Tony Rivera Poker Tournament Updates

Level 3 Update: The March Down Begins

Nov 13, '10

Blinds: 100-200

Players Remaining: 328 (Approximate)

Eliminations:

David Levi

Big Hands:

Tony Rivera Doubles Up

There was 23,000 in the pot and a flop that read Q 8 7 when Ben Klier raised to 32,000 from the small blind. Tony Rivera made the all-in call for 16,600. Their cards:

Rivera: K K
Klier: A Q

Turn and River: 6 3

Rivera doubled up on the hand to survive.

Jason Koon Takes a Hit

There was 2,700 in the pot and a flop of Q 9 5 sat on the table when WPT Festa al Lago final tablist Jason Koon bet 1,500 from the cutoff. A player in middle position raised to 3,175 and Koon made the call. Both players then checked the 10 on the turn and the 10 followed on the river. Middle position bet 6,600 and Koon went into the tank. He eventually mucked and his stack now resides at 26,200.

Ali Eslami Trends Down

There was 1,000 in the pot and a flop that read Q 5 2 on the table when Ali Eslami bet 1,100 UTG+1. The button made the call and the turn fell A. Eslami bet 3,000 and the button made the call again. The river fell 5 and both players checked. Eslami flipped over pocket sixes, but they were bested by the pocket nines of his opponent.

Senti Plays Picks Up Chips

The board read 10 9 2 7 J with 6,700 in the pot when a player under the gun put out a small bet. Michael Kamran made the call from the hijack and then Jason Senit raised to 2,000 from the button. UTG made the call and Kamran mucked. Senti flipped over K Q and he won the pot.

Left in the Deck

A Little Brighter

A few more stars have snuck into the tournament field just before the registration cutoff. They include Hollywood stars Shannon Elizabeth and Jennifer Tilly, as well as poker stars like Phil Laak.

Player Tags: Phil Laak,   Jennifer Tilly,   Tony Rivera,   Shannon Elizabeth,   Michael Kamran,   Jason Senti,   Jason Koon,   Ben Klier

Final Table Set

Jun 20, '09

Ante: 5,000
Low Card: 5,000
Completion: 20,000
Limits: 20,000-40,000

Players Remaining: 8 out of 164

Final-Table Seating Chart with Chip Counts:

Seat 1: Yan Chen — 775,000
Seat 2: Frank Mariani — 449,000
Seat 3: Abe Mosseri — 1,167,000
Seat 4: Justin Smith — 261,000
Seat 5: Doyle Brunson — 284,000
Seat 6: Mike Wattel — 154,000
Seat 7: Farzad Rouhani — 859,000
Seat 8: Jeffrey Lisandro — 983,000

Average Chip Count: 447,272

Notable Eliminations:

9. Anthony Rivera – $41,885

Big Hands:

Anthony Rivera Eliminated in Ninth Place ($41,885)

Justin Smith brought it in with X-X-2 and Yan Chen completed with X-X-A. Anthony Rivera raised with X-X-9 and Smith mucked. Chen reraised and Rivera made the all-in call. Their cards:

Chen: (AJ)A346(5)
Rivera: (1010)95103(K)

Chen made a flush and a 6-5 low to scoop the pot and eliminate Rivera in ninth place. The final table of eight is now set.

Left in the Deck

Doyle Brunson will be playing at his 24th World Series of Poker final table in this event today. If Brunson wins he will have 11 bracelets for his career. The win would tie him with Phil Hellmuth for the most all time.

Player Tags: Doyle Brunson,   Tony Rivera,   Yan Chen

Final Day Update: Down to Nine

Jun 20, '09

Ante: 5,000
Low Card: 5,000
Completion: 20,000
Limits: 20,000-40,000

Players Remaining: 9 out of 164

Chip Counts:

1. Jeff Lisandro – 970,000
2. Abe Mosseri – 935,000
3. Farzad Rouhani – 750,000
4. Anthony Rivera – 460,000
5. Yan Chen – 435,000
6. Mike Wattel – 280,000
7. Justin Smith – 220,000
8. Doyle Brunson – 210,000
9. Frank Mariani – 195,000

Average Chip Count: 447,272

Notable Eliminations:

12. Lyle Berman – $33,668
11. Scotty Nguyen – $33,668
10. Perry Friedman – $41,885

Big Hands:

Lyle Berman Eliminated in 12th Place ($33,668)

Anthony Rivera completed on third street and Yan Chen made the call. Lyle Berman raised and both opponents called. Rivera bet first on fourth street and Chen mucked. Berman made the call and Rivera then led out on fifth street. Berman made the call again and the same sequence of events repeated itself on sixth street. Rivera led out on seventh street as well and Berman mucked, leaving himself with only 60,000. Their cards:

Berman: (X-X)8K107(X)
Rivera: (X-X)4AJ5(X)

Berman was forced to move all in on the next hand and he was eliminated from the tournament in 12th place.

Scotty Nguyen Eliminated in 11th Place ($33,668)

Perry Friedman brought it in with X-X-3 and Scotty Nguyen completed with X-X-4. Jeffrey Lisandro raised with X-X-5. Friedman mucked and Nguyen made the all-in call. Lisandro made trip eights and Nguyen failed to qualify low. Lisandro scooped the pot and Nguyen was eliminated in 11th place.

Perry Friedman Eliminated in 10th Place ($41,885)

Perry Friedman was all in for his final 13,000 on third street and both Jeffrey Lisandro and Justin Smith joined him in the pot. Lisandro check-called a bet from Smith on fourth street and then both players checked on fifth and sixth streets. Lisandro checked on seventh street and Smith broke the routine by betting. Lisandro mucked. Their cards before the showdown:

Smith: (X-X)3637(X)
Friedman: (X-X)A96Q(X)

Smith made trip threes to beat the pair of Queens held by Friedman, and Smith scooped the pot thanks to the fact that neither player qualified low. Friedman was eliminated in 10th place.

Player Tags: Scotty Nguyen,   Lyle Berman,   Jeffrey Lisandro,   Perry Friedman,   Tony Rivera,   Justin Smith

Event No. 12 Begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday

Jun 04, '09

Event No. 12 ($10,000 mixed event world championship) will begin at 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday, June 4. Players will begin with 30,000 in tournament chips. Levels will be 60-minutes long and there will be a 20-minute break after every two levels. There will be a 60-minute dinner break after level 4 on day 1. Here is a look at the schedule for the event:

Thursday, June 4, 5 p.m.: Day 1 (play 8 levels)
Friday, June 5, 2 p.m.: Day 2 (play down to final table)
Saturday, June 6, 2 p.m.: Final Table

The following games will be spread in this event:

NOTE: Games will change every eight hands.

- deuce-to-seven triple draw
- limit hold’em
- Omaha eight-or-better
- Razz
- seven-card stud
- seven-card stud eight-or-better
- no-limit hold’em
- pot-limit Omaha

In 2008 this event attracted 192 players and the champion was Anthony Rivera, who took home $483,688 in prize money. CardPlayer.com will bring you full live updates, top-ten chip counts, and results each day from this marquee event.

Player Tags: Tony Rivera

Event 8 - $10,000 Mixed Championship - End of Day

Jun 05, '08

Note: Play has ended for the day. The remaining eight final players will begin final table play tomorrow at 4:00pm.

Players Remaining: 8 of 192

Average Stack: 480,000

Final Table:
Matthew Glantz – 1,150,000
James Mackey – 700,000
Tom Dwan – 600,000
Michael DeMichele – 450,000
Sam Farha – 400,000
Tony Rivera – 300,000
Jeff Madsen – 200,000
Eli Elezra – 100,000

Recent Eliminations:
David Oppenheim (9^th)
Gus Hansen (10^th)

Big Hands:

Limit Hold’em: Gus Hansen Eliminated in 10^th Place ($45,120)

After being crippled just before the scheduled break, Gus Hansen’s tournament fate became even more dire during the limit hold’em round. Eli Elezra raised from the button, and Hansen three-bet from the small blind. Eli called, and Hansen bet before the flop fell JJ8. Eli deliberated, finally raising all in. Elezra was ahead with the A9 against Hansen’s KQ. The turn and river did nothing for Gus, and Elezra’s double-up left Hansen with less than 24,000 in chips.

Gus Hansen was eliminated on the next hand by Sam Farha, earning him a 10^th place finish and sending the remaining players to the final table bubble.

Stud 8: Decision Time for David Oppenheim

After not successfully winning a pot for several orbits, David Oppenheim was put to the test by Tom Dwan during the stud eight-or-better round. Showing a board of KK5, Tom Dwan made a bet that would have essentially committed all of Oppenheim’s chips to the middle. Oppenheim pondered for several minutes while staring down his opponent’s board and comparing it with his own, AK9. He eventually folded, and as he did so Dwan showed him the 5 from his hole cards. Oppenheim was decimated by the loss with only 30,000 in chips remaining.

During that hand, a decision was made by the floor staff to randomly draw one player from the table of five to join the table of four. James Mackey was selected to move, which was particularly significant. Mackey and Dwan had been virtually even in chips at their table, with the remaining players (Oppenheim, Anthony Rivera, and James Madsen) being short stacks playing very conservatively. Consequently, the majority of the pots had been contested by Dwan and Mackey. With Mackey joining the other table, Dwan was free to hijack many pots without resistance. Dwan raised every hand during his table’s four-handed play.

Stud 8: David Oppenheim Eliminated in 9^th Place ($45,120)

David Oppenheim’s difficult struggle on the final table bubble finally came to an end during the stud eight-or-better round. He was able to put all of his chips into the middle on third street with K88, called only by Jeff Madsen with A55. Oppenheim caught the K on fifth street, but Madsen’s A on sixth street overtook David’s two pair and sent him to the rail.

Player Tags: Gus Hansen,   David Oppenheim,   Eli Elezra,   Sam Farha,   James Mackey,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Jeff Madsen,   Michael DeMichele

Event 8 - $10,000 Mixed Championship - At Dinner Break

Jun 05, '08

Note: Players are now on dinner break.  The tournament will resume in one hour.

Players Remaining: 37 of 192

Average Stack: 40,851

Notable Chip Counts:
Tom Dwan - 245,000
Gus Hansen - 235,000
Tony Rivera - 214,000
Michael DeMichele - 200,000
Tom Schneider - 185,000
Johnny Chan - 182,000
Lee Watkinson - 180,000
David Oppenheim - 178,000
Matthew Glantz - 178,000
Chad Brown - 148,000

Recent Eliminations:
John Hennigan

Big Hands:

Stud 8: Johnny “World” Hennigan Eliminated

During his table’s stud eight-or-better round, John Hennigan found himself all in on the river against Gus Hansen and another opponent.  Hennigan’s visible board read AcJh6s5h against Hansen’s QJT6 and the other player’s 5432, and bet his remaining 3,200.  Hansen considered the situation before folding, and the other player quickly called and revealed the 6 for a six-high straight.  Johnny World stood up and showed his cards while preparing to hit the rail.  Hennigan’s hole cards revealed that he had a split pair of aces.

Stud 8: Mike Sexton Survives Elimination

Meanwhile, Mike Sexton also found himself all in during the stud eight-or- better round on table 47.  His all in bet was called by both Sam Farha and Tom Scneider, but when the river card was dealt Mike Sexton split the pot with Farha and continues to stay alive.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Gus Hansen,   David Oppenheim,   John Hennigan,   Tom Schneider,   Johnny Chan,   Mike Sexton,   Sam Farha,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Michael DeMichele,   European Report

Anthony Rivera Wins Event No. 8

Jun 06, '08

Matthew Glantz Eliminated in 3rd Place ($184,992)

On a flop of 763, James Mackey bet 125,000 and Matthew Glantz moved all in. Mackey made the call showing J7 and was ahead of Glantz and his 65. The turn and river bricked when they came Q3 and Glantz was eliminated in third place.
 

Anthony Rivera Wins Event No. 8 ($483,688)

On the very first hand of heads up play, James Mackey raised to 87,000 and Anthony Rivera reraised to 287,000. Mackey moved all in and Rivera instantly called showing AK. Mackey turned over A9 and needed help to stay alive. The board ran out QQ245 and Mackey was eliminated in second place, earning $297,792.

Rivera earns $483,688 for his win and his first WSOP bracelet.

Player Tags: James Mackey,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera

$10,000 Mixed Games Championship - Eli Elezra and Michael DeMichele Eliminated

Jun 06, '08

Players Remaining: 3

Chip Leaders:

Matt Glantz - 1,000,000
James Mackey - 950,000
Tony Rivera - 1,900,000

Eliminations: Eli Elezra (5th Place), Michael DeMichele (4th Place)

Story Lines:

Eli Elezra fought to hang on, but his pocket kings ran into Michael DeMichele's rolled up treys to bust in fifth place. The action picked up in the Deuce-to-Seven round and DeMichele was crippled before being forced to committ his chips predraw.

Big Hands:

Eli Elezra Eliminated in 5th Place ($108,288) - Stud eight-or-better

After Tony Rivera brought it in, Michael DeMichele completed with the 3 and Eli Elezra raised with the 7. DeMichele put Elezra all in and he made the call, revealing two black kings in the hole. Unforunately for Elezra, DeMichele was rolled up and made a full house to eliminate Elezra in fifth place.

Michael DeMichele Eliminated in 4th Place ($139,872) - Triple Draw

After getting crippled on a previous hand, Michael DeMichele committed his chips predraw and drew to a 10-low, but Tony Rivera showed down a 8-7-6-4-2 to take him out in fourth place.

NOTE: The players are now on a 60-minute dinner break until 8:40 p.m. PST.

Player Tags: Eli Elezra,   Tony Rivera,   Michael DeMichele

$10,000 Mixed Games Championship - Sam Farha and Tom Dwan Eliminated

Jun 06, '08

Players Remaining: 5

Chip Leaders:

Matt Glantz - 1,600,000
James Mackey - 950,000
Tony Rivera - 750,000
Eli Elezra - 325,000
Michael DeMichele - 225,000

Eliminations: Tom Dwan (7th Place), Sam Farha (6th Place)

Story Lines:

After Tom Dwan exited, Sam Farha and Eli Elezra were left on the short stack. Farha couldn't pick up anything in Razz and he was sent home. Meanwhile, James Mackey joined Matthew Glantz at the top of the leaderboard with more than 1 million.

Big Hands:

Tom Dwan Eliminated in 7th Place ($67,680) - Limit Hold'em

After being crippled on an earlier hand by Matthew Glantz, Tom Dwan moved all in over the top of a Michael DeMichele bet. Both Tony Rivera and DeMichele made the call and the flop came 10-9-3. Rivera bet and DeMichele called. The turn was a 5 and once again Rivera bet. This time, DeMichele folded and Rivera turned up his hand along with Dwan.

Dwan - 2-2
Rivera - 3-2

Dwan needed a miracle one-outer on the river but it bricked out. Dwan finished in seventh place.


NOTE: The players then took a 20-minute break.

James Mackey Over a Million - Omaha 8/b

Sam Farha raised and Eli Elezra called on the button. James Mackey came along in the big blind and the flop came down K97. Mackey bet and Farha raised. Elezra got out of the way and Mackey made the call. The turn was the K and Mackey bet once again. Farha raised and Mackey reraised. Farha called and the river was the 8. Mackey put in one more bet and Farha called. Mackey showed down KJ98 to scoop a huge pot with Kings full of nines. After the hand, Mackey was toping 1.1 million.


Sam Farha Eliminated in 6th Place ($85,725) - Razz

Sam Farha and Eli Elezra are all in against James Mackey in razz. Despite holding four to the wheel on fourth street, Mackey bricks out and Elezra's 8-7-6-5-4 is enough to triple up and knock out Farha in sixth place.

Player Tags: Eli Elezra,   Sam Farha,   James Mackey,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Michael DeMichele

$10,000 Mixed Games Championship - Jeff Madsen Eliminated

Jun 06, '08

Players Remaining: 7

Chip Leaders:

Matthew Glantz – 1,100,000
James Mackey – 750,000
Sam Farha – 690,000
Tony Rivera – 610,000
Michael DeMichele – 260,000
Eli Elezra – 240,000
Tom Dwan – 190,000

Eliminations: Jeff Madsen (8th Place)

Story Lines:

Tom Dwan took several hits to his stack after doubling up most of the table and Jeff Madsen couldn't recover from his low starting stack and busted in eighth place.

Big Hands:

Tony Rivera Doubles Through Tom Dwan - Pot-Limit Omaha

Tom Dwan raised to 31,000 and Tony Rivera called. Matthew Glantz called in the small blind and Sam Farha came along in the big blind. The flop came Q-5-2 and Rivera bet 90,000. Dwan put him all in and Rivera made the call, showing A-Q-Q-6 for top set. Dwan was behind with K-K-J-9 and a back door flush draw. The turn and river came 4-5 and Rivera's hand improved to a set to double up to 610,000. Dwan took a big hit and now has 350,000.

Sam Farha Doubles Through Tom Dwan... Twice - Pot-Limit Omaha

Tom Dwan raised to 21,000 and Eli Elezra moves in on the short stack for 76,000. Dwan makes the call and turns over 9532 and is behind, albeit slightly, to Elezra's AKQ2. The board ran out 7325Q and Elezra's two pair bested Dwan's to double up to around 165,000. Meanwhile, Dwan's stack started the day off going in reverse.

A few hands later, Dwan put Elezra all in once again after floping top and bottom pair. But Elezra held top and middle pair and it held to double him up once again. After the hand, Elezra moved up to 300,000 and Dwan was left treading water with 150,000.

Jeff Madsen Doubles Through Matthew Glantz - Triple Draw

On the severe short stack Jeff Madsen raised all in pre-draw against Matthew Glantz. After three rounds of draws, Madsen turned over 8-7-5-4-2 and Glantz could only muster A-8-5-4-3. Madsen took the pot and doubled up to 195,000.

Jeff Madsen Eliminated in 8th Place ($54,144) - Limit Hold'em

Jeff Madsen raised all in on the short stack and Matthew Glantz called in the small blind. Sam Farha reraised out of the big blind and Glantz called. Both players checked down a board of K6258 and Farha turned over A2 to take the side pot and the main pot after Madsen couldn't produce better than 10-high. Madsen was eliminated in eighth place.

Player Tags: Eli Elezra,   Sam Farha,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Jeff Madsen

Event 8 - $10,000 Mixed Championship - End of Day

Jun 05, '08

Note: Play has ended for the day. The remaining eight final players will begin final table play tomorrow at 4:00pm.

Players Remaining: 8 of 192

Average Stack: 480,000

Final Table:
Matthew Glantz – 1,150,000
James Mackey – 700,000
Tom Dwan – 600,000
Michael DeMichele – 450,000
Sam Farha – 400,000
Tony Rivera – 300,000
Jeff Madsen – 200,000
Eli Elezra – 100,000

Recent Eliminations:
David Oppenheim (9^th)
Gus Hansen (10^th)

Big Hands:

Limit Hold’em: Gus Hansen Eliminated in 10^th Place ($45,120)

After being crippled just before the scheduled break, Gus Hansen’s tournament fate became even more dire during the limit hold’em round. Eli Elezra raised from the button, and Hansen three-bet from the small blind. Eli called, and Hansen bet before the flop fell JJ8. Eli deliberated, finally raising all in. Elezra was ahead with the A9 against Hansen’s KQ. The turn and river did nothing for Gus, and Elezra’s double-up left Hansen with less than 24,000 in chips.

Gus Hansen was eliminated on the next hand by Sam Farha, earning him a 10^th place finish and sending the remaining players to the final table bubble.

Stud 8: Decision Time for David Oppenheim

After not successfully winning a pot for several orbits, David Oppenheim was put to the test by Tom Dwan during the stud eight-or-better round. Showing a board of KK5, Tom Dwan made a bet that would have essentially committed all of Oppenheim’s chips to the middle. Oppenheim pondered for several minutes while staring down his opponent’s board and comparing it with his own, AK9. He eventually folded, and as he did so Dwan showed him the 5 from his hole cards. Oppenheim was decimated by the loss with only 30,000 in chips remaining.

During that hand, a decision was made by the floor staff to randomly draw one player from the table of five to join the table of four. James Mackey was selected to move, which was particularly significant. Mackey and Dwan had been virtually even in chips at their table, with the remaining players (Oppenheim, Anthony Rivera, and James Madsen) being short stacks playing very conservatively. Consequently, the majority of the pots had been contested by Dwan and Mackey. With Mackey joining the other table, Dwan was free to hijack many pots without resistance. Dwan raised every hand during his table’s four-handed play.

Stud 8: David Oppenheim Eliminated in 9^th Place ($45,120)

David Oppenheim’s difficult struggle on the final table bubble finally came to an end during the stud eight-or-better round. He was able to put all of his chips into the middle on third street with K88, called only by Jeff Madsen with A55. Oppenheim caught the K on fifth street, but Madsen’s A on sixth street overtook David’s two pair and sent him to the rail.

Player Tags: Gus Hansen,   David Oppenheim,   Eli Elezra,   Sam Farha,   James Mackey,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Jeff Madsen,   Michael DeMichele

Event 8 - $10,000 Mixed Championship - At Dinner Break

Jun 05, '08

Note: Players are now on dinner break.  The tournament will resume in one hour.

Players Remaining: 37 of 192

Average Stack: 40,851

Notable Chip Counts:
Tom Dwan - 245,000
Gus Hansen - 235,000
Tony Rivera - 214,000
Michael DeMichele - 200,000
Tom Schneider - 185,000
Johnny Chan - 182,000
Lee Watkinson - 180,000
David Oppenheim - 178,000
Matthew Glantz - 178,000
Chad Brown - 148,000

Recent Eliminations:
John Hennigan

Big Hands:

Stud 8: Johnny “World” Hennigan Eliminated

During his table’s stud eight-or-better round, John Hennigan found himself all in on the river against Gus Hansen and another opponent.  Hennigan’s visible board read AcJh6s5h against Hansen’s QJT6 and the other player’s 5432, and bet his remaining 3,200.  Hansen considered the situation before folding, and the other player quickly called and revealed the 6 for a six-high straight.  Johnny World stood up and showed his cards while preparing to hit the rail.  Hennigan’s hole cards revealed that he had a split pair of aces.

Stud 8: Mike Sexton Survives Elimination

Meanwhile, Mike Sexton also found himself all in during the stud eight-or- better round on table 47.  His all in bet was called by both Sam Farha and Tom Scneider, but when the river card was dealt Mike Sexton split the pot with Farha and continues to stay alive.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Gus Hansen,   David Oppenheim,   John Hennigan,   Tom Schneider,   Johnny Chan,   Mike Sexton,   Sam Farha,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Michael DeMichele,   European Report

Anthony Rivera Wins Event No. 8

Jun 06, '08

Matthew Glantz Eliminated in 3rd Place ($184,992)

On a flop of 763, James Mackey bet 125,000 and Matthew Glantz moved all in. Mackey made the call showing J7 and was ahead of Glantz and his 65. The turn and river bricked when they came Q3 and Glantz was eliminated in third place.
 

Anthony Rivera Wins Event No. 8 ($483,688)

On the very first hand of heads up play, James Mackey raised to 87,000 and Anthony Rivera reraised to 287,000. Mackey moved all in and Rivera instantly called showing AK. Mackey turned over A9 and needed help to stay alive. The board ran out QQ245 and Mackey was eliminated in second place, earning $297,792.

Rivera earns $483,688 for his win and his first WSOP bracelet.

Player Tags: James Mackey,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera

$10,000 Mixed Games Championship - Eli Elezra and Michael DeMichele Eliminated

Jun 06, '08

Players Remaining: 3

Chip Leaders:

Matt Glantz - 1,000,000
James Mackey - 950,000
Tony Rivera - 1,900,000

Eliminations: Eli Elezra (5th Place), Michael DeMichele (4th Place)

Story Lines:

Eli Elezra fought to hang on, but his pocket kings ran into Michael DeMichele's rolled up treys to bust in fifth place. The action picked up in the Deuce-to-Seven round and DeMichele was crippled before being forced to committ his chips predraw.

Big Hands:

Eli Elezra Eliminated in 5th Place ($108,288) - Stud eight-or-better

After Tony Rivera brought it in, Michael DeMichele completed with the 3 and Eli Elezra raised with the 7. DeMichele put Elezra all in and he made the call, revealing two black kings in the hole. Unforunately for Elezra, DeMichele was rolled up and made a full house to eliminate Elezra in fifth place.

Michael DeMichele Eliminated in 4th Place ($139,872) - Triple Draw

After getting crippled on a previous hand, Michael DeMichele committed his chips predraw and drew to a 10-low, but Tony Rivera showed down a 8-7-6-4-2 to take him out in fourth place.

NOTE: The players are now on a 60-minute dinner break until 8:40 p.m. PST.

Player Tags: Eli Elezra,   Tony Rivera,   Michael DeMichele

$10,000 Mixed Games Championship - Sam Farha and Tom Dwan Eliminated

Jun 06, '08

Players Remaining: 5

Chip Leaders:

Matt Glantz - 1,600,000
James Mackey - 950,000
Tony Rivera - 750,000
Eli Elezra - 325,000
Michael DeMichele - 225,000

Eliminations: Tom Dwan (7th Place), Sam Farha (6th Place)

Story Lines:

After Tom Dwan exited, Sam Farha and Eli Elezra were left on the short stack. Farha couldn't pick up anything in Razz and he was sent home. Meanwhile, James Mackey joined Matthew Glantz at the top of the leaderboard with more than 1 million.

Big Hands:

Tom Dwan Eliminated in 7th Place ($67,680) - Limit Hold'em

After being crippled on an earlier hand by Matthew Glantz, Tom Dwan moved all in over the top of a Michael DeMichele bet. Both Tony Rivera and DeMichele made the call and the flop came 10-9-3. Rivera bet and DeMichele called. The turn was a 5 and once again Rivera bet. This time, DeMichele folded and Rivera turned up his hand along with Dwan.

Dwan - 2-2
Rivera - 3-2

Dwan needed a miracle one-outer on the river but it bricked out. Dwan finished in seventh place.


NOTE: The players then took a 20-minute break.

James Mackey Over a Million - Omaha 8/b

Sam Farha raised and Eli Elezra called on the button. James Mackey came along in the big blind and the flop came down K97. Mackey bet and Farha raised. Elezra got out of the way and Mackey made the call. The turn was the K and Mackey bet once again. Farha raised and Mackey reraised. Farha called and the river was the 8. Mackey put in one more bet and Farha called. Mackey showed down KJ98 to scoop a huge pot with Kings full of nines. After the hand, Mackey was toping 1.1 million.


Sam Farha Eliminated in 6th Place ($85,725) - Razz

Sam Farha and Eli Elezra are all in against James Mackey in razz. Despite holding four to the wheel on fourth street, Mackey bricks out and Elezra's 8-7-6-5-4 is enough to triple up and knock out Farha in sixth place.

Player Tags: Eli Elezra,   Sam Farha,   James Mackey,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Michael DeMichele

$10,000 Mixed Games Championship - Jeff Madsen Eliminated

Jun 06, '08

Players Remaining: 7

Chip Leaders:

Matthew Glantz – 1,100,000
James Mackey – 750,000
Sam Farha – 690,000
Tony Rivera – 610,000
Michael DeMichele – 260,000
Eli Elezra – 240,000
Tom Dwan – 190,000

Eliminations: Jeff Madsen (8th Place)

Story Lines:

Tom Dwan took several hits to his stack after doubling up most of the table and Jeff Madsen couldn't recover from his low starting stack and busted in eighth place.

Big Hands:

Tony Rivera Doubles Through Tom Dwan - Pot-Limit Omaha

Tom Dwan raised to 31,000 and Tony Rivera called. Matthew Glantz called in the small blind and Sam Farha came along in the big blind. The flop came Q-5-2 and Rivera bet 90,000. Dwan put him all in and Rivera made the call, showing A-Q-Q-6 for top set. Dwan was behind with K-K-J-9 and a back door flush draw. The turn and river came 4-5 and Rivera's hand improved to a set to double up to 610,000. Dwan took a big hit and now has 350,000.

Sam Farha Doubles Through Tom Dwan... Twice - Pot-Limit Omaha

Tom Dwan raised to 21,000 and Eli Elezra moves in on the short stack for 76,000. Dwan makes the call and turns over 9532 and is behind, albeit slightly, to Elezra's AKQ2. The board ran out 7325Q and Elezra's two pair bested Dwan's to double up to around 165,000. Meanwhile, Dwan's stack started the day off going in reverse.

A few hands later, Dwan put Elezra all in once again after floping top and bottom pair. But Elezra held top and middle pair and it held to double him up once again. After the hand, Elezra moved up to 300,000 and Dwan was left treading water with 150,000.

Jeff Madsen Doubles Through Matthew Glantz - Triple Draw

On the severe short stack Jeff Madsen raised all in pre-draw against Matthew Glantz. After three rounds of draws, Madsen turned over 8-7-5-4-2 and Glantz could only muster A-8-5-4-3. Madsen took the pot and doubled up to 195,000.

Jeff Madsen Eliminated in 8th Place ($54,144) - Limit Hold'em

Jeff Madsen raised all in on the short stack and Matthew Glantz called in the small blind. Sam Farha reraised out of the big blind and Glantz called. Both players checked down a board of K6258 and Farha turned over A2 to take the side pot and the main pot after Madsen couldn't produce better than 10-high. Madsen was eliminated in eighth place.

Player Tags: Eli Elezra,   Sam Farha,   Matthew Glantz,   Tony Rivera,   Tom Dwan,   Jeff Madsen