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Level 19
: Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
2026 PokerNews Cup Thunder Valley
$400 PokerNews Cup
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 PokerNews Cup Thunder Valley
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$400
Prize Pool
$306,340
Total Entries
901
Level
31
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
88
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 901
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Level: 19
Blinds: 15,000/25,000
Ante: 25,000
Level 18
: 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Jesse Ledoux was all in from the hijack, at risk against Matthew Patterson in the cutoff. Ledoux was standing as he turned over his cards.
Jesse Ledoux: A♦Q♠ 
Matthew Patterson: A♠K♥
Ledoux clapped his hands on the A♣Q♣3♣ flop, making two pair to take the lead.
"I guess it's my turn to stand now," said Patterson as the 6♦ turn changed nothing. The dealer completed the board with the 2♦ river, confirming Ledoux's double while leaving Patterson short.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Victor Paredes used a time extension before committing his final 25,000 into the middle. Michael McDonough called in the small blind, and Christopher Rudd did the same in the big blind.
McDonough and Rudd checked all the way through the 2♠8♦Q♠3♠6♣ runout, and the hands were tabled.
Victor Paredes: K♦2♦
Michael McDonough: A♠4♣
Christopher Rudd: 10♣7♣
Paredes turned over his pair of deuces, which was good enough to take the pot and triple up.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
In the 993rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by Phillip "P3" Hellmuth III at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas during the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The son of poker legend Phil Hellmuth talks about what it was like growing up with the "Poker Brat" as a dad, but also about his own journey to poker, which started relatively recently after he was laid off from a longtime banking job. Now, Hellmuth III has been busy studying, competing on Hellmuth's Home Game, and doing his best to rack up some results.
P3 also talks about his father's controversial decision to encourage him to charge a 1.4 mark-up for the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, and the subsequent bet with Shaun Deeb. From there, Hellmuth III talks about his brother, Nick Hellmuth, the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS), and plays a round of 'Which Phil Is It?' right in the studio.
Be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
A new PokerNews Podcast drops four times a week in July! You can expect a new episode every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Daniel Evans opened to 50,000 from under the gun, and Farzad Abbaszadeh three-bet to 170,000 as next to act while leaving just a single 5,000 chip behind.
Action folded back around to Evans, who used two time extensions before announcing all in. Abbaszadeh checked the clock, hoping to wait out three more eliminations while using his final two time cards.
Abbaszadeh stuck in his final chip, and the cards were turned up.
Farzad Abbaszadeh: 10♠10♥
Daniel Evans: 6♣6♦
Abbaszadeh was never in danger on the 2♣K♠A♠7♦J♠ board, earning the double-up while being left without any time extensions.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level: 18
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 20,000
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Action folded around to Christian Cooper in the small blind, who raised to 50,000. Melvin Dubon used his 15 second clock before announcing all in for 225,000.
Cooper sat back in his chair before using a time extension, ultimately opting to send his cards into the muck and Dubon took down the pot without a flop.
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Ryan Carr led out from the small blind on the 10♣A♦5♥ flop, making a bet of 30,000. Leonard Le called in early position, and the J♣ turn saw both players check.
Carr checked once more on the 2♠ river, and Le fired 50,000 into the middle. That produced a fold from Carr, as Le collected the chips.
