Michael McKenna Poker Tournament Updates

$10,000 Main Event - Day 2A - Level 6

Jul 08, '08

Blinds/Antes: 250-500, 50 ante

Eliminations:

Anna Wroblewski
Phillip Hilm

Big Hands and Storylines:

Scotty Nguyen Pulls a Hellmuth

Dodging through the masses of spectators in the Amazon Room, Scotty Nguyen scrambled to his seat – seat 1, table 1 in the orange section – 30 minutes into level 1. Nguyen explained to the table and all of the people on the rail that he was late not for any fashionable purpose, but because he thought that he was playing tomorrow. “I’m serious,” Nguyen said, “Lucky my wife waked me up.” Despite starting his day off on a bit of an off note, Nguyen remains in very high spirits.

Anna Wroblewski Crippled, Eliminated

On a 3-handed flop of 1075 an early position player checked and the middle player made a near pot-sized bet of about 6,000. Action was then on Wroblewski who went into the tank. ESPN cameras scrambled to get into a better position to hopefully catch a big hand with the poker starlet, and they were given a treat when Wroblewski raised an additional 6,500, putting her opponent all-in. The early position player folded and action was back to her opponent who, after sighing heavily, made the call. The two showed their hands:

Wroblewski: 99
Opponent: JJ

The turn and river were the 6 and 4.

That hand would knock Wroblewski down to 12,000, but she would be eliminated a scant few hands later, an early casualty of day 2a.

Brandon Adams Bullying All

Brandon Adams, coming into the day at the top of the leaderboard with over 175,000, has started the day with aggression befitting a chip leader. Adams has been raising pots left and right, meeting little resistance from his tablemates. It will be interesting to see if they begin to play back at Adams or, fearing elimination, continue to let him dominate the table.

Corkins Busts One

Hoyt Corkins raised from under the gun and was called by the player to his immediate left, as well as the big blind. The flop came K64, and after the big blind and Corkins checked, the last remaining player bet 2500 of his short-stack. The big blind called, then Corkins check-raised to 7500. The next player pondered his fate, then elected to push all-in for his remaining 11,300. The big blind folded and Corkins made the call, showing AA. His opponent held K10. The 9 fell on the turn and the 8 completed the board on the river and Corkins raked in the pot.

Karam Talks Himself into Trouble

Marc Karam was the button and called a raise from a player in middle position. The flop came AQ7 and his heads-up opponent bet out 6000. Karam called. After the 5 on the turn his opponent bet another 6000, and again Karam called. The river brought the 10, and a third 6000 bet followed. Karam tanked, mulling over his predicament. “I really thought you had kings,” he muttered, “but maybe I was wrong.” He continued to tank, then reluctantly made the call, saying “I really think you have kings.” His opponent didn’t have kings, but rather had AQ for top two pair and gathered in the chips.

Greenstein picks up chips but still short

After a player in the hijack raised to 1,600 Barry Greenstein moved all in. The raise was 11,150 and it took the initial raiser a minute to fold his hand. Greenstein is up to 15,550 after the hand.

Hasan Habib Hot

On a board of Q9742, Hasan Habib made a bet of 8,200 against his lone opponent into a pot containing over 10,000 in chips. The player deliberated heavily for several minutes, counting out the amount of chips necessary to make a call. He ultimately folded, and Habib took the pot without a show. Habib’s stack grew to over 80,000 with the addition of the chips gained from the pot.

Michael McKenna Mucks

Michael McKenna checked a flop of AK7, and another opponent checked. The last player bet 1,200, and both his opponents called. The turn brought the 10, and this time McKenna led out for 3,500. The next player to act made the minimum raise to a total of 7,000 and the remaining player cold called. McKenna also called, and the dealer put down the J on the river, and the action checked to the last player, who made a bet of 7,000. McKenna and the other player folded. McKenna’s stack sat at 17,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Scotty Nguyen,   Barry Greenstein,   Hasan Habib,   Michael McKenna,   Philip Hilm,   Brandon Adams,   Marc Karam,   Anna Wroblewski

PLO - Level 9

Jun 15, '08

Blinds: 800-1,600

Players Left: 51

Notable Eliminations: Gavin Smith, Joe Hachem

Chip Leaders:

Emmanuel Sebag: 466,200
Rafi Amit: 270,000
Erick Lindgren: 262,800
Alexander Kostritsyn: 260,000
David Benyamine: 250,000
Adam Houran: 236,000
John Juanda: 213,000
Eli Elezra: 205,000
Jani Vilmunen: 205,000
Phil Hellmuth: 201,000

Big Hands:

Amit Eliminates Smith

With just a few minutes elapsed in Level 9, a flop of 1084 saw three players get all their money in:

Gavin Smith was holding top set with J81010
Kiril Gerasimov, the shortest stack of the three players, had AK54 for the nut flush draw
Rafi Amit, who had both players covered, held J1098 for an open ended straight draw, in addition to an irrelevant top two pair.

With more than 400,000 chips in the middle combined, Smith saw a chilling turn card: The Q. made Gerasimov the flush and Amit the straight, and while Smith was still drawing live against his two opponents--any queen, eight or four--the K on the river failed to improved Smith's hand. Smith looked sick as he rose from the table and headed for the exit; meanwhile, Gerasimov raked a pot worth about 150,000, while Amit took a side pot of about 270,000.

Walrus Slips From Bank, Falls Into River

Thomas Wahlroos didn't believe Michael McKenna, who had been pushing the action from the beginning of the hand. He was dead right--but a nasty river card made McKenna the winning hand anyway. McKenna, who had raised before the flop, but 6,500 on a flop of K76 and drew two callers, Wahlroos included. The 9 fell on the turn and McKenna continued, making a near pot-sized bet of 22,500. Again, Wahlroos called. The river brought a seemingly benign 3; again Wahlroos checked, again McKenna bet, 45,000 this time. Wahlroos made the call, and McKenna showed Q453 for the rivered straight.

A few hands later, Wahlroos lost more chips, this time against David Williams. After Wahlroos led out on a board of 1043, Williams moved all in and Wahlroos called, leaving him with about 25,000 behind. Williams showed 657 for a wrap draw; Wahlroos revealed AQ1010 for top set. The turn bricked, but the 2 made Williams hand.

Hachem Gone

A four-way pot involving Joe Hachem, Phil Hellmuth, Josh Arieh, and Cole South: after Hellmuth and Arieh limped, South raised the pot to 8,000 on the button, and Arieh on the big blind, Hellmuth and Hachem all called. The flop brought the K43 and the action was checked to South, who obliged by firing out a pot-sized bet of 32,000. Arieh called, Hellmuth folded, and Hachem raised all in for 13,500 more. Both players called. The turn was the 3: Arieh checked, South moved all in, and Arieh folded. South had Hachem dominated with two kings for a kings full house, but incredible Hachem was drawing live, as he held the A2 for nut flush with a straight flush draw. "I need the five of diamonds," said Hachem, and the dealer burned and turned a five--of spades! Hachem was eliminated, while South won a very nice pot.

Player Tags: David Williams,   Michael McKenna,   Joe Hachem,   Thomas Wahlroos,   Rafi Amit

$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 3

Jun 11, '08

Blinds/Antes: 100/200

Players Remaining: 600 of 731

Average Stack: 12,183

Notable Chip Counts:
Can Kim Hua - 30,200
Johnny Chan - 20,200
Jonathan Little - 20,000
Marco Johnson - 20,000
Gavin Griffin - 18,000
Shaun Deeb - 17,400
Alan Smurfit - 16,900
Bill Edler - 16,100
Alan Sass - 16,000
Andy Bloch - 15,000
Jeff Shulman – 4,000

Recent Eliminations:
Bill Gazes

Big Hands/Storylines:

Jeff Shulman’s Rocky Road

After losing two key hands, Jeff Shulman finished the level as one of the tournament’s shorter stacks.

Facing a raise to 450 from an opponent in middle position, Shulman called from the big blind and checked the J54 flop.  His opponent checked behind, and the 3 fell on the turn.  Again Shulman checked, allowing his opponent to fire a bet of 525 into the pot.  Shulman check-raised to 2,000 total, and his opponent moved all in for 3,450 total.  Shulman made the call and turned over A2 for a wheel straight.  His opponent showed 75 for a flush draw and an inside straight draw.  The K on the river completed the flush, and Shulman was left with less than 3,000 in chips.

Several hands later, Shulman limped from late position.  The big blind checked his option, and both players saw a flop of K52.  The big blind checked and Shulman bet 400, which was called.  The 10 on the turn brought two checks, and Shulman’s opponent check-called a bet of 500 by Shulman on the 9 river.  Shulman showed Q10, but his opponent turned over K9 for two pair.  Shulman was left with 1,525 after the hand.

His stack increased to slightly over 4,000 later in the level.

Johnny Chan Eliminates an Opponent

Johnny Chan, vying for his record tying 11^th World Series of Poker bracelet, eliminated an opponent when his 88 held up against his opponent’s QJ.  Chan now has around 20,000 in chips.

Jamie Gold Folds Under Pressure

On a board of 8765, Jamie Gold faced a bet from his opponent of 1,600.  After taking some time to deliberate and count down his remaining chips, Gold released his hand.  His stack hovered around his initial 10,000 throughout most of level three.

Hevad "Rain" Khan V. Michael McKenna

After raising to 450 from under-the-gun, Hevad "Rain" Khan was called by Michael McKenna immediately to his left.  Both players took the flop heads up, and Khan bet 600 on a board of Q94.  McKenna released his hand.  Although Khan’s stack is only 9,000, he has accumulated almost 4,000 of his total during this level.

Player Tags: Can Kim Hua,   Jeff Shulman,   Johnny Chan,   Jamie Gold,   Michael McKenna,   Marco Johnson,   Hevad Khan

$10,000 Mixed - Level 6

Jun 04, '08

Players Remaining: 138 of 192

Average Stack: 27,826

Notable Chip Counts:
Greg Mueller - 89,000
Gavin Smith - 65,000
Jeff Madsen - 65,000
Erik Seidel - 63,000
Tom Schneider - 63,000
Lee Watkinson - 60,000
Phil Ivey - 60,000
Mark Vos - 58,000
Gavin Griffin - 55,400
David Oppenheim - 50,000

Recent Eliminations:
Chris Ferguson

Big Hands:

Razz: Joe Cassidy Takes One Away From Erik Seidel

With both Erik Seidel and Joe Cassidy having joined David Benyamine and Mel Judah at table 5, the action quickly increased. In the last razz hand at that table, Seidel completed the bet on third street showing the 3. Next to act, Joe Cassidy raised with the 6, generating a fold from Erik Seidel. Cassidy improved his stack to just over 18,000 with that pot.

7-Stud: Michael McKenna Doubles Up

While showing a board of 854, Michael McKenna raised an opponent showing a board of AQ9. His opponent called, and McKenna bet the T he received on sixth street. His opponent called with his newly received 8, and McKenna went all in for his remaining 700 on the river. His opponent called, and McKenna turned over the J72 for an eight-high flush. His opponent mucked his hand.

7-Stud: Joe Cassidy Cripples an Opponent

During a hand in the stud round, Joe Cassidy bet his river card having already received up cards of Q986 against his opponent’s K854. His opponent called and Cassidy revealed his 964 hole cards for two pair, nines and sixes. His opponent mucked his hand and was left with less than 3,000 in chips after losing the pot to Cassidy.

Omaha 8: Opponents Chop Up Marcel Luske’s Chips

During his table’s Omaha 8 round, Marcel Luske raised from middle position and was called by players in the cut-off and big blind. The player first to act checked the 764 flop and Luske bet. Both opponents called, and the 7 turn card was dealt. The first player and Luske both checked, and the player in last position went all-in for his last 175. Both Luske and his remaining opponent called. The river card was the J, prompting the player first to act to bet and Luske to quickly call. Luske’s opponent revealed 7522, three sevens for high and deuce five for low. Luske mucked his hand. The all in opponent couldn’t beat three sevens for high, but his ATT3 hand made ace-three for the nut low and was good for half the main pot.

Limit Hold’em: Vanessa Rousso More Than Triples Up

After posting close to a third of her remaining stack in the big blind, Vanessa Rousso successfully accumulated more than three times her stack in one hand. The player under-the-gun raised, David “Devilfish” Ulliot called from the cut-off, Lee Watkinson called from the small blind, and Rousso called. On the Q62 flop, Watkinson checked and Rousso bet. The original aggressor raised, and Ulliot folded. Watkinson called both bets, and Rousso called all in. Watkinson bet the 8 turn into the side pot, and the remaining player called. With the 3 on the river, Watkinson checked and the remaining player went all in for his remaining 350. Watkinson thought for a minute or so before folding his hand. After the side pot was pushed to the player, he revealed his AJ for a jack-high flush. Rousso turned over the KT for a king-high flush and took the main pot.

Player Tags: Erik Seidel,   Gus Hansen,   Greg Mueller,   Gavin Smith,   Joe Cassidy,   Phil Ivey,   Marcel Luske,   Vanessa Rousso,   Michael McKenna,   Jeff Madsen,   European Report

Mixed Hold 'Em - Day 2 - At Dinner Break

Jun 03, '08

Players Remaining: 23 of 332

Average Stack: 144,000

Chip Counts:
David Rheem - 390,000
Justin Bonomo - 270,000
Pat Pezzin - 216,000
Michael McKenna - 175,000
Andy Bloch - 170,000
Howard Lederer - 160,000
Roland de Wolfe - 151,500
Isaac Haxton - 140,000
Jason Dewitt - 100,000
Andrew Robl -86,500

Recent Eliminations:
Phil Laak
Patrik Antonius

Big Hands:

Patrick Antonius Crippled, Eliminated

After losing a massive pot to Isaac Haxton in the limit round, Patrik Antonius was left with slightly more than 14,000 in chips.  Within the next orbit he raised from the cut-off and Jordan Smith in the small blind reraised enough to put Antonius all in.  When both players flipped over their cards, Antonius had QJ and Smith was ahead with A6.  The board brought no help for Antonius, and he was eliminated.

Phil Laak Eliminated by Pat Pezzin

After struggling for several hands to improve his chip stack, Phil Laak was ultimately eliminated by Pat Pezzin.  Pezzin raised pre-flop in the no-limit round, and Laak came over the top and all in for his entire stack.  Pezzin asked for a count, but quickly called and turned over the AK.  Laak was a slight favorite with TT, but the K on the flop sent Laak to the rail.  Both Laak and Antonius are currenty 2 for 2 in cashes at this year’s World Series of Poker, including both making the final table of event 1 earlier in the week.

Player Tags: Andy Bloch,   Howard Lederer,   Phil Laak,   Patrik Antonius,   Justin Bonomo,   Michael McKenna,   Chino Rheem,   Isaac Haxton,   Andrew Robl,   European Report

Mixed Hold 'Em - Day 2 - In the Money

Jun 03, '08

Players Remaining: 35 of 332

Average Stack: 94,850

Chip Counts:
Michael McKenna - 230,000
Ariel Schneller - 214,000
Phil Laak - 175,000
Justin Bonomo - 175,000
Howard Lederer - 170,000
Roland de Wolfe - 151,500
Patrik Antonius - 110,500
Raphael Zimmerman - 95,000
Chau Giang – 93,000

Recent Eliminations:
Nick Mao
Matt Sterling
Barry Shulman

Big Hands:

Tension on the Bubble

With only 37 players remaining, tensions were high as the players anticipate the money. The clock was frozen at the end of level 25, and the tournament director announced that the play would continue at the 2000/4000 limit level until the bubble had been broken. As the tables were playing hand-for-hand, Matt Sterling had his blind raised by Erick Lindgren from middle position. Sterling had few enough chips to get it all in pre-flop, and Lindgren made the call with AK against Sterling’s AK. The flop contained three clubs, but the turn and river failed to deliver for Lindgren, and Sterling avoided being the bubble boy.

Nick Mao Eliminated on the Bubble

Nick Mao was the unlucky bubble boy for this event. While in the big blind, he faced a raise from Justin Bonomo in late position. Mao three-bet the raise, and the two were able to get all of Mao’s money into the pot before the flop fell. Mao eagerly flipped over his AK, but hopes sank when Bonomo tabled KK. Although the flop brought a gut-shot straight draw for Mao, the absence of a jack on the turn or river sent Mao home empty handed in 37^th place. The remaining players will all receive at least $10,922.

Lindgren Finishes the Job on Sterling

Moments after narrowly escaping elimination outside of the money, Matt Sterling was finally eliminated in 36^th place by Erick Lindgren. Sterling raised Lindgren’s blind, and Lindgren reraised all in. Sterling made the call and turned over A6. Lindgren again held ace-king, and Sterling didn’t receive any help from the board.

Phil Tom Adds to the New Chip Leader's Stack

On a board of 7332, Michael McKenna checked to the pre-flop aggressor, Phil Tom. Tom bet 6,000 and was quickly check-raised by McKenna for an additional 12,500. Tom considered the situation, and released his hand. With that pot, and for the first time since day 1, Ariel Schneller is no longer this event's chip leader. McKenna currently has over 200,000 in chips.

Barry Shulman Eliminated in 33rd Place

Barry Shulman also fell victim to the post-money round of eliminations after his top pair failed to improve against Erick Lindgren's overpair. Shulman will take home $10,922 for his finish.

Player Tags: Erick Lindgren,   Howard Lederer,   Phil Laak,   Chau Giang,   Patrik Antonius,   Nick Mao,   Michael McKenna,   Ariel Schneller,   Matthew Sterling,   European Report

Mixed Hold 'Em - Day 2 - Levels 21 and 22

Jun 03, '08

Blinds/Antes:  1500/3000 limit, 600/1200 no-limit

Players Remaining: 42 of 332

Average Stack: 80,000

Chip Counts:
Ariel Schneller - 170,000
Antonio Esfandiari - 155,000
Patrik Antonius - 155,000
Howard Lederer - 150,000
Jason Dewitt - 140,000
Michael McKenna - 124,500
David Rheem - 120,000
Raphael Zimmerman - 109,000
Barry Shulman - 108,000
Justin Bonomo - 99,000

Recent Eliminations:
David Grey
William Chen

Big Hands:

Patrick Antonius Doubles Up Through Andrew Robl

Antonius pushed his chip stack well above the tournament average via Andrew Robl.  In a raised pot, both players saw a board of 752.  Antonius checked to Robl who fired 20,000 across the line.  After counting down his remaining chips, Antonius moved all in for his remaining 37,500.  Robl made a comment about being committed to make the call and flipped over A4.  Antonius tabled A7 and had Robl drawing thin.  The 2 turn and T river failed to improve Robl, and Antonius doubled up to over 100,000.

Laak Eliminates Chen

After raising to 4200 pre-flop, Phil Laak found himself against a reraise from William Chen for another 13,000.  Laak made the call.  The two got it all in on the flop, and when the cards were turned over Laak had spiked a set with pocket 3s against Chen’s pocket kings.  The turn and river bricked for Chen, and Laak now sits with 136,000 in chips.

Major Dispute with Floor Man on Table 1

On table 1, Michael McKenna raised to 9,600 pre-flop and another player moved all in.  McKenna made the call and both players flipped up their ace-king offsuit.  The board improved neither, and the dealer split the pot.  After McKenna received his share, he noticed a discrepancy in the amount he was given and called for the floor.  Meanwhile, the dealer dealt the next hand and several players had already acted.  The floor was called and the game was delayed for almost 15 minutes with tournament authority promising to review the tapes and make the corrective action.  Other players on table 1 seemed upset that so much clock time was being devoted to such a minor issue, but McKenna refused to back down.  As of this post, the issue has yet to be resolved.

One of the players defending McKenna on table 1 was David Grey, who was eliminated while McKenna disputed the issue with the floor staff when his AQ failed to improve against another player’s JJ.

 

Player Tags: Antonio Esfandiari,   Howard Lederer,   Phil Laak,   Barry Shulman,   David Grey,   Patrik Antonius,   Michael McKenna,   Bill Chen,   Ariel Schneller,   Andrew Robl