The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise at the Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas is comprised of 15 gold bracelet events, and PokerNews has been on-site offering live updates from the vast majority of them.
During that time, our Live Reporting Team has captured some entertaining and game-changing hands, which we’ve decided to feature in our latest “Hands of the Week.”
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Mello Cracks Aces With Quads
On Day 2 of Event #2: $1,500 Millionaire Maker, it was Level 9 (150,000/300,000/300,000) when reporter Connor Richards saw Allan Mello open to 600,000 in the hijack and Leon Sturm three-bet to 2,300,000 in the big blind. Mello called.
Sturm sized down to 1,000,000 on the flop of 3♥5♥10♥ and Mello raised and then called off for around 6,300,000 as Sturm three-bet to put him all in.
Allan Mello: 10♦10♠
Leon Sturm: A♣A♠
Mello had flopped a set and didn’t even need to dodge a heart as the board finished out 7♦10♣ to improve him to quads for an emphatic double.
Aces Cracked By Quads — Again
Not long after in Level 10 (200,000/400,000/400,000) of the same tournament, Richards caught a similar hand. It happened when Clemen Deng was all in for around 7,000,000 against Abdulla Ceesvin to his left, who had him covered.
Clemen Deng: Q♦Q♣
Abdulla Ceesvin: A♦A♥
Deng had run his queens into aces, but it wasn’t a problem as the dealer fanned the Q♥9♣J♠ flop to give him a set before improving him to quads on the Q♠ turn. The 9♥ river was a formality as Deng earned the double from Ceesvin, who took the beat with a smile.
Follow live updates from the 2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event here!
Riess Bubbles As Holz Hits Quads
In Level 18 (30,000/60,000/60,000) of Event #3: $25,000 GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship, Richards caught a big hand on the money bubble.
2013 WSOP Main Event champ Ryan Riess was forced all in from the big blind and saw a flop of 9♣K♣J♥ three ways before Fedor Holz bet to get things heads-up.
Ryan Riess: 4♠4♣
Fedor Holz: 9♦9♥
“I need running clubs or fours,” Riess said glumly.
He received neither as the 9♠ turn gave Holz quads before the J♣ river confirmed Riess’ elimination on the final table bubble after a lengthy session of hand-for-hand play.
Davies Comes Out the Victor in Three-Way All In
On Day 2 of Event #3: $25,000 GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship, it was Level 19 (40,000/80,000/80,000) when reporter Chris “Lefty” Land witnessed a three-way all-in hand. It began when Ren Lin raised to 700,000, leaving himself roughly 100,000 behind.
Seth Davies checked his cards and after a brief moment, jammed for around 1,600,000 from the small blind. Mikita Badziakouski woke up in the big blind with a decision and after using one timebank, grabbed a stack of chips and made the call, covering both players by a small margin and setting up a runout with both Lin and Davies at risk as Lin added his last 100,000 in the middle.
Ren Lin: A♣2♣
Seth Davies: 10♠10♥
Mikita Badziakouski: A♦Q♥
The 7♣10♣K♥ flop gave Davies middle set but also provided a gut-shot straight draw for Badziakouski and the nut flush draw for Lin, setting up some serious turn and river sweats for all players involved.
The turn brought out the 8♠ and when the 8♥ followed on the river, Davies filled up to hold on for almost a triple up as Badziakouski was left with dust and Lin headed for the exit.
Badziakouski would be essentially forced all in the next hand in the small blind and ended up following Lin to the rail.
Ding Goes Runner-Runner to Double Through Seidel
In Level 23 (100,000/200,000/200,000) of Event #3: $25,000 GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship, Richards caught yet another big hand. It happened when Biao Ding open-jammed on the button and got action from Erik Seidel in the small blind.
Biao Ding: A♣3♣
Erik Seidel: A♦K♠
The flop of K♥10♥9♥ paired Seidel’s king to have Ding drawing practically dead to running threes or hearts and straight cards for a chop.
The 3♠ turn kept him alive and the entire table was shocked as the 3♥ landed on the river to give him trips to double up through the Poker Hall of Famer, who took the beat with a smile.
Click here to see who won Event #3: $25,000 GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship!
Executive Editor U.S.
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.