Wednesday, December 6, 2023 6:37 PM Local Time
Accused Private Poker Game Cheater: "I Didn't Bring Any Cards Anywhere"
One day after being accused of cheating a California home game out of millions, Tony Mars issued a statement to PokerNews denying the allegations.
Wesley Fei and Nikhil "Nik Airball" Arcot, both Hustler Casino Live regulars, claim that Mars, who also plays on HCL, brought a special UV-marked deck that allowed him to decipher face-down cards.
The alleged scandal occurred in a game at a private residence in Yorba Linda, California, a community in Orange County.
Read the full story on what happened here!
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 6:00 PM Local Time
Rafael Robles Eliminated in 11th Place ($41,000); Konstantinos Nanos Eliminated in 10th Place ($41,000)
Konstantin Maslak raised to 1,600,000 in the cutoff and Rafael Robles deliberated for a while before he called on the button with only 200,000 behind. Konstantinos Nanos jammed for about 9,600,000 in the small blind, Maslak called, and Robles put in his remaining chips.
Rafael Robles:
Konstantinos Nanos:
Konstantin Maslak:
The board ran out and Maslak scooped to eliminate Robles in 11th place for $41,000 and Nanos in 10th place for $41,000.
| Konstantin Maslak | 33,700,000 | 14,800,000  |
| Rafael Robles | 0 | -3,800,000  |
| Konstantinos Nanos | 0 | -9,400,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:46 PM Local Time
Chip Counts on Break
| Maria Ho | 47,300,000 | 13,300,000 |
| Drew Scott | 25,600,000 | -14,900,000 |
| Davidi Kitai | 24,700,000 | 13,400,000 |
| Konstantin Maslak | 18,900,000 | 10,900,000 |
| Kartik Ved | 12,300,000 | -7,700,000 |
| Jin Hoon Lee | 11,200,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Konstantinos Nanos | 9,400,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Thomas Santerne | 7,100,000 | -10,500,000 |
| Hyunsup Kim | 7,100,000 | -1,700,000 |
| Max Pinnola | 4,800,000 | -10,200,000 |
| Rafael Robles | 3,800,000 | -6,100,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:33 PM Local Time
Break Time
The remaining 11 players have been sent on a 15-minute break.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:32 PM Local Time
Kitai Doubles Through Kim
Hyunsup Kim raised the button and Davidi Kitai defended the big blind.
The dealer fanned out the flop and Kitai checked. Kim bet 900,000 and Kitai check-raised all in for 3,900,000. Kim deliberated and ultimately put in the chips.
Davidi Kitai:
Hyunsup Kim:
The and completed the board and Kitai secured the double.
| Davidi Kitai | 11,300,000 | 5,500,000 |
| Hyunsup Kim | 8,800,000 | -5,200,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:30 PM Local Time
Kitai Finds Fortunate Chop
Davidi Kitai raised to 4,700,000 in the hijack with only 500,000 behind. Action folded to Hyunsup Kim who jammed in the small blind, and Kitai called all in.
Davidi Kitai:
Hyunsup Kim:
The flop gave Kim everything, but the and completed the board and the two chopped the pot.
| Hyunsup Kim | 14,000,000 | 5,400,000 |
| Davidi Kitai | 5,800,000 | -700,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:28 PM Local Time
Lee Secures Huge Double Through Maslak
Action folded to Jin Hoon Lee who jammed for 5,750,000 from the cutoff. Konstantin Maslak jammed over the top from the small blind and the big blind folded to set up a runout with Lee at risk.
Jin Hoon Lee:
Konstantin Maslak:
The preflop cooler situation got even worse for Maslak when the flop came down . The turn locked up the hand for Lee before the dealer put out the inconsequential on the river, sending the huge double in Lee's direction.
| Jin Hoon Lee | 12,700,000 | 7,100,000 |
| Konstantin Maslak | 8,000,000 | -2,500,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:15 PM Local Time
Maria Ho Becoming One-Woman Wrecking Crew
Action folded to Maria Ho on the button who came in for a raise to 1,200,000. Jin Hoon Lee made the call from the big blind to bring out the flop.
Lee checked to Ho who continued with a bet of 1,400,000. Lee thought briefly before making the call to see the hit the turn.
Lee checked for a second time and watched as Ho reached into her stack and came out with a bet worth 2,400,000. After a moment of thought, Lee tossed in calling chips again and watched as the fell on the river.
Lee checked for a third time and Ho took a moment to ponder her action before announcing all in and moving two stacks of chips into the middle. This sent Lee into the tank, where he would stay for roughly two full minutes. Eventually, he checked his cards one last time before sliding them into the muck and sending the pot to Ho as she continues to dominate almost every pot she enters.
| Maria Ho | 34,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
| Jin Hoon Lee | 5,600,000 | -9,200,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:11 PM Local Time
PN Podcast: High-Stakes Cheating Scandal + Guest Wolfgang Poker Hits 100M Subscribers!
Wolfgang Poker
On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, and Matt Hansen come to you from both the WPT World Championship and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise!
Chad talks about his experience playing a celebrity poker charity event in L.A. – which saw him fall one spot shy of a WSOP Main Event seat – and then the crew offers highlights from Hustler Casino Live (HCL) High Stakes Week & 24-Hour Stream.
They also discuss Nik Airball's accusations that Tony Mars cheated in a private high-stakes poker game, how one EPT champ who won nearly $1 million is wanted in Canada for home robberies, and Jonathan Van Fleet joining WPT Global.
Finally, they recap Istvan Briski winning the WPT Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open for $647,300 and offer an update on the hit poker reality show 'Game of Gold' by GGPoker.
As for this week's guest, PokerNews' Calum Grant chatted with Alexander Wolfgang Seibt (AKA Wolfgang Poker) about becoming the first poker vlogger to hit 1,000,000 subscribers on YouTube! Learn more about the phenom and how he rocketed to the poker content stratosphere.
Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast.
Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:59 PM Local Time
Rayan Chamas Eliminated in 12th Place ($33,000)
Drew Scott raised to 1,000,000 in the cutoff and Rayan Chamas three-bet on the button with not much behind. Action folded back to Scott who reraised, and Chamas tanked in anticipation of a possible pay jump before he put in his stack of roughly 4,500,000.
Rayan Chamas:
Drew Scott:
The flop made a chop likely, but the turn and river completed the board and Chamas was eliminated in 12th place for $33,000.
| Drew Scott | 40,500,000 | 22,300,000 |
| Rayan Chamas | 0 | -14,400,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:54 PM Local Time
Mordechai Goldner Eliminated in 13th Place ($33,000)
Davidi Kitai raised to 2,800,000 in the cutoff with not much behind and Mordechai Goldner called all in for about 2,450,000 in the big blind.
Mordechai Goldner:
Davidi Kitai:
Goldner was in good shape, but the flop put him behind. The turn left him needing a queen or jack to stay alive, but the river bricked out to eliminate Goldner in 13th place for $33,000.
| Davidi Kitai | 6,500,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Mordechai Goldner | 0 | -3,800,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:50 PM Local Time
David Peters Eliminated in 14th Place ($26,800)
David Peters limped the small blind with Jin Hoon Lee checking his option in the big blind to bring out a flop.
Peters check to Lee who bet enough to put the extremely short-stacked Peters all in. Peters made the call to put himself at risk with two cards to come.
David Peters:
Jin Hoon Lee:
Peters was drawing to running cards and when the turn came the , Peters was left drawing dead headed to the meaningless river, securing the pot for Lee and sending Peters to the exit with a 14th place finish worth $26,800.
| Jin Hoon Lee | 14,800,000 | 2,600,000 |
| David Peters | 0 | -2,800,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:45 PM Local Time
Thai Ha Eliminated in 15th Place ($26,800)
Thai Ha limped only to see Rafael Robles raise enough to put Ha all in. Ha made the call to set up a runout with himself as the player at risk.
Thai Ha:
Rafael Robles:
The flop came , keeping Ha in the lead, but when the turn and river came the and , Robles made a runner-runner flush to lock up the pot and send Ha to the rail in 15th place for $26,800.
| Rafael Robles | 9,900,000 | 4,400,000 |
| Thai Ha | 0 | -7,800,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:31 PM Local Time
Diego Ventura Eliminated in 16th Place ($26,800)
Diego Ventura shoved all in for roughly 4,000,000 in middle position and Max Pinnola called in the big blind.
Diego Ventura:
Max Pinnola:
The board ran out and Ventura was eliminated in 16th place for $26,800.
| Max Pinnola | 15,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
| Diego Ventura | 0 | -2,700,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:25 PM Local Time
Sam Greenwood Eliminated in 17th Place ($26,800)
Action folded to Drew Scott in the small blind who jammed to put Sam Greenwood in the big blind all in. Greenwood checked his cards and quickly put in the call to set up a runout and put himself at risk.
Sam Greenwood:
Drew Scott:
Greenwood was ahead going to the flop but when it came down , that all changed as he'd now need some help to take the lead back from Scott.
The turn card and river offered no such help and secured the pot for Scott as Greenwood is sent to the rail in 17th place for $26,800.
| Drew Scott | 18,200,000 | 5,600,000 |
| Sam Greenwood | 0 | -3,800,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:17 PM Local Time
Two Table Redraw
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Count |
|---|
| 11 | 1 | Jin Hoon Lee | 12,200,000 |
| 11 | 2 | Diego Ventura | 2,700,000 |
| 11 | 3 | Thai Ha | 7,800,000 |
| 11 | 4 | Rayan Chamas | 14,400,000 |
| 11 | 5 | Rafael Robles | 5,500,000 |
| 11 | 6 | Konstantinos Nanos | 4,400,000 |
| 11 | 7 | Maria Ho | 27,000,000 |
| 11 | 8 | Max Pinnola | 11,000,000 |
| 11 | 9 | David Peters | 2,800,000 |
| | | | |
| 23 | 1 | Davidi Kitai | 3,500,000 |
| 23 | 2 | Drew Scott | 12,600,000 |
| 23 | 3 | Sam Greenwood | 3,800,000 |
| 23 | 4 | Empty | - |
| 23 | 5 | Konstantin Maslak | 10,500,000 |
| 23 | 6 | Mordechai Goldner | 3,800,000 |
| 23 | 7 | Thomas Santerne | 17,600,000 |
| 23 | 8 | Hyunsup Kim | 8,600,000 |
| 23 | 9 | Kartik Ved | 20,000,000 |
| Maria Ho | 27,000,000 | 3,400,000 |
| Kartik Ved | 20,000,000 | 50,000 |
| Thomas Santerne | 17,600,000 | 0 |
| Rayan Chamas | 14,400,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Drew Scott | 12,600,000 | -150,000 |
| Jin Hoon Lee | 12,200,000 | 3,200,000 |
| Max Pinnola | 11,000,000 | -3,725,000 |
| Konstantin Maslak | 10,500,000 | 8,950,000 |
| Hyunsup Kim | 8,600,000 | -2,200,000 |
| Thai Ha | 7,800,000 | -1,250,000 |
| Rafael Robles | 5,500,000 | -550,000 |
| Konstantinos Nanos | 4,400,000 | 2,550,000 |
| Mordechai Goldner | 3,800,000 | -1,700,000 |
| Sam Greenwood | 3,800,000 | -2,025,000 |
| Davidi Kitai | 3,500,000 | -2,625,000 |
| David Peters | 2,800,000 | -4,750,000 |
| Diego Ventura | 2,700,000 | -3,950,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:10 PM Local Time
Mikita Badziakouski Eliminated in 18th Place ($21,700)
Action folded to Kartik Ved who jammed to put the shorter-stacked players left to act to a decision for all their chips. Mikita Badziakouski was the only player to call off, putting himself at risk and sending both players to a runout.
Mikita Badziakouski:
Kartik Ved:
The board ran out , securing the pot for Ved and sending Badziakouski to the rail in 18th place for $21,700.
| Kartik Ved | 19,950,000 | 5,650,000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | 0 | -3,675,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 3:51 PM Local Time
Rem Eliminated by Santerne
Thomas Santerne raised to 800,000 in the cutoff, Byron Rem jammed for 6,275,000 in the small blind, and Santerne called.
Byron Rem:
Thomas Santerne:
The board ran out and the tens stayed in front to eliminate Rem.
| Thomas Santerne | 17,600,000 | 6,300,000 |
| Byron Rem | 0 | -4,950,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 3:29 PM Local Time
Kim Doubles Through Ho
Maria Ho shoved the small blind and Hyunsup Kim called all in for 5,200,000 in the big blind.
Maria Ho:
Hyunsup Kim:
The flop gave Kim top pair while Ho picked up a flush draw. The turn left Ho needing a spade, but the completed the board and Kim secured the double.
| Maria Ho | 23,600,000 | -6,400,000 |
| Hyunsup Kim | 10,800,000 | 6,550,000 |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 3:17 PM Local Time
WSOP Announces 9 Days of Paradise Livestreams
WSOP Paradise
They have nine days of livestreams on tap and three TV episodes to be produced later with commentary from Norman Chad and Lon McEachern. You can find the action on the WSOP and GGPoker YouTube channels.
All live-streaming distribution will be handled via WSOP and GGPoker channels.
"With big guarantees, tons of online qualifiers, extra cash bonuses, and now traditional television coverage, we're ready to welcome the Poker World to one of the most beautiful places in the world next month," said Ty Stewart, SVP & Executive Director of the World Series of Poker.
"But for those who can't take a poker vacation to the Bahamas, we're happy to send a bit of Paradise back home."
Read the full article