2026 PokerNews Cup Thunder Valley

$400 PokerNews Cup
Day: 1a
1a1bc
Event Info
2026 PokerNews Cup Thunder Valley
Event Info
Buy-in
$400
Prize Pool
$250,000
Total Entries
343
Players Left
96
Average Chip Stack
89,323
Total Chips
8,575,000
Level Info
Level
8
Blinds
800 / 1,600
Ante
1,600
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
142
Players Left
14
Players Left 96 / 343
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Valle Hits the River

Level 12 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Players were standing at table 29, with three hands turned over and two players at risk.

George Benjamin: 109 All in
Abel Valle: AK All in
Daeng Vang: AJ

Vang found help on the 66J flop, improving further on the A turn. That left Benjamin drawing dead, but Valle spiked the K river to stay alive.

Tags: Abel ValleDaeng VangGeorge Benjamin

Spades for Shirron

Level 12 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Zackary Moore checked the 89A flop from the small blind, and Dennis Shirron fired a bet of 21,000 on the button. Moore check-raised to 45,000, and Shirron made the call.

Another check from Moore followed the J turn, and Shirron announced all in for 85,500. Moore made the quick call, and the hands were turned over.

Dennis Shirron: 96 All in
Zackary Moore: AQ

Shirron revealed his flush, and the 9 river completed the board. That left Moore with just 9,500, which was gone shortly after. Moore was joined on the rail by Devin Decarie, as the two chip leaders from the last break were both sent out.

Tags: Dennis ShirronDevin DecarieZackary Moore

Luke Turns O'Connor Out

Level 12 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

James O'Connor was all in on the button, facing off against Joseph Luke in the big blind.

James O'Connor: A4 All in
Joseph Luke: KJ

O'Connor remained ahead on the 49Q flop, but Luke took the lead on the J turn. The 8 river changed nothing, as O'Connor was sent to the rail.

Tags: James O'Connor (US)Joseph Luke

Level: 12

Blinds: 3,000/5,000

Ante: 5,000

Duffy Doubles Up

Level 11 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Joseph Blanke Ghio raised in early position, and Andrew Duffy moved all in for 37,000 from the small blind. Ghio called, leaving Duffy at risk.

Andrew Duffy: JJ All in
Joseph Blanke Ghio: KQ

Duffy avoided paint on the 33582 runout, seeing his pocket jacks hold to double through Ghio.

Tags: Andrew DuffyJoseph Blanke Ghio

Alonzo Walks Away... and Wins!

Level 11 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

With Dennis Alonzo already all in from the big blind, Abel Valle and Michael McDonough battled for a side pot on the Q6J flop. Valle checked to McDonough, who announced all in.

Valle quickly folded, leaving Alonzo heads-up for his tournament life.

Dennis Alonzo: AJ All in
Michael McDonough: KK

"Let's see if I have a club," Alonzo said as he tabled his pair and nut flush draw. The 7 turn was no help, and Alonzo began to walk away from the table.

The dealer flipped over the 9 river, completing Alonzo's flush to beat McDonough's kings for the triple-up.

Tags: Abel ValleDennis AlonzoMichael McDonough

Vangsoulatda Falls to Anderson

Level 11 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Dylan Anderson was all in from under the gun, slightly covering Sihanath Vangsoulatda's stack in the middle from early position.

Sihanath Vangsoulatda: AK All in
Dylan Anderson: AJ

"Jack ball, one time," exclaimed Anderson after seeing the J43 flop. Vangsoulatda missed the 5 turn and 5 river, as Anderson held to secure the knockout.

Tags: Dylan AndersonSihanath Vangsoulatda

Level: 11

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000