Craig Crivello Poker Tournament Updates

Level 19 Update: Glantz, Boyd, and Rajkumar Eliminated

Oct 24, '09

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

Players Left: 12 of 275

Average Chip Count: 1,269,230

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Lavallee — 4,500,000
2. Kido Pham — 1,720,000
3. Shawn Cunix — 1,400,000
4. Jason Burt — 1,370,000
5. Tommy Vedes — 1,250,000
6. Freddy Deeb — 1,100,000
7. Larry Berg — 990,000
8. Aaron Jones — 940,000
9. Steve Brecher — 850,000
10. Chris Bjorin — 650,000

Notable Eliminations:

18. Matt Glantz — $31,805
17. Jeff Blenkarn — $31,805
16. Dutch Boyd — $31,805
15. Vivek Rajkumar — $39,760
14. Robert Tepper — $39,760
13. Matt Stout — $39,760

Big Hands:

Matt Glantz Eliminated in 18th Place ($31,805)

Matt Glantz moved all in preflop and Jason Lavallee made the call. Their cards:

Glantz: AJ
Lavallee: AQ

Board: Q873A

Lavallee won the hand with aces up and Glantz was eliminated in 18th place.

Jeff Blenkarn Eliminated in 17th Place ($31,805)

Chris Bjorin moved all in from the small blind and Jeff Blenkarn made the all-in call for his final 130,000. Their cards:

Bjorin: 86
Blenkarn: A4

Board: J1087J

Bjorin grew his stack to 725,000 and Blenkarn was eliminated in 17th place.

Dutch Boyd Eliminated in 16th Place ($31,805)

Jason Lavallee raised to 52,000 under the gun and Dutch Boyd made the call. The flop was dealt A84. Lavallee bet 20,000 and Boyd made the all-in call for 15,000. Their cards:

Boyd: A10
Lavallee: AK

Turn and River: 56

Lavallee increased his chip lead to 4.4 million and Boyd was eliminated in 16th place.

Vivek Rajkumar Eliminated in 15th Place ($39,760)

Vivek Rajkumar raised to 50,000 under the gun. Jason Lavallee reraised from the cutoff to 140,000. Rajkumar reraised all in for 460,000. Lavallee made the call and they turned up their cards:

Lavallee: AK
Rajkumer: QQ

Board: K5569

Lavallee grew his chip lead once more and now he holds 4.5 million. Rajkumar was knocked out in 15th place.

Rob Tepper Eliminated in 14th Place ($39,760)

Rob Tepper moved all in under the gun for 174,000 and Aaron Jones reraised all in from the button. Everyone else mucked and the two players flipped up their cards:

Tepper: K2
Jones: 1010

Board: A872Q

Jones won the hand with a pair of tens and Tepper was eliminated in 14th place.

Matt Stout Eliminated in 13th Place ($39,760)

Craig Crivello checked a board of J834 from the big blind and Matt Stout moved all in under the gun. Crivello made the call and they turned over their cards:

Crivello: 33
Stout: 1010

River: K

Crivello won the hand to grow his stack to 1 million and Stout was eliminated in 13th place.

Player Tags: Chris Bjorin,   Craig Crivello,   Matthew Glantz,   Jeff Blenkarn,   Matt Stout,   Dutch Boyd,   V R,   Jason Lavallee,   Aaron Jones

Level 24 Update: Aaron Jones Bubbles TV Final Table

Oct 25, '09

Blinds: 40,000-80,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Left: 6 of 275

Average Chip Count: 2,750,000

Notable Eliminations:

7. Aaron Jones — $129,210

Big Hands:

Aaron Jones Eliminated in Seventh Place ($129,210)

Aaron Jones moved all in from the cutoff and was called by Craig Crivello in the small blind.

Crivello’s pocket jacks held against Jones and his K8 and Jones was eliminated on the final table bubble.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Aaron Jones

Craig Crivello Eliminated in Third Place ($477,090)

Oct 26, '09

Level: 26

Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 10,000 ante

Average Chip Count: 5,500,000

Jason Lavallee raised to 280,000 from the button and Craig Crivello reraised all in for 1.95 million. Lavallee made the call and they flipped up their cards:

Lavallee: 1010
Crivello: KJ

Board: Q8399

Crivello was eliminated on the hand in third place and he will take home $477,090 in prize money. Lavallee grew his chip stack to 7.3 million.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Jason Lavallee

Shawn Cunix Eliminated in Sixth Place ($168,970)

Oct 26, '09

Level: 25

Blinds: 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Average Chip Count: 3,300,000

Shawn Cunix moved all in for his last 550,000 and Craig Crivello called from the big blind with AQ.

Cunix showed 86 for two live cards, but the board came K1063J and Crivello’s flush sent Cunix to the rail in sixth place. Crivello now has 3.2 million.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Shawn Cunix

Level 19 Update: Glantz, Boyd, and Rajkumar Eliminated

Oct 24, '09

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

Players Left: 12 of 275

Average Chip Count: 1,269,230

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Lavallee — 4,500,000
2. Kido Pham — 1,720,000
3. Shawn Cunix — 1,400,000
4. Jason Burt — 1,370,000
5. Tommy Vedes — 1,250,000
6. Freddy Deeb — 1,100,000
7. Larry Berg — 990,000
8. Aaron Jones — 940,000
9. Steve Brecher — 850,000
10. Chris Bjorin — 650,000

Notable Eliminations:

18. Matt Glantz — $31,805
17. Jeff Blenkarn — $31,805
16. Dutch Boyd — $31,805
15. Vivek Rajkumar — $39,760
14. Robert Tepper — $39,760
13. Matt Stout — $39,760

Big Hands:

Matt Glantz Eliminated in 18th Place ($31,805)

Matt Glantz moved all in preflop and Jason Lavallee made the call. Their cards:

Glantz: AJ
Lavallee: AQ

Board: Q873A

Lavallee won the hand with aces up and Glantz was eliminated in 18th place.

Jeff Blenkarn Eliminated in 17th Place ($31,805)

Chris Bjorin moved all in from the small blind and Jeff Blenkarn made the all-in call for his final 130,000. Their cards:

Bjorin: 86
Blenkarn: A4

Board: J1087J

Bjorin grew his stack to 725,000 and Blenkarn was eliminated in 17th place.

Dutch Boyd Eliminated in 16th Place ($31,805)

Jason Lavallee raised to 52,000 under the gun and Dutch Boyd made the call. The flop was dealt A84. Lavallee bet 20,000 and Boyd made the all-in call for 15,000. Their cards:

Boyd: A10
Lavallee: AK

Turn and River: 56

Lavallee increased his chip lead to 4.4 million and Boyd was eliminated in 16th place.

Vivek Rajkumar Eliminated in 15th Place ($39,760)

Vivek Rajkumar raised to 50,000 under the gun. Jason Lavallee reraised from the cutoff to 140,000. Rajkumar reraised all in for 460,000. Lavallee made the call and they turned up their cards:

Lavallee: AK
Rajkumer: QQ

Board: K5569

Lavallee grew his chip lead once more and now he holds 4.5 million. Rajkumar was knocked out in 15th place.

Rob Tepper Eliminated in 14th Place ($39,760)

Rob Tepper moved all in under the gun for 174,000 and Aaron Jones reraised all in from the button. Everyone else mucked and the two players flipped up their cards:

Tepper: K2
Jones: 1010

Board: A872Q

Jones won the hand with a pair of tens and Tepper was eliminated in 14th place.

Matt Stout Eliminated in 13th Place ($39,760)

Craig Crivello checked a board of J834 from the big blind and Matt Stout moved all in under the gun. Crivello made the call and they turned over their cards:

Crivello: 33
Stout: 1010

River: K

Crivello won the hand to grow his stack to 1 million and Stout was eliminated in 13th place.

Player Tags: Chris Bjorin,   Craig Crivello,   Matthew Glantz,   Jeff Blenkarn,   Matt Stout,   Dutch Boyd,   V R,   Jason Lavallee,   Aaron Jones

Level 24 Update: Aaron Jones Bubbles TV Final Table

Oct 25, '09

Blinds: 40,000-80,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Left: 6 of 275

Average Chip Count: 2,750,000

Notable Eliminations:

7. Aaron Jones — $129,210

Big Hands:

Aaron Jones Eliminated in Seventh Place ($129,210)

Aaron Jones moved all in from the cutoff and was called by Craig Crivello in the small blind.

Crivello’s pocket jacks held against Jones and his K8 and Jones was eliminated on the final table bubble.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Aaron Jones

Craig Crivello Eliminated in Third Place ($477,090)

Oct 26, '09

Level: 26

Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 10,000 ante

Average Chip Count: 5,500,000

Jason Lavallee raised to 280,000 from the button and Craig Crivello reraised all in for 1.95 million. Lavallee made the call and they flipped up their cards:

Lavallee: 1010
Crivello: KJ

Board: Q8399

Crivello was eliminated on the hand in third place and he will take home $477,090 in prize money. Lavallee grew his chip stack to 7.3 million.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Jason Lavallee

Shawn Cunix Eliminated in Sixth Place ($168,970)

Oct 26, '09

Level: 25

Blinds: 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Average Chip Count: 3,300,000

Shawn Cunix moved all in for his last 550,000 and Craig Crivello called from the big blind with AQ.

Cunix showed 86 for two live cards, but the board came K1063J and Crivello’s flush sent Cunix to the rail in sixth place. Crivello now has 3.2 million.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Shawn Cunix

Level 19 Update: Glantz, Boyd, and Rajkumar Eliminated

Oct 24, '09

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

Players Left: 12 of 275

Average Chip Count: 1,269,230

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Lavallee — 4,500,000
2. Kido Pham — 1,720,000
3. Shawn Cunix — 1,400,000
4. Jason Burt — 1,370,000
5. Tommy Vedes — 1,250,000
6. Freddy Deeb — 1,100,000
7. Larry Berg — 990,000
8. Aaron Jones — 940,000
9. Steve Brecher — 850,000
10. Chris Bjorin — 650,000

Notable Eliminations:

18. Matt Glantz — $31,805
17. Jeff Blenkarn — $31,805
16. Dutch Boyd — $31,805
15. Vivek Rajkumar — $39,760
14. Robert Tepper — $39,760
13. Matt Stout — $39,760

Big Hands:

Matt Glantz Eliminated in 18th Place ($31,805)

Matt Glantz moved all in preflop and Jason Lavallee made the call. Their cards:

Glantz: AJ
Lavallee: AQ

Board: Q873A

Lavallee won the hand with aces up and Glantz was eliminated in 18th place.

Jeff Blenkarn Eliminated in 17th Place ($31,805)

Chris Bjorin moved all in from the small blind and Jeff Blenkarn made the all-in call for his final 130,000. Their cards:

Bjorin: 86
Blenkarn: A4

Board: J1087J

Bjorin grew his stack to 725,000 and Blenkarn was eliminated in 17th place.

Dutch Boyd Eliminated in 16th Place ($31,805)

Jason Lavallee raised to 52,000 under the gun and Dutch Boyd made the call. The flop was dealt A84. Lavallee bet 20,000 and Boyd made the all-in call for 15,000. Their cards:

Boyd: A10
Lavallee: AK

Turn and River: 56

Lavallee increased his chip lead to 4.4 million and Boyd was eliminated in 16th place.

Vivek Rajkumar Eliminated in 15th Place ($39,760)

Vivek Rajkumar raised to 50,000 under the gun. Jason Lavallee reraised from the cutoff to 140,000. Rajkumar reraised all in for 460,000. Lavallee made the call and they turned up their cards:

Lavallee: AK
Rajkumer: QQ

Board: K5569

Lavallee grew his chip lead once more and now he holds 4.5 million. Rajkumar was knocked out in 15th place.

Rob Tepper Eliminated in 14th Place ($39,760)

Rob Tepper moved all in under the gun for 174,000 and Aaron Jones reraised all in from the button. Everyone else mucked and the two players flipped up their cards:

Tepper: K2
Jones: 1010

Board: A872Q

Jones won the hand with a pair of tens and Tepper was eliminated in 14th place.

Matt Stout Eliminated in 13th Place ($39,760)

Craig Crivello checked a board of J834 from the big blind and Matt Stout moved all in under the gun. Crivello made the call and they turned over their cards:

Crivello: 33
Stout: 1010

River: K

Crivello won the hand to grow his stack to 1 million and Stout was eliminated in 13th place.

Player Tags: Chris Bjorin,   Craig Crivello,   Matthew Glantz,   Jeff Blenkarn,   Matt Stout,   Dutch Boyd,   V R,   Jason Lavallee,   Aaron Jones

Level 24 Update: Aaron Jones Bubbles TV Final Table

Oct 25, '09

Blinds: 40,000-80,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Left: 6 of 275

Average Chip Count: 2,750,000

Notable Eliminations:

7. Aaron Jones — $129,210

Big Hands:

Aaron Jones Eliminated in Seventh Place ($129,210)

Aaron Jones moved all in from the cutoff and was called by Craig Crivello in the small blind.

Crivello’s pocket jacks held against Jones and his K8 and Jones was eliminated on the final table bubble.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Aaron Jones

Craig Crivello Eliminated in Third Place ($477,090)

Oct 26, '09

Level: 26

Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 10,000 ante

Average Chip Count: 5,500,000

Jason Lavallee raised to 280,000 from the button and Craig Crivello reraised all in for 1.95 million. Lavallee made the call and they flipped up their cards:

Lavallee: 1010
Crivello: KJ

Board: Q8399

Crivello was eliminated on the hand in third place and he will take home $477,090 in prize money. Lavallee grew his chip stack to 7.3 million.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Jason Lavallee

Shawn Cunix Eliminated in Sixth Place ($168,970)

Oct 26, '09

Level: 25

Blinds: 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Average Chip Count: 3,300,000

Shawn Cunix moved all in for his last 550,000 and Craig Crivello called from the big blind with AQ.

Cunix showed 86 for two live cards, but the board came K1063J and Crivello’s flush sent Cunix to the rail in sixth place. Crivello now has 3.2 million.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Shawn Cunix

$1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout - Level 12

Jul 01, '08

The final level of the night is being slightly delayed as tournament officials color up the back chips.
Blinds: 400/800
Limits: 800/1600

Big Hands

Top Pair Holds Up For Kranyak

John Kranyak raised to 1600, Jimmy Fricke reraised to 2400, and Mark Klecan capped it at 3200 from the button. Kranyak and Fricke both called. The flop came A83, and the first two players were happy to check to Klecan, who bet and drew two calls. The K came on the turn, and again after two checks Klecan bet out and was called, this time for 1600. The 5 came on the river, and this time all three players checked. Kranyak was the first to show, holding AJ, and it was enough to take down the pot.

Bellande Runs One Down

Rick Shephard raised to 1600 preflop and Jean-Robert Bellande next to act made it 2400 to go. Shephard called and the flop came 864. Shephard bet 800, Bellande raised, and Shephard threw in a reraise to 2400 that Bellande called. The 7 brought in more possibilities on the turn, and Shephard led out again with Bellande calling. The Q came on the river and Shephard slowed, checking to Bellande who bet 1600. He drew a call, and turned over A3 for the nut flush.

Kim Scoops a Monster

Coralee Grebe raised to 1600 under the gun, Craig Crivello reraised to 2400, and Connie Kim made it 3200 to play preflop. The three players saw the board come KJ7, Grebe bet 800 and both her opponents called. The 10 fell on the turn and Grebe bet 1600. Crivello called, then Kim raised things to 3200, which again both players called. The J paired the board on the river, and after two checks, Kim bet out for 1600. Grebe called, as did Crivello, and Kim flipped over the bad news, the AQ for the nut straight. Her opponents mucked.

James Survives All-in

Kenna James survived what may have been the first all-in adventure of the second round. He bet 1600 on the turn with the board showing A976. Stefan Rapp called, and James then bet all-in for 1000 when the 2 hit the river. Rapp called and James showed 77 for the set. It was enough to take the pot down.

Le Hits and Gets Action

Simen Sagstuen was in the small blind and play was folded to him, so he limp-called the big blind of Allen Le. Le put in the obligatory raise, Sagstuen called, and the game was on. The flop came Q84, and Sagstuen would check-call the bet of Le. The A came on the turn and again, Sagstuen check-called, this a 1600 bet from Le. Another bullet, the A, came on the river and Sagstuen would check-call once again. Le showed him the A5 and that was enough to take the pot down.

Player Tags: Kenna James,   Craig Crivello,   Connie Kim,   Jean-Robert Bellande,   Coralee Grebe,   Jimmy Fricke,   John Kranyak,   Stefan Rapp

Hour Four Log

Jun 04, '07

One Hand, One Down

Craig Crivello Eliminated in 5^th Place ($128,907)

Periods of rest continued stir up the hornet’s nest at this final table, and Craig Crivello moved all in on the first hand after the break. Ciaran O’Leary made the call and Crivello flipped over A7. O’Leary then turned over A8, which enticed a collection of chants from his cheering section. The yells of “Yeah, baby” and “Monster call” mixed together, and in some strange way achieved a harmony. The board was dealt Q862K and Crivello was eliminated in fifth place. He will take home a consolation prize of $128,907.

Jeff Yoak Eliminated in 4^th Place ($184,152)

Things seemed almost to quiet when the 51st hand was dealt. There had not been an all in push during the last five hands, and that was saying something for this final table. That was until Jeff Yoak opened the pot by moving all in from the small blind. O’Leary, who had picked up the nickname “Big C” from the tournament director, made the call after he had limped on the button. Yoak turned over KQ and “Big C” showed A6. The board was dealt A944 and Yoak got up from the table since he was drawing dead. The inconclusive river card was the 9. Yoak and O’Leary clasped hands in a show of respect and Yoak received $184,152 for his fourth place finish.

The tournament director then announced the chip counts for the final trio of players:

Alex Jacob: $2,600,000
Paul Evans: $2,625,000
Ciaran “Big C” O’Leary: $3,700,000

The Patented Push of “Big C”

Jacob bet $300,000 from the button and Evans raised to $1 million from the small blind. “Big C” then reraised all in. He may have to patent this move after the tournament. Jacob abandoned ship and the action sat squarely on the shoulders of Evans. The ESPN camera buggies surrounded the man, and the house lights were brought up around the final table. Under no pressure at all, Evans went into the tank for a while. O’Leary paced back and forth across the stage area. Evan folded and O’Leary stacked up the more than $1.5 million pot. He now held a large chip lead over his two competitors.

Alex Jacob Eliminated in 3^rd Place ($282,367)

On the next hand O’Leary limped and Jacob checked his option. O’Leary checked in the dark and the flop was dealt A42. Jacob bet $150,000 and “Big C” raised to $600,000. The K was dealt on the turn and O’Leary went to his favorite move, the all-in push. Jacob went into the tank, while O’Leary once again paced the stage. This time he made ample use of every square inch available. He ended up over by the media table at one point. Jacob finally made the call and O’Leary flipped over pocket sevens. Jacob looked livid when he turned over 94. Jacob’s visual anger increased as the 6 was peeled off the deck on the river. O’Leary, who had gone into hiding during this process, appeared stage right. He walked over to congratulate Jacob on his third place finish. Jacob will take home $282,367 in prize money.

There was a break in the action after this elimination to reconfigure the final table for the heads-up match between O’Leary and Evan.

Player Tags: Paul Evans,   Jeffrey Yoak,   Craig Crivello,   Alex Jacob

Hour Three Log

Jun 04, '07

Double Time

Paul Evan moved all in early after the hour began and Ciaran O’Leary made the call. Evan turned over QJ and O’Leary showed pocket kings. The board was dealt 85258 and O’Leary doubled up. This will become a trend for O’Leary. Two hands later Alex Jacob raised all in preflop after Jeff Yoak had limped from the small blind. Yoak called the all-in bet and flipped over AJ. Jacob turned over K10 and the board was dealt Q6592. Yoak doubled on the hand to over twice his $675,000 all-in bet. This would become a trend for Jacob as well.

The two aforementioned trends would converge in a perfect storm on the next hand. O’Leary bet $230,000 and Jacob raised all in. O’Leary called and Jacob flipped over pocket nines. The O’Leary section of the crowd broke into cheers when he turned over pocket queens. The board was dealt 107236 and a new chip leader was crowned. After these numerous double ups occurred, the tournament director announced the chip counts:

Seat one: Craig Crivello - $1,400,000
Seat two: Jeff Yoak - $1,500,000
Seat three: Alex Jacob - $2,300,000
Seat four: Andreas Krause - $515,000
Seat five: Paul Evan - $480,000
Seat six: Ciaran O’Leary - $2,500,000

The theme of doubling up refused to die off and Andreas Krause got a free roll when he moved all in with A-J against the A-J of Craig Crivello. Paul Evan then pushed all in for $365,000 and O’Leary made the call. O’Leary flipped over two red sixes and Evan showed A10. The board was dealt AK277 and Evan doubled up. This brought O’Leary’s stack down to just about even with Jacob for the chip lead.

A few hands later Crivello opened the pot for $250,000 and Evan reraised all in for $580,000. Crivello called and flipped over A10. Evan showed AJ and the board was dealt 3328A. Both players make aces up, but Evan doubled up on the strength of his jack kicker. Another hand, another double up, and it looks like this final table might be undecided by the time the main event starts in a few weeks. Six times, players have had their tournament life at risk during the hour, and all six times they have survived.

Double Up for Krause...Not so Much

Krause Eliminated in 6^th Place ($94,122)

On the next hand, things took a turn. Krause pushed all in for $415,000 and Evan made the call. Evan turned over A9 and Krause reluctantly turned over K10. The board was dealt A658K and Krause was eliminated in sixth place. He will take home $94,122 for his efforts. After the exit of Krause, the players went on a fifteen minute break.

Player Tags: Paul Evans,   Jeffrey Yoak,   Craig Crivello,   Alex Jacob,   Andreas Krause

Hour Two Log

Jun 04, '07

The Aggressive, the Comatose, and the Young Chip Leader

During the early stages of hour two the most intriguing thing to transpire was a call to action by a player who had spent the first hour of play as a folding machine. Ciaran O’Leary made his first action at the final table when he moved all in and received no callers on hand 19. One player who remained a little more active was Craig Crivello, he picked up a lot of blinds and antes with preflop raises. Crivello butted heads with Alex Jacob early in the level. Jacob moved all in over the top of a $200,000 raise from Crivello and he folded after thinking for a moment.

$800,000 is a lot of Money and Break Time

Andreas Krause made some noise when he bet $300,000 and Jeff Yoak called him down. The flop was dealt 753 and Yoak moved all in with $800,000 already sitting in the middle of the table. Krause thought for a moment, but then mucked his hand. One hand after this big showdown the players were allotted a fifteen minute break.

To the Patient go the Spoils

After the break the blinds were kicked up to $40,000-$80,000 with a $10,000 ante. The players sauntered in and took their seats. Last to show was Jacob, who still held the chip lead. On the first hand after the break Paul Evans opened the pot for $275,000 and Ciaran O’Leary called. This put his tournament life at risk with pocket nines. Unfortunately, Evan held two cowboys in the hole and O’Leary half-heartedly tried to proposition the dealer. The board was dealt A859 and O’Leary jumped off the stage in celebration. He did his best impression of the Rock and Hulk Hogan simultaneously, in a pose that brought over-the-top images of professional wrestling to mind. His cheering section ate it up and they rose to their feet to join him. The river card was the 4 and the patience of O’Leary was rewarded. The set must have wakened a sleeping giant because O’Leary pushed again on the next hand. Jacob folded and O’Leary increased his chip stack to $740,000.

Cirvello Doubles Up

After the O’Leary show ended Craig Crivello moved all in and Yoak moved all in over the top of him. Crivello flipped over K9 and Yoak showed AQ. The board was dealt K8576 and gave Crivello a nine-high straight to double up.

The tournament director then announced the chip counts of the final six players:

Alex Jacob: $4,100,000
Craig Crivello: $1,300,000
Paul Evans: $1,200,000
Ciaran O’Leary: $800,000
Andreas Krause: $750,000
Jeff Yoaks: $700,000

Player Tags: Paul Evans,   Jeffrey Yoak,   Craig Crivello,   Alex Jacob,   Andreas Krause

Hour One - Three Bust Outs!

Jun 04, '07

Suck Out City

The fist half dozen hands went by rather quietly, and then things got rather interesting. Craig Crivello bet preflop and Bart Hanson called. Hanson had about $50,000 remaining at this point and he pushed all in, in the dark. The flop was dealt KQ9 and Crivello made the call. Crivello flipped over A10 and Hanson flipped over J2. Hanson nearly jumped off the stage when a spade was dealt on the turn, the 8. The A followed suit on the river and Hanson made a runner-runner flush draw to survive.

On the very next hand Andreas Krause moved all in and Matt Vengrin reraised all in over the top of Krause. Everyone else folded and Vengrin flipped over pocket nines. Krause showed AQ and the flop was dealt 832. The train to suck out city would leave the station one more time though, and 45 were dealt on the turn and river. Krause raised both his fists into the air and let out a barbaric yell in celebration of his runner-runner straight draw. This could be a long final table.

Matt Vengrin Eliminated in 9^th Place ($43,378)

For the third hand in a row a player pushed all in when Matt Vengrin reraised all in after Alex Jacob opened the pot for $150,000. Jacob called and Vengrin turned over his opponents’ initials in the form of AJ. Jacob, whose hair might have its own field of gravity at this point flipped over KQ. The board was dealt Q8349 and Vengrin was eliminated in ninth place. He will take home $43,378 in prize money and Jacob increased his chip lead on the hand.

Bart Hanson Eliminated in 8^th Place ($55,246)

Two more all in bets took place during the next three hands after Vengrin was eliminated, but they received no calls. Then Hanson pushed all in preflop before Krause moved all in over the top of him. Hanson turned over A10 and Krause showed a pair of ladies. The board was dealt J4424 and Krause won the pot with fours full of queens. Hanson is eliminated in eighth place and he will take home $55,246 in prize money.

Thad Smith Eliminated in 7^th Place ($73,661)

Only two more hands transpired before U.S. soldier Thad Smith moved all in preflop for $290,000. Crivello made the call and had Smith covered. Smith turned over KQ and Crivello flipped over pocket fives. The flop was dealt 995 and gave Crivello a full house. The turn and river cards were no help to Smith and he was eliminated in seventh place. Smith will take home $73,661 in prize money.

What a first hour here at the final table. After a plethora of all in bets and two energetic double ups we are already down to six players. Jacob still retains the chip lead after busting Vengrin in ninth place.

Player Tags: Craig Crivello,   Bart Hanson,   Alex Jacob,   Andreas Krause,   Matthew Vengrin,   Thad Smith