Level 17 Update: Getting Close to the Bubble
May 29, '09
Blinds: 9,000-18,000 with a 2,000 ante.
Players Remaining: 29 out of 201
Chip Counts:
1. Justin Bonomo — 2,200,000
2. Greg Raymer — 1,750,000
3. David Baker — 1,530,000
4. Lex Veldhuis — 1,450,000
5. Dani Stern — 1,250,000
6. Vitaly Lunkin — 1,150,000
7. Brian Townsend — 1,060,000
8. Doshi Suresh — 1,000,000
9. Noah Schwartz — 955,000
10. Sorel Mizzi — 940,000
Average Chip Count: 868,965
Notable Eliminations:
Ali Eslami
Alan Sass
Sami Kelopuro
Kirill Gerasimov
Evan McNiff
Marco Johnson
Nam Le
Big Hands:
David Chiu Doubles Through Greg Raymer
Just a few moments into the level, David Chiu was all in holding A-K against the A-9 of Greg Raymer. The board bricked for both players and Chiu doubled up to 260,000. Raymer is still far and away the chip leader with 2.5 million.
Sami Kelopuro Busts to Lex Veldhuis
Lex Vedlhuis raised to 45,000 and Sami Kelopuro moved all in for his last 300,000. Veldhuis made the call and showed A
J for a dominating hand against Kelopuro’s A
9
.
The board came KK
7K8 and Veldhuis came out on top, sending Kelopuro to the rail out of the money. Veldhuis has closed the gap on the chip leaders with 1,405,000.
Alan Sass Hits the Rail
Alan Sass jammed it in preflop with A6 and David Pham made the call with AK. A king on the flop and a blank on the turn had Sass drawing dead. Pham now sits with a slightly healthier 420,000.
Double Elimination For David Baker
Kirill Gerasimov was short stacked and moved all in holding K5. Evan McNiff tried to isolate behind him holding A-8 offsuit. Unfortunately for both players, David Baker woke up with pocket queens behind them and made the call.
The flop came AJ2 giving McNiff the best hand with a pair of aces and Gerasimov the nut flush draw. Visably upset, Baker hit his slim outs on the turn when the Q hit. The river was a safe 7 and Baker took out both players.
Marco Johnson Busts to Justin Bonomo
Marco Johnson was all in holding K10 against the AQ of Justin Bonomo. The board didn’t help Johnson and he exited from the tournament floor. Bonomo now has 2.2 million.
Nam Le Busts In a Suck, Re-Suck Situation
Nam Le got it all in on a AK10 flop holding AJ against the K10 of Dani Stern. The turn was great for Le when the J hit, but the K on the river sent Le to the rail. Stern is now sitting with 1.25 million.
Player Tags: David Pham, Nam Le, Kirill Gerasimov, Greg Raymer, Justin Bonomo, Alan Sass, Marco Johnson, David Baker, Evan McNiff, Dani Stern
Final Table: Hour Six Update
May 31, '09
Blinds: 80,000-160,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 out of 201
Chip Counts:
1. Isaac Haxton — 16,495,000
2. Vitaly Lunkin — 7,520,000
Average Chip Count: 12,060,000
Notable Eliminations:
4. Dani Stern — $548,315
3. Greg Raymer — $774,927
Big Hands:
Isaac Haxton Doubles Through Dani Stern
Dani Stern limped in and Isaac Haxton moved all in for his last 3.1 million or so. Stern made the call and showed 55 and Haxton turned over K7, relieved that he had two live overcards.
The board ran out A6396 and Haxton’s nut flush doubled him up to 6.5 million. Stern took a hit to 1.5 million.
Dani Stern Eliminated in 4th Place ($548,315)
Dani Stern open shoved for his last 1.4 million and Isaac Haxton called in the small blind. Stern showed Q10 and he needed help against Haxton’s AK.
The board came J5222 and Haxton’s ace high was enough to bust Stern in fourth place.
Greg Raymer Eliminated in 3rd Place ($774,927)
Greg Raymer raised to 400,000 and Isaac Haxton reraised to 1.25 million. Raymer then shoved for his entire stack of 8 million and Haxton called, having him very slightly covered.
Raymer showed pocket fives and Haxton revealed the superior pocket nines. The board rolled out KQ1033 and Haxton’s nines took the pot, sending the Fossilman out in third place to a standing ovation. Haxton now has a 2-1 chip lead on Vitaly Lunkin.
Player Tags: Greg Raymer, Vitaly Lunkin, Isaac Haxton, Dani Stern
Final Table: Hour Five Update
May 31, '09
Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 out of 201
Chip Counts:
1. Greg Raymer — 8,383,000
2. Vitaly Lunkin — 7,410,000
3. Dani Stern — 4,975,000
4. Isaac Haxton — 3,245,000
Average Chip Count: 6,030,000
Big Hands:
Greg Raymer Climbs to 8 Million
Greg Raymer raised to 300,000 preflop under the gun and Dani Stern made the call on the button. The flop was dealt A43 and Raymer bet 500,000. Stern called the turn fell 4. Raymer and Stern both checked and the river fell 8. Raymer bet 1 million and Stern made the call. Raymer flipped over 52 and Stern mucked. Raymer grew his stack to 8,265,000 after the hand.
Dinner Break
The players are now on their dinner break. They will be returning at 9:20 PDT.
Player Tags: Greg Raymer, Dani Stern
Final Table: Hour Four Update
May 31, '09
Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 out of 201
Chip Counts:
1. Vitaly Lunkin — 8,265,000
2. Greg Raymer — 6,240,000
3. Dani Stern — 5,870,000
4. Isaac Haxton — 5,290,000
Average Chip Count: 3,445,000
Notable Eliminations:
5. Justin Bonomo – $413,166
Big Hands:
Dani Stern Doubles Up
Greg Raymer raised preflop to 200,000 from the cutoff and Dani Stern moved all in from the small blind. Raymer made the call and they flipped up their cards:
Raymer: 77
Stern: A10
Board: QQ4610
Stern doubled up on the hand to survive with 4 million and Raymer held strong with 5,315,000 after the hand.
Justin Bonomo Eliminated in Fifth Place ($413,166)
Justin Bonomo raised to 250,000 under the gun and Isaac Haxton made the call from the small blind. Greg Raymer also called from the big blind and the flop was dealt 1093. Haxton bet 300,000 and Raymer mucked. Bonomo then moved all in for 2,775,000 and Haxton made the call. Their cards:
Bonomo: JJ
Haxton: AA
Turn and River: 2A
Bonomo was eliminated in fifth place and Haxton grew his stack to 7,960,000.
Player Tags: Greg Raymer, Justin Bonomo, Isaac Haxton, Dani Stern
Dani Stern Eliminated in Third Place ($509,473)
Q
5
Stephen Chidwick Eliminated in Fourth Place ($353,780)
5
Yevgeniy Timoshenko Eliminated
Noah Boeken Doubles Up Again
Dani Stern Doubles Up
Dani Stern Eliminated In Fifth Place ($161,934)
Chau Giang Eliminated