Cheung Tai Law Poker Tournament Updates

Hour Two Update

Jun 23, '07

The official numbers have been released for this event.  There were a total of 2,778 entrants creating a prize pool of $3,791,970.  The top 270 players will finish in the money.  270^th place will receive $3,223.  1^st place will receive $673,628. 

 

The alternates were funneled into the tournament very efficiently today. Many of the alternate tables are filled with pros who registered late, and they are having a ball today.  Michael Mizrachi had a slight hitch at this initial table. When he arrived at table 321, his brother Eric had already sat down.  As he went to get this sorted “Tex” Barch needled him saying, “Don’t want to be embarrassed, huh” Mizrachi ended up switching seats with John Phan at Table 323 to settle.

 

Humberto Brenes’s shark got his meal taken away early on at his table.  Brenes raised $400 from early position, and C.T. Law re-raised from the cutoff all in for $1,575.  Brenes made the call and showed A K, while Law showed A 10.  The flop was a bad one for Brenes as it came 10 6 2.  The turn 2 and the river 7 failed to improve either player and Law doubled up.

 

Another player made a quite a ruckus as he solidified the reason that so many people enter these tournaments: anybody can win. A thunderous yell accompanied this particular player’s draw-out on his two opponent’s (you would have thought he had secured the bracelet already, despite it only being in the second level). As it turned out he had found himself all in with 8 6 against both pocket Aces and pocket Kings, and the third club on the river had secured him the pot.

European entrants include Padraig Parkinson and Vicky Coren at the same table (keep on top of their game at Pro Blogs), Ben Roberts, Neil Channing, Pascal Perrault, Philip Marmonstein, Arnaud Mattern, Dave Colclough, Thomas Wahlroos, Marcel Luske, Rolf Slotboom, and Lish Seoigh.

Stay tuned to CardPlayer.com to follow all the action as well as the progress of Amnon Filippi, Jennifer Tilly, and Vanessa Selbst in out Pro Blogs section

Notable Chip Counts

Michael Binger	4,000
Alex Jacob	3,500
Joe Hachem	1,350
James Van Alstyne	900

Player Tags: John Phan,   Humberto Brenes,   Michael Mizrachi,   Eric Mizrachi,   John Barch,   Amnon Filippi,   Jennifer Tilly,   Cheung Tai Law,   Vanessa Selbst

Jerry Matlock Wins Event #6, CT Law finishes 2nd ($44,865)

Jun 17, '07

Jerry Matlock raised $5,000 preflop, and was called by CT Law.  The flop came 7 7 5, Law checked, Matlock bet $8,000, and Law called.  The turn was the 7, Law checked, Matlock bet $20,000, Law moved all in for about $100,000 more.  Matlock asked for a count, but before the chips were counted he said, "I have to call you".  Matlock showed the 1010, and Law showed the 22, drawing dead with an inferior full house.  The meaningless Q hit on the river.

Law received $44,865 for his second place finish.  Matlock, who is from Elgin, IL, got the ultimate Father's Day present to share with his three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandhild:  1st place prize money of $80,755, and the champion's gold bracelet.

Player Tags: Cheung Tai Law,   Jerry Matlock

Matlock Fills On Law

Jun 17, '07

Jerry Matlock limps from the small blind, CT Law raises $5,000 from the big blind, and Matlock calls.  The flop comes 8 8 4, Matlock checks, Law bets $12,000, and Matlock calls.  The turn is the Q, Matlock bets $12,000 and Law calls. The river is the 6, Matlock bets $25,000 and Law calls.  Matlock shows the Q8, and Law mucks.  Matlock has now pulled even in chips with Law.

Player Tags: Cheung Tai Law,   Jerry Matlock

Matlock Doubles Up

Jun 17, '07

CT Law has the button and raises $5,000. Jerry Matlock reraises $16,500 more, and Law calls.  The flop is 1065, Matlock moves all in for $64,000, and Law calls.  Matlock shows A10 and Law shows Q10.  The turn is the 2, completing Matlock's nut flush.  The river is the 7, and all of the sudden this match got much more interesting.

Player Tags: Cheung Tai Law,   Jerry Matlock

Heads Up Blinds Up

Jun 17, '07

The blinds increased to $1,500 and $3,000 as soon as heads up play began.  Matlock lost about $40,000 on the very first hand, folding on the turn to a reraise from Law.  Law has nearly a 3 to 1 chip lead at the moment.

Player Tags: Cheung Tai Law,   Jerry Matlock

Adrian Hanauer Eliminated in 3rd Place ($26,920)

Jun 17, '07

CT Law raised to $5,000 from the button, Adrian Hanauer reraised $14,000 more, Jerry Matlock called from the big blind, and Law called.  The flop came A K K, Hanauer immediately moved all in, and was instantly called by Matlock.  Law was flabbergasted and folded QQ face up.  Matlock showed AK, and Hanauer laughed as he flipped up A10.  The turn 5 and 3 failed to produce the case Ace, and Hanauer exited earning $26,920.

Player Tags: Adrian Hanauer,   Cheung Tai Law,   Jerry Matlock

JR Garcia Eliminated in 4th Place ($17,935)

Jun 17, '07

JR Garcia raised to $4,500 from the small blind, CT Law called from the big blind.  The flop  came A J 7, Garcia moved all in, and Law called instantly.  Garcia was caught bluffing showing 103, while Law had the lead with A5.  The turn 7 shut the door, and the J on the river was meaningless.  Garcia earned $17,935 for fourth place.

Player Tags: Cheung Tai Law,   JR Garcia

Hanauer Doubles Up

Jun 17, '07

In an unraised pot, CT Law and Adrian  Hanauer see a flop of Q 10 9 from the small and big blinds.  Both players checked on the flop.  The turn card was the 7, Law bet $2,000, Hanauer raised all in for $7,600 more, and Law called.  Law showed the J10, but Hanauer showed 107 for the lead.  The river was the A, and Hanauer doubled up.

Player Tags: Adrian Hanauer,   Cheung Tai Law

Law Dominating Early

Jun 17, '07

CT Law has won nearly two thirds of the hands so far in todays action, taking most of them down with uncalled pre-flop raises.  JR Garcia has been all-in three times so far today, but hasn't received any action.  Adrian Hanauer was all in once but also didn't get any callers.

Player Tags: Adrian Hanauer,   Cheung Tai Law,   JR Garcia

Wayne Boich Elimnated in 5th Place ($8,975)

Jun 17, '07

Wayne Boich moved all in under the gun in the third hand of play for his last $17,000.  CT Law called from the small blind. Boich held AQ against Law's KJ.  Law jumped ahead for good on the flop of J 4 3.  The 3 and the 5 hit on the turn and river and Boich was bounced in 5th place, earning $8,975 dollars.

Player Tags: Wayne Boich,   Cheung Tai Law

Final Table Begins At 4

Jun 17, '07

The final five players hit the stage in the Fontana Lounge at 4pm to determine the champion in Event #6 of the Bellagio Cup III, $5,000 No Limit Holdem. Here are the current chip counts:

Seat 1. Jerry Matlock - $103,100
Seat 2. JR Garcia - $30,000
Seat 3. C.T. Law - $197,300
Seat 4. Adrian Hanauer - $20,900
Seat 5. Wayne Boich - $17,900

Chip leader Law is most well-known for his runner-up finsh to Mike Gracz in Event #7 of the 2005 World Series of Poker, which received televised coverage from ESPN.

Short-stack Wayne Boich is hoping to improve upon his third place finish at Bellagio Cup III Event #4 just a few days ago.

There are 55 mintues left in the current level with a $300 ante and $1,000 and $2,000 blinds.

Player Tags: Wayne Boich,   Cheung Tai Law