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WPT: Borgata Poker Open Day 4

Final Table Set -- Vivek 'psyduck' Rajkumar Leads the Way

by Julio Rodriguez  |  Published: Sep 17, 2008  |  

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Vivek RajkumarMuch has been made of the 2008 Borgata Poker Open and its player-friendly blind structure. The 40,000 in starting chips, the 75-minute levels, and the smaller-than-average antes gave each player more than the ideal amount of play and plenty of time to make the most of their decisions. As a result, the tournament had a smooth, continuous feel to it, never hitting a wall or coming to a grinding halt. The eliminations came consistently and often, meaning last year's seven-hour TV bubble was unlikely to be repeated.

But, of course, once the field was trimmed to the final table of 10, a long tortuous grind to the final six began. It took five more hours for the TV six to be determined. With the hours ticking by, the blinds escalated to a ridiculous 60,000-120,000 with a 10,000 ante, meaning the televised final table tomorrow could be a quick one.

Here is how the day went, according to CardPlayer.com's live updates page:

Ted ForrestTed Forrest Eliminated in 27th Place ($26,000)

Well, that was quick.

On one of the first hands of play, Ted Forrest got his 600,000 chip stack in with pocket aces against Thayer Rasmussen's pocket eights. Rasmussen continued to run well as an eight hit the flop and sent Forrest home prematurely. Rasmussen is now in second chip position with over 2 million.

Nam Le Eliminated in 24th Place ($26,000)

Nam Le was all in from the big blind against Stephen Vanauken's A-4. Le held a dominating A-8, but the flop brought both an ace and a 4, giving Vanauken two pair. Le was unable to hit an eight, and he was eliminated in 24th place.

Nam LeChris Bell Eliminated in 23rd Place ($26,000)

The big names continue to fall, as Chris Bell was just eliminated in 23rd place.

Mark Seif held pocket aces on a jack-high flop and Bell was behind with Q-J. The turn was a jack, giving Bell trips and a stranglehold to double up, but the river was an ace, giving the full house, and the pot, to Seif. Bell earned $26,000 for his finish.

Vivek Rajkumar Wins Huge Pot with Big Bluff

Vivek Rajkumar raised to 120,000 under the gun and Steven Vanauken called from the cutoff. The flop came Q 9 2, and Rajkumar bet 185,000. Vanauken made the call, and the turn was the 7.

After some thought, Rajkumar bet 380,000. Vanauken thought it over and made the call. The river was the K, and Rajkumar moved all in for 733,000. Vanauken tanked for two minutes before Rajkumar said, "Well, at least I know you don't have the nuts or else you would have called by now."

Nick FrangosVanauken folded his hand and Rajkumar turned over A 10 for complete air. He now held 2,110,000, and Vanauken took a hit to 800,000.

Nick Frangos Eliminated in 13th Place ($47,500)

Nick Frangos moved all in for 440,000 and Chris Arvanitis moved all in behind him to isolate for 928,000. Everyone folded, and Frangos showed K Q. Arvanitis revealed a dominating A K, and it held to send Frangos home in 13th place.

Thayer Rasmussen Eliminated in 12th Place ($65,000)

Action is folded around to Thayer Rasmussen, who moved all in from the small blind. Vivek Rajkumar made the call from the big blind, and the two Internet phenoms turned over their cards.

Thayer RasmussenRasmussen showed K-5 and Rajkumar had A-4.

The board came 9-8-2-3-2, and Rasmussen was eliminated in 12th place. He earned $65,000 for his finish.

Steve Dannenmann Eliminated in 11th Place ($65,000)

Vivek Rajkumar just took out Steve Dannenmann in similar fashion to the way he took out good friend Thayer Rasmussen. The action folded to Dannenmann, who moved all in from the small blind with A-7. Rajkumar called instantly with A-J. The board gave Dannenmann a little hope with a gutshot-straight draw, but the river was a brick to send him back to Maryland in 11th place.

Final-Table Seating Assignments

Seat 1: Vivek "psyduck" Rajkumar -- 2,275,000
Seat 2: Dan Heimiller -- 3,265,000
Seat 3: Michael Binger -- 650,000
Seat 4: Andrew Knee -- 2,920,000
Seat 5: Mark Seif -- 2,765,000
Seat 6: Jason Strochak -- 1,250,000
Seat 7: Sang Kim -- 1,600,000
Seat 8: John Myung -- 1,510,000
Seat 9: Chris Arvanitis -- 1,880,000
Seat 10: Steven Vanauken -- 1,580,000

 
Michael BingerMichael Binger Eliminated in 10th Place ($65,000)

Michael Binger picked up pocket nines once again but this time he ran into Vivek Rajkumar's pocket jacks. He was all in for his last 1,150,000. The board rolled out Q 10 7 4 5, and Rajkumar's pocket jacks held up to give him the pot.

Steven Vanauken Eliminated in Ninth Place ($100,000)

Andrew Knee opened for 300,000 in middle position, and Steven Vanauken moved all in for 850,000. Knee made the call and showed pocket tens. Vanauken showed K Q and needed to improve to win the race and survive. The board came A 6 2 J A, and Vanauken was eliminated in ninth place.

Chris Arvanitis Eliminated in Eighth Place ($137,500)

Mark Seif raised to 275,000, and then Chris Arvanitis moved all in preflop for 1.4 million. Vivek Rajkumar then moved all in over the top of Arvanitis to isolate, and everyone obliged.

John MyungRajkumar revealed pocket queens, and Arvanitis needed help with his A 3. The board came out 9 5 2 2 5, and Arvanitis was eliminated in eighth place. He took home $137,500 in prize money.

Arvanitis was the 516th player to register in the field of 516 players in this event. He won a satellite at 3 p.m. the afternoon the tournament began.

John Myung Eliminated in seventh Place ($187,500)

John Myung moved all in preflop, and Vivek Rajkumar called him down. Their cards:

Myung: K Q
Rajkumar: Q Q

Board: 7 4 4 5 6

Myung was eliminated in seventh place, and the local legend will take home $187,500 in prize money.
 
Final-Table Seating Chart and Chip Counts

Seat 1: Vivek Rajkumar -- 6,480,000
Seat 2: Dan Heimiller -- 3,360,000
Seat 3: Andrew Knee -- 1,475,000
Seat 4: Mark Seif -- 4,665,000
Seat 5: Jason Strochak -- 1,650,000
Seat 6: Sang Kim -- 3,085,000

Join us tommorow at 4 p.m. EDT as we bring you the conclusion to the 2008 Borgata Poker Open.

 
 
Tags: chip stack,   table tomorrow,   hitting a wall,   chris bell,   ted forrest,   hour tv,   cardplayer,   grinding halt,   eliminations,   live updates,   rasmussen,   plenty of time,   aces,   thayer,   blinds,   borgata,   ace,   nam,   chips,   poker
 
 
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