Two GOATS in their own right, Doug Polk and Phil Ivey, have both officially made their 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) debuts in what is one of the most stacked tournaments of the summer.
Event #8: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship began at noon PT on Friday with 64 of the best and most popular players in the game, all just hoping to keep pace with the great John Smith, of course.
Ferenc Deak had been staying alive with a shove here and there during the No-Limit Hold'em round, keeping his stack floating around 1,000,000. Just as the PLO round started, Deak was in late position and he potted it to 475,000 with a limp from Richard Green in front of him.
Richard Green spent some time looking at the dead money in the middle eventually saying, "I have a feeling about this one..." and he decided to raise, putting Deak at risk.
Ferenc Deak: Q♥Q♣4♠A♥
Richard Green: 3♦4♦5♥7♣
At first it appeared Green's intuition led him well on a board reading 7♠J♣5♠K♠ but the 10♦ triggered the applause of Deak's rail, as he made a straight and excitedly yelled, "Justice!!!".
The very next hand, a short stacked Green got it in against Deak.
Richard Green: A♥Q♥Q♠K♣
Ferenc Deak: A♥8♥9♦2♠
The board ran out A♣10♥3♣9♠6♥, giving Deak two-pair and a stack to work with. Green was forced to settle for $32,809 and an 11th place finish.
The action folded to Kristen Foxen in the cutoff who opened for 275,000 and only Caleb Furth made the call in the small blind.
The flop came Q♥7♥5♥ and both players checked their options to the A♠ turn. Furth elected to lead out for 475,000 and Foxen tossed in chips for the call.
On the 7♦ river both players checked to a showdown. Furth announced flush and rolled over 10♥10♦8♥8♣ for a ten-high flush to take down the pot when Foxen mucked her cards.
Daniel Rezaei called off his remaining chips preflop and was up against Michael Moncek, who covered.
Daniel Rezaei: Q♣Q♥
Michael Moncek: A♥10♣
Rezaei appeared to be in good shape but he stood up and started collecting his belongings when the A♣10♥4♦ peeled on the flop. The 5♦ didn't help him any and he was unable to catch a queen on the river. Rezaei gave his opponents a, "Good game..." and exited the tournament area, collecting $26,341 for his efforts.