Event #35: $10,000 Secret Bounty No-Limit Hold'em

After 15 levels of play, Day 1 of Event #35: $10,000 Secret Bounty has drawn to a close. The field of 568 was whittled down to 142 by the day's conclusion. For this inaugural event at the 2023 World Series of Poker, the number of entrants generated a prize pool of $3,578,400 with a minimum cash of $10,858 and $733,317 up top for the winner.

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Loni Hui enjoyed a fruitful session at the tables, bagging up 616,000 chips at the close of play. Harwood's impressive stack places her sixth overall as she mounts a charge for bracelet number three.

End of Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

Fresh from the final table of Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions Dan Shak is bringing through 244,000 chips to the start of Day 2. With an above-average stack, Shak will have a keen eye on back-to-back final tables in the newly popularised mystery bounty format, of which he has had clear success in this series.

Alongside Shak, fellow finalists Guang Chen and Tauan De Oliveira Naves put to use their winnings from their deep run in the mystery millions to play this event, however, neither of them managed to progress to Day 2.

Still in the mix for the bracelet is Matt Glantz, who pulled the million-dollar bounty in the 2022 Mystery Millions event. Will he be so fortunate tomorrow when the secret bounties come into play?

As the players bag their chips for the night, it appeared Yang Wang secured the chip lead as he will start tomorrow's play with 710,000. However, Aliaksandr Hirs (750,000) pipped Wang to the post.

Other notable big stacks include Uri Reichenstein (626,000), Nate Silver (517,000) and David Peters (506,000)

No strangers to success at the World Series, players to also find a Day 2 stack include Upeshka De Silva (299,000), Jeremy Ausmus (413,000), Justin Bonomo (443,000), reigning WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad (103,000) and Phil Hellmuth (101,000).

Shaun Deeb who, just last night, won his sixth bracelet in Event #27: $1,500 Eight Game Mix has also found a healthy stack of 402,000. With his eyes set on the Player of the Year, another deep run could help him fulfil that legacy.

The action resumes at 12:00 p.m. local time on June 15 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Play commences on Level 16 with blinds at 4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante, with 40-minute levels. The plan is to play down to five players.

Return to PokerNews on June 15 as we continue the coverage of this tournament, and all of the bracelet-awarding events of the 2023 WSOP.

The floor has just announced at the completion of level 15 players will be bagging for the night. The bubble will now burst during play on Day 2 tomorrow.

Michael Jozoff opened under the gun to 10,000. Action folded all the way to Brent Hanks in the big blind who made the call.

The     flop was laid out and Hanks started with a check. Jozoff only took a minute before putting out a bet of 7,000. Hanks made the call.

The   hit the turn and the action went check and check. The river landed a   and then Hanks put out a bet of 16,000. Jozoff checked his cards but ultimately thought better of a call and gave them back to the dealer.

Michael Jozoff	240,000	240,000
Brent Hanks	105,000	30,000

With the pot standing at approximately 40,000 both Galen Hall in the small blind and Jose Ignacio Barbero in the hijack checked the action to Yasuhiro Waki on the button who opted to check behind to a turn.

The full board now read     . With the action checked to Barbero, he led out for 14,000 with only the Hall continuing.

The   fell on the river and the action checked through. Hall showed    while Barbero showed   .

Once the pot was shipped his way, Barbero was quick to announce he thought his play was a "nitty check-back".

Jose Ignacio Barbero	240,000	240,000
Galen Hall	121,000
Yasuhiro Waki	102,000	-23,000

With all the chips in preflop, Sergio Aido had Fernando Brito's tournament life at risk.

Fernando Brito:   
Sergio Aido:   

The board ran out      . There was no help by the river for Brito and he was sent to the rail.

Sergio Aido	262,000	185,000
Fernando Brito	0	-92,000

Cary Katz limped under the gun. The action folded to Dan Shak in the small blind who completed. Euan McNicholas in the big blind shoved all in for his remaining 68,000. Katz folded and Shak called.

Euan McNicholas:   
Dan Shak:   

The board ran out      . No help for McNicholas and he was sent to the rail.

Dan Shak	265,000	265,000
Cary Katz	50,000	-10,000
Euan McNicholas	0	0

There was an open to 6,500 from middle position. Next to act put in the cold three bet to 18,000. When action made its way to Jeremy Ausmus on the button he did some accounting of his chips, did some accounting of his opponent's and then put in the cold four bet to 40,000.

The player in middle position folded and action was on the three bettor. He chuckled as he put out the 40,000 with only about 9,000 back.

The     was about to hit the felt and Ausmus already had 10,000 in chips out to signify he was putting his opponent all in regardless of the flop. His opponent made the call and the cards hit their back.

Three bettor:   
Jeremy Ausmus:   

The turn was an   and the river was a   and Ausmus sent his opponent to the rail.

Jeremy Ausmus

225,000

165,000