2023 PCA Hands of the Week: Failed Super High Roller Bluff & a Miracle Turn on Bubble

2023 PCA Hands of the Week: Failed Super High Roller Bluff & a Miracle Turn on Bubble



PokerStars is currently hosting the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), and next week will run the second ever PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) from January 30–February 3. The buy-in for the PSPC will be $25,000, mirroring that of the first installment.

The PokerNews Live Reporting Team has been on-site to offer live updates from a slew of PCA tournaments. Here’s a look at five of the more interesting hands captured in our live updates down there in the Bahamas.

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Follow live updates from the 2023 PCA here!

INSANE! Hu Hits Miracle Turn to Survive Bubble

Anthony Hu
Anthony Hu

On Day 3 of the $10,300 PCA Main Event, it was Level 15 (2,000/4,000/4,000) and on the money bubble (the top 127 finishers from the 889-entry field made the money) when Anthony Hu, in middle position, and Justin Steinbrenner, on the button, got into a raising war preflop, where the former had his 157,000 stack in the middle and was at risk of stone bubbling the PCA Main Event.

The television crew began to swarm the table as well as the other players. After the hands were completed on the rest of the tables, the tournament director instructed the players to table their cards.

Anthony Hu: {a-Spades}{a-Diamonds}
Justin Steinbrenner: {k-Spades}{k-Clubs}

Hu was a huge favorite to get the double up and leave Steinbrenner as a short stack. However, Steinbrenner made a set as the dealer fanned the {k-Hearts}{8-Spades}{6-Clubs} flop. A collective moan came from the room as Hu was on the verge of a huge beat.

“Not like this!” shouted Xuan Liu, in support of Hu, as she looked on.

The entire room then lost their minds as the {a-Clubs} came on the turn to give Hu the better set and Steinbrenner looked disgusted.

“A real TV hand,” commented Hu, with a wry smile on his face.

The {6-Diamonds} completed the board and Hu somehow survived to get the double up.

Find out who cashed the 2023 PCA Main Event here!

Ponakovs Flops Boat to Fatally Wound Vogelsang

Aleksejs Ponakovs
Aleksejs Ponakovs

In Level 1 (500/1,000/1,000) of the $100,000 PCA Super High Roller, Aleksejs Ponakovs opened to 2,500 from under the gun and Christoph Vogelsang three-bet to 7,500 from the next seat. Action folded back to Ponakovs, who four-bet to 20,000. Vogelsang called.

Ponakovs bet 14,000 on the {3-Diamonds}{3-Spades}{10-Spades} flop and Vogelsang called. Ponakovs then bet 20,000 on the {a-Hearts} turn and Vogelsang raised to 60,000. Ponakovs three-bet to 110,000 and Vogelsang four-bet jammed with around a starting stack. Ponakovs called with a slightly larger stack.

Aleksejs Ponakovs: {10-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}
Christoph Vogelsang: {a-Diamonds}{k-Diamonds}

Vogelsang was drawing to just two aces against the flopped full house of Ponakovs and the {8-Clubs} then bricked off on the river to leave Vogelsang short and to earn Ponakovs the first double of the day. Vogelsang wasn’t able to spin it up and was seen leaving the tournament area a few hands later.

Addamo Falls to Thorel in Massive Cooler

Michael Addamo
Michael Addamo

In Level 4 (1,000/2,000/2,000) of the $100K SHR, Michael Addamo opened to 4,500 from the hijack and Mike Watson called on the button before Jean-Noel Thorel three-bet to 12,000 from the big blind. Addamo four-bet to 42,000 and Watson folded. Thorel called.

Thorel checked on the {2-Hearts}{k-Hearts}{3-Hearts} flop and Addamo bet a 10,000 for just a fraction of the pot. Thorel called.

Thorel checked again on the {q-Diamonds} turn and Addamo sized up to 55,000. Thorel check-raised to 110,000 and Addamo used a time bank before re-raising all in. Thorel called with a bigger stack.

Michael Addamo: {k-Spades}{k-Diamonds}
Jean-Noel Thorel: {a-Hearts}{q-Hearts}

Both players had flopped monsters as Addamo had top set and Thorel had the nut flush. The {5-Clubs} river failed to pair the board and Addamo was eliminated after the dealer confirmed the Frenchman had him covered.

Pardo Picks Off Watson’s Colossal Bluff

Mike Watson
Mike Watson

On Day 3 of the $100K SHR, it was Level 18 (25,000/50,000/50,000) when the biggest pot of the tournament up to that point saw Mike Watson losing the majority of his stack to Juan Pardo after a heroic but failed three-bet river bluff.

The action kicked off with Pardo opening to 100,000 in the cutoff before Watson called out of the big blind. Watson checked on the flop of {9-Clubs}{2-Spades}{q-Hearts} and Pardo continued for 75,000. Watson called. Watson checked again on the {2-Diamonds} turn and Pardo checked back.

You may be asking, how did all the chips get in the pot? The river is where the real action began. Watson led out for 110,000 on the {4-Spades} river and Pardo used a time bank before raising to 440,000. Watson then pushed out two stacks of chips for a three-bet to 1,800,000.

Watson’s raise sent Pardo deep in the tank and he used three time banks before calling. Watson showed {9-Hearts}{4-Hearts} for two pair, but Pardo had the {q-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds} for queens and deuces and a better two pair to leave the Canadian as the clear short stack.

Haxton Picks Up Rockets to Double Through Dvoress

Isaac Haxton
Isaac Haxton

In the same level as the hand above, Daniel Dvoress opened to 110,000 in middle position and Isaac Haxton used a time bank before three-betting to 265,000 on the button. Dvoress followed suit in using a time bank before four-bet jamming for 1,615,000. Haxton snapped with a stack of 1,370,000.

Isaac Haxton: {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs}
Daniel Dvoress: {a-Spades}{k-Hearts}

Dvoress let out a groan as he saw he had run into aces and he received no help whatsoever from the runout of {3-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{8-Hearts}{2-Hearts}.

Dvoress thought Haxton had him covered but a laborious count confirmed that he had a few chips left.

“Did I miscount? I would’ve flatted the three-bet,” Dvoress lamented.

“I think you get to re-do the hand if you miscounted!” joked Seth Davies. That hand helped propel Haxton to the winner’s circle, good for a seven-figure payday.

Haxton Continues Heater With 2023 PCA $100K Super High Roller Victory

Name Surname
Chad Holloway

Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.





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Watch ‘Poker Bunny’s’ Erratic Exit from the PCA Main Event

Watch 'Poker Bunny's' Erratic Exit from the PCA Main Event



The often erratic Paulina “Poker Bunny” Loeliger had a lapse in judgment upon busting on Day 3 of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event.

Upon tanking for a few minutes when facing a wager for her entire stack against Daniel Custodio, a clock was called and she called only to find out that her hand was no good. For some reason, however, she didn’t simply table her cards and just walk away. Instead, she quickly shoved her cards facedown under the deck in the muck before pushing one card back in her direction, then attempted to push her other card back before the dealer grabbed it.

Loeliger then reached across the table in the direction of the chips in the pot but the dealer again prevented that from happening. What exactly she was trying to accomplish is known only to Loeliger, but it caused a little stir at the table.

PokerNews was there and captured a video of the incident.

Seconds later, she quietly walked away from the table without incident, but the tournament director at the Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas gave Loeliger a warning about her behavior after she entered the $3,000 PCA Mystery Bounty.

The board read {4-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{2-Spades}{3-Spades}{6-Hearts} when the action was caught, and Custodio turned over {a-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} for trips. Loeliger then attempted to send her cards facedown directly into the muck, but the dealer gave her resistance. She then swiped at the pot before exiting. Her cards were eventually exposed as {a-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} for two small pairs.

It’s unclear why Loeliger was attempting to accomplish or why she behaved in such a manner. Either way, she was out of the $10,300 buy-in tournament on Day 3, a bit short of the money.

Controversial Poker Player

Paulina Loeliger poker bunny
Paulina Loeliger (aka \”Poker Bunny\”)

Poker Bunny has a lengthy history of questionable behavior, both on the felt and on social media. She’s appeared on Hustler Casino Live many times, including a Max Pain Monday episode last week. Loeliger was a guest on the Nick Vertucci Show earlier this week, where she openly denied claims regarding poker staking.

“I’ve used my sexuality to get ahead in poker, just not to get buy-ins,” Loeliger told Nick Vertucci.

According to the Tracking Poker database, Poker Bunny is down just over $14,000 in 11 Hustler Casino Live sessions. As a live tournament player, she’s cashed for $94,000, per Hendon Mob, but her profits or losses are unknown.

Loeliger is a controversial figure in poker. Some enjoy her act, while others consider it childish and annoying. She often receives the same type of criticism as fellow polarizing players such as Phil Hellmuth.

That said, much like Hellmuth, she has plenty of fans, albeit a significantly smaller amount, who defends her actions.

View PokerNews PCA Main Event Live Coverage





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QUEEN ON THE FLOP, KING ON THE TURN?! 🤯 | $10,300 Main Event Day 2 Highlights | PokerStars PCA 2023 | Videos

QUEEN ON THE FLOP, KING ON THE TURN?! 🤯 | $10,300 Main Event Day 2 Highlights | PokerStars PCA 2023 | Videos


Another busy day during the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) festival at the lavish Baha Mar Resort in The Bahamas has all but concluded. The flagship 2023 PCA $10,300 Main Event is one step closer to crowning a champion and a massive flow of new entries boosted the attendance significantly during the first two levels on Day 2.

Thanks to 249 new entries and re-entries, a total field size of 889 entries emerged and that tally surpassed the 865 entries of the previous edition in 2019. No portion of the $8,623,300 prize pool has been awarded yet but the money bubble will be looming early on Day 3 as the number of hopefuls has been whittled down all the way to just 151 remaining contenders.





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Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman Plays 17 Days Straight to Win PSPC Platinum Pass

Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman Plays 17 Days Straight to Win PSPC Platinum Pass



The PokerStars’ Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) will take place from January 30–February 3 at the beautiful Baha Mar Hotel and Resort, in Nassau, Bahamas. The PSPC will be welcoming high-stakes pros and amateurs alike, with a special group that won their entrance into the $25,000 buy-in event, with life-changing money for whoever comes in first.

The PSPC has been on hold for the past three years, with some Platinum Pass winners waiting for their chance to play the event of their lives.

PokerStars Ambassador Ramon Colillas won the first PSPC, which was first held in 2019 during the PCA Festival. The now 35-year-old Colillas won a staggering $5.1 million after beating a field that boasted 1,039 players. The inaugural PSPC was also a unique event, combining Platinum Pass qualifiers and satellite winners with $25,000 high-roller regulars. This will hold true for the 2023 PSPC as well.

Jonathan Newman won his Platinum Pass as the winner of PokerStars ONCOOP (Ontario Championship Of Online Poker) Leader Boards promotion. His Platinum Pass package is worth $30,000. It includes:

  • Buy-in to the $25,000 PSPC
  • Six-nights hotel accommodation for winner and a guest in a 5-star hotel
  • Airport transfer
  • $1,900 expense money
  • Platinum Pass Winner experiences during the event

19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. For more information and support, visit www.gamblingtherapy.org

Click here for more on the 2023 PCA & PSPC!

Q&A w/Jonathan Newman

PokerNews: Can you tell us a bit about yourself (i.e. age, location, family, education, work, etc.)?

Jonathan Newman: I’m a 30-year-old poker player from Toronto, Canada. I was lucky to grow up with a great family – my dad was a doctor, and my mom was a teacher and professional musician. My family mostly consists of professionals with degrees, and I decided to follow a similar trajectory by getting a BA in Political Studies from Queen’s University as well as a Master’s in Teaching from the University of Toronto. I taught full-time for about six years before transitioning towards poker last year.

PN: How’d you get the mental and physical stamina to make it 17 days in a row online to end up clinching the title of winner of ONCOOP Leader Boards promotion and the coveted Platinum Pass?

JN: A strength of mine is being able to stay calm and level-headed while playing. From the beginning, I approached it like a marathon, not a sprint. I tried to remain even-keeled day to day. I was also constantly checking in on my mental state. Was I feeling frustrated, tired, or unfocused? Was that because of my diet, exercise, or sleep? When things were tough, I thought about how playing poker was much easier than teaching during the pandemic. Every day I just felt grateful that I even had this opportunity to chase the leaderboard.

PN: When and how did you learn to play poker?

JN: I learned to play poker when I was 14 at summer camp. We would play poker in the cabins and bet our tuck (candy), which was tons of fun. I was a massive whale back then and I punted off more than a few kit-kat bars! I was always fascinated by the game, but I only started taking it more seriously when I was working full-time in 2017 and felt like I could risk small amounts of money more comfortably. My game took off the most when I reached out to some very good players willing to study with me.

Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman
Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman and other Ontario platinum pass winners at a Toronto meet up.

PN: How long have you been playing on PokerStars and what inspired you to join in the first place?

JN: My first recorded tournament cash was in 2017 on PokerStars. The main reason I joined was because I started watching a lot of Twitch and learned from those players. My favorites at the time were Kevin Martin, Parker Talbot, Jaime Staples, and AllinPav. I gravitated toward the streamers who explained their thought processes. A lot of my favorite players were Stars Pros, and the software always looked the most visually appealing so that’s where I put most of my volume!

PN: Is this your first tournament outside of Canada? What does this opportunity mean to you?

JN: This is my first tournament outside of Canada. The opportunity means the world to me. I always dreamed about playing in a big live event, and honestly, I never thought I would be playing a 25k buy-in. Getting to go to the Bahamas is incredibly fortunate, I have run well in so many areas of my life for that to happen.

PN: Have you ever played in any other major poker tournaments?

JN: As far as live poker, my experience is limited. I played a few local tournaments in Ontario before the pandemic. That said I’ve played a ton online!

PN: How and when did you decide to transition from being an elementary school teacher to playing poker full-time?

JN: Teaching during the pandemic was getting very grueling, and my dream was always to try playing poker full-time. I’m 30 now, felt like I had my finances in order, and thought that if I didn’t give myself the shot right now, when would I ever take that risk? Luckily things have worked out well so far.

“I spend most of my time playing and studying the game, so being around people who are just as obsessed with poker as I am is really exciting!”

PN: What’s your proudest poker accomplishment to date?

JN: My proudest accomplishment was winning the ONCOOP leaderboard. That showed consistency, dedication, and mental toughness. I was able to win six events overall and four within the span of two days. Even though I ran well in important spots, I managed to close out events and compete with the best players in Ontario. It was a great feeling.

PN: Aside from maybe winning, what are you most looking forward to about your upcoming PSPC stop? Any poker pros you would like to meet? If so, why would you like to meet them?

JN: I am looking forward to being in an environment surrounded by high-level poker players. I spend most of my time playing and studying the game, so being around people who are just as obsessed with poker as I am is really exciting! There are so many players I would love to meet, but I’m not sure who will be in the Bahamas.

The player I most look up to in terms of style and approach is Patrick Leonard. I would love to meet some high rollers and pick their brain. These players are at the top of the game for a reason – people like Kevin Rabichow, Jason Koon, Nick Petrangelo. I also want to meet “tonkaaaaP” (Parker Talbot), Spraggy (Ben Spragg) and Sam Grafton. They are amazing poker players and also incredibly funny people.

I got to hang out with Arlie Shaban at the PSPC winner’s meet-up at Jenn Carter’s house, which was an amazing experience. There are so many great people in poker!

PN: Will any friends or family be joining you in the Bahamas?

JN: Two of my closest friends Mike and Ian are joining me in the Bahamas. I’m so excited that I get to share this amazing experience with people who mean a lot to me!

*Images courtesy of Jonathan Newman.

Ontario iGaming

Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. PokerStars Ontario operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario.

For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage

Name Surname
Christina Bradfield

Editor

Christina is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer who discovered poker at the age of twelve. She’s been a contributor to PokerNews since 2022.





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“TheMoeQasem” Takes Down Huge $200K Mystery Bounty Event at 888poker

"TheMoeQasem" Takes Down Huge $200K Mystery Bounty Event at 888poker



“TheMoeQasem” of the United Arab Emirates is the biggest winner of the 888poker XL Winter series so far courtesy of taking down the $200,000 Mystery Bounty event. Last week, an overlay looked likely, but 1,380 entries resulted in a guarantee-busting $207,000 prize pool, and TheMoeQasem got their hands on $20,585 of that pot.

Half of the $207,000 went into the main prize pool, with the remaining 50% placed in sealed envelopes and awarded as mystery bounties. Players that made it through to Day 2 got to open one of those prize-awarded envelopes if they eliminated an opponent from the field.

Each of the mystery bounties was worth at least $200, with a cool $20,000 jackpot awaiting one lucky player.

Bounty Amount No. of Prizes
$20,000 1
$6,000 2
$2,000 6
$600 20
$200 45
$216 162

Brazil’s “feldegani.ps” received one of the largest bounties, $6,000, before busting in 107th place. They walked away with $6,432 despite collecting only $321 from the main prize pool. Eventual fifth-place finisher “perrivini” also received $6,432 worth of bounties, but the biggest success story was “9salute46” of Ireland who pulled out the $20,000 mystery bounty. Their total haul weighed in at $20,553, only $3 less than the eventual champion took home!

$200,000 XL Winter #17 Mystery Bounty 8-Max Final Table

Place Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize
1 TheMoeQasem UAE $3,112 $17,473 $20,585
2 Sonde Belarus $3,064 $12,733 $15,797
3 Nathjb United Kingdom $2,128 $9,341 $11,469
4 magoooo12 Ireland $1,248 $6,869 $8,117
5 perrivini Brazil $6,432 $5,082 $11,514
6 NgoloforGB Malta $416 $3,766 $4,182
7 jsj588 Ukraine $1,064 $2,803 $3,867
8 lelecones7 Brazil $1,048 $2,086 $3,134
9 JonEBrad United Kingdom $1,712 $1,583 $3,295

Each of the nine players at the final table of the $200,000 Mystery Bounty saw their $160 investment swell to more than $3,000 with bounties included. “JonEBrad” saw their time at the final table limited because they were the first player heading out of the door.

“lelecones,” “jsj588,” and “NgoloforGB” joined the ever-growing list of eliminated players. There was a significant jump in prizes from sixth to fifth-place onwards. NgoloforGB” collected $4,182 when they fell in sixth, but “perrivini” netted $11,514 thanks mostly to the $6,432 worth of scalps they opened, as mentioned earlier.

“magoooo12” of Ireland reeled in an $8,117 score for their fourth-place finish, with “Nathjb” scooping $11,469 when they fell in third. Heads-up pitted TheMoeQasem against “Sonde” of Belarus. TheMoeQasem got he job done and their hands on $20,585, leaving Sonde to win a $15,797 consolation prize.

888poker Casts The Wizard’s Spell and Gives Away $300,000

XL Winter Results So Far

Through 21 numbered events, the 888poker XL Winter series has seen 11,379 players, including re-entries, buy into those tournaments. 888poker has awarded an impressive $771,880 across those 21 tournaments, a number that is guaranteed to burst through the $1 million barrier by some distance because the $500,000 Main Event is still yet to play out!

Event Buy-in Entrants Prize Pool Champion Country Prize
#01 $50,000 Mystery Bounty Mini Opening $55 1,135 $56,750 VERYPOTATO Lithuania $5,337*
#02 $120,000 Mystery Bounty Opener $109 1,174 $120,000 ovidiu_maciu Romania $12,758*
#03 $50,000 Mystery Bounty HR Opener $525 97 $50,000 Raise1In Lithuania $18,875*
#04 $20,000 PKO 8-Max $109 276 $27,600 CoCoMic Romania $4,347*
#05 $5,000 PKO 8-Max Mini $1 564 $5,640 Notfor Germany $885*
#06 $30,000 Mystery Bounty Turbo Deep $320 102 $30,600 bucurestean Romania $7,254*
#07 $12,000 Mystery Bounty Turbo Deep Mini $33 421 $12,630 FullMoonSky Lithuania $1,613*
#08 $15,000 6-Max $109 190 $19,000 Ydavidy77 Sweden $4,940
#09 $7,500 6-Max Mini $33 272 $8,160 fscheifer1 Brazil $1,876
#10 $20,000 Mystery Bounty $55 489 $24,450 01100 Thailand $3,114*
#11 $5,000 Mystery Bounty Mini $5.50 1,304 $6,530 Danija888 Austria $721*
#12 $35,000 High Roller $1,050 30 $35,000 WalnutPix Canada $14,000
#13 $20,000 Mystery Bounty Mini 8-Max $11 1,957 $20,000 brunocasadei Brazil $1,534*
#14 $45,000 Mystery Bounty HR 8-Max $525 83 $45,000 skacas Lithuania $13,612*
#15 $20,000 PKO $109 272 $27,200 Knudi1979 Germany $5,420*
#16 $5,000 PKO Mini $11 610 $6,100 wackworm376 Germany $1,009*
#17 $200,000 Mystery Bounty 8-Max $160 1,380 $207,000 TheMoeQasem $20,585*  
#18 $30,000 Mystery Bounty $320 93 $30,000 sNap36484 $7,521*  
#19 $12,000 Mystery Bounty Mini $33 455 $13,650 KryderURSS $2,152*  
#20 $15,000 Super KO 8-Max $109 176 $17,600 AlexGC89 Romania $2,364*
#21 $7,500 Super KO 8-Max Mini $33 299 $8,970 STFPS Romania $1,073*

$88 Free Plus a $400 Welcome Bonus

Now is the perfect time to join 888poker if you have not already done so. Download 888poker via PokerNews, create your free account, and 888poker will give you a free $88 worth of cash game and tournament tickets – this is a free £20 for residents of the United Kingdom – just for reaching this stage.

Your first deposit is matched 100% up to $400 in the form or a releasable bonus. You have 90 days to release as much bonus as you can. Contact 888poker support for more details.





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Kulev Leads PCA Main Event After Day 2; Greenwood Tops $50K Chip Counts

Kulev Leads PCA Main Event After Day 2; Greenwood Tops $50K Chip Counts



Alex Kulev is the player to catch in the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event going into Day 3. The Ireland-based Bulgarian bagged up a tournament-leading 704,000 stack (235 big blinds) after the curtain came down on an exciting Day 2.

Some 249 new entries and re-entries took advantage of the late registration period and bought in on Day 2, taking the total attendance for the 2023 PCA Main Event to 889, surpassing the 865 entries from the 2019 edition. Only 151 of those hopefuls finished the day with chips in front of them, each now within touching distance of receiving a slice of the $8,623,300 prize pool.

PCA Main Event Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds
1 Alex Kulev Bulgaria 704,000 235
2 Ehsan Amiri Australia 518,000 173
3 Evan Sparling Canada 469,000 156
4 Christoph Csik United States 451,500 151
5 Chino Rheem United States 428,500 143
6 Dean Murphy Canada 411,000 137
7 Michael Rocco United States 408,000 136
8 Chance Kornuth United States 380,000 127
9 Mustapha Kanit Italy 366,900 122
10 Mauricio Ferreira Pais Germany 366,500 122

Kulev has a realistic chance of following in Dimitar Danchev‘s footsteps in becoming a Bulgarian PCA Main Event champion. Danchev triumphed in 2013, and has progressed to Day 3 this year, albeit with a much shorter stack (93,000) than Kulev.

Chino Rheem
2019 PCA Main Event champion Chino Rheem

Australia’s Ehsan Amiri (518,000) is the player closest to Kulev in the overnight chip counts. Such luminaries as the 2019 PCA Main Event champion Chino Rheem (428,500), Michael Rocco (408,000), Chance Kornuth (380,000), and Mustapha Kanit (366,900) head into Day 3 with a top ten stack.

The Day 3 field is littered with stellar names, all of whom will have a say in where the $1,500,000 top prize heads. Day 1A chip leader Andre Marques (363,000), Andrew Moreno (328,000), Anton Wigg (286,500), Nick Petrangelo (261,500), Elio Fox (234,000), and Maria Konnikova (206,000) each have more than 200,000 chips in their arsenal.

Maria Ho
Maria Ho

Others like Fabian Quoss (112,500), Seth Davies (110,000), Maria Ho (96,500), Isaac Haxton (88,000), Joe McKeehen (86,500), and Jason Mercier (64,500) have some grinding to do to make it through to Day 4.

Three PokerStars ambassadors punched their Day 3 tickets, too. Former PSPC champion Ramon Colillas (236,000) is the best-placed of the Red Spade trio. Andre Akkari (123,500) and Sam Grafton (119,000) are also still in contention.

Play resumes at 12:00 p.m. local time on January 26, with the money bubble predicted to burst early into the action as 127 of the 151 returnees are paid. Don’t miss any of the 2023 PCA Main Event action by tuning into the PokerNews live updates.

Greenwood Rises to the Top in the $50,000 7-Handed Event

Sam Greenwood
Sam Greenwood

A compact field of 18 entrants battled it out in the $50,000 7-Handed event, and 12 of those starters made it through unscathed. Late registration remains open for the first two levels of Day 2, so it is likely the attendance will grow as busted PCA Main Event players take another shot at glory in The Bahamas.

Sam Greenwood fared the best on Day 1, finishing with 329,000 chips, 40,000 more than Dan Smith in second place. Mikita Badziakouski (287,000), Jonathan Jaffe (285,000), and Fedor Holz (256,000) round out the top five going into the second day’s play.

Stephen Chidwick
Stephen Chidwick

January 25 was not a day to remember for Stephen Chidwick. The British superstars fired two $50,000 bullets but still found himself watching the conclusion of the day from the sidelines. At least he had the company of Timothy Adams, Ben Heath, Cary Katz, and Imad Derwiche, who all crashed out. Those five high rollers can take another bite of the cherry if they so wish.

Full Chip Counts after Day 1

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds
1 Sam Greenwood Canada 329,000 82
2 Dan Smith United States 289,000 72
3 Mikita Badziakouski Belarus 287,000 72
4 Jonathan Jaffe United States 285,000 71
5 Fedor Holz Germany 256,000 64
6 Conor Beresford United Kingdom 233,000 58
7 Sean Winter United States 222,000 55
8 Michael Addamo Australia 220,000 55
9 Daniel Dvoress Canada 213,000 53
10 Juan Pardo Spain 143,000 38
11 Christoph Vogelsang Germany 124,000 31
12 Kannapong Thanarattrakul Thailand 114,000 28

Play resumes at 2:00 p.m. local time on January 26, and you can follow all of the action, as it happens, right here at PokerNews.





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Iconic Commentator Gabe Kaplan is Retiring from High Stakes Poker

Iconic Commentator Gabe Kaplan is Retiring from High Stakes Poker



All good things must come to an end, and for Gabe Kaplan, the long-time voice of High Stakes Poker, the time to retire is now.

PokerGO disclosed in a press release that the legendary voice of one of poker’s most iconic shows is stepping down from his role effective immediately. No replacement has been determined but is expected to be announced in the near future.

Kaplan, along with his partner AJ Benza, announced together the Season 10 premiere episode on Tuesday night. For those who watched the show, it will apparently be the last time you’ll hear his commentary.

Check out the High Stakes Poker Season 10 Premiere Episode Recap here!

From Actor and Poker Player to Commentator

Gabe Kaplan high stakes poker
Gabe Kaplan

The now retired poker announcer, 77, grew up in Brooklyn, New York and dreamed of one day becoming a Major League Baseball star. He wasn’t athletic enough to achieve those goals, but he did put together a successful career in multiple industries.

Long before his days of poker commentary, he famously played the role of “Gabe Kotter” in the hit 1970s sitcom Welcome Back Kotter. In the 1980s and 1990s, he played poker almost religiously, and was considered a much better pro back then than his goofy TV image may have indicated.

Kaplan won the $10,000 buy-in Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker tournament for $190,000 in 1980 and has nearly $2 million in live tournament cashes, according to the Hendon Mob.

Kaplan’s poker broadcasting career began in the 1990s with his commentary of the World Series of Poker on ESPN. After Stu Ungar’s shocking 1997 WSOP Main Event victory, Kaplan memorably asked the three-time world champion who had fallen on hard times due to drug addiction if his life will go differently moving forward.

“Well, I hope so,” Ungar responded, not exactly expressing confidence.

Ungar tragically passed away in Las Vegas less than a year later at the age of 45. Kaplan, a personal friend of the Poker Hall of Famer, would go on to host High Stakes Poker alongside Benza starting in 2006 on the Game Show Network.

The duo would complete the first five seasons together during poker’s greatest era. High Stakes Poker was an instant hit and still to this day considered by many the greatest show in poker history.

Listen to Mori Eskandani on the PN Podcast here!

History of High Stakes Poker

Benza and Kaplan formed a comedic duo and fans loved their sarcastic humor, witty banter, and overall chemistry. In Season 6, Kaplan was paired with Kara Scott as Benza stepped away. Comedian Norm Macdonald, an avid poker enthusiast and former Saturday Night Live cast member who passed away in 2021, was the sole host in Season 7 (2011).

Much like Poker After Dark, which aired on NBC during the poker boom era, High Stakes Poker lost its main advertisers following Black Friday (April 15, 2011), and Game Show Network pulled the plug on the show.

In 2020, legendary poker TV producer Mori Eskandani revived the show and brought Season 8 to PokerGO, and he brought back both Kaplan and Benza as co-hosts.

The duo would host the show together again last year during Season 9 and then one last time for the premiere episode of Season 10 Tuesday night.

PokerGO will announce Kaplan’s replacement for the remainder of Season 10 next week. The next episode is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Possible replacements may include Ali Nejad, Lon McEachern, or perhaps a broadcaster from outside the poker industry.





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ISAAC HAXTON ON A HOT STREAK 🔥 | $100,000 SHR | PokerStars PCA 2023 | Videos

ISAAC HAXTON ON A HOT STREAK 🔥 | $100,000 SHR | PokerStars PCA 2023 | Videos


The first High Roller of the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure wrapped up today with $100,000 PCA Super High Roller, an event that saw three players taking home seven figures after an ICM chop between Isaac Haxton ($1,082,230), Seth Davies ($1,078,347) and Adrian Mateos ($1,095,903). The players agreed to play out the tournament turbo-style and in the end it was Haxton who took home the shimmering golden trophy.

Haxton has had as good of a start to the new year as anyone could hope for as on Jan. 20 he took down a PokerGO Cup $50,000 high roller in Las Vegas for $598,000. Less than a week later, the American takes home nearly double that after getting through the field of 49 runners and navigating a six-handed final table on Day 3.





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PokerStars Debuts Zoom Poker for Players in Merged Michigan-new Jersey Player Pool

PokerStars Debuts Zoom Poker for Players in Merged Michigan-new Jersey Player Pool



Right now, PokerStars is hosting the PSPC Online for players in both Pennsylvania and the combined Michigan-New Jersey network. That series has proved a big success continually smashing their guarantees, and with the increased traffic they decided it was the perfect time to launch a new offering.

PokerStars players in Michigan and New Jersey are now able to play Zoom poker for a limited time. Zoom poker, the fast-paced cash game format, allows players seeking a fast-paced game the chance to immediately move to a new hand, at a new table once a player folds their hand.

Players can click ‘Fast Fold’, which allows them to fold even when it is not their turn to act. With buy-ins starting at $2, up to $200, players can earn double points on PokerStars right now. Zoom Early Bird is available for the first 10 players who start or join a Zoom pool for 10 minutes after opening, making them eligible earn 2x rewards points during the first 10 minutes of play.

Zoom on PokerStars – It’s Not Just for Cash Games!

Top Tips for Beating Fast-Fold Poker

To improve your chances of beating low-stakes fast-fold poker, you should…

  • Remember that it is, for the most part, the same game as “normal” poker
  • Remember that players generally play tighter, particularly in three-bet pots
  • Know position is still as crucial to success as ever
  • Make notes, which will be of great help
  • Steal liberally from late position unless you have notes dissuading you from doing so
  • Three-bet late position raises lighter than you would usually
  • Take plenty of stabs on the flop with continuation bets
  • Size bets smaller for button steals and continuation bets

For more information, be sure to check out this handy strategy guide!

More on the PSPC Online Series

PSPC Online

The PSPC Online is currently underway on the PokerStars platform for players in New Jersey and Michigan as well as Pennsylvania. The series has so far seen over 28,000 entries across Shared Liquidity (NJ + MI) and PA with 89 events producing a $2,455,234 prize pool.

A guaranteed $1,961,000 is still up for grabs for the remaining 68 events. There are still chances to win entry to the Main Event, taking place Sunday 29, through $2.50 Spin and Go’s running around the clock. Satellites for all main events are available for registration now.

PokerStars PSPC Online Events Smashing Guarantees in Pennsylvania

Name Surname
Chad Holloway

Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.





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RunGood Dream Seat Invitational to Award Seat to PGT Million Dollar Freeroll

RunGood Dream Seat Invitational to Award Seat to PGT Million Dollar Freeroll



With the latest RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) season already underway, the mid-stakes poker stop announced a partnership that will surely encourage RunGood grinders to play their A-game. That’s because winning an RGPS Ring Event or Main Event this year could earn them a seat into the PokerGO Tour (PGT) Championship Million Dollar Freeroll at the end of the year inside PokerGO Studio.

PokerGO will be awarding a “Dream Seat” as an added prize for the winner of the 2023 RunGood Dream Seat Invitational, which will take place at California’s Thunder Valley Casino Resort in November.

“The RunGood Poker Series is ecstatic to partner with PokerGO to give one of our players an incredibly unique experience to compete in the PGT Championship Million Dollar Freeroll,” RunGood President Tana Karn said in a press release. “As poker’s leading mid-major poker tour, we are always looking for ways to raise the bar. The RGPS Dream Seat Invitational allows us to do just that while celebrating our ring winners.”

“Tana Karn and his team at RunGood continue to do great things with the spectacular RunGood Poker Series events they put on across the country,” said PokerGO President Mori Eskandani, a recent guest on the PokerNews Podcast. “We are excited to sweeten the pot for RGPS ring winners and bring one special champion to compete in the PGT Championship alongside some of the biggest names in the game.”

Listen to PokerGO President Mori Eskandani on the PN Podcast!

Chance of a Lifetime

There are two ways to win a seat into the 2023 RunGood Dream Seat invitational. The first is to win one of the dozens of RGPS Ring events this year at stops around the country.

The second is to take down an RGPS Main Event, which will also earn the winner a $200 travel stipend, airport transportation and a night stay at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.

Thunder Valley Poker Room
Thunder Valley Poker Room

The lucky and skilled winner of the RunGood Dream Seat Invitational will find themselves playing against many of the best players in the world. The only other way to win a seat into the Million Dollar Freeroll is to be ranked in the top 40 at the end of the 2023 PGT Season.

Currently leading the way on the PGT leaderboard is Anthony Hu (454 points), Alex Foxen (393 points) and Punnat Punsri (335 points).

There are plenty of opportunities to win the seat into the RunGood Dream Seat invitational. RGPS stops this year include Hard Rock Tulsa, Jamul Casino, Horseshoe Tunica, Graton Casino and Downstream Casino Joplin.

For more information about RGPS stops this year, visit rungood.com/pages/events.





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