2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open
Josue Vazquez opened to 20,000 from the hijack and was called by James Lillis from the button. Start-of-day chip leader Pavel Kim three-bet to 55,000 from the small blind before Craig Robertson four-bet to 160,000 from the big blind. It folded back to Kim, who called.
Kim check-called for 150,000 on the J♣4♦2♥ flop before the 3♣ turn checked through to the 3♦ river. Kim led out for 80,000 and Robertson called after some thinking time.
Kim tabled A♠K♣ for ace-high, and mucked his hand after Robertson tabled J♥10♥ for jacks and threes.
Level: 18
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 10,000
In the 993rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by Phillip "P3" Hellmuth III at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas during the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The son of poker legend Phil Hellmuth talks about what it was like growing up with the "Poker Brat" as a dad, but also about his own journey to poker, which started relatively recently after he was laid off from a longtime banking job. Now, Hellmuth III has been busy studying, competing on Hellmuth's Home Game, and doing his best to rack up some results.
P3 also talks about his father's controversial decision to encourage him to charge a 1.4 mark-up for the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, and the subsequent bet with Shaun Deeb. From there, Hellmuth III talks about his brother, Nick Hellmuth, the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS), and plays a round of 'Which Phil Is It?' right in the studio.
Be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
There is a 20-minute color-up break taking place.
Deeangelo Seng raised from middle position and called when Christopher Weekes put in his last 42,000 from the cutoff.
Christopher Weekes: A♦6♦
Deeangelo Seng: A♣J♦
Weekes couldn't improve on the 7♣7♠8♠5♦A♠ runout and was eliminated.
Leo Saiag opened to 20,000 from the hijack. Daniel Ilijeski and Justin Leeds called from the button and big blind.
The J♦6♣2♥ flop checked through to the 7♦ turn. Leeds led out for 33,000 and only the Ilijeski called.
Leeds sized up to 70,000 on the 5♥ river, and was called.
Leeds tabled 5♣4♦ for a pair of fives, and it was good for the pot.
On another table, There was around 120,000 in the middle on the Q♥4♦J♦10♥ board.
James Lauer checked from under the gun and Robert Macri bet 50,000 from the next seat over. Lauer put in a stack of T-25,000 chips, gunning for Macri's last 216,000.
After some thought, Macri open-folded QxJx, and Lauer was kind enough to show that he had the nuts with AxKx.
Bartholomew Golik opened to 16,000 from early position and called when Whitelaw three-bet to 45,000 from the hijack.
Golik check-called for 35,000 on the J♣6♠4♥ flop, and did the same for 65,000 on the 2♠ turn. Golik led out for 135,000 on the 5♥ river, and Whitelaw called after thinking for a few moments.
Golik tabled 7♥7♠ for a seven-high straight. Whitelaw threw his hands in the air before mucking.
Edward Sullivan raised to 18,000 from middle position and Edward Sullivan called from the small blind.
Silva check-called bets of 23,000 and 52,000 on the flop and turn for the board to read A♦J♦8♠Q♣2♥.
Action checked through to showdown, where Silva turned over A♠K♥ for a pair of aces. Sullivan mucked.
A couple of hands later, Sullivan made it 18,000 from under the gun and Silva called from the cutoff. Sullivan took this one, as his bet of 26,000 folded out Silva on the J♠4♣2♥ flop.
The 191 remaining players have taken their seats and cards are in the air!