Monday, March 27, 2023 2:00 AM Local Time
Five-Time Bracelet Winner Shaun Deeb is a Final Table Away From His First WSOP Circuit Ring
The day started with 112 hopefuls looking to make their way to the final table of the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Turning Stone Main Event Final table, but only nine have found their way there.
That final table is highlighted by five-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb, but it’s led by upstart Kyle Grupp.
Grupp, who has just under $4,000 in recorded live WSOP cashes, takes 8,120,000 chips into Monday’s final day of play with Deeb in second place with 6,220,000. Further down on the leaderboard, but still bringing the star power to this final table are Matthew Wantman with over 100 WSOP cashes and 2,275,000 chips at the final table, and Patrick White, who owns a pair of WSOP Circuit rings and brings 1,870,000 chips into the final day.
For the final table seating and chip counts, click here.
The eliminations came at a furious pace Sunday, with several big names and notables bowing out early in the day including five-time Circuit ring winner Ryan Eriquezzo and Day 1A chip leader Scott Hosbach, who busted in the first level of the day in a massive cooler that launched final table member Giyeon Han’s day.
Defending champion Joseph Rice’s hopes of going back-to-back ended midway through the day as was unable to run up his stack and fell in 52nd place ($4,479), just ahead of another big name in WSOP bracelet and ring winner Jesse Lonis, who was eliminated in 56th place ($4,125).
As the final table approached, it was Deeb, Wantman, Grupp, and James Campbell passing the chip lead back and forth, with no one really able to solidify their position.
Following the elimination of Campbell in 12th place, Paul Ross made a run at it with his elimination of Kareem Cowart to set up the unofficial final table of ten, but it was the next elimination that gave Grupp the lead for good to end the night as he sent Alexander Cukar home in 10th place.
Play was halted at the end of level 27 with those nine players remaining and Grupp in the lead.
They will now return Monday at noon to crown a champion who will take home the $275,916 first prize, the prestigious WSOP Circuit ring, and entry into the WSOP Tournament of Champions at the World Series of Poker this summer in Las Vegas.
The WSOP live reporting team will be right there Monday to bring you all the action as the Turning Stone Main Event champion is crowned, so keep your browsers right here at WSOP.com.
Monday, March 27, 2023 1:00 AM Local Time
Play has concluded with nine players remaining and Kyle Grupp holding the chip lead.
They will return to the Turning Stone Event Center Monday at noon to play down to a winner.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the day's action.
Kyle Grupp - 8,120,000
Shaun Deeb - 6,220,000
Cindy Spier - 3,455,000
Paul Ross - 3,035,000
Giyeon Han - 2,885,000
Gilberto Taveras - 2,845,000
Raymond Ezzie - 2,300,000
Matthew Wantman - 2,275,000
Patrick White - 1,870,000
Monday, March 27, 2023 12:44 AM Local Time
Paul Ross raised to 160,000 in early position and got called by Gilberto Taveras in the cutoff. Raymond Ezzie then moved all in for 1,030,000 in the big blind and Ross quickly moved all in as well, covering Taveras' roughly 2,500,000.
Taveras folded and Ezzie's fate was left to Ross.
Raymond Ezzie:
Paul Ross:
Ezzie's ace was dominated and two cards away from elimination after the flop.
The on the turn changed everything though, and the on the river was salt in Ross' wound as he doubled up Ezzie before the end of the night.
Paul Ross: 3,170,000
Raymond Ezzie - 2,200,000
Monday, March 27, 2023 12:41 AM Local Time
A preflop raising war and cooler has led to the elimination of Alexander Cukar to bring play to the official final table.
After Cukar raised to 160,000 in early position, Kyle Grupp three-bet to 400,000 on the button. Paul Ross then cold four-bet to 1,050,000 in the small blind, sending action back to Cukar.
Cukar moved all in for 1,855,000 and Grupp then moved all in behind for about 4,000,000.
Ross quickly folded and Cukar was now at risk and in trouble.
Alexander Cukar:
Kyle Grupp:
The board came as Ross' aces held to win the massive pot and vault him into the chip lead near the end of the night.
Kyle Grupp - 7,450,000
Alexander Cukar - eliminated
Monday, March 27, 2023 12:29 AM Local Time
| 1 |
Cindy Spier |
3,800,000 |
| 2 |
Kyle Grupp |
3,880,000 |
| 3 |
Paul Ross |
5,335,000 |
| 4 |
Patrick White |
2,075,000 |
| 5 |
Giyeon Han |
2,500,000 |
| 6 |
Gilberto Taveras |
3,300,000 |
| 7 |
Alexander Cuker |
1,900,000 |
| 8 |
Matthew Wantman |
2,800,000 |
| 9 |
Shaun Deeb |
5,370,000 |
| 10 |
Raymond Ezzie |
1,050,000 |
Monday, March 27, 2023 12:26 AM Local Time
Picking action up on the turn with a huge pot of approximately 1,200,000 already built, Paul Ross checked his big blind to Kareem Cowart on the button who bet 825,000. Ross then check-raised all in for a bit under two million total and after a bit of thought, Cowart called, slightly covered.
Kareem Cowart:
Paul Ross:
Ross had hit his open-ended straight draw on the turn and was one card away from eliminating Cowart.
That card was the which cinched the hand for Ross and set up the unofficial final table of ten.
Paul Ross - 5,335,000
Kareem Cowart - eliminated
Monday, March 27, 2023 12:16 AM Local Time
After Matthew Wantman raised to 16,000 in the cutoff, Cindy Spier three-bet out of the small blind to 340,000. Wantman called and they saw a flop of .
Spier continued for 300,000 and Wantman called, then the action repeated on the turn with Spier betting 300,000 and Wantman calling.
On the river, Spier moved all in for 875,000, and after some deliberation, Wantman tossed in a calling chip.
Spier showed for a turned set of aces, while Wantman could only show for the last ace in the deck.
Cindy Spier: 3,790,000
Matthew Wantman: 2,580,000
Monday, March 27, 2023 12:02 AM Local Time
Shaun Deeb raised to 160,000 under the gun and got called by Paul Ross in the small blind.
The flop came and the players checked. On the turn, Ross checked and Deeb bet 150,000. Ross now check-raised to 400,000 and Deeb called.
The river brought the and Ross moved all in for 1,155,000. Deeb went deep into the tank.
Deeb paused the massage he was having and shifted in his seat to a kneeling position as he cut out calling chips and set them aside.
Deeb then alternated between a kneeling position and standing as he observed his opponent and thought through the hand.
"You're really trying to control your breathing," said Deeb, carefully observing Ross.
After a few minutes, with Deeb now standing, he picked up his cards and looked at them, then asked if Ross would show if he did. Ross remained motionless.
After over six minutes, Deeb finally folded his hand.
As he stacked his newly won chips, Ross told Deeb, "I honestly thought that was going to be the biggest slow roll in the history of slow rolls and you were just going to turn over quads."
Shaun Deeb - 4,900,000
Paul Ross - 2,430,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 11:42 PM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 80000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 11:39 PM Local Time
After Shaun Deeb raised to 120,000 in the hijack, James Campbell moved all in for 1,700,000 on the button and got called by Deeb.
James Campbell:
Shaun Deeb:
The board came bringing no help to Campbell and sending him home with a pay jump to $20,893.
The next elimination will bring the players to the unofficial final table of ten players.
Shaun Deeb - 5,800,000
James Campbell - eliminated
Sunday, March 26, 2023 11:27 PM Local Time
Following a raise to 130,000 by Patrick White under the gun, Kyle Grupp moved all in for 1,050,000 in the hijack. After some thought, Raymond Ezzie called on the button and White folded.
Kyle Grupp:
Raymond Ezzie:
Grupp was dominated and with one foot out the door until the flop came , giving him a set of tens.
The board completed and Grupp earned himself a healthy double up the hard way.
Kyle Grupp: 2,250,000
Raymond Ezzie: 1,840,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 11:11 PM Local Time
Paul Ross excitedly told WSOP.com about his recent double up through nemesis Shaun Deeb.
Ross got his last 900,000 in preflop with against Deeb's . The flop came , giving Ross two pair, but a straight draw for Deeb.
The turn and river bricked out and Ross secured a much-needed double up.
Shaun Deeb - 3,580,000
Paul Ross - 1,915,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 11:01 PM Local Time
After Shaun Deeb raised to 120,000 under the gun, Douglas Lang moved all in for 1,100,000 from the small blind and Deeb called.
Douglas Lang:
Shaun Deeb:
The board came with Lang unable to make his straight after the turn to be eliminated in 13th place.
Shaun Deeb - 4,400,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 10:57 PM Local Time
Giberto Taveras raised to 150,000 in the cutoff and got called by Matthew Wantman in the big blind.
The flop came and Wantman checked to Tavares who bet 80,000.
Wantman called and the came on the turn. He again checked, and Taveras now bet 170,000.
Again Wantman called, and on the river he led out for 200,000. Taveras came back with a raise to 500,000.
Wantman went into the tank for a couple of minutes before opting to fold.
Taveras tossed his winning hand forward face up, for a king-high bluff.
Matthew Wantman - 4,825,000
Gilberto Taveras - 3,200,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 10:44 PM Local Time
Level: 26
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 60000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 10:30 PM Local Time
Still 13 players remain with two more 60-minute levels on the schedule.
They have taken their final 15-minute break of the night.
Sunday, March 26, 2023 10:29 PM Local Time
Kyle Grupp raised to 110,000 from the hijack and was three-bet for the second hand in a row by Matthew Wantman in the cutoff. Grupp had folded the previous hand, but he made the call this time.
They saw a flop of and both checked to the turn.
Grupp now led out for 300,000 and Wantman called to see the fall on the river.
Grupp checked, and Wantman cut out a big bet of 1,075,000. After a bit of thought, Grupp called.
Wantman showed , for a rivered pair of kings. Grupp pitched his cards frustratedly to the muck and then sent about half of his remaining chips to his direct left.
Matthew Wantman - 5,880,000
Kyle Grupp - 1,080,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 10:06 PM Local Time
Shaun Deeb - 3,700,000
James Campbell - 3,240,000
Alexander Cuker - 2,275,000
Giyeon Han - 1,700,000
Douglas Lang - 1,450,000
Kareem Cowart - 1,420,000
Paul Ross - 950,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 9:59 PM Local Time
Patrick White - 3,950,000
Matthew Wantman - 3,400,000
Kyle Grupp - 3,300,000
Cindy Spier - 2,700,000
Gilberto Taveras - 2,100,000
Raymond Ezzie - 1,600,000
Sunday, March 26, 2023 9:37 PM Local Time
Jacqueline Berenson open-jammed from the small blind for just over 700,000 and was called by Kyle Grupp in the big blind.
Jacqueline Berenson:
Kyle Grupp:
The board came , with Grupp's eights holding to eliminated Berenson.
Kyle Grupp - 4,300,000
Jacqueline Berenson - eliminated