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

2023-06-18 01:48 UTC-7

Another Huge Day at the WSOP as Day 1b of Event 39: $1,500 Monster Stack Concludes

KaleGozer

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

It was a frantic night in Las Vegas tonight — not only on the Strip with the celebrations for the Stanley Cup-winning Golden Knights, but in both tournament areas of Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as Day 1b of Event #39; $1,500 Monster Stack has come to an end.

Despite the traffic carnage outside, an incredible 4,375 players showed up for Day 1b, creating a combined field of 8,318 and generating a prize pool of $12,477,000. From Day 1b, 1,473 players made it to Day 2 to create a combined field of 2,715 returning players.

On top of the chip counts is Turkish crusher Tinay Aksoy, who bagged 795,000 in chips. Other big stacks making it through are Christian Buerger with 735,000, Kathy Liebert with 575,000, Dylan Lambe with 506,500, and Toni Le Blanc with 590,000.

Among the notables to bag was Veronica Brill, who created a jovial atmosphere at her table all day long.

Day 1a & 1b Combined Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Tinay Aksoy	Turkey	795,000	265
2	Christian Buerger	Germany	739,500	247
3	Shunsuke Tokoo	Japan	714,500	238
4	Linglin Zeng	China	635,500	212
5	Ahmed Karrim	South Africa	611,500	204
6	Pavlin Karakikov	Bulgaria	593,500	198
7	Antoinette Leblanc	United States	590,000	197
8	Kathy Liebert	United States	575,000	192
9	Arun Malhotra	Canada	563,500	188
10	Rachid Amamou	Switzerland	554,000	185

It'll be an early restart for all survivors across both flights, as cards will be back in the air at 10 a.m. local time with players being split across the Horseshoe (Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver sections) as well as the Black section in the Paris to account for the 2,715 players returning for the second day.

As always, PokerNews will present to cover all the action from the first card off the deck all the way to the newest Monster Stack champion here at the World Series of Poker.

Tags: Christian Berger Dylan Lambe Tinay Aksoy Veronica Brill

2023-06-17 20:42 UTC-7

Set Good for Kusumowidagdo

Livello 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

The under-the-gun player opened to 2,500 and only Justin Kusumowidagdo called from middle position.

The flop came out A♦Q♣2♦ and the under-the-gun continued for 2,300 but then Kusumowidagdo raised it up to 6,900.

His opponent made the call and the duo went to the 3♠, which now saw a continuation from Kusumowidagdo for 16,000 which the under-the-gun player calls.

On the river 9♥, Kusumowidagdo fired again for 40,000 and his opponent went deep into the tank, saying that he missed diamonds but made the call anyway. He was then shown 2♦2♥ by Kusumowidagdo for a flopped set of deuces to scoop the huge pot, putting him over the 200,000 mark.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Justin Kusumowidagdo	205,000 90,000	90,000

Tags: Justin Kusumowidagdo

2023-06-17 13:30 UTC-7

Jason Koon's Stack Pulled from WSOP $250K Super High Roller as Wife Enters Labor

Livello 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Even though Jason Koon bagged Day 1 of Event #40: $250,000 Super High Roller at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP), he will not be joining the other High Rollers for Day 2. The high-stakes star had his stack pulled from the largest buy-in event of the summer after he received word that his wife was in labor with their second child just in time for Father's Day.

Koon, who bagged a stack of 1,740,000 — a little more than the starting stack of 1,500,000 — will be fully refunded for his $250,000 entry, according to WSOP officials.

"Prior to the end of registration in event 40 with more than a starting stack, entrant Jason Koon requested a void and refund so as to accompany his wife to the hospital who had gone into labor," WSOP told PokerNews. "Request was granted. Issuing a refund before the end of registration is clearly within the discretion of tournament officials and common practice at WSOP. We wish Jason Koon and all our WSOP dads a happy Father's Day."

Get the Details On Jason Koon's Super High Roller Exit

2023-06-17 13:16 UTC-7

Valder Shows Off

Livello 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Ben Valder was heads-up on a completed board of Q♥10♣10♥8♦6♦ when his opponent checked to him.

"I gotta show off for PokerNews!" he joked as he slid out a bet of 4,000 into the pot of 9,000, sending his opponent into the tank.

"Ughh ok one second, I am probably calling, my friend," his opponent replied in thick Italian accent.

"Hey, no worries, take your time, we've got hour levels, baby!" Valder reassured him.

"Ok, I changed my mind, you win!" his opponent said as he folded his cards to award Valder the pot.

"Ahh, come on! How am I supposed to provide for my family now?" Valder laughed as he raked in the pot.

Tags: Ben Valder

2023-06-17 11:13 UTC-7

Reid Triple Barrel Bears Fruition

Livello 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

PokerNews alumni Terrance Reid bet 500 from the hijack and was called by the cutoff and both blinds.

The flop came Q♠9♠4♦ and Reid bet 1,200 which gained a call from the cutoff and folds from the small and big blind.

The 4♣ paired the board on the turn and Reid delivered the third barrel for 4,300 which was enough to get the cutoff to fold.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Terrance Reid	58,500

Tags: Terrance Reid

2023-06-17 09:01 UTC-7

Can Day 1b Top Day 1a of Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em?

The excitement is in the air, as Day 1b of Event #39: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em kicks off at 10 a.m. local time at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

And the anticipation is warranted coming on the heels of Day 1a, which drew a head-turning 3,945 entrants to exceed last year’s pool of 2,947 players. Day 1a generated a prize pool of $5,266,575, and saw a total of 1,242 players bag for Sunday's Day 2.

Those figures can only go up on Day 1b, as the player pool expands for an encore of the previous day, which brought plenty of energy and competition.

Pavlin Kanakikov led the charge on Day 1a, bagging an impressive 593,500 to lead a pack of 11 total players to top the 500,000 mark. WSOP bracelet winner Pei Li also made a run to the Top 25 by totaling 464,000.

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

Other notable players from Day 1a advancing to Day 2 are WSOP bracelet winners Michael Wang (329,500), Michael Lech (269,000), Ryan Riess (135,500), Patrick Leonard (162,000), Greg Raymer (159,000) and Joe McKeehen (85,500), among others.

Today’s participants will start with 50,000 and are scheduled for 11 60-minute levels, with a break every two hours. Players bagging at the end of Level 11 will go on to play on Day 2, which is set for Sunday at 10 a.m. local time.

Follow along with PokerNews for live updates throughout the event.

Tags: Greg Raymer Joe McKeehen Michael Lech Michael Wang Patrick Leonard Pavlin Kanakikov Pei Lei Ryan Riess