Brian Andrews went all in from early position for a little over 1,000,000 in chips and it folded around to Lawrence Whyte in the big blind who call and flipped over the best hand in Hold'em all at the same time.
Brian Andrews: A♣Q♥ 
Lawrence Whyte: A♠A♦
Andrews got a sweat when the J♠10♥2♠ came but the board bricked out with the 4♣ and 6♦, awarding Whyte a massive pot and making him chip leader at his table.
When the hijack opened to 80,000, Richard Frandsen chose to call in the small blind. Clinton McDonald, in the big blind, saw an opportunity and moved all in for 540,000. The original raiser folded, but Frandsen made the call.
Clinton McDonald: 5♥5♦
Richard Frandsen: A♥Q♦
It was a promising start on the 7♦J♣6♠ flop for McDonald, and the 8♥ turn kept him in the lead.
Unfortunately for McDonald, though, the river Q♠ improved Frandsen to a better pair, sending him to the rail.
The table folded around to the small blind of Namir Mohamed, who raised before John Myers jammed from the big blind. Mohamed quickly called to send them to a showdown.
John Myers: A♠J♠
Namir Mohamed: A♣A♥
Mohamed had Myers in a world of hurt as they went into the runout. The runout of 5♥3♣Q♣8♦2♦ extinguished any hope of an upset and eliminated Myers.
In the 902nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz do an emergency show to discuss the industry-shaking collusion controversy that stemmed from the heads-up match between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Millionaire Maker. Not only were seven-figure prizes up for grabs, but there was also a $1,000,000 bonus if Yaginuma were to win thanks to an outside promotion.
That fact made a big impact on what allegedly went down. Find out what happened, what fans and players are saying, and whether or not ClubWPT Gold will award the $1,000,000 bonus. Also, the WSOP did issue a statement and has yet to finalize the results of the tournament. What might happen next is anyone's guess, but Chad and Mike discuss some potential scenarios.
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop twice a week during the 2025 WSOP every Thursday and Sunday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Richard Frandsen and Cyrus Farzad were all in preflop with cards on their backs.
Cyrus Farzad: 8♥8♠
Richard Frandsen: Q♦Q♥
Farzad didn't hold out much hope. He was already standing up and collecting his belongings as the board ran out 10♣J♠3♦A♠4♦.
After an early position raise, James Leinenbach moved all in for 830,000. Action then folded to Marcel Luske, who, after taking stock of his stack, also moved all in for 1,450,000. The original raiser folded, and the cards were turned on their backs.
James Leinenbach: Q♠Q♣
Marcel Luske: A♣A♦
A dire situation for Leinenbach, his tournament life at risk and only two immediate outs to save him.
The flop 2♣2♥7♥ offered no help at all, and when the turn 7♠ was dealt, Leinenbach needed the river to save him.
Alas, the river couldn't pull him back from the brink, as the dealer revealed the K♥.
Luske pulled in the huge pot, and Leinenbach said his goodbyes to the table.
The hand began when Danny Loomis went all-in from under the gun for 145,000. He was called in two spots by Gary Benson from middle position, and David Robertson from the big blind.
Robertson checked the flop of 3♦5♥K♦ before Benson announced all-in, which elicited a fold from Robertson to go to a showdown against Loomis.
Danny Loomis: K♠J♣
Gary Benson: A♦J♦
Loomis held the top pair, but Benson was drawing to diamonds and an ace. The suspense did not last long as the 9♦ peeled off on the river to end the hand as the inconsequential 4♥ hit the river.
Thomas Ratkovich raised to 65,000 and Marcel Luske defended his big blind.
The dealer presented K♥10♠2♠ and Luske check-called a bet of 95,000.
Both players checked the 10♦ on the turn, bringing the 3♠. Luske cut out 100,000 and pushed it forward and Ratkovich folded.
The Very Next Hand:
James Stern went all in for 420,000 and Ratkovich called as soon as it got to him in the big blind.
James Stern: A♣Q♥
Thomas Ratkovich: A♠A♦
Stern had a small sweat when the 4♣Q♣8♥ spread but it wasn't meant to be as the 4♠ and 5♣ completed the board. Ratkovich entered the day among the chip leaders and has continued to climb.
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