The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is making a move that will change the online poker game in the US with the launch of WSOP Online, a new platform that will bring players from three states together.
Poker players in Nevada and New Jersey are already competing against each other on WSOP.com, while those in Michigan have a separate single-state site. But that is changing with the trio of states being merged together on one online poker site ahead of the 2024 WSOP. Pennsylvania's WSOP site will not be part of the shared liquidity deal.
On top of the merger news, the WSOP has announced 30 online bracelet events this summer on the new WSOP Online.
Farid Jattin raised to 350,000 on the button and was called by Nitesh Rawtani in the big blind. The pair checked through the flop of 5?5?6? for the 9? to come on the turn.
Rawtani checked again before Jattin made a pot-sized bet of 850,000 chips. Rawtani made the call and the K? river completed the board.
After a check from Rawtani, Jattin announced "pot" yet again. This time, the bet was 2,550,000. Rawtani took some minutes to think through the situation, but eventually decided to fold his hand, sending more chips Jattin's way.
Alfred Atamian got his final few big blinds in from the small blind against Farid Jattin in the big blind.
Alfred Atamian: A?A?8?8?6?
Farid Jattin: K?K?10?9?5?
Jattin flopped a full house on 7?K?7? and took down the pot in style as the 5?K? runout gave him quads, cracking Atamian's aces and sending him out in sixth.
Nitesh Rawtani raised his cutoff to 225,000 before Michael Rocco jammed all in from the button for not much more. The action folded back to Rawtani, who made the call.
Michael Rocco: A?10?8?4?3?
Nitesh Rawtani: A?K?4?4?3?
Both players flopped a flush draw on 10?9?2x but Rocco had the higher one. The offsuit 7x turn gave him some extra draws, but the offsuit Kx river saw his pair of tens get beaten by Rawtani's pair of kings.
Rocco let out a yell as he flung his cards across the table and exited the tournament in seventh place.
John Fauver limped in from the hijack before Farid Jattin made it 445,000 to go on the button. Fauver inspected his stack closely before making the call.
He checked on the Q?3?3? flop and Jattin fired a bet of 360,000. Fauver's cards instantly hit the muck as he left himself with just under 13 big blinds.
Danny Wong raised to 280,000 from early position before Michael Rocco three-bet all in with the covering stack. The action folded back to Wong, who made the call for 465,000 in total.
Danny Wong: A?K?10?9?3?
Michael Rocco: A?8?6?2?2?
Rocco flopped a wheel on 3?5?4?, all but securing Wong's exit from the tournament. However, Wong made runner-runner full house on the 9?9? runout to get half the pot and stay alive.
The next hand, Wong raised to 280,000 again, this time being called by Nitesh Rawtani in middle position and Farid Jattin in the big blind. The action checked to Rawtani on the 4?4?2? flop, and he bet 285,000 chips, exactly Wong's stack.
Jattin quickly folded and Wong followed suit, leaving himself with three and a half big blinds.
One hand later, Calvin Anderson raised to 200,000 under the gun and was called by Jattin in the small blind. Wong also called in the big blind, leaving 5,000 chips back.
The K?5?K? flop was checked by all players before Jattin bet 400,000 on the 7? turn. Wong called all in before Anderson folded, showing Ax2x.
Danny Wong: A?Q?J?7?3?
Farid Jattin: A?10?8?5?4?
Wong's pair of sevens was the best hand, but up against a multitude of draws. However, when the K? river came, his trip kings with ace-queen kicker won him the pot, doubling him up.