Roy Winston Poker Tournament Updates

Level 6 Update -- Elimination Flood

Apr 20, '09

Level: 6

Blinds: 400-800 with a 100 ante

Players Left: 280 out of 337

Notable Chip Counts:

Bruno Fitoussi -- 375,000
Vadim Trincher -- 335,000
Johnny Chan -- 320,000
Shaun Deeb -- 269,900
Steve Billirakis -- 260,000

Notable Eliminations:

David Ulliot
Amit Makhija
Alec Torelli
Robert Mizrachi
Tony Dunst
Glen Witmer

Key Hands:

Alec Torelli Eliminated

Alec Torelli reraised an opponent that opened a pot preflop for 2,200 to 22,000. Steve Sung made the call and the original raiser mucked. The flop was dealt 10-high and Torelli moved all in. Sung called him down and turned up pocket eights. Torelli showed down A-K and the turn and river delivered him no help. Torelli was eliminated and Sung took down the pot to take home 170,000.

Amit Makhija Eliminated

Amit Makhija moved all in preflop with JJ and Roy WInston called him down with AK. The board was dealt A6347 and Winston won the pot to grow his stack to 230,000. Makhija was eliminated on the hand.

Bruno Fitoussi Takes the Chip Lead

One player moved all in on a flop of QJ6 with AQ in the hole. Bruno Fitoussi called him down with pocket sixes. The turn fell 4 and the river came J. Fitoussi won the pot with a full house to take the chip lead with 375,000.

Phil Laak Doubles Up

Phil Laak bet 10,300 into a pot worth 29,000 on a flop of AQ10. Glen Witmer raised to 25,000 and Laak made the call. The turn fell K and both players checked. The river fell 6 and Laak bet 25,500. Witmer moved all in and Laak called him down. Their cards:

Witmer: Q-Q
Laak: AA

Laak won the hand to grow his stack to 184,000 and Witmer was crippled after the hand. Witmer was never able to recover and he was eliminated a short time later. 

Player Tags: Bruno Fitoussi,   Steve Sung,   Roy Winston,   Alec Torelli,   Amit Makhija

Roy Winston Eliminated by Carter Gill

Oct 28, '08

According to Carter Gill, Roy Winston moved about 130,000 into a 40,000 pot on a K-K-J-J-X board.

Gil snap called with quad kings and Winston insta-mucked his way out of the tournament. We're not sure if that's exactly as it happened, but the rest of the table didn't seem to inclined to disagree.

Player Tags: Roy Winston,   Carter Gill

Roy Winston Takes The Chip Lead

Aug 23, '08

Mike McClain raised to 450 and Roy Winston reraised to 1,450 from late position. The blinds folded and McClain made the call. The flop came 643 and McClain checked. Winston thought for a bit and fired in 1,800. McClain called once again and checked the J on the turn. Winston didn't hesitate as he bet 5,500. McClain gave it some thought and eventually folded, giving Winston just one of his numerous pots on the day.

A few hands later, Winston flopped middle set on a K-6-5 board against his opponent's K-5 for top and bottom pair. The money got in and Winston's hand held up to propel him over 60,000 in chips with the chip lead.

Player Tags: Roy Winston

$10,000 Main Event - Costanza Sent Back to Jerry's Apartment

Jul 03, '08

Blinds/Antes: 150-300

Chip Leaders:

Jonah Rogers: 86,200
Yan Chen: 85,000
Blair Hinkle: 75,000
David Rheem: 75,000
Nate Eaton: 72,000
Eric Sfez: 71,000
Jeremiah Smith: 67,400
Max Greenwood: 66,775
Barry Shulman: 35,700
Shannon Shorr: 26,700

Eliminations: Dan Harrington, Jason Alexander, Roy Winston, Matt Stout, Lyle Berman, Katja Thater, Jan Von Halle, Raymond Rahme, Taylor Caby

Big Hands:

No Soup For You! Jason Alexander Eiminated

On a board of 9435, the player in seat 3 moved all in for 5,900 and Jason Alexander made the call. Bryan Colin came over the op and moved all in behind him. Colin had both seat 3 and Alexander covered. Alexander thought for a minute before making the crying call as he committed the rest o his chips into a three-way all in pot with one card to come. Alexander turned over AA for the overpair while Colin showed A2 for the wheel. Alexander saw the bad news and said, "Oh you mother!" Seat 3 threw his hand into the muck before the river  card (3) was even dealt. Both seat 3 and Alexander were eliminated this hand as Colin raked a monster pot, bringing his chip count to 88,000.

Sebok Takes a Hit

Joe Sebok raised to 900 and the player in seat 8 made the call from the big blind. The flop came Q85 and seat 8 checked to Sebok. He fired 1,100 and seat 8 min-raised to 2,200. Sebok made the call and the turn was the 6. Both players checked and the K came on the river. Seat 8 led out with 3,000 and Sebok quickly mucked. His stack was around 26,000.

Winston Gone

On a flop of J87, Roy Winston checked and his opponent bet 2,300. John Cernuto was also in the hand and he called from the button. Winston was next to act, and act he did. He pushed in for his remaining 10,000 and his opponent made the call. Cernuto mucked his hand and Winston showed J10 for top pair and a gutshot straight draw. His opponent turned over AJ for top pair and top kicker. The turn was the 3, taking some outs away from Winston. He needed a 10 or a 9 that was not a heart to stay alive. The river was the 5 and Winston was eliminated.

Kido Pham Adds to his Stack

On a board reading J433, the player in seat 5 checked to Kido Pham. As Pham thought about what to do, his opponent tried to convince him to see a free card. Pham showed his gentle side, agreeing to check. The river was the A and seat 5 checked again. Pham had enough softness, grabbing a big stack of yellow "1,000" chips and moving them toward the middle. Before they got there, seat 5 mucked and Pham took in the pot. His stack was around 60,000.

J on the River No Good for J.J.

Before the flop, J.J. Liu opened for a raise only to have the player in seat 3 move all-in behind her. J.J. made the call, showing 77 against her opponent's monster hand, J8. The board ran out AQ22....J, giving her opponent the double up to around 14,000 in chips. Welcome to the Main Event.

Bossman Bullies Table

Barry Shulman opened with a raise to 800, and was called by only one player on the button. On a flop K85, Shulman led out again for 1,500, muscling his lone opponent out of the pot. Shulman's stack increased to 34,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Barry Shulman,   Kido Pham,   Joe Sebok,   Roy Winston,   Jason Alexander

$1,500 Limit Shootout - Hour Four

Jul 01, '08

Note: The official numbers are in...Today's $1,500 Limit Shootout event attracted a total of 823 entrants, creating a total prizepool $1,123,395. One player from each starting table will be paid, places 90 - 10 will each recieve $5,055 while the first place winner will receive $278,180 and a shiny new bracelet.

Note: Players will take a short twenty-minute break at the conclusion of Level 4 and will return at roughly 4:45 pm to begin Level 5 with increased blinds of 150-300 and stakes of 300-600.

Blinds: 100-200
Stakes: 200-400

Players: 823

Eliminations: Roy Winston, Tom Franklin, Dutch Boyd, Eric Froehlich, Sam Grizzle, Joe Sebok, Sam Grizzle, David Levi, Alex Kravchenko, Daniel Negreanu, Josh Arieh

Big Hands:

Table 42

Roy" The Oracle" Winston Eliminated

Both Alan Smurfit and Roy Winston were involved in a huge pot with three other players at their table. The action was capped at 800 each or 4,00 total before the flop, Winston was all in. The finall board was Q887J, where Smurfit turned over 109 for the nut straight to the queen. Smurfit flopped an inside straight draw, turned an open-ended straight draw, and rivered the nuts. Smurfit raked a huge pot, putting him in good shape to win his table as Roy Winston hit the rail.

Dutch Boyd Eliminated

Short stacked, Dutch Boyd got it all in with J2 against an opponent holding Q9. The board came  AK487, no help for either player as queen-high held up. Boyd was not happy with the way things went today as he stormed out of the room early in Level 4.

JC Tran Flops Quads, Sam Grizzle Hits The rail

Hot off of his big win last night, JC Tran got involved in a pot with Sam Grizzle from the small blind. Grizzle raised before the flop and Tran called. The flop came 888, and Tran bet out. Grizzle raised all in and Tran called. Tran was quick to turn over his cards, exposing Q8 for flopped quads as Grizzle just shook his head and threw his hand away before making an early exit here on Day 1.

Joe Sebok Eliminated

It was set over set that ended the day early for Joe Sebok. Losing most of chips to mark Seif with a set of sixes against Seif's set of jacks, Sebok got his last 800 in the pot on the very next hand with pocket kings against Matt Graham's Q-J. The board came A-10-9-J-8, giving Graham a straight to the queen on the river. Sebok was eliminated around the half-way mark in Level 4.

Alex Kravchenko Eliminated

Heads-up on a flop of 762, Kravchenko bet out and his opponent made the call. The turn was the K, and once again Kravchenko bet out. This time his opponent raised and Kravchenko called all in. Kravchenko turned over AJ for overcards while his opponent showed J7 for middle pair. The river was the Q, and that's it for Alex Kravchenko.

Player Tags: Tom Franklin,   Eric Froehlich,   Roy Winston,   Dutch Boyd

PLHE Level 5

Jun 20, '08

Blinds: 150-300

Players Remaining: 225-605

Notable Eliminations: Dave Ulliot, John Murphy, Barry Shulman, Thomas Wahlroos, Dmitri Nobles

Average Chips: 10,756

Chip Leaders:

Lee Watkinson: 55,000
Bob Lowry: 31,300
Thomas Werthmann: 29,000
Benjamin Roberts: 27,000
Rolf Slotboom: 26,500
Robert Cheung: 24,000
Ayaz Mahmood: 23,000
Roy Winston: 22,000
Rayan Nathan: 19,000

Big Hands:

Winston Wins Another

Roy Winston bet 15,000 on the river of a board of 106265, more than enough to put his opponent, who was seated directly to his right, all in. "I think you're behind," Winston told him. "Kings or queens are behind." The man hemmed and hawed long enough than another player eventually called a clock. He would never actually fold his hand; when the tournament director got down to zero, the dealer gently removed the cards from in front of him while he continued to stare at Winston. Winston is hanging tough with more than 20,000 in chips.

Rousso On Pins and Wheels

After a series of raises, Vanessa Rousso got it all in with the short-stacked opponent to her left before the flop. Rousso was in a commanding position, with 55 against 44, and the flop was no help to either player, as it came down 832. But the turn was the 4, bringing her opponent the set but also giving her an open-ended straight draw. The river A made her straght and provoked a cry of excitement from the well-known pro. She's up to about 18,000.

Watkinson Smiles After Making Crying Call

Lee Watkinson continues his dominance, possibly because of the kind of play displayed in the following hand. Watkinson raised to 1,000 from late position and the big blind reraised to 3,000. Watkinson called, and the flop came down 962. Both players checked, then checked again when the 7 hit on the turn. The 9 paired the board on the end, and this time his opponent led out for just 2,000, about a third of the size of the pot. Watkinson called, and his opponent showed down queen ten offsuit. Watkinson flipped over ace king for the winner. "I just wanted to see what you had," admitted Watkinson. He's up to more than 50,000.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Vanessa Rousso,   Roy Winston

Event 4 - Mixed Hold 'Em - Levels 5 and 6

Jun 02, '08

Blinds/Antes: 150/300 limit, 75/150 no-limit

Players Remaining: 279 of 332

Average Stack: 11,900

Chip Counts:
Ben Grundy - 32,000
William Chen - 27,000
Ralph Perry - 24,900
Bill Edler - 23,000
Berry Johnston - 22,000
Phil Ivey - 20,000
Andy Bloch - 18,200
Hasan Habib - 18,000
David Ulliott - 18,000
Marcel Luske - 17,000

Big Hands:

The Poker Brat Has Arrived

Phil Hellmuth dragged his first pot after finally making his entrance due to his notorious tendency to arrive fashionably late to WSOP events. After the button raised in the limit round, David "Devilfish" Ulliot called from the small blind and Hellmuth called from the big blind. On the Q86 flop, Ulliot checked and Hellmuth bet. The original button raised folded, and Ulliot exposed the A9 before mucking. Hellmuth showed the Q.

A Missed Draw Good For the Pot Against Deeb

After raising from middle position, Freddy Deeb was called by a late position opponent and Tony Licastro from the big blind. Licastro checked the K87 flop. Deeb bet, and was called by both the late position opponent and Licastro. The 6 on the turn caused a nearly identical round of action. Licastro checked, Deeb bet, the remaining opponent called, and Licastro released his hand. Both remaining players checked the 3 on the river. The player in late position turned over the JT for a missed two-way draw. However, Deeb showed the J and mucked his other card, not able to beat jack-ten high.

High Action Among Top Pros

On yet another star-studded table, Richard "Quiet Lion" Brodie raised from the button and was called by both Ryan Young in the small blind and Roy Winston in the big blind. All three checked a flop of A98. Young led out on the 6 turn and was raised by Winston, prompting Brodie to fold. Young made the call, and the J river was dealt. Young checked, Winston bet, and Young folded.

Tomko Slowly Accumulating Chips Despite Defecit

After the player under-the-gun raised, Dewey Tomko flat called from middle position. The two took the T96 flop heads-up. The raiser checked, Tomko bet, and his opponent folded. Tomko now has slightly over 8,000.

Unabomber Releases Hand, Has it Massaged

Phil Laak took a break from his hand massage to raise from the button. He was called by an opponent in the big blind. The two saw a 762 flop. The player first to act checked, Laak bet, and was called. The 7 on the turn yielded checks from both players. The first opponent bet out on the A river, and Laak folded.

Jennifer Harman Cracks the Nut Flush

Jennifer Harman won a large pot by catching board-pairing T to fill up her set of 4s. Her opponent had flopped the nut flush. After dragging the pot, she has over 15,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Richard Brodie,   Dewey Tomko,   Phil Laak,   Phil Hellmuth,   Jennifer Harman,   Anthony Licastro,   Ryan Young,   Roy Winston,   Freddy Deeb,   European Report

Milestone: 100

Mar 16, '08

The tournament has just reached a milestone as less than 100 players (96) remain. Roy Winston has just reached a player milestone by growing his stack to 100,000 (104,200), the first player in the tournament to do so.

Player Tags: Roy Winston

Max Pescatori: Sick Bust

Mar 16, '08

Max Pescatori limps under the gun and four other players follow him into the pot, including Roy Winston. Winston bets 1,600 and an unknown player raises all in for 12,000. Winston reraises all in for 35,000 and  Pescatori calls for his last 22,000.  The three players then open up their hands and Pescatori holds pocket kings, Winston holds A-K, and the unknown player has A-8. The cards are then dealt and an ace hits on the flop to send Pescatori to the rail. Winston holds 69,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Max Pescatori,   Roy Winston

Winston vs. Rajkumar

Mar 17, '08

On a board of A653, with 27,000 in the pot, Roy Winston bets 16,000 on the button, and Vivek Rajkumar raises all in after thinking for a moment. Winston then goes into the tank and eventually mucks his hand. Winston is knocked down to 15,000 after the hand, and he was eliminated a short time later.

Player Tags: Roy Winston,   V R

Battle of the Bloggers

Mar 17, '08

Vivek Rajkumar raises to 1,800 and Roy Winston makes the call from the small blind. The flop comes 10107 and Winston checks. Rajkumar bets 2,600 and Winston check raises to 10,100. Rajkumar folds and is now down to 58,000. Winston is up to 97,000.

Player Tags: Roy Winston,   V R

Milestone: 100

Mar 16, '08

The tournament has just reached a milestone as less than 100 players (96) remain. Roy Winston has just reached a player milestone by growing his stack to 100,000 (104,200), the first player in the tournament to do so.

Player Tags: Roy Winston

Max Pescatori: Sick Bust

Mar 16, '08

Max Pescatori limps under the gun and four other players follow him into the pot, including Roy Winston. Winston bets 1,600 and an unknown player raises all in for 12,000. Winston reraises all in for 35,000 and  Pescatori calls for his last 22,000.  The three players then open up their hands and Pescatori holds pocket kings, Winston holds A-K, and the unknown player has A-8. The cards are then dealt and an ace hits on the flop to send Pescatori to the rail. Winston holds 69,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Max Pescatori,   Roy Winston

Winston vs. Rajkumar

Mar 17, '08

On a board of A653, with 27,000 in the pot, Roy Winston bets 16,000 on the button, and Vivek Rajkumar raises all in after thinking for a moment. Winston then goes into the tank and eventually mucks his hand. Winston is knocked down to 15,000 after the hand, and he was eliminated a short time later.

Player Tags: Roy Winston,   V R

Battle of the Bloggers

Mar 17, '08

Vivek Rajkumar raises to 1,800 and Roy Winston makes the call from the small blind. The flop comes 10107 and Winston checks. Rajkumar bets 2,600 and Winston check raises to 10,100. Rajkumar folds and is now down to 58,000. Winston is up to 97,000.

Player Tags: Roy Winston,   V R

Shooting Star: Roy WInston Eliminated

Mar 10, '08

Roy Winston moves all in and Ron Matsuura makes the call on a board of JJ83. They then open up their hands:

Winston: 98
Matsuura: KJ

River: Q

Winston is eliminated on the hand and Matsuura collected the $5,000 bounty.

Player Tags: Roy Winston

Shooting Star Elimination: Roy Winston

Mar 10, '08

Roy Winston has just busted out of the tournament, becoming the third bounty player of the day to be eliminated. Details of the hand coming soon.

Player Tags: Roy Winston