Level 15 Update: Ferit Gabriellson Leads Pack
Jun 22, '09
Blinds: 2,500-5,000
Players Remaining: 34 out of 295
Chip Counts:
1. Ferit Gabriellson — 915,000
2. Noah Schwartz — 730,000
3. Stefan Mattsson — 500,000
4. Jonas Entin — 434,000
5. David Williams — 359,500
6. Vitaly Lunkin — 340,000
7. Marcus Golser — 330,000
8. Matt Vengrin — 325,000
9. Matt Graham — 320,000
10. Van Marcus — 280,500
Average Chip Count: 260,294
Notable Eliminations:
Mike Watson
Joe Beavers
Mikael Thuritz
Big Hands
Mike Watson Eliminated
On a flop of 8
7
5
, Mike Watson moves all in and Edward Ochana calls.
Watson: AK8
7
Ochana: QQ96
Watson flops top two pair while Ochana flops the nut straight. The turn and river are the 9 and the J, no help to Watson who is eliminated from the tournament.
Noah Schwartz Eliminates Ilari Sahamies
Ilari Sahamies raises to 20,500 from the button and Noah Schwartz reraises the size of the pot from the small blind. Sahamies re-pots all in and Schwartz calls.
Schwartz: A1085
Sahamies: KK108
Board: 7654J
Sahamies led before the flop with a pair of kings, but Schwartz flopped an open-ended straight and got there on the turn. Sahamies hits the rail as Noah Schwartz retains the chiplead with 800,000.
Gabriellson Eliminates Varsi, Takes Chiplead
Ferit Gabriellson completes the bet from the small blind and Hans Varsi checks his option from the big blind. The flop comes 1042, Varsi bets 15,000 and Gabriellson calls.
The turn is the 6, and this time Gabriellson leads out with a 40,000 bet. Varsi raises the pot (140,000 more) and Gabriellson moves all in. Varsi calls all in for 20,000 more; he is covered.
Varsi: Q753
Gabriellson: 10793
Varsi led the hand on the turn with a straight, but the Q hit the river giving Gabriellson a flush, and the current chiplead with over 900,000.
Player Tags: Ferit Gabriellson, Michael Watson, Noah Schwartz
Level 12 Update: Grundy Eliminated, Gives Gabriellson Chip Lead
Jun 21, '09
Blinds: 1200-2400
Players Remaining: 58 out of 295
Chip Counts: 152,586
1. Ferit Gabriellson — 510,000
2. Ilari Sahamies — 347,000
3. Matt Graham — 330,000
4. Noah Schwartz — 310,000
5. Nenad Medic — 300,000
6. William Thorson — 265,000
7. Erick Lindgren — 235,000
8. Howard Lederer — 225,000
9. Barry Greenstein — 214,000
10. Ernst Schmejkal — 214,000
Average Chip Count:
Notable Eliminations:
Ben Grundy, Yevgeniy Timoshenko
Big Hands:
Medic Loses Minimum With Top Set
After a preflop raise, David Williams, Nenad Medic and a third player saw a flop of A29. David Williams led out for 6500 and was called by Nenad Medic. The third player got out of the way and they saw the turn heads-up.
The turn card was the 8 and both players checked. The river card was the 10 and both players checked again. Williams showed J1044, which meant he had flopped a flush, and Medic mucked his hand, but not before revealing two aces in his hand, showing that he had flopped top set.
Ferit Gabriellson Eliminates Ben Grundy
The biggest pot of the tournament thus far took place on a board of K7105 between Ben Grundy and Ferit Gabriellson. All of the money got in and Grundy said “If you’ve got a set, you’ve got me.”
Gabriellson tabled KKA3, which was ahead of Grundy’s KQQ10. Grundy needed to hit a diamond to stay alive, but the 8 on the river sent Grundy home.
Gabriellson now has over 500,000 in chips.
Lederer Flops Two Pair, Wins Small Pot
Howard Lederer is heads-up with his opponent on a flop of K65. Lederer opted to call 9500 on the flop and they see the 9 fall on the turn.
Both players checked to see a free river card, which was the 7. Both players checked again and Howard announced that he had two pair. His opponent then turned over K5 from his hand, but Howard turned over K6AQ, good for a better two pair and the pot.
Left In The Deck:
Players are now going on a one hour dinner break.
Player Tags: Howard Lederer, Nenad Medic, Ferit Gabriellson, Ben Grundy
Level 27 Update: Stefan Mattsson, Ferit Gabriellson, Robin Keston, Van Marcus Eliminated
Jun 23, '09
Blinds: 40,000-80,000
Players Remaining: 2 out of 295
Chip Counts:
1. Matt Graham – 4,500,000
2. Vitaly Lunkin – 4,350,000
Average Chip Count: 4,425,000
Eliminations:
6. Stefan Mattsson – $118,463
5. Ferit Gabriellson – $148,439
4. Robin Keston – $196,994
3. Van Marcus – $278,409
Big Hands:
Stefan Mattsson Eliminated In 6th ($118,463)
Vitaly Lunkin raised to 210,000 preflop and Stefan Mattsson reraised pot. Lunkin moved all-in and Mattsson made the call. Lunkin tabled the AAK3 while Mattsson exposed the QJ108. The flop was great for Mattsson as it came J63. The turn was ugly for Mattsson as the 4 fell, giving Lunkin his own flush draw. The river bricked for Mattsson as the 7 hit, sending him home in 6th place. Lunkin is now up to 4,000,000 in chips.
Ferit Gabriellson Eliminated in 5th ($148,439)
Ferit Gabriellson raised to 280,000 on the button and Matt Graham called in the small blind. Graham led out for 250,000 on a flop of AK5. Gabriellson moved all-in for a bit more and Graham made the call. Graham exposed the JJ103 and was behind against the KJ98 of Gabriellson. The turn was almost the perfect card in the deck for Graham as the J hit. The 8 fell on the river and the case jack on the turn gave Graham the pot and eliminated Gabriellson in 5th. Graham now has 2,220,000 in chips.
Robin Keston Is Eliminated In 4th Place ($196,994)
Matt Graham bet 210,000 from the cutoff and was moved in on by Robin Keston for 785,000 total. Graham made the call and exposed the A8109. Keston tabled the K1076 and was behind. The board ran out J523A and Graham took the pot with a pair of aces, eliminating Keston from the tournament.
Van Marcus Eliminated In 3rd Place ($278,409)
Matt Graham raised to 200,000 and Van Marcus reraised pot. Graham instantly went all-in and Marcus called. Graham turned over the AAJ9 and was ahead against the QJJ7 of Marcus. The board ran out Q102A3 as Graham won the hand with trip aces to enter heads up play with 4,500,000 in chips.
Player Tags: Robin Keston, Ferit Gabriellson, Matt Graham, Vitaly Lunkin, Stefan Mattsson
Level 26 Update: Vitaly Lunkin Looking Strong
Jun 23, '09
Blinds: 30,000-60,000
Players Remaining: 6 out of 295
Chip Counts:
1. Vitaly Lunkin – 2,760,000
2. Matt Graham – 1,985,000
3. Ferit Gabriellson – 1,350,000
4. Van Marcus – 1,330,000
5. Robin Keston – 940,000
6. Stefan Mattsson – 700,000
Average Chip Count: 1,475,000
Eliminations:
None
Big Hands:
Vitaly Lunkin Adds To Chip Lead
Stefan Mattsson raised to 155,000 and Vitaly Lunkin made the call from the big blind. Action was checked down to the river on a board of J8610J. Lunkin bet 200,000 and Mattsson thought about it briefly before finally calling. Lunkin exposed the 9785 for a straight to take the pot. Lunkin is now at 3,100,000.
Ferit Gabriellson Doubles Up Twice
Vitaly Lunkin raised to 150,000 preflop and Ferit Gabriellson moved all-in for 340,000 total. Lunkin thought about it for awhile before finally making the call. Lunkin exposed the KQ55 and Gabriellson tabled the J1086. The board ran out 76339, and Gabriellson doubled up with a flush. He was then up to 710,000. Lunkin is now at 2,760,000.
A few hands later, Gabriellson was all-in once more, this time against Stefan Mattsson. Mattsson tabled the K1098 while Gabriellson exposed the AKK5 to be ahead. The board ran out 822J10 and Gabriellson doubled to 1,350,000.
Left In The Deck:
Action has slowed down considerably after the string of knockouts earlier.
Player Tags: Ferit Gabriellson, Vitaly Lunkin, Stefan Mattsson
Level 25 Update: Van Marcus Doubles Up
Jun 22, '09
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Players Remaining: 6 out of 295
Chip Counts:
1. Vitaly Lunkin — 2,400,000
2. Stefan Mattsson — 1,550,000
3. Ferit Gabriellson — 1,350,000
4. Matt Graham — 1,300,000
5. Van Marcus — 1,050,000
6. Robin Keston — 900,000
Average Chip Count: 1,475,000
Eliminations:
None
Big Hands:
Van Marcus Doubles Up
Matt Graham raised to 130,000 preflop and Van Marcus reraised another 335,000. Graham went into the tank before finally making the call. The flop came 552 and Graham bet the very tiny amount that Marcus had left after the preflop reraise. Marcus made the easy call and tabled the AAJ4. Graham exposed the severely dominated QJ94 for just queen high. The board offered no salvation for Graham as Marcus doubled up to 1,050,000.
Vitaly Lunkin Takes Hit
Vitaly Lunkin raised preflop to 150,000 and Ferit Gabriellson made the call. The flop came Q74. Lunkin continued with a small 95,000 bet and Gabriellson made the call. The turn was the 10 and both players checked to a 9 river. Lunkin fired out 300,000 and Gabriellson made the quick call. Lunkin exposed the JJ67 for just a pair of jacks. Gabriellson tabled the AJJ8 for a straight to take the pot. Gabriellson is up to 1,350,000.
Left In The Deck:
Players are now on a 20 minute break.
Player Tags: Ferit Gabriellson, Matt Graham, Van Marcus, Vitaly Lunkin
Level 24 Update: Barry Greenstein, Richard Austin, Josh Arieh Eliminated
Jun 22, '09
Blinds: 20,000-40,000
Players Remaining: 6 out of 295
Chip Counts:
1. Vitaly Lunkin — 2,660,000
2. Matt Graham — 1,650,000
3. Stefan Mattsson — 1,550,000
4. Ferit Gabriellson — 1,200,000
5. Robin Keston — 1,020,000
6. Van Marcus — 580,000
Average Chip Count: 1,475,000
Eliminations:
9. Barry Greenstein – $82,746
8. Richard Austin – $88,681
7. Josh Arieh – $99,856
Big Hands:
Barry Greenstein Eliminated in 9th Place ($82,746)
Vitaly Lunkin raised to 120,000 with Barry Greenstein and Josh Arieh calling from the blinds. The flop came 962. Greenstein and Arieh both checked to Lunkin, who fired out a bet of 200,000. Greenstein check raised to 800,000 and Arieh quickly folded. Lunkin went into the tank for a few minutes before finally announcing all-in, having Greenstein covered. Greenstein made the quick call and exposed the 9785 for a wrap and a flush draw. Lunkin exposed the AA87, for the best hand at the moment. Lunkin had only a 25 percent chance to win however, against the massive drawing hand of Greenstein. The turn was the Q, offering Greenstein no help. The 3 fell on the river and the 3-time bracelet winner missed all of his draws, going to the rail first at the final table. Lunkin is now up to 2,660,000 in chips and looks poised to become a double bracelet winner this year.
Richard Austin Eliminated In 8th Place ($88,681)
Vitaly Lunkin raised in early position to 120,000 and Richard Austin made the call from the big blind. The flop came A65 and Austin bet out 120,000. Lunkin quickly raised enough to put the recent PLO bracelet winner all-in. Austin made the call and exposed the 9875 for a pair of fives and a wrap. Lunkin tabled the KK42 for a pair of kings, the nut flush draw and a straight draw to boot. Lunkin was a 2-1 favorite to win the hand as the J hit the turn. The dealer pealed off the 8 on the river, nailing Austin’s straight but giving the Event No. 2 ($40,000 no-limit hold’em) champion a flush. Austin was sent home early after another strong showing in PLO.
Josh Arieh Eliminated In 7th Place ($99,856)
Josh Arieh got the rest of his shorter stack in the middle with the AA49. He was called by Ferit Gabriellson who tabled the KK310. The flop came KQ10, giving Gabriellson a set and putting Arieh on the brink. The J hit the turn, giving Arieh some light with a flush draw, but unfortunately his opponent also held two clubs in his hand. The K fell on the river, making quads for Gabriellson and eliminating Arieh. Gabriellson is now up to 1,200,000.
Player Tags: Josh Arieh, Barry Greenstein, Ferit Gabriellson, Richard Austin, Vitaly Lunkin
