Brandon Shack-Harris raised from early position and was three-bet by Ilkka Heikkila. Shack-Harris called and the two players saw a flop of 6♥5♦7♦.
Shack-Harris check-called a bet from Heikkila and the 6♦ fell on the turn. Shack-Harris checked again and after some thought, Heikkila decided to check back.
The river brought the 9♣ for a final board of 6♥5♦7♦6♦9♣ and Shack-Harris bet out. After some time in the tank, Heikkila raised. Shack-Harris thought for a few moments before dropping in the calling chips.
The two would chop with Shack-Harris tabling A♣9♥7♥3♦ for a seventy-six low and Heikkila showing A♥A♦8♥4♦ for an ace-high flush.
Approximately 104 players out of 188 entries survived Day 1 and bagged for the night. Assorted chip counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.
On a three-way flop of Q♠8♣7♠, Dario Sammartino was in the small blind and the only one who check-called a bet by Brandon Shack-Harris. Sammartino check-called another bet on the 4♣ turn and check-folded the 5♣ river.
Three ways to the K♣Q♠J♥ flop, Kyle Ray bet and Sovann Pen raised for Philip Sternheimer to call. Ray then made it three bets and Pen as well as Sternheimer called. They headed to the 3♥ turn on which Sternheimer bet, Ray raised and Pen as well as Sternheimer tagged along.
The 9♣ river was checked to Ray and he bet again, forcing out Pen. Sternheimer had just 3,000 behind and sighed. "Not sure I can make that fold," he mentioned before eventually sliding his cards into the muck.
After the hand, the final two hands for the night were announced and during those, those last few chips of Sternheimer vanished.
The next Championship Event of the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas has kicked off and it was yet another strong turnout for the high-stakes action in Sin City. Throughout ten levels in Event #25: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, a field of 188 unique players has emerged and 102 contenders advanced.
The attendance of the previous year, which drew a field of 196 entries, has been all but reached and may very well be surpassed as the late registration remains open until the start of Day 2 on Sunday, June 11, at 1 p.m. local time in the Purple Section of the Grand Ballroom at the Paris Hotel.
Defending champion and 2022 WSOP Player of the Year Daniel Zack entered during the later stages and bagged up 77,000 in chips, which puts him in the bottom half of the Day 1 survivors. Connor Drinan secured the top spot with 340,000 in chips followed by Damjan Radanov (299,000) and David Williams (293,000) while the overnight top ten also include Bryce Yockey (270,000) as well as Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship third place finisher Zachary Freeman.
Top 10 Chip Counts After Day 1
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
Big Bets
1
Connor Drinan
United States
340,000
85
43
2
Damjan Radanov
United States
299,000
75
37
3
David Williams
United States
293,000
73
37
4
Jason Daly
United States
286,000
72
36
5
Bryce Yockey
United States
270,000
68
34
6
Kyle Ray
United States
255,000
64
32
7
Steve Chanthabouasy
United States
237,000
59
30
8
Zachary Freeman
United States
231,000
58
29
9
Alan Sternberg
United States
225,000
56
28
10
Ilkka Heikkila
Finland
211,000
53
26
In a field filled with some of the biggest names of the international and mixed games poker scene, notables such as Erik Seidel (162,000), John Hennigan (161,000), Brad Ruben (137,000), David "Bakes" Baker (134,000), and Brandon Shack-Harris (103,000) all advanced. Furthermore, the likes of Sam Farha (139,000), Todd Brunson (100,000) and Jen Harman (47,000) made a rare appearance and advanced to Day 2.
Late entrants have until 1 p.m. local time on June 11 to enter the fray and will start their journey with 60,000 in chips. That represents 15 big blinds and 7.5 big bets in level 11, which features blinds of 2,000-4,000 and limits of 4,000-8,000. As of Day 2, the level duration increases to 90 minutes each with a break every level. It is expected that the second of four tournament days will get close to or even beyond the money bubble.
The PokerNews live reporting team will be back on the floor until a winner has been determined within the next three tournament days, which are set to include numerous split pots, three quarters, and scoops en route to crowning a champion.