Event #1: $500 Casino Employees | 2023 World Series of Poker

2023-05-31 22:06 UTC-7

Seven Handed Play Continues - Updated Chip Counts

Nível 32 : 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
James Urbanic	7,400,000 -300,000	-300,000
Peter Thai	5,700,000 1,700,000	1,700,000

Benson Tam	4,500,000 2,500,000	2,500,000

Paul Blanchette	2,800,000 900,000	900,000
Bruce Jiang	2,000,000 -2,300,000	-2,300,000
Sean Balfour	1,600,000 -900,000	-900,000
Keith McCormack	1,400,000 -1,900,000	-1,900,000

2023-05-31 22:19 UTC-7

Jiang Doubles Through Thai Again as Seven Still Remain

Nível 32 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Peter Thai opened to 600,000 from the cutoff before seeing Bruce Jiang shove his remaining 1,670,000 into the pot from the big blind. Thai decided his price was good enough to try and knockout Jiang again as he slid the call forward and cards were turned on their backs.

Bruce Jiang: A♦Q♠
Peter Thai: K♥9♣

The board ran out 7♣8♠4♦7♥Q♦ and Thai failed to bust Jiang again as seven still remain.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Peter Thai	5,700,000

Bruce Jiang	3,840,000 1,840,000	1,840,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang Peter Thai

2023-05-31 22:20 UTC-7

Urbanic Falls to His Knees in Frustration

Nível 32 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

On a flop reading 2♠2♦7♣, James Urbanic shoved on Peter Thai, putting him at risk. Thai tried to get a read on Urbanic and was unable to coax any words from him. Thai made the call after spending some time trying to put Urbanic on a hand.

Thai: 8♣8♠
Urbanic: J♥J♠

Urbanic let his rail know he was a favorite and they erupted with cheers. The turn was the 3♥ and it seemed Urbanic would be eliminating a player and moving comfortably into the chiplead until the 8♦ slammed the river, causing Thai to erupt in celebration as he did a lap around the table. Meantime, Urbanic collapsed to his knees, holding his head.

After a moment Urbanic regained composure, paid the pot what it was due, and congratulated his opponent on a nice hand. This is the second time this final table that Urbanic got two-out on the river when he had a player at risk. Applauses from Urbanic's rail urged him to rally, as the dream of winning gold is still alive.

Thai now has a commanding chip lead.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Peter Thai	9,800,000 4,100,000	4,100,000

James Urbanic	2,500,000 -4,900,000	-4,900,000

Tags: James Urbanic Peter Thai

2023-05-31 22:23 UTC-7

PokerNews Staff 2023 WSOP Predictions – Will Ivey Play? Hellmuth vs. Negreanu?

MattHansen

Nível 32 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Last year marked 11 years since PokerNews started publishing predictions ahead of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and with three days to go they're back again ahead of the 2023 WSOP.

With the WSOP moving to its new home on the Las Vegas Strip at the Horseshoe and Paris, we asked nine members of the PokerNews team for their thoughts and predictions.

This year we spoke to Global Live Events Manager Shirley Ang, US Executive Editor and former WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway, Live Reporting Executive Matt Hansen, staff editors Matthew Pitt, Jon Sofen, Calum Grant and Connor Richards, and Community Manager Jesse Fullen.

Click Here for a Full List of PokerNews WSOP Predictions!

2023-05-31 22:27 UTC-7

Keith McCormack Eliminated in 7th Place ($9,617)

Nível 32 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Action folded to Keith McCormack in the cutoff who shove for around 2,000,000. Bruce Jiang called from the button and Paul Blanchette quickly called off his remaining stack from the small blind, creating a three-way all in with two players at risk.

Paul Blanchette: 8♥6♥
Keith McCormack: A♥Q♦
Bruce Jiang: 5♣5♦

The board ran out K♣6♠8♠7♠10♠ giving Blanchette two pair good for more than a triple up while Jiang's fives held for the side pot, eliminating Keith McCormack in 7th place for $9,617.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Bruce Jiang	6,200,000 2,360,000	2,360,000
Paul Blanchette	2,200,000 -600,000	-600,000
Keith McCormack	Eliminado

Tags: Bruce Jiang Keith McCormack Paul Blanchette

2023-05-31 22:32 UTC-7

Players Are on a Break

Nível 32 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

The final six players are on a short 15-minute break.

Nível: 33

Blinds: 150,000/300,000

Ante: 300,000

2023-05-31 22:50 UTC-7

Sean Balfour Eliminated in 6th Place ($12,802)

Nível 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Sean Balfour was all in preflop against Paul Blanchette. Balfour had been short the entirety of the final table and was at risk.

Sean Balfour: A♠6x
Paul Blanchette: 10♣10♦

The board ran out 7♥K♥6♥9x5x and Blanchette added to his stack. Balfour was eliminated in 6th place and cashed for $12,802.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Paul Blanchette	4,300,000 2,100,000	2,100,000
Sean Balfour	Eliminado

Tags: Paul Blanchette Sean Balfour

2023-05-31 23:01 UTC-7

Benson Tam Eliminated in 5th Place ($17,303); Bruce Jiang Eliminated in 4th Place ($23,738)

Nível 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Benson Tam shoved 975,000 under the gun before Bruce Jiang to his immediate left shoved all in for 4,925,000. Urbanic asked for a count before deciding on a fold and Peter Thai snap-called behind putting both Tam and Jiang at risk.

Benson Tam: J♠9♠
Bruce Jiang: Q♠Q♥
Peter Thai: K♠K♣

The board ran out 4♠2♣4♣9♦6♦ giving Thai a massive double knockout with Benson Tam finishing 5th for $17,303 and Bruce Jiang bowing out in 4th for $23,738, making Thai the massive chip leader going into three-handed play.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Peter Thai	16,800,000 7,000,000	7,000,000

Bruce Jiang	Eliminado
Benson Tam	Eliminado

Tags: Benson Tam Bruce Jiang Peter Thai

2023-05-31 23:28 UTC-7

Paul Blanchette Eliminated in 3rd Place ($33,051)

Nível 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Peter Thai went all-in from the small blind and Paul Blanchette put his remaining chips in to call, cards were quickly on their backs.

Paul Blanchette: 8♣9♣
Peter Thai: K♣2♦

After a whirlwind of bust-outs, Peter Thai had 80% of the chips in play. A King in the window and four bricks left Paul Blanchette eliminated in third place for $33,051. Blanchette remained jovial, as he had the time of his life and was thrilled to have made the podium considering how long play lasted seven-handed.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Peter Thai	20,500,000 3,700,000	3,700,000

Paul Blanchette	Eliminado

Tags: Paul Blanchette Peter Thai