Alan Keating made his High Stakes Poker debut on Tuesday — Episode 13 of Season 10 — where he did some punting, including a huge misstep misreading his hand in a monster pot.

High Stakes Poker returned to its regularly scheduled taped version, five days after PokerGO hosted what turned out to be a controversial live-streamed show.

This week’s episode featured a brand new roster, except for Jean-Robert Bellande who appeared in Episode 12 last week. Joining JRB at the table were Keating, Stanley Tang, Stanley Choi, Eric Hicks, and Jeremy Stein.

Here’s a look at the starting stack sizes when the episode began:

Keating, perhaps the loosest player on the Hustler Casino Live stream, had everyone at the table covered in the $200/$400 cash game, as he usually does.

Tang Bluffs Choi Off Jacks to Get the Show Started

On the first hand of Episode 13, Choi opened to $1,200 with J♠J♥ and then Tang three-bet to $6,000 from the button with A♥J♣. A call was made and the flop came out K♥3♦6♥.

After action checked to the button, Tang continued telling the story that he had something decent as he wagered $4,000. Again, he received a call and both players saw the 10♥ on the turn. Following a check, Tang wagered $30,000, more than the size of the pot, on ace-high with the nut flush draw. That semi-bluff got through as the pocket jacks were sent into the muck.

On the ensuing hand, Bellande found a more favorable result with pocket jacks on a board of Q♥9♥3♠Q♦Q♣ when Hicks bet $20,000 with 9♦8♥. Bellande, with a better full house, raised it to $45,000, which convinced his opponent to fold.

Keating Doesn’t Believe JRB’s Story

In one of the best hands from the thrilling show, Keating put the double straddle on to $1,600 and looked down at A♣8♥ and was facing Bellande’s raise to $4,000 from the button with 9♣7♦. He made the call and heads up to the flop they went.

The first three community cards were 3♦3♣3♠, nothing exciting for either player. Bellande bet $5,000, which didn’t convince ace-high to fold. After the 7♥ was turned over on the turn, JRB had top pair and bet it, this time for $18,000.

Keating continued being stingy and made the call to see the uneventful 5♦ on the river. He checked for a third time and then faced a bet of $60,000. He just wasn’t believing Bellande’s story, so he called only to find out the story JRB was telling wasn’t actually a load of B.S. as he had top pair, which of course beats ace-high.

Alan Keating Wins $1.2 Million Pot on Hustler Casino Live

Tang’s Turn to Take from Keating

It didn’t take long following the ace-high call to lose some more chips. In the next major hand of note, with Tang in the straddle and holding Q♠Q♦, Keating raised from late position to $4,000 with K♥Q♣.

Tang bumped it up to $20,000 before Keating went for a four-bet to $49,000. That led to the DoorDash delivery app founder to move all in for $104,000. The pot-committed Keating made the call and both players agreed to run it twice.

With $213,000 in the pot, the first board came J♥3♥5♠3♣3♠, guaranteeing at least a chop for Tang. He’d then collect the entire pot after the second run out was 6♥3♦10♦4♥2♥.

On the next hand, Tang was all in preflop for a $189,600 pot with A♣Q♣ against Stein, who was holding Q♠Q♦. For the second straight time, the dealer would turn over two boards, and once again the pocket queens won the whole pot. Tang gave back nearly as much as he’d won from the previous all in hand.

Keating Misreads Hand

Keating attempted another play with ace-high, the second time A♦2♣, against Stein, who had A♣K♦. Neither player had a pair on the turn – both with a flush draw – and Keating bet $40,000 into an already bloated pot before his opponent jammed all in for $160,000 total with the nut flush draw.

This time around, the Hustler Casino Live fan favorite wisely chose to fold his ace-high but he still lost a large pot. He then had another misstep with 5♥5♣ on a board of 6♦3♣9♠6♠2♠ when he over-bet $45,000 into a pot of just $15,000.

Bellande, who had the nut flush with A♠7♠, raised to $100,000 and Keating then made a loose call. But it really wasn’t a bad call if you take into consideration that he apparently thought he had a full house.

“I thought I had deuces,” a shocked Keating said as he turned over his cards.

Even commentator Nick Schulman said he believed that Keating simply misread his hand. The usually mellow and upbeat Keating was not in a good mood following that misstep. He expressed frustration with his mistake, an emotion rarely seen from the high-stakes poker player on a televised poker show.

He’d calm down and collect a couple of smaller pots to pick up some momentum, however. But then Bellande would river a better top pair to crack his flopped top pair in a $101,000 pot to end the show. Calling Episode 13 a bad session for Alan Keating would be quite the understatement.

Past High Stakes Poker Recaps

Check out our past recaps from Season 10 of High Stakes Poker on PokerGO:

_{*Images courtesy of PokerGO.}

The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) is returning to Missouri later this month for RGPS Harrah’s Kansas City, the first stop there in over three years, which is scheduled to take place May 16-21.

The latest of the RGPS Checkpoint stops, RGPS Harrah’s Kansas City will culminate with the $200,000 guaranteed $1,100 buy-in Main Event taking place May 19-21. In addition to that, there will be a handful of other ring events with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $500. PokerNews will be on-site provide live updates of the Main Event action.

READ ABOUT JOSHUA KOPP’S VICTORY IN THE RGPS COUNCIL BLUFFS MAIN EVENT!

Plenty of Ring Events

The upcoming RGPS Checkpoint stop will kick off with three events on May 16, including a $250 Seniors Ring Event and a $200 Series Opener No-Limit Hold’em Ring Event. Later in the evening, a $200 Ambassador Bounty Ring Event will take place and will feature special guests holding bounty envelopes containing prizes.

There will be one ring event the next day on May 17, a $400 DeepStack Ring Event that will have two starting flights and a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool up for grabs. There will also be two $60 Turbo Satellites running where players can win a seat into the DeepStack Ring Event.

Other highlights of the series include a $300 One Day NLH Ring Event, a $250 Double Green Chip Bounty Ring Event and a $500 Pot-Limit Omaha Ring Event.

The biggest draw of the stop is the $200,000 guaranteed Main Event, which will feature three starting flights before players return for Day 2 on May 21 in their quest to become the next RGPS champion.

The series will close out with a $400 Black Chip Bounty NLH Ring Event and a $600 Closer NLH Ring Event, both of which will take place on May 21.

Previous Winner

When the RunGood team was last at Harrah’s Kansas City, the $575 Main Event drew 482 runners for a prize pool of $241,003. At the end of it all, Jacob Seale took home the ring and $40,963 after a three-way deal with Ray Rife (2nd – $37,923), Shawn Privat (3rd – $28,369).

Other players who ran deep in the event include Joshua Turner (4th – $17,350), Grant Hart (6th – $9,953) and Zachary Carroll (9th – $4,808).

Before his ring-awarding victory, Seale had a career-high $37,428 cash from finishing runner-up in the RGPS Harrah’s North Kansas City Main Event earlier in the year. He also finished 12th in the 2018 World Series of Poker Event #84: $1,500 The Closer for $37,215.

2019 RGPS Harrah’s Kansas City Final Table Results

_{*Denotes three-handed deal.}

After RGPS Harrah’s Kansas City, the RunGood team will head to Thunder Valley Casino Resort from July 13-31.

The full schedule for the upcoming RGPS Harrah’s Kansas City stop is available in the table below.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest and most prestigious poker event in the world. Every year, thousands of poker players from around the globe descend upon Las Vegas to compete for millions of dollars in prize money. However, with the excitement of the WSOP comes the potential for unhealthy habits, such as drinking, eating junk food, and sitting for long periods of time.

So, PokerNews has penned five top tips on how to stay healthy for the 2023 WSOP.

1. Stay Hydrated

The dry desert climate of Las Vegas can quickly dehydrate you, especially if you’re playing poker for hours on end. Drinking enough water is essential to staying healthy in Las Vegas. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration.

You can also drink coconut water or other electrolyte drinks to help replenish the minerals lost through sweating.

Read More: Some of the Best Poker Players Who Haven’t Won a WSOP Bracelet

2. Eat Well

Las Vegas is known for its buffets and unhealthy food options, but that doesn’t mean you have to indulge in them. Opt for healthy meals and snacks that will keep your energy levels up and your mind sharp.

Look for restaurants that offer healthy options like grilled fish, salads, and vegetable dishes. You can also bring your own healthy snacks like nuts, fruit, and protein bars to keep you going during long poker sessions.

2023 Main Event Maynia Could Be Your Best Chance of Playing at the WSOP

3. Exercise

Sitting for long periods of time can lead to back pain, muscle stiffness, and poor circulation. It’s important to take breaks and get some exercise during the WSOP.

You can hit the gym at your hotel or go for a walk outside to get some fresh air and stretch your legs. You can also try doing some yoga or stretching exercises to help loosen up your muscles.

4. Practice Good Hygiene

The WSOP is a crowded event, and with so many people in close proximity, it’s important to practice good hygiene to avoid getting sick.

Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating or touching your face. Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands. Avoid sharing drinks or food with others, and try to avoid touching your face as much as possible.

5. Get Enough Sleep

Playing poker all day and partying all night may seem like fun, but it can take a toll on your body. Getting enough sleep is crucial to staying healthy and alert during the WSOP. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night to help your body recover and recharge for the next day’s events.

Top Gym Suggestions in Las Vegas

For those staying in hotels, many will be just a few steps away from a gym. However, for players who are staying at AirBnBs or at a friend’s house, you may be at a limb at where to go to exercise.

Las Vegas is home to many high-quality gyms and fitness centers, catering to the needs of locals and visitors alike. Here are some of the best gyms in Las Vegas:

1. Lifetime Athletic: This premium gym is located in the Green Valley area of Las Vegas and offers state-of-the-art equipment, a wide variety of fitness classes, and luxury amenities like a spa, sauna, and steam rooms.
2. 24 Hour Fitness: With several locations throughout Las Vegas, 24 Hour Fitness offers 24-hour access to a range of fitness equipment, including cardio machines, free weights, and resistance training equipment. They also offer a variety of group fitness classes and personal training sessions.
3. LVAC (Las Vegas Athletic Club): LVAC has several locations throughout Las Vegas and is known for its extensive range of equipment and fitness classes, including Pilates, yoga, cycling, and Zumba. They also offer a kids’ club, making it a great option for families.
4. EOS Fitness: With several locations in the Las Vegas area, EOS Fitness offers affordable membership rates and a variety of fitness equipment, classes, and personal training sessions. They also offer amenities like a sauna, steam room, and tanning beds.
5. The Gym: This locally owned and operated gym has two locations in Las Vegas and offers a range of equipment and fitness classes, including martial arts, dance, and yoga. They also have personal trainers available for one-on-one sessions.

Editor & Live Reporter

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.

Five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen shocked the public in July 2022 when he announced that he wouldn’t be defending the title he had held for a decade. And while Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren were at St. Regis Hotel in Kazakhstan last month battling to take his place as supreme leader of the chess world, Carlsen was getting ready for a trip to the sunny Mediterranean coast.

Carlsen is one of less than a hundred players remaining out of a field over 1,098 entries in the EPT Monte Carlo €5,300 Main Event as part of 2023 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) presented by Monte-Carlo Casino®, proving that his analytical genius is far from limited to a 64-square grid.

In his first interview since giving up his World Chess Champion Title, Carlsen sat down with PokerNews and PokerStars for an exclusive look at what the future holds for the 32-year-old Norwegian chess prodigy.

Returning to Monte Carlo

As it turns out, the trip to Monte Carlo was not Carlsen’s first. He came to Monaco 15 years ago, but it was to play a different kind of tournament.

“I came here to this exact location in Monaco in 2007,” Carlsen said, “because I was playing a (chess) tournament here. And I came to watch the European Poker Tour because (Russian chess grandmaster) Alexander Grischuk, who was like back then a top ten (chess) player — (and) is still like a very, very good chess player — he was playing here in the Main Event. So I went to watch him play.”

A decade and a half later, there’s a new grandmaster on the felt.

Carlsen isn’t the only contemporary chess star who has taken a liking to chess. Popular chess streamer Alexandra Botez is also here at EPT Monte Carlo, as is two-time United States Women’s Champion and PokerStars Pro Jen Shahade.

Are there any other chess players who Carlsen thinks would excel at poker?

“I think the current World Champion Ding (Liren) here should be really strong,” he said. “I know from talking to him, he calculates really quickly in chess is really, really good at math. So I’m sure he could do well.”

“An Interesting Challenge”

Widely considered one of the best chess players of all time, it is tempting to draw parallels between Carlsen’s pivot to poker and Michael Jordan’s infamous (and short-lived) early retirement from professional basketball to play Major League Baseball.

But Carlsen, who cited Rafael Nadal, not Jordan, as his greatest sports influence, said such a comparison would be a mistake.

“I have no ambitions in poker,” Carlsen said. “I like playing, it’s an interesting challenge, but I have no ambitions.”

Without ambitions to be one of the poker greats, it doesn’t both Carlsen to play under the spotlight with cameras overhead and viewers at home scrutinizing his play.

“I have no ambitions in poker. I like playing, it’s an interesting challenge, but I have no ambitions.”

“I don’t like to take a lot of pride and my poker,” he said. “So I’m trying to, you know, learn a little bit, so it doesn’t bother me that much. But if I do something really stupid, then that’s to be expected. So that’s fine.”

A Natural On the Felt

Despite his lack of ambition to master the game, Carlsen has demonstrated an impressive aptitude and understanding of poker. During his appearance on Hustler Casino Live last month, Carlsen made a heroic call with just bottom pair against content creator Nick Austin to win a pot of $13,775.

Like a seasoned pro, Carlsen assessed, both in the moment and after the fact, that his opponent would be unlikely to triple barrel with many of his value hands given how the hand played out.

“I sort of thought he was the kind of player who showed who would probably show down some weak one pair of hands you had,” he told PokerNews. “So I thought there was a reasonable chance he was bluffing. And, you know, sometimes … you just feel it. And then sometimes you’re right.”

Even more impressively, Carlsen made these assessments naturally as he admitted that he “(doesn’t) really study.”

“I probably should, but I enjoy, like learning, talking to people about the hand(s) we’re playing.”

Different Games, Similar Strategies

Perhaps Carlsen’s innate abilities at the poker table have to do with the similarities between poker and the game that earned him five World Champion titles.

“I think the similarities between poker and chess are more than people would think,” he said. “Of course, there is perfect information in chess, but still, you make a lot of decisions based on, like, imperfect calculation. So in that sense, it’s a little bit of the same.”

One similarity between tournament poker and some chess formats is the use of shot clocks. As an accomplished blitz player, Carlson has experience making difficult decisions on the fly.

“I played like a little bit (of blitz) with my friends … like during the pandemic,” he said. “And I found it really stressful, really intense.”

Carlsen said he deals with that stress the same way many poker players do: by listening to music.

“I think the similarities between poker and chess are more than people would think. Of course there is perfect information in chess, but still, you make a lot of decisions based on, like, imperfect calculation. So in that sense, it’s it’s a little bit of the same.”

“Usually when I play … blitz chess online or even rapid chess, I like to listen … to music,” said Carlsen. “It sort of helps me calm down and sort of just use my instinct. But here, I’m not sure of that. I feel that I have to think more because I have less knowledge. So I feel that like having some of that noise may just distract me. So I just try to, you know, sit there, follow what’s happening, try and pick up as much as I can.”

Playing on the televised feature table with high-stakes pro Mike Watson to his immediate left and other accomplished players like Mark Teltscher and Oleg Vasylchenko just a few seats over, Carlsen certainly has an uphill battle ahead of him. But if there’s anyone up for the monumental challenge, it may just be the five-time World Chess Champion.

There’s plenty to be excited about on PokerStars US. Last week’s Million Dollar Sunday proved to be a big hit, and this coming Sunday, May 7, there will be two freerolls exclusive to PokerNews Discord members. The freerolls will be held on both PokerStars Pennsylvania and in the Shared Liquidity pool of PokerStars Michigan and PokerStars New Jersey.

The two tournaments, one in Pennsylvania and the other in Michigan and New Jersey, will offer $400 and $600 prize pools respectively that members of the PokerNews Discord can compete for in the exclusive freerolls. The tournaments will take place at 7:00 p.m. ET and will play as No-Limit Hold’em freezeout events.

The events will be password protected and the password will be displayed in the PokerNews Discord ahead of the tournament.

The rapidly growing PokerNews Discord server is a great place to get caught up on what is happening in poker and to participate in the conversation yourself. Join the PokerNews Discord server and get access to PokerStars freerolls in the process!

Get a 100% Deposit Match on PokerStars US

It’s a great time to play on PokerStars US as there will be a deposit match bonus running from April 26-May 3. Players can deposit up to $500 and receive a 100% match, an easy way to double your bankroll right off the bat.

For more information about deposit matches and other online poker bonuses, check out this handy PokerNews guide.

There are other promotions surrounding the upcoming Million Dollar Sunday as well. This month, PokerStars is hosting a special April Egg Hunt contest allowing players to compete for daily prizes of up to $500.

There were some people who thought 888poker had set the guarantees for its Mystery Bounty Weekend Main Events too high, with the $60 edition featuring a $100,000 guarantee, and the $22 Mini Main Event boasting a $50,000 prize pool.

Any worries about hitting those ambitious totals were soon dismissed with 2,418 players turning out for the $60 buy-in event, creating a $132,990 prize pool, and 3,372 entrants in the $22 Mini Main Event building a $67,440 pot!

The $60 buy-in $100,000 guaranteed 888poker Mystery Bounty Weekend Main Event paid out eight mystery bounties worth four figures and a jackpot tipping the scales at a cool $10,000.

Twenty-fourth place finisher “Ungulaitis” and eighth-place finisher “Dimitri1111” helped themselves to $3,000 mystery bounties, with the United Kingdom’s “Mouse32” pulling out a $10,000 score from a golden envelope. That huge payment meant Mouse32 won the second-most prize money despite not reaching the eight-handed final table!

$100,000 Main Event MB Weekend Final Table Results

The final table shuffled up and dealt at 7:00 p.m. BST on May 2, with “Agdchan” leading the way in terms of chip stacks. it took 20 minutes for the first player to be stacked, and the aforementioned Dimitri1111 was that player.

“S3ndL0cation” min-raised with pocket sixes before calling the eight big blind shove from Dimitri1111, which the Romanian made with ace-four of hearts. The board ran out king-high, and S3ndL0ction raked in the pot and reduced the player count by one.

“AlinnC,” also of Romania, fell in seventh ten minutes after Dimitri1111. “LuckmanDie” raised to 2.2 big blinds from late position, AlinnC three-bet to 5.5 big blinds from the small blind, only for “Juliangard” to four-bet jam for 26.3 big blinds from the big blind. LuckmanDie had seen enough and folded, but AlinnC called off the 10.4 big blinds they had behind.

It was ace-jack for AlinnC but the dominating ace-king for Juliangard. A king on the turn proved more than enough to bust AllinC from the tournament.

“KDS.em” was the next to fall after losing all but three big blinds after rivering trip queens and running into the full house of S3ndL0cation. That micro stack went into the middle with ace-jack of clubs from under the gun, and LuckmanDie snap-called from the big blind with pocket nines. LuckmanDie flopped a set and improved to a full house to bust KDS.em.

S3ndL0cation had a 71-big blind stack at the start of five-handed play, but was still the next player heading to the showers. They lost a large percentage of their stack with ace-jack versus Juliangard’s pocket aces in a battle of the blinds, and they never recovered.

They got their last 11 big blinds into the middle with queen-nine on a queen-six-king-nine board, only for Juliangard to snap them off with queen-deuce of clubs having hit a flush on the turn. The river missed S3ndL0cation, and they went from hero to zero, although the $3,666 they bank will go some way to numbing the pain.

Can I Make Money Playing Poker? You can at 888poker

Nothing went right for LuckmanDie after the scheduled break, and they ultimately bowed out in fourth for $5,047. “Agdchan” min-raised under the gun with eight-seven of diamonds, LuckmanDie responded by three-betting all-in for 19 big blinds with pocket fives, only for “keybr” to wake up in the big blind with a pair of kings in the hole. keybr called, the initial raiser folded, and a ten-high board proved no help to the all-in player, leaving only three 888poker players in the hunt for the title.

Those three became two when Agdchan ran into a cooler situation. keybr limped with nine-eight in the mall blind, and Agdchan checked with jack-nine in the big blind. keybr check-raised a one big blind bet to 3.6 big blinds on the four-eight-nine board, and Agdchan called.

The turn was a jack, gifting Agdchan a better two pair. keybr fired a 9.1 big blind bet, and Agdchan called. An eight on the river have keybr a full house, and they bet enough to set their opponent all-in. Agdchan couldn’t find a fold, and called off their 19.8 big blind stack with an expensive second-best hand.

That massive pot left keybr with a colossal 102.6 blind stack against the 18.3 big blinds of Juliangard. Unsurprisingly, it did not take long for the tournament to crown its champion.

The final hand saw keybr open-shove with pocket threes, and Juliangard call off their 13 big blinds with ace-five. A few seconds later, the draw-heavy board had missed Juliangard, leaving keybr to become the 888poker Mystery Bounty Weekend Main Event champion, an accolade that came with $12,502 in cold, hard cash.

Exclusive PokerNews 888poker Freeroll Passwords for May 2023

Brazilians Dominate Mystery Bounty Weekend Mini Main Event

888poker is hugely popular with Brazilian players, and make no wonder when they dominate a tournament as prestigious as the $50,000 Mystery Bounty Weekend Mini Main Event. Some 3,372 entrants created a guarantee-busting $67,440, and a large chunk of that money is now in Brazilian players’ 888poker accounts.

Five of the eight finalists had a Brazilian flag next to their names, including the champion. “marcelowo14” defeated their fellow countryman heads-up to capture a $6,310 prize, with second-place weighing in at $4,661, an impressive score considering the tournament only cost $22 to enter.

Of course, the final two players were not the only ones to win big. British grinder “360F1” may have crashed by the wayside in 357th place and missed out on some main prize pool money, but they eliminated an opponent and pulled out a $1,500 mystery bounty payment!

Twentieth-place finisher “larsu89” also reeled in a $1,500 mystery bounty, while Montenegro’s “ChuckkNorris'” golden envelope contained the $5,000 jackpot bounty payment.

$50,000 Mini Main Event MB Weekend Final Table Results

Experience the Thrill of 888poker’s Mystery Bounty Tournaments

888poker is still the only online poker site running daily mystery bounty tournaments, so it is here you need to head to experience the thrill of not knowing what you will win!

Mystery Bounty tournaments with buy-ins from only $1 to $109 run every day, with a massive $100,000 guaranteed affair taking place on Sunday. Your next chance to become that event’s champion is May 7 at 7:00 p.m. BST. Will PokerNews be writing about you in our next 888poker Mystery Bounty recap? Download 888poker via PokerNews to lock-in the best 888poker bonus found anywhere online.

The 2023 Poker Dream Manila stop has crowned another champion in a high-stakes contest in the Grand Wing Casino of the Newport World Resorts Integrated Resort in Metro Manila. Out of a field of 39 entries in the PHP500,000 Super High Roller, Japan’s Takashi Ogura defeated Gary Thompson in heads-up to claim the biggest portion of the PHP18,154,500 ($327,468) prize pool. He did so the hard way after the stack of Ogura was reduced to just half a big blind once the tournament reached the money stages with six players remaining.

Runner-up Thompson recorded his joint-best MTT score on the live poker circuit after a recent victory in the UK Poker Open 2023 £2,000 High Roller back on European soil for £59,530 a few weeks ago in March. His frequent visits to the Philippines have paid off once more as he claimed a consolation prize of PHP4,270,000 ($77,022).

Malaysia’s Eng Soon Ewe aimed for a repeat victory in this event after he took down the 2022 Poker Dream Vietnam Super High Roller but finished in third place this time. His brother Eng Siang Ewe was the first player in the money, WSOP bracelet winner Danny Tang and cash game player Ajitpal Singh also received cash prizes as well.

Final Result 2023 Poker Dream Manila PHP500,000 Super High Roller

The final day saw 15 players out of 27 entries return to their seats in the grand ballroom, but the late registration remained open for another three levels, after which the field size grew by nearly 50%. It didn’t take long to reduce the field to the final two tables soon after the registration had closed and among those to come up empty during that frantic stage were Paul Fontan Castrillon, Kah Yew Teng, and Wei Hsiang Yeu.

Australia’s William Jia went from chip leader on the live-streamed feature table to the rail and the player to claim all of his chips, William Teoh, suffered the same fate later on as well. Poker Dream founder Winfred Yu, Wai Kiat Lee, and Lester Edoc all came up short of the unofficial final table which then commenced with two bangs. Day 1 chip leader Sriharsha Doddapaneni bowed out in the very first hand before a three-way all-in delivered a one-outer for Ewe to burst the bubble just one hand later.

Ogura’s hopes of a victory were reduced to all but zero when he jammed into the aces of Eng Siang Ewe, but he pulled several rabbits out of the hat thereafter to survive the ensuing all-in showdowns. Instead, it was his former nemesis to become the first player in the money followed by Natural8 ambassador Danny Tang. Three-handed play followed after the departure of Ajitpal Singh, after which the action became tenser.

Stack sizes nearly evened out at one point before Ogura pulled way ahead of his two opponents. He then knocked out Ewe in third place and entered heads-up play with a commanding lead. Thompson came from behind to double once, but ultimately got grinded down again before losing with pocket nines to the suited ace of Ogura.

This concludes the PokerNews updates for this high-stakes contest, and the live reporting team will be back on May 4, 2023, for the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event.

On Tuesday, the World Poker Tour (WPT) $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown saw the final 16 players from a 2,290-entry field return to play down to the final table of six.

It took approximately six hours, but eventually, the finalists were set with Bin Weng and his stack of 46.05 million in the best position to make a run at the $1,128,250 first-place prize. Weng has been one of the hottest players on the circuit this year with $1,269,281 in earnings thus far, not including what he’ll make at his latest final table.

Weng already has a seven-figure score to his name after taking down the $5,300 The Return: A Borgata Championship Event back in January, and a month later he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Las Vegas $1,700 Main Event for $227,344 and a gold ring.

Others still in contention include Sridhar Sangannagari, Mitch Garshofsky, David Mzareulov, Naing Thu, and Rafael Farah Jarufe.

Everyone remaining is guaranteed $238,000 in prize money. However, they’ll have to wait to play down to a winner as the final table will play out at the Hyper X ESports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 25th.

WPT Poker Showdown Final Table

Check out the WPT Hub on PokerNews here!

Day 4 Action

Day 4 action was heated right out of the gate as Isaac Kempton rivered a gutshot straight to dispatch four-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Jeff Madsen, who got it in with top pair. Not long after, inaugural Wynn Millions champ Andrew Moreno played a big pot against Jarufe.

Moreno held two black kings and was in good shape against Jarufe’s ace-queen, that is until an ace spiked on the river. Just like that, Moreno hit the rail in 15th place for $56,800. Champie Douglas followed him out the door after losing a race with ace-king against the pocket eights of Garshofsky, and then Andrew Ostapchenko exited in 13th place when his flopped set of fives was flushed by a river heart for Mzareulov.

Running queen-jack smack dab into Sangannagari’s pocket aces led to the demise of Dylan Smith, and Dorian Rios hit the rail after flopping top two pair against Jarufe’s flopped straight. As for Clemen Deng, he lost a flip with pocket fours to Kempton, which set up the final table of nines.

Even so, three more eliminations needed to occur before the TV table of six was set, and Gal Yifrach was the next to fall after failing to get there with ace-four suited against the ace-queen of Sangannagari. Two levels later, James Anderson three-bet jammed with ace-nine only to have Garshofsky wake up with ace-king in the big blind. The superior ace held and just like that the tournament was on the TV final table bubble.

On Hand #114 of the final table, Weng raised to 625,000 from the button and Kempton defended his big blind. On the A♦Q♥2♣ flop, Kempton check-called a bet of 425,000 and then checked again on the 9♠ turn. Weng bet 1.05 million and then called when Kempton check-raised all in for 4.675 million.

Kempton tabled the Q♠9♦ for a turned two pair and it was ahead of Weng’s A♠10♣. However, there was still one card to come and that would up being the 10♠ on the river to give Weng a bigger two pair. Kempton exited in seventh place while Weng took a big chip lead into the televised final table.

Day 4 Payouts

Remember, the final table will be played at the Hyper X ESports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 25th. Action will resume with just over 12 minutes remaining in Level 32 (150,000/300,000/300,000). PokerNews will be on-site and bring you a winner’s recap upon the tournament’s completion.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT and Seminole Hard Rock.}

Executive Editor U.S.

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

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ryan Riess winning the 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and forever etching his name in poker history. Last month also marked the sixth anniversary of his becoming a World Poker Tour (WPT) champ when he took down the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $716,088.

That year, the $10,000 buy-in tournament attracted 349 runners, whereas this year had 2,290 entries, albeit at a more affordable $3,500 buy-in. Riess navigated his way through the massive field and notched a deep run, ultimately busting on Day 3 in 28th place for $31,500.

“This is actually, I was thinking about it this morning, this is actually my favorite place to play poker in the world,” Riess told PokerNews. “It’s the only place I travel to really outside of the Bahamas. I live in Vegas, I play a lot there, but I don’t really travel anymore now that I have a family. I love it here. It’s just my favorite place to play.”

Read About Ryan Riess’s WPT Win Here!

10th Anniversary of WSOP Win

Riess, originally from Michigan (he’s the Wolverine State’s all-time money leader) but now residing in Las Vegas, has amassed just over $16 million in career tournament earnings according to the Hendon Mob. That currently puts him in 51st place on poker’s all-time money list.

About half of that – $8,361,570 to be exact – came when he bested a 6,352-player field to win the WSOP Main Event by defeating Jay Farber in heads-up play.

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” Riess said about the 10th anniversary of his life-changing victory. “I’ve had a few people ask me on this trip. It’s kind of cool to relive it, to think back and remember it because 10 years is a big deal. It’s like a cool anniversary. I love playing poker. Someone asked me yesterday, they said ‘After you win the Main Event why do you still play, you can’t do better than that?’ You know, I just love the game. I love competing.”

Becoming a Family Man

While poker has remained a constant in Riess’s life, a lot has changed. Most notably, he started a family.

“I have three kids and my wife, she is Ukrainian, and her parents actually came over,” he shared. “They escaped the war over there and they’re actually staying with us too. So, we have a full house, a lot of people but it’s awesome.”

The war in Ukraine continues to be a hot-button issue for many in the poker world; in fact, last year PokerNews even spoke to Eugene Katchalov shortly after he and his family fled the county. For Riess, it also had a major impact on the life of his family.

“It was not fun. I’ve spent a lot of time in Ukraine too,” he explained. “My kids were born there, and I had an apartment there. I know a lot of people there so it’s a very unfortunate situation. Hopefully, everything will be okay.”

Passion for Poker

Since winning the WSOP Main Event, Riess has had some impressive years. In 2017, he had $1,810,957 in tournament winnings and surpassed that the following year with $2,220,159. In 2019, he made it three years in a row with seven-figure scores by winning $1,687,395.

With down years in 2020-21, due primarily to the pandemic, Riess returned in 2022 and amassed $827,691 in winnings. While many past WSOP Main Event champs prove to be one-and-done, Riess has shown time and again that he has what it takes to compete in poker.

“I put a lot of time into the game preparing and trying to get better.”

“Oh yeah, it has gotten a lot harder. I mean back when I won there were no solvers, everyone was kind of just clicking buttons,” he said. “Now there are a lot of tools to be really good if you choose to use them. So yeah, the game is a lot harder but still fun.”

He continued: “I put a lot of time into the game preparing and trying to get better. So, I have a lot of really good friends who are really good at poker, so I talk with them and we’re all just trying to get better. But I think I can compete with the best so I’m not going anywhere.”

Well, one place he will be going is back home to Las Vegas, where in a month’s time he will be competing at the World Series of Poker and looking to recapture the magic he experienced a decade ago.

For more on Riess, follow him on Twitter at @RyanRiess1.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT/Drew Amato.}

Executive Editor U.S.

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

On Doug Polk’s podcast Tuesday morning, Nick Vertucci and Ryan Feldman disclosed a few new players who will be competing in the upcoming historic $1 million buy-in game on Hustler Casino Live. The biggest name revealed was none other than Polk himself, who apologized Monday for previously asserting that Charlie Carrel, an admitted victim of pedophilia, empathizes with pedophiles.

Last month, on Joey Ingram’s podcast, Feldman announced the first set of players for the seven-figure buy-in no-limit hold’em cash game to be held May 26-29 at Hustler Casino in Los Angeles. Among the initial participants are Ethan “Rampage” Yau, Nikhil “Nik Airball” Arcot, and Eric Persson.

“Rampage” Headlines Hustler Casino Live $1M Buy-In Poker Game Lineup

“Wes Side” Wesley in the Mix

Feldman made it clear the lineup following his initial announcement wasn’t complete. He threw around some other potential names who were on his list, including Alan Keating, Phil Hellmuth, and Polk, along with non-poker celebs such as MrBeast, who appeared on Hustler Casino Live in May 2022 in what was the live-stream’s most watched show ever.

The first new player announced on Tuesday is “Wes Side” Wesley, a polarizing figure on Hustler Casino Live the past year. Handz, another HCL regular, was the second player revealed on Polk’s podcast. On Sunday, Handz was bluffed by Bill Perkins, who left in the middle of the hand to catch a flight and still won the pot.

Up next was “Huss,” an Australian high-stakes player. Mariano, one of the top vloggers who has become an HCL regular, was then revealed to be added to the $1 million buy-in game lineup.

Doug Polk Joins Historic Poker Game

The first few players disclosed was all a build up to the biggest name and that is Polk, the host of the podcast. Polk, the Upswing Poker founder, has found himself mixed up in a bit of controversy on social media lately.

In a Twitter Spaces conversation with Will Jaffe and Matt Berkey, the co-owner of The Lodge Card Club in Texas got into a heated argument with Charlie Carrel over Carrel’s Twitter post from 2018 in which Polk claims he was “empathizing with pedophiles.”

Carrel then informed Polk that as a child he was a victim of pedophilia, but Polk didn’t back down from ripping on him. On his YouTube channel, Polk trashed Carrel over the pedophilia discussion, and that video had hundreds of thousands of views, which Carrel said caused him great harm.

The conversation led to some backlash for Polk on poker Twitter for being insensitive to a victim. On Monday night, he issued an apology video and took down old videos that were critical of the poker player he’s been criticizing for years, including the highly viewed aforementioned video.

As a poker pro, Polk is one of the top heads-up no-limit hold’em players ever and has three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets to go along with nearly $10 million in live tournament cashes, according to Hendon Mob. He appeared in the recent controversial High Stakes Poker live-stream with Berkey and Nik Airball and is a mainstay on the live-stream at The Lodge, the poker room he co-owns.