The 2025 Pure Poker Tour kicks off on February 13 at Pure Casino Edmonton, with live coverage by Lyle Bateman throughout the series.
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Russel Sluchinskr Wins Event #1: $340 Seniors ($9,620)
After winning the flip to take the trophy. Russel Sluchinskr is the victor of the Seniors event. Him and Robert Limpert chopped the money with Sluchinskr receiving an extra $500 for his larger stack. Sluchinskr had a slow start to the day. However, as play got into the later levels he found monster hand after monster hand eliminating opponent after opponent.
He found pocket aces six times in the latter half of the tournament and they were never cracked. Once he gained the big stack, Sluchinskr didn’t let up and continued to apply pressure netting him more chips and eliminations as play got short handed. A full recap of this event and Event #2 $340 NLH Bounty will be up tomorrow but for now congratulations to Sluchinskr on a well deserved victory. Stay tuned for more live updates as the series continues over the next week and a half.
Read more in our front page recap -
Robert Limpert Eliminated in 2nd Place ($6,630)
Level: 22 (15,000/25,000/25,000) Entries: 1/124 Prizes: $35,340 After agreeing to chop the prize leaving $500 extra to the larger stacked Russell Sluchin, the two players flipped for the trophy.
Robert Limpert: Q♠10♠
Russel Sluchin: A♥9♠
The board ran out K♥6♥5♣K♦3♣ for Sluchin to take the trophy.
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Shawn Holland Eliminated in 3rd Place ($4,309)
Level: 22 (15,000/25,000/25,000) Entries: 2/124 Prizes: $35,340 An all in and call occurred after the flop of 9♦8♦K♦ between Shawn Holland and Russell Sluchin. Both players revealed their hands.
Shawn Holland: J♥10♠
Russel Sluchin: 2♠2♦
The board completed with the K♣A♠ to send Holland to the rail.
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Harold Boutilier Eliminated in 4th Place ($3,315)
Level: 22 (15,000/25,000/25,000) Entries: 3/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the flop of 10♥3♠2♥ and Harold Boutilier moved all in. Russel Sluchin made the call and both players revealed their holdings.
Harold Boutilier: K♠10♦
Russel Sluchin: Q♥Q♦
The board ran out 5♣5♥ to send Boutilier to the rail. Sluchin has just over 2,000,000 in chips.
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Jeff Clarke Eliminated in 5th Place ($2,552)
Level: 21 (10,000/20,000/20,000) Entries: 4/124 Prizes: $35,340 Russel Sluchin raised to 200,000 from the button. Jeff Clarke jammed for 230,000 from the big blind and Sluchin made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Jeff Clarke: A♥Q♦
Russel Sluchin: A♦A♣
The board ran out 9♦3♥6♣6♠8♦ for Clarke to hit the rail. Sluchin sits as the chip leader with 1,570,000 in play.
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Limpert Finds a Miracle River
Level: 21 (10,000/20,000/20,000) Entries: 5/124 Prizes: $35,340 Before the break, an all in and call occurred between Robert Limpert and Jeff Clarke after the flop of 2♣K♠7♥. Both players revealed their hands.
Robert Limpert: A♦A♥
Jeff Clarke: 7♠7♣
The board completed with the 6♥A♠ for Limpert to chip up to 815,000.
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Chip Counts at the Break
Table/Seat Player Chip Count 14/2 Robert Limpert 815,000 14/5 Harold Boutilier 615,000 14/6 Russel Sluchin 940,000 14/7 Shawn Hollland 410,000 14/9 Jeff Clarke 340,000 -
Naleen Naraya Eliminated in 7th Place ($1,591) and Elden Venning 6th Place ($2,002)
Level: 20 (10,000/15,000/15,000) Entries: 5/124 Prizes: $35,340 A three way all in occurred between Naleen Naraya, Russel Sluchin, and Elden Venning. The three players revealed their holdings.
Naleen Naraya: A♠K♥
Elden Venning: Q♦Q♣
Russel Sluchin: A♣A♥
The board ran clean for Sluchin as it came 4♠7♠4♦8♦7♠. He sits at 850,000 as the current chip leader
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Brian Wells Eliminated in 8th Place ($1,259)
Level: 20 (10,000/15,000/15,000) Entries: 7/124 Prizes: $35,340 Brian Wells moved all in from early position for 70,000. Jeff Clarke made the call from the small blind. Both players revealed their hands.
Brian Wells: Q♥Q♠
Jeff Clarke: A♦Q♣
The board ran out 10♣10♠2♣A♥K♥ to send Wells to the rail. Clarke sits as the chip leader with 820,000.
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Kim Graham Eliminated in 9th Place ($1,027)
Level: 19 (6,000/12,000/12,000) Entries: 8/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the board ran out 6♥6♦J♥8♥7♥ and Kim Graham moved all in from early position. Shawn Hollland made the call and both players revealed their hands.
Kim Graham: K♥Q♦
Shawn Holland: A♥4♠
Holland took the pot and sits comfortably at 800,000.
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Joseph Bernard Eliminated in 10th Place ($828)
Level: 18 (5,000/10,000/10,000) Entries: 9/124 Prizes: $35,340 Joseph Bernard moved all in from middle position for around 200,000 and Kim Graham made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Joseph Bernard: J♠J♥
Kim Graham: K♥K♣
The board ran out 5♥6♠K♦10♣9♥ for Graham to take the pot.
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Scott Wright Eliminated in 12th Christopher Clayton in 11th Place ($762)
Christian Clayton moved all in for 30,000 from under the gun. Brian Wells made the call from the big blind and both players revealed their hands.
Christian Clayton: K♥4♥
Brian Wells: K♣J♦
The board ran out 5♥8♦7♣2♠Q♥ for Wells to take the pot. The hand prior Wright was eliminated in 12th place bringing the remaining players to just 10.
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George Broumas Eliminated in 13th Place ($663)
Level: 18 (5,000/10,000/10,000) Entries: 12/124 Prizes: $35,340 A three way all in occurred with George Broumas as the shortest stack. The three players revealed their hands.
George Broumas: 7♥6♥
Early Position: A♠J♣
Late Position: A♦K♥
The board ran out 5♦A♥7♣5♥J♦ to send Broumas to the rail.
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Bubble Bursts
Level: 17 (4,000/8,000/8,000) Entries: 13/124 Prizes: $35,340 Jeff Clarke opened to 35,000 and David McKee moved all in. Clarke made the call and both players revealed their holdings.
David McKee: 10♥10♠
Jeff Clarke: A♥Q♥
The board ran out 5♥A♦9♥A♣3♥ to send the remaining players into the money. They are guaranteed $663 for their efforts.
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All Chip Stacks at the Break
Table/Seat Player Chip Count 14/1 Naleen Naraya 366,000 14/2 Kim Graham 146,000 14/3 Brian Wells 77,000 14/4 Christopher Clemont 189,000 14/5 14/6 Jeff Clarke 90,000 14/7 Elden Venning 128,000 14/8 Russel Sluchin 213,000 14/9 Harold Boutilier 81,000 16/1 Jerry Nelner 25,000 16/2 George Broumin 120,000 16/3 Robert Limpert 485,000 16/4 Joseph Bernard 150,000 16/5 16/6 David McKee 135,000 16/7 Shawn Holland 345,000 16/8 Paul Meyer 75,000 16/9 Christopher Neumann 26,000 -
An Unlucky Runout for Meyer
Level: 15 (2,500/5,000/5,000) Entries: 21/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the board completed 7♣J♣4♣3♣9♦. Limpert fired for 32,000 and Paul Meyer went into the tank.
He folded his J♠J♦ to live another day. He currently sits at 69,000 while Limpert leads the pack with 459,000.
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Sluchin Finds the Perfect Flop
Level: 15 (2,500/5,000/5,000) Entries: 21/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the flop of Q♣9♠10♥ and Elden Venning fired for 5,500 from the small blind. Russel Sluchin made the call from the big blind.
The turn was the 4♥ and Venning continued for 6,500. Sluchin found the call.
After the river peeled the 2♣, Venning blasted for 8,500. Sluchin moved all in for 113,000 and Venning went into the tank. He folded and announced that he had two pair. Sluchin showed K♠J♥ for the flopped straight. He currently sits at 160,000 with Venning just behind at 145,000.
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Wilson Gets it Through Uncontested
Level: 15 (2,500/5,000/5,000) Entries: 22/124 Prizes: $35,340 After a limp from Patrick Wilson in the cutoff, Russel Sluchin three-bet to 27,000 from the small blind.
Wilson moved all in for 64,000 from the cutoff.
Sluchin went into the tank but made a disciplined fold. Wilson told the table that he had pocket aces and it was a good laydown. Both players sit with similar stacks at 100,000 for Sluchin and 101,000 for Wilson.
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Holland Finds the River
Level: 14 (2,000/4,000/4,000) Entries: 26/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the board ran out 5♦9♥9♣2♦J♦ and Shawn Holland fired for 15,000 from under the gun.
Paul Meyer made the call from early position and was shown the bad news as Holland revealed A♠J♠. Holland sits at 255,000 while Meyer is under the average with 78,000.
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Duece’s Never Lose for Clarke
Level: 13 (1,500/3,000/3,000) Entries: 31/124 Prizes: $35,340 Under the gun raised to 7,500 and Jeff Clarke made the call from the cutoff. The big blind defended as well.
The flop came and turn came 10♦J♥4♣A♦ the the three players checked both streets.
After the river peeled the 2♠, under the gun fired for 10,000. Clarke raised to 30,000 and was called. He revealed 2♦2♣ to best his opponent’s slow played A♥Q♦. Clarke sits as chip leader with 310,000.
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Chip Leaders at the Break
Player Chip Stack Jeff Clarke 188,000 Trevor Simpson 183,000 Naleen Naraya 172,000 Shawn Holland 168,000 Robert Limpert 133,500 George Broumas 128,000 -
Players on Break
The remaining 39 players are headed on a fifteen minute break. They return to blinds of 1,500 and 3,000 with a 3,000 big blind ante.
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Fan On the Up and Up
Level: 12 (1,500/2,500/2,500) Entries: 42/124 Prizes: $35,340 Francis Fan raised to 6,000 from late position. Both blinds made the call.
The flop came 5♦10♦K♥ and both blinds were quick to check. Fan fired for 10,000 and was rewarded with the pot. He now sits at 61,500 just short of the tournament average.
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Aggression Pays off for Boutilier
Level: 11 (1,000/2,000/2,000) Entries: 48/124 Prizes: $35,340 Leonard Sieben raised to 7,000 from under the gun. Harold Boutilier made the call from late position.
The flop came 9♣8♣3♠ and Sieben was quick to check. Boutilier fired for 12,000 and was rewarded with the pot. With this win, he sits slight above the average at 70,000.
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High Card for Bernar
Level: 11 (1,000/2,000/2,000) Entries: 54/124 Prizes: $35,340 Joseph Bernar opened to 6,000 from the button. Harvey Johnson defended his big blind.
The board ran out [invalid notations] and both players checked all three streets.
Bernar revealed K♣6♣ to best Johnson’s Q♥6♦. Bernar sits at 67,700 while Johnson currently has 93,500.
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Letts Lurks in the Shadows
Level: 10 (1,000/1,500/1,500) Entries: 58/124 Prizes: $35,340 Under the gun raised to 4,500 and John Letts called from middle position. Robert Limpert called from late position as the three players headed to a flop.
The flop came K♣3♠10♥ and both early players checked. Limpert fired for 6,000 and was only called by Letts.
After the turn peeled the 8♦ both players checked their option.
The river came the 6♦ and Letts led out for 12,000. He received a quick fold from Limpert to bring his stack to 61,500. Limpert sits slightly ahead with 66,500.
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Prize Pool Announced
Place Prize (CAD) 1st $9,620 2nd $6,630 3rd $4,309 4th $3,315 5th $2,552 6th $2,002 7th $1,591 8th $1,259 9th $1,027 10th $828 11th-12th $762 13th $663 -
Holland Finds Another Elimination
Level: 9 (600/1,200/1,200) Entries: 67/124 Prizes: $35,340 Michael Medic moved all in from early position for 17,000. Shawn Holland put in the call from the big blind and announced “let’s gamble,” as he revealed his hand.
Michael Medic: A♠10♣
Shawn Holland: K♦J♦
The board ran out 4♥K♠4♦2♠9♠ for Holland to take the pot and find another elimination. With this pot, his stacks sits at a healthy 187,500.
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Current Big Stacks at the Dinner Break
As of the dinner break here are the current chip leaders. Naleen Naraya (120,000), Russel Sluchin (99,000), Jeff Clarke (99,400), Robert Limpert (86,200), Shawn Holland (151,200), Harvey Johnson (68,500), David McKee (81,700). Jerry Nelner (163,000) currently sits at the chip lead and rounding out the list we have Scott Wright (91,100) and Gregory Duke (70,500). Beloved live reporter Lyle Bateman is still in battling with a short stack of 15,400.
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Holland Sends his Opponent to the Rail
Level: 8 (500/1,000/1,000) Entries: 68/119 Prizes: TBD Middle position raised to 3,000 and the Shawn Holland defended his big blind. The flop came 4♦7♠6♠ and Holland checked to his opponent. They fired for 5,000 and he made the call.
After the turn peeled the 6♥ Holland again checked. Middle position continued for 10,000 and received a call.
The 7♣ completed the board and Holland checked to his opponent. They moved all in for around 20,000 and were called by Holland. He revealed 6♦3♠ to best his opponents K♠4♠. Holland sits near the top of the field with 141,000 chips in play.
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Fan Gets it Through
Level: 8 (600/1,200/1,200) Entries: 72/118 Prizes: TBD Under the gun raised to 2,500 and middle position put in the call. Francis Fan called from the cutoff and the big blind put in the call.
The flop came 5♣10♦K♠ and the early players were quick to check. Fan fired for 7,000 and found a quick fold from his opponents. He revealed A♣3♣ to take the pot and chip up to 28,000.
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Duke Hits Big with Big Slick
Level: 7 (400/800/800) Entries: 72/110 Prizes: TBD Under the gun and Scott Wright in early position made the call. Gregory Duke raised to 2,000 from the cutoff and both players made the call.
The flop came 10♥8♥K♥ and both early players checked their option. Duke continued for 3,000 and only Wright made the call.
While the turn and river peeled the 2♦3♦, both players checked the two streets to showdown. Duke revealed A♣K♣ to best Wright’s 9♥9♠. After the hand, Duke sits nearly double the average with 73,000 in chips.
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Event #1 $340 Seniors is Underway
Level: 7 (400/800/800) Entries: 75/107 Prizes: TBD So far just over 100 players have entered the event. That number will continue to rise as registration remains open for approximately an hour and forty minutes. Also on the docket tonight is Event #2 $340 NLH Bounty which begins registration at 4 PM.
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Seniors First, As Usual, for 2025
Event 1: 2025 PPT 1 – Event #1: $340 Seniors First 50+ ($285 + $55) Date: Feb 13, Noon Blinds: 30 Minutes Starting Stack: 25,000 Late Entry: 8 Levels (~5 PM) Day 1 Ends: One-Day Event While there are a few changes in play on the Pure Poker Tour this year, 2025 starts off the same way as nearly every other PPY series has started — with 50+ players in the Seniors First game. The action for the 2025 PPT season kicks off at noon on Feb 13 with the Seniors.
Players start the day with 25k in chips and will play 30-minute levels until a winner is decided. There are 8 levels of late entry which should mean players can buy a stack until about 5 PM. This one-day event will award the first trophy of 2025 before they shut down for the night.
One significant change to note for 2025, starting with the Seniors Frist game, is the adjusted buy-in & rake calculations. All the prices have stayed the same — that is, a $340 this year is putting exactly the same amount of money into prizes as it did last year — but the way it’s reported has been modified to be more transparent. Rather than being described as a “$300 + $40” where there was an additional 5% AGLC charity fee taken out of the $300 for $285 into the prize pool, this year the same game will read as “$285 + $55”, reflecting the actual prize pool contribution more transparently.
This game should get a lot of coverage, but it won’t be by me. I’ll be at the felt battling it out for my first-ever live trophy. My new partner in crime, Alek Gillies, will be stepping in to handle the coverage on the opening day while I get my poker on for the first time in 2025. He’ll be following the Seniors down to the trophy, then bringing the endgame action from Event #2 after us old folks are safely tucked into bed.
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Russel Sluchinskr Wins Event #1: $340 Seniors ($9,620)
After winning the flip to take the trophy. Russel Sluchinskr is the victor of the Seniors event. Him and Robert Limpert chopped the money with Sluchinskr receiving an extra $500 for his larger stack. Sluchinskr had a slow start to the day. However, as play got into the later levels he found monster hand after monster hand eliminating opponent after opponent.
He found pocket aces six times in the latter half of the tournament and they were never cracked. Once he gained the big stack, Sluchinskr didn’t let up and continued to apply pressure netting him more chips and eliminations as play got short handed. A full recap of this event and Event #2 $340 NLH Bounty will be up tomorrow but for now congratulations to Sluchinskr on a well deserved victory. Stay tuned for more live updates as the series continues over the next week and a half.
Read more in our front page recap -
Robert Limpert Eliminated in 2nd Place ($6,630)
Level: 22 (15,000/25,000/25,000) Entries: 1/124 Prizes: $35,340 After agreeing to chop the prize leaving $500 extra to the larger stacked Russell Sluchin, the two players flipped for the trophy.
Robert Limpert: Q♠10♠
Russel Sluchin: A♥9♠
The board ran out K♥6♥5♣K♦3♣ for Sluchin to take the trophy.
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Shawn Holland Eliminated in 3rd Place ($4,309)
Level: 22 (15,000/25,000/25,000) Entries: 2/124 Prizes: $35,340 An all in and call occurred after the flop of 9♦8♦K♦ between Shawn Holland and Russell Sluchin. Both players revealed their hands.
Shawn Holland: J♥10♠
Russel Sluchin: 2♠2♦
The board completed with the K♣A♠ to send Holland to the rail.
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Harold Boutilier Eliminated in 4th Place ($3,315)
Level: 22 (15,000/25,000/25,000) Entries: 3/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the flop of 10♥3♠2♥ and Harold Boutilier moved all in. Russel Sluchin made the call and both players revealed their holdings.
Harold Boutilier: K♠10♦
Russel Sluchin: Q♥Q♦
The board ran out 5♣5♥ to send Boutilier to the rail. Sluchin has just over 2,000,000 in chips.
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Jeff Clarke Eliminated in 5th Place ($2,552)
Level: 21 (10,000/20,000/20,000) Entries: 4/124 Prizes: $35,340 Russel Sluchin raised to 200,000 from the button. Jeff Clarke jammed for 230,000 from the big blind and Sluchin made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Jeff Clarke: A♥Q♦
Russel Sluchin: A♦A♣
The board ran out 9♦3♥6♣6♠8♦ for Clarke to hit the rail. Sluchin sits as the chip leader with 1,570,000 in play.
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Limpert Finds a Miracle River
Level: 21 (10,000/20,000/20,000) Entries: 5/124 Prizes: $35,340 Before the break, an all in and call occurred between Robert Limpert and Jeff Clarke after the flop of 2♣K♠7♥. Both players revealed their hands.
Robert Limpert: A♦A♥
Jeff Clarke: 7♠7♣
The board completed with the 6♥A♠ for Limpert to chip up to 815,000.
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Chip Counts at the Break
Table/Seat Player Chip Count 14/2 Robert Limpert 815,000 14/5 Harold Boutilier 615,000 14/6 Russel Sluchin 940,000 14/7 Shawn Hollland 410,000 14/9 Jeff Clarke 340,000 -
Naleen Naraya Eliminated in 7th Place ($1,591) and Elden Venning 6th Place ($2,002)
Level: 20 (10,000/15,000/15,000) Entries: 5/124 Prizes: $35,340 A three way all in occurred between Naleen Naraya, Russel Sluchin, and Elden Venning. The three players revealed their holdings.
Naleen Naraya: A♠K♥
Elden Venning: Q♦Q♣
Russel Sluchin: A♣A♥
The board ran clean for Sluchin as it came 4♠7♠4♦8♦7♠. He sits at 850,000 as the current chip leader
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Brian Wells Eliminated in 8th Place ($1,259)
Level: 20 (10,000/15,000/15,000) Entries: 7/124 Prizes: $35,340 Brian Wells moved all in from early position for 70,000. Jeff Clarke made the call from the small blind. Both players revealed their hands.
Brian Wells: Q♥Q♠
Jeff Clarke: A♦Q♣
The board ran out 10♣10♠2♣A♥K♥ to send Wells to the rail. Clarke sits as the chip leader with 820,000.
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Kim Graham Eliminated in 9th Place ($1,027)
Level: 19 (6,000/12,000/12,000) Entries: 8/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the board ran out 6♥6♦J♥8♥7♥ and Kim Graham moved all in from early position. Shawn Hollland made the call and both players revealed their hands.
Kim Graham: K♥Q♦
Shawn Holland: A♥4♠
Holland took the pot and sits comfortably at 800,000.
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Joseph Bernard Eliminated in 10th Place ($828)
Level: 18 (5,000/10,000/10,000) Entries: 9/124 Prizes: $35,340 Joseph Bernard moved all in from middle position for around 200,000 and Kim Graham made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Joseph Bernard: J♠J♥
Kim Graham: K♥K♣
The board ran out 5♥6♠K♦10♣9♥ for Graham to take the pot.
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Scott Wright Eliminated in 12th Christopher Clayton in 11th Place ($762)
Christian Clayton moved all in for 30,000 from under the gun. Brian Wells made the call from the big blind and both players revealed their hands.
Christian Clayton: K♥4♥
Brian Wells: K♣J♦
The board ran out 5♥8♦7♣2♠Q♥ for Wells to take the pot. The hand prior Wright was eliminated in 12th place bringing the remaining players to just 10.
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George Broumas Eliminated in 13th Place ($663)
Level: 18 (5,000/10,000/10,000) Entries: 12/124 Prizes: $35,340 A three way all in occurred with George Broumas as the shortest stack. The three players revealed their hands.
George Broumas: 7♥6♥
Early Position: A♠J♣
Late Position: A♦K♥
The board ran out 5♦A♥7♣5♥J♦ to send Broumas to the rail.
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Bubble Bursts
Level: 17 (4,000/8,000/8,000) Entries: 13/124 Prizes: $35,340 Jeff Clarke opened to 35,000 and David McKee moved all in. Clarke made the call and both players revealed their holdings.
David McKee: 10♥10♠
Jeff Clarke: A♥Q♥
The board ran out 5♥A♦9♥A♣3♥ to send the remaining players into the money. They are guaranteed $663 for their efforts.
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All Chip Stacks at the Break
Table/Seat Player Chip Count 14/1 Naleen Naraya 366,000 14/2 Kim Graham 146,000 14/3 Brian Wells 77,000 14/4 Christopher Clemont 189,000 14/5 14/6 Jeff Clarke 90,000 14/7 Elden Venning 128,000 14/8 Russel Sluchin 213,000 14/9 Harold Boutilier 81,000 16/1 Jerry Nelner 25,000 16/2 George Broumin 120,000 16/3 Robert Limpert 485,000 16/4 Joseph Bernard 150,000 16/5 16/6 David McKee 135,000 16/7 Shawn Holland 345,000 16/8 Paul Meyer 75,000 16/9 Christopher Neumann 26,000 -
An Unlucky Runout for Meyer
Level: 15 (2,500/5,000/5,000) Entries: 21/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the board completed 7♣J♣4♣3♣9♦. Limpert fired for 32,000 and Paul Meyer went into the tank.
He folded his J♠J♦ to live another day. He currently sits at 69,000 while Limpert leads the pack with 459,000.
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Sluchin Finds the Perfect Flop
Level: 15 (2,500/5,000/5,000) Entries: 21/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the flop of Q♣9♠10♥ and Elden Venning fired for 5,500 from the small blind. Russel Sluchin made the call from the big blind.
The turn was the 4♥ and Venning continued for 6,500. Sluchin found the call.
After the river peeled the 2♣, Venning blasted for 8,500. Sluchin moved all in for 113,000 and Venning went into the tank. He folded and announced that he had two pair. Sluchin showed K♠J♥ for the flopped straight. He currently sits at 160,000 with Venning just behind at 145,000.
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Wilson Gets it Through Uncontested
Level: 15 (2,500/5,000/5,000) Entries: 22/124 Prizes: $35,340 After a limp from Patrick Wilson in the cutoff, Russel Sluchin three-bet to 27,000 from the small blind.
Wilson moved all in for 64,000 from the cutoff.
Sluchin went into the tank but made a disciplined fold. Wilson told the table that he had pocket aces and it was a good laydown. Both players sit with similar stacks at 100,000 for Sluchin and 101,000 for Wilson.
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Holland Finds the River
Level: 14 (2,000/4,000/4,000) Entries: 26/124 Prizes: $35,340 Action was caught after the board ran out 5♦9♥9♣2♦J♦ and Shawn Holland fired for 15,000 from under the gun.
Paul Meyer made the call from early position and was shown the bad news as Holland revealed A♠J♠. Holland sits at 255,000 while Meyer is under the average with 78,000.
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Duece’s Never Lose for Clarke
Level: 13 (1,500/3,000/3,000) Entries: 31/124 Prizes: $35,340 Under the gun raised to 7,500 and Jeff Clarke made the call from the cutoff. The big blind defended as well.
The flop came and turn came 10♦J♥4♣A♦ the the three players checked both streets.
After the river peeled the 2♠, under the gun fired for 10,000. Clarke raised to 30,000 and was called. He revealed 2♦2♣ to best his opponent’s slow played A♥Q♦. Clarke sits as chip leader with 310,000.
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Chip Leaders at the Break
Player Chip Stack Jeff Clarke 188,000 Trevor Simpson 183,000 Naleen Naraya 172,000 Shawn Holland 168,000 Robert Limpert 133,500 George Broumas 128,000 -
Players on Break
The remaining 39 players are headed on a fifteen minute break. They return to blinds of 1,500 and 3,000 with a 3,000 big blind ante.
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Fan On the Up and Up
Level: 12 (1,500/2,500/2,500) Entries: 42/124 Prizes: $35,340 Francis Fan raised to 6,000 from late position. Both blinds made the call.
The flop came 5♦10♦K♥ and both blinds were quick to check. Fan fired for 10,000 and was rewarded with the pot. He now sits at 61,500 just short of the tournament average.
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Aggression Pays off for Boutilier
Level: 11 (1,000/2,000/2,000) Entries: 48/124 Prizes: $35,340 Leonard Sieben raised to 7,000 from under the gun. Harold Boutilier made the call from late position.
The flop came 9♣8♣3♠ and Sieben was quick to check. Boutilier fired for 12,000 and was rewarded with the pot. With this win, he sits slight above the average at 70,000.
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High Card for Bernar
Level: 11 (1,000/2,000/2,000) Entries: 54/124 Prizes: $35,340 Joseph Bernar opened to 6,000 from the button. Harvey Johnson defended his big blind.
The board ran out [invalid notations] and both players checked all three streets.
Bernar revealed K♣6♣ to best Johnson’s Q♥6♦. Bernar sits at 67,700 while Johnson currently has 93,500.
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Letts Lurks in the Shadows
Level: 10 (1,000/1,500/1,500) Entries: 58/124 Prizes: $35,340 Under the gun raised to 4,500 and John Letts called from middle position. Robert Limpert called from late position as the three players headed to a flop.
The flop came K♣3♠10♥ and both early players checked. Limpert fired for 6,000 and was only called by Letts.
After the turn peeled the 8♦ both players checked their option.
The river came the 6♦ and Letts led out for 12,000. He received a quick fold from Limpert to bring his stack to 61,500. Limpert sits slightly ahead with 66,500.
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Prize Pool Announced
Place Prize (CAD) 1st $9,620 2nd $6,630 3rd $4,309 4th $3,315 5th $2,552 6th $2,002 7th $1,591 8th $1,259 9th $1,027 10th $828 11th-12th $762 13th $663 -
Holland Finds Another Elimination
Level: 9 (600/1,200/1,200) Entries: 67/124 Prizes: $35,340 Michael Medic moved all in from early position for 17,000. Shawn Holland put in the call from the big blind and announced “let’s gamble,” as he revealed his hand.
Michael Medic: A♠10♣
Shawn Holland: K♦J♦
The board ran out 4♥K♠4♦2♠9♠ for Holland to take the pot and find another elimination. With this pot, his stacks sits at a healthy 187,500.
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Current Big Stacks at the Dinner Break
As of the dinner break here are the current chip leaders. Naleen Naraya (120,000), Russel Sluchin (99,000), Jeff Clarke (99,400), Robert Limpert (86,200), Shawn Holland (151,200), Harvey Johnson (68,500), David McKee (81,700). Jerry Nelner (163,000) currently sits at the chip lead and rounding out the list we have Scott Wright (91,100) and Gregory Duke (70,500). Beloved live reporter Lyle Bateman is still in battling with a short stack of 15,400.
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Holland Sends his Opponent to the Rail
Level: 8 (500/1,000/1,000) Entries: 68/119 Prizes: TBD Middle position raised to 3,000 and the Shawn Holland defended his big blind. The flop came 4♦7♠6♠ and Holland checked to his opponent. They fired for 5,000 and he made the call.
After the turn peeled the 6♥ Holland again checked. Middle position continued for 10,000 and received a call.
The 7♣ completed the board and Holland checked to his opponent. They moved all in for around 20,000 and were called by Holland. He revealed 6♦3♠ to best his opponents K♠4♠. Holland sits near the top of the field with 141,000 chips in play.
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Fan Gets it Through
Level: 8 (600/1,200/1,200) Entries: 72/118 Prizes: TBD Under the gun raised to 2,500 and middle position put in the call. Francis Fan called from the cutoff and the big blind put in the call.
The flop came 5♣10♦K♠ and the early players were quick to check. Fan fired for 7,000 and found a quick fold from his opponents. He revealed A♣3♣ to take the pot and chip up to 28,000.
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Duke Hits Big with Big Slick
Level: 7 (400/800/800) Entries: 72/110 Prizes: TBD Under the gun and Scott Wright in early position made the call. Gregory Duke raised to 2,000 from the cutoff and both players made the call.
The flop came 10♥8♥K♥ and both early players checked their option. Duke continued for 3,000 and only Wright made the call.
While the turn and river peeled the 2♦3♦, both players checked the two streets to showdown. Duke revealed A♣K♣ to best Wright’s 9♥9♠. After the hand, Duke sits nearly double the average with 73,000 in chips.
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Event #1 $340 Seniors is Underway
Level: 7 (400/800/800) Entries: 75/107 Prizes: TBD So far just over 100 players have entered the event. That number will continue to rise as registration remains open for approximately an hour and forty minutes. Also on the docket tonight is Event #2 $340 NLH Bounty which begins registration at 4 PM.
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Seniors First, As Usual, for 2025
Event 1: 2025 PPT 1 – Event #1: $340 Seniors First 50+ ($285 + $55) Date: Feb 13, Noon Blinds: 30 Minutes Starting Stack: 25,000 Late Entry: 8 Levels (~5 PM) Day 1 Ends: One-Day Event While there are a few changes in play on the Pure Poker Tour this year, 2025 starts off the same way as nearly every other PPY series has started — with 50+ players in the Seniors First game. The action for the 2025 PPT season kicks off at noon on Feb 13 with the Seniors.
Players start the day with 25k in chips and will play 30-minute levels until a winner is decided. There are 8 levels of late entry which should mean players can buy a stack until about 5 PM. This one-day event will award the first trophy of 2025 before they shut down for the night.
One significant change to note for 2025, starting with the Seniors Frist game, is the adjusted buy-in & rake calculations. All the prices have stayed the same — that is, a $340 this year is putting exactly the same amount of money into prizes as it did last year — but the way it’s reported has been modified to be more transparent. Rather than being described as a “$300 + $40” where there was an additional 5% AGLC charity fee taken out of the $300 for $285 into the prize pool, this year the same game will read as “$285 + $55”, reflecting the actual prize pool contribution more transparently.
This game should get a lot of coverage, but it won’t be by me. I’ll be at the felt battling it out for my first-ever live trophy. My new partner in crime, Alek Gillies, will be stepping in to handle the coverage on the opening day while I get my poker on for the first time in 2025. He’ll be following the Seniors down to the trophy, then bringing the endgame action from Event #2 after us old folks are safely tucked into bed.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Russel Sluchinski | $9,620 |
| 2 | Robert Limpert | $6,630 |
| 3 | Shawn Holland | $4,309 |
| 4 | Harold Boutilier | $3,315 |
| 5 | Jeff Clarke | $2,552 |
| 6 | Elden Venning | $2,002 |
| 7 | Naleen Narayan | $1,591 |
| 8 | Brian Wells | $1,259 |
| 9 | Kim Graham | $1,027 |
| 10 | Joseph Bernard | $828 |
| 11 | Scott Wright | $762 |
| 12 | Christian Clayton | $762 |
| 13 | George Broumas | $663 |
