Event #52: $3,000 Nine Game Mix Day 2 | 2026 World Series of Poker

Jun 18, 2026

Epstein Exits; Hand for Hand Begins

Frank Visser

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 6,000-12,000 Blinds, 12,000-24,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 12,000 Completion, 12,000-24,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 6,000/9,000 Ante, 3,000-6,000 Blinds

Pot-Limit Omaha

Mark Epstein was automatically all in from the big blind. It folded to Blaz Zerjav in the small blind, who did not even have to call to put his opponent at risk.

Mark Epstein: K♦Q♦4♦3♥ All in
Blaz Zerjav: 8♠8♣6♣4♣

Zerjav's eights remained best on the A♦J♠4♥9♣5♦ runout, sending Epstein to the rail in 73rd place.

The remaining 72 players were left one elimination away from the money, and the start of hand-for-hand play was announced immediately after Epstein's elimination.

Tags: Blaz Zerjav Mark Epstein

Jun 18, 2026

Matsuzuki Triples on Bubble

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Frank Visser

Level 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 6,000-12,000 Blinds, 12,000-24,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 12,000 Completion, 12,000-24,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 6,000/9,000 Ante, 3,000-6,000 Blinds

Razz

Dan Matsuzuki: 5x3xAx/6x7xJx9x All in
Bruno Portaro: XxXx/6x4xKxQx/Xx - folded on seventh street
Nicholas Julia: XxXx/JxKx - folded on fourth street
Robert Williamson: XxXx/6x7xJx9x/Xx

Nicholas Julia brought in, Robert Williamson completed, and Dan Matsuzuki and Bruno Portaro called. Julia also came along to fourth street, where Portaro and Julia checked before Williamson bet.

Matsuzuki and Portaro called, while Julia had seen enough and mucked. Williamson kept firing bets on fifth and sixth street, with both Matsuzuki and Portaro check-calling both times.

Williamson tossed in a final bet on seventh street. This time, only Matsuzuki called, and he did so putting his entire stack at risk. Portaro folded, and Matsuzuki tabled a seven-low for the winning hand.

Tags: Bruno Portaro Dan Matsuzuki Nicholas Julia Robert Williamson

Level: 18

Limit Flop/Draw: 6,000-12,000 Blinds, 12,000-24,000 Limits
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 12,000 Completion, 12,000-24,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 6,000/9,000 Ante, 3,000-6,000 Blinds

Jun 18, 2026

Kerkaert Wins Battle of the Blind Bets

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Dan O'Hair

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Limit Hold’em

William Kerkaert raised first to act and called a three-bet from Greg Mueller.

Kerkaert checked blind and Mueller bet blind before the 2♥6♦7♦ flop came. Kerkaert then check-raised and Mueller called.

Kerkaert bet blind and was called by Mueller on both the 4♠ turn and J♣ river and Kerkaert turned over 6♥6♠ for a flopped set.

"Wow," Mueller said as he tossed his hand into the muck.

"I'm having a lucky run!" Kerkaert replied as he collected the pot.

Tags: Greg Mueller William Kerkaert

Jun 18, 2026

Keller Forces a Fold From Monnette

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Dan O'Hair

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Pot-Limit Omaha

John Monnette raised to 15,000 and was called by Thomas Keller in the cutoff and Todd Brunson in the big blind.

Action checked to Keller, who bet 22,000 on the K♥2♦6♦ flop. Brunson folded, but Monnette called.

The Q♥ fell on the turn and Monnette checked again. Keller announced a pot-sized bet of 96,000 and Monnette laid his hand down after a bit of contemplation.

Tags: John Monnette Thomas Keller Todd Brunson

Jun 18, 2026

More Pre-Bubble Bust-Outs

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Frank Visser

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Jun 18, 2026

Portaro Nearly Doubles; Cassidy and Saliba Bust

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Frank Visser

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Omaha Hi-Lo

Nicholas Julia raised in middle position. Dan Matsuzuki called in the cutoff, and Bruno Portaro defended his big blind.

The 5♠6♦K♠ flop checked to Matsuzuki, who bet. Portaro and Julia both called, after which the K♣ turn was dealt.

Portaro led out, getting a quick fold from Julia. Matsuzuki called, however, and Portari committed his last 16,500 on the 6♠ river.

Matsuzuki spent a minute or so in the tank, but eventually folded his hand to concede the pot.

On other tables, Justin Saliba lost the remainder of his chips to Oscar Johansson in a hand of razz, while John Monnette eliminated Joe Cassidy during Omaha hi-lo.

Tags: Bruno Portaro Dan Matsuzuki Joe Cassidy John Monnette Justin Saliba Nicholas Julia Oscar Johansson

Jun 18, 2026

Reiner and Zerjav Go to War

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Dan O'Hair

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Omaha Hi-Lo

Julius Reiner raised from the hijack and was three-bet by Blaz Zerjav in the small blind. Reiner made it four bets to go and Zerjav called.

Zerjav checked to Reiner, who continued for a bet on the J♥K♥9♣ flop. Zerjav check-raised and then called after Reiner made it three bets to go.

Zerjav then called bets from Reiner on the 2♦ turn and 2♠ river and Reiner turned over A♦K♣9♥2♥ for a full house.

Zerjav showed he held A♣A♥3♥ and mucked — conceding the pot to Reiner.

Tags: Blaz Zerjav Julius Reiner

Jun 18, 2026

Freitas Wins Big in Stud

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Frank Visser

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Seven Card Stud

Thomas Taylor: XxXx/5♣9♠8♠3♣/Xx
Richard Freitas: K♥K♣6♠/10♠8♥9♦K♦

Thomas Taylor completed, and Richard Freitas called. Taylor fired bets on fourth and fifth street, both of which were check-called by Freitas.

Freitas then led out on sixth street. Taylor just called, and he called to showdown when Freitas bet again on seventh street.

Freitas revealed three kings, causing Taylor to shake his head and toss his cards into the muck.

Tags: Richard Freitas Thomas Taylor

Jun 18, 2026

Sued Sent to Exit

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Frank Visser

Level 17

Limit Flop/Draw: 5,000-10,000 Blinds, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Stud Games: 2,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 10,000 Completion, 10,000-20,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 5,000/7,500 Ante, 2,500-5,000 Blinds

Razz

Kharlin Sued: 2xAx/Kx9x9x8x/Xx All in
Mike Leah: XxXx/Qx7x10xAx - folded on sixth street
Danny Noam: Jx4x/10x6x2x4x/3x

Kharlin Sued went all in on fourth street, with Mike Leah and Danny Noam looking him up. Noam then bet fifth street, seeing Leah call.

Noam fired again on sixth street, this time folding out Leah. Noam made a ten-low on seventh street,meaning Sued needed to catch any card between a seven and a three to stay alive.

"How about f**king paint instead?" he said as he peeled his final card.

He scooped up his hand and tossed it into the muck before exiting the tournament area a few spots away from the money.

Tags: Danny Noam Kharlin Sued Mike Leah