Players on Break
Jul 13, '07
Tournament officials announced that the players would be going on their intended level break an hour early in order to organize the tables properly. The players will return in 20 minutes to finish the level and play half of one more level before leaving on a dinner break. Tournament director Jack Effel also cleared up any confusion about the schedule by confirming that play will last either four and a half levels today or until the field is down to 99 players.
Carlos Mortensen didn't take long to get all his chips in the middle early on in this level and ran head first into an overpair. Mortensen had pushed with pocket jacks only to find his opponent was holding pocket queens. Mortensen didn't improve and the 2001 Main Event champion was sent to the rail.
With the field condensing, many notable players are finding themselves sitting by or across from other notables they have played with many times before. Sharing the felt at table 59 was Gus Hansen, Daniel Alaei, Ayaz Mahmood and Scotty Nguyen. The four players only sat together for a few hands before ESPN scooped them up and sat them at the featured table.
Sorel Mizzi started level 17 with over $700,000 and looked comfortable to go deep in this year's Main Event. The poker gods had a different plan for Mizzi and cut his tournament shorter than many had anticipated. Two players at Mizzi's table, Ed Betlow and the player in seat eight limped into the pot for $10,000 each. Mizzi raised to $51,000 and both players called to see a flop. The flop came J
7
3
and Mizzi bet out $93,000. Betlow raised to $200,000 and the player in seat eight folded right away. Mizzi took a few moments to think and then declared that he was all in. Once the $200,000 bet was called, Mizzi had pushed for $419,000 more. Betlow asked MIzzi if he would show him his cards if he folded. Mizzi sat in his chair silent. "Ok then. It's a sick call but here we go" said Betlow as he pushed $419,000 into the middle. Mizzi turned over K
J
for top pair and Betlow showed A
7
for middle pair with top kicker. Everyone at the table was slightly surprised at Betlow's call. The turn brought the A
and Mizzi stared hard with hatred at the card. The river was the 8
and Sorel Mizzi stood up from the table. "I would have folded if you would have shown me" Betlow said as Mizzi left the table. "You played well sir" said Mizzi as he walked away.
Jason Sell was also eliminated in the first half of level 17 after finding himself all in with A
K
. Steven Garfinkle called the all in bet with pocket queens. The flop came Q
J
4
and took most of the mystery out of it. The turn was the 5
and the river brought the 2
.
A big bet on the river helped Neil Channing take a large pot off of Kirk Morrison shortly before the two were moved to the on deck featured table. Morrison raised to $30,000 preflop and Channing popped him to $110,000 total. Morrison made the call and the flop came down K
J
J
. Channing threw out $75,000 and Morrison didn't hesitate to make the call. The turn was the 8
and both players checked. The river brought the K
and Channing fired out $160,000. Morrison took a slow sip of his beer and threw his cards in the muck. Channing took down the large pot without ever having to show his cards.
Player Tags: Ayaz Mahmood, Scotty Nguyen, Gus Hansen, Daniel Alaei, Neil Channing, Edward Betlow, Jason Sell, Kirk Morrison, Sorel Mizzi
