Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. | 2026 World Series of Poker

Jul 15, 2026

Eslami Claws Back More Chips

Christian Zetzsche

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Limit Hold'em

Both Ali Eslami and Alexander Kostritsyn received a walk. Kostritsyn then raised the button and Eslami called. Eslami check-called the J♥5♥2♥ flop before they checked the 10♠ turn. Eslami bet the 2♠ river to receive a call and won the pot with his Q♠5♠.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Eslami's button raise was called by Kostritsyn, who then check-called the Q♦5♦2♣ flop. The 4♦ followed on the turn and Kostritsyn check-folded to a bet.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

Eslami Gets Some Back

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Dan O'Hair

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Stud Hi-Lo

Ali Eslami: 10♥10♠8♠/5♠K♣3♥6♥
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/10♣6♣8♥Q♠

Alexander Kostritsyn called Ali Eslami's bring-in and then bet on fourth street. Eslami raised and Kostritsyn called.

Kostritsyn then called bets from Eslami on fifth and sixth before both players checked on seventh.

Eslami revealed two tens in the hole and Kostritsyn mucked his cards.

Limit Hold’em

The game switched to Hold'em and Eslami raised on the button. Kostritsyn called.

Both players checked on the 6♥5♠3♠ flop and then Eslami called a bet from Kostritsyn on the 2♣ turn.

The 10♠ completed the board and Kostritsyn bet again. This time, Eslami folded and Kostritsyn was sent the pot.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

Short-Lived Boost for Eslami

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Razz

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / 2x10x3x - folded on fifth street
Ali Eslami: XxXx / 7x4x5x

The Razz hands went rather quickly with both trading pots, and the final hand saw Alexander Kostritsyn complete with a deuce and Ali Eslami call. Eslami bet his lead on fourth street to pick up a call, then bet fifth street to force out Kostritsyn.

Seven Card Stud

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / 2♥10♦9♥10♠ / Xx
Ali Eslami: XxXx / 2♦9♦8♠5♠ / Xx

Kostritsyn completed with a deuce and called a raise by Eslami, who had a deuce as well. Kostritsyn check-called on fourth street and they checked fifth street. Once he paired the ten on sixth street, Kostritsyn bet and Eslami called. They checked down seventh street and Kostritsyn played his board, exposing the A♣J♦7♥ to win the pot.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

A Scoop for Eslami

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Dan O'Hair

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Omaha Hi-Lo

Alexander Kostritsyn raised on the button and Ali Eslami defended his big blind.

Both players checked on the 3♦J♠K♦ flop and 6♦ turn, but Eslami check-called a bet from Kostritsyn on the A♦ river.

Kostritsyn turned over 9♠8♠6♥4♥, but it was no good against Eslami's K♣10♦5♠2♣ for a pair of kings and a better low to scoop the pot.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

Hold'em Rush Propels Kostritsyn's Lead

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Limit Hold'em

Ali Eslami raised the button and called a three-bet by Alexander Kostritsyn in the big blind. Kostritsyn bet the 10♣7♣2♠ flop to earn a call before they checked the 5♦ turn. Kostritsyn bet the K♥ river and Eslami folded.

In a min-raised pot to the next A♦Q♦7♣ flop, Kostritsyn bet and Eslami folded.

Kostritsyn raised the button and Eslami came along to then check-fold the A♦9♥8♥ flop to a bet.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

Kostritsyn Extends the Gap

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Dan O'Hair

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Stud Hi-Lo

Alexander Kostritsyn: K♥Q♦10♥/A♥Q♣J♥A♣
Ali Eslami: XxXx/4♠K♣J♦4♦/Xx

Alexander Kostritsyn completed and Ali Eslami called.

Eslami proceeded to call bets from Kostritsyn on every street and Kostritsyn tabled his hole cards for Broadway.

"Almost a Royal Flush," Kostritsyn said as he collected the pot.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Royal Flush

Jul 15, 2026

Expensive Misclick by Eslami

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / Q♦8♦Q♥7♣ / Xx
Ali Eslami: XxXx / 9♦3♥9♣5♥ / Xx

In a limped pot to fourth street, Alexander Kostritsyn bet and Ali Eslami called. Both paired up on fifth street and Kostritsyn bet, Eslami called. They checked sixth street and Kostritsyn then bet seventh street.

Eslami mulled it over for a bit and then put out chips which turned out too many, exactly half more than the bet. It was a forced raise after which Kostritsyn made it three bets. Eslami gave it some thought and folded.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

Eslami Takes the Lead

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Dan O'Hair

Level 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Razz

Ali Eslami: 7x5x4x/Jx6xJx2x
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/9x8xQx10x/Xx

After chipping up slightly in Omaha Hi-Lo, Ali Eslami called a completion from Alexander Kostritsyn in Razz.

Both players checked on fourth street, but then Kostritsyn called bets from Eslami on fifth through seventh.

Eslami showed his hole cards for a seven and Kostritsyn sent his cards into the middle.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Level: 27

Limit Flop: 150,000-300,000 Blinds, 300,000-600,000 Limits
Stud Games: 75,000 Ante, 100,000 Bring-In, 300,000 Completion, 300,000-600,000 Limits

Jul 15, 2026

Up and Down in Rapid Fashion

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Limit Hold'em

Both chopped the last hand in Stud Hi-Lo and Ali Eslami then raised the button for Alexander Kostritsyn to call. On the A♥8♣6♠ flop, Kostritsyn check-raised and Eslami called. Kostritsyn then check-folded the K♦ turn to a bet.

Kostritsyn raised the next hand to steal the big blind and Eslami limped his next button, Kostritsyn checked to the 9♦8♥3♦ flop. Both checked to the 9♠ turn on which Kostritsyn bet and Eslami called. Kostritsyn also bet the 2♠ river to get paid and won the pot with the 6♥3♥.

Kostritsyn raised the last button of the rotation and Eslami folded.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami