WPT -- Doyle Brunson Classic Championship Day 1BStrong Turnout for Day 1B Means Big Prize Pool |
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Two months ago, Bellagio hosted the WPT Festa al Lago with a new $15,000 buy in. Although the championship event was considered a success, many in the industry noticed the sluggish turnout. Fast forward to December, and the economy is still in a funk, but the poker community may be seeing signs of a small resurgence.
Day 1A of the Doyle Brunson Classic Championship attracted 203 runners, but that number was dwarfed by the 294 that showed up for the second starting day. The total came to 497, generating a prize pool of $7,231,350. Here are the final-table payouts:
Here's how the day went, according to CardPlayer.com's live updates page:
Steven Merrifield Takes Out Loose Cannon
Breakout tournament pro Steven Merrifield caught a break early in the tournament when the one amateur at his table decided to donate to his cause. According to Merrifield, the unknown tried a four-bet squeeze from the cutoff with pocket fours. Merrifield moved in with pocket queens, and they held to give him a stack of 75,000.
Ben "ShankingYou" Palmer Wins Big With Set
Ben Palmer saw a flop of K-J-4 with three limpers. One limper bet 1,000 and was called. Palmer then raised to 3,500 and was called in both spots. The turn was a deuce, and Palmer bet 8,700, again getting called in both spots. The river was a 5, and Palmer bet 18,000. He got one caller and took the pot with pocket fours for a set. He now has 88,000 in chips.
Friendship and Poker Don't Mix
Alec Torelli raised to 600 from the cutoff, and Andrew Robl called on the button. The flop came Jx 8
4, and Torelli bet 1,100. Robl called, and the turn was the 6. Torelli then moved all in for 6,100, and Robl made the call with Q J for a flush. Torelli could only show A 2x for the nut-flush draw, but the river was a brick, sending him home. Coincidentally, home for Torelli is Robl's high-rise apartment, where he stays whenever he is in Las Vegas.
A Fortunate River Card
Mike Kamran and Allen Cunningham both saw a flop of Q-10-8. Kamran bet and was called by Cunningham. The turn was a 4, and Kamran continued with 4,500. Cunningham raised to 13,000, and Kamran moved in for 30,000. Cunningham called with J-9 for the flopped straight, but Kamran had outs with a set of eights. The river paired the board with another 4, and Kamran took in the massive pot. He now has 88,000, while Cunningham is down below his starting stack with 37,000.
Layne Flack Doubles Up
Four players saw a flop of 10
5
2
, and Layne Flack bet 5,000 from late position. Michael Kamran and seat 10 mucked before seat 2 made the call. The turn fell 8, and seat 2 checked. Flack bet 10,000, and seat 2 went into the tank. He then decided to raise to 45,000, and Flack made the all-in call. They turned up their hands, and Flack showed 10 10. His opponent showed down A 10, and Flack doubled up to survive.
Haralabos Voulgaris Doubles Up
The flop read 5 4 3 when Haralabos Voulgaris bet 2,150. Alan Goehring raised to 6,000, and Voulgaris reraised all in for 15,750. Goehring made the call, and they turned up their hands. Goehring held A K, and Voulgaris turned up pocket nines. The turn and river fell Q and 9, and Voulgaris doubled up to survive, courtesy of Goehring.
Play Ends For the Evening
A total of 150 players survived day 1A, and they will combine with the roughly 225 players to survive day 1B to form the complete field tommorow afternoon. Join us at noon as we continue to bring you live updates from the final WPT tournament of 2008.
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