Hands of the Week: Crushed Dreams at WPT Cyprus; Kassouf Left Saying “Not Good”

The World Poker Tour (WPT) $3,500 buy-in, $2 million GTD WPT Cyprus Championship on the Chamada Status Resort & On line casino drew 775 entries and provided up a $2,402,500 prize pool.

Ilia Kitsbabahvili, who had gained two WPT Cyprus aspect occasions – the $1,100 NLH Freezeout for €34,430 and $1,100 PLO Bounty for €15,250 – ended up successful the match for $401,100 and etched his identify on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup.

For 4 days, the WPT Reside Reporting Crew, comprised of BJ Nemeth and Richard Hayes, captured among the greatest and game-changing arms from the match. Right here’s a have a look at 5 we thought readers would discover fascinating.

Will Kassouf Discusses WSOP Controversy: “I Was Solely Reacting to How I Was Being Handled”

Two-Time Champ on Mistaken Finish of Cooler

On Day 1a, it was Degree 8 (600/1,200/1,200) when preflop motion exploded, leading to three gamers getting all of it in with each Guo Liang Wei and two-time WPT champion Tommy Vedes in danger towards Furkan Yavuz.

Tommy Vedes: Okay♠Okay♥Guo Liang Wei: A♣A♦Furkan Yavuz: 5♠5♥

Wei had one of the best of it and improved to prime set on the A♠J♦7♦. Vedes wanted to go runner-runner to remain alive, and the Okay♦ on the flip saved him drawing dwell to the case king. The inconceivable didn’t occur, although, because the 6♦ appeared on the river to enhance Wei to a flush.

Large Name Doesn’t Pay Off for Williamson

On Day 1b, it was Degree 6 (400/800/800) when Baris Topuz raised to 1,800 below the gun and obtained a name from Gheorghe Fedorca in center place. Cameron Williamson then made it 6,500 to go from the cutoff, Will Kassouf known as from the massive blind, and the opposite two gamers known as to make it four-way motion to a flop of Q♦J♥5♥.

Motion checked to Williamson, and he wager 9,000, which prompted folds from each Kassouf and Topuz. Nevertheless, Fedorca wakened with an all-in check-raise to 91,00,0 and Williamson hit the tank.

After some time, Williamson requested, “You’ve got obtained a flush draw, yeah? Possibly ace-ten of hearts?”

After Fedorca silently shrugged, Williamson revealed that every one he had was ace-high. Ultimately, he did name off his remaining 41,500 with the A♠Okay♠ and it was forward as Fedorca confirmed the Okay♣10♠ for an open-ended straight draw.

Sadly for Williamson, his nice name didn’t repay because the 9♦ appeared on the flip to provide Fedorca the straight. The 4♣ river was no assist to Williamson, and he exited the match.

Triple Up Snatched Away from Music on the River

Early on Day 1c in Degree 2 (200/300/300), Yaser Sakarya raised to 800 from the hijack and Chadi Rizk known as from the cutoff. WPT Prime champ Stephen Music then moved all in for simply 3,100 from the button.

Matte Karjalainen then raised to five,400 from the massive blind, Sakarya folded, and Rizk known as to see a flop of Okay♥J♥J♣. Karjalainen proceeded to check-fold to a wager of 9,000 from Rizk, who claimed the aspect pot.

Music then tabled his A♥7♣ for ace-high, and it was good as Rizk simply had the Q♦8♦ for queen-high.

“My man,” Music mentioned as a approach of thanking Rizk for betting out the Karjalainen. Music was primed for a triple after the 7♥ flip, which improved him to a pair, however he was denied because the Q♣ spiked on the river to provide Rizk a greater two pair for the win.

Enjoyable Truth: The WPT’s Matt Savage not too long ago shared with PokerNews that Stephen Music will likely be a bounty at October’s WPT Bay 101 Taking pictures Star occasion. PokerNews Podcast host Chad Holloway caught up with Music to speak about it.

“Not Good” is All Kassouf Needed to Say

On Day 2, the controversial Will Kassouf met his finish in Degree 10 (1,000/2,000/2,000). It occurred when he discovered himself all in for about 40,000 and in danger towards Maksym Danylov.

Will Kassouf: A♠Q♠Maksym Danylov: 10♦10♥

It was a flip however Kassouf fell behind when the J♦7♦3♦ flop took away two of his outs as both the ace or queen of diamonds would give his opponent a flush.

“Not good,” Kassouf muttered. He then watched helplessly because the J♥ paired the board on the flip and the ineffective Okay♠ peeled off on the river.

It was a reasonably normal hand, however it gave us a superb excuse to plus Kassouf’s latest look on the PokerNews Podcast by which he mentioned his polarizing run within the 2025 WSOP Most important Occasion.

The Thunderous Story of Sole vs. Pak

Deep within the match on Day 3, simply 12 gamers remained in Degree 27 (50,000/100,000/100,000) when Ignacio Sole raised to 225,000 from the button and Day 1a chip chief Aleksandr Pak defended the massive blind to see a flop of Okay♥Q♣8♦.

Pak check-called a wager of 175,000 after which wager 325,000 when the 8♠ paired the board on the river. Sole used a Time Chip earlier than calling and the J♠ accomplished the board on the river. Pal wager 900,000 and Sole shortly known as and tabled the ten♦9♦ for a rivered gutshot straight, which bested the 8♣5♥ journeys of his opponent.

With that, Sole gained a 3.4 million pot whereas Pak was left with 1.9 million (19 bb). Not lengthy after, the duo clashed once more when Sole jammed the button with the ten♥8♥ and Pak known as off from the massive blind with the Okay♦Q♦. The board ran out 10♣7♥2♦2♥8♣ and Sole eradicated Pak in tenth place for $38,500.