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

Jul 15, 2026

Deeb Triples up

Dan O'Hair

Level 22

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000 Blinds, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 25,000 Ante, 30,000 Bring-In, 100,000 Completion, 100,000-200,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Shaun Deeb: 9♣9♥9♠/5♦4♠8♦6♥ All in
Alexander Kostritsyn: A♣A♦6♠/8♣5♣6♦5♠
Yueqi Zhu: J♥10♠7♠/7♥K♣10♣9♦

Shaun Deeb completed and was raised by Yueqi Zhu. Alexander Kostritsyn three-bet, and it was folded back to Deeb, who moved all in for 355,000 total. Zhu five-bet, and Kostritsyn called for a side pot.

Zhu proceeded to call bets from Kostritsyn on every street, and Kostritsyn revealed his cards for aces-up. They were best against Zhu's tens-up for the side pot, but Deeb showed he held three nines in the hole to score the main pot for a triple-up.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Shaun Deeb Yueqi Zhu

Jul 15, 2026

Eslami Regains the Lead

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 22

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000 Blinds, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 25,000 Ante, 30,000 Bring-In, 100,000 Completion, 100,000-200,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Yueqi Zhu: XxXx / Q♥8♦A♣8♠ / Xx
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / 4♥6♣K♣2♣ / Xx

Yueqi Zhu completed and called a raise by Alexander Kostritsyn to then check-call on fourth street and fifth street. Both checked down sixth and seventh street, and Zhu won the pot with the K♦Q♣10♥ for queens and eights.

Naoya Kihara: XxXx / A♣8♥Q♦ - folded on fifth street
Walter Chambers: XxXx / 9♦6♣3♦

Naoya Kihara completed, and Walter Chambers called one seat over. They checked fourth street, and Kihara check-folded on fifth street

Ali Eslami: XxXx / A♦7♥K♥4♣ / Xx
Naoya Kihara: XxXx / 9♦8♥9♣10♠ / Xx

Ali Eslami completed to get called by Kihara and then bet fourth street to get called. Kihara bet his pair of nines on fifth street; Kihara called. On sixth street, Kihara bet again for Eslami to call and then checked seventh street. Eslami's bet was reluctantly called, and he tabled the A♥K♦9♠ for aces and kings, "With the nine," to win the pot and take over the lead.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Naoya Kihara Walter Chambers Yueqi Zhu

Jul 15, 2026

Updated Counts on the First Break

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Dan O'Hair

Level 22

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000 Blinds, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 25,000 Ante, 30,000 Bring-In, 100,000 Completion, 100,000-200,000 Limits

Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds	Big Bets
1	Naoya Kihara	Japan	2,945,000	29	15
2	Walter Chambers	United States	2,130,000	21	11
3	Shaun Deeb	United States	510,000	5	3
4	Yueqi Zhu	China	2,405,000	24	12
5	Alexander Kostritsyn	Russian Federation	4,505,000	45	23
6	Matthew Beinner	United States	260,000	3	1
7	Julien Sitbon	France	4,420,000	44	22
8	Ari Engel	United States	1,000,000	10	5
9	Ali Eslami	United States	3,910,000	39	20

Level: 22

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000 Blinds, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 25,000 Ante, 30,000 Bring-In, 100,000 Completion, 100,000-200,000 Limits

Jul 15, 2026

Was Adding a Poker Shot Clock to WSOP Main Event Unfair to Players? | PokerNews Podcast #990

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Kaelaine Minton

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

In the 990th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are at Level 9 Studios in Las Vegas, where special guest cohost Remko Rinkema joins them.

The crew discusses the impromptu introduction of poker shot clocks on Day 7 of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. It was an unexpected development implemented after a 15-minute tank by Loren Klein on Day 6, and while it was technically allowed by Rule 80, a lot of players took issue with it, such as Chris Brewer and Patrick "Pads" Leonard. However, some players came out in support of it, such as Shaun Deeb, who was still in the tournament.

Speaking of Pads, some thought he wasn't getting the airtime he deserved during his deep run in the Main Event. Was he blacklisted, or was it just bad luck? Chad then talks about live reporting on Jamie Dwan winning the $50K High Roller event over a stacked final table that included Daniel Negreanu, Bryn Kenney, and Kristen Foxen. Finally, Remko talks about PokerGO's "He Brought $1,000,000 to the Biggest Poker Game of His Life" video featuring Andrew "Ace" Pacheco, his new podcast, and other upcoming PokerGO plans.

Oh, and did we mention that Chad is headed to California's Thunder Valley Casino this weekend for the $400 buy-in, $250K GTD PokerNews Cup as part of the RGPS Passport Season Finale?

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 during the 2026 WSOP! 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!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

Jul 15, 2026

Break Time

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Dan O'Hair

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

The remaining nine playes have been sent on a 15-minute break.

Jul 15, 2026

Chambers Leaves Beinner Short

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Dan O'Hair

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Walter Chambers: XxXx/7♥3♥K♥
Matthew Beinner: XxXx/Q♥K♦9♠ - folded on fifth street

Matthew Beinner completed and was called by Walter Chambers.

Beinner continued for a bet on fourth street and Chambers raised, sending Beinner deep into the tank before he eventually called.

Chambers barreled on fifth street and Beinner laid his hand down to be left with 260,000.

Tags: Matthew Beinner Walter Chambers

Jul 15, 2026

Kihara Gets a Significant Boost

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Ari Engel: XxXx / A♠J♦ - folded on fourth street
Naoya Kihara: XxXx / 3♦3♥A♣A♦ / Xx
Shaun Deeb: XxXx / Q♠5♣2♥ - folded on fifth street
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / 5♠4♠A♥10♣ / Xx

Ari Engel completed with an ace and was called by Naoya Kihara, Shaun Deeb, as well as Alexander Kostritsyn. Kihara paired his trey and bet fourth street, Deeb called, and Kostritsyn raised to force out Engel. Kihara and Deeb called to go to fifth street, on which Kihara found an ace. He checked, as did Deeb; Kostritsyn bet and Kihara was the only caller.

Kihara made aces-up on sixth street with the other two aces no longer available and bet; Kostritsyn called. Both checked seventh street, and Kihara won the pot with 10♦5♦4♦ in the hole for a flush.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ari Engel Naoya Kihara Shaun Deeb

Jul 15, 2026

Kihara and Kostritsyn Gain in Stud

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Dan O'Hair

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Naoya Kihara: XxXx/A♦3♣A♠
Matthew Beinner: XxXx/7♥9♠10♦ - folded on fifth street
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/5♠ - folded on third street

Alexander Kostritsyn called the bring-in and Matthew Beinner completed. Naoya Kihara raised with his ace, which got a fold from Kostritsyn and a call from Beinner.

Beinner called a bet from Kihara on fourth street, but laid his hand down facing another bet from Kihara, who paired his ace on fifth.

Alexander Kostritsyn: K♥6♣6♥/6♠2♠5♥3♠
Walter Chambers: XxXx/K♠3♣10♣10♣/Xx
Ali Eslami: XxXx/Q♦4♦ - folded on fourth street

Ali Eslami completed and was called by Walter Chambers and Kostritsyn.

Kostritsyn bet on fourth street, which got a fold from Eslami and a call from Chambers.

Both players checked on fifth street and then Chambers called bets from Kostritsyn on sixth and seventh.

Kostritsyn showed he held a set of sixes and Chambers mucked his cards.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Matthew Beinner Naoya Kihara Walter Chambers

Jul 15, 2026

Beinner Triples Against Kostritsyn and Engel

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Razz

Two hands of Razz in a row ended on fifth and then fourth street, with Alexander Kostritsyn and Naoya Kihara earning the pot before Julien Sitbon completed with an ace and won the antes.

Alexander Kostritsyn: 2x6x / 8x9x3xKx / 6x
Matthew Beinner: 9x5x / 2x4x6x9x / Kx
Ari Engel: 5x4x / 2xQxAxAx / Qx

Alexander Kostritsyn then completed, and Matthew Beinner raised with 65,000 behind. Ari Engel called, and Kostritsyn came along to fourth street. Beinner moved all-in for 65,000, and Engel called.

"Can I raise?" Kostritsyn asked, and that was confirmed; he made it 145,000, and Engel called to create a side pot. Engel check-called fifth and sixth streets before they both checked seventh.

Beinner had a nine-six and won the main pot to triple up, while Kostritsyn earned the side pot with his nine-eight.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ari Engel Julien Sitbon Matthew Beinner Naoya Kihara