Overview
- Keating registered and paid the $25,000 buy‑in for the $25K Heads‑Up Championship but did not appear for his first‑round match, so his chips were blinded away and he conceded the hand.
- Piotr Krupa was awarded a first‑round bye and advanced to the Round of 32 as a direct result of Keating’s absence.
- Keating told reporters he missed the match because he was tired after a high‑stakes livestream session at The Lodge Card Club where he walked away up more than $1 million.
- Day 1B continued without Keating and played down to 32 remaining players, including several well‑known pros who will join Day 1A survivors to form the final 16.
- The incident highlights a common tension at the WSOP between lucrative cash games and tournament schedules, and Keating is next slated to play the Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game on June 12 where he could try to recoup the $25K buy‑in.