The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is winding down - sadly.
We at 888poker have taken some time to watch the live streams, scour the updates, and scroll through social media to find eight either interesting or entertaining hands from the early stages of 50th Annual WSOP Main Event.
Let’s check them out.
Poker Power Couple Collide
On Day 1a of the Main Event, it was Level 3 (200/400/400) when Igor Kurganov busted his girlfriend Liv Boeree, with whom he had won a Tag Team bracelet back in 2017. It happened when Brian Altman raised to 1,000 from middle position, and Boeree moved all-in for 2,400 from the cut-off. Kurganov four-bet to 5,000 from the big blind and Altman folded.
Boeree tabled the A♥J♥ and was looking to get lucky against Kurganov’s K♣K♠. The 8♠8♥Q♥ flop gave Boeree a flush draw to go with her over, but neither the 2♦ turn nor 4♠ river saved her.
No Deep Run for Cada
Last year, 2009 WSOP champ Joe Cada electrified the poker world when he made the Main Event final table. In 2019, he had no such luck, as he busted on Day 1c. It happened shortly after he bluffed off most of his stack in Level 1 (100/200/200).
With the board reading 9♥8♠3♦2♦4♦, Yoshiya Agata had 7,000 out in front of him, and Cada check-raised all-in. Agata had 48,100 total and thought for several minutes before calling off with the 9♣9♠ for top set. It was good as Cada had made a move with the 7♠7♣.
Negreanu Folds the Third Nuts
On Day 1b of the Main Event, Daniel Negreanu was playing on the PokerGO live stream when Carol “Granny” Harmon raised to 2,500 from the button in the 300/500/500 level. Negreanu called from the big blind with the K♠Q♣, and the duo saw a flop of J♠9♠6♠.
Harmon bet 5,000, Negreanu called, and the Q♠ appeared on the turn. Negreanu checked his king-high flush and Harmon bet 8,000 into the 15,800 pot.
Negreanu seemed to know something was up based upon Harmon’s body language, and he struck up a conversation. She responded confidently, and Negreanu used his superior reading abilities to deduce that she must have had the nut flush, and he folded to the single bet.
He was right too as she had held the A♠A♥!
Jacks Punish Negreanu
On Day 2ab, it was Level 6 (400/800/800) when WSOP bracelet winner Chris “Fox” Wallace raised to 2,000 from the cut-off and Daniel Negreanu three-bet to 6,000 on the button. Meddi Ferrah then four-bet to 15,500 from the small blind and Wallace folded.
Negreanu called to see a 7♥6♥4♦ flop and Ferrah moved all-in. Negreanu called off his last 17,000 with the J♦J♣ only to see Ferrah table the A♠A♦. Negreanu was looking for a jack but was left wanting as the 7♦ bricked on the turn followed by the 4♣ river.
Fedor Holz Done in on Day 2c
On Day 2c, it was Level 7 (500/1,000/1,000) when four players took a flop of A♥10♣4♠. Action checked to Hai Nguyen in late position, and he tossed out a bet. Two folds put action on German wunderkind Fedor Holz, and he check-raised all-in for his last 25 big blinds. Nguyen called, and Holz discovered the bad news.
Holz: A♠Q♦
Nguyen: A♣10♦
Nguyen had flopped two pair, and Holz was looking for some lady love. He didn’t get any, though, as the 3♦ turn and K♥ river both bricked.
Hellmuth Underestimates His Opponent
In a surprise move, 15-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth skipped much of the 2019 WSOP to attend an expedition to South America. He flew back just in time to late register on Day 2c and was immediately tossed up on a feature table. Also, there was MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang.
In one hand with the blinds at 400/800/800, Hellmuth (60,000) opened the action for 2,000 from the cut-off holding the 5 ♥3 ♥ and Vang (45,000) three-bet to 6,500 from the button holding the K♠9♠. Both blinds folded and Hellmuth opted to call and see a flop of 10♠9x6x.
Action went check-check, and the 6♠ appeared on the turn. Hellmuth led out for 9,000 and Vang called with his pair and flush draw. On the 7x off-suit river, Hellmuth bluffed by moving all-in and Vang, who had 29,500 back, snap-called with his nines and sixes.
Hellmuth was left with just 15,000 after the hand.
"I didn't think he had many straights in there. I don't think he puts me all-in with straights," Vang later said of the hand. "He also went all-in pretty quick."
He added: "I thought if he had tens-full or quads, he would try to milk jacks plus, so I thought it was a pretty easy call. Just right off my instincts, I thought it was just a call."
The Poker Brat is Dispatched
In Level 8 (600/1,200/1,200), Phil Hellmuth raised to 2,800, and Timothy Stanczak defended his big blind to see a 4♣4♦3♦ flop. Stanczak checked, and Hellmuth bet 5,200. Stanczak then check-raised to 12,200, which had Hellmuth covered. Hellmuth tanked for two minutes before calling off with the K♣J♠, and he needed to improve to overcome Stanczak’s 5♦5♥.
The 8♣ turn wasn’t what Hellmuth was looking for, and neither was the 6♣ river. Just like that, Hellmuth’s run in the Main Event – which came 30 years after he won it back in 1989 – ended abruptly.
888poker Qualifiers Collide
On Day 4 of the Main Event, 888poker qualifier Jason James, who led the 888poker Squad with over a million in chips at the start of the day, collided with fellow 888poker qualifier, Mihai Manole.
It happened when James, who had grown short, raised on the button and Manole defended his big blind to see an A♦9♦5♥ flop. Manole checked and then called a c-bet from James
Both players checked the 7♠ on the turn, and the 10♠ completed the board on the river. Manole checked for the third time, and James bet 75,000. Manole check-raised all-in, and James hit the tank. He eventually called off his last 300,000 with the 9♣7♣ for two pair, and Manole rolled over the 8♥6♥ for a winning straight.
James was eliminated in 755th place for $20,200.
Be sure to check back here at 888poker as we continue to bring you highlights and articles from the 2019 World Series of Poker!
