kertland and the latter made the call. Kertland had a rocky start to the day and had been on a downward trend up until this hand.

Derek Romanowsky: K♠10♣
Jesse Kertland,: A♥K♥

The flop brought the A♦9♠7♠ and a collective, "Ahhhhh....", as it would be a long way for Romanowsky to pull ahead. The turn closed the door on him, bringing the 4♦, and the river fell the 9♥, ending Romanowsky's run here in the Colossus.