Ted Forrest Poker Tournament Updates

Level 18 Update: Neil Chriss Busts on the Bubble

May 29, '09

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 23 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Justin Bonomo — 2,200,000
2. Greg Raymer — 2,090,000
3. David Baker — 1,700,000
4. Lex Veldhuis — 1,600,000
5. Ted Forrest — 1,560,000
6. Vitaly Lunkin — 1,080,000
7. Brian Townsend — 1,060,000
8. Noah Schwartz — 1,050,000
9. Alec Torelli — 1,025,000
10. Sorel Mizzi — 960,000

Average Chip Count: 1,048,695

Notable Eliminations:

Out of the Money

Phil Galfond
Neil Chriss

In the Money

27. Vanessa Rousso — $71,858
26. J.C. Tran — $71,858
25. Sorel Mizzi — $71,858
24. David Pham — $71,858

Big Hands:

Phil Galfond Busts to Ted Forrest

A short stacked Phil Galfond moved all in holding AQ but unfortunately ran into the AA of Ted Forrest. The board came out KK6J9 and Galfond was eliminated in 29th place.

The remaining 28 players are now playing hand-for-hand.

Neil Chriss Becomes Unfortunate Bubble Boy

Alec Torelli raised to 50,000 on the button and both Neil Chriss and Greg Raymer came along in the blinds. The flop came out A96 and Chriss led out for 100,000. Raymer folded and Torelli moved all in, putting Chriss to the test.

Chriss made the call showing A4 and was temporarily ahead of Torelli’s 87 for an open-ended straight draw. But the turn and river came 59 giving Torelli the winning straight and making Chriss the bubble boy.

Vanessa Rousso Eliminated in 27th Place ($71,858)
_
Keith Lehr raised to 75,000 and Vanessa Rousso moved all in behind him for her last 350,000. Lehr made the call and showed AK which was racing against Rousso’s QQ. The board came out J765A and Lehr rivered his ace to make Rousso the first player to finish in the money.

J.C. Tran Eliminated in 26th Place ($71,858)

J.C. Tran raised to 105,000, basically committing the rest of his stack. Matt Marafioti then reraised to 700,000, more than enough to put him all in. Tran called with QJ and was crushed by Marafioti’s QQ. To add insult to injury, the case queen hit the flop and Marafioti went on to make a full house, eliminating Tran from the tournament.

Sorel Mizzi Eliminated in 25th Place ($71,858)

Sorel Mizzi and David Baker got in all in preflop with Baker having the bigger stack. Mizzi showed QQ and Baker showed AK. The flop came 543 and Mizzi kept the lead, until the turn and river came KA giving Baker the winning two pair.

David Pham Eliminated in 24th Place ($71,858)

On the very last hand of the evening, David Pham moved all in for 320,000 and Matt Marafioti called in the big blind with KK. Pham could only show Q9 and it missed it’s draws when the board ran out J1073A.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   David Pham,   Ted Forrest,   Vanessa Rousso,   Neil Chriss,   Phil Galfond,   Keith Lehr,   Alec Torelli,   Sorel Mizzi

Level 23 Update: Isaac Haxton Takes Chip Lead

May 30, '09

Blinds: 25,000-50,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 10 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Isaac Haxton — 5,520,000
2. Lex Veldhuis — 4,030,000
3. Vitaly Lunkin – 4,200,000
4. Alec Torelli — 2,770,000
5. Greg Raymer — 2,240,000
6. Justin Bonomo — 2,045,000
7. Dani Stern — 1,275,000
8. Ted Forrest — 815,000
9. Noah Schwartz — 550,000
10. Tony G — 350,000

Average Chip Count: 2,192,727

Notable Eliminations:

None

Big Hands:

Isaac Haxton Takes Chip Lead

Alec Torelli raised to 155,000 and Isaac Haxton called. The flop came out Q86 and Torelli checked. Haxton bet 400,000 and Torelli moved all in after some thought. Haxton instantly called and showed 66 for bottom set. Torelli showed QJ and was drawing very thin to take out Haxton.

The turn and river came 103 and Haxton doubled up to 5,520,000. Torelli fell all the way to 2,770,000.

Greg Raymer Ties With Aces

Ted Forrest raised to 100,000 and Greg Raymer moved all in. Forrest insta-called but the excitement was short lived, as both players turned over pocket aces. Raymer picked up two spades on the flop but the drama was dead by the turn and both players chopped up the pot.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Alec Torelli,   Isaac Haxton

Level 22 Update: Brian Rast, Brian Townsend, Matthew Marafioti and Keith Lehr Eliminated

May 30, '09

Blinds: 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 chip ante

Players Remaining: 10 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Alec Torelli — 5,375,000
2. Lex Veldhuis — 4,030,000
3. Vitaly Lunkin – 3,500,000
4. Isaac Haxton – 3,145,000
5. Greg Raymer — 2,995,000
6. Justin Bonomo — 2,045,000
7. Dani Stern- 1,275,000
8. Ted Forrest — 815,000
9. Noah Schwartz – 550,000
10. Tony Guoga- 445,000

Average Chip Count: 2,192,727

Notable Eliminations:

14. Brian Rast ($128,666)
13. Brian Townsend ($128,666)
12. Matthew Marafioti ($172,120)
11. Keith Lehr ($172,120)

Big Hands:

Brian Rast Eliminated in 14th Place ($128,666)

Vitaly Lunkin raised pre-flop to 100,000 from middle position and Brian Rast moved all-in over the top for 420,000 more from the big blind. Lunkin went into the tank and eventually made the call for the majority of his chips and exposed 55. However, Rast had him dominated with KK. The flop was a disaster for Rast however, as Lunkin flopped a full house with three cards of 885. The turn brought the 2 and the river 5 gave Lunkin quads, eliminating Rast close to the final table bubble.

Brian Townsend Eliminated in 13th Place ($128,666)

Brian Townsend shoved all in for his last 800,000 on the button and Alec Torelli isolated behind him. Noah Schwartz tanked in the big blind for a few minutes before making the call himself, putting a huge portion of his stack at risk.

Townsend showed 76, Torelli showed pocket tens and Schwartz showed the best hand with pocket queens. Unfortunately, the board ran out J107104 and Torelli’s quads bumped his stack to 5 million. Schwartz took a hit down to 700,000 and Townsend was eliminated from the tournament.

Matthew Marafioti Eliminated in 12th place ($172,120)

Ted Forrest opened the action with a 120,000 under the gun raise that was re-raised by Isaac Haxton to 375,000 total. Matthew Marafioti was next to act and instantly went all in for 575,000 total. Tony G woke up with AK in the small blind and went into the tank for minutes. Riding a short stack for quite some time, Tony G eventually decided to fold. Isaac immediately called and tabled KK. Marafioti was discouraged as he flipped over QQ. When the players flipped over their cards Tony G said he might have had the odds to call, from the small blind and with his extremely short stack. The flop came A25, putting Haxton well ahead and caused Tony G to pace around the table. The A hit the turn and the J fell on the river, eliminating Marafioti. Haxton is now up to 2,400,000 in chips.

Vitaly Lunkin Wins Huge Double

With very little in the pot, Greg Raymer pushed all in into Vitaly Lunkin for about 1,700,000. Lunkin called immediately to the shock of Raymer. The 2004 Main Event champion exclaimed, “I didn’t think he would call,” as he turned over 66. Lunkin had the perfect read on Raymer and tabled JJ, for a higher pocket pair. With other players at the table saying “nice call” to Lunkin, the flop came out AQK, to put Lunkin far out ahead. The 10 on the turn put Raymer drawing for at best a split pot. The river brought the 10 and Lunkin won a 3,500,000 chip pot.

Keith Lehr Eliminated in 11th Place ($172,120)

Greg Raymer raised and Keith Lehr moved all in for 800,000 from the small blind. Raymer made the call and showed JJ which was racing against Lehr’s AQ. The board ran out king high but failed to connect with Lehr’s hand, sending him to the rail.

Left in the Deck:

The players at the table were trying to work out a short 20 minute break to continue play until one more is eliminated. However, Tony G gave the only dissenting vote to force the rest of the table to take an hour break before resuming play.

Player Tags: Antanas Guoga,   Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Brian Rast,   Keith Lehr,   Vitaly Lunkin,   Isaac Haxton

Level 21 Update: Clark Hamagami, Doshi Suresh, and Davd Baker Eliminated

May 30, '09

Blinds: 18,000-36,000 with a 4,000 chip ante

Players Remaining: 14 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Lex Veldhuis — 5,200,000
2. Justin Bonomo — 3,200,000
3. Alec Torelli — 2,600,000
4. Greg Raymer — 2,100,000
5. David Baker — 1,900,000
6. Ted Forrest — 1,900,000
7. Dani Stern- 1,430,000
8. Isaac Haxton – 1,400,000
9. Noah Schwartz – 1,400,000
10. Brian Rast – 1,160,000

Average Chip Count: 1,608,000

Notable Eliminations:

17. Clark Hamagami ($96,171)
16. Doshi Suresh ($96,171)
15. David Baker ($128,666)

Big Hands:

Doshi Suresh Eliminated by Greg Raymer in 16th Place ($96,171)

Doshi Suresh moved all-in pre-flop and was quickly called by the big stack of Greg Raymer. Suresh tabled A10 and Raymer exposed QQ. The flop came 674, giving Suresh a back door flush draw to go along with his over card. The 10 hit the turn and Raymer was well ahead, looking to dodge the remaining tens and aces in the deck. The 5 fell on the turn and Suresh was eliminated. Raymer is now up to 2,600,000 in chips and could add this prestigious tournament to his poker resume to go along with his main event win a few years ago.

David Baker Eliminated in 15th Place ($128,666)

David Baker raised to 85,000 on the button and Lex Veldhuis reraised to 205,000 from the small blind. Baker moved all in for 1,480,000 and Velhuis called him down. Their cards:

Baker: 66
Veldhuis: JJ

Board: A729A

Baker was eliminated in 15th place and Veldhuis grew his stack to 5.2 million to take the chip lead.

Greg Raymer gets Aces Cracked Twice

Brian Townsend was all in preflop on the small blind for 275,000 and Greg Ramyer had him covered under the gun. Their cards:

Raymer: AA
Townsend: AQ

Board: K109J3

Townsend doubled up on the hand to survive with a Broadway straight and Raymer took a hit on the hand.

A few hands later Keith Lehr was the player all in preflop and once again Raymer had his opponent covered. Their cards:

Raymer: AA
Lehr: K9

Board: K7329

Lehr doubled up on the hand to survive and Raymer couled only watch as his aces were crakced for a second time in a row. Raymer still held 2.1 million after the hand due to the short stacks that he was up against in both cases.

Left in the Deck

- Layne Flack came over from his Omaha 8 or Better to talk with Ted Forrest.

- The tournament staff is currently coloring up the players and adding 50,000 pink chips into play.

Player Tags: David Baker,   Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Brian Townsend,   Keith Lehr,   Lex Veldhuis

Final Table: Hour One Update

May 31, '09

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 8 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Isaac Haxton — 5,945,000
2. Vitaly Lunkin — 4,545,000
3. Dani Stern — 3,155,000
4. Justin Bonomo — 2,950,000
5. Lex Veldhuis — 2,455,000
6. Alec Torelli — 2,405,000
7. Greg Raymer — 1,690,000
8. Noah Schwartz — 955,000

Average Chip Count: 3,015,000

Notable Eliminations:

9. Ted Forrest – $230,317

Big Hands:

Justin Bonomo Doubles Up

Greg Raymer raised to 150,000 from the button and Justin Bonomo reraised all in for 1,440,000 from the small blind. Raymer made the call and they flipped up their cards:

Raymer: A8
Bonomo: AJ

Board: K652A

Bonomo doubled up on the hand to 2,985,000 and Raymer took a hit down to 1,785,000.

Dani Stern Doubles Up

Lex Veldhuis raised to 175,000 from the cutoff and Dani Stern moved all in for 1,455,000. Veldhuis made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Veldhuis: AK
Stern: AJ

Board: A95QJ

Stern doubled up to 3,045,000 after the hand.

Ted Forrest Eliminated in Ninth Place ($230,317)

Ted Forrest called in the small blind and Noah Schwartz raised to 400,000 from the big blind. Forest made the all-in call and they flipped up their cards:

Forrest: J10
Schwartz: 33

Board: K9284

Forrest was eliminated in ninth place and Schwartz moved his stack up to 865,000.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Justin Bonomo,   Noah Schwartz

Level 18 Update: Neil Chriss Busts on the Bubble

May 29, '09

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 23 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Justin Bonomo — 2,200,000
2. Greg Raymer — 2,090,000
3. David Baker — 1,700,000
4. Lex Veldhuis — 1,600,000
5. Ted Forrest — 1,560,000
6. Vitaly Lunkin — 1,080,000
7. Brian Townsend — 1,060,000
8. Noah Schwartz — 1,050,000
9. Alec Torelli — 1,025,000
10. Sorel Mizzi — 960,000

Average Chip Count: 1,048,695

Notable Eliminations:

Out of the Money

Phil Galfond
Neil Chriss

In the Money

27. Vanessa Rousso — $71,858
26. J.C. Tran — $71,858
25. Sorel Mizzi — $71,858
24. David Pham — $71,858

Big Hands:

Phil Galfond Busts to Ted Forrest

A short stacked Phil Galfond moved all in holding AQ but unfortunately ran into the AA of Ted Forrest. The board came out KK6J9 and Galfond was eliminated in 29th place.

The remaining 28 players are now playing hand-for-hand.

Neil Chriss Becomes Unfortunate Bubble Boy

Alec Torelli raised to 50,000 on the button and both Neil Chriss and Greg Raymer came along in the blinds. The flop came out A96 and Chriss led out for 100,000. Raymer folded and Torelli moved all in, putting Chriss to the test.

Chriss made the call showing A4 and was temporarily ahead of Torelli’s 87 for an open-ended straight draw. But the turn and river came 59 giving Torelli the winning straight and making Chriss the bubble boy.

Vanessa Rousso Eliminated in 27th Place ($71,858)
_
Keith Lehr raised to 75,000 and Vanessa Rousso moved all in behind him for her last 350,000. Lehr made the call and showed AK which was racing against Rousso’s QQ. The board came out J765A and Lehr rivered his ace to make Rousso the first player to finish in the money.

J.C. Tran Eliminated in 26th Place ($71,858)

J.C. Tran raised to 105,000, basically committing the rest of his stack. Matt Marafioti then reraised to 700,000, more than enough to put him all in. Tran called with QJ and was crushed by Marafioti’s QQ. To add insult to injury, the case queen hit the flop and Marafioti went on to make a full house, eliminating Tran from the tournament.

Sorel Mizzi Eliminated in 25th Place ($71,858)

Sorel Mizzi and David Baker got in all in preflop with Baker having the bigger stack. Mizzi showed QQ and Baker showed AK. The flop came 543 and Mizzi kept the lead, until the turn and river came KA giving Baker the winning two pair.

David Pham Eliminated in 24th Place ($71,858)

On the very last hand of the evening, David Pham moved all in for 320,000 and Matt Marafioti called in the big blind with KK. Pham could only show Q9 and it missed it’s draws when the board ran out J1073A.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   David Pham,   Ted Forrest,   Vanessa Rousso,   Neil Chriss,   Phil Galfond,   Keith Lehr,   Alec Torelli,   Sorel Mizzi

Level 23 Update: Isaac Haxton Takes Chip Lead

May 30, '09

Blinds: 25,000-50,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 10 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Isaac Haxton — 5,520,000
2. Lex Veldhuis — 4,030,000
3. Vitaly Lunkin – 4,200,000
4. Alec Torelli — 2,770,000
5. Greg Raymer — 2,240,000
6. Justin Bonomo — 2,045,000
7. Dani Stern — 1,275,000
8. Ted Forrest — 815,000
9. Noah Schwartz — 550,000
10. Tony G — 350,000

Average Chip Count: 2,192,727

Notable Eliminations:

None

Big Hands:

Isaac Haxton Takes Chip Lead

Alec Torelli raised to 155,000 and Isaac Haxton called. The flop came out Q86 and Torelli checked. Haxton bet 400,000 and Torelli moved all in after some thought. Haxton instantly called and showed 66 for bottom set. Torelli showed QJ and was drawing very thin to take out Haxton.

The turn and river came 103 and Haxton doubled up to 5,520,000. Torelli fell all the way to 2,770,000.

Greg Raymer Ties With Aces

Ted Forrest raised to 100,000 and Greg Raymer moved all in. Forrest insta-called but the excitement was short lived, as both players turned over pocket aces. Raymer picked up two spades on the flop but the drama was dead by the turn and both players chopped up the pot.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Alec Torelli,   Isaac Haxton

Level 22 Update: Brian Rast, Brian Townsend, Matthew Marafioti and Keith Lehr Eliminated

May 30, '09

Blinds: 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 chip ante

Players Remaining: 10 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Alec Torelli — 5,375,000
2. Lex Veldhuis — 4,030,000
3. Vitaly Lunkin – 3,500,000
4. Isaac Haxton – 3,145,000
5. Greg Raymer — 2,995,000
6. Justin Bonomo — 2,045,000
7. Dani Stern- 1,275,000
8. Ted Forrest — 815,000
9. Noah Schwartz – 550,000
10. Tony Guoga- 445,000

Average Chip Count: 2,192,727

Notable Eliminations:

14. Brian Rast ($128,666)
13. Brian Townsend ($128,666)
12. Matthew Marafioti ($172,120)
11. Keith Lehr ($172,120)

Big Hands:

Brian Rast Eliminated in 14th Place ($128,666)

Vitaly Lunkin raised pre-flop to 100,000 from middle position and Brian Rast moved all-in over the top for 420,000 more from the big blind. Lunkin went into the tank and eventually made the call for the majority of his chips and exposed 55. However, Rast had him dominated with KK. The flop was a disaster for Rast however, as Lunkin flopped a full house with three cards of 885. The turn brought the 2 and the river 5 gave Lunkin quads, eliminating Rast close to the final table bubble.

Brian Townsend Eliminated in 13th Place ($128,666)

Brian Townsend shoved all in for his last 800,000 on the button and Alec Torelli isolated behind him. Noah Schwartz tanked in the big blind for a few minutes before making the call himself, putting a huge portion of his stack at risk.

Townsend showed 76, Torelli showed pocket tens and Schwartz showed the best hand with pocket queens. Unfortunately, the board ran out J107104 and Torelli’s quads bumped his stack to 5 million. Schwartz took a hit down to 700,000 and Townsend was eliminated from the tournament.

Matthew Marafioti Eliminated in 12th place ($172,120)

Ted Forrest opened the action with a 120,000 under the gun raise that was re-raised by Isaac Haxton to 375,000 total. Matthew Marafioti was next to act and instantly went all in for 575,000 total. Tony G woke up with AK in the small blind and went into the tank for minutes. Riding a short stack for quite some time, Tony G eventually decided to fold. Isaac immediately called and tabled KK. Marafioti was discouraged as he flipped over QQ. When the players flipped over their cards Tony G said he might have had the odds to call, from the small blind and with his extremely short stack. The flop came A25, putting Haxton well ahead and caused Tony G to pace around the table. The A hit the turn and the J fell on the river, eliminating Marafioti. Haxton is now up to 2,400,000 in chips.

Vitaly Lunkin Wins Huge Double

With very little in the pot, Greg Raymer pushed all in into Vitaly Lunkin for about 1,700,000. Lunkin called immediately to the shock of Raymer. The 2004 Main Event champion exclaimed, “I didn’t think he would call,” as he turned over 66. Lunkin had the perfect read on Raymer and tabled JJ, for a higher pocket pair. With other players at the table saying “nice call” to Lunkin, the flop came out AQK, to put Lunkin far out ahead. The 10 on the turn put Raymer drawing for at best a split pot. The river brought the 10 and Lunkin won a 3,500,000 chip pot.

Keith Lehr Eliminated in 11th Place ($172,120)

Greg Raymer raised and Keith Lehr moved all in for 800,000 from the small blind. Raymer made the call and showed JJ which was racing against Lehr’s AQ. The board ran out king high but failed to connect with Lehr’s hand, sending him to the rail.

Left in the Deck:

The players at the table were trying to work out a short 20 minute break to continue play until one more is eliminated. However, Tony G gave the only dissenting vote to force the rest of the table to take an hour break before resuming play.

Player Tags: Antanas Guoga,   Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Brian Rast,   Keith Lehr,   Vitaly Lunkin,   Isaac Haxton

Level 21 Update: Clark Hamagami, Doshi Suresh, and Davd Baker Eliminated

May 30, '09

Blinds: 18,000-36,000 with a 4,000 chip ante

Players Remaining: 14 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Lex Veldhuis — 5,200,000
2. Justin Bonomo — 3,200,000
3. Alec Torelli — 2,600,000
4. Greg Raymer — 2,100,000
5. David Baker — 1,900,000
6. Ted Forrest — 1,900,000
7. Dani Stern- 1,430,000
8. Isaac Haxton – 1,400,000
9. Noah Schwartz – 1,400,000
10. Brian Rast – 1,160,000

Average Chip Count: 1,608,000

Notable Eliminations:

17. Clark Hamagami ($96,171)
16. Doshi Suresh ($96,171)
15. David Baker ($128,666)

Big Hands:

Doshi Suresh Eliminated by Greg Raymer in 16th Place ($96,171)

Doshi Suresh moved all-in pre-flop and was quickly called by the big stack of Greg Raymer. Suresh tabled A10 and Raymer exposed QQ. The flop came 674, giving Suresh a back door flush draw to go along with his over card. The 10 hit the turn and Raymer was well ahead, looking to dodge the remaining tens and aces in the deck. The 5 fell on the turn and Suresh was eliminated. Raymer is now up to 2,600,000 in chips and could add this prestigious tournament to his poker resume to go along with his main event win a few years ago.

David Baker Eliminated in 15th Place ($128,666)

David Baker raised to 85,000 on the button and Lex Veldhuis reraised to 205,000 from the small blind. Baker moved all in for 1,480,000 and Velhuis called him down. Their cards:

Baker: 66
Veldhuis: JJ

Board: A729A

Baker was eliminated in 15th place and Veldhuis grew his stack to 5.2 million to take the chip lead.

Greg Raymer gets Aces Cracked Twice

Brian Townsend was all in preflop on the small blind for 275,000 and Greg Ramyer had him covered under the gun. Their cards:

Raymer: AA
Townsend: AQ

Board: K109J3

Townsend doubled up on the hand to survive with a Broadway straight and Raymer took a hit on the hand.

A few hands later Keith Lehr was the player all in preflop and once again Raymer had his opponent covered. Their cards:

Raymer: AA
Lehr: K9

Board: K7329

Lehr doubled up on the hand to survive and Raymer couled only watch as his aces were crakced for a second time in a row. Raymer still held 2.1 million after the hand due to the short stacks that he was up against in both cases.

Left in the Deck

- Layne Flack came over from his Omaha 8 or Better to talk with Ted Forrest.

- The tournament staff is currently coloring up the players and adding 50,000 pink chips into play.

Player Tags: David Baker,   Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Brian Townsend,   Keith Lehr,   Lex Veldhuis

Final Table: Hour One Update

May 31, '09

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 8 out of 201

Chip Counts:

1. Isaac Haxton — 5,945,000
2. Vitaly Lunkin — 4,545,000
3. Dani Stern — 3,155,000
4. Justin Bonomo — 2,950,000
5. Lex Veldhuis — 2,455,000
6. Alec Torelli — 2,405,000
7. Greg Raymer — 1,690,000
8. Noah Schwartz — 955,000

Average Chip Count: 3,015,000

Notable Eliminations:

9. Ted Forrest – $230,317

Big Hands:

Justin Bonomo Doubles Up

Greg Raymer raised to 150,000 from the button and Justin Bonomo reraised all in for 1,440,000 from the small blind. Raymer made the call and they flipped up their cards:

Raymer: A8
Bonomo: AJ

Board: K652A

Bonomo doubled up on the hand to 2,985,000 and Raymer took a hit down to 1,785,000.

Dani Stern Doubles Up

Lex Veldhuis raised to 175,000 from the cutoff and Dani Stern moved all in for 1,455,000. Veldhuis made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Veldhuis: AK
Stern: AJ

Board: A95QJ

Stern doubled up to 3,045,000 after the hand.

Ted Forrest Eliminated in Ninth Place ($230,317)

Ted Forrest called in the small blind and Noah Schwartz raised to 400,000 from the big blind. Forest made the all-in call and they flipped up their cards:

Forrest: J10
Schwartz: 33

Board: K9284

Forrest was eliminated in ninth place and Schwartz moved his stack up to 865,000.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Greg Raymer,   Justin Bonomo,   Noah Schwartz

Level 3 Update

Mar 17, '09

Big Hands:

Field Size Announced

The official size of today's field is 256 players. When combined with the 135 players from day 1A that puts the full size of the 2009 Bay 101 Shooting Star field at 391. This represents an increase over last year's field of 376.

Jennifer Tilly Eliminated by Vivek Rajkumar

Vivek Rajkumar moved all in preflop and Jennifer Tilly made the all-in call against him. Their cards:

Rajkumar: 5-5
Tilly: A-A

Board: 9-7-4-10-5

Ted Forrest Eliminated

Ted Forrest moved all in on a flop of 642 with JJ in the hole. David Politzer called him down with J7. The turn and river fell Q10 and Forrest was bounced from the tournament. Ppolizer collected the $5,000 bounty.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Jennifer Tilly

Ted Forrest Defeats Orel Hershiser

Mar 06, '09

Orel Hershiser was short and made a move at the wrong time with his last 7,000 in chips. Hershiser shoved on the button and Ted Forrest made the call.

Hershiser showed Q5 and was behind to Forrest and his AK. The board ran out 8-3-2-8-K and Hershiser was eliminated from the tournament. Forrest will now face off agains the winner of Hevad Khan and Scotty Nguyen.

Ironically, Hershiser and Forrest drew each other in the first round last year, as well. Hershiser won that match to reach the elite eight. This year was another story and one-time champion Forrest keeps his tournament run alive.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Orel Hershiser

Scotty Nguyen Defeats Ted Forrest

Mar 07, '09

Scotty Nguyen had Ted Forrest covered and all in. They were flipping for it when Nguyen turned over AQ againt Forrest and his pocket sixes.

The flop came K-K-2 and Forrest kept his lead. The turn was a Jack, giving Nguyen plenty of outs. The river was an Ace and Nguyen paired up to take the pot and the match.

A former champion is eliminated and Nguyen will now take on Daniel Negreanu in the next match.

Player Tags: Scotty Nguyen,   Ted Forrest

Ted Forrest Defeats Orel Hershiser

Mar 06, '09

Orel Hershiser was short and made a move at the wrong time with his last 7,000 in chips. Hershiser shoved on the button and Ted Forrest made the call.

Hershiser showed Q5 and was behind to Forrest and his AK. The board ran out 8-3-2-8-K and Hershiser was eliminated from the tournament. Forrest will now face off agains the winner of Hevad Khan and Scotty Nguyen.

Ironically, Hershiser and Forrest drew each other in the first round last year, as well. Hershiser won that match to reach the elite eight. This year was another story and one-time champion Forrest keeps his tournament run alive.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Orel Hershiser

Scotty Nguyen Defeats Ted Forrest

Mar 07, '09

Scotty Nguyen had Ted Forrest covered and all in. They were flipping for it when Nguyen turned over AQ againt Forrest and his pocket sixes.

The flop came K-K-2 and Forrest kept his lead. The turn was a Jack, giving Nguyen plenty of outs. The river was an Ace and Nguyen paired up to take the pot and the match.

A former champion is eliminated and Nguyen will now take on Daniel Negreanu in the next match.

Player Tags: Scotty Nguyen,   Ted Forrest

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

Sep 17, '08

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 2,000,000.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Thayer Rasmussen

$50,000 H.O.R.S.E - Level 4

Jun 25, '08

Players are now on a 20 minute break

Blinds:
Hold'em: 600-1,200
Omaha 8: 600-1,200
Razz: 300 ante, 300 bring-in, 1,200 completion
Stud: 300 ante, 300 bring-in, 1,200 completion
Eight or Better: 300 ante, 300 bring-in, 1,200 completion

Chip Counts:
Ray Dehkharghani: 190,000
James Mackey: 185,000
Ralph Perry: 170,000
Shawn Sheikhan: 167,000
Chris Reslock: 152,000
Minh Ly: 152,000
Greg Mascio: 152,000
Steve Sung: 150,000
Rafi Amit: 150,000
Bill Chen: 148,000

Storylines:

The Drunken Fan

It's late, it's Vegas, and during the level a drunken spectator was thrilled to be able talk (yell) over the rail to Scotty Nguyen and express his admiration. Clearly excited to see poker's superstars in person, the man later noticed Tony G and began to tell Tony how great he is, to which Tony just smiled and gave two thumbs up. This made the drunk's night. Too bad he won't remember it in the morning...

Hold'em

Hansen Strong Out Of The Small Blind

David Williams raised and the player in seat 2 re-raised all preflop. Gus Hansen, sitting in the small blind, made the call and so did Williams. The flop came 1077, Hansen checked, David Williams checked and seat 2 bet out. Hansen quickly re-raised, Williams folded and seat 2 folded AK face up. Hansen didn't show and just raked his chips while talking about how he played the hand.

Friedman's Pair of Aces Beats Dwan

Perry Friedman bet and was called by Tom Dwan on every street of a A65108 board. Friedman flipped over A4 for a pair of aces, and it was good enough to take the pot.

Omaha 8

Mackey Takes One From Some Tough Competition

On a flop of A106 James Mackey checked and David Singer bet. Both Andy Bloch and Mackey made the call. The J came on the turn and Mackey checked again, allowing Singer to bet. Bloch made the call and Mackey said raise, then put in some more chips. Singer didn't hear Mackey say raise and the floor was called to the table. The dealer explained to the floorman that he did indeed hear Mackey say raise before he put his chips in, then he said it again while putting them in. The floorman said the raise stood and Singer and Bloch both made the call. The players checked the 3 river card and Mackey turned over AK4Q for the nut straight. When he saw Mackey's hand Bloch laughed and mucked. Singer also mucked and Mackey won a nice three-way pot again two of the better H.O.R.S.E players in the tournament. At the end of the level he sat with around 185,000 in chips.

Flack Scoops

Layne Flack raised from late position and was called by Hasan Habib, Justin Bonomo and John Cernuto. The flop came 973 and action was checked to Flack who bet out. Both Habib and Bonomo called, but Cernuto folded. The turn was the 10 and action was again checked to Flack who bet out. Both opponents made the call again and the river brought the 7. Action checked to Flack, he bet, Habib called and Bonomo folded.
Flack turned over 9-9-A-4, giving him a set of nines to scoop the entire pot.

Brown Missteps

The player in seat 2 bet the A108 flop and Chad Brown made the call. On the 2 turn card seat 2 bet and Brown raised. Both players checked the 4 river and Brown turned over A-8-4-6. His opponent showed A-10-5-7. There was some brief confusion as to who got what, but the dealer explained that Brown's opponent had the best two pair and low hand because Brown had not made a low hand.

Razz

Sheikhan Ready To Gamble

Shawn Sheikhan bet out on every street and was called by the player in seat 4. Their cards were:
Sheikhan: 4A23 (K-9-6)
Seat 4: 58J3 (A-4-8)

Sheikhan went ahead and bet blind after being dealt the final card. He showed a big hand - 6-low. Seat 4 paired his 8 on the end and Sheikhan took down a big pot.
After the hand Sheikhan told the table, "You guys want to gamble - I'll gamble."
Sheikhan had around 167,000 in chips.

Stud

Forrest Takes Monster Pot From Hellmuth

Ted Forrest bet every street and was called by Phil Hellmuth all the way down to seventh street. Hellmuth took off his sunglasses to look at his last down card. He put out a bet and started to put his shades back on but stopped dead in his tracks when Forrest raised him. A frustrated Hellmuth made the call and Forrest turned over his hand. Their cards were:
Forrest: QQ5A (Q-J-5)
Hellmuth: 764K (X-X-X)

Seeing Forrest's three queens, Hellmuth quietly slid his cards into the muck.

Stud 8

An Aggressive Galfond Bets Out Ivey and Williamson

Phil Galfond bet on fifth and sixth street and was called by Robert Williamson III and Phil Ivey. When Galfond led out on the end, Ivey mucked his hand and Williamson looked pained as he thought over his decision.
Galfond: AKQJ (X-X-X)
Ivey: 59QK
Williamson III: 82J9 (X-X-X)

Williamson eventually mucked, and Dwan started to infer about his friend Galfond's hand. Galfond smiled and the table laughed when he showed only one card - the 7.

Player Tags: Andy Bloch,   Hasan Habib,   Gus Hansen,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Shawn Sheikhan,   Phil Hellmuth,   David Singer,   Phil Ivey,   Perry Friedman,   David Williams,   James Mackey,   Justin Bonomo,   Robert Williamson III,   Tom Dwan

$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E - Day 2 - Level 6 Recap

Jun 26, '08

Stakes:
Hold’em/Omaha:  900-1,800 blinds
Stud/Razz/Stud8:  400 ante, 500 bring in, 1,800-3,600 stakes

Players Left: 136 of 148

Chip Leaders:
Ray Dehkharghani - 220,000
William Chen - 215,000
Steve Wolff - 204,000
Erick Lindgren - 202,000
Abraham "Abe" Mosseri - 196,000
Chris Reslock - 195,000
Steve Sung - 194,000
Patrik Antonius - 190,000
Doug Ganger - 190,000
Farzad "Fred" Bonyadi - 185,000

Average Stack: 108,825

Big Hands and Storylines:

Hold’em

Good Start For Forrest

Erick Lindgren raised from middle position and action folded around to Ted Forrest in the big blind who made the call. The flop was J1010 and Forrest check-called a bet from Lindgren. The turn was the 7. Again Forrest checked and Lindgren bet. Forrest then raised and Lindgren called. Forrest bet the 4 river and Lindgren made the call. Forrest showed down KJ and took down a nice sized pot. Forrest is now just below the starting stack of 100,000. Lindgren is among the chip leaders with 200,000.

Horse Does Start With An “H”

Having been questioned about the situation by a few players, Jack Effel brought up the issue of whether the first game of each day should be hold’em or, instead, a game chosen by random draw. Effel asked for a show of hands from those who were in favor of a random game to start off each day. His request was met by only a meager show of hands, indicative more perhaps of the players ambivalence toward the situation than any real opinion. With such a lackluster show of hands, it appears that hold’em will be the game to start each of the days of this tournament. Mickey Appleman said it best, “Why complicate things?”

Omaha/8b

Fitoussi Gets Cut Out

Hasan Habib limped from early position and was joined on the flop by David Singer, Patrick Bueno, Michael Binger, and Bruno Fitoussi. The flop came AK2. Fitoussi checked, Habib bet, Singer and Bueno folded, Binger raised, and Fitoussi and Habib called. On the J turn, Fitoussi checked, Habib bet, Binger raised again, and Fitoussi and Habib called. The river was the 6. Again Fitoussi checked, Habib bet, and Binger and Fitoussi called. Habib showed A422 for the nut flush while Binger tabled 10543 for the nut low. Fitoussi showed... nothing. He mucked his hand quietly and shuffled his remaining 40,000 in chips. Habib has a more stable 80,000, and Binger has an even better 115,000.

Stud

“I Can’t Believe I Laid It Down!”

With boards reading:

Eli Elezra: Q10K2
Annie Duke: 3896

Elezra after leading out on 5^th street, checked his hand on 6^th street. Duke bet and Elezra went into the tank. After about 90 seconds of thinking, he flipped his upcards over and the conceded the pot to Duke. Apparently Elezra wasn’t too crushed by the lost pot, as he joked, “I can’t believe I laid that down. Two fours!” Elezra has about 85,000. Even with that pot Duke finds herself with only 30,000 in chips.

Stud/8b

Kaplan and Corkins Split Galfond’s Chips

Corkins: 7452
Kaplan: JQ104
Galfond: AK68

Hoyt Corkins completed with the 7 up, Gabe Kaplan called with the J, Phil Galfond raised with an A, and the two others called. Galfond led into his two elder statesmen on 4^th street and was called by both. 5^th street and 6^th street shared the same action: Galfond checked, Corkins bet, and Kaplan and Galfond both called. Corkins bet 7^th street and was raised by Kaplan, this put Galfond in a difficult position and he was forced to lay down his hand. A bit overeager, Kaplan flipped over his hand before Corkins made his decision. Corkins saw his opponent’s JJT  for a full house and made the call, showing A43 for a wheel. Corkins took down half of the pot, but was unlucky not to scoop it. After the hand, Corkins had 45,000, Kaplan 85,000, and Galfond 95,000.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Annie Duke,   Erick Lindgren,   Hasan Habib,   Ted Forrest,   Eli Elezra,   Gabe Kaplan,   Bruno Fitoussi,   Abe Mosseri,   Ray Dehkharghani,   Chris Reslock,   Steve Wolff,   Bill Chen,   Steve Sung,   Michael Binger,   Phil Galfond,   Doug Ganger

$50,000 H.O.R.S.E - Level 4

Jun 25, '08

Players are now on a 20 minute break

Blinds:
Hold'em: 600-1,200
Omaha 8: 600-1,200
Razz: 300 ante, 300 bring-in, 1,200 completion
Stud: 300 ante, 300 bring-in, 1,200 completion
Eight or Better: 300 ante, 300 bring-in, 1,200 completion

Chip Counts:
Ray Dehkharghani: 190,000
James Mackey: 185,000
Ralph Perry: 170,000
Shawn Sheikhan: 167,000
Chris Reslock: 152,000
Minh Ly: 152,000
Greg Mascio: 152,000
Steve Sung: 150,000
Rafi Amit: 150,000
Bill Chen: 148,000

Storylines:

The Drunken Fan

It's late, it's Vegas, and during the level a drunken spectator was thrilled to be able talk (yell) over the rail to Scotty Nguyen and express his admiration. Clearly excited to see poker's superstars in person, the man later noticed Tony G and began to tell Tony how great he is, to which Tony just smiled and gave two thumbs up. This made the drunk's night. Too bad he won't remember it in the morning...

Hold'em

Hansen Strong Out Of The Small Blind

David Williams raised and the player in seat 2 re-raised all preflop. Gus Hansen, sitting in the small blind, made the call and so did Williams. The flop came 1077, Hansen checked, David Williams checked and seat 2 bet out. Hansen quickly re-raised, Williams folded and seat 2 folded AK face up. Hansen didn't show and just raked his chips while talking about how he played the hand.

Friedman's Pair of Aces Beats Dwan

Perry Friedman bet and was called by Tom Dwan on every street of a A65108 board. Friedman flipped over A4 for a pair of aces, and it was good enough to take the pot.

Omaha 8

Mackey Takes One From Some Tough Competition

On a flop of A106 James Mackey checked and David Singer bet. Both Andy Bloch and Mackey made the call. The J came on the turn and Mackey checked again, allowing Singer to bet. Bloch made the call and Mackey said raise, then put in some more chips. Singer didn't hear Mackey say raise and the floor was called to the table. The dealer explained to the floorman that he did indeed hear Mackey say raise before he put his chips in, then he said it again while putting them in. The floorman said the raise stood and Singer and Bloch both made the call. The players checked the 3 river card and Mackey turned over AK4Q for the nut straight. When he saw Mackey's hand Bloch laughed and mucked. Singer also mucked and Mackey won a nice three-way pot again two of the better H.O.R.S.E players in the tournament. At the end of the level he sat with around 185,000 in chips.

Flack Scoops

Layne Flack raised from late position and was called by Hasan Habib, Justin Bonomo and John Cernuto. The flop came 973 and action was checked to Flack who bet out. Both Habib and Bonomo called, but Cernuto folded. The turn was the 10 and action was again checked to Flack who bet out. Both opponents made the call again and the river brought the 7. Action checked to Flack, he bet, Habib called and Bonomo folded.
Flack turned over 9-9-A-4, giving him a set of nines to scoop the entire pot.

Brown Missteps

The player in seat 2 bet the A108 flop and Chad Brown made the call. On the 2 turn card seat 2 bet and Brown raised. Both players checked the 4 river and Brown turned over A-8-4-6. His opponent showed A-10-5-7. There was some brief confusion as to who got what, but the dealer explained that Brown's opponent had the best two pair and low hand because Brown had not made a low hand.

Razz

Sheikhan Ready To Gamble

Shawn Sheikhan bet out on every street and was called by the player in seat 4. Their cards were:
Sheikhan: 4A23 (K-9-6)
Seat 4: 58J3 (A-4-8)

Sheikhan went ahead and bet blind after being dealt the final card. He showed a big hand - 6-low. Seat 4 paired his 8 on the end and Sheikhan took down a big pot.
After the hand Sheikhan told the table, "You guys want to gamble - I'll gamble."
Sheikhan had around 167,000 in chips.

Stud

Forrest Takes Monster Pot From Hellmuth

Ted Forrest bet every street and was called by Phil Hellmuth all the way down to seventh street. Hellmuth took off his sunglasses to look at his last down card. He put out a bet and started to put his shades back on but stopped dead in his tracks when Forrest raised him. A frustrated Hellmuth made the call and Forrest turned over his hand. Their cards were:
Forrest: QQ5A (Q-J-5)
Hellmuth: 764K (X-X-X)

Seeing Forrest's three queens, Hellmuth quietly slid his cards into the muck.

Stud 8

An Aggressive Galfond Bets Out Ivey and Williamson

Phil Galfond bet on fifth and sixth street and was called by Robert Williamson III and Phil Ivey. When Galfond led out on the end, Ivey mucked his hand and Williamson looked pained as he thought over his decision.
Galfond: AKQJ (X-X-X)
Ivey: 59QK
Williamson III: 82J9 (X-X-X)

Williamson eventually mucked, and Dwan started to infer about his friend Galfond's hand. Galfond smiled and the table laughed when he showed only one card - the 7.

Player Tags: Andy Bloch,   Hasan Habib,   Gus Hansen,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Shawn Sheikhan,   Phil Hellmuth,   David Singer,   Phil Ivey,   Perry Friedman,   David Williams,   James Mackey,   Justin Bonomo,   Robert Williamson III,   Tom Dwan

$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E - Day 2 - Level 6 Recap

Jun 26, '08

Stakes:
Hold’em/Omaha:  900-1,800 blinds
Stud/Razz/Stud8:  400 ante, 500 bring in, 1,800-3,600 stakes

Players Left: 136 of 148

Chip Leaders:
Ray Dehkharghani - 220,000
William Chen - 215,000
Steve Wolff - 204,000
Erick Lindgren - 202,000
Abraham "Abe" Mosseri - 196,000
Chris Reslock - 195,000
Steve Sung - 194,000
Patrik Antonius - 190,000
Doug Ganger - 190,000
Farzad "Fred" Bonyadi - 185,000

Average Stack: 108,825

Big Hands and Storylines:

Hold’em

Good Start For Forrest

Erick Lindgren raised from middle position and action folded around to Ted Forrest in the big blind who made the call. The flop was J1010 and Forrest check-called a bet from Lindgren. The turn was the 7. Again Forrest checked and Lindgren bet. Forrest then raised and Lindgren called. Forrest bet the 4 river and Lindgren made the call. Forrest showed down KJ and took down a nice sized pot. Forrest is now just below the starting stack of 100,000. Lindgren is among the chip leaders with 200,000.

Horse Does Start With An “H”

Having been questioned about the situation by a few players, Jack Effel brought up the issue of whether the first game of each day should be hold’em or, instead, a game chosen by random draw. Effel asked for a show of hands from those who were in favor of a random game to start off each day. His request was met by only a meager show of hands, indicative more perhaps of the players ambivalence toward the situation than any real opinion. With such a lackluster show of hands, it appears that hold’em will be the game to start each of the days of this tournament. Mickey Appleman said it best, “Why complicate things?”

Omaha/8b

Fitoussi Gets Cut Out

Hasan Habib limped from early position and was joined on the flop by David Singer, Patrick Bueno, Michael Binger, and Bruno Fitoussi. The flop came AK2. Fitoussi checked, Habib bet, Singer and Bueno folded, Binger raised, and Fitoussi and Habib called. On the J turn, Fitoussi checked, Habib bet, Binger raised again, and Fitoussi and Habib called. The river was the 6. Again Fitoussi checked, Habib bet, and Binger and Fitoussi called. Habib showed A422 for the nut flush while Binger tabled 10543 for the nut low. Fitoussi showed... nothing. He mucked his hand quietly and shuffled his remaining 40,000 in chips. Habib has a more stable 80,000, and Binger has an even better 115,000.

Stud

“I Can’t Believe I Laid It Down!”

With boards reading:

Eli Elezra: Q10K2
Annie Duke: 3896

Elezra after leading out on 5^th street, checked his hand on 6^th street. Duke bet and Elezra went into the tank. After about 90 seconds of thinking, he flipped his upcards over and the conceded the pot to Duke. Apparently Elezra wasn’t too crushed by the lost pot, as he joked, “I can’t believe I laid that down. Two fours!” Elezra has about 85,000. Even with that pot Duke finds herself with only 30,000 in chips.

Stud/8b

Kaplan and Corkins Split Galfond’s Chips

Corkins: 7452
Kaplan: JQ104
Galfond: AK68

Hoyt Corkins completed with the 7 up, Gabe Kaplan called with the J, Phil Galfond raised with an A, and the two others called. Galfond led into his two elder statesmen on 4^th street and was called by both. 5^th street and 6^th street shared the same action: Galfond checked, Corkins bet, and Kaplan and Galfond both called. Corkins bet 7^th street and was raised by Kaplan, this put Galfond in a difficult position and he was forced to lay down his hand. A bit overeager, Kaplan flipped over his hand before Corkins made his decision. Corkins saw his opponent’s JJT  for a full house and made the call, showing A43 for a wheel. Corkins took down half of the pot, but was unlucky not to scoop it. After the hand, Corkins had 45,000, Kaplan 85,000, and Galfond 95,000.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Annie Duke,   Erick Lindgren,   Hasan Habib,   Ted Forrest,   Eli Elezra,   Gabe Kaplan,   Bruno Fitoussi,   Abe Mosseri,   Ray Dehkharghani,   Chris Reslock,   Steve Wolff,   Bill Chen,   Steve Sung,   Michael Binger,   Phil Galfond,   Doug Ganger

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys - Level Ten Update

Jun 18, '08

Note: Play has ended for the day and will resume at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Blinds: 800-1,600

Players Remaining: 49 of 320

Average Chip Stack: 102,245

Chip Counts:

Daniel Makowsky - 397,000
Frank Vizza - 394,000
Kyle Kloeckner - 325,000
Kevin O'Donnell - 250,000
Thomas Wahlroos - 230,000
Jerrod Ankenman - 191,000
Layne Flack - 160,000
Ted Forrest - 158,000
Tim West - 155,000
Tino Lechich - 145,000

Eliminations:

Sorel Mizzi
Scott Clements
J.C. Tran
Gavin Griffin

Big Hands and Storylines:

Tournament director to table 5, again

To say that some of the players at table 5 are angry with one another would be an understatement. Early in the level, with Rami Boukai already all in, Sorel Mizzi bet enough on the river to put Nikolay Evdakov all in. The board was 10-8-5-J-K, and Evdakov took, according to players at his table, over 15 minutes before Mizzi called the clock. Boukai had already stormed out of the Amazon Room when the director ruled Evdakov's hand dead. At that point Mizzi said to call Boukai and tell him the main pot is his. Mizzi showed two nines and a missed draw and took the substantially larger side pot while people around him called him a sicko.

The rest of the level tensions were high at the table. Mizzi and other players called the clock often on Evdakov and another player. At one point players wanted to see a player's hole cards to know if he truly had a decision or was stalling. To end the day's play, a huge pot developed between Mizzi, Evdakov and Faniel Makowsky after a QJ9 flop. Mizzi bet, Makowsky raised pot, and after Evdakov folded he immediately called the clock on Mizzi out of spite. Mizzi then moved all in and Makowsky called.

Mizzi: JJQ8
Makowsky: AKT4
Board: QJ9AT

Makowsky's straight took down the pot and gave him the chip lead, while Mizzi headed to the rail, though not before saying something to Evdakov.

Shulman doubles up through Forrest

On a board of 10936, Jeff Shulman moved all in for just 2,200 and was called by Ted Forrest. Shulman held two nines for a set, while Forrest held K-Q-9-4 and needed a jack to catch a straight. The river was the 2 and Shulman doubled up to 35,000 chips. Forrest finished the day with about 160,000 chips.

Griffin loses to quads, eliminated soon after

In the blinds, Gavin Griffin and Jerrod Ankenman ended up playing a huge pot. With the board J-8-5-5, Ankenman check-raised and then moved all in when a nine came on the river. Griffin called and lost out to Ankenman's pocket fives for four of a kind. The blow didn't quite knock Griffin out, but soon afterward he was heading for the exit.

Flack gets revenge

After Steve Ware doubled up through Layne Flack with a set against two pair, the two were at it again. With the board showing Q424, Ware bet 33,000 and was called, and then bet a similar amount again when the 7 came on the turn. Flack called again and Ware showed A-Q. Flack held K-K-A-J and took down the pot.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Rami Boukai,   Gavin Griffin,   Sorel Mizzi,   Jerrod Ankenman

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys - Level Seven Update

Jun 18, '08

Blinds: 400-800

Players Remaining: 98 of 320

Eliminations:

Daniel Alaei
Robert Williamson III

Big Hands and Storylines:

Outlook Grey after overplaying aces

After David Grey limped under the gun, Brandon Cantu raised to 3,400 from middle position and the small blind and Grey both called. The flop came 982 and the player in the small blind bet out pot. Grey moved all in and Cantu folded. Grey held 9-9-J-7 for top set, while his opponent just had two aces with jack and three. The turn and river were blanks and Grey was up to over 100,000 chips after the hand.

Gowen catches cards to add to stack

Clonie Gowen called an opponent who had moved all in and was in serious trouble. The flop was 8-6-4 and Gowen held a pair of aces to her opponent's set of eights. But the turn and river were hearts, and Gowen made the nut flush to steal the pot. Gowen ended the level with about 110,000 chips.

Williams wins after exciting flop

Jeff Williams called an opponent's all in raise with K-K-8-2 and was up against AQJ4. After the flop of K-10-6 with two hearts, it was still close to even. But the turn and river were blanks, and Williams was up to 80,000 chips.

Forrest and Alaei clash twice

After Daniel Alaei raised under the gun and got one caller, Ted Forrest reraised from the small blind. Both players called Forrest and the three saw a K43 flop. Forrest bet 15,000 after thinking for about five minutes and both players folded. At the time Forrest had 65,000 chips while Alaei had 40,000.

A short time later, Forrest bet out over 25,000 into a A954 board and Alaei, after thinking for a few minutes, moved all in for just 1,600 more. Forrest called with A-9-10-J, well ahead of Alaei's A-Q-6-5. The river was a 10, and Forrest took the pot to move up to over 100,000 chips.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Clonie Gowen,   David Grey,   Daniel Alaei,   Jeff Williams

$1,500 PLO w/ Rebuys - Level 4

Jun 18, '08

Blinds/Antes: 150-300

Entrants: Approx. 320

Chip Counts:
Layne Flack: 134,000
J.C. Tran: 60,000
Daniel Alaei: 55,000
Sherkhan Farnood: 48,000
Phil Ivey: 47,000
David Grey: 46,000
Michael Gracz: 45,000
Jacobo Fernandez: 42,000
David Ulliot: 40,000
Peter Gould: 40,000

Big Hands and Storylines:

As expected, now that the rebuy period is overplay has tightened up considerably. But that's not stopping players from meeting their ends at the table.

Ly Plays With the Shulmans

Jeff Shulman is seated at the same table as his father, Barry Shulman. Early in the level, Jeff and Minh Ly called seat 4's all in bet on a board of 522A8. Jeff showed down AJ86 for two pair, aces and deuces, and a busted nut flush draw. Ly showed 7643 for the wheel and the player in seat 4 was eliminated.

Forrest Survives

Ted Forrest was all in preflop and called by by Noah Boeken. Forrest showed AA32 and Boeken showed A-K-Q-J. The board came out Q9X-7X-K6, giving Boeken two pair on the turn but Forrest hit the flush on the river to double up.

Haxton Lets It Go

Isaac Haxton bet 1,600 on a board of AKQ6 and the player in seat 9 made the call. The river was the 6 and Haxton led out 4,500. Seat nine reraised over the top all in and Haxton laid his hand down. Seat 9 showed A-A-Q-7 for a flopped set of aces.

Tran Chipping Up

J.C. Tran called a bet of 3,500 on a Q102Q board and all players checked the river K. Tran showed AQJ9 for the straight and scooped the pot and climbed to 60,000.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Jeff Shulman,   Minh Ly,   Ted Forrest,   Barry Shulman,   Noah Boeken,   Isaac Haxton,   European Report

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys - Day 2 - Level 16 Recap

Jun 19, '08

Note: The players are now on a 20-minute break

Blinds: 5,000-10,000

Players Left:  12 of 320

Chip Leaders:
Kyle Kloeckner - 865,000
Michael Guzzardi - 810,000
Jacobo Fernandez - 450,000
Frank Vizza - 395,000
Ted Forrest - 380,000
Dario Alioto - 375,000
Tim West - 340,000
Kevin O'Donnell - 300,000
Daniel Makowsky - 274,000
Layne Flack - 265,000

Average Stack: 417,500

Eliminations:
13^th – Francisco Azares
14^th – Thomas Wahlroos
15^th – Tino Lechich
16^th – Nathan Doudney
17^th – Jerrod Ankenman
18^th – Steve Saris

Big Hands and Storylines:

Kyle Kloeckner Eliminates Nathan Doudney

Tim West Raised to 35,000 pre-flop and was called by Kyle Kloeckner, Nathan Hagens, and Nathan Doudney. On a flop of 633, West checked, Kloeckner checked, and Hagens checked. When action came around to Doudney, he didn’t think for too long before betting 100,000. West quickly folded, but Klockner, perhaps suspecting Doudney of a steal, raised to 300,000. Hagens folded and Doudney quickly moved all-in for his final 60,000. Kloeckner, priced in, made the call with KJJ9. Doudney turned over a full house: 6375. Kloeckner, drawing to only a jack, had scarcely asked his tablemates if any of them had folded a jack when the dealer flipped up the turn: J! Things had turned upside-down for Doudney and now he was looking for the last trey in the deck to win the pot. Not only was the river not the case trey to save Doudney, but it was the case jack.

I guess that answers Kloeckner’s question.

After raking in the pot and stacking his chips, it appears that Kloeckner is our new chip leader with 865,000.

Thomas Wahlroos Eliminates Tino Lechich

Thomas Wahlroos raised to 35,000 pre-flop and Francisco Azares made it 110,000. Tino Lechich said, “Alright. You’ve got one.” Before moving his final 50,000 all-in. Wahlroos chimed in, “You’ve got two,” and, covered by Azares’s bet, moved all-in. The three revealed their hands:

Azares: KK52
Lechich: AKJJ
Wahlroos: AA102

The flop was a very safe one for Wahlroos: 993. The turn 6 was nearly as innocuous, though it gave Azares a gutshot straight-draw. When the river blanked, Wahlroos was jolted up to 190,000 while Azares was left with only 90,000; Azares would be eliminated only a short time later.

Michael Guzzardi Eliminates Thomas Wahlroos

Michael Guzzardi raised to 25,000 from early position and was called by three players: Thomas Wahlroos in late position, and Layne Flack and Kevin O’Donnell in the blinds. The flop came Q106 and the blinds checked. Guzzardi bet 65,000 and Wahlroos almost instantly moved his stack of 163,000 into the pot. Flack insta-folded but O’Donnell had a much tougher decision to make. “I wish I knew the math like you guys. I should have gone to school,” said O’Donnell. Eventually O’Donnell folded, and that decision turned out to be the right one as Guzzardi called and showed  AJ87 for the nut flush. Wahlroos showed QQ77 for top set, and was hoping to fill up on a later street. Unfortunately for Wahlroos the turn and river came 8 and 2 and, not long after his double-up, he was eliminated. Guzzardi now has 810,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Tino Lechich,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Kevin O'Donnell,   Thomas Wahlroos,   Nathan Doudney,   Dario Alioto,   Tim West,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Daniel Makowsky,   Jerrod Ankenman,   Kyle Kloeckner,   Steven Saris,   Michael Guzzardi,   Francisco Azares

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys - Day 2 - Level 15 Recap

Jun 19, '08

Blinds: 4,000-8,000

Players Left:  19 of 320

Chip Leaders:
Michael Guzzardi - 500,000
Kyle Kloeckner - 460,000
Jacobo Fernandez - 450,000
Frank Vizza - 410,000
Ted Forrest - 380,000
Tim "tmay420" West - 375,000
Layne Flack - 280,000
Kevin O'Donnell - 275,000
Thomas Wahlroos - 270,000
Nathan Doudney - 222,000

Average Stack: 260,000

Eliminations:
Erik Seidel
Jeff Williams
Johannes Strassman
Julian Powell
Loren Klein

Big Hands and Storylines:

Jacobo Moving Toward Final Table Number Three

Jacobo Fernandez just brushed aside another pesky impediment standing in the way of his third final table at this year’s World Series. This time the impediment came in the form of Loren Klein. Fernandez and Klein got their chips all in on a flop of K73. Fernandez showed KKJ4 for top set while Klein tabled AAQ6 for a pair of aces. The turn and river were the 3 and 6 and just like that Jacobo made another addition to his growing stack of chips. He currently has 450,000.

Forrest on Fire

Ted Forrest just added to his growing stack in a hand against Frank Vizza. Forrest raised to 25,000 from late position and Vizza called from the button. The flop came AQJ and Forrest checked. Vizza bet 45,000 and Forrest called him. Both players checked the T turn and Forrest bet out big – a pot-sized bet – on the river 2. Vizza tanked, focusing on the newly dealt river card, but eventually laid his hand down. That pot takes Forrest up to a commanding 380,000.

Azares Does in the Powell

Ted Forrest limped in late position and Julian Powell and Francisco Azares in the blinds joined him in seeing a 764 flop. Powell bet 20,000, leaving himself only about 5,000 behind. Azares, short stacked himself, made a pot-sized raise that put him all-in. Forrest mucked his hand and the two showed their cards:

Powell: AJ87
Azares: AK54

Powell had top pair and a jack-high flush draw along with 3 outs to a straight. Azares though had the nut flush draw along with an open-ended straight-draw. The turn was the 6 and Powell was still ahead with two-pair, but a 2 on the river sent the Aussie packing. By adding Powell’s few chips to his collection, Azares is now up to 120,000 on the day.

Player Tags: Erik Seidel,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Loren Klein,   Thomas Wahlroos,   Nathan Doudney,   Tim West,   Johannes Strassmann,   Julian Powell,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Jeff Williams,   Kyle Kloeckner,   Michael Guzzardi,   Francisco Azares

On the Bubble

Jun 19, '08

Note: Almost all of level 13 was played hand-for-hand after the elimination of Jared Bleznick in 38th place. The bubble had not burst by the end of the level.

Blinds: 2,000-4,000

Players Left: 37 of 320

Chip Leaders:

Kyle Kloeckner: 475,000
Daniel Makowsky: 347,000
Ted Forrest: 345,000
Frank Vizza: 310,000
Jerrod Ankenman: 308,000
Steven Saris: 270,000
Layne Flack: 220,000
Thomas Wahlroos: 215,000
Loren Klein: 210,000
Nathan Doudney: 210,000

Average Stack: 135,405

Big Hands:

Forrest Owning Hand for Hand

Ted Forrest and Francisco Azares saw a flop of QQ2. Both checked and the turn was the A. Forrest led out with 16,000 and Azares mucked his hand, but the two would meet again later.

On a board of K96, Ted Forrest announced bet the pot and Azares made the call. The turn was the 2 and Forrest fired another shot, this one 21,000. Azares made the call again and the river came down with the J. Forrest bet the pot, 55,000. Azares went into the tank. Players from the other tables waiting for the hand to finish gathered around, waiting for Azares to make his decision. He finally mucked, and Forrest took another pot.

A few hands later, the flop came down Q75. Forrest bet the pot and Benjamin Hamnett made the call. The turn was the K and both players checked. The river was the 7 and Forrest bet 15,000. Hamnett called again and Forrest turned over 8746 for a set of sevens and Hamnett mucked.

Gowen Pounded Down

On a board of 935. Francisco Azares bet 15,000 and Clonie Gowen made the call. The A landed on the turn and both players checked. The river was the 2 and Gowen checked to Azares. He went ahead and bet 26,000. Gowen went into the tank and finally flung her call into the pot. Azares 64JJ for a rivered straight. Gowen held her hand up to her face, then threw it into the muck. She told the table she had a set of nines. She was down to 40,000 after the loss.









 

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Clonie Gowen

The Forrest is on Fire

Jun 19, '08

Blinds: 1,000-2,000

Players Left: 42 of 320

Chip Leaders:

Frank Vizza: 408,000
Daniel Makowsky: 397,500
Kyle Kloeckner: 343,500
Kevin O'Donnell: 300,000
Ted Forrest: 240,000
Thomas Wahlroos: 237,000
Jerrod Ankenman: 215,000
Layne Flack: 189,500
Steven Saris: 183,00
Nathan Doudney: 181,000

Average Stack: 119,286

Eliminations: Jared Hamby, Dan Adams, Mats Rahmn, Marc Goodwin

Big Hands:

Full House, Sir?

"Do you have a full house," whispered Jared Hamby to his opponent, Layne Flack. Hamby had just led out on the river on a board of KJ10AA for 8,000, and Flack had raised him to 30,000, almost the rest of his remaining stack. Flack threw back his head and laughed. "That's a question I'd never thought I'd get asked right there," said Flack. Hamby finally elected to call, and Flack showed the bad news: AJ for aces full. After the hand Flack was up to close to 190,000, while Hamby had just about 6,500. He was eliminated a short while later.

Battle of the Surnames

Kyle Bowker moved all in for his last 9,000 and was called by Kyle Kloeckner. It was pretty much a race, with Bowker holding AKQ10 versus Koecker's 9877. The flop was bad for Bowker, as Kloeckner hit his set on a board of 872, although it did give him outs to a flush. But the 8 had him drawing pretty well dead. Kloeckner, meanwhile, is second in the tournament in chips with about 345,000 in chips.

Adams Can't See the Forrest for the Trees

Ted Forrest raised to 5,000 preflop. The player in seat 1 called, as did Dan Adams. The flop came A83 and all players checked. The turn was the 7 and Adams checked to Forrest. He proceeded to fire 15,000. Seat 1 made the call and Adams came over the top for his entire stack. Forrest made the quick call and seat 1 got out of the way. The hands were then turned up.

Forrest: AAJ3
Adams: KJ109

Forrest had top set while Adams had possibilities galore. He had an open ended straight draw to go with his gutshot straight flush draw. But the river was the 8, breaking the lead of Adams' drawing pencil and putting Forrest on a boat with the eight's doing the paddling with the rest of Adams' chips as passengers.

Wahlroos Forces Out Fernandez

Jacobo Fernandez made it 5,000 to go preflop. Thomas Wahlroos made the call and the flop came 1035. Both players checked and the turn brought the 3. Wahlroos took the initiative and fired 15,000 into the pot and Fernandez mucked. Wahlroos moved up to 237,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Kyle Bowker,   Jared Hamby,   Kyle Kloeckner,   European Report

PLO w/Rebuys - Final Table - Ted Forrest Eliminated

Jun 20, '08

Blinds: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 4 of 320

Chip Counts:

Layne Flack: 1,975,000
Dario Alioto: 1,320,000
Jacobo Fernandez: 985,000
Daniel Makowsky: 830,000

Eliminations:

Kyle Kloeckner: 6th Place ($114,338)
Ted Forrest: 5th Place ($144,428)

Kyle Kloeckner Eliminated in Sixth Place ($114,338)

A flop of 622 sat on the table when Kyle Koeckner, Layne Flack, and Daniel Makowsky all checked. The turn brought the K and Kloeckner checked, Flack bet 80,000, Makowsky mucked, and Kloeckner raised all in. Flack made the call and they exposed their cards:

Kloeckner: K852
Flack: 7665

River: A

Kloeckner was eliminated on the hand, and he took home $114,338 in prize money.

Ted Forrest Eliminated in Fifth Place ($144,428)

Ted Forrest raised to 130,000 preflop and Makowsky made the call. Jacobo Fernandez also called and the flop was dealt J74. Makowsky bet the pot (390,000) and Fernandez mucked. Forrest called all in and they turned up their hands:

Forrest: AK98
Makowsky: JJ55

Turn and River: 58

Forrest was eliminated in fifth place, and he took home $144,428 in prize money.

 

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Daniel Makowsky,   Kyle Kloeckner,   European Report

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys - Level Ten Update

Jun 18, '08

Note: Play has ended for the day and will resume at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Blinds: 800-1,600

Players Remaining: 49 of 320

Average Chip Stack: 102,245

Chip Counts:

Daniel Makowsky - 397,000
Frank Vizza - 394,000
Kyle Kloeckner - 325,000
Kevin O'Donnell - 250,000
Thomas Wahlroos - 230,000
Jerrod Ankenman - 191,000
Layne Flack - 160,000
Ted Forrest - 158,000
Tim West - 155,000
Tino Lechich - 145,000

Eliminations:

Sorel Mizzi
Scott Clements
J.C. Tran
Gavin Griffin

Big Hands and Storylines:

Tournament director to table 5, again

To say that some of the players at table 5 are angry with one another would be an understatement. Early in the level, with Rami Boukai already all in, Sorel Mizzi bet enough on the river to put Nikolay Evdakov all in. The board was 10-8-5-J-K, and Evdakov took, according to players at his table, over 15 minutes before Mizzi called the clock. Boukai had already stormed out of the Amazon Room when the director ruled Evdakov's hand dead. At that point Mizzi said to call Boukai and tell him the main pot is his. Mizzi showed two nines and a missed draw and took the substantially larger side pot while people around him called him a sicko.

The rest of the level tensions were high at the table. Mizzi and other players called the clock often on Evdakov and another player. At one point players wanted to see a player's hole cards to know if he truly had a decision or was stalling. To end the day's play, a huge pot developed between Mizzi, Evdakov and Faniel Makowsky after a QJ9 flop. Mizzi bet, Makowsky raised pot, and after Evdakov folded he immediately called the clock on Mizzi out of spite. Mizzi then moved all in and Makowsky called.

Mizzi: JJQ8
Makowsky: AKT4
Board: QJ9AT

Makowsky's straight took down the pot and gave him the chip lead, while Mizzi headed to the rail, though not before saying something to Evdakov.

Shulman doubles up through Forrest

On a board of 10936, Jeff Shulman moved all in for just 2,200 and was called by Ted Forrest. Shulman held two nines for a set, while Forrest held K-Q-9-4 and needed a jack to catch a straight. The river was the 2 and Shulman doubled up to 35,000 chips. Forrest finished the day with about 160,000 chips.

Griffin loses to quads, eliminated soon after

In the blinds, Gavin Griffin and Jerrod Ankenman ended up playing a huge pot. With the board J-8-5-5, Ankenman check-raised and then moved all in when a nine came on the river. Griffin called and lost out to Ankenman's pocket fives for four of a kind. The blow didn't quite knock Griffin out, but soon afterward he was heading for the exit.

Flack gets revenge

After Steve Ware doubled up through Layne Flack with a set against two pair, the two were at it again. With the board showing Q424, Ware bet 33,000 and was called, and then bet a similar amount again when the 7 came on the turn. Flack called again and Ware showed A-Q. Flack held K-K-A-J and took down the pot.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Rami Boukai,   Gavin Griffin,   Sorel Mizzi,   Jerrod Ankenman

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys - Level Seven Update

Jun 18, '08

Blinds: 400-800

Players Remaining: 98 of 320

Eliminations:

Daniel Alaei
Robert Williamson III

Big Hands and Storylines:

Outlook Grey after overplaying aces

After David Grey limped under the gun, Brandon Cantu raised to 3,400 from middle position and the small blind and Grey both called. The flop came 982 and the player in the small blind bet out pot. Grey moved all in and Cantu folded. Grey held 9-9-J-7 for top set, while his opponent just had two aces with jack and three. The turn and river were blanks and Grey was up to over 100,000 chips after the hand.

Gowen catches cards to add to stack

Clonie Gowen called an opponent who had moved all in and was in serious trouble. The flop was 8-6-4 and Gowen held a pair of aces to her opponent's set of eights. But the turn and river were hearts, and Gowen made the nut flush to steal the pot. Gowen ended the level with about 110,000 chips.

Williams wins after exciting flop

Jeff Williams called an opponent's all in raise with K-K-8-2 and was up against AQJ4. After the flop of K-10-6 with two hearts, it was still close to even. But the turn and river were blanks, and Williams was up to 80,000 chips.

Forrest and Alaei clash twice

After Daniel Alaei raised under the gun and got one caller, Ted Forrest reraised from the small blind. Both players called Forrest and the three saw a K43 flop. Forrest bet 15,000 after thinking for about five minutes and both players folded. At the time Forrest had 65,000 chips while Alaei had 40,000.

A short time later, Forrest bet out over 25,000 into a A954 board and Alaei, after thinking for a few minutes, moved all in for just 1,600 more. Forrest called with A-9-10-J, well ahead of Alaei's A-Q-6-5. The river was a 10, and Forrest took the pot to move up to over 100,000 chips.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Clonie Gowen,   David Grey,   Daniel Alaei,   Jeff Williams

$1,500 PLO w/ Rebuys - Level 4

Jun 18, '08

Blinds/Antes: 150-300

Entrants: Approx. 320

Chip Counts:
Layne Flack: 134,000
J.C. Tran: 60,000
Daniel Alaei: 55,000
Sherkhan Farnood: 48,000
Phil Ivey: 47,000
David Grey: 46,000
Michael Gracz: 45,000
Jacobo Fernandez: 42,000
David Ulliot: 40,000
Peter Gould: 40,000

Big Hands and Storylines:

As expected, now that the rebuy period is overplay has tightened up considerably. But that's not stopping players from meeting their ends at the table.

Ly Plays With the Shulmans

Jeff Shulman is seated at the same table as his father, Barry Shulman. Early in the level, Jeff and Minh Ly called seat 4's all in bet on a board of 522A8. Jeff showed down AJ86 for two pair, aces and deuces, and a busted nut flush draw. Ly showed 7643 for the wheel and the player in seat 4 was eliminated.

Forrest Survives

Ted Forrest was all in preflop and called by by Noah Boeken. Forrest showed AA32 and Boeken showed A-K-Q-J. The board came out Q9X-7X-K6, giving Boeken two pair on the turn but Forrest hit the flush on the river to double up.

Haxton Lets It Go

Isaac Haxton bet 1,600 on a board of AKQ6 and the player in seat 9 made the call. The river was the 6 and Haxton led out 4,500. Seat nine reraised over the top all in and Haxton laid his hand down. Seat 9 showed A-A-Q-7 for a flopped set of aces.

Tran Chipping Up

J.C. Tran called a bet of 3,500 on a Q102Q board and all players checked the river K. Tran showed AQJ9 for the straight and scooped the pot and climbed to 60,000.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Jeff Shulman,   Minh Ly,   Ted Forrest,   Barry Shulman,   Noah Boeken,   Isaac Haxton,   European Report

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys - Day 2 - Level 16 Recap

Jun 19, '08

Note: The players are now on a 20-minute break

Blinds: 5,000-10,000

Players Left:  12 of 320

Chip Leaders:
Kyle Kloeckner - 865,000
Michael Guzzardi - 810,000
Jacobo Fernandez - 450,000
Frank Vizza - 395,000
Ted Forrest - 380,000
Dario Alioto - 375,000
Tim West - 340,000
Kevin O'Donnell - 300,000
Daniel Makowsky - 274,000
Layne Flack - 265,000

Average Stack: 417,500

Eliminations:
13^th – Francisco Azares
14^th – Thomas Wahlroos
15^th – Tino Lechich
16^th – Nathan Doudney
17^th – Jerrod Ankenman
18^th – Steve Saris

Big Hands and Storylines:

Kyle Kloeckner Eliminates Nathan Doudney

Tim West Raised to 35,000 pre-flop and was called by Kyle Kloeckner, Nathan Hagens, and Nathan Doudney. On a flop of 633, West checked, Kloeckner checked, and Hagens checked. When action came around to Doudney, he didn’t think for too long before betting 100,000. West quickly folded, but Klockner, perhaps suspecting Doudney of a steal, raised to 300,000. Hagens folded and Doudney quickly moved all-in for his final 60,000. Kloeckner, priced in, made the call with KJJ9. Doudney turned over a full house: 6375. Kloeckner, drawing to only a jack, had scarcely asked his tablemates if any of them had folded a jack when the dealer flipped up the turn: J! Things had turned upside-down for Doudney and now he was looking for the last trey in the deck to win the pot. Not only was the river not the case trey to save Doudney, but it was the case jack.

I guess that answers Kloeckner’s question.

After raking in the pot and stacking his chips, it appears that Kloeckner is our new chip leader with 865,000.

Thomas Wahlroos Eliminates Tino Lechich

Thomas Wahlroos raised to 35,000 pre-flop and Francisco Azares made it 110,000. Tino Lechich said, “Alright. You’ve got one.” Before moving his final 50,000 all-in. Wahlroos chimed in, “You’ve got two,” and, covered by Azares’s bet, moved all-in. The three revealed their hands:

Azares: KK52
Lechich: AKJJ
Wahlroos: AA102

The flop was a very safe one for Wahlroos: 993. The turn 6 was nearly as innocuous, though it gave Azares a gutshot straight-draw. When the river blanked, Wahlroos was jolted up to 190,000 while Azares was left with only 90,000; Azares would be eliminated only a short time later.

Michael Guzzardi Eliminates Thomas Wahlroos

Michael Guzzardi raised to 25,000 from early position and was called by three players: Thomas Wahlroos in late position, and Layne Flack and Kevin O’Donnell in the blinds. The flop came Q106 and the blinds checked. Guzzardi bet 65,000 and Wahlroos almost instantly moved his stack of 163,000 into the pot. Flack insta-folded but O’Donnell had a much tougher decision to make. “I wish I knew the math like you guys. I should have gone to school,” said O’Donnell. Eventually O’Donnell folded, and that decision turned out to be the right one as Guzzardi called and showed  AJ87 for the nut flush. Wahlroos showed QQ77 for top set, and was hoping to fill up on a later street. Unfortunately for Wahlroos the turn and river came 8 and 2 and, not long after his double-up, he was eliminated. Guzzardi now has 810,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Tino Lechich,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Kevin O'Donnell,   Thomas Wahlroos,   Nathan Doudney,   Dario Alioto,   Tim West,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Daniel Makowsky,   Jerrod Ankenman,   Kyle Kloeckner,   Steven Saris,   Michael Guzzardi,   Francisco Azares

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys - Day 2 - Level 15 Recap

Jun 19, '08

Blinds: 4,000-8,000

Players Left:  19 of 320

Chip Leaders:
Michael Guzzardi - 500,000
Kyle Kloeckner - 460,000
Jacobo Fernandez - 450,000
Frank Vizza - 410,000
Ted Forrest - 380,000
Tim "tmay420" West - 375,000
Layne Flack - 280,000
Kevin O'Donnell - 275,000
Thomas Wahlroos - 270,000
Nathan Doudney - 222,000

Average Stack: 260,000

Eliminations:
Erik Seidel
Jeff Williams
Johannes Strassman
Julian Powell
Loren Klein

Big Hands and Storylines:

Jacobo Moving Toward Final Table Number Three

Jacobo Fernandez just brushed aside another pesky impediment standing in the way of his third final table at this year’s World Series. This time the impediment came in the form of Loren Klein. Fernandez and Klein got their chips all in on a flop of K73. Fernandez showed KKJ4 for top set while Klein tabled AAQ6 for a pair of aces. The turn and river were the 3 and 6 and just like that Jacobo made another addition to his growing stack of chips. He currently has 450,000.

Forrest on Fire

Ted Forrest just added to his growing stack in a hand against Frank Vizza. Forrest raised to 25,000 from late position and Vizza called from the button. The flop came AQJ and Forrest checked. Vizza bet 45,000 and Forrest called him. Both players checked the T turn and Forrest bet out big – a pot-sized bet – on the river 2. Vizza tanked, focusing on the newly dealt river card, but eventually laid his hand down. That pot takes Forrest up to a commanding 380,000.

Azares Does in the Powell

Ted Forrest limped in late position and Julian Powell and Francisco Azares in the blinds joined him in seeing a 764 flop. Powell bet 20,000, leaving himself only about 5,000 behind. Azares, short stacked himself, made a pot-sized raise that put him all-in. Forrest mucked his hand and the two showed their cards:

Powell: AJ87
Azares: AK54

Powell had top pair and a jack-high flush draw along with 3 outs to a straight. Azares though had the nut flush draw along with an open-ended straight-draw. The turn was the 6 and Powell was still ahead with two-pair, but a 2 on the river sent the Aussie packing. By adding Powell’s few chips to his collection, Azares is now up to 120,000 on the day.

Player Tags: Erik Seidel,   Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Loren Klein,   Thomas Wahlroos,   Nathan Doudney,   Tim West,   Johannes Strassmann,   Julian Powell,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Jeff Williams,   Kyle Kloeckner,   Michael Guzzardi,   Francisco Azares

On the Bubble

Jun 19, '08

Note: Almost all of level 13 was played hand-for-hand after the elimination of Jared Bleznick in 38th place. The bubble had not burst by the end of the level.

Blinds: 2,000-4,000

Players Left: 37 of 320

Chip Leaders:

Kyle Kloeckner: 475,000
Daniel Makowsky: 347,000
Ted Forrest: 345,000
Frank Vizza: 310,000
Jerrod Ankenman: 308,000
Steven Saris: 270,000
Layne Flack: 220,000
Thomas Wahlroos: 215,000
Loren Klein: 210,000
Nathan Doudney: 210,000

Average Stack: 135,405

Big Hands:

Forrest Owning Hand for Hand

Ted Forrest and Francisco Azares saw a flop of QQ2. Both checked and the turn was the A. Forrest led out with 16,000 and Azares mucked his hand, but the two would meet again later.

On a board of K96, Ted Forrest announced bet the pot and Azares made the call. The turn was the 2 and Forrest fired another shot, this one 21,000. Azares made the call again and the river came down with the J. Forrest bet the pot, 55,000. Azares went into the tank. Players from the other tables waiting for the hand to finish gathered around, waiting for Azares to make his decision. He finally mucked, and Forrest took another pot.

A few hands later, the flop came down Q75. Forrest bet the pot and Benjamin Hamnett made the call. The turn was the K and both players checked. The river was the 7 and Forrest bet 15,000. Hamnett called again and Forrest turned over 8746 for a set of sevens and Hamnett mucked.

Gowen Pounded Down

On a board of 935. Francisco Azares bet 15,000 and Clonie Gowen made the call. The A landed on the turn and both players checked. The river was the 2 and Gowen checked to Azares. He went ahead and bet 26,000. Gowen went into the tank and finally flung her call into the pot. Azares 64JJ for a rivered straight. Gowen held her hand up to her face, then threw it into the muck. She told the table she had a set of nines. She was down to 40,000 after the loss.









 

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Clonie Gowen

The Forrest is on Fire

Jun 19, '08

Blinds: 1,000-2,000

Players Left: 42 of 320

Chip Leaders:

Frank Vizza: 408,000
Daniel Makowsky: 397,500
Kyle Kloeckner: 343,500
Kevin O'Donnell: 300,000
Ted Forrest: 240,000
Thomas Wahlroos: 237,000
Jerrod Ankenman: 215,000
Layne Flack: 189,500
Steven Saris: 183,00
Nathan Doudney: 181,000

Average Stack: 119,286

Eliminations: Jared Hamby, Dan Adams, Mats Rahmn, Marc Goodwin

Big Hands:

Full House, Sir?

"Do you have a full house," whispered Jared Hamby to his opponent, Layne Flack. Hamby had just led out on the river on a board of KJ10AA for 8,000, and Flack had raised him to 30,000, almost the rest of his remaining stack. Flack threw back his head and laughed. "That's a question I'd never thought I'd get asked right there," said Flack. Hamby finally elected to call, and Flack showed the bad news: AJ for aces full. After the hand Flack was up to close to 190,000, while Hamby had just about 6,500. He was eliminated a short while later.

Battle of the Surnames

Kyle Bowker moved all in for his last 9,000 and was called by Kyle Kloeckner. It was pretty much a race, with Bowker holding AKQ10 versus Koecker's 9877. The flop was bad for Bowker, as Kloeckner hit his set on a board of 872, although it did give him outs to a flush. But the 8 had him drawing pretty well dead. Kloeckner, meanwhile, is second in the tournament in chips with about 345,000 in chips.

Adams Can't See the Forrest for the Trees

Ted Forrest raised to 5,000 preflop. The player in seat 1 called, as did Dan Adams. The flop came A83 and all players checked. The turn was the 7 and Adams checked to Forrest. He proceeded to fire 15,000. Seat 1 made the call and Adams came over the top for his entire stack. Forrest made the quick call and seat 1 got out of the way. The hands were then turned up.

Forrest: AAJ3
Adams: KJ109

Forrest had top set while Adams had possibilities galore. He had an open ended straight draw to go with his gutshot straight flush draw. But the river was the 8, breaking the lead of Adams' drawing pencil and putting Forrest on a boat with the eight's doing the paddling with the rest of Adams' chips as passengers.

Wahlroos Forces Out Fernandez

Jacobo Fernandez made it 5,000 to go preflop. Thomas Wahlroos made the call and the flop came 1035. Both players checked and the turn brought the 3. Wahlroos took the initiative and fired 15,000 into the pot and Fernandez mucked. Wahlroos moved up to 237,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Kyle Bowker,   Jared Hamby,   Kyle Kloeckner,   European Report

PLO w/Rebuys - Final Table - Ted Forrest Eliminated

Jun 20, '08

Blinds: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 4 of 320

Chip Counts:

Layne Flack: 1,975,000
Dario Alioto: 1,320,000
Jacobo Fernandez: 985,000
Daniel Makowsky: 830,000

Eliminations:

Kyle Kloeckner: 6th Place ($114,338)
Ted Forrest: 5th Place ($144,428)

Kyle Kloeckner Eliminated in Sixth Place ($114,338)

A flop of 622 sat on the table when Kyle Koeckner, Layne Flack, and Daniel Makowsky all checked. The turn brought the K and Kloeckner checked, Flack bet 80,000, Makowsky mucked, and Kloeckner raised all in. Flack made the call and they exposed their cards:

Kloeckner: K852
Flack: 7665

River: A

Kloeckner was eliminated on the hand, and he took home $114,338 in prize money.

Ted Forrest Eliminated in Fifth Place ($144,428)

Ted Forrest raised to 130,000 preflop and Makowsky made the call. Jacobo Fernandez also called and the flop was dealt J74. Makowsky bet the pot (390,000) and Fernandez mucked. Forrest called all in and they turned up their hands:

Forrest: AK98
Makowsky: JJ55

Turn and River: 58

Forrest was eliminated in fifth place, and he took home $144,428 in prize money.

 

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Layne Flack,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Daniel Makowsky,   Kyle Kloeckner,   European Report