WSOP Highlights of the Week: Negreanu's straight flush beat Parssinen, Kabrhel's scathing rebuke of his opponent in a seven-card stud, and Spencer's catch of a bluff to advance.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off on May 26th, and with June coming to a close and the $10,000 Main Event just around the corner, it's now in its final sprint. To date, over 70 events have awarded gold bracelets, and the PokerNews live coverage team has been on-site throughout the summer, capturing countless exciting moments.
During this time, they reported on many interesting hands, bad beats, and more, which we are happy to present to you in the latest issue of "Hands of the Week" presented by GTOWizard.
Negreanu's royal flush put Parssinen in a difficult position.

On Day 3 of the #64:$25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed Event, Level 24 (50,000/100,000/100,000), during the PLO round, reporter Liam Gannon witnessed Eelis Parssinen raise to 230,000 from the button, and Daniel Negreanu call from the small blind.
The flop came J♠J♣9♣. The action checked to the turn Q♣. Negreanu bet 225,000, and Parssinen called.
Negreanu bets 300,000 on the river with 7♥, Parssinen goes all in with 1,025,000 (effective chips), and Negreanu calls instantly, putting himself at risk.
Daniel Negreanu: K♣J♦10♣4♦
Eelis Parssinen:Q♥Q♦10♥5♦
Parssinen made a full house with Q on the turn (Q makes a full house with J), but Negreanu had already made a straight flush with K on the turn, giving his opponent a draw. The seven-time WSOP bracelet winner's chip stack climbed, while Parssinen fell below six million.
The cruel ending of Birnbaum

On Day 4 of the #61:$1,000 Super Elders tournament, in Level 37 (400,000/800,000/800,000) with five players remaining, journalist Tim Baker captured a brutal hand.
Lionel Barracano went all-in for 8,000,000 from the bottom blind, and Nancy Birnbaum called from the small blind with just a little more chips.
Lionel Barracano:K♦J♠
Nancy Birnbaum:A♥K♠
Birnbaum has bounced back from the brink, and if her big slick holds up, she will take the lead with only four players remaining.
Birnbaum maintained the lead on the flop of 4♥9♠10♣ and the turn of 7♣ (A high card), although Barracano gained an extra way out—a two-headed straight draw.
The river card, 8♠, gave Barracano a Jack-high straight, leaving Birnbaum with very few chips. She was eliminated shortly after in fifth place, winning 1TP 4T 100,488.
Kim defeated Eriquezzo and Rubin.

On Day 4 of the #50:$1,500 Millionaire Maker event, Level 39 (600,000/1,200,000/1,200,000), with 13 players remaining, reporter Laura Fryer saw Alex Kim open-raise to 8,800,000 from early position, and Antony Rubin 3-bet to 11,500,000 from the button. Ryan Eriquezzo then went all-in for 11,500,000 from the big blind. Kim called with his remaining 400,000 chips, putting two players at risk of elimination.
Alex Kim: K♠J♣
Ryan Eriquezzo:K♦K♣
Antony Rubin: A♥K♥
Eriquezzo had the best hand pre-flop, and the flop of 5♠Q♣8♠ didn't change much.
The turn card 9♠ gave Kim a flush draw, while Rubin could only win the pot with an Ace.
The river card, J♠, won the pot for Kim. Eriquezzo's King was broken by a backdoor flush and he was eliminated. Rubin was left with only a small stack. Eriquezzo finished in 13th place with $94,000, and Rubin followed suit shortly after in 12th place, earning the same prize.
"You messed up yourself and you messed up me"—Yoon takes the pot, Yockey suffers, Kabrhel folds.

On Day 2 of the #75:$1,000 Seven-Card Stud High-Low 8 or Better tournament, Level 12, reporter Brett Slezak recorded a three-way pot on Fifth Street with approximately 50,000 chips between Brian Yoon, Bryce Yockey, and Martin Kabrhel.
Brian Yoon: XxXx / 2♥5♣7♦6♣ / Xx
Bryce Yockey: XxXx / A♣A♠10♣A♥ / Xx
Martin Kabrhel: XxXx / 10♦8♥7♣9♣ – Fold on Sixth Street
Yockey checked to Kabrhel with his face-up Ace, and Kabrhel bet on fifth street. Yoon and Yockey both called.
On the sixth street, Yockey made a set of aces but checked. Kabrhel bet again, Yoon raised, and Yockey raised again.
"So, can I call with 20 or raise by 10?" Kabrhel asked the dealer. "If I call, then he (Yoon) can raise, and then he (Yockey) can raise again?"
Kabrhel then took out his phone, swiped on the WSOP LIVE app for a while, and then took a picture of his hole cards. He ultimately folded because he was worried that Yockey had a full house.
Yoon raised to four bets on sixth street, and Yockey called. Yockey quickly checked and called on seventh street.
Yockey revealed his hole cards: Q♠4♠2♣, with only three aces and no full house. Yoon revealed his hole cards: 4♥3♦2♠, making a 7-high straight and a 6-low hand, taking the entire pot on seventh street. A visibly frustrated Kabrhel stood up from his seat.
"So you messed me up, yeah!" Kabrhel scolded Yockey.
"Okay, I messed up," Yockey replied, "because I wanted you to fold your straight."
"Well done!" Kabrhel shouted. "You messed up yourself and me. Was that fun?"
Kabrhel continued to complain for several minutes after the game ended.
Spencer takes the lead by catching bluffs.

On the third day of the #68:$1,000 Women's NLH Championship, in Level 28 (50,000/100,000/100,000) with only eight players remaining, journalist Laura Fryer captured a brilliant hand.
Lisa Tan opened from the gun and raised to 200,000. Emily Spencer defended from the small blind with 10♥10♣. Caitlin Comeskey called from the big blind with K♦8♦, and the three players went to the flop.
The flop came 4♣5♠4♠. Tan checked and bet 150,000. Only Spencer called. The turn was 4♦. Both players checked and Tan bet 1,000,000. Spencer called. The river was 5♥.
Spencer checked one last time, and Tan bet 3,035,000, going all in on Spencer. Spencer took some time to think before finally calling with her full house.
Tan flashed her A♣8♠ bluff, pushing a large portion of her chips across the table. Spencer stood up, relieved—she had just doubled up massively with Tan.
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