Event #84: $50,000 High Roller Day 2 | 2023 World Series of Poker

07-13-2023 22:33 UTC-7

Do You Know Which Poker Player Just Set the Record of Cashing Seven Consecutive Live WSOP Main Events?

Chad Holloway

Level 23 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was the largest in history with 10,043 players, and for one player it proved to be a record-extending affair. From 2010-14, poker pro Ronnie Bardah cashed the WSOP Main Event a record five times, which was recognized on various ESPN broadcasts. However, that record seems to have fallen by the wayside as first brought to light by @TARKPOKER on Twitter.

You see, one player has managed to cash the WSOP Main Event, at least the live version, a record seven consecutive times (2016-23). The pandemic threw a monkey wrench into things in 2020 with the WSOP concocting an online-live hybrid Main Event, so technically this player didn’t cash every year. However, he has cashed the last seven live Main Events, an unrivaled accomplishment.

Click here to find out who it is!

07-13-2023 22:34 UTC-7

Santhosh Suvarna Eliminated In 11th Place ($132,181)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Maxime Taldir

Level 23 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

After splitting a pot against Johannes Straver as both players had the same hand, Santhosh Suvarna moved all in from the small blind for 1,750,000 chips. In the big blind, Henrik Hecklen made the call.

Santhosh Suvarna: A♥9♣
Henrik Hecklen: Q♠J♣

"You're ahead" said Suvarna's rail when the players flipped their cards. But it didn't last long because Hecklen hit a pair of queens on the flop 2♦Q♣K♣. The 6♥ came on the turn, and the J♠ on the river, giving two pairs to Hecklen.

With a big smile on his face, Santhosh Suvarna finished 11th for $132,181.

Player	Chips	Progress
Henrik Hecklen	5,600,000 1,700,000	1,700,000
Santhosh Suvarna	Busted

Tags: Henrik Hecklen Johannes Straver Santhosh Suvarna

07-13-2023 22:37 UTC-7

Updated Chip Counts

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Maxime Taldir

Level 23 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Gergely Kulcsár	8,100,000 -750,000	-750,000
Daniel Smiljkovic	7,900,000

Johannes Straver	6,500,000 400,000	400,000
Brandon Wittmeyer	5,700,000 400,000	400,000

Henrik Hecklen	5,600,000
Jake Schindler	5,400,000 1,050,000	1,050,000

Justin Kindred	5,000,000 -250,000	-250,000
Alex Kulev	2,800,000 -1,600,000	-1,600,000

Moshe Refaelowitz	2,600,000 -1,200,000	-1,200,000

Koray Aldemir	2,400,000 -100,000	-100,000

07-13-2023 22:43 UTC-7

Aldemir Spikes a Queen to Stay Alive

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tyler Foran

Level 23 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Henrik Hecklen opened 425,000 in the cutoff and Koray Aldemir raised to 2,000,000 in the big blind. Hecklen wasted no time announcing all-in and after taking a peak at the other table, Aldemir called off his 2,200,000 total.

Hendrik Hecklen: A♦K♦
Koray Aldemir: A♣Q♥

Aldemir was in rough shape and the J♣8♠7♦ flop was no help. However, the Q♣ hit the turn, giving him the lead and the 7♣ river changed nothing as Aldemir collected his double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Koray Aldemir	4,700,000 2,300,000	2,300,000

Henrik Hecklen	3,350,000 -2,250,000	-2,250,000

Tags: Hendrik Hecklen Koray Aldemir

Level: 24

Blinds: 125,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000

07-13-2023 23:06 UTC-7

Smiljkovic Takes it on the River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tyler Foran

Level 24 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Brandon Wittmeyer limped the small blind and Daniel Smiljkovic checked his option.

When the flop came K♥7♥6♥, both players checked to see the 9♦ turn. Wittmeyer check-called a bet of 350,000.

The 9♠ fell on the river and Wittmeyer checked to Smiljkovic who fired a bet of 1,000,000. Wittmeyer went into the tank, using a time bank, and eventually tossed his cards into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Smiljkovic	9,500,000 1,600,000	1,600,000

Brandon Wittmeyer	3,500,000 -2,200,000	-2,200,000

Tags: Daniel Smiljkovic Brandon Wittmeyer

07-13-2023 23:23 UTC-7

Henrik Hecklen Eliminated In 10th Place ($132,181)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Maxime Taldir

Level 24 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

After 10 to 15 hands without seeing a flop at the table, Gergely Kulcsár moved all in from the button to put pressure on the blinds.

In the small blind, Henrik Hecklen checked at his cards, and looked behind him to have an idea of his opponents stack. As he wanted the payjump, he spread his time banks in front of him, and waited. But after a minute, he push all his 1,400,000 chips in front of him. Moshe Refaelowitz in the big blind folded.

Henrik Hecklen: 7♦7♣
Gergely Kulcsár: 9♥9♣

Hecklen was behind and stayed behind on K♥3♥8♦A♣6♣. Finishing in 10th place in this WSOP $50,000 High Roller, Hecklen earned $132,181.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gergely Kulcsár	9,300,000 1,200,000	1,200,000
Henrik Hecklen	Busted

Tags: Henrik Hecklen Moshe Refaelowitz Gergely Kulcsár

07-13-2023 23:27 UTC-7

Unofficial Final Table

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Maxime Taldir

Level 24 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

SEAT	PLAYER	COUNTRY	CHIP COUNT	BLINDS
1	Moshe Refaelowitz	Israel	3,750,000	15
2	Justin Kindred	United States	3,850,000	15
3	Jake Schindler	United States	7,975,000	32
4	Koray Aldemir	Germany	4,450,000	18
5	Daniel Smiljkovic	Germany	9,500,000	38
6	Alex Kulev	Bulgaria	2,450,000	10
7	Brandon Wittmeyer	United States	2,700,000	11
8	Gergely Kulcsár	Hungary	9,400,000	38
9	Johannes Straver	Netherlands	8,400,000	34

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Smiljkovic	9,500,000

Gergely Kulcsár	9,400,000 100,000	100,000
Johannes Straver	8,400,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Jake Schindler	7,975,000 2,575,000	2,575,000

Koray Aldemir	4,450,000 -250,000	-250,000

Justin Kindred	3,850,000 -1,150,000	-1,150,000
Moshe Refaelowitz	3,750,000 1,150,000	1,150,000

Brandon Wittmeyer	2,700,000 -800,000	-800,000

Alex Kulev	2,450,000 -350,000	-350,000

07-13-2023 23:33 UTC-7

Justin Kindred Eliminated in 9th Place ($173,399)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tyler Foran

Level 24 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Johannes Straver opened 500,000 in the hijack and Justin Kindred ripped all-in for about 3,300,000 on the button. The blinds got out of the way, and Straver made the call.

Justin Kindred: K♣K♠
Johannes Straver: A♣K♥

The flop of Q♠8♦4♦, was looking promising for Kindred but the A♠ fell on the turn. Kindred wasn't able to find the last king in the deck as the 4♠ rolled off on the river, eliminating him in 9th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Johannes Straver	11,300,000 2,900,000	2,900,000
Justin Kindred	Busted

Tags: Johannes Straver Justin Kindred

07-13-2023 23:39 UTC-7

15-Minute Break

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tyler Foran

Level 24 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

With only eight players remaining, they have reached another 15-minute break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Smiljkovic	8,400,000 -1,100,000	-1,100,000

Gergely Kulcsár	7,750,000 -1,650,000	-1,650,000
Moshe Refaelowitz	4,850,000 1,100,000	1,100,000

Koray Aldemir	3,800,000 -650,000	-650,000

Alex Kulev	2,475,000 25,000	25,000

Brandon Wittmeyer	2,100,000 -600,000	-600,000