2-7 triple draw, limit hold’em, and Omaha 8OB: 400-800 blinds and 800-1,600 limits
7-card stud, razz, and 7-card stud 8OB: 200 ante, 200 bring-in, with a 800 completion and 800-1,600 limits
no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha: 200-400 blinds with a 100 ante
NOTES: Games change every eight hands. Two players will be forced to sit out during 2-7 triple draw each hand.
Players Remaining: 167 out of 194
Chip Counts:
1. Vanessa Rousso – 80,000
2. David Singer – 74,000
3. Jimmy Fricke – 70,000
4. Daniel Negreanu – 68,000
5. Marco Traniello – 64,000
6. Andy Bloch – 62,000
7. Ted Forrest – 60,000
8. Nick Schulman – 60,000
9. Gavin Smith – 59,000
10. George Danzer – 55,500
Average Chip Count: 34,035
Notable Eliminations:
Mark Vos
Raphael Zimmerman
John D’Agostino
Chris Ferguson
Big Hands:
Limit HE Madsen With the Bluff on Sung, Then Takes One Off Rousso
Fireworks went off between Steve Sung and Jeff Madsen after the flop came 832. Sung led out with 600 and Madsen raised to 1,200. Sung would not be outdone as he three-bet it to 1,800. Madsen came to play, however, and capped it to 2,400. Sung had enough of this game and mucked his hand. Madsen then poured salt in the wound when he tabled 54 for an open ended straight draw and not much else. Sung just smiled as his stack was down to 25,000. For Madsen, the action was just beginning.
On the next hand, Vanessa Rousso raised to 1,200 preflop and Madsen was the only caller. The flop came K85. Rousso bet 600 and Madsen came along. The turn was the 5 and both players checked. The river brought the 2 and Madsen took the initiative, firing 1,200. Rousso made the call and Madsen showed 99. It was better than Rousso’s 77 and he raked in the pot, his stack improving to almost 30,000. Rousso was down to around 73,000.
NLHE
Fitoussi Straightens Out Jesus
On a board reading 4573, Bruno Fitoussi bet enough to put Chris Ferguson all in. Ferguson then went into the tank for a while.
Daniel Negreanu and David Bach each got up and stretched their legs as Ferguson contemplated on what to do. Finally, Ferguson grabbed his stack and splashed it into the pot, tabling KK. Fitoussi showed 66 for a straight and the river could not save Jesus as he was eliminated. Fitoussi improved his stack to around 60,000 with the knockout.
Omaha 8
Smith Scoops The River
On a board showing 1075, John Cernuto bet 1,600 and Gavin Smith made the call, as did the player in seat 3. The river brought the 8 and the action was checked to Smith. He quickly fired 1,600 into the pot and both of his opponents called. Smith then turned over the bad news, showing AQ92 for a flush and the nut low, both acquired on the river. Both opponents mucked, Cernuto with a little extra sass on it, and Smith scooped the pot. His stack was around 75,000 while Cernuto was down to 55,000.
Razz Planting The Seed
Chino Rheem: 26A
Huck Seed: 3AJ
David Chiu: 4AK
Rheem led out with 1,600 and Seed made the call. Chiu decided he had enough of this nonsense and mucked his hand.
Chino Rheem: 26A3
Huck Seed: 3AJ5
Rheem fired another 1,600 shot and Seed made the call. On the river, Rheem slowed down and checked. Seed followed suit and Rheem announced “seven,” indicating his seven-low. Seed then turned over 467 for a six-low and he took down the pot. His stack was around 44,000 while Rheem was at 46,000.
Final Table Update: Huck Seed Eliminated In 5th Place
Jun 06, '09
Level Structure:
2-7 triple draw, limit hold’em, and Omaha 8OB: 25,000-50,000 blinds and 50,000-100,000 limits
7-card stud, razz, and 7-card stud 8OB: 10,000 ante, 20,000 bring-in, with a 50,000 completion and 50,000-100,000 limits
no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha: 12,000-24,000 blinds with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 out of 194
Chip Counts:
1. David Chiu – 2,500,000
2. Scott Dorin – 1,350,000
3. Ville Wahlbeck – 800,000
4. Mark Gregorich – 400,000
Average Chip Count: 1,262,500
Notable Eliminations:
5. Huck Seed — $102,286
Big Hands:
Limit HE
Huck Seed Eliminated In 5th Place($102,286)
After the flop came down Q42, David Chiu bet 50,000 and Huck Seed raised it to 100,000. Chiu made the call and the turn brought the 2. Chiu checked to Seed who moved his remaining 76,000 into the middle. Chiu made the call and the players tabled their hands.
Seed: AQ
Chiu: J9
Seed was out in front with two pair and needed to dodge Chiu’s flush draw to double up and get right back into contention. But the river brought the 5, making Chiu his heart flush and knocking Seed out in 5th place. Seed took home $102,286 for his efforts.
2-7 triple draw, limit hold’em, and Omaha 8OB: 500-1,000 blinds and 1,000-2,000 limits
7-card stud, razz, and 7-card stud 8OB: 200 ante, 300 bring-in, with a 1,000 completion and 1,000-2,000 limits
no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha: 250-500 blinds with a 150 ante
NOTES: Games change every eight hands. Two players will be forced to sit out during 2-7 triple draw each hand.
Players Remaining: 9 out of 194
Chip Counts:
1. Scott Dorin — 1,400,000
2. Huck Seed — 870,000
3. James Van Alstyne — 865,000
4. Ville Wahlbeck — 684,000
5. Allie Prescott — 622,000
6. Mike Wattel — 394,000
7. Mark Gregorich — 372,000
8. David Chiu — 343,000
9. Todd Brunson — 276,000
Average Chip Count: 646,666
Notable Eliminations:
12. Aurangzeb Sheikh — $34,958
11. Joe Serock — $34,958
10. Roman Yitzhaki — $42,818
Big Hands:
RAZZ
Aurangzeb Sheikh Eliminated in 12th Place ($34,958)
Joe Serock completes the bet on third street with the 4 and Aurangzeb Sheikh raises with the 7. Serock three-bets and Sheikh calls.
Serock: (A)(8)43AJ(7)
Sheikh: (5)(2)7Q44(Q)
Sheikh gets the last of his chips in on fourth street and the the players turn their cards face up. Sheikh ends up making a pair low on sixth street while Serock makes an 8-7 low by the river. Aurangzeb Sheikh is eliminated in 12th place ($34,958).
NLH
Joe Serock Eliminated in 11th Place ($34,958)
Joe Serock moves all in before the flop for 35,000 and gets three callers; David Chiu (Button), Scott Dorin (Small Blind) and James Van Alstyne (Big Blind).
The flop comes KQ2, and all three players check. The turn is the 4 and once again, all three players check. The river is the J and everyone checks. Serock turns over A3 for ace-high while Chiu shows A4 for a pair of fours. Chiu rakes the pot and eliminates Joe Serock in 11th place ($34,958).
LIMITHOLD’EM
Roman Yitzhaki Eliminated in 10th place ($42,818)
After a series a of raises and reraises, Roman Yitzhaki gets it all in pre-flop with pocket jacks against Huck Seed’s pocket aces. The board comes A-2-3-2-6, giving Seed a full house and eliminating Roman Yitzhaki in 10th place 9$42,818).
Left In The Deck:
At the conclusion of Level 22, the remaining nine players will take a seventy-five minute dinner break and will return to Level 23 at approximately 7:00 pm PDT.
1. Brian Townsend – 1,470,000
2. Lex Veldhuis – 1,320,000
3. Greg Raymer – 1,300,000
4. Justin Bonomo – 1,270,000
5. Matthew Glantz – 1,058,000
6. Brian Rast – 1,020,000
7. Ted Forrest – 1,020,000
8. Chris Moneymaker – 920,000
9. Isaac Haxton — 785,000
10. Frank Kassela — 750,000
Average Chip Count: 548,181
Notable Eliminations:
Emil Patel
Huck Seed
Mike Matusow
Bruno Fitoussi
Big Hands:
Huck Seed is Eliminated
On a board of 75AQ, Huck Seed checked from the small blind to Alec Torelli on the button. Torelli fired out 37,000 and Seed called. The river was the J and the action went check-check. Torelli said, “I think you got me,” and Huck turned over the 107. To Torelli’s surprise he rivered Seed, and exposed J10 for a pair of jacks. Seed was severely short stacked and moved all-in the next hand with 76 from the button only to be called by Greg Raymer in the small blind with K9. Seed failed to hit and was knocked out of Event 2 of the World Series of Poker.
Nam Le Doubles Up
Nam Le and Sorel Mizzi got it all in on the flop with Le holding the 107 and Mizzi holding the KQ. The board read 89J, with Le holding a straight but leaving Mizzi with a lot of outs. Those outs failed to arrive on the turn and river, and Le doubled up to around 700,000.
Mike Matusow Eliminated
Mike Matusow raised to 25,000 preflop from the big blind and Keith Lehr reraised enough to put Matusow all in under the gun. Matusow made the call and they flipped up their cards:
Matusow: 77
Lehr: A10
Board: Q84KA
Matusow was eliminated on the hand and Lehr moved up to 600,000.
Matthew Glantz Flops a Set
On a board of J9AQ6, Matthew Glantz fired a big river bet into Evan McNiff. McNiff mulled it over before finally calling. Glantz turned over the 99 for a set of nines and raked in the 500,000 chip pot. Glantz is no over 1,000,000 in chips.
Brian Townsend Eliminates Emil Patel
Emil Patel and Brian Townsend got it all-in pre-flop with Patel holding AK and Townsend holding 1010. The flop of 7103 was perfect for Townsend, as Patel was drawing dead with no back door draws. Townsend is up to 1,500,000 in chips.
Left In The Deck:
Table 60 is a stacked table with pros Greg Raymer, Andrew Robl, Vanessa Rousso, Steve Zolotow, Brian Rast, Alec Torelli and formerly Bruno Fitoussi before he was eliminated and Andrew Black before he was moved.
The players are on a 60 minute dinner break. The action tonight will conclude when they have reached 18 players or have played four more levels.
Huck Seed has just defeated Jonathan Little after grinding him down to a short stack.
Little moved all in from the button with Q9 and Seed woke up with two red tens. The board came 6-6-5-8-9 and Little was eliminated from the tournament.
Seed will now face the winner of the David Benyamine and Gus Hansen.
Glen Chorny thought he hit his hand on the river, but it ended up costing him his tournament.
The board read Q-9-7-Q-5 and Chorny bet 17,000 on the river. Huck Seed moved all in, having Chorny barely covered. Chorny called and showed 8-6 for a rivered straight, but he was drawing dead on the turn to Seed's pocket nines for a full house.
Huck Seed moves on to face the winner between Kenny Tran and David Oppenheim. Chorny will earn $25,000 for his finish.
Huck Seed became the most consistent performer in NBC Heads-Up history when he defeated Gus Hansen today in the round of 32. He has now cashed in each of the five years of this event. Seed might be joined very soon in the five-timer's club if Scott Fischman wins his match against David Williams.
Huck Seed Wins the 2009 NBC National Heads Up Championship
Mar 08, '09
Huck Seed took the lead and both players saw a board fill out of K8310. Rousso moved all in on the turn and Seed made the call.
Rousso showed J10 and Seed showed a slow played K7. The river was the 5 and Rousso was eliminated, earning $250,000.
Seed wins the title, along with the $500,000 first-place prize. He earns the distinction of becoming the only person to ever cash in all five tournaments and moves his overall record to 17-4.
Chris Ferguson, Cleopatra and Caesar himself are on hand to award his trophy and cash.
After taking a 100,000 pot with a pair of aces, Huck Seed had Vanessa Rousso on the ropes. Rousso made her move with the QJ and after some deliberation, Seed called with the KJ.
The board ran out A956A, giving Seed the first match.
There will now be a 15-minute break before the next match begins.
Sam Farha and Huck Seed's match up was quite interesting. At one point, both players thought they were on break and tried to walk off the set. They were quickly told to continue and the match resumed. Then, shortly after Vanessa Rousso won her match, Farha tried to take a phone call and walked off the stage. He was quickly told to go back and play, which he did shortly thereafter.
By the time the match reached the 15,000 - 30,000 level, both player were looking for a spot to get their chips in, with Seed having a 420,000 to 220,000 lead. Both players got it all in with pairs in short time. Seed held Deuces and Farha turned over Aces. The bigger pair held and the two virtually traded places in the counts.
Seed pushed later on with QQ and Farha made the call with A4. The flop came out KJ3 and Seed mainained his lead in the hand. The turn was the 5, however, giving him something to sweat. The river was the K and Seed safely doubled up, turning the tables in the match yet again.
When the average stack reached eight big blinds, it really became a crapshoot. Seed moved in with A-2, only to run into Farha's A-Q. Farha had to sweat a flush draw, but his hand ultimately held to double him up and cripple Seed.
Seed then doubled up twice in a row, leaving Farha with a much smaller lead. The blinds then increased to 30,000 - 60,000 and the lead changed several times with just a preflop all in move.
At one point, both players got in all in just to chop it up with a straight on board.
On the final hand, Seed had Farha all in with 108 against A-K. The river gave Seed a flush and the match, ending the longest battle of the tournament. Farha earns $125,000 and Seed improved his overall record to 17-4, making him the winningest player in the history of the tournament.
The finals will commence in about 45 minutes. Stay tuned.
Huck Seed has just defeated Jonathan Little after grinding him down to a short stack.
Little moved all in from the button with Q9 and Seed woke up with two red tens. The board came 6-6-5-8-9 and Little was eliminated from the tournament.
Seed will now face the winner of the David Benyamine and Gus Hansen.
Glen Chorny thought he hit his hand on the river, but it ended up costing him his tournament.
The board read Q-9-7-Q-5 and Chorny bet 17,000 on the river. Huck Seed moved all in, having Chorny barely covered. Chorny called and showed 8-6 for a rivered straight, but he was drawing dead on the turn to Seed's pocket nines for a full house.
Huck Seed moves on to face the winner between Kenny Tran and David Oppenheim. Chorny will earn $25,000 for his finish.
Huck Seed became the most consistent performer in NBC Heads-Up history when he defeated Gus Hansen today in the round of 32. He has now cashed in each of the five years of this event. Seed might be joined very soon in the five-timer's club if Scott Fischman wins his match against David Williams.
Huck Seed Wins the 2009 NBC National Heads Up Championship
Mar 08, '09
Huck Seed took the lead and both players saw a board fill out of K8310. Rousso moved all in on the turn and Seed made the call.
Rousso showed J10 and Seed showed a slow played K7. The river was the 5 and Rousso was eliminated, earning $250,000.
Seed wins the title, along with the $500,000 first-place prize. He earns the distinction of becoming the only person to ever cash in all five tournaments and moves his overall record to 17-4.
Chris Ferguson, Cleopatra and Caesar himself are on hand to award his trophy and cash.
After taking a 100,000 pot with a pair of aces, Huck Seed had Vanessa Rousso on the ropes. Rousso made her move with the QJ and after some deliberation, Seed called with the KJ.
The board ran out A956A, giving Seed the first match.
There will now be a 15-minute break before the next match begins.
Sam Farha and Huck Seed's match up was quite interesting. At one point, both players thought they were on break and tried to walk off the set. They were quickly told to continue and the match resumed. Then, shortly after Vanessa Rousso won her match, Farha tried to take a phone call and walked off the stage. He was quickly told to go back and play, which he did shortly thereafter.
By the time the match reached the 15,000 - 30,000 level, both player were looking for a spot to get their chips in, with Seed having a 420,000 to 220,000 lead. Both players got it all in with pairs in short time. Seed held Deuces and Farha turned over Aces. The bigger pair held and the two virtually traded places in the counts.
Seed pushed later on with QQ and Farha made the call with A4. The flop came out KJ3 and Seed mainained his lead in the hand. The turn was the 5, however, giving him something to sweat. The river was the K and Seed safely doubled up, turning the tables in the match yet again.
When the average stack reached eight big blinds, it really became a crapshoot. Seed moved in with A-2, only to run into Farha's A-Q. Farha had to sweat a flush draw, but his hand ultimately held to double him up and cripple Seed.
Seed then doubled up twice in a row, leaving Farha with a much smaller lead. The blinds then increased to 30,000 - 60,000 and the lead changed several times with just a preflop all in move.
At one point, both players got in all in just to chop it up with a straight on board.
On the final hand, Seed had Farha all in with 108 against A-K. The river gave Seed a flush and the match, ending the longest battle of the tournament. Farha earns $125,000 and Seed improved his overall record to 17-4, making him the winningest player in the history of the tournament.
The finals will commence in about 45 minutes. Stay tuned.
Huck Seed has just defeated Jonathan Little after grinding him down to a short stack.
Little moved all in from the button with Q9 and Seed woke up with two red tens. The board came 6-6-5-8-9 and Little was eliminated from the tournament.
Seed will now face the winner of the David Benyamine and Gus Hansen.
Glen Chorny thought he hit his hand on the river, but it ended up costing him his tournament.
The board read Q-9-7-Q-5 and Chorny bet 17,000 on the river. Huck Seed moved all in, having Chorny barely covered. Chorny called and showed 8-6 for a rivered straight, but he was drawing dead on the turn to Seed's pocket nines for a full house.
Huck Seed moves on to face the winner between Kenny Tran and David Oppenheim. Chorny will earn $25,000 for his finish.
Huck Seed became the most consistent performer in NBC Heads-Up history when he defeated Gus Hansen today in the round of 32. He has now cashed in each of the five years of this event. Seed might be joined very soon in the five-timer's club if Scott Fischman wins his match against David Williams.
Huck Seed Wins the 2009 NBC National Heads Up Championship
Mar 08, '09
Huck Seed took the lead and both players saw a board fill out of K8310. Rousso moved all in on the turn and Seed made the call.
Rousso showed J10 and Seed showed a slow played K7. The river was the 5 and Rousso was eliminated, earning $250,000.
Seed wins the title, along with the $500,000 first-place prize. He earns the distinction of becoming the only person to ever cash in all five tournaments and moves his overall record to 17-4.
Chris Ferguson, Cleopatra and Caesar himself are on hand to award his trophy and cash.
After taking a 100,000 pot with a pair of aces, Huck Seed had Vanessa Rousso on the ropes. Rousso made her move with the QJ and after some deliberation, Seed called with the KJ.
The board ran out A956A, giving Seed the first match.
There will now be a 15-minute break before the next match begins.
Sam Farha and Huck Seed's match up was quite interesting. At one point, both players thought they were on break and tried to walk off the set. They were quickly told to continue and the match resumed. Then, shortly after Vanessa Rousso won her match, Farha tried to take a phone call and walked off the stage. He was quickly told to go back and play, which he did shortly thereafter.
By the time the match reached the 15,000 - 30,000 level, both player were looking for a spot to get their chips in, with Seed having a 420,000 to 220,000 lead. Both players got it all in with pairs in short time. Seed held Deuces and Farha turned over Aces. The bigger pair held and the two virtually traded places in the counts.
Seed pushed later on with QQ and Farha made the call with A4. The flop came out KJ3 and Seed mainained his lead in the hand. The turn was the 5, however, giving him something to sweat. The river was the K and Seed safely doubled up, turning the tables in the match yet again.
When the average stack reached eight big blinds, it really became a crapshoot. Seed moved in with A-2, only to run into Farha's A-Q. Farha had to sweat a flush draw, but his hand ultimately held to double him up and cripple Seed.
Seed then doubled up twice in a row, leaving Farha with a much smaller lead. The blinds then increased to 30,000 - 60,000 and the lead changed several times with just a preflop all in move.
At one point, both players got in all in just to chop it up with a straight on board.
On the final hand, Seed had Farha all in with 108 against A-K. The river gave Seed a flush and the match, ending the longest battle of the tournament. Farha earns $125,000 and Seed improved his overall record to 17-4, making him the winningest player in the history of the tournament.
The finals will commence in about 45 minutes. Stay tuned.
Chip Leaders:
Brian Townsend: 40,000
Joe Awada: 26,600
Greice Yamaguchi: 23,500
Dominic Tremblay: 21,500
Bill Chen: 21,000
Lee Childs: 20,350
Eliminations: Shawn Buchanan, Huck Seed
Big Hands:
Huck Seed Eliminated
On a board of 773Q, the player in seat 9 bet 6,000 on the turn and Seed went into the tank. Staring at his opponent and cocking his head, Seed ultimately moved all in for just under 16,00 total. Seat 9 went into the tank and eventually made the call, showing A7 for trip sevens, ace kicker. Seed turned over 97 for trip sevens with a weaker kicker. The 2 fell on the river, eliminating the former 1996 Main event world champion just minutes into the day.
Set Over Set, Shawn Buchanan Eliminated Early
Just minutes into Day 1c of the $10,000 NL Main Event, Shawn Buchanan got it all in with a set of sevens on a board of J7652. He was beaten by a set of jacks and lost almost his entire stack this hand, leaving himself with only 300 chips left. Crippled, the next hand Buchanan got it in with K-10 against K-Q and failed to improve. It was a very, very early day for Shawn Buchanan who has been eliminated from the tournament.
Clonie Gowen Misreads Hand, Eliminates Player
On a flop of A54, Alex Jacob bet 300 and Clonie Gowen raised to 800. The player in the big blind reraised to 2,000, Jacob mucked and Gowen reraised to 4,000. The big blind quickly moved all in and Gowen insta-called.
Gowen: A3
Big Blind: 54
Gowen flopped top pair and an inside straight draw but was trailing her opponent who made two pair on the flop. The 8 came on the turn, no help to either player, but the 3 hit the river, giving Gowen a better two pair and the win. Gowen raked the pot, doubling up early to about 40,000 as she elimianted her opponent. " I didn't double check," she said. "I thought I had ace-five." She then said that if she would have double checked her cards again she wouldn't have called. Opponent Slow-Plays Aces, Binger Gets Trapped
In a three-way limped pot, the flop came 1083. The player in the big blind bet out 400 and Michael Binger made the call as the small blind folded. The turn borught the A, and the big blind bet 1,000. Binger thought for a moment before calling. The river was the 4, and the big blind bet 2,500. Binger made the call and the big blind turned over AA for top set. Binger mucked his cards and fell down to about 16,000 after the hand.
Scharf Practice
German Eddy Scharf has set about gathering chips at his table. The two-time bracelet winner bet around the pot of 4,000 on the river with the board reading Q107Q9 and got his opponent to lay down. He is now up to almost 25,000.
Parky Poker
Irishman Padraig Parkinson has been quite active at what he described as a "passive" table. He won a succession of small pots uncontested until one player played back at him, forcing him to fold to a bet and he is currently sitting on just over his starting stack.
Hold'em and Omaha 8OB: 8,000 small blind -15,000 big blind
Stud Games: 3,000 ante - 5,000 bring-in - 15,000 completion
Players Left: 26 of 148
Chip Leaders:
Michael DeMichele: 1,215,000
Daniel Negreanu: 1,100,000
Barry Greenstein: 1,000,000
Lyle Berman: 940,000
David Bach: 934,000
Doyle Brunson: 935,000
Ralph Perry: 830,000
Scotty Nguyen: 760,000
Joseph Michael : 695,000
Michael Mizrachi: 660,000
Average Stack: 569,230
Chip Movers:
Both Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson have jumped up close to the million-chip mark during the last level. Five new players now appear in the top ten.
Eliminations:
Bill Chen
Katja Thater
Gene Fisher
Marcel Luske
Billy Argyros
Alexander Kostritsyn
Jim Bechtel
Mark Gregorich
Big Hands and Storylines:
Stud
Billy Argyros Eliminated
Billy Argyros got the last of his chips into the middle on fourth street and both Huck Seed and Edwin Ting called him down. Ting then bet out on every remaining street and Seed called him down the whole way. Their exposed cards:
Argyros: 10Q78
Ting: 5767
Seed: 3435
On the the end Ting flipped up 667 for his choice of full houses (the sevens full of sixes played). Argyros mucked QQ2 faceup on the table and he exited the tournament.
Stud 8OB
Ivey Doubles Up
Ivey got all of his chips into the middle on third street aginst Andy Bloch. Their cards:
Ivey: (K10)K10J10(4)
Bloch: (A9)9487(A)
Ivey doubled up on the hand and he continued to survive on the short stack for the entire level.
Hold'em
Alexander Kostritsyn Eliminated in 27th Place
After Scotty Nguyen called down his preflop raise, Alexander Kostritsyn moved all in dark while a flop of 1083 was dealt. Their cards:
Kostritsyn: 22
Nguyen: A7
Turn and River: 5A
Kostritsyn was eliminated in 27th place. Two more to go until the end of play.
Double Up Madness
After the exit of Kostritsyn, Brandon Adams, David Oppenheim, and Chad Brown all managed to double up. This carried the tournament into another 20-minute break. The next level will be the last of the night, although it will end when the final 24 players are reached.
Minh Ly raised from early position and was called by Barry Greenstein in middle position, Phil Ivey in the small blind, and Layne Flack in the big blind. The flop was Q97 and Ivey bet out and Flack folded. Ly raised, Greenstein folded, and Ivey called. On the 3 turn Ivey check-called a bet from Ly. The river was the A and Ivey checked again. Ly bet, leaving himself only 20,000 behind, and Ivey folded rather quickly. The pot brought Ly up to 150,000 and knocked Ivey down to a perilously low 100,000.
Razz
Greg Mueller Eliminated
After a raise and a re-raise, Greg Mueller was all-in on third street against Chris Reslock:
Mueller: (2)(9)4JJ109
Reslock: (3)(6)45J107
After all of the cards had been dealt, Reslock’s 7-low was good to take down the smallish pot. Mueller, unlike most players who dart from the tournament floor at light speed, lingered around his table for a few minutes before taking a leisurely walk out of the Amazon Room.
Dario Minieri Eliminated
Having gotten all-in as a short-stack a number of times in the Omaha/8b portion of the event only to repeatedly claim a chopped pot, Dario Minieri got himself all-in on third street against Andy Bloch in razz. There would be no split pot this time; it was either double up or go home for Minieri. Unfortunately for the diminutive Italian, he would be sent packing.Despite starting with 5-2-A, he could only make a 9-8 low. Bloch’s 5-3-2 turned into an 8-5 on seventh street and the pot was his. Bloch now has about 210,000.
Stud
Isabelle Mercier Eliminated
Ralph Perry: AA93
Justin Bonomo: J974
Isabelle Mercier: 7322
On seventh street, with Isabelle Mercier all-in, Ralph Perry bet into Justin Bonomo. Bonomo mulled over a decision and opted to simply call. Perry insta-mucked, not even giving Bonomo a chance to show his cards. When Bonomo did reveal his downcards – (Q)(6)(5) – it was apparent to Mercier that he had made a flush, and that her day was over. Bonomo is now up to 170,000.
Chip Leaders: Lyle Berman - 603,000 Barry Greenstein - 505,000 Phil Ivey - 501,000 William Chen - 420,000 Huck Seed - 420,000 Joseph Michael - 410,000 Michael DeMichele - 390,000 Chris Reslock - 384,000 David Bach - 380,000 Gene Fisher - 375,000
Average Stack: 256,900
Eliminations: Doug Ganger
Jeff Lisandro
Lee Markholt
Steve Sung
Big Hands and Storylines:
Hold’em
Ace-High No Good For Mackey
James “mig.com” Mackey, who has found quite a bit of success in mixed events this year, hit a bit of a road block in Alexander Kostritsyn in the last level. Kostritsyn raised to 12,000 on the button and Mackey upped it to 18,000 in the big blind. Kostritsyn called. On a flop of KJ6, Mackey bet and the young Russian called. Mackey bet and Kostritsyn called again on the 5 turn. Action halted on the river when both players checked the 6. Mackey showed A3 for ace-high and was beaten by Kostritsyn’s pair of jacks with J10. The hand boosted Kostritsyn to 180,000.
Omaha/8b
Big Stacks Tangle
The holders of two of the biggest stacks of the tournament, Phil Ivey and Bill Chen, played an Omaha eight-or-better pot in the last round that resulted in a scoop for one of the two. Ivey raised from early position and it folded around to Chen in the big blind. Chen made the call and the flop came off 865. Chen check-raised Ivey on the flop and Ivey made the call. Chen bet the 2 turn and Ivey made another call. Both players checked the 4 river and Chen showed QQ74 for a straight and a 7-low. Ivey rapped the table and Chen raked in a pot to move to 420,000 in chips. Ivey is not to be pitied though, as he ended the level with 500,000.
Razz
From Russia With Low
Ralph Perry: 2J3Q
Justin Bonomo: A28J
Michael Joseph completed with the 3 showing on third street, Perry raised, and Bonomo made it 18,000. Both Joseph and Perry called. On fourth street, Bonomo bet out with A2 showing, Michael, having drawn a Q, folded, and Perry called despite drawing a jack. On fifth and sixth streets, Bonomo bet and Perry called. Both players checked the river and Bonomo tabled (3)(2)(J). Perry surveyed Bonomo’s cards very closely, then scrutinized his own, before finally revealing (A)(5)(5) for a J-5 low, narrowly edging out Bonomo’s J-8 low.
The pot gave Perry a stack of 245,000. Bonomo is hovering near the 300,000 chip mark.
Stud
Marcel Luske Eliminates Steve Sung
Steve Sung, desperately short-stacked, got his chips all-in against Marcel Luske. The news was bad for Sung when Luske showed (A)(Q)10JK3 for the broadway straight. Sung had a flush draw though – (9)(5)KQ62. Sung looked at his final card and then stood up and quickly left the table. After winning the pot Luske was up to 290,000.
James Mackey Eliminates Doug Ganger
Doug Ganger: 2K75
James Mackey: A738
Mickey Appleman: K4108
With only a few thousand chips left, Ganger brought in with his deuce and found himself all-in on third street. Mackey bet every street on the hand and Appleman called him down all the way until seventh street where he folded. Mackey showed (A)(10)(9) and that was good enough to take down the pot and eliminate Ganger. After some early trouble in the level, Mackey has bounced back to 250,000.
The final table for the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E event is set. After 148 of poker's elite registered for the event back on Wednesday, only eight of the world's best all around poker players will return Sunday for the final table of what has become one of poker's most prestigious events. Erick Lindgren and Scotty Nguyen lead the way while Barry Greenstein and Huck Seed loom close behind. Tune in Sunday to Cardplayer.com for all the live updates from the final table.
Blinds:
Hold'em and Omaha-8: 25,000-50,000
Razz, Stud and Eight-or-Better: 10,000 Ante, 15,000 Bring In, 50,000 Completion
Players Left: 8 of 148
The Best of the Best:
Erick Lindgren: 3,680,000
Scotty Nguyen: 3,535,000
Barry Greenstein: 1,955,000
Matt Glantz: 1,445,000
Lyle Berman: 1,430,000
Huck Seed: 1,200,000
Michael DeMichele: 905,000
Patrick Bueno: 695,000
Average Stack: 1,850,000
Eliminations:
9th: Ralph Perry: $177,600
10th: Raymond Davis: $177,600
11th: David Bach: $159,840
Big Hands:
Hold'em
Davis Crippled, Then Ousted In 10th Place
Barry Greenstein raised to 100,000 preflop from the small blind. Raymond Davis made the call from the big blind and the flop came out AK8. Greenstein led out and Davis called. The turn was the 2 and Greenstein fired 100,000, which Davis quickly called. The river brought the A and Greenstein kept the pedal to the metal with another 100,000. Davis mucked angrily and was left with just 100,000.
Two hands later, Davis moved all in from the button and Patrick Bueno made the call from the small blind. Davis turned over AK, dominating Bueno's K7. But really, domination is really just a matter of perspective, especially when the flop comes 772 like it did. Davis was disgusted and needed help on the turn to stay alive. But the 5 left Davis drawing dead and the 5 on the river was the final clump of dirt on Davis' 10th place coffin.
Omaha-8
Ralph Perry Is the Final Table Bubble Boy in 9th Place
Perry raised to 100,000 under the gun and action folded around to Huck Seed in the big blind. Seed called and the flop came AK6. Seed led out with 50,000 and Perry raised to 100,000. Seed was not amused as he repopped it to 150,000. Perry did not take that slap lightly, as he raised to 200,000. After all the madness was over, Perry was all in and both players showed their hands.
Perry: J4AJ
Seed: Q732
Seed flopped the nut flush and had Perry's 4-low draw covered with a 3-low draw. The board finished out 10 and K and Perry was out in 9th place.
Eight-or-Better
Nguyen Sends Bach to the Rail in 11th Place
Scotty Nguyen: 88107(7610)
David Bach: 94K2(A9-J)
Patrick Bueno: 3A65(mucked)
David Bach was all in on 3rd street and Nguyen contested a side pot with Bueno. After all the cards had been dealt, Nguyen turned over two pair and Bueno mucked his hand. All eyes were on Bach who needed a miracle to get any piece of the pot. But when he turned his cards, he revealed a whole lot of nothing and he made his exit in 11th place.
Hold'em and Omaha-8: 15,000-30,000 Razz, Stud, and Eight-or-Better: 7,000 ante, 10,000 Bring In, 30,000 completion
Players Left: 12 of 148
Chip Leaders:
Ray Davis: 1,700,000
Matt Glantz: 1,680,000
Huck Seed: 1,560,000
Erick Lindgren: 1,560,000
Ralph Perry: 1,490,000
David Bach: 1,200,000
Michael DeMichele: 1,080,000
Scotty Nguyen: 900,000
Lyle Berman: 820,000
Phil Ivey: 740,000
Average Stack: 1,222,333
Eliminations:
13th: Daniel Negreanu: $142,080
Big Hands:
Hold'em:
Bueno Kicks Ivey
Phil Ivey raised to 60,000 preflop from the cutoff. Action folded around to Patrick Bueno in the big blind who made it 90,000 to go. Ivey made the call and the flop came QJ3. Bueno led out and Ivey followed with a call. The turn was the 3 and Bueno bet 60,000. Ivey stuck around and the river put the 5 on the board. Bueno fired another shot that was called by Ivey. Bueno tabled AQ, outkicking Ivey's KQ. Bueno took the pot, providing some relief to his short stack.
Omaha-8
Planting the Seed
Huck Seed raised to 60,000 from the cutoff and Scotty Nguyen made the call from the button. The blinds folded and the flop came K104. Seed bet 30,000 and Nguyen called. The turn brought the 8 and Seed fired 60,000. Nguyen was persistent, making the call again. The river brought the K and Seed pushed another 60,000 into the middle. Nguyen made the call. Seed turned over AK65 for a set of kings. Nguyen mucked his hand and Seed raked in a nice pot, putting him over 1,000,000 in chips.
Razz
Watch the Seed Grow
Huck Seed: 35410(A24)
David Bach: 53K8(mucked)
Picking up the action on 4th street, David Bach fired a bet of 30,000 and Seed made the call. The tables turned on 5th street when Bach checked and Seed led out with 60,000. Bach hung around and Seed check-raised on 6th street. Bach called again and did the same for Seed's bet on the river. Seed turned over the wheel for the nuts and the pot as Bach mucked.
Stud
Another Name for Stud? Scotty Baby
Scotty Nguyen: J7106(1010-X)
Phil Ivey: 4795(mucked)
Patrick Bueno: 107A2(mucked)
In a pot where the betting was controlled by Bueno, Scotty Nguyen called his opponent down to the river with Phil Ivey bringing up the rear. On the river, Bueno slowed down and checked. Nguyen pounced and bet 60,000. Ivey had enough of the madness and elected to muck his hand. Bueno didn't know any better and called. Nguyen turned over the bad news with a couple of 10s in the hole to go with the 10 he was already showing. Bueno mucked and Nguyen took the pot.
Eight-or-Better
Daniel Negreanu Out in 13th Place
Negreanu: A3KA7(mucked)
Lyle Berman: 8463(363)
In a hand that started with Negreanu betting on 3rd street, "Kid Poker" and Berman fired shot after shot at each other on the next two streets until Negreanu had no more bullets left and was all in on 5th street. Negreanu's aces were ahead until Berman caught a second pair on 6th street and filled up on the river to send Negreanu to the rail in 13th place.
Two Scoops
Ivey: A10324A4
Bueno: 7976(mucked)
One hand after Bueno scooped against Ivey, the tables turned when Ivey showed a club flush after the river. Bueno simply mucked his hand and Ivey scooped the pot. During the eight hands dealt during the eight-or-better session, Ivey and Bueno tangled three times. On the first occasion, they each split the pot. The second time had Bueno scooping while the third had Ivey returning the favor.
He came into day 4 as the second lowest stack of the field, but one can never underestimate Phil Ivey. He had the bring-in for 5000 with the 2, and only Barry Greenstein was willing to look him up, completing the bet to 18,000 while showing the J. Ivey added the 3 on fourth street, and Greenstein the K. He was able to raise Ivey all-in at that point, and confidently showed king-jack in the hole for two pair. However, Ivey struck back with pocket deuces for three of a kind, and that held up to the end to bring Ivey back over 200,000 in chips.
Ivey added to the stack in a battle with Farah Bonyadi a few hands later. Showing J9 through fourth street, Ivey continued to bet out by adding the Q on fifth street and the 7 on sixth. Bonyadi, who paired on fifth street, showed 233J. But both players checked on seventh street and Ivey could only flip over pocket sixes for the low pair. Yet it was enough to scoop the pot.
Brown Busts Out
Chad Brown was the lone player to return with less than 100,000 in chips, and his 81,000 didn't go very far. Through sixth street Brown was showing 10-9-7-6, but beside him Patrick Bueno was showing K-Q-J-6, with three diamonds up. Sure enough, Bueno was able to flip over the 52 to complete the flush and send Brown out in 24th place.
Lindgren Chips Up
Erick Lindgren had the bring-in with the 2, and play was folded to Ray Davis who completed with the 8. David added the A on fourth street and would bet out through sixth as he added the 55. Lindgren continued to call, now showing 2KQ5. Davis finally slowed and checked after the seventh card, but Lindgren then stepped out for 36,000. Davis called, but mucked when Lindgren showed him king-queen in the hole for two pair.
Adams Stares Them Down
Huck Seed completed the bet to 18,000 with the K showing, and was called by Brandon Adams with the Q and Andy Bloch with the J. After Seed checked fourth street, Adams bet 18,000 after adding the J, and led out again when the A joined him on fifth street. Seed then tanked, apparently liking what he had to go along with his K79. He eventually folded, as did Bloch who was showing J6Q.
Scotty Nguyen - 3,950,000
Erick Lindgren - 3,600,000
Michael DeMichele - 2,900,000
Matt Glantz - 1,900,000
Lyle Berman - 1,700,000
Barry Greenstein - 750,000
Eliminations: Huck Seed (7th Place)
Big Hands and Storylines:
Huck Seed Eliminated in Seventh Place ($284,160) - Stud 8/ob
Huck Seed was getting low and with his final four bets, got it all in against Michael DeMichele in a hand of stud eight-or-better. DeMichele's board read 3256 and Seed was showing 899Q. After seventh street, DeMichele revealed three more diamonds and a low card to scoop the pot and send the 1996 main event champion to the rail in seventh place.
NOTE: The players then took a 20-minute break before the blinds and antes increased.
Hold'em and Omaha 8OB: 8,000 small blind -15,000 big blind
Stud Games: 3,000 ante - 5,000 bring-in - 15,000 completion
Players Left: 26 of 148
Chip Leaders:
Michael DeMichele: 1,215,000
Daniel Negreanu: 1,100,000
Barry Greenstein: 1,000,000
Lyle Berman: 940,000
David Bach: 934,000
Doyle Brunson: 935,000
Ralph Perry: 830,000
Scotty Nguyen: 760,000
Joseph Michael : 695,000
Michael Mizrachi: 660,000
Average Stack: 569,230
Chip Movers:
Both Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson have jumped up close to the million-chip mark during the last level. Five new players now appear in the top ten.
Eliminations:
Bill Chen
Katja Thater
Gene Fisher
Marcel Luske
Billy Argyros
Alexander Kostritsyn
Jim Bechtel
Mark Gregorich
Big Hands and Storylines:
Stud
Billy Argyros Eliminated
Billy Argyros got the last of his chips into the middle on fourth street and both Huck Seed and Edwin Ting called him down. Ting then bet out on every remaining street and Seed called him down the whole way. Their exposed cards:
Argyros: 10Q78
Ting: 5767
Seed: 3435
On the the end Ting flipped up 667 for his choice of full houses (the sevens full of sixes played). Argyros mucked QQ2 faceup on the table and he exited the tournament.
Stud 8OB
Ivey Doubles Up
Ivey got all of his chips into the middle on third street aginst Andy Bloch. Their cards:
Ivey: (K10)K10J10(4)
Bloch: (A9)9487(A)
Ivey doubled up on the hand and he continued to survive on the short stack for the entire level.
Hold'em
Alexander Kostritsyn Eliminated in 27th Place
After Scotty Nguyen called down his preflop raise, Alexander Kostritsyn moved all in dark while a flop of 1083 was dealt. Their cards:
Kostritsyn: 22
Nguyen: A7
Turn and River: 5A
Kostritsyn was eliminated in 27th place. Two more to go until the end of play.
Double Up Madness
After the exit of Kostritsyn, Brandon Adams, David Oppenheim, and Chad Brown all managed to double up. This carried the tournament into another 20-minute break. The next level will be the last of the night, although it will end when the final 24 players are reached.
Minh Ly raised from early position and was called by Barry Greenstein in middle position, Phil Ivey in the small blind, and Layne Flack in the big blind. The flop was Q97 and Ivey bet out and Flack folded. Ly raised, Greenstein folded, and Ivey called. On the 3 turn Ivey check-called a bet from Ly. The river was the A and Ivey checked again. Ly bet, leaving himself only 20,000 behind, and Ivey folded rather quickly. The pot brought Ly up to 150,000 and knocked Ivey down to a perilously low 100,000.
Razz
Greg Mueller Eliminated
After a raise and a re-raise, Greg Mueller was all-in on third street against Chris Reslock:
Mueller: (2)(9)4JJ109
Reslock: (3)(6)45J107
After all of the cards had been dealt, Reslock’s 7-low was good to take down the smallish pot. Mueller, unlike most players who dart from the tournament floor at light speed, lingered around his table for a few minutes before taking a leisurely walk out of the Amazon Room.
Dario Minieri Eliminated
Having gotten all-in as a short-stack a number of times in the Omaha/8b portion of the event only to repeatedly claim a chopped pot, Dario Minieri got himself all-in on third street against Andy Bloch in razz. There would be no split pot this time; it was either double up or go home for Minieri. Unfortunately for the diminutive Italian, he would be sent packing.Despite starting with 5-2-A, he could only make a 9-8 low. Bloch’s 5-3-2 turned into an 8-5 on seventh street and the pot was his. Bloch now has about 210,000.
Stud
Isabelle Mercier Eliminated
Ralph Perry: AA93
Justin Bonomo: J974
Isabelle Mercier: 7322
On seventh street, with Isabelle Mercier all-in, Ralph Perry bet into Justin Bonomo. Bonomo mulled over a decision and opted to simply call. Perry insta-mucked, not even giving Bonomo a chance to show his cards. When Bonomo did reveal his downcards – (Q)(6)(5) – it was apparent to Mercier that he had made a flush, and that her day was over. Bonomo is now up to 170,000.
Chip Leaders: Lyle Berman - 603,000 Barry Greenstein - 505,000 Phil Ivey - 501,000 William Chen - 420,000 Huck Seed - 420,000 Joseph Michael - 410,000 Michael DeMichele - 390,000 Chris Reslock - 384,000 David Bach - 380,000 Gene Fisher - 375,000
Average Stack: 256,900
Eliminations: Doug Ganger
Jeff Lisandro
Lee Markholt
Steve Sung
Big Hands and Storylines:
Hold’em
Ace-High No Good For Mackey
James “mig.com” Mackey, who has found quite a bit of success in mixed events this year, hit a bit of a road block in Alexander Kostritsyn in the last level. Kostritsyn raised to 12,000 on the button and Mackey upped it to 18,000 in the big blind. Kostritsyn called. On a flop of KJ6, Mackey bet and the young Russian called. Mackey bet and Kostritsyn called again on the 5 turn. Action halted on the river when both players checked the 6. Mackey showed A3 for ace-high and was beaten by Kostritsyn’s pair of jacks with J10. The hand boosted Kostritsyn to 180,000.
Omaha/8b
Big Stacks Tangle
The holders of two of the biggest stacks of the tournament, Phil Ivey and Bill Chen, played an Omaha eight-or-better pot in the last round that resulted in a scoop for one of the two. Ivey raised from early position and it folded around to Chen in the big blind. Chen made the call and the flop came off 865. Chen check-raised Ivey on the flop and Ivey made the call. Chen bet the 2 turn and Ivey made another call. Both players checked the 4 river and Chen showed QQ74 for a straight and a 7-low. Ivey rapped the table and Chen raked in a pot to move to 420,000 in chips. Ivey is not to be pitied though, as he ended the level with 500,000.
Razz
From Russia With Low
Ralph Perry: 2J3Q
Justin Bonomo: A28J
Michael Joseph completed with the 3 showing on third street, Perry raised, and Bonomo made it 18,000. Both Joseph and Perry called. On fourth street, Bonomo bet out with A2 showing, Michael, having drawn a Q, folded, and Perry called despite drawing a jack. On fifth and sixth streets, Bonomo bet and Perry called. Both players checked the river and Bonomo tabled (3)(2)(J). Perry surveyed Bonomo’s cards very closely, then scrutinized his own, before finally revealing (A)(5)(5) for a J-5 low, narrowly edging out Bonomo’s J-8 low.
The pot gave Perry a stack of 245,000. Bonomo is hovering near the 300,000 chip mark.
Stud
Marcel Luske Eliminates Steve Sung
Steve Sung, desperately short-stacked, got his chips all-in against Marcel Luske. The news was bad for Sung when Luske showed (A)(Q)10JK3 for the broadway straight. Sung had a flush draw though – (9)(5)KQ62. Sung looked at his final card and then stood up and quickly left the table. After winning the pot Luske was up to 290,000.
James Mackey Eliminates Doug Ganger
Doug Ganger: 2K75
James Mackey: A738
Mickey Appleman: K4108
With only a few thousand chips left, Ganger brought in with his deuce and found himself all-in on third street. Mackey bet every street on the hand and Appleman called him down all the way until seventh street where he folded. Mackey showed (A)(10)(9) and that was good enough to take down the pot and eliminate Ganger. After some early trouble in the level, Mackey has bounced back to 250,000.
The final table for the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E event is set. After 148 of poker's elite registered for the event back on Wednesday, only eight of the world's best all around poker players will return Sunday for the final table of what has become one of poker's most prestigious events. Erick Lindgren and Scotty Nguyen lead the way while Barry Greenstein and Huck Seed loom close behind. Tune in Sunday to Cardplayer.com for all the live updates from the final table.
Blinds:
Hold'em and Omaha-8: 25,000-50,000
Razz, Stud and Eight-or-Better: 10,000 Ante, 15,000 Bring In, 50,000 Completion
Players Left: 8 of 148
The Best of the Best:
Erick Lindgren: 3,680,000
Scotty Nguyen: 3,535,000
Barry Greenstein: 1,955,000
Matt Glantz: 1,445,000
Lyle Berman: 1,430,000
Huck Seed: 1,200,000
Michael DeMichele: 905,000
Patrick Bueno: 695,000
Average Stack: 1,850,000
Eliminations:
9th: Ralph Perry: $177,600
10th: Raymond Davis: $177,600
11th: David Bach: $159,840
Big Hands:
Hold'em
Davis Crippled, Then Ousted In 10th Place
Barry Greenstein raised to 100,000 preflop from the small blind. Raymond Davis made the call from the big blind and the flop came out AK8. Greenstein led out and Davis called. The turn was the 2 and Greenstein fired 100,000, which Davis quickly called. The river brought the A and Greenstein kept the pedal to the metal with another 100,000. Davis mucked angrily and was left with just 100,000.
Two hands later, Davis moved all in from the button and Patrick Bueno made the call from the small blind. Davis turned over AK, dominating Bueno's K7. But really, domination is really just a matter of perspective, especially when the flop comes 772 like it did. Davis was disgusted and needed help on the turn to stay alive. But the 5 left Davis drawing dead and the 5 on the river was the final clump of dirt on Davis' 10th place coffin.
Omaha-8
Ralph Perry Is the Final Table Bubble Boy in 9th Place
Perry raised to 100,000 under the gun and action folded around to Huck Seed in the big blind. Seed called and the flop came AK6. Seed led out with 50,000 and Perry raised to 100,000. Seed was not amused as he repopped it to 150,000. Perry did not take that slap lightly, as he raised to 200,000. After all the madness was over, Perry was all in and both players showed their hands.
Perry: J4AJ
Seed: Q732
Seed flopped the nut flush and had Perry's 4-low draw covered with a 3-low draw. The board finished out 10 and K and Perry was out in 9th place.
Eight-or-Better
Nguyen Sends Bach to the Rail in 11th Place
Scotty Nguyen: 88107(7610)
David Bach: 94K2(A9-J)
Patrick Bueno: 3A65(mucked)
David Bach was all in on 3rd street and Nguyen contested a side pot with Bueno. After all the cards had been dealt, Nguyen turned over two pair and Bueno mucked his hand. All eyes were on Bach who needed a miracle to get any piece of the pot. But when he turned his cards, he revealed a whole lot of nothing and he made his exit in 11th place.
Hold'em and Omaha-8: 15,000-30,000 Razz, Stud, and Eight-or-Better: 7,000 ante, 10,000 Bring In, 30,000 completion
Players Left: 12 of 148
Chip Leaders:
Ray Davis: 1,700,000
Matt Glantz: 1,680,000
Huck Seed: 1,560,000
Erick Lindgren: 1,560,000
Ralph Perry: 1,490,000
David Bach: 1,200,000
Michael DeMichele: 1,080,000
Scotty Nguyen: 900,000
Lyle Berman: 820,000
Phil Ivey: 740,000
Average Stack: 1,222,333
Eliminations:
13th: Daniel Negreanu: $142,080
Big Hands:
Hold'em:
Bueno Kicks Ivey
Phil Ivey raised to 60,000 preflop from the cutoff. Action folded around to Patrick Bueno in the big blind who made it 90,000 to go. Ivey made the call and the flop came QJ3. Bueno led out and Ivey followed with a call. The turn was the 3 and Bueno bet 60,000. Ivey stuck around and the river put the 5 on the board. Bueno fired another shot that was called by Ivey. Bueno tabled AQ, outkicking Ivey's KQ. Bueno took the pot, providing some relief to his short stack.
Omaha-8
Planting the Seed
Huck Seed raised to 60,000 from the cutoff and Scotty Nguyen made the call from the button. The blinds folded and the flop came K104. Seed bet 30,000 and Nguyen called. The turn brought the 8 and Seed fired 60,000. Nguyen was persistent, making the call again. The river brought the K and Seed pushed another 60,000 into the middle. Nguyen made the call. Seed turned over AK65 for a set of kings. Nguyen mucked his hand and Seed raked in a nice pot, putting him over 1,000,000 in chips.
Razz
Watch the Seed Grow
Huck Seed: 35410(A24)
David Bach: 53K8(mucked)
Picking up the action on 4th street, David Bach fired a bet of 30,000 and Seed made the call. The tables turned on 5th street when Bach checked and Seed led out with 60,000. Bach hung around and Seed check-raised on 6th street. Bach called again and did the same for Seed's bet on the river. Seed turned over the wheel for the nuts and the pot as Bach mucked.
Stud
Another Name for Stud? Scotty Baby
Scotty Nguyen: J7106(1010-X)
Phil Ivey: 4795(mucked)
Patrick Bueno: 107A2(mucked)
In a pot where the betting was controlled by Bueno, Scotty Nguyen called his opponent down to the river with Phil Ivey bringing up the rear. On the river, Bueno slowed down and checked. Nguyen pounced and bet 60,000. Ivey had enough of the madness and elected to muck his hand. Bueno didn't know any better and called. Nguyen turned over the bad news with a couple of 10s in the hole to go with the 10 he was already showing. Bueno mucked and Nguyen took the pot.
Eight-or-Better
Daniel Negreanu Out in 13th Place
Negreanu: A3KA7(mucked)
Lyle Berman: 8463(363)
In a hand that started with Negreanu betting on 3rd street, "Kid Poker" and Berman fired shot after shot at each other on the next two streets until Negreanu had no more bullets left and was all in on 5th street. Negreanu's aces were ahead until Berman caught a second pair on 6th street and filled up on the river to send Negreanu to the rail in 13th place.
Two Scoops
Ivey: A10324A4
Bueno: 7976(mucked)
One hand after Bueno scooped against Ivey, the tables turned when Ivey showed a club flush after the river. Bueno simply mucked his hand and Ivey scooped the pot. During the eight hands dealt during the eight-or-better session, Ivey and Bueno tangled three times. On the first occasion, they each split the pot. The second time had Bueno scooping while the third had Ivey returning the favor.
He came into day 4 as the second lowest stack of the field, but one can never underestimate Phil Ivey. He had the bring-in for 5000 with the 2, and only Barry Greenstein was willing to look him up, completing the bet to 18,000 while showing the J. Ivey added the 3 on fourth street, and Greenstein the K. He was able to raise Ivey all-in at that point, and confidently showed king-jack in the hole for two pair. However, Ivey struck back with pocket deuces for three of a kind, and that held up to the end to bring Ivey back over 200,000 in chips.
Ivey added to the stack in a battle with Farah Bonyadi a few hands later. Showing J9 through fourth street, Ivey continued to bet out by adding the Q on fifth street and the 7 on sixth. Bonyadi, who paired on fifth street, showed 233J. But both players checked on seventh street and Ivey could only flip over pocket sixes for the low pair. Yet it was enough to scoop the pot.
Brown Busts Out
Chad Brown was the lone player to return with less than 100,000 in chips, and his 81,000 didn't go very far. Through sixth street Brown was showing 10-9-7-6, but beside him Patrick Bueno was showing K-Q-J-6, with three diamonds up. Sure enough, Bueno was able to flip over the 52 to complete the flush and send Brown out in 24th place.
Lindgren Chips Up
Erick Lindgren had the bring-in with the 2, and play was folded to Ray Davis who completed with the 8. David added the A on fourth street and would bet out through sixth as he added the 55. Lindgren continued to call, now showing 2KQ5. Davis finally slowed and checked after the seventh card, but Lindgren then stepped out for 36,000. Davis called, but mucked when Lindgren showed him king-queen in the hole for two pair.
Adams Stares Them Down
Huck Seed completed the bet to 18,000 with the K showing, and was called by Brandon Adams with the Q and Andy Bloch with the J. After Seed checked fourth street, Adams bet 18,000 after adding the J, and led out again when the A joined him on fifth street. Seed then tanked, apparently liking what he had to go along with his K79. He eventually folded, as did Bloch who was showing J6Q.
Scotty Nguyen - 3,950,000
Erick Lindgren - 3,600,000
Michael DeMichele - 2,900,000
Matt Glantz - 1,900,000
Lyle Berman - 1,700,000
Barry Greenstein - 750,000
Eliminations: Huck Seed (7th Place)
Big Hands and Storylines:
Huck Seed Eliminated in Seventh Place ($284,160) - Stud 8/ob
Huck Seed was getting low and with his final four bets, got it all in against Michael DeMichele in a hand of stud eight-or-better. DeMichele's board read 3256 and Seed was showing 899Q. After seventh street, DeMichele revealed three more diamonds and a low card to scoop the pot and send the 1996 main event champion to the rail in seventh place.
NOTE: The players then took a 20-minute break before the blinds and antes increased.
Hold'em and Omaha 8OB: 8,000 small blind -15,000 big blind
Stud Games: 3,000 ante - 5,000 bring-in - 15,000 completion
Players Left: 26 of 148
Chip Leaders:
Michael DeMichele: 1,215,000
Daniel Negreanu: 1,100,000
Barry Greenstein: 1,000,000
Lyle Berman: 940,000
David Bach: 934,000
Doyle Brunson: 935,000
Ralph Perry: 830,000
Scotty Nguyen: 760,000
Joseph Michael : 695,000
Michael Mizrachi: 660,000
Average Stack: 569,230
Chip Movers:
Both Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson have jumped up close to the million-chip mark during the last level. Five new players now appear in the top ten.
Eliminations:
Bill Chen
Katja Thater
Gene Fisher
Marcel Luske
Billy Argyros
Alexander Kostritsyn
Jim Bechtel
Mark Gregorich
Big Hands and Storylines:
Stud
Billy Argyros Eliminated
Billy Argyros got the last of his chips into the middle on fourth street and both Huck Seed and Edwin Ting called him down. Ting then bet out on every remaining street and Seed called him down the whole way. Their exposed cards:
Argyros: 10Q78
Ting: 5767
Seed: 3435
On the the end Ting flipped up 667 for his choice of full houses (the sevens full of sixes played). Argyros mucked QQ2 faceup on the table and he exited the tournament.
Stud 8OB
Ivey Doubles Up
Ivey got all of his chips into the middle on third street aginst Andy Bloch. Their cards:
Ivey: (K10)K10J10(4)
Bloch: (A9)9487(A)
Ivey doubled up on the hand and he continued to survive on the short stack for the entire level.
Hold'em
Alexander Kostritsyn Eliminated in 27th Place
After Scotty Nguyen called down his preflop raise, Alexander Kostritsyn moved all in dark while a flop of 1083 was dealt. Their cards:
Kostritsyn: 22
Nguyen: A7
Turn and River: 5A
Kostritsyn was eliminated in 27th place. Two more to go until the end of play.
Double Up Madness
After the exit of Kostritsyn, Brandon Adams, David Oppenheim, and Chad Brown all managed to double up. This carried the tournament into another 20-minute break. The next level will be the last of the night, although it will end when the final 24 players are reached.
Minh Ly raised from early position and was called by Barry Greenstein in middle position, Phil Ivey in the small blind, and Layne Flack in the big blind. The flop was Q97 and Ivey bet out and Flack folded. Ly raised, Greenstein folded, and Ivey called. On the 3 turn Ivey check-called a bet from Ly. The river was the A and Ivey checked again. Ly bet, leaving himself only 20,000 behind, and Ivey folded rather quickly. The pot brought Ly up to 150,000 and knocked Ivey down to a perilously low 100,000.
Razz
Greg Mueller Eliminated
After a raise and a re-raise, Greg Mueller was all-in on third street against Chris Reslock:
Mueller: (2)(9)4JJ109
Reslock: (3)(6)45J107
After all of the cards had been dealt, Reslock’s 7-low was good to take down the smallish pot. Mueller, unlike most players who dart from the tournament floor at light speed, lingered around his table for a few minutes before taking a leisurely walk out of the Amazon Room.
Dario Minieri Eliminated
Having gotten all-in as a short-stack a number of times in the Omaha/8b portion of the event only to repeatedly claim a chopped pot, Dario Minieri got himself all-in on third street against Andy Bloch in razz. There would be no split pot this time; it was either double up or go home for Minieri. Unfortunately for the diminutive Italian, he would be sent packing.Despite starting with 5-2-A, he could only make a 9-8 low. Bloch’s 5-3-2 turned into an 8-5 on seventh street and the pot was his. Bloch now has about 210,000.
Stud
Isabelle Mercier Eliminated
Ralph Perry: AA93
Justin Bonomo: J974
Isabelle Mercier: 7322
On seventh street, with Isabelle Mercier all-in, Ralph Perry bet into Justin Bonomo. Bonomo mulled over a decision and opted to simply call. Perry insta-mucked, not even giving Bonomo a chance to show his cards. When Bonomo did reveal his downcards – (Q)(6)(5) – it was apparent to Mercier that he had made a flush, and that her day was over. Bonomo is now up to 170,000.
Chip Leaders: Lyle Berman - 603,000 Barry Greenstein - 505,000 Phil Ivey - 501,000 William Chen - 420,000 Huck Seed - 420,000 Joseph Michael - 410,000 Michael DeMichele - 390,000 Chris Reslock - 384,000 David Bach - 380,000 Gene Fisher - 375,000
Average Stack: 256,900
Eliminations: Doug Ganger
Jeff Lisandro
Lee Markholt
Steve Sung
Big Hands and Storylines:
Hold’em
Ace-High No Good For Mackey
James “mig.com” Mackey, who has found quite a bit of success in mixed events this year, hit a bit of a road block in Alexander Kostritsyn in the last level. Kostritsyn raised to 12,000 on the button and Mackey upped it to 18,000 in the big blind. Kostritsyn called. On a flop of KJ6, Mackey bet and the young Russian called. Mackey bet and Kostritsyn called again on the 5 turn. Action halted on the river when both players checked the 6. Mackey showed A3 for ace-high and was beaten by Kostritsyn’s pair of jacks with J10. The hand boosted Kostritsyn to 180,000.
Omaha/8b
Big Stacks Tangle
The holders of two of the biggest stacks of the tournament, Phil Ivey and Bill Chen, played an Omaha eight-or-better pot in the last round that resulted in a scoop for one of the two. Ivey raised from early position and it folded around to Chen in the big blind. Chen made the call and the flop came off 865. Chen check-raised Ivey on the flop and Ivey made the call. Chen bet the 2 turn and Ivey made another call. Both players checked the 4 river and Chen showed QQ74 for a straight and a 7-low. Ivey rapped the table and Chen raked in a pot to move to 420,000 in chips. Ivey is not to be pitied though, as he ended the level with 500,000.
Razz
From Russia With Low
Ralph Perry: 2J3Q
Justin Bonomo: A28J
Michael Joseph completed with the 3 showing on third street, Perry raised, and Bonomo made it 18,000. Both Joseph and Perry called. On fourth street, Bonomo bet out with A2 showing, Michael, having drawn a Q, folded, and Perry called despite drawing a jack. On fifth and sixth streets, Bonomo bet and Perry called. Both players checked the river and Bonomo tabled (3)(2)(J). Perry surveyed Bonomo’s cards very closely, then scrutinized his own, before finally revealing (A)(5)(5) for a J-5 low, narrowly edging out Bonomo’s J-8 low.
The pot gave Perry a stack of 245,000. Bonomo is hovering near the 300,000 chip mark.
Stud
Marcel Luske Eliminates Steve Sung
Steve Sung, desperately short-stacked, got his chips all-in against Marcel Luske. The news was bad for Sung when Luske showed (A)(Q)10JK3 for the broadway straight. Sung had a flush draw though – (9)(5)KQ62. Sung looked at his final card and then stood up and quickly left the table. After winning the pot Luske was up to 290,000.
James Mackey Eliminates Doug Ganger
Doug Ganger: 2K75
James Mackey: A738
Mickey Appleman: K4108
With only a few thousand chips left, Ganger brought in with his deuce and found himself all-in on third street. Mackey bet every street on the hand and Appleman called him down all the way until seventh street where he folded. Mackey showed (A)(10)(9) and that was good enough to take down the pot and eliminate Ganger. After some early trouble in the level, Mackey has bounced back to 250,000.
The final table for the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E event is set. After 148 of poker's elite registered for the event back on Wednesday, only eight of the world's best all around poker players will return Sunday for the final table of what has become one of poker's most prestigious events. Erick Lindgren and Scotty Nguyen lead the way while Barry Greenstein and Huck Seed loom close behind. Tune in Sunday to Cardplayer.com for all the live updates from the final table.
Blinds:
Hold'em and Omaha-8: 25,000-50,000
Razz, Stud and Eight-or-Better: 10,000 Ante, 15,000 Bring In, 50,000 Completion
Players Left: 8 of 148
The Best of the Best:
Erick Lindgren: 3,680,000
Scotty Nguyen: 3,535,000
Barry Greenstein: 1,955,000
Matt Glantz: 1,445,000
Lyle Berman: 1,430,000
Huck Seed: 1,200,000
Michael DeMichele: 905,000
Patrick Bueno: 695,000
Average Stack: 1,850,000
Eliminations:
9th: Ralph Perry: $177,600
10th: Raymond Davis: $177,600
11th: David Bach: $159,840
Big Hands:
Hold'em
Davis Crippled, Then Ousted In 10th Place
Barry Greenstein raised to 100,000 preflop from the small blind. Raymond Davis made the call from the big blind and the flop came out AK8. Greenstein led out and Davis called. The turn was the 2 and Greenstein fired 100,000, which Davis quickly called. The river brought the A and Greenstein kept the pedal to the metal with another 100,000. Davis mucked angrily and was left with just 100,000.
Two hands later, Davis moved all in from the button and Patrick Bueno made the call from the small blind. Davis turned over AK, dominating Bueno's K7. But really, domination is really just a matter of perspective, especially when the flop comes 772 like it did. Davis was disgusted and needed help on the turn to stay alive. But the 5 left Davis drawing dead and the 5 on the river was the final clump of dirt on Davis' 10th place coffin.
Omaha-8
Ralph Perry Is the Final Table Bubble Boy in 9th Place
Perry raised to 100,000 under the gun and action folded around to Huck Seed in the big blind. Seed called and the flop came AK6. Seed led out with 50,000 and Perry raised to 100,000. Seed was not amused as he repopped it to 150,000. Perry did not take that slap lightly, as he raised to 200,000. After all the madness was over, Perry was all in and both players showed their hands.
Perry: J4AJ
Seed: Q732
Seed flopped the nut flush and had Perry's 4-low draw covered with a 3-low draw. The board finished out 10 and K and Perry was out in 9th place.
Eight-or-Better
Nguyen Sends Bach to the Rail in 11th Place
Scotty Nguyen: 88107(7610)
David Bach: 94K2(A9-J)
Patrick Bueno: 3A65(mucked)
David Bach was all in on 3rd street and Nguyen contested a side pot with Bueno. After all the cards had been dealt, Nguyen turned over two pair and Bueno mucked his hand. All eyes were on Bach who needed a miracle to get any piece of the pot. But when he turned his cards, he revealed a whole lot of nothing and he made his exit in 11th place.
Hold'em and Omaha-8: 15,000-30,000 Razz, Stud, and Eight-or-Better: 7,000 ante, 10,000 Bring In, 30,000 completion
Players Left: 12 of 148
Chip Leaders:
Ray Davis: 1,700,000
Matt Glantz: 1,680,000
Huck Seed: 1,560,000
Erick Lindgren: 1,560,000
Ralph Perry: 1,490,000
David Bach: 1,200,000
Michael DeMichele: 1,080,000
Scotty Nguyen: 900,000
Lyle Berman: 820,000
Phil Ivey: 740,000
Average Stack: 1,222,333
Eliminations:
13th: Daniel Negreanu: $142,080
Big Hands:
Hold'em:
Bueno Kicks Ivey
Phil Ivey raised to 60,000 preflop from the cutoff. Action folded around to Patrick Bueno in the big blind who made it 90,000 to go. Ivey made the call and the flop came QJ3. Bueno led out and Ivey followed with a call. The turn was the 3 and Bueno bet 60,000. Ivey stuck around and the river put the 5 on the board. Bueno fired another shot that was called by Ivey. Bueno tabled AQ, outkicking Ivey's KQ. Bueno took the pot, providing some relief to his short stack.
Omaha-8
Planting the Seed
Huck Seed raised to 60,000 from the cutoff and Scotty Nguyen made the call from the button. The blinds folded and the flop came K104. Seed bet 30,000 and Nguyen called. The turn brought the 8 and Seed fired 60,000. Nguyen was persistent, making the call again. The river brought the K and Seed pushed another 60,000 into the middle. Nguyen made the call. Seed turned over AK65 for a set of kings. Nguyen mucked his hand and Seed raked in a nice pot, putting him over 1,000,000 in chips.
Razz
Watch the Seed Grow
Huck Seed: 35410(A24)
David Bach: 53K8(mucked)
Picking up the action on 4th street, David Bach fired a bet of 30,000 and Seed made the call. The tables turned on 5th street when Bach checked and Seed led out with 60,000. Bach hung around and Seed check-raised on 6th street. Bach called again and did the same for Seed's bet on the river. Seed turned over the wheel for the nuts and the pot as Bach mucked.
Stud
Another Name for Stud? Scotty Baby
Scotty Nguyen: J7106(1010-X)
Phil Ivey: 4795(mucked)
Patrick Bueno: 107A2(mucked)
In a pot where the betting was controlled by Bueno, Scotty Nguyen called his opponent down to the river with Phil Ivey bringing up the rear. On the river, Bueno slowed down and checked. Nguyen pounced and bet 60,000. Ivey had enough of the madness and elected to muck his hand. Bueno didn't know any better and called. Nguyen turned over the bad news with a couple of 10s in the hole to go with the 10 he was already showing. Bueno mucked and Nguyen took the pot.
Eight-or-Better
Daniel Negreanu Out in 13th Place
Negreanu: A3KA7(mucked)
Lyle Berman: 8463(363)
In a hand that started with Negreanu betting on 3rd street, "Kid Poker" and Berman fired shot after shot at each other on the next two streets until Negreanu had no more bullets left and was all in on 5th street. Negreanu's aces were ahead until Berman caught a second pair on 6th street and filled up on the river to send Negreanu to the rail in 13th place.
Two Scoops
Ivey: A10324A4
Bueno: 7976(mucked)
One hand after Bueno scooped against Ivey, the tables turned when Ivey showed a club flush after the river. Bueno simply mucked his hand and Ivey scooped the pot. During the eight hands dealt during the eight-or-better session, Ivey and Bueno tangled three times. On the first occasion, they each split the pot. The second time had Bueno scooping while the third had Ivey returning the favor.
He came into day 4 as the second lowest stack of the field, but one can never underestimate Phil Ivey. He had the bring-in for 5000 with the 2, and only Barry Greenstein was willing to look him up, completing the bet to 18,000 while showing the J. Ivey added the 3 on fourth street, and Greenstein the K. He was able to raise Ivey all-in at that point, and confidently showed king-jack in the hole for two pair. However, Ivey struck back with pocket deuces for three of a kind, and that held up to the end to bring Ivey back over 200,000 in chips.
Ivey added to the stack in a battle with Farah Bonyadi a few hands later. Showing J9 through fourth street, Ivey continued to bet out by adding the Q on fifth street and the 7 on sixth. Bonyadi, who paired on fifth street, showed 233J. But both players checked on seventh street and Ivey could only flip over pocket sixes for the low pair. Yet it was enough to scoop the pot.
Brown Busts Out
Chad Brown was the lone player to return with less than 100,000 in chips, and his 81,000 didn't go very far. Through sixth street Brown was showing 10-9-7-6, but beside him Patrick Bueno was showing K-Q-J-6, with three diamonds up. Sure enough, Bueno was able to flip over the 52 to complete the flush and send Brown out in 24th place.
Lindgren Chips Up
Erick Lindgren had the bring-in with the 2, and play was folded to Ray Davis who completed with the 8. David added the A on fourth street and would bet out through sixth as he added the 55. Lindgren continued to call, now showing 2KQ5. Davis finally slowed and checked after the seventh card, but Lindgren then stepped out for 36,000. Davis called, but mucked when Lindgren showed him king-queen in the hole for two pair.
Adams Stares Them Down
Huck Seed completed the bet to 18,000 with the K showing, and was called by Brandon Adams with the Q and Andy Bloch with the J. After Seed checked fourth street, Adams bet 18,000 after adding the J, and led out again when the A joined him on fifth street. Seed then tanked, apparently liking what he had to go along with his K79. He eventually folded, as did Bloch who was showing J6Q.
Scotty Nguyen - 3,950,000
Erick Lindgren - 3,600,000
Michael DeMichele - 2,900,000
Matt Glantz - 1,900,000
Lyle Berman - 1,700,000
Barry Greenstein - 750,000
Eliminations: Huck Seed (7th Place)
Big Hands and Storylines:
Huck Seed Eliminated in Seventh Place ($284,160) - Stud 8/ob
Huck Seed was getting low and with his final four bets, got it all in against Michael DeMichele in a hand of stud eight-or-better. DeMichele's board read 3256 and Seed was showing 899Q. After seventh street, DeMichele revealed three more diamonds and a low card to scoop the pot and send the 1996 main event champion to the rail in seventh place.
NOTE: The players then took a 20-minute break before the blinds and antes increased.
Chip Counts:
Soheil Shamseddin - 37,000
Dario Minieri - 33,200
Ralph Perry - 32,000
Tom Schneider - 31,000
Men Nguyen - 28,000
Bruno Fitoussi - 27,500
Lee Watkinson - 26,000
Markus Golser - 26,000
Daniel Alaei - 25,500
Chau Giang - 25,000
Big Hands:
Huck Seed Scoops Massive Pot
On a board of J952, an intense raising war occurred between Huck Seed, Daniel Alaei, and David Oppenheim.The betting was capped after the third raise, and all players called.Seed was the primary aggressor, eventually getting all of his remaining chips into the middle.“Pair the freaking board,” Oppenheim muttered as he put in his last bet.The river did not comply with Oppenheim’s request, instead putting out the 10.Huck Seed revealed his A662, and his nut flush was good for the entire pot as no low was possible.
“That Was You?”
On a flop of K73, Hasan Habib bet and was raised by Phil Hellmuth.Habib made the call, and the Q fell on the turn.Habib led out with a bet.“That was you?” Hellmuth commented, referring to the Q.“I thought that was me,” he added as he made the call.When the 7 hit the river, Habib checked to Hellmuth who fired a bet.Habib folded but showed that he held two pair, kings and treys.
Jeff Madsen Check-Raised by Joe Cassidy
In a battle of the young guns on table three, Joe Cassidy and another opponent checked a flop of KJ9 to Jeff Madsen on the button.Madsen made a bet and was quickly check-raised by Cassidy.Madsen deliberately heavily before mucking his hand without seeing a turn card.
Annie Duke Quarters Erik Seidel
On a board of 852, Erik Seidel bet and was raised by Annie Duke. Seidel made the call and checked again when the Q came on the turn. Duke again bet and Seidel called. The K fell on the river and brought an identical round of action, with Seidel check-calling a bet from Duke. "Set of eights and ace-trey low," Duke declared as she turned over A883. Seidel turned over his AA73 and collected a quarter of the pot.
$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better - Day 2 - Level 13 Recap
Jun 20, '08
Blinds: 2,000-4,000
Players Left:50 of 235
Chip Leaders: David Benyamine - 216,000
Ram Vaswani - 180,000
Bruno Fitoussi - 155,000
Soheil Shamseddin - 155,000
Doyle Brunson - 150,000
Toto Leonidas - 150,000
Erick Lindgren - 150,000
Greg Jamison - 145,000
Danny Dang - 133,000
Chau Giang - 130,000
Average Stack: 94,000
Eliminations: Annie Duke
Huck Seed
Big Hands and Storylines:
Huck Seed Eliminated
Huck Seed, on a precariously short stack, raised from the button and the big blind called. Seed bet the A64 flop and his opponent called. Seed got the last of his money in on the Q turn and the two showed their cards:
Seed: AAK4
Opponent: K752
Seed had a set of aces but his opponent was freerolling for a scoop with a made low and an open-ended straight draw. The river was the 3, giving Seed’s opponent the nut low and a 7-high straight. Seed slowly slid out of his chair and exited the room, but not before tossing in a thought, “That was a good flop for you.”
“Don’t Let Matusow Win Another Pot”
That quote comes from none other than 2008 World Series bracelet winner... Mike Matusow? Clearly concerned about the tournament chances of his tablemates, Matusow was kind enough to give his peers a word of advice, but could they successfully follow it? We found out only seconds after Matusow’sword of caution:
Danny Smith raised from early position and Mr. Matusow himself 3-bet from the button. Smith called and the two of them saw a flop. A97 rolled out and Smith check-called Matusow’s bet. The action was the same on the Q turn, then both players checked the 4 on the river. “Three aces,” said Matusow. His opponent mucked his hand and Matusow’s AA92 scooped the pot.
After the pot Matusow had another tip, this one perhaps more relevant to the dealer: “Don’t let Matusow pick up the ace-ace-deuce every hand.”
“The Mouth”, once down to only 20,000, is now up to 110,000.
Evdakov Eliminates Annie Duke
Ram Vaswani raised under-the-gun to 8,000, Nikolay Evdakov called from middle position, and Annie Duke called from the button. Both blinds folded, and the flop came down J109. Vaswani checked, Evdakov bet, Duke raised, leaving herself only 1,000 behind, and both Vaswani and Evdakov called. On the A turn, Vaswani checked again, Evdakov bet, Duke called all-in for her final thousand, and Vaswani called. The river was the J and Vaswani folded to a bet from Evdakov. The Russian showed AQQJ for a full house, enough to win the pot and dismiss Duke. Evdakov is now up to 110,000, though still far short of Vaswani’s 180,000.
World Championship Omaha High-Low Split 8 or Better - Level 12
Jun 20, '08
Note: Players are now on an hour break. Play will resume around 8:20.
Blinds: 1,500-3,000
Players Left: 77 of 235
Chip Counts:
Bob Slezak: 162,000
Brad Booth 136,000
Soheil Shamseddin: 127,000
David Benyamine: 126,000
William McMahon: 123,000
Ram Vaswani: 120,000
Shunjiro Uchida: 116,000
Ray Dehkharghani: 109,000
Roland de Wolfe: 104,000
Eliminations: Steven Ware, Dutch Boyd
Big Hands:
Seed and Reslock Tangle
Huck Seed bet 3,000 on a Q107 board and was called by Chris Reslock. The turn brought the 6 and both players checked, bringing the 8 on the river. Seed bet 6,000 and Reslock made the call. Seed showed KJ97 for a rivered straight, but Reslock showed A5K9 for the 8-low and half of the pot.
"I guess I should've bet on the turn," Seed said after the hand.
Harman Takes a Big Pot
Jennifer Harman bet 3,000 and was called by 3 players on a flop of J74. She bet out 6,000 out the 10 turn and was called by the player in seat 6 only. The Q fell on the river and seat 6 bet out 6,000, only to be raised to 12,000 by Harman. He called and saw the bad news. Harman showed A-K-10-10 for the broadway straight and her opponent mucked.
Harman has climbed to around 80,000 in chips.
Boyd Gets Rivered, Eliminated Later in Level
Dutch Boyd bet 6,000 on a board of 9547 and the player in seat 3 raised to 12,000. Not intimidated, Boyd reraised to 18,000 and seat 3 called. The river was the K and Boyd called his opponent's bet and they showed down. Boyd showed AA22, but saw that he had been rivered by seat 3's A2Q9. Seat 3 took the high and Boyd got just half of the low. He was eliminated later in the level.
Brunson Misses
Doyle Brunson check-called his opponent every step of the way on a AK7910 board. When his opponent bet on the river Brunson mucked, having apparently missed his draw. Brunson still had around 96,000 in chips.
Chiu Flushes Down the Competition
On a board of 1094A10, David Chiu bet 6,000 and got one caller. "Flush," Chiu said and his opponent quickly mucked. The win put Chiu's stack around 70,000.
The Mouth?
Yes, he's still in the tournament. He has just been speaking more quietly. He's short with around 20,000 in chips
3
2
8
5
Huck Seed Eliminated In 5th Place($102,286)
Aurangzeb Sheikh Eliminated in 12th Place ($34,958)
Roman Yitzhaki Eliminated in 10th place ($42,818)
Huck Seed has just defeated Jonathan Little after grinding him down to a short stack.
Glen Chorny thought he hit his hand on the river, but it ended up costing him his tournament.
Huck Seed became the most consistent performer in NBC Heads-Up history when he defeated Gus Hansen today in the round of 32. He has now cashed in each of the five years of this event. Seed might be joined very soon in the five-timer's club if Scott Fischman wins his match against David Williams.
Huck Seed had the lead in the match against Gus Hansen and both players picked up solid hands preflop to get it all in.
Huck Seed took the lead and both players saw a board fill out of K
After taking a 100,000 pot with a pair of aces, Huck Seed had Vanessa Rousso on the ropes. Rousso made her move with the Q
Sam Farha and Huck Seed's match up was quite interesting. At one point, both players thought they were on break and tried to walk off the set. They were quickly told to continue and the match resumed. Then, shortly after Vanessa Rousso won her match, Farha tried to take a phone call and walked off the stage. He was quickly told to go back and play, which he did shortly thereafter. 
Seed then doubled up twice in a row, leaving Farha with a much smaller lead. The blinds then increased to 30,000 - 60,000 and the lead changed several times with just a preflop all in move.
Billy Argyros Eliminated
Hold'em
Dario Minieri Eliminated
Big Stacks Tangle 
Davis Crippled, Then Ousted In 10th Place
Ralph Perry Is the Final Table Bubble Boy in 9th Place
Nguyen Sends Bach to the Rail in 11th Place
Bueno Kicks Ivey
Another Name for Stud? Scotty Baby
Daniel Negreanu Out in 13th Place
Two Scoops
Ivey Doubles Up
Erick Lindgren had the bring-in with the 2
Huck Seed Scoops Massive Pot
Huck Seed Eliminated
Seed and Reslock Tangle