Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack Giorno 1a | 2023 World Series of Poker

2023-06-17 00:44 UTC-7

Pavlin Karakikov Bags Chip Lead on Day 1a of Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack

Livello 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

A total of 3,945 players entered Day 1a of Event #38: $1,500 Monster Stack, the first of two Day 1 flights at the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The number smashed the attendance of 2,947 set on Day 1a of last year's event

The gargantuan field generated a massive prize pool of $5,266,575, a number that will continue to grow as Day 1b on Saturday is expected to be an even bigger flight.

After 11 hours of play a total of 1,242 players found a bag for Sunday's Day 2. Pavlin Karakikov ended the day as the chip leader, bagging 593,500 at the end of the day. Other notable big stacks at the end of the day include Arun Malhotra (563,500), Adrian Bertini (549,500) and Fabian Gumz (512,000).

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

Place	Player	Country	Chip count
1	Pavlin Kanakikov	Bulgaria	593,500
2	Arun Malhotra	Canada	563,500
3	Adrian Bertini	United States	549,500
4	Micha Bitton	United States	544,000
5	Yuhan Huo	United States	538,000
6	Todd Sekli	Australia	530,000
7	Viktor Lavi	Egypt	516,000
8	Fabian Gumz	Germany	512,000
9	Shahin Edalatdju	United States	510,000
10	Jorge Consiglieri	United States	509,000

Adam Hendrix also seemed in control for the entire day today, ending with an impressive 469,000 chips. Other notables to advance to Day 2 include Benjamin Spragg (409,000), Faraz Jaka (185,000), Ryan Riess (135,500), Patrick Leonard (162,000), Greg Raymer (159,000) and Joe McKeehen (85,500).

Notables to bust before the end of the day include Jamie Gold, Tiffany Michelle, Michael Holtz, Steven Bucker and Brad Owen.

Day 1b starts at 10 a.m. local time on Saturday and will once again play 11 60-minute levels with breaks every two hours. The surviving players will return for Day 2 on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Stay tuned to Pokernews for all live updates from this event up until a winner is crowned on Day 4 which will take place on Tuesday, June 20.

Tags: Adam Hendrix Adrian Bertini Arun Malhotra Benjamin Spragg Brad Owen David Vedral Fabian Quoss Faraz Jaka George Chen Greg Raymer Jamie Gold Joe McKeehen Patrick Leonard Pavlin Karakikov Ryan Riess Serhii Popovych Steven Bucker Thao Yang Tiffany Michelle

2023-06-16 18:23 UTC-7

Arnett Moreno On A Charge

Livello 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

With 7,000 in the middle on the turn of K♥6♠3♦Q♥, Kristy Arnett Moreno bet 4,000 from the big blind and was met with a raise from under the gun to 14,000. Arnett Moreno made the call.

The 9♥ landed on the river to complete flush and straight possibilities. Arnett Moreno wrestled back the betting lead by moving 30,000 into the middle.

The under-the-gun looked anguished thinking over their decision. They eventually folded 6♥6♣ face up whilst Arnett Moreno mucked their cards and dragged in a significant pot.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Kristy Arnett Moreno	205,000 162,400	162,400

Tags: Kristy Arnett Moreno

2023-06-16 15:12 UTC-7

Supper Eats Jaka's Lunch

Livello 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

All the chips went into the middle preflop with under-the-gun Sebastian Supper at risk for 17,100 against Faraz Jaka in the big blind.

Sebastian Supper: J♠J♦
Faraz Jaka: A♥K♦

A classic flip, but Jaka could not improve to beat Supper's jacks as the board ran out 3♦3♠2♦10♣Q♣ to give the German a much-needed double-up. Jaka still has one of the bigger stacks in the room.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Faraz Jaka	130,000 57,400	57,400

Sebastian Supper	39,000

Tags: Sebastian Supper Faraz Jaka

2023-06-16 13:43 UTC-7

Gold Definitely Wanted a Call

Livello 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Jamie gold opened to 1,600 from early position and received a call from Tiffany Michelle in the seat next to him. The player in the hijack raised to 5,100 and Jamie Gold moved all in for about 28,000. Michelle made the fold and the player in the hijack was in the tank considering his options.

"I'll take the action," Gold told his opponent as he contemplated his decision. "Definitely want a call. I need to double up".

After about a minute the player in the hijack folded and Gold took down the pot.

Gold showed K♥K♦ and asked his opponent what he had folded, to which the player in the hijack replied that he had folded A♦Q♦.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Tiffany Michelle	78,500 78,500	78,500
Jamie Gold	37,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Jamie Gold Tiffany Michelle

2023-06-16 13:20 UTC-7

Lew Sticks Around to Win Pot

Livello 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

With 4,000 in the pot, three players saw a flop of A♠K♥Q♥. Middle position bet 1,600 which gained a fold from the button, but a call by Robbi Jade Lew in the big blind.

The 8♥ landed on the turn and middle position bet 6,300 which was called by Lew. Both players checked the 3♣ river and Lew tabled A♣5♦ for top pair. Middle position took a moment before mucking their hand to allow Lew to take in the pot.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Robbi Jade Lew	68,700 68,700	68,700

Tags: Robbi Jade Lew

2023-06-16 11:25 UTC-7

Boddorf Doubles With Quads On First Hand

Livello 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Matt Boddorf brought to the attention of PokerNews that he doubled up in the very first hand of the day.

With the board reading A♣J♥8♣2♥ on the turn, the hijack bet 4,000, which was raised by Boddorf on the button to 10,000.

The hijack immediately moved all in, committing all of their 250 big blind starting stack which was called by Boddorf.

Hijack: A♦Q♠
Matt Boddorf: 8♦8♥

Boddorf's set was ahead of the hijack's top pair. The 8♠ completed the board to give Boddorf quads and made him the first person to reach six-figures in the tournament.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Matt Boddorf	110,000 110,000	110,000

Tags: Matt Boddorf

2023-06-16 09:17 UTC-7

Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em is Imminent!

One of the most eagerly anticipated poker tournaments of the summer is about to commence, as Day 1a of Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em will test the capacity at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

The Monster Stack has been a staple on the World Series of Poker calendar since 2014 and has created six millionaires since its inception.

Monster Stack Winners

Year	Winner	Country	Prize
2014	Hugo Pingray	France	$1,327,083
2015	Perry Shiao	United States	$1,286,942
2016	Mitchell Towner	United States	$1,120,196
2017	Brian Yoon	United States	$1,094,349
2018	Tommy Nguyen	Canada	$1,037,451
2019	Kainalu McCue-Unciano	United States	$1,008,850
2021	Michael Noori	United States	$610,437
2022	Mike Jukich	United States	$966,577

The 2022 edition of the Monster Stack, which Mike Jukich memorably won, attracted 6,501 entrants creating a first-place prize of $966,577. This year’s winner is expected to take home a seven-figure score along with the sought-after WSOP Gold Bracelet

Play will start at 10 a.m. local time with a starting stack of 50,000 which will provide 250 big blinds. Blind levels will increase every 60 minutes with a 20-minute break after every two levels and a 75-minute dinner break at the end of Level 8.

Play will start in the Paris Ballroom in the White, Yellow, Green, and Black sections. If necessary, there will be space for more players at Horseshoe to accommodate a massive field.

Late registration is available until the end of Level 10, but if a player busts out of Day 1a, they cannot reenter until Day 1b. If a player bags and tags they will return for Day 2 on Sunday, June 18th to play for the substantial prize pool.

Make sure to catch all the action from the Monster Stack with live updates from the PokerNews team throughout the day.