Event #3: $500 WSOP Kickoff No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout | 2024 World Series of Poker

05-31-2024 15:05 UTC-8

Yoshinori Funayama Eliminated in 5th Place ($48,938)

Herbie Teope

Level 37 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

With a little more than five big blinds in front of him, Yoshinori Funayama moved all in under the gun. Unfortunately, Funayama ran into Daniel Willis, who called.

Funayama saw the bad news once the cards were tabled.

Yoshinori Funayama: J♥8♣ All in
Daniel Willis: K♦K♥

The dealer fanned A♣2♣3♥ on the flop, keeping Willis well ahead of his opponent. The 8♥ paired Funayama, but the 4♥ on the river ended his tournament.

While he was eliminated, Funayama made the most of his run. The payout provided Funayama his best live tournament cash, according to his Hendon Mob page.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Willis	31,825,000 5,900,000	5,900,000

Yoshinori Funayama	Busted

Tags: Daniel Willis Yoshinori Funayama

05-31-2024 15:02 UTC-8

Chip Leaders Battle it Out

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Laura Fryer

Level 37 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Michael Wang woke up with A♥J♠ under the gun and raised to 1,600,000 prompting folds all around, allowing Wang to add more chips to his monster stack.

In the next hand, Daniel Willis sat with A♠4♥ on the button and raised to 1,750,000 and Wang defended the big blind with Q♥5♥.

The action flop came J♣8♥A♥ which gave Willis top pair and a flush draw for Wang.

Wang opted for a check and Willis bet out 1,600,000, getting a quick call from Wang.

The A♦ turn swayed things in Willis's favor. Wang checked and faced a bet of 2,700,000 from Willis. Wang took some time, but eventually found a fold, allowing Willis to get closer to chip leading.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Wang	33,950,000 -1,550,000	-1,550,000

Daniel Willis	25,675,000 -250,000	-250,000

Tags: Daniel Willis Michael Wang

05-31-2024 14:58 UTC-8

Wang, Funayama Chop it Up

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Herbie Teope

Level 37 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Michael Wang moved all in from the button against the blinds. But he faced resistance from Yoshinori Funayama, who called out of the big blind with his remaining 3,950,000 to put his tournament life on the line.

Yoshinori Funayama: A♥9♥ All in
Michael Wang: J♣3♣

Funayama was ahead and it stayed that way after the dealer fanned 10♠2♠8♠ on the flop, but Wang took over when J♠ fell on the board. Funayama was still alive to the river, with hopes to pair his Ace to win the pot.

But the game of poker had other ideas, as the dealer put K♠ on the river to give Funayama and Wang each a flush and a chop.

“Yes!” Funayama exclaimed, as his tablemates chuckled at the result.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Wang	35,500,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Yoshinori Funayama	4,750,000 -4,400,000	-4,400,000

Tags: Michael Wang Yoshinori Funayama

05-31-2024 14:53 UTC-8

Daniel Sherer Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,194)

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Laura Fryer

Level 37 : 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Michael Wang raised to 1,600,000 from under the gun which was met with a jam from Daniel Sherer on the button for 7,225,000.

Daniel Sherer: K♦Q♥ All in
Michael Wang: 10♥10♣

Sherer got up from the table and congratulated Wang's "nice hand" as he waited for the runout.

Wang flopped top set on the 10♠9♣3♣ flop and Sherer called for a "jack on the turn".

The 9♦ turn sealed Sherer's fate as Wang's tens were filled with nines.

As the dealer peeled the 4♥ river, Sherer shook the new chip leader Wang's hand, and left the tournament in sixth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Wang	33,500,000 17,125,000	17,125,000

Daniel Sherer	Busted

Tags: Daniel Sherer Michael Wang

Level: 37

Blinds: 400,000/800,000

Ante: 800,000

05-31-2024 14:42 UTC-8

Updated Chip Counts

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Laura Fryer

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Willis	25,925,000 1,200,000	1,200,000

Shawn Smith	17,900,000
Michael Wang	16,375,000 6,700,000	6,700,000

Steven Borella	12,875,000 -700,000	-700,000
Yoshinori Funayama	9,150,000 -2,700,000	-2,700,000
Daniel Sherer	5,025,000

05-31-2024 14:39 UTC-8

John Marino Eliminated in 7th Place ($28,501)

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Herbie Teope

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

John Marino entered Day 3 as one of the shorter stacks of the remaining players. He decided midway through Level 36 to put it in play out of the small blind following a raise from Shawn Smith, who was on the button.

Shortly after peeking at his cards, Marino announced an all-in bet, which Smith immediately called to put Marino at risk of elimination.

John Marino: 7♦7♠ All in
Shawn Smith: 10♣10♥

Marino was behind and the situation didn't chance when the dealer fanned 8♣6♦2♣ on the flop. The dealer then placed 3♥ on the turn, followed by the 10♦ on the river to send Marino to the rail.

The $28,501 payout becomes Marino’s second-best tournament cash.

Player	Chips	Progress
Shawn Smith	17,900,000 1,750,000	1,750,000
John Marino	Busted

Tags: John Marino Shawn Smith

05-31-2024 14:30 UTC-8

Katz vs. Martirosian in the $25,000 Heads-Up

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Milko van Winden

Level 38 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Tags: Cary Katz Artur Martirosian

05-31-2024 14:25 UTC-8

Sherer Tops Up from Willis

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Laura Fryer

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Action folded to Daniel Sherer in the small blind who moved all in for 3,825,000.

Daniel Willis in the big blind with 5♥4♦ folded after stating he saw Sherer's "mountain of greens" stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Willis	24,725,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Daniel Sherer	5,025,000 -1,250,000	-1,250,000

Tags: Daniel Sherer Daniel Willis

05-31-2024 14:14 UTC-8

Funayama Gets it Through with Tens

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Laura Fryer

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Michael Wang raised to 1,200,000 from the hijack with K♠Q♠, which got a call from Steven Borella in the cutoff with 4♥4♦. Yoshinori Funayama then moved all in for 8,200,000 on the button with his pocket tens.

Yoshinori Funayama: 10♠10♥ All in

Funayama got two folds and added a sizeable 3,3600,000 chips to his stack.