Steve Chanthabouasy Poker Tournament Updates

Level 9 Update: Schmelev Chips Up

Jun 16, '10

Blinds: 800-1,500

Players Remaining: 94 out of 171

Average Chip Count: 54,574

CP Family Chip Counts:

Jennifer Harman – 46,300

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Michael Reed – 123,600
2. Brett Richey – 113,800
3. Jeffrey Lisandro – 113,500
4. Vladimir Schmelev – 110,000
5. Hoyt Corkins – 109,900
6. Zvi Groysman – 107,100
7. Albert Minnullin – 97,600
8. Daniel Idema – 95,800
9. Shaun Deeb – 89,000
10. Patrick Walsh – 86,400

Notable Eliminations:

Lex Veldhuis
Daniel Hood
Phil Hellmuth
Chris Ferguson

Big Hands:

Schmelev Gets a Club

Fabrizio Balsassari bet on a flop of 8Q5 and was check-raised by Vladimir Schmelev. Balsassari made it three bets and was called by Schmelev.

The turn was the A and Balsassari put the last of his chips in and was called by Schmelev. Balsassari had the AK and needed to fade a club against Schmelev’s J2.

The river was the 10, hitting Schmelev square in the face and sending Balsassari home, while Schmelev climbs to 110,000.

Hood Sent Packing

Daniel Hood got his last few thousand into the middle against Nick Schulman and Brian Meinders. The flop was 3K5 and Schulman bet into the dry side pot and that forced a fold from Meinders.

Daniel Hood held Q9 and was up against Schulman’s A2. The turn was the 5 and the river was the 7, sending Hood home pretty early in day 2.

Chen Tops Chanthabouasy

Steve Chanthabouasy raised under-the-gun and was three-bet by Bill Chen. Chanthabouasy made the call and the two saw a flop of K65. Chathabouasy check-raised Chen and Chen made the call.

The turn was the 10 and Chen called a bet from Chanthabouasy. The 4 fell on the river and the same action happened. Chanthabouasy showed the Q10 and Chen turned up the AK, giving him the pot and moving his stack to 72,000.

Phil Hellmuth Eliminated

Phil Hellmuth and Vladimir Schmelev were heads up on a flop of 8210 and the two got three bets in. The turn was the 9 and Hellmuth checked and Schmelev bet.

He thought for a while before raising and moving his last chips in. Schmelev called and showed the QJ, meaning that Hellmuth’s 55 was drawing dead.

“Some brilliant [expletive] players here,” said Hellmuth as the dealer dealt the meaningless river card. Hellmuth left the building while Schmelev stacked chips.

Player Tags: Phil Hellmuth,   Bill Chen,   Steve Chanthabouasy

James Dempsey Wins Event No. 9

Jun 05, '10

Blinds: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 1 out of 650

Notable Eliminations:

2. Steve Chanthabouasy – $121,963

Big Hands:

Steve Chanthabouasy Eliminated in Second Place, James Dempsey Wins Event No.9

Steve Chanthabouasy raised to 150,000 and was met with a three-bet from James Dempsey to 450,000. Chathabouasy moved the rest of his chips in and Dempsey made the call and the cards were put on their backs.

Chanthabouasy showed A7 and was dominated by Dempsey’s A10. The fop of 456 brought some drama though, giving a straight draw to Chanthabouasy. The turn was the Q and the 4 bricked off for Chanthabouasy, eliminating him in second place and giving the title to Dempsey. Chanthabouasy takes home $121,963 for his efforts, while Dempsey will take home the bracelet and $197,470.

Player Tags: James Dempsey,   Steve Chanthabouasy

JJ Liu and Mark Babekov Eliminated

Jun 05, '10

Blinds: 12,000-24,000

Players Remaining: 2 out of 650

Average Chip Count: 1,462,500

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. James Dempsey – 2,115,000
2. Steve Chanthabouasy – 820,000

Notable Eliminations:

4. Mark Babekov – $62,232
3. JJ Liu – $86,512

Big Hands:

Mark Babekov Eliminated in Fourth Place ($62,232)

In a battle of the blinds, Mark Babekov and Steve Chanthabouasy got into a preflop raising war in that resulted in Babekov getting all in and the cards being turned up.

Babekov showed the A9 and Chanthabouasy had the KK. After a flop of K84, it was all but over for Babekov. The 4 on the turn gave Babekov a flush draw, but it gave Chanthabouasy a full house and Babekov was drawing dead when the 10 came on the river. Babekov received a little over $62,000 for his efforts.

JJ Liu Eliminated in Third Place ($86,512)

James Dempsey raised to 60,000 and JJ Liu three-bet to the size of the pot. Dempsey raised enough to put Liu all-in and she called. It was a classic race situation when she held 88 against the AK of Dempsey.

Dempsey hit gin on the flop when it came KQ4, leaving Liu with just one out. The turn was the A, which unnecessarily improved Dempsey’s hand to two pair. The 6 on the river gave Dempsey a flush and left Dempsey and Chanthabouasy heads-up for the bracelet.

Player Tags: JJ Liu and Willie Tan,   James Dempsey,   Steve Chanthabouasy,   Mark Babekov

Ed Brogdon and Joseph Williams Eliminated

Jun 05, '10

Blinds: 10,000-20,000

Players Remaining: 6 out of 650

Average Chip Count: 487,500

Tournament Leaderboard:
1. James Dempsey – 962,000
2. Steve Chanthabouasy – 670,000
3. Mark Babekov – 370,000
4. JJ Liu – 301,000
5. Scott Haraden – 283,000
6. Armen Kara – 189,000

Notable Eliminations:

8. Ed Brogdon – $19,120
7. Joseph Williams – $25,166

Big Hands:

Ed Brogdon Eliminated in Eight Place ($19,120)

Steve Chanthabouasy raised to 50,000 and Ed Brogdon moved all-in for 88,000 from the small blind. Chanthabouasy made the call and showed KK and held a commanding lead over Brogdon’s 99.

The board ran out AJ32J to eliminate Brogdon in eighth place.

Joseph Williams Eliminated in Seventh Place ($25,166)

Joseph Williams raised to 70,000 from under-the-gun and Steve Chanthabouasy moved all-in from the big blind. Williams made the call and it was off to the races.

Chanthabouasy showed 77 and Williams had the A10. The board came 63284 and Williams was eliminated in seventh place. With the knockout, Chanthabouasy climbs to 670,000.

Player Tags: Edward Brogdon,   Joseph Williams,   Steve Chanthabouasy