Updated Chip Counts After the Break based on the WSOP app
Updated Chip Counts After the Break based on the WSOP app
Level: 30
Blinds: 100,000/150,000
Ante: 150,000
One question always gets asked in the build-up to the World Series of Poker (WSOP): who are the best players still chasing their first bracelet? It's something PokerNews looks at every year.
But here's another angle worth exploring. Which players have actually won the most money at the WSOP without ever getting their hands on one of poker's most coveted prizes?
Some players have racked up millions in WSOP earnings, building their totals on one monster score, while others have chipped away year after year grinding the series.
The tournament is on a 15-minute break, with 27 players returning.
Zixuan Liu opened to 250,000 and Terence Etim, in the big blind, called. The flop came 5♠10♦2♥. Etim check-called Liu's bet of 250,000 to see the next card.
The turn 8♥ got another check-call from Etim after Liu shot out 500,000.
Checking the river 7♦ to him, Liu shoved all in for 7,300,000. With 1,800,000 behind, Etim thought about his action for a few seconds then made the call.
Liu showed 2♦2♠ for a set on the flop, prompting Etim to muck his hand then leave the table. Since it was an all-in situation, the dealer showed the rest of the table that Etim held Kx10x before shuffling the deck for the next hand.
Seong Han on the button raised to 300,000 and Daniele Miniello in the small blind called. Shawn Pilot in the big blind decided to shove all in for 2,995,000. Han got out of the way but Miniello threw a chip for a call.
Shawn Pilot: K♠K♥
Daniele Miniello: A♠Q♣
Pilot's kings held on the 3♥8♣8♦ flop, but that changed when the A♦ fell on the turn. The 2♥ river was dealt and Pilot left the table visibly frustrated.
As Miniello scooped the pot, he told Han beside him, "Why would he shove with 25 big blinds? I would have folded on the flop."
Mykhailo Lendel raised to 240,000 from under the gun, and Itai Levy three-bet to 1,150,000; Lendel four-bet all in for 3,045,000 effective. Levy called and stated, "Goodbye to me."
Itai Levy: A♣Q♦
Mykhailo Lendel: A♥K♣
The board flowed with 6♥4♦3♥J♠J♣, and a pair of jacks with an ace and a king kicker played to knock out Levy.
Under the gun, Zijing Cheng raised to 240,000, and after action folded to the small blind, Itai Levy called to see a flop.
The dealer spread J♦3♣4♠. Levy checked, and Cheng continued with 175,000. Levy took a few seconds before making the call.
Both players checked the 3♠ turn.
On the river Q♦, Levy resumed action with a 475,000 bet and Cheng snap-called.
Levy showed Q♥J♥ for two pair, but Cheng tabled K♠K♣ for the higher two pair.
Zixuan Liu raised to 250,000 from early position, and Junichi Murakami called from the big blind. The flop ran 6♦Q♦J♥, and both players checked.
On the turn K♠, Murakami took the lead and bet 200,000, and Liu called.
The river 8♣ brought a check from each player. Murakami showed K♣10♥ for a pair of kings for the win as Liu mucked.
In the second hand, Shawn Pilot raised from early position to 325,000, and Junichi Murakami three-bet all in for 2,800,000, putting the maximum pressure on his opponent. Pilot stood up and pondered, and ultimately folded reluctantly.