The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is two weeks in, and with dozens of tournaments having played out it was no surprise to see a ton of big hands capture the attention of the poker world.
We at 888poker have taken some time to watch the live streams, scour the updates, and scroll through social media to find eight of either the biggest or most entertaining hands from Week 3 of the 50th Annual WSOP.
A Bad Beat for Reichard
Josh Reichard is one of the most accomplished players on the Mid-Major circuit. He has 11 WSOP Circuit gold rings, a Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) victory, and a Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) title. At the 2019 WSOP, he very nearly added a gold bracelet to his long list of accomplishments.
In Event #19: $1,500 Millionaire Maker, just two tables remained out of the 8,809 runners when, in Level 36 (250,000/500,000/500,000), Kazuki Ikeuchi raised to 1.2 million and Reichard three-bet to 3.25 million. Ikeuchi thought for more than a minute before moving all in and Reichard quickly called to create a nearly 39 million pot.
Ikeuchi: A♥Q♣
Reichard: A♠K♠
Reichard was primed to win a monster and pull out to a big chip lead, but then the flop fell 9♣Q♦A♣ to give Ikeuchi two pair. Neither the 3♥ turn nor 3♣ river helped Reichard and he took a big hit. Reichard eventually bowed out in ninth place for $122,375 while Ikeuchi went on to finish as runner-up for $830,783.
Ill-Timed Bluff for Josh Thibodaux
Also, in the 2019 WSOP Millionaire Maker, five players remained in Level 41 (800,000/1,600,000/1,600,000) when Ikeuchi, the big chip leader, raised to 3.5 million under the gun and Josh Thibodaux, who sat second in chips, called from the button. Both blinds folded and the flop came down K♦10♦K♥.
Ikeuchi bet 3.3 million, Thibodaux called, and the 10♥ paired the board on the turn. Ikeuchi checked and Thibodaux bet 5.2 million. Ikeuchi woke up with a min-check-raise to 10.4 million and Thibodaux moved all in for 29.3 million. Ikeuchi snap-called.
Ikeuchi: K♣8♠
Thibodaux: Q♠9♠
Thibodaux bluffed at it and paid the price as he was drawing dead to Ikeuchi’s full boat. The meaningless 2♣ was run out on the river and Thibodaux hit the rail in fifth place for $350,758.
Big Slick Does the Trick for Korenev
During heads-up play of the 2019 WSOP Event #26: $2,620 NLH Marathon, a tournament that drew 1,083 entries, the final table lasted a lengthy 419 hands before it came to a head. In Level 33 (125,000/250,000/250,000), Minnesota’s Jared Koppel limped the button holding the J♣10♠ and Roman Korenev raised to 1 million from the big blind with the A♥K♥.
Koppel called, the flop fell J♠8♦7♣, and Korenev checked. Koppel bet 1 million. Korenev called and then checked after the K♠ turn gave him the lead. Koppel jammed for 3.9 million and Korenev snap-called.
There had been a dozen double ups during heads-up play, many coming from behind, but there wouldn’t be a 13th as the A♣ river improved Korenev to two pair. Koppel took home $295,008 for his runner-up finish while Korenev captured the bracelet and $477,401 first-place prize.
WSOP Europe Champ Makes Incredible Bluff
Arguably the most talked about hand from Week 3 of the 2019 WSOP came from Day 3 of Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em. In Level 24 (15,000/30,000/30,000) the board read 9♣8♠6♥K♥3♠ and there was roughly 300K in the pot.
Bob Shao checked from the big blind and 2018 WSOP Europe champ Jack Sinclair bet 190,000 from the button. Shao woke up with a check-raise to 600,000 and left himself just 305,000 behind.
Sinclair raised for a few beats before moving all in and Shao hit the tank for eight minutes before folding.
“Now is a good time to show a bluff,” someone at the table said. Sinclair obliged by showing the A♦10♦ for ace high!
Lambard with Gusto in the Shootout
In Event #36: $3,000 NLH Shootout, action was heads-up in Level 43 (60,000/120,000/120,000) when John Guilbert limped holding the 7♠4♣ and David Lambard checked his option with the 5♥3♦. The flop came down K♦7♥4♠ and Lambard led out for 150,000 with his gutshot straight.
Guilbert, who had flopped two pair, called and the 8♣ appeared on the turn. Lambard slowed down with a check and Guilbert bet 625,000 with his two pair. Lambard then woke up with an all-in check-raise and Guilbert, who had 1.79 million back, was put to the test. Eventually he laid down his two pair and Lambard’s bluff got through.
In the very next hand, Guilbert was eliminated in second place for $128,042 while Lambard took home the bracelet and $207,193 in prize money.
Busting with the Best Hand
On Day 2 of Event #39: $1,000 Super Seniors, it was Level 15 (2,000/4,000/4,000) and the money bubble was approaching. Russell Burns was all in on an 8♣Q♦5♦ flop holding the K♦K♥ against Vasili Lazarou, who had the A♥Q♥.
The 7♦ and A♦ completed the board on the turn and river respectively, and Burns headed for the exit after seeing his opponent make two pair. The dealer even awarded Lazarou the pot before someone spoke up and said that Burns had in fact hit a runner-runner flush to double.
The floor was called and after a 20-minute review process it was confirmed that was indeed the case. Burns, who was nowhere to be found, was awarded the 95,000 pot to his former seat. Officials attempted to make contact, but Burns never showed back up and his stack was blinded off.
Poker Brat Erupts Against Back-to-Back Flack
In Event #43: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet, the game was pot-limit 2-7 Triple Draw when Layne Flack raised to 3,000 from the button and Ray Henson called from the small blind. A short-stacked Phil Hellmuth then raised the pot from the big blind, Flack repotted, and Henson folded. Hellmuth called off for approximately 27,000 and drew two. Flack took one.
Flack then patted and Hellmuth drew another two. On the final draw, Flack stood pat again and Hellmuth drew on to his 7x5x3x2x, which he needed to hit to beat Flack’s 9x8x7x6x2x. Unfortunately for the 15-time bracelet winner he could do it as he flipped over an Ax.
“You donkey mother f*****,” Hellmuth exploded. “I bet you think you played your hand good.”
888poker Ambassador Strikes Fear in His Opponents
In Event #42: $600 Mixed NLH/PLO Deepstack, it was a no-limit hold’em hand in Level 17 (3,000/6,000/6,000) when a player in early position opened for 15,000 and 888poker Ambassador three-bet all in for 133,000 from the small blind.
The original raiser tanked for a minute and then laid it down. Granted, this wasn’t the most exciting hand but showed the fear Moorman strikes in his opponents. I mean, what would you do when face with an all-in shove from online poker’s most accomplished tournament player?
Be sure to check back here at 888poker as we continue to bring you highlights and articles from the 2019 World Series of Poker!
