2023 World Series of Poker

Event #88: $1,500 The Closer
Day: 1b
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q2
Prize
$606,810
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$4,713,885
Entries
3,531
Level Info
Level
43
Blinds
2,500,000 / 5,000,000
Ante
5,000,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
2,390
Players Left
182

Almost a Triple for Loire

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Julien Loire
Julien Loire

Three players got the chips in the middle before the flop, Julien Loire was at risk for 146,500, having one opponent covered who had 140,000, while the third player had both covered.

Julien Loire: Q?Q?
All-in Player: A?Q?
Opponent #2: J?J?

Loire was in great shape as the board ran out 10?3?3?10?3?, giving him threes full of queens to eliminate one, and double through the other.

Player Chips Progress
Julien Loire fr
Julien Loire
430,000

Tags: Julien Loire

Lamers Flops a Set to Double

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Adam Lamers
Adam Lamers

The cutoff opened 11,500 and Adam Lamers shoved 21,500 in the big blind. The cutoff snap-called.

Adam Lamers: 10?10?
Cutoff: A?K?

It was a flip until the A?10?6? flop hit the felt, giving Lamers a set. The 7? fell on the turn and when the A? hit the river, the cutoff had thought he won the hand. However, Lamers dragged his double up with a full house.

Player Chips Progress
Adam Lamers ca
Adam Lamers
46,000

Tags: Adam Lamers

Ace on the River for Ahuja to Send Two Out

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Ankit Ahuja
Ankit Ahuja

All of the chips went in the middle before the flop, with the hijack at risk for 13,500 and the big blind at risk for 110,000. Ankit Ahuja was on the button and was looking for the double knockout.

Hijack: K?J?
Big Blind: 10?10?
Ankit Ahuja: A?K?

The board ran out J?6?2?5?A?, for Ahuja to river an ace and eliminate both players.

Player Chips Progress
Ankit Ahuja in
Ankit Ahuja
252,000
252,000
252,000

Tags: Ankit Ahuja

Ivey's $1,500 Closer Event Short-Lived

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey registered during the break, shortly before it closed. It didn't take long for him to get involved in the action, raising in early position. Only Guillermo Vargas came along in the big blind.

The flop came 9?4?2?, and Vargas check-raised the continuation bet of 4,000 to 8,000. Ivey called.

The 7? hit the turn, and Vargas fired 10,000. Ivey called once again.

When the 6? completed the board, Vargas moved all in. Ivey had about 26,000 remaining and called it off. Vargas tabled 4?4? for a set of fours, and Ivey whipped is hand into the muck as he was eliminated from the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Guillermo Vargas us
Guillermo Vargas
290,000
Phil Ivey us
Phil Ivey
Busted
WSOP 11X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer

Tags: Phil IveyGuillermo Vargas

The Clozer Doubles in the Closer

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Jason Kapoor
Jason Kapoor

Jason Kapoor, who plays online as "Clozer," max late regged the tournament and immediately got to work.

He jammed for 33,500 and action folded to the player in the big blind, who couldn't call fast enough.

Jason Kapoor: J?J?
Opponent: A?A?

Kapoor was in dire straits but a jack in the window on the J?2?3? flop was music to his ears.

Neither the 7? turn nor Q? river changed a thing and "Clozer" shipped a double in the Closer!

Player Chips Progress
Jason Kapoor us
Jason Kapoor
71,000
71,000
71,000

Tags: Jason Kapoor

Top Set Earns a Double for Burlacu

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Robert Burlacu
Robert Burlacu

Robert Burlacu opened 6,000 in middle position, and he was called by both the cutoff and the big blind.

The dealer spread a flop of J?6?5?, and the action checked to the cutoff who fired a bet of 5,000. The big blind check-raised 16,000, and both Burlacu and the cutoff called.

When the 7? hit the turn, the big blind continued for 36,000. Burlacu called off his stack of 29,000, while the cutoff surrendered the pot.

Robert Burlacu: J?J?
Big blind: 7?3?

Burlacu flopped top set and was able to fade the straight draw of his opponent as the board completed with the 3? on the river.

Player Chips Progress
Robert Burlacu ro
Robert Burlacu
121,500
121,500
121,500

Tags: Robert Burlacu

Matakis In The Mix

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Ian Matakis
Ian Matakis

Having just come off a third place finish in Event #82: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $205,969, Ian Matakis joined the action with an open to 5,000 from the cutoff. The big blind made the call and the flop fanned out K?9?3?.

The big blind checked to Matakis who continued for 3,500, and took down the pot when his opponent tossed their cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Ian Matakis us
Ian Matakis
57,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Ian Matakis

Will A Different Nguyen Win the Closer?

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Men Nguyen
Men Nguyen

PokerNews went over to talk to Men "The Master" Nguyen to see if he knew if Minh Nguyen, the winner from last year was entered in the tournament this year. Men Nguyen stated that he actually does not know Minh Nguyen that won last year and that one of his students had the same name but was a different person.

As PokerNews was at the table this hand was witnessed with a different Nguyen in it ironically.

Hai Nguyen raised from the the hijack position to 6,000 and the player in the cutoff three-bet all in for 23,100 and everyone else folded and Nguyen made the call.

Cutoff player: A?10?
Hai Nguyen: A?5?

The board came K?5?9?8?9? and a completely different Nguyen won the pot with two pair achieved the knockout.

Hai Nguyen said, "So I am sitting next to Men "The Master" Nguyen?"

Men "The Master" Nguyen said, "One third of the country has the name Nguyen", which triggered a laugh.

Player Chips Progress
Hai Nguyen us
Hai Nguyen
211,000
211,000
211,000
Men Nguyen us
Men Nguyen
33,000
33,000
33,000
WSOP 7X Winner

Tags: Hai NguyenMen Nguyen

Stepuchin Attempts to Engage in Coversation

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Frank Stepuchin
Frank Stepuchin

With a pot brewed of 19,500 on the turn of A?5?3?9?, Andy Su bet 5,500. Frank Stepuchin went into the tank, deciding what to do.

"First time all day you haven't said a word," Said Stepuchin.

After about 30 seconds, Stepuchin raised to 12,300, and Su made the call.

When the J? hit the river, Su instantly checked, and Stepuchin took his time once again as he started talking aloud.

"What do you do if I shove?" He asked, "Look at me when you're talking to me."

Su stayed silent and still as Stepuchin continued, "27 more seconds," and proceeded to count himself down. "Look at me, come on."

Eventually, Stepuchin announced that he gave up, and checked behind. Su instantly tabled A?10? for a pair of aces and Stepuchin mucked his hand.

"Now we can talk about it," said Su as he raked in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Andy Su us
Andy Su
101,000
Frank Stepuchin us
Frank Stepuchin
59,800

Tags: Andy SuFrank Stepuchin

Lane Stays in the Straight Lane

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Ronald Lane
Ronald Lane

Ronald Lane raised from under the gun to 2,000 and the player in early position three-bet to 6,500 and Lane made the call. The flop came 7?8?3? and Lane checked and the early position player moved all in for 13,000. Lane made the call with the up and down straight draw and we were off to the turn.

Early position player: K?K?
Ronald Lane: 10?9?

The turn brought the card that Lane was looking for, the 6? and the river 10? was redundant after Lane made the straight and knocked out a player.

Player Chips Progress
Ronald Lane us
Ronald Lane
60,000

Tags: Ronald Lane