2025 World Series of Poker

Yu Hsiang Huang raised to 4,000,000 on the button and Joey Couden defended in the big blind.

The flop came A♣2♠K♠ and Couden check-called a bet of 2,500,000 from Huang.

The 9♦ turn went check-check, bringing the K♥ river. Huang checked and Couden fired out a bet of 5,800,000.

After taking some time to think though his decision, Huang called and saw the bad news when Couden tabled K♣6♣ for trip kings.

Action folded to Roger Hendren in the cutoff, who moved all in for his stack of 6,000,000. Joey Couden, the chip leader, also moved all in from the button. When action got to the big blind, he saw an ace first, and then peeled the second card, showing the whole table as he did it, eventually revealing a ten, and folding.

Roger Hendren: A♦K♦ All in
Joey Couden: A♣10♣

A great situation for Hendren, especially now he knew that one of his opponents' immediate outs had been folded.

Nevertheless, the deck favoured Couden. The flop came 4♦4♣10♠, giving him the lead.

The turn 4♥ improved Couden to a full house, but did give Hendren an extra out to chop the pot.

Alas, it wasn't to be. The river 9♦ sealed Hendren's fate, and he headed toward the exit.

Joey Couden raised to 4,000,000 on the button and Alexander Savchenko defended in the big blind.

The flop came 3♠7♠2♥ and Savchenko check-called a bet of 3,600,000 from Couden.

The A♦ turn went check-check, bringing the J♣ river. Savchenko led out with a bet of 6,700,000 and Couden snap called, tabling A♠8♣ for a pair of aces. Savchenko turned over 4♦3♣ and the pot was pushed Couden's way.

Action folded around to Yu Hsiang Huang in the small blind who moved all in for 2,800,000. Ofer Saha made the call in the big blind with the covering stack.

Yu Hsiang Huang: 9♥8♥ All in
Ofer Saha: Q♠3♥

The flop came 3♣5♣6♥ with Saha still in the lead with his pair of treys. The 7♦ landed on the turn, giving Huang the straight to lock up the double up and the meaningless 10♦rolled off on the river.

Luciano Melo moved all in for 5,400,000 in early position and Ofer Saha thought for a moment before making the call in the big blind with th covering stack.

Luciano Melo: Q♠10♣ All in
Ofer Saha: K♣7♣

Saha pulled ahead even further on the 7♥K♦5♥ flop, improving to two pair, kings and sevens. The 8♣ turn and 6♣ river offered no help to Melo and his tournament run came to an end.

Luciano Melo was down to one big blind and called in the cutoff to put himself at risk. Joey Couden raised to 3,500,000 on the button to isolate and both the players in the blinds folded.

Luciano Melo: A♣6♠ All in
Joey Couden: Q♦10♠

The board ran out 7♣2♣A♠7♠6♣with Melo improving to two pair by the river to secure the much needed double up.

Luciano Melo moved all in from under the gun for around 15,000,000. Action folded around to Roger Hendren in the big blind, who called for less.

Roger Hendren: A♠K♦ All in
Luciano Melo: 10♠10♦

The flop came a safe 2♥6♦5♠ for Melo, but the K♥ turn shot Hendren into the lead.

The river 9♠ offered no help to Melo, and he slid most of his stack one seat to his right.

Sebastian Medina moved all in from the button for his remaining 4,500,000 chips. Ofer Saha called from the big blind, putting Medina at risk.

Sebastian Medina: A♥J♦ All in
Ofer Saha: K♣2♥

A crucial all-in for Medina, with the final table just one elimination away.

The flop brought help for Saha, though, coming down 7♠2♠6♦.

The turn Q♠ and river 8♦ offered no reprieve for Medina, and it was his turn to head to the payout desk.

Yu Hsiang Huang moved all in from the small blind for 5,900,000 and Samuel Choae called in the big blind with the covering stack.

Yu Hsiang Huang: Q♠9♥ All in
Samuel Choae: A♣7♣

Huang pulled ahead on the Q♥8♥6♦flop, pairing his queen. The K♦ turn and J♥ river offered no help to Choae and the pot was pushed Huang's way.

Joey Couden moved all in, and Abraham Barbarian called off the remainder of his stack, roughly 10,000,000. All other players vacated the pot.

Abraham Barbarian: A♠Q♥ All in
Joey Couden: J♦J♠

The flop 4♥K♦8♣ left Barbarian wanting, and the turn 2♠ didn't bring any help either.

The river 9♣ sealed his fate, and as Couden pulled in the pot, Barbarian headed to the payout desk.

Sebastian Medina moved all in for 7,500,000 in the hijack and Tim Caziarc reshoved for 7,900,000 in the cutoff.

Sebastian Medina: Q♦Q♣ All in
Tim Caziarc: A♥K♥

It was a classic coin flip situation with Medina coming out on top as the board ran out 2♦J♠4♥10♣8♠.

Tim Caziarc: 400,000

Left with just 15,000 chips after a previous altercation, Charlemagne Benjamin was forced all in from the small blind.

Richard Buckingham was the only player to get involved and it was bad news for Benjamin.

Charlemagne Benjamin: 10♠5♣ All in
Richard Buckingham: A♠A♦

The board ran out 5♠2♥K♦Q♣2♣, and although the damage was done in the previous hand, there was no comeback to be had for Benjamin.

Roger Hendren shoved under the gun for 8,200,000 to put himself at risk and was called by Abraham Barbarian in the cutoff.

Roger Hendren: Q♣Q♥ All in
Abraham Barbarian: A♠K♦

It was a classic coin flip situation and Hendren's pair of queens remained best as the board ran out 4♦J♦7♠7♥2♦, earning him the double up.

A short-stacked Anthony Desai moved all in for 6,600,000, and when action folded to Samuel Choae, he snap-called and turned his cards over straight away.

Anthony Desai: A♣7♣ All in
Samuel Choae: K♥K♦

It was a dire situation for Desai, and he knew it. "Dealer, I need this", he said.

The flop 9♣J♦6♠ didn't help him directly, but did give him some backdoor opportunities.

The turn 7♠ and river 8♦ were no help, though, and he vacated his seat.

Luciano Melo moved all in in early position, and when action folded round to Kimon Fountoukidis, he committed all of his chips, calling for less than the all-in.

Kimon Fountoukidis: 7♦7♠ All in
Luciano Melo: A♦8♥

An important flip for both players and the deck favoured Melo on this occasion.

The flop came down 3♥5♣8♣, giving Melo the lead.

The turn 8♠ meant Fountoukidis was left with just two outs and one opportunity to find one of them.

The river K♣ sealed his fate, though. Melo scooped a crucial pot, and Fountoukidis headed to the exit.