Friday, June 2, 2023 4:42 PM Local Time
Rabichow Steals Another from Kalas
Round 2: Blinds 1,500/3,000
Kevin Rabichow raised to 6,500 on the button and Kane Kalas called from the big blind. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn.
Kalas led out with a bet of 6,200 and Rabichow stuck around for the on the river. Kalas checked this time and Rabichow tossed in a bet of 13,500. Kalas laid his hand down and Rabichow scooped another pot.
| Kevin Rabichow | 535,300 | 5,300  |
| Kane Kalas | 64,700 | -5,300  |
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:40 PM Local Time
Winters Bombs the River Against Ponakovs
Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000
Aleksejs Ponakovs raised the button to 4,000 and Sean Winter called in the big blind.
On the board of both players checked through to a turn of the . Winters now lead for 14,000 called by Ponakovs.
The fell on the river and Winters continued the aggression bombing the river for 108,000. Ponakovs timer almost reached zero as he tossed his hand into the muck.
| Sean Winter | 340,000 | 40,000 |
| Aleksejs Ponakovs | 260,000 | -40,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:38 PM Local Time
Round 1 Completed
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:31 PM Local Time
Smith Finally Finishes Off Ivey
Phil Ivey moved all in for around 100,000 and John Smith called.
Phil Ivey:
John Smith:
The flop came , giving Smith trip queens. "That's a good flop for you," Ivey said.
"That's a really good flop," Smith replied.
The turn came the and Ivey was already standing up and going to shake Smith's hand as the dealer turned over the river before making a quick exit from the tournament area.
"What a flop," Smith added as he awaited tournament officials to rack up his chips for the next round.
| John Smith | 300,000 | 99,600 |
| Phil Ivey | 0 | -99,600 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:21 PM Local Time
Kornuth Downs Sullivan
Round 2: Blinds 1,500/3,000
Keir Sullivan limped in on the button and Chance Kornuth checked his option. The flop came and Kornuth check-called a bet of 6,000 from Sullivan.
The turn was the and Kornuth check-called another bet of 13,000 from Sullivan. The completed the board and Kornuth checked for the third time. Sullivan jammed all in for 63,900 and Kornuth asked for a count before dipping into the tank.
Kornuth eventually made the call and Sullivan showed for a pair of eights but was out-done by Kornuth's for a pair of queens. Kornuth has advanced to the third round now which will take place tomorrow.
| Chance Kornuth | 600,000 | 80,000 |
| Keir Sullivan | 0 | -80,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:11 PM Local Time
Kornuth Shoves on Sullivan
Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000
Chance Kornuth bet 4,000 on a flop of and Keir Sullivan called.
The turn came the and Kornuth bet another 23,000. Sullivan tanked for a moment before he called to see the river.
Kornuth now grabbed a stack of green 25,000 chips and shoved them in the middle, putting Sullivan all in. Sullivan, with around 80,000 remaining, leaned back in his chair and turned away from the table before he grabbed his cards and tossed them in the muck.
| Chance Kornuth | 520,000 | 220,000 |
| Keir Sullivan | 80,000 | -220,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:11 PM Local Time
Kornuth causes Sullivan Confusion on the River
Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000
The board read as Chance Kornuth bombed the river with a huge bet of approximately 170,000 from the big blind, spiralling his opponent Keir Sullivan into the tank.
After much deliberation, Sullivan settled on folding but continued to speculate on the hand with Kornuth for some time afterwards.
"You had Ace-Queen?" Sullivan asked Kornuth as he revealed his own hand saying "I had queen Jack".
| Chance Kornuth | 495,000 | 195,000 |
| Keir Sullivan | 105,000 | -195,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:00 PM Local Time
Yu Calls Off Incorrectly
Ben Yu limped in on the button and Stephen Chidwick checked his option. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn.
Chidwick checked again and Yu tossed in a bet of 10,000. Chidwick just called and the landed on the river. Chidwick checked one more time and Yu flicked in a bet of 25,000. Chidwick check-raised all in for 136,400, enough to cover Yu's stack of around 124,000.
Yu went into the tank for a minute before dropping in some chips to call. Chidwick flipped over for a flush while Yu could only muster for top pair.
| Stephen Chidwick | 300,000 | 140,000 |
| Ben Yu | 0 | -140,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:59 PM Local Time
Kalas Sets a Trap, Rabichow Doesn't Take the Bait
Second Round; Blinds 1,000-2,000
Kevin Rabichow bet 2,000 on a flop of and Kane Kalas called from the big blind.
The turn came the and Rabichow continued for 5,300. Kalas again called as the appeared on the river.
Kalas checked for a third time, and this time Rabichow checked behind. Kalas turned over for trips and Rabichow mucked.
| Kevin Rabichow | 530,000 | 12,000 |
| Kane Kalas | 70,000 | -12,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:56 PM Local Time
Some of the Best Poker Players Who Haven't Won a WSOP Bracelet
WSOP Bracelet Winners
While winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker player can achieve, many of the greatest and most successful players in the game have yet to put one on their wrists.
PokerNews has had a decent track record with highlighting players without bracelets who have gone on to win them. Jason Koon won a maiden bracelet in 2021 after making the "Best Without a Bracelet" list that year, while Dan Smith and Alex Foxen both found bracelets in 2022 to be removed from that year's list.
With the 2023 WSOP happening now, here's a look at some of the best players who have yet to add a World Series bracelet to their long lists of accolades.
Check out our list of "Best Without a Bracelet" here!
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:56 PM Local Time
Ivey Doubles Through Smith
Phil Ivey raised the button to 16,000 called by Smith in the big blind.
The flop came . Smith played in flow and Ivey continued for 8,000. Smith called.
The turned paired the board and Smith once again checked. Ivey maintained the pressure with another bet of 15,000. This time, however, Smith played back with a jam putting Ivey to the test for all his remaining chips. There was no decision to be made for Ivey as he snap-called the bet.
Phil Ivey:
John Smith:
None of Smith's five outs came to fruition by the river and Ivey doubles.
| John Smith | 200,400 | -33,600 |
| Phil Ivey | 99,600 | 33,600 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:47 PM Local Time
Back-and Forth They Go
Ben Yu was all in for 110,000 as Stephen Chidwick had him covered and at risk.
Ben Yu:
Stephen Chidwick:
"Another classic flip," Yu said heading to the flop, which gave him a flush draw and Chidwick top pair. The on the turn improved Yu to a straight, while the river also gave him a flush as he doubled up.
A few hands later, Chidwick was all in for around 80,000.
Stephen Chidwick:
Ben Yu:
Chidwick had woken up with aces, and there wouldn't be any help for Yu this time on the board.
"Double up, double down," Yu said.
| Stephen Chidwick | 160,000 | -5,000 |
| Ben Yu | 140,000 | 5,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:42 PM Local Time
Smith Sprung a Trap on Ivey
Phil Ivey limped in on the button and John Smith checked back.
The flop came . Smith now elected to start building a pot and put out a bet of 5,000 which Ivey called.
On a turn of the , Smith again fired 20,000 into the middle and Ivey called.
The river did not slow Smith down as he fired for a third street to the tune of 40,000, again called by Ivey. Smith tabled prompting Ivey to knock the table twice and muck his cards. Smith took a commanding lead in this heads up match.
| John Smith | 234,000 | 137,000 |
| Phil Ivey | 66,000 | -137,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:35 PM Local Time
Chidwick Comes From Behind to Double
Stephen Chidwick open-shoved for 82,800 and Ben Yu, after confirming the amount, called with a chance to win the match.
Stephen Chidwick:
Ben Yu:
Chidwick was dominated but pulled in front on the flop with a pair of nines, while Yu had an open-ended straight draw. The turn was no help to Yu, and Chidwick secured his double up after the fell on the river.
| Stephen Chidwick | 165,000 | 71,000 |
| Ben Yu | 135,000 | -71,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:30 PM Local Time
Heinzl Knocks Off Larabi
Joshua Heinzl limped in, then called when Bernard Larabi shoved for around 50,000.
Bernard Larabi:
Joshua Heinzl:
Heinzl had Larabi dominated as the board ran out , sending him off to the next round.
| Joshua Heinzl | 300,000 | 62,000 |
| Bernard Larabi | 0 | -62,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:27 PM Local Time
Kalas Can't Win a Hand
Round 2: Blinds 600/1,200
Kevin Rabichow and Kane Kalas have also started their second-round match-up early and it's been pure domination from Rabichow in the early going. On a completed board of , Rabichow checked to Kalas who bet 36,100 into a pot of around 30,000. Rabichow looked him up and Kalas tabled for air while Rabichow showed for a pair of jacks.
"I don't think I've ever played a tournament where I haven't won a hand. That might happen. I haven't won one hand yet, not one hand," Kalas mumbled as Rabichow chuckled.
| Kevin Rabichow | 518,000 | 218,000 |
| Kane Kalas | 82,000 | -218,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:20 PM Local Time
Three Matches Remain in the Opening Round
| Joshua Heinzl | 238,000 | 3,000 |
| Ben Yu | 206,000 | 91,000 |
| Phil Ivey | 203,000 | 64,000 |
| John Smith | 97,000 | -64,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 94,000 | -1,531,000 |
| Bernard Larabi | 62,000 | -3,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:19 PM Local Time
Soverel Falls to Perez
Sam Soverel was all in for around 75,000 as opponent Roberto Perez had him at risk.
Sam Soverel:
Roberto Perez:
Perez hit two pair on the flop, while Soverel picked up a straight draw. The on the turn wasn't what he was looking for, while the river sealed his elimination as Perez progressed to the next round.
There are now just three first round matches still in progress.
| Roberto Perez | 300,000 | 90,000 |
| Sam Soverel | 0 | -90,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:14 PM Local Time
Too Many Outs for D'Ambrosio
Jimmy D'Ambrosio was all in for around 60,000 against Isaac Kempton.
Jimmy D'Ambrosio:
Isaac Kempton:
"Put an eight out there," Kempton asked as the dealer turned over the flop. The on the turn gave D'Ambrosio an open-ended straight draw, but he missed the river.
"Good game. Nice playing with you," the affable D'Ambrosio told Kempton.
"Good match," Kempton replied, shaking D'Ambrosio's hand.
"It was a good match. Aw, I had too many outs," D'Ambrosio added.
| Isaac Kempton | 300,000 | 80,000 |
| Jimmy D'Ambrosio | 0 | -80,000 |
Friday, June 2, 2023 3:11 PM Local Time
Zinno Flips Keating to the Rail
Just moments after Alex Keating doubled up, it didn't take long for him and Anthony Zinno to get all of their chips in the middle again. Zinno showed up with and was flipping against the of Keating.
The flop of gave Zinno a lead with two pair. The and runout was no help to Keating who was bounced in the first round.
| Anthony Zinno | 300,000 | 110,000 |
| Alex Keating | 0 | -110,000 |