Craig Varnell Poker Tournament Updates

Rainer Kempe Gets Fortunate River To Double Through Craig Varnell

Dec 15, '18

Craig Varnell raised to 4,500 from the cutoff and Rainer Kempe three-bet to 14,000 from the small blind. Varnell called, and the flop fell KQJ.

Kempe checked, and Varnell bet enough to cover Kempe’s last 41,000 or so. Kempe went into the tank for nearly two minutes before throwing in a call, tabling pocket tens.

Varnell was ahead with K6 for top pair, but the turn and river fell Q9, and Kempe made a straight to double up to 114,000.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell,   Rainer Kempe

The Last Of The Chip Counts From The Field

Dec 15, '18

Last batch.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell

Martin Stausholm Busts Craig Varnell

Jul 18, '17

Martin Stausholm raised to 1,000 from the hijack and the cutoff made the call. Craig Varnell then three-bet to 4,200 from the button. Stausholm four-bet to 11,600, and the cutoff tank folded.

Varnell took some time as well, before moving all-in for what looked like about 36,000. The dealer never got a chance to count it, however, because Stausholm, the bigger stack, had already made a quick call with JJ.

Varnell could only show down A10, and the board of J96J9 only added insult to injury, giving Stausholm quad jacks. Stausholm now has 102,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell,   Martin Stausholm

Craig Varnell Eliminated In 12th Place ($10,165)

Mar 15, '16

Ben Zamani raised to 52,000 on the button and Craig Varnell three-bet to 162,000 from the small blind. Shawn Sheikhan folded his big blind and Zamani made the call.

The flop came down 1022 and Varnell continued for 201,000. Zamani took a few seconds before making the call and the turn was the Q.

Varnell then shoved all in for his last 750,000 or so and it didn’t take Zamani too long to call. Varnell showed 109 and Zamani revealed AQ for top pair, top kicker.

Varnell was disgusted after seeing Zamani’s cards, clearly annoyed that he had floated him on the flop and hit the turn. The river was the 3 and Varnell was eliminated in 12th place. Zamani now has a massive lead in the tournament with about 3,200,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell,   Benjamin Zamani

Matthias DeClercq Doubles Up

Mar 15, '16

Matthias DeClercq moves all in for his last 312,000 and Craig Varnell makes the call behind him. Everyone else folds and Varnell reveals pocket sevens. DeClercq has pocket queens however, and holds as the board falls A444Q.

DeClercq now sits with about 650,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell,   Matthias De Clercq

Mikiya Takitani Eliminated In 15th Place ($8,350)

Mar 15, '16

Mikiya Takitani raises to 145,000, leaving himself with just 70,000 behind. Craig Varnell then reraises to 280,000 to isolate and everyone folds to Takitani, who calls off the rest of his chips.

Takitani shows AJ, but he is dominated by Varnell’s AQ. The board falls K84310 and Takitani is eliminated. Varnell is now up to about 2,000,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell

Angelo Spinazzola Eliminated In 16th Place ($6,534)

Mar 15, '16

Angelo Spinazzola was all-in preflop with the AQ against Craig Varnell’s JJ.

The board ran out 9772K and Varnell’s jacks maintained their lead, winning him the pot and sending Spinazzola to the rail in 16th place with $6,534.

Varnell increased his stack to 1.7 million after the hand.

Player Tags: Craig Varnell,   Angelo Spinazzola