Aubin Cazals Poker Tournament Updates

Aubin Cazals Wins Event No. 6 ($480,564)

Jun 04, '12

Level: 24

Blinds:10,000-20,000 with a 2,000 ante

Aubin Cazals Wins Event No. 6 ($480,564)
Joseph Cheong Eliminated in 2nd Place ($296,956)

Aubin Cazals and Joseph Cheong began Level 24 dead even in chips with 150 big blinds each and traded a few pots back and forth as the level played out, never really putting any big distance between them. Cazals managed to edge out a slight lead before all the chips went in the middle after Cheong six-bet shoved his pair of fours before the flop in a surprising all in with both players being so deep relative to the blinds.

Joseph Cheong opened the pot for 50,000, Aubin Cazals raised to 130,000 from the big blind, Cheong four-bet to 350,000, Cazals reraised to 730,000 and Cheong six-bet shoved for just under 3,000,000. Cazals called and Cheong was all in for his tournament life.

Cazals was out in front with KK against Cheong’s 44.

The board came K7379, giving Cazals top set on the flop and a full house on the turn to eliminate Joseph Cheong in 2nd place ($296,956). Aubin Cazals wins Event no. 6, taking home the $480,564 grand prize and the sixth gold bracelet of the 2012 WSOP.

Be sure to check back with Card Player for all of your final table action, current chip counts, and prize distributions for each gold bracelet event.

Player Tags: Joseph Cheong,   Aubin Cazals

Level 23 Update: Cheong Takes the Lead, Ends Level Even

Jun 04, '12

Level: 23

Blinds:8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 409

Average Chip Count: 3,065,000

Chip Counts:

Seat no. 3 — Joseph Cheong — 3,070,000

Seat no. 7 — Aubin Cazals — 3,060,000

Live Updates:

Cheong Rivers the Chip Lead

Aubin Cazals and Joseph Cheong traded the chip lead last level, but Cazals stole it back on the last hand before the break to enter Level 23 with the big stack. Cheong fired right back and took down a huge pot with a flush on the river in the first big showdown of the new blind level.

Joseph Cheong opened the button for 40,000 and Aubin Cazals called in the big blind.

The flop came J107, Cazals checked, Cheong bet 55,000, Cazals raised to 115,000 and Cheong called the check-raise.

The turn was the Q, and both players checked.

The river was the 4, Cazals bet 250,000, Cheong raised to 715,000 and Cazals called. Cheong showed A5 for the nut flush on the river and took the chip lead once again with about 3.5 million to Cazals’ 2.5 million.

Cazals Fights Back, Evens Out Stacks as Level Ends

Cazals managed to chip up back to even this level with about 3 million each after winning a showdown with two pair where his kicker played to rake a quarter-million chip pot. The stacks didn’t stay even for long as Cheong pulled back out in front after forcing Cazals to fold several pots to big river bets which widened the gap a bit as the level started winding down.

Cazals however managed to win a big showdown right before the level change when his pocket pair of tens held up in a pot that was bet on every street, closing the gap and evening out the chip stacks with just over 3 million each.

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

Player Tags: Joseph Cheong,   Aubin Cazals

Level 21 Update: Cazals Takes an Early Lead

Jun 04, '12

Level: 21

Blinds:5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 409

Average Chip Count: 3,065,000

Chip Counts:

Seat no. 3 — Joseph Cheong — 2,540,000

Seat no. 7 — Aubin Cazals — 3,590,000

Live Updates:

Cazals Takes an Early Lead

The unscheduled Day 5 of this event kicked off in Level 20 with blinds of 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante. Aubin Cazals came into the final heads-up match slightly out chipped but took the lead himself for the first time in this match after flopping a set and turning a full house to win the first showdown of the day.

Joseph Cheong opened the button for 19,000 and Aubin Cazals called from the big blind.

The flop came Q92, Cazals checked, Cheong bet, Cazals raised to 78,000 and Cheong called.

The turn was the 2, and both players checked.

The river was the J, Cazals checked, Cheong bet 157,000, Cazals raised to 425,000 and Cheong called. Cazals showed 99 for a flopped set and a full house on the turn to win the pot and take the chip lead. Cazals moved up to abut 3.5 million that hand while Cheong slipped down to about 2.5 million.

Level 21 began shortly into the heads-up match after the players finished where Cheong left off last night in Level 20. Cheong and Cazals went back and forth this past level and it wasn’t until it started winding down that Cazals managed to extend his lead after winning a few big showdowns. Cazals took down a 600,000 pot when his pocket eights held up and then took another quarter-million chips from Cheong after flopping bottom pair and getting paid off on the river. Joeseph Cheong managed to win several smaller pots this level, but still ended in the red with about 2.5 million to chipleader Aubin Cazals’ 3.5 million.

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

Player Tags: Joseph Cheong,   Aubin Cazals

Day 5 Begins, Final Heads-Up Match Now Underway

Jun 04, '12

The final heads-up match of Event no. 6 ($5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Mixed Max) is now underway, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

The No-Limit Hold’em Mixed Max event played differently than a traditional no-limit tournament. While the tournament started nine-handed on the first day, Day 2 was played six-handed and the remaining 31 players returned for Day 3 to play a series of individual heads-up matches. The final four players returned on Day 4 with the intentions of playing down to a winner, but a grueling nine hour semi-finals match between Aubin Cazals and Warwick Mirzikinian forced an unscheduled Day 5.

Play will begin in Level 20 with blinds of 4,000-8,000 and a 1,000 ante, and will continue until a winner is determined.

Here is a look at the final heads-up match:

Seat no. 3 — Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000

Seat no. 7 — Aubin Cazals — 3,018,000

While only 2 remain, this event gathered 409 players, creating a total prize pool of $1,922,300. Here is a look at the final payouts:

1st Place — $480564
2nd Place — $296,956

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: Joseph Cheong,   Aubin Cazals

Cazals Advances to Face Cheong in Finals; Long Match Forces Unscheduled Day 5

Jun 03, '12

Level: 26

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

Aubin Cazals Advances to Finals vs. Joseph Cheong
Warwick Mirzikinian Eliminated in 3rd Place ($162,443)

After a nine-hour battle of back and forth heads-up play, Aubin Cazals has finally put an end to the last semi-finals match and advanced to the championship round to face off against Joseph Cheong for the bracelet. Cazals entered Level 26 with a nearly 2:1 chip lead over Warwick Mirzikinian and finally took it home with ace high.

On the final hand of this semi-finals match, Aubin Cazals button-raised to 70,000 and four-bet shoved over Warwick Mirzikinian who called all in before the flop.

Cazals led with AK against Mirzikinian’s K10.

The board came 95347, offering no additional help for either player as Aubin Cazals’ ace-high won the pot to eliminate Warwick Mirzikinian in 3rd place ($162,433). Aubin Cazals advances to the final match of heads-up play where he will face off with Joseph Cheong who earned his spot in the finals after defeating Hugo Lemaire in 4th place ($162,443).

With the elimination of Warwick Mirzikinian in 3rd place ($162,443), the final two players will return tomorrow at 12:00pm local time to begin their final heads-up match. The Noon start time was a compromise made between the players and the tournament staff that prompted an unscheduled fifth day of action.

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

Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian,   Joseph Cheong,   Aubin Cazals

Level 24 Update: Back and Forth, Mirzikinian Back in the Lead

Jun 03, '12

Level: 24

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 3 out of 409

Chip Counts:

Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,220,000
Abuin Cazals — 780,000

Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round

Live Updates:

Players Trade the Chip Lead, Mirzikinian Gets it Back

The chip lead was traded back and forth last level with Warwick Merzikinian taking it into the break. The stacks were so close during the first half of the level that the chip lead was changing almost with each hand as one player won a small pot, then did the other.

Aubin Cazals took the lead at about the halfway point this level after picking off a big bluff on the river by Mirzikinian in a pot worth over 1 million in chips. This hand put Cazals out in front with about 1.9 million to Mirzikinian’s 1.1 million, but Mirzikinian answered back and reclaimed the chip lead once again as the level came to end with an almost 3:1 lead over Cazals.

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

Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian,   Aubin Cazals

Level 23 Update: Cazals Climbs Back to Nearly Even

Jun 03, '12

Level: 23

Blinds: 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante

Players Remaining: 3 out of 409

Chip Counts:

Warwick Mirzikinian — 1,680,000
Abuin Cazals — 1,340,000

Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round

Live Updates:

Cazals Gets Short, Doubles Back to Nearly Even

Aubin Cazals came into Level 23 at a 2:1 chip disadvantage but managed to end the level by closing the gap with about 1.3 million to Warwick Mirzikinian’s 1.6 million. Mirzikinian had Cazals down to just 573,000 towards the end of the level before Cazals five-bet shoved all in before the flop in what was one of the biggest pots of the night so far.

Cazals led before the flop with 1010 against Mirzikinian’s 33.

The board came KQ982, offering no additional help to either player as Cazal’s pair of tens held to double him up to over 1 million in chips.

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

Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian,   Aubin Cazals

Level 22 Update: Cazals Takes Lead, Loses it Back to Mirzikinian

Jun 03, '12

Level: 22

Blinds: 6,000-12,000 with a 2,000 ante

Players Remaining: 3 out of 409

Chip Counts:

Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,087,000
Abuin Cazals — 933,000

Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round

Live Updates:

Cazals Doubles Up, Closes the Gap

Aubin Cazals opened the pot for 25,000 from the button, Warwick Mirzikinian three-bet to 65,000 from the big blind and Cazals called.

The flop came 1082, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 75,000 and Mirzikinian called.

The turn was the 10, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 135,000 and Mirzikinian called.

The river was the Q, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals moved all in for just about 380,000 and Mirzikinian called. Cazals turned over A10 for trip tens on the turn to beat Mirzikinian’s pair of queens on the river. Cazals doubled up to about 1.3 million that hand, closing the gap on Mirzikinian’s chip lead of about 1.7 million.

Cazals Takes the Lead, Mirzikinian Takes it Back

Shortly after doubling through Warwick Mirzikinian, Aubin Cazals managed to grab the chip lead for the first time tonight as the level started winding down. His run at the top was short lived however as Mirzikinian managed to regain a 2:1 chip lead over Cazals as the level came to an end.

Warwick Mirzikinian raised to 35,000 on the button and Aubin Cazals called from the big blind.

The flop came 764, Cazals checked, Mirzikinian bet 25,000, Cazals raised to 85,000 and Mirzikinian called the check-raise.

The turn was the 2, Cazals bet 210,000, Mirzikinian raised to 575,000 and Cazals called.

The river was the A, and both players checked. Cazals turned over 44 for a flopped set against Mirzikinian flopped straight with 85. Mirzikinian raked the pot claiming the chip lead once again with roughly 2,100,000 to Cazals’ 900,000.

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

Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian,   Aubin Cazals

Level 21 Update: Mirzikinian Extends Lead Over Cazals

Jun 03, '12

Level: 21

Blinds: 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante

Players Remaining: 3 out of 409

Chip Counts:

Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,370,000
Abuin Cazals — 650,000

Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round

Live Updates:

Mirzikinian Rivers 3:1 Chip Lead

Warwick Mirzikinian entered the level with a 2:1 chip lead over Aubin Cazals and managed to extend that lead as the level tapered off. Cazals managed to find a little momentum early in the level but lost it halfway through when Mirzikinian rivered a flush to extend his chip lead to more than 3:1.

Aubin Cazals opened the button for 25,000 and Warwick Mirzikinian called in the big blind.

The flop came J54, and both players checked. The turn was the 5, Mirzikinian bet 30,000 and Cazals called.

The river was the 9, Mirzikinian bet 100,000 and Cazals called. Mirzikinian showed Q8 for a rivered flush, raking the 250,000 pot and taking a 3:1 chip lead over Cazals with about 2,300,000 to Cazals’ 750,000.

Cazals Fights Back with Big Bluff

While Aubin Cazals is down, he is certainly not out, and he proved that this past level after showing a big bluff that netted him more than a quarter million chips to hang on as the blinds were set to increase. Cazals opened the pot for a raise and continued to bet on every street including the river where he bet 225,000 into a 270,000 pot. Mirzikinian went into the tank and ultimately ended up folding the hand as Cazals showed the bluff and climbed back up to the 77 big blind range.

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

Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian,   Aubin Cazals

Level 20 Update: Cheong Advances; Hugo Lemaire Eliminated in 4th Place ($162,443)

Jun 03, '12

Level: 20

Blinds: 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante

Players Remaining: 3 out of 409

Chip Counts:

Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,071,000
Aubin Cazals — 949,000

Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round

Players Eliminated:

Hugo Lemaire — 4th Place ($162,443)

Live Updates:

Joseph Cheong Advances to Final Round
Hugo Lemaire Eliminated in 4th Place ($162,443)

Joseph Cheong button-raised to 19,000 before the flop, Hugo Lemaire reraised to 55,000 from the big blind and Cheong called.

The flop came 1075, Lemaire bet 52,000 and Cheong called.

The turn was the 8, Lemaire checked, Cheong bet 89,000, Lemaire moved all in over the top and Cheong called. Cheong showed 62 for a flopped flush against Lemaire’s pocket pair of jacks.

Lemaire was drawing dead on the river and was eliminated in 4th place ($162,443) as Joseph Cheong won his semi-finals match and advanced to the final round.

Cheong will take 3,112,000 going into the final round of heads-up play where he will enter with a a slight chip lead over the winner of the next match who will start with 3,022,000.

Mirzikinian Extends Lead to Over 2:1

Warwick Mirzikinian entered the level with a slight chip lead and managed to widen the gap as the level closed out with a nearly 2:1 chip lead over Aubin Cazals. Mirzikinina seemed to be winning most of the showdowns this level and slowly chipped away at his opponent’s stack by playing the aggressor. Mirzikinian will enter Level 21 with more than 200 big blinds while Cazals will have some work to do with slightly less than half of that.

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

Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian,   Hugo Lemaire,   Joseph Cheong,   Aubin Cazals