Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The remaining 18 players have been sent on a 20-minute break.
2023 NAPT Las Vegas
$1,650 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2023 NAPT Las Vegas
Buy-in
$1,650
Prize Pool
$1,609,650
Entries
1,095
Level
35
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
34
Players Left
7
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Via an American Idol style competition, Nikki Limo and Lily Newhouse were chosen as the first PokerStars Big Game "loose cannons" in over a decade. As such, they will receive a $50,000 stake to compete in a high-stakes cash game against pros and entertaining recreational players.
The contest began on Sunday from the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) with a free qualifier shootout poker tournament at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Each table winner — 20 players — then advanced to an intense interview process on Monday judged by Nadya Magnus, Joe Stapleton, and James Hartigan.
Magnus was one of the original loose cannons when the popular show first aired in 2010-2011. She won over $60,000 on that day, her first introduction to televised poker. Stapleton and Hartigan will commentate on the show when it airs in 2024. Filming will take place at Resorts World this week, however.
The purpose of the audition phase was to find the two individuals who best exemplify a true loose cannon — is at least a somewhat competent poker player, would benefit greatly from winning a significant amount in the game, and has a colorful personality.
Level: 26
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 40,000
Level 26
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,355,000
-105,000
|
-105,000 |
|
||
|
1,260,000
430,000
|
430,000 |
|
1,185,000
-95,000
|
-95,000 |
|
1,095,000
-1,425,000
|
-1,425,000 |
|
595,000
-1,015,000
|
-1,015,000 |
|
480,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
Level 26
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Action folded to Aaron Massey on the button who raised to 85,000. Ryan Leng was in the big blind and put in the call to see the flop come Q?5?2?.
Leng checked over to Massey who continued for 60,000. Leng was quick to make the call and watch as the turn brought the 3?.
Both players checked through to see the 5? fall on the river.
Ryan Leng paused briefly before deciding to lead out with a bet worth 180,000. Massey didn't waste time and was quick in sending his cards into the muck before the dealer sent the pot in Leng's direction.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,700,000 | |
|
||
|
2,500,000 | |
Level 26
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Sami Bechahed raised to 80,000 in the cutoff and Sandeep Pallampati three-bet from the small blind. Bechahed moved all in for 910,000 and Pallampati called.
Sami Bechahed: A?K?
Sandeep Pallampati: 9?9?
The K?J?10? flop vaulted Bechahed in front, and the 4? turn and A? river confirmed his double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,900,000
1,225,000
|
1,225,000 |
|
||
|
925,000
-275,000
|
-275,000 |
Level 26
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
In a hand where Jianxin Wu's last 40,000 chips were all-in in the big blind, action folded to Ryan Leng on the button who raised to 80,000. The big blind got out of the way to set up a heads-up runout with Wu at risk.
Jianxin Wu: A?2?
Ryan Leng: A?4?
The 6?9?7? flop looked like they were on their way to a chopped pot, but that all changed when Leng spiked the 4? on the turn to leave Wu drawing dead headed to the meaningless 8? river.
Wu exited the tournament area in 18th place for $10,495.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,400,000
-300,000
|
-300,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 26
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
David Coleman opened to 80,000 in the hijack, Je Wook Oh called in the small blind, and Ryan Yu defended the big blind.
The trio checked the 9?7?3? flop to the A? turn. The blinds checked to Coleman and he bet 110,000. Oh folded and Yu called.
The 2? completed the board and Yu checked. Coleman bet 300,000 and Yu thought about it before he moved the chips forward for a call.
Coleman tabled 7?7? and claimed the pot with his flopped set.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,490,000
395,000
|
395,000 |
|
|
350,000
-835,000
|
-835,000 |
|
|
275,000
-320,000
|
-320,000 |
Level 26
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Anthony Dianaty raised to 80,000 from the hijack. Action folded around to Masato Yokosawa in the big blind who jammed for about 300,000. Dianaty opted to make the call, putting the poker YouTube vlogger at risk.
Masato Yokosawa: A?J?
Anthony Dianaty: K?10?
The board ran out J?6?7?4?5?, securing a pure double for Yokosawa as he carved a small piece out of Dianaty's chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,500,000
-700,000
|
-700,000 |
|
||
|
635,000
-135,000
|
-135,000 |
|
||
Level 26
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Ping Liu opened to 80,000 under the gun, Ryan Yu shoved all in for 330,000 in the cutoff, and Liu called.
Ryan Yu: A?J?
Ping Liu: 3?3?
The 10?8?2? flop made Yu a statistical favorite with added spade outs, although he still needed to improve.
The 4? turn changed absolutely nothing, however, and the Q? river confirmed the result to eliminate Yu in 17th place for $12,070.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,290,000
1,030,000
|
1,030,000 |
|
|
Busted |