Foster Hays Poker Tournament Updates

Level 27 Update: Foster Hays Eliminated in 5th Place ($98,756)

Jun 13, '12

Level: 27

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

Players Remaining: 4 out of 924

Average Chip Count: 2,079,000

Chip Counts:

Seat no. 1 — Artem Metalidi — 2,300,000
Seat no. 2 — Simon Charette — 1,800,000
Seat no. 3 — Luis Rodriguez Cruz — 2,725,000
Seat no. 4 — Eddie Blumenthal — 1,400,000

Players Eliminated:

Foster Hays — 5th Place ($98,756)

Live Updates:

Foster Hays Eliminated in 5th Place ($98,756)

Foster Hays returned from the dinner break on the short stack with just 11 big blinds heading into Level 27. On his final hand, Hays open-shoved the small blind for 305,000 and Artem Metalidi called from the big blind.

Hays was all in for his tournament life and way behind before the flop with 45 against Metalidi’s A8.

The board came QQ379, offering no help to Foster Hays who was eliminated in 5th place ($98,756). Metalidi moved up to third in chips after the hand with about 1.5 million.

Artem Metalidi Takes the Chip Lead

Artem Metalidi opened the pot for 80,000 from under the gun, Simon Charette called from the button and Eddie Blumenthal called from the big blind.

The flop came Q107, Blumenthal checked, Metalidi bet 210,000, Charette called and Blumenthal folded.

The turn was the 9, Metalidi bet 210,000 and Charette called.

The river was the 6, Metalidi bet 425,000 and Charette called. Metalidi showed J8 for a straight on the turn to win the pot. Metalidi took the chip lead from Charette that hand with about 2.3 million to 2.1 million.

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Player Tags: Simon Charette,   Foster Hays,   Artem Metalidi

Level 26 Update: Charette Leads Final Five at Dinner Break

Jun 13, '12

Level: 26

Blinds: 15,000-30,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 5 out of 924

Average Chip Count: 1,663,200

Chip Counts:

Seat no. 1 — Artem Metalidi — 1,200,000
Seat no. 2 — Simon Charette — 2,800,000
Seat no. 3 — Luis Rodriguez Cruz — 2,500,000
Seat no. 4 — Eddie Blumenthal — 1,200,000

Seat no. 6 — Foster Hays — 500,000

Live Updates:

Foster Hays Doubles Through Eddie Blumenthal

Foster Hays was left on the short stack after Bertrand Grospellier was eliminated last level, but managed to double up through Eddie Blumenthal early in Level 26. Eddie Blumenthal opened the button for 64,000, Foster Hays moved all in for 605,000 from the small blind and Blumenthal called.

Hays was all in for his tournament life and trailing before the flop with QJ against Blumenthal’s AJ.

The board came Q969J, giving Hays top pair on the flop to win the pot and double up. Hays moved up to about 1.3 million that hand while Blumenthal was put on the short stack with just under 1 million.

The remaining five players took a one hour dinner break at the conclusion of Level 26 and will return at approximately 9:10pm local time to resume play.

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Player Tags: Foster Hays,   Eddie Blumenthal

Action Begins, Final Table Now Underway

Jun 13, '12

The final table of Event no. 23 ($3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six Handed) is now underway, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Day 3 began with 18 players spread out over 3 tables, and with the elimination of Scott Montgomery in 7th Place ($49,214), the official 6-handed final table is now set. Play will begin in Level 24 with blinds of 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante, and will continue until a winner is determined.

With cards now back in the air, here is a look at the final table and how these players match up:

Seat no. 1 — Artem Metalidi — 1,180,000
Seat no. 2 — Simon Charette — 2,370,000
Seat no. 3 — Luis Rodriguez Cruz — 1,933,000
Seat no. 4 — Eddie Blumenthal — 1,570,000
Seat no. 5 — Bertrand Grospellier — 302,000
Seat no. 6 — Foster Hays — 940,000

While only 6 remain, this event gathered 924 players, creating a total prize pool of $2,522,520. Here is a look at the final payouts:

1st Place — $567,624
2nd Place — $350,806
3rd Place — $222,511
4th Place — $146,053
5th Place — $98,756
6th Place — $86,738

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Player Tags: Bertrand Grospellier,   Scott Montgomery,   Simon Charette,   Luis Rodriguez Cruz,   Foster Hays,   Artem Metalidi,   Eddie Blumenthal

Foster Hays Wins Event #18 ($735,400)

Jun 14, '11

Casey Kelton Eliminated in 2nd Place ($454,920)

Shortly after Level 32 began, the aggression finally ended with the elimination of Casey Kelton in 2nd place. Foster Hays opened the pot for a raise to 500,000 from the button, Casey Kelton made it 1,500,000 from the big blind and Hays called.

The flop came 9 7 4, Kelton bet 1,500,000, Hays made it 3.6 million, Kelton moved all in and Hays called (Hays was slightly ahead and it was Kelton that was all in for his tournament life here).

Kelton turned over A J for two overs and was behind Hays; J 9 for top pair.

The turn and river were the 7 and the Q, no help to Casey Kelton who was eliminated in 2nd place ($454,920). Foster Hays began heads-up play with the chip lead and closed it out shortly after, winning his first gold bracelet in Event #18 and the $735,000 grand prize.

Player Tags: Foster Hays,   Casey Kelton

Level 32: Kelton Fights Back, Takes Chip Lead

Jun 14, '11

Blinds: 80,000-160,000 with a 20,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 3,157

Average Chip Count: 7,103,500

Chip Counts:

1. Casey Kelton – 9,020,000
2. Foster Hays – 5,180,000

Casey Kelton Takes The Chip

Casey Kelton went into heads-up play at more than a 3:1 chip disadvantage, but played very aggressive from the short stack early on in Level 32 and that momentum ultimately carried him to the chip lead heading into the break.

Hays played back with equal aggression and got Kelton down to under 1 million at one point. Kelton chipped back up to a couple million or so and then got it all in pre-flop with A 4 against Hays’ 10 10.The flop came 5 3 2, giving Kelton a wheel on the flop. Kelton doubled up to 4.6 million this hand, while Hays’ lead slipped down to about 9.6 million.

The players became even more aggressive at this point and Kelton started to drop some chips until doubling through Hays with Q Q on a board of Q 6 3 6 2. This hand gave Kelton the lead for the first time in this heads-up match with about 8 million to Hays’ 6.2 million. Kelton raised Hays off of a few more hands without a showdown and ended the level on top with a chip lead of roughly 9 million to 5.2 million.

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Foster Hays,   Casey Kelton

Level 31: Hays Leads Kelton Heads-Up; Koss 6th, Tavanese 5th, Le 4th, Lavelle 3rd

Jun 14, '11

Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 3,157

Average Chip Count: 7,103,500

Chip Counts:

1. Foster Hays – 10,965,000
2. Casey Kelton – 3,235,000

Eliminations:

3rd. Jeffrey Lavelle – $321,947
4th. Allan Le – $233,043
5th. Stanley Tavanese – $170,648
6th. Robert Koss – $126,409

Robert Koss Eliminated in 6th Place ($126,409)

Foster Hays opened for a raise of 300,000 from the cutoff, Robert Koss moved all in from the small blind for about 2,000,000 and Hays called.

Koss was ahead with A J against Hays’ K Q.

The board came 9 8 7 Q 2, giving Hays top pair on the turn. Robert Koss was eliminated in 6th place ($126,049).

Stanley Tavanese Eliminated in 5th Place ($170,648)

Stanley Tavanese open-shoved the button and Casey Kelton called from the big blind.

Kelton showed 5 5 for the lead against Tavanese’s A K.

The board came 10 8 3 5 3, giving Kelton a set on the turn and a full house on the river.
Casey Kelton took the chip lead this hand with over 5 million while Stanley Tavanese was eliminated in 5th place ($170,648).

Allan Le Eliminated in 4th Place ($233,043)

Foster Hays opened for 300,000 from under the gun, Casey Kelton called from the small blind, Allan Le moved all in for just under 800,000 from the big blind and both players called.

The flop came 8 7 4, and both players checked the side pot.

The turn was the Q, Kelton checked, Hays bet 1,000,000 and Kelton folded.

Le turned over A 4 for a pair of fours on the flop but was behind Hays’ K Q for top pair on the turn.

The river was the J, and Allan Le was eliminated in 4th place ($233,043).

Jeffrey Lavelle Eliminated in 3rd Place ($321,947)

Foster Hays raised to 300,000 from the small blind and Jeffrey Lavelle called from the big blind.

The flop came 9 5 3, Hays bet 415,000 and Lavelle called.

The turn was the 7, Hays bet 1,005,000, Lavelle moved all in and Hays called.

Lavelle turned over K 9 for top pair but was behind Hays’ A A.

The river was the A, giving Hays top set on the river. Jeffrey Lavelle was eliminated in 3rd place ($321,947) while Foster Hays took a chip lead of almost 11 million to Kelton’s 3.2 million going into heads-up play.

NOTE: With the elimination of Jeffrey Lavelle in 3rd place ($321,947), Foster Hays began heads-up play with 10,965,000 to Casey Kelton’s 3,235,000.

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Robert Koss,   Stanley Tavanese,   Jeffrey Lavelle,   Allan Le,   Foster Hays,   Casey Kelton

Level 31: Day 4 Begins; Hays Leads Final Six

Jun 14, '11

NOTE: Play ended last night with 6 players in accordance with the ten-level rule and resumed today at approximately 2:30pm.

Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante

Players Remaining: 6 out of 3,157

Average Chip Count: 2,367,750

Chip Counts:

1. Foster Hays – 3,620,000
2. Casey Kelton – 3,385,000
3. Jeffrey Lavelle – 2,135,000
4. Robert Koss – 2,015,000
5. Stanley Tavanese – 1,735,000
6. Allan Le – 1,315,000

Payouts:

1st. $735,400
2nd. $454,920
3rd. $321,947
4th. $233,043
5th. $170,648
6th. $126,409

Elimiations:

7th. Tristan Wade – $94,700
8th. Philippe Vert – $71,728
9th. Jordan Young – $54,936

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Robert Koss,   Stanley Tavanese,   Jeffrey Lavelle,   Allan Le,   Foster Hays,   Casey Kelton

Level 30: End of Day 3; Hays Leads Final Six

Jun 14, '11

NOTE: In accordance with the ten-level rule, the final six players stopped for the evening with the conclusion of Level 30 at just past 3:00am. Play will resume at 2:30pm and will continue until a winner is determined.

Blinds: 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 6 out of 3,157

Average Chip Count: 2,367,750

Chip Counts:

1. Foster Hays – 3,620,000
2. Casey Kelton – 3,385,000
3. Jeffrey Lavelle – 2,135,000
4. Robert Koss – 2,015,000
5. Stanley Tavanese – 1,735,000
6. Allan Le – 1,315,000

Eliminations:

7th. Tristan Wade – $94,700
8th. Philippe Vert – $71,728

Philippe Vert Eliminated in 8th Place ($71,728)

Philippe Vert open-shoved the short stack for 92,000 from the small blind and Stanley Tavanese called from the big blind.

Vert showed 9 9 for a pair while Tavanese turned over J J for a higher pair.

The board came 7 4 2 3 8, no help for Philippe Vert who was eliminated in 8th place ($71,728).

Tristan Wade Eliminated in 7th Place ($94,700)

Tristan Wade open-shoved for 1.4 million and Robert Koss re-shoved from the small blind with no call from the big blind.

Wade showed A 9 and was behind Koss’ A A.

The board came 8 2 2 K 3, no help for Tristan Wade who was eliminated in 7th place ($94,700).

Be sure to check back at 2:30pm for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Tristan Wade,   Robert Koss,   Stanley Tavanese,   Jeffrey Lavelle,   Allan Le,   Foster Hays,   Casey Kelton,   Philippe Vert

Level 26: Vezzani 10th ($42,534); Final Table Now Underway

Jun 13, '11

NOTE: Play ended last night with 34 players and resumed today at 2:30pm. The final 10 players consolidated to one table, and with the elimination of Andrea Vezzani in 10th place ($42,534), the official nine-handed final table is now underway.

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

Players Remaining: 9 out of 3,157

Average Chip Count: 1,578,500

Chip Counts:

1. Allan Le – 2,800,000
2. Tristan Wade – 2,680,000
3. Stanley Tavanese – 1,845,000
4. Jeffrey Lavelle – 1,615,000
5. Philippe Vert – 905,000
6. Casey Kelton – 830,000
7. Robert Voss – 830,000
8. Jordan Young – 800,000
9. Casey Kelton – 725,000

Payouts:

1st. $735,400
2nd. $454,920
3rd. $321,947
4th. $233,043
5th. $170,648
6th. $126,409
7th. $94,700
8th. $71,728
9th. $54,936

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Tristan Wade,   Robert Koss,   Stanley Tavanese,   Casey Kelly,   Jeffrey Lavelle,   Allan Le,   Jordan Young,   Foster Hays,   Andrea Vezzani,   Philippe Vert