World Series of Poker Euro Update: Day 32No Gold For Europe, But Hope Prevails With Three More Events Unfolding |
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Nearly never won the race as five Europeans came so close to the gold but failed once again in the $1,500 no-limit hold’em event. Day 32 of the World Series also saw the beginnings of another $1,500 no-limit hold’em event, and the crucial stages of the $10,000 World Championship Pot-Limit Omaha and the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E tournaments. At the time of writing, final tables were still being decided.
The odds of a European champion were better than usual in the $1,500 no limit hold’em event when five overseas players made it to the final table. Rasmus Nielsen from Denmark, German Christophe Kohlman, Irishman John Conroy, Swede Jesper Hoog, and Robert Kalb from Germany sat among three Americans and one Canadian. When the final table kicked off Dane Neilsen held a two to one chip lead over second place holder JC Tran, who was hoping for his first WSOP bracelet. There was an explosion of eliminations during the first round of final table play with three of the original nine players sent packing.
Conroy opened the betting with a raise to 86,000 from early position. Action folded around to Christoph Kohnen in the small blind, who shoved in his short stack of 174,000. Conroy made the call, tabling K
J, which was dominated by Kohnen's AJ
. There was no double up in the cards for Kohnen however, when the board ran out Q9
9310
giving Conroy a straight, and sending the German to the rail in ninth place with $58,248.
The next elimination saw the eradication of Germany altogether, this time by Denmark. Nielsen called Robert Kalb’s all-in, and his AQ dominated Kalb's A9. Kalb was sent home in eight place ($85,331).
It was one Euro after another when Swede Jesper Hoog moved all in from middle position before the flop. Peter Nguyen called, and the two players turned over their hands.
Hoog: K7
Nguyen: AK
The board ran out 1022J9, and Hoog was sent to the other side of the rail in 7th place, earning $113,157 for his efforts.
Canadian Chad Siu was eliminated next, leaving behind two Europeans and three Americans in the race for gold. Things looked hopeful when Joe Pelton was the next to go, and then Irishman Conroy took out the big guns, aggressively taking down pot after pot. Meanwhile, Nielsen bullied J.C Tran out of a few hefty pots, and then turned his sights on Conroy.
Conroy opened with a raise to 175,000, and Nielsen asked him to count his remaining stack, which totalled around 800,000. Nielsen then announced an all-in raise. Conroy made the call with little hesitation, and the players flipped up their hands. Nielsen’s A8 was dominated by Conroy’s AQ, but it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings, especially in poker. Rasmus Nielsen lucked out again and hit his three outer, pairing his eight on the flop of 855. Conroy failed to redraw on the turn, the 3, and the river, the 4. His $278,255 earnings should help to ease the pain of being able to see the finish line, but not quite getting there.
Peter Nguyen was the next to go leaving the US and Denmark to go into war. But it wasn’t to be for Europe once again, when the Dane fell at the last hurdle. Nielsen’s luck ran out as Tran closed the gap between them until they were almost even in chips. It was anyone’s race as the two fought for chip lead, but it was Tran who emerged victorious when his KQ beat Nielsen's QJ. Tran was crowned the champion and took home $631,170 while Nielsen had to settle for second and $389,557.
Europeans who cashed earlier in the event were Augusto Cavazzini ($17,437) Italy, Andrew Black ($17,437) Ireland, Neil Channing ($10,759) England, Gerry Kane ($10,759) Scotland, John Green ($8,533) England, Greg Mueller ($8,533) Germany, Paul Kershaw ($7,420) England, Peter Hansson ($6,307) Sweden, Yury Kobtsev ($4,823) Russia, Andrew Teng ($4,081) England, Talal Shakerchi ($4,081) England, Mark Sloane ($4,081) England, Giovanni Nervo ($4,081) Italy, Magnus Persson ($3,524) Sweden, Karan Radia ($3,524) England, Carl Dahl ($3,524) Sweden, Ian Nelson ($3,524) England, Julien Pouchain ($3,524) Spain, Simon Persson ($3,153) Sweden, Christopher Howard ($3,153) England, Declan Meagher ($3,153) Ireland, Gilles Sourd ($3,153) France, Anthony O'Hagan ($2,968) England, Gunter Wagner ($2,968) Germany, Guido De Bruijn ($2,968) Holland, Jacob Jensen ($2,968) Denmark, Barry Earnshaw ($2,782) England, and Benjamin Story ($2,782) England.
Day 2 of the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. saw the field narrow down to 21 from 803. Among those
sent out was Norwegian Jan Sjavik, while German Jens Voertmann was doing well among chip leaders throughout the day. In the stud round, Norway’s Thor Hansen held a pair of fours with A-3 in the hole. His opponent held a broadway straight, and as Hansen failed to hit a low, he unfortunately was the bubble boy. Play continues down to the final table, which will kick off tomorrow.
Lithuanian Tony G was eliminated by David Singer very early on day 2 of the $10,000 World Championship Pot-Limit Omaha tournament. Singer raised to 8,000 from early position, and Tony G reraised the size of the pot (22,500). Singer called and the flop came 1083. Tony G bet his last 1,000 chip and Singer called.
Tony G: AAJ7
Singer: KKQJ
Tony G led on the flop with a pair of aces and a jack-high flush draw, Singer held pocket kings and a king-high flush draw. Both players had a gut-shot straight draw with a nine, Tony G's to the jack and Singer's to the queen. The turn was the 9, giving both players their straight, Singer with the best hand. At this point Tony G was drawing to a chopped pot with a queen, otherwise he would be eliminated from the tournament. The river was the 8 and Tony G hit the rail. Dutchman Rolf Slotboom was also sent out during the same level.
Russian Nikolay Evdakov was getting slack for his style of play. Despite this, he managed to make the money in the event, giving him 10 cashes for this year's series. Players were openly talking about his play just a few feet away from him, and timing him to see how long he would take before acting. David Williams commented, “He stalls, waits for the nuts, doubles up and goes back into hiding."
Later on in the day, Evdakov was again causing problems. Players at his table and other tables were complaining, and a tournament director told him to act more quickly or face a clock every hand. Then, after Brandon Moran had raised to 20,000, Evdakov decided to risk his remaining chips and move all in for just 32,000 more. Things did not look good for Moran but he had to call.
Evdakov: AAKJ
Moran: QQJ9
Board: Q4258
When Evdakov showed his hand, many of the players were incredulous, unable to understand why he'd taken so long to make the all-in move. But justice prevailed when Moran sucked out. Evdakov was sent to the rail in 28th place, followed by Norwegian Vegard Nygaard.
Europeans were dropping like flies when Dutchman Rob Hollink was sent out in 22nd place, Austrian Sigi Stockinger in 25th, Italian Dario Alioto in 19th place, Rino Mathis from Switzerland in 18th, and German Eddy Scharf in 17th place.
Irishman Marty Smyth was doing well however, making the leader board mid-session. He further increased his stack through Kido Pham. Pham bet the pot and Smyth, undeterred, made the call. Pham immediately told him, "You win." He was on a roll, later sending Guillame Patry out in 16th place.
Following a flop of 992, Smyth checked in the big blind and Swede Kenneth Matsson checked behind him. The Kcame on the turn and Smyth again checked. Matsson bet 60,000 and Smyth raised to 208,000. Matsson thought for a few minutes and ultimately decided to put in the rest of his chips. Smyth held 9873 and was ahead of Matsson's AA75. The 3 came on the river, giving Matsson the nut flush but Smyth a full house. Smyth shot up the list of chip leaders to become second, narrowly behind Kido Pham.
Play will continue until the final table of nine is set.
Italian Marco Traniello was sent packing very early on in the $1,500 no-limit hold’em which started today. Brit Dave "Devil Fish" Ulliott was doing Europe proud as he won, stole, and bluffed pots, left, right, and centre. First of all he doubled through Phil Laak AKA “The Unabomber” early session, when on a board that read K55Q-X, Ulliott showed QQ for a boat full of ladies.
In a later hand, Ulliott raised to 2,400 preflop and his opponent made the call from under the gun. The flop came 1075 and Ulliott's opponent moved all in, trying to take the pot right then and there. But Ulliott would have none of it as he made the call and turned over JJ. His opponent held QJ and the case J fell on the turn cementing the hand for Ulliott. The 8 completed the board and Ulliott doubled again.
Then, on a board reading 10428K, Ulliott put out a large stack totalling 4,000. His opponent in seat 2 thought about his options. He elected to fold, to which Ulliott inquired, “You've got ace queen right?” His opponent did not answer. Ulliott then turned over 65 for a stone cold bluff and took the pot.
Another Brit doing well was Rob Sherwood. After an early position raise made it 1700 to go, Sherwood shoved all-in for 5675 more. He was called by the raiser, who held AQ. Sherwood tabled AK. The flop hit him where it hurts, coming Q62. But the 5 on the turn added additional outs, and one came home as the 9 spiked the river to give Sherwood the nut flush for the victory.
After not being able to walk past a table without hearing the words "all-in" after dinner, play slowed down as the field closed in on the money. With about 20 minutes remaining in the final level, the money bubble was burst. 270 players are guaranteed a piece of the prize pool, and they will return tomorrow for day 2 of the tournament.
There will be plenty of action on day 33 of the World Series when two final tables, the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. and the $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha get underway. Day 2 of the $1,500 no-limit hold’em will also play out, alongside a new event, the $1,500 limit hold’em shootout.
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