The Labor Day weekend killed attendance at the major Sunday tournaments on most sites, including those covered in this weekly recap. While numbers were down for the major tournaments, entries in the smaller tournaments actually seemed pretty steady. The $100 and $200 rebuy tournaments, for instance, had prize pools that were par for the course. The
High Stakes Showdown had eight entrants, up from the four entrants of the past few weeks. New PokerStars team member Daniel "KidPoker" Negreanu took down the
High Stakes Showdown this weekend, earning $50,000.
Dynamite321 snags a flush on the river to crack chrisbond's queens and eliminate him.
Attendance at the PokerStars
Sunday Million was down drastically this week when 6,031 entrants bucked up the $200 buy-in for the tournament. This was the lowest attendance the tournament has had since May 13 of this year, when it had 5,918 entrants. The prize pool this week was $1,206,200, still well beyond the guarantee.
Poker pro
Jon "PearlJammer" Turner made the final table of the event, initially sitting in fourth place with $8.4 million in chips. Chrisbond was the chip leader with $11.4 million and drball was in second place with $9.4 million. Notable Internet player
Shane "Loonbat" Stacey had a significantly short stack with just $1.3 million when the big blind was at $200,000.
Loonbat became the table's first elimination when he pushed all in preflop and was called by Dynamite321, who showed pocket nines. Loonbat turned over A
J
and was in a race. The board to the turn was 10
8
4
J
and Loonbat had pulled into the lead with a pair of jacks. The river, however, was the Q
to complete a straight for Dynamite321 and Loonbat was out in ninth place ($7,478).
It was more than 25 minutes before the next elimination hand. Does888 pushed all in from under the gun for $3.7 million (with the big blind now at $300,000) and Mikelars called in the small blind. Does888 revealed Q
J
and Mikelars held pocket nines. The board completely bricked out and Mikelars' nines held up to put Does888 out in seventh place, for $12,062.
Chrisbond was pushed down into third place after that elimination hand. He still had a stack of more than $11 million, but Dynamite321 was now the chip leader and Mikelars had vaulted into second place. Six minutes later, Dynamite321 raised to $750,000 preflop and chrisbond reraised to $2.7 million. Dynamite321 pushed all in over the top and chrisbond called all in for $12.6 million total. Chrisbond revealed Q
Q
and Dynamite321 held a dominated 7
7
. The board ran out 5
3
2
10
3
and Dynamite321 snagged a flush on the river to come back from behind and crack chrisbond's queens. Chrisbond signed off in seventh place, earning $19,902. Dynamite321's stack grew to more than $30 million after the hand, while Mikelars's second-place stack was just $13.6 million.
Fwilliams007 got down to the felt four minutes later. Dynamite321 raised to $1 million preflop with the big blind now at $400,000, and fwilliams007 pushed all in for $2.2 million. Dynamite321 called and showed A
5
while fwilliams007 was in a comfortable lead with pocket jacks. The flop came A
9
4
, transferring the lead to Dynamite321 with a pair of aces. The turn was the 8
and the river the 4
and Dynamite321 eliminated fwilliams with aces up. Fwilliams007 pocketed $27,743 for sixth place.
In the next elimination hand, Dynamite321 ($34 million) raised to $1 million preflop and drball ($9.4 million) called. The flop came 10
9
2
and Dynamite321 bet $1.6 million. Drball called and the turn was the 2
. Dynamite321 continued firing with a bet of $3.6 million and drball again smooth-called. The river brought the K
and Dynamite321 bet $24.8 million, enough to put drball all in. Drball called all in and revealed A
10
for a pair of tens while Dynamite321 turned over pocket jacks and raked in the pot. Drball was sent to the virtual rail in fifth place, for $38,719.
Anna508 was out six minutes later. Dynamite321 raised to $1 million preflop and Anna508 pushed all in over the top for $2 million. Dynamite321 called and Anna05 flipped up A
6
. Dynamite321 held pocket eights and was leading. The board ran out Q
5
3
6
Q
and Dynamite321 made an unneeded flush with one of his eights to take down the pot. Anna508 collected $50,660 for fourth place.
Dynamite321 now had $31.5 million in his stack versus PearlJammer with $23.5 million and Mikelars with $5.3 million. Mikelars lasted just four more minutes. Dynamite321 ($27.4 million) raised to $1.3 million preflop, with the big blind now at $500,000, and Mikelars ($13.4 million) reraised all in over the top. Dynamite321 called and showed A
J
and was in a coin-flip situation versus Mikelars' pocket tens. The flop came K
K
Q
and Dynamite321 still needed an ace or jack to take the lead (a 10, even though it would give Dynamite321 a straight, would also give Mikelars a full house). The turn was the J
, putting Dynamite321 into the lead but giving Mikelars an open-end straight draw. The river, however, was the 4
and Dynamite321 took out yet another opponent. Mikelars left the table in third place with $65,014.
Dynamite321 now had $41.1 million versus PearlJammer's $19.2 million. The two players decided to made a deal so that the second-place finisher received an even $100,000 (rather than the $90,000 the normal payout structure dictated). PearlJammer failed to catch up and wound up being the beneficiary of that extra $10,000. In the final hand, PearlJammer limped preflop and Dynamite321 checked his option. The flop came 9
7
2
and both players checked. The turn was the 9
and Dynamite321 bet $700,000. PearlJammer raised to $2.2 million and Dynamite321 reraised all in. PearlJammer eventually called all in and showed Q
7
for two pair, nines and sevens. Dynamite321 turned over pocket deuces for a full house and was in the lead. The river was the Q
to improve PearlJammer's two pair, but to leave Dynamite321 with the winning hand. PearlJammer was out in second place and Dynamite321 took out seven of his eight opponents to find $163,796 in his PokerStars account for winning the tournament.
The final results were:
*1) Dynamite321 - $163,795.94
*2) Jon "PearlJammer" Turner - $100,000
3) Mikelars - $65,014.18
4) Anna508 - $50,660.40
5) drball - $38,719.02
6) fwilliams007 - $27,742.60
7) chrisbond - $19,902.30
8) Does888 - $12,062
9) Shane "Loonbat" Stacey - $7,478.44
* Payout reflects a two way deal made at the final table.
Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee
The Full Tilt
$750,000-guaranteed tournament had 3,332 entrants, a huge drop from last Sunday's 3,784. This is especially significant considering the tournament just barely surpassed its guarantee last week. The event required a hefty $83,600 overlay to match the posted guarantee last night.
Savikoti was the chip leader when the final table began, with $1.9 million in chips. XGODF4TH3Rx was in second place with $1.8 million. Neither of those two would end up making it to the final three. Savikoti lost more than half of his stack and eventually pushed all in preflop against a raise from skullified. Skullified called and showed A-10 suited versus savikoti's pocket sevens. Skullified spiked an ace on the flop to overtake savikoti and send him home in sixth place ($23,025).
XGODF4TH3Rx lasted until four-way play before calling all in versus a reraise from Orange Iguanas. Orange Iguanas held pocket tens and was in a race against xGODF4TH3Rx's A-J. The board completely bricked out and xGOD4ATH3Rx was out in fourth place, for $41,400.
BallaHolic952 held the chip lead when it got to threehanded play. He had $5.2 million while Orange Iguanas had $2.8 million in second place and skullified had $2 million in third when the big blind was at $50,000. Despite the relatively lenient blinds, skullified lasted just four more minutes. In his final hand, Orange Iguanas limped in the small blind and skullified checked his option. The flop came Q
3
2
and Orange Iguanas bet $143,000. Skullified raised all in over the top for $1.6 million and Orange Iguanas called and showed pocket aces. Skullified held Q
9
for top pair and was behind. The turn was the 2
, giving skullified a flush draw, but the river was the 10
and he was out in third place ($52,500).
Orange Iguanas had $6.2 million going into heads-up play versus BallaHolic952's $3.8 million. The final hand was five minutes later. Orange Iguanas min-raised to $120,000 preflop and BallaHolic952 reraised to $360,000. Orange Iguanas pushed all in over the top and BallaHolic952 called all in and showed pocket sevens. Orange Iguanas was in a race with his A
J
as the board ran out 6
4
2
6
J
, spiking him a jack on the river to take down the pot. BallaHolic952 earned $80,250 for second place and Orange Iguanas raked in a $133,000 payday for first place.
The final results were:
1) Orange Iguanas - $132,787.50
2) BallaHolic952 - $80,250
3) skullified - $52,500
4) xGODF4TH3Rx - $41,400
5) dapalma150 - $31,050
6) savikoti - $23,025
7) MiCiLL - $17,250
8) TashaOtter - $13,500
9) TWEB31 - $10,050
UltimateBet $200,000 Guarantee
UltimateBet's $200,000-guaranteed tournament also saw slightly lower attendance this weekend when 846 entrants bought in compared to last Sunday's 889 entrants. UltimateBet put up a $30,800 overlay to bring the prize pool to $200,000.
Two Internet poker heavyweights were at the final table of the event:
Jordan "iMsoLucky0" Morgan and
Chris "LUHMAN" Martin. Notable online player
rkruok was also at the final table. IMsoLucky0 held the chip lead when the final table began, with $398,000 compared to rkruok's second-place stack of $359,000. LUHMAN had the second-smallest stack at $82,000 when the big blind was at $8,000. LUHMAN managed to double up twice and then accumulate some extra chips to become the chip leader with eight players remaining.
IMsoLucky0 was not so lucky, as one of those double-ups was at his expense. He then made an early exit from the table in a big hand. IMsoLucky0 ($227,000) raised to $32,000 preflop, with the big blind at $12,000, and ankstrajks called. The flop came J
10
5
and iMsoLucky0 checked. Ankstrajks bet $45,000 and iMsoLucky0 check-raised all in for $194,000. Ankstrajks called and showed pocket aces and was ahead versus iMsoLucky0's A
Q
. The turn was the 4
, giving iMsoLucky0 some extra flush outs to go along with his gutshot straight draw. The river, however, was the 7
and iMsoLucky0 was eliminated in seventh place, earning $7,000.
LUHMAN was the chip leader with three players remaining. He had $872,000 in chips compared to rkruok in second with $738,000. Ankstrajks was the short stack with $505,000. Ankstrajks became the next player eliminated from the final table more than 20 minutes later.
Ankstrajks pushed all in preflop for $313,000, when the big blind was at $20,000, and LUHMAN called and showed pocket fives. Ankstrajks was in a coin-flip situation with J
10
and needed to improve. The board ran out Q
8
2
7
4
and neither player improved. Ankstrajks left the table in third place with $13,000.
It was now down to LUHMAN with $1.3 million versus Rkruok with $802,000. The heads-up match lasted just two hands. In the final hand, LUHMAN raised to $73,000 preflop and rkruok called. The flop came 7
6
3
and rkruok checked. LUHMAN bet $97,000 and rkruok check-raised to $439,000. LUHMAN pushed all in over the top and rkruok called all in for $601,000 total and showed K
9
for king high with a flush draw. LUHMAN had the lead with J
7
for top pair. The turn was the J
, giving LUHMAN top two pair to further his lead, and the river was the 10
to seal rkruok's fate and send him packing in second place ($27,000). LUHMAN pocketed $45,000 for taking down the tournament.
The final results were:
1) Chris "LUHMAN" Martin - $45,000
2) rkruok - $27,000
3) ankstrajks - $18,500
4) dsoren11 - $13,000
5) TeamA7 - $11,000
6) longelec - $9,000
7) Jordan "iMsoLucky0" Morgan - $7,000
8) 321654 - $5,000
9) savur1 - $3,500
10) dbblaze - $2,000
Bodog $100,000 Guarantee
The
Bodog $100,000-guaranteed tournament had just 733 entrants last night, down significantly from last weekend's 828 entrants. While some will surely speculate that the lower-than-usual attendance was a direct result of the
issues Bodog has been having with its domain name recently, the fact that all of the other sites also saw severely decreased attendance this weekend seems to suggest that poker players simply aren't playing poker on their three-day weekend for labor day. Bodog forked over a $26,700 overlay to match the guarantee.
Mario "PwnasaurusX" Silvestri made it to the final table of the tournament in sixth place, with $158,000 in chips.
SpeedBird was also at the table (in fourth place, with $225,000), and he is noteworthy in that he'd made the final table of this event less than one month previously, eventually finishing in ninth place ($1,550).
Literally just as the four players from the second-to-last broken table were taking their seat at the final table after the final-table bubble elimination, a huge hand was taking place that would result in the elimination of two more players. VelourVulture and perduzzi got all in preflop and corner called, having them both covered, and showed Q
10
. Perduzzi, with the bigger stack of the two all-in players, had pocket sevens and VelourVulture held A-9. The board ran out K
J
J
6
2
and corner completed a flush to take out both players before the final table had even been dealt its first full hand. Corner became the chip leader after the hand with $526,000 compared to CK3 in second place with $394,000.
PwnasaurusX managed to last through just one more elimination before he got down to the felt himself. He open-pushed all in preflop for $68,000, when the big blind was at $20,000, and vickery913 reraised all in over the top, folding the remaining players. Vickery913 turned over A
9
and PwnasaurusX held 9
6
and was dominated. The board completely bricked out and PwnasaurusX was out in sixth place ($4,500).
When it got down to the final three players, SpeedBird had $940,000 in chips as the chip leader, compared to corner's $475,000 and CK3's $417,000. SpeedBird grew his stack to almost $1.1 million before the next elimination hand.
Corner pushed all in preflop from the button for $361,000 and SpeedBird called in the big blind and showed A
5
. SpeedBird found that he was dominated when corner revealed A
10
. The flop, however, came A
J
5
and Speedbird paired both his ace and his kicker to reverse-dominate corner. The turn and river were blanks and corner made his way from the table in third place, for $9,200.
SpeedBird now had a commanding $1.5 million stack versus CK3's $342,000. The big blind was $40,000 and CK3 would have to make a move soon. After eight minutes of play, CK3 doubled up when he got all in preflop with Q
6
and SpeedBird called with A
3
. The turn brought a six to pair CK3, which was enough to win the hand. His stack was now $642,000 compared to SpeedBird's stack of $1.2 million.
CK3 managed to pull into the chip lead just minutes later through aggressive play in hands that failed to reach showdown, but SpeedBird regained his lead in much the same way. He had $1.1 million versus CK3's $756,000 going into the final hand.
CK3 raised to $159,000 preflop, with the big blind at $60,000, and SpeedBird reraised all in over the top. CK3 called all in and showed A
J
and was leading against SpeedBird's Q
10
. The flop came K
10
6
, putting SpeedBird into the lead with a pair of tens. The turn was the 6
and CK3 now had a heart draw and two overcards to SpeedBird's pair, leaving him with a
36 percent chance to survive the hand and double up. The river, however, was the K
and SpeedBird's top two pair took down the pot and eliminated CK3 in second place ($14,300). SpeedBird's second final table in less than a month proved more lucrative than his first, and he pocketed $25,000 for his first-place finish.
The final results were:
1) SpeedBird - $25,000
2) CK3 - $14,300
3) corner - $9,200
4) rock3656 - $6,900
5) vickery913 - $5,500
6) Mario "PwnasaurusX" Silvestri - $4,500
7) TripleNet - $3,500
8) perduzzi - $2,500
9) VelourVulture - $1,600
Card Player is working with several sites that continue to serve U.S. players to provide deposit bonuses to our readers. Click on the following names to receive bonuses: UltimateBet, Bodog, Absolute, and Full Tilt Poker.
.jpg)