Jeremiah Smith Poker Tournament Updates

Level 1- Hour 1 Update: Jeremiah Smith Doubles Early

Jul 04, '09

Blinds: 50-100

Chip Counts:

1. Dave D’Alesandro — 64,000
2. Jeremiah Smith — 63,000
3. Angelo Ricci — 62,000
4. Sam Khouiss — 52,000
5. Allan Vrooman — 40,000
6. Carlos Mortensen — 39,000
7. Kara Scott — 33,600
8. Eddie Sabat — 32,000
9. Alan Smurfit — 30,000
10. Alexander Jung — 30,000

Notable Eliminations:

None

Big Hands:

Greg Raymer Gets Sneaky With Aces

With a few limpers already in the pot before him, Greg Raymer checks his option in the big blind to a flop of J84. Raymer bets 400 and the player in seat 6 calls. The turn is the 6, and this time Raymer bets 700, seat 6 calls. The river is the 10, and Raymer bets 2,000. Seat 6 tanks for a while before mucking his cards. “It’s a bad hand to try and win the rock with”, says seat 6. Raymer laughs and turns over AA as he rakes the pot, bringing his chip count up to 32,000 this hand.

Thor Hansen Rivers Vadim Trincher

On a board of Q83J, Vadim Trincher bets 500 on the turn and Thor Hansen calls. The river is the A, Trincher checks and Hansen bets 1,000. Trincher thinks for a minute before calling. Hansen turns over K10 for the Broadway straight on the river. Hansen climbs to 35,000 this hand while Trincher slips back down to even.

Two Players All In

On one of the tables deep in the sea of players, two were all in and another was faced with a tough decision. On a board of 4435, one player held the 54 another held the 54 and the third man had pockets threes. The guy with pockets threes flopped a full house but was massacred when the other two opponents in the hand filled up as well when their trip fours hit their kicker. In the first hour of the day, the player with the pocket threes made the good, yet annoying fold.

Barry Greenstein Loses Small Pot

Barry Greenstein raised under the gun to 300 and got three callers. The flop came 644 and Greenstein led out with 800. Only one opponent called and the 4 hit the turn. Greenstein elected to bet 2,000 and his opponent quickly called. The river brought the Q and Greenstein bet another 2,000 which was quickly called once again. Greenstein tabled two nines but his opponent flipped up two kings. Greenstein is at 24,900.

Jeremiah Smith Doubles Up Early

Jeremiah Smith gets it all in pre-flop with aces against his opponent’s pair of kings. Smith’s aces hold up as he takes an early chiplead here in Level 1 with 60,000+ in chips.

Player Tags: Thor Hansen,   Greg Raymer,   Vadim Trincher,   Jeremiah Smith

$10,000 Main Event - Smith Shoots Ahead of Competition

Jul 08, '08

Blinds/Antes: 600-1,200 with a 200 ante

Players Left: 513

Chip Leaders:

Brian Schaedlich: 480,000
Jeremiah Smith: 412,000
Hunter Frey: 400,000
Eric Crain: 353,000
Ron Adams: 345,000
David Rheem: 340,000
Sinai Farhad: 312,000
Patrick Fortin: 290,000
Kellen Hunter: 282,000
Markus Golser: 270,000

Eliminations: John Hennigan, Ray Romano

Big Hands:

Adams KOs Opponent, Climbs

Brandon Adams called an opponent's all in bet preflop and turned over JJ. His opponent showed 33. The flop came J72, giving Adams top set and leaving his opponent dead to running threes. The turn was the A, sealing the victory for Adams, and the meaningless 8 fell on the river. Adams climbed to 208,000 after the hand.

Smith Running Hot, Cracks Kings with 7-5

On a flop of 986 Walter Hall moved all in for his last 80,000. Jeremiah Smith made the call. Hall turned over pocket kings for the overpair, while Smith showed 7-5 for the flopped nut straight. The turn and river brought the 3 and the 9, bringing no help for Hall and he was eliminated. Smith has dominated his table all day while climbing to 400,000 in chips - good enough for second on the leaderboard.

Zolotow Doubles

An increasingly short-stacked Steve Zolotow moved his last 14,400 all in preflop and got one caller. Zolotow showed 88 and was in a race against his opponent's AQ. The board ran 109797 and Zolotow doubled to more than 30,000.

Seidel Knocks Out Another One

Erik Seidel raised from the button, only to have a shortstack push all in. Seidel made the call and showed KQ. The all in player showed 66. The flop made the all in player cry out, "Nooo!" coming KJ3 to give Seidel top pair. The 5 and 9 completed the board and Seidel eliminated the player. Seidel currently sits with 145,000.

Battle of the Blinds

Action folded to the small blind in seat 1, who raised to 3,600. Hoyt Corkins called from the big blind and the flop came 643. The small blind checked and Corkins fired 4,000 into the pot. The small blind check-raised to 15,000 total. Corkins thought for a second then mucked his hand. Corkins barely felt the hit to his stack, and still had around 180,000 after the hand.

Habib Bets Out Opponent On River

Hasan Habib checked to the player in seat 9 on a flop of A63. Seat 9 bet 4,500 and Habib called after a brief pause. Both players checked the 3 on the turn, but when the Q hit on the river Habib fired 10,000 and his opponent folded. Habib has played patiently to climb to 126,000.

Turner Plays It Slow, Takes Pot

In a limped 3-way pot, Jon "PearlJammer" Turner called the player in the big blind's bet of 3,000 on a flop. The small blind folded and Turner was heads up with the big blind when the 3 fell on the turn. Both players checked and when the big blind checked the 9 river Turner said he thought he was probably good but elected to check as well. He flipped over KQ for top pair and his opponent shook his head as he mucked. Turner had around 90,000 after the hand.

Gould Eliminated - Kings Vs. Aces

Peter Gould was eliminated when his pocket kings ran into pocket aces before the flop. Gould failed to improve and saw his tournament come to an end late in the day.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Erik Seidel,   Hasan Habib,   Steve Zolotow,   Jon Turner,   Brandon Adams,   Peter Gould,   Jeremiah Smith,   European Report

$10,000 Main Event - Greenstein, Schulman Out

Jul 08, '08

Note: Players are now on a 20-minute break

Blinds/Antes: 500-1,000 with a 100 ante

Players Left: 549

Chip Leaders:

Brian Schaedlich: 500,000
Hunter Frey: 373,000
Dave Rheem: 310,000
Sinai Farhad: 305,000
Patrick Fortin: 292,000
Kellen Hunter: 282,000
Ron Adams: 271,000
Jeff Bryan: 260,000
Keith Hawkins: 258,000
Jeremiah Smith: 246,000

Eliminations: Barry Greenstein, Billy Baxter, Nick Schulman

Big Hands:

Greenstein Signs His Book, You Know What That Means

The player in the cutoff raised to 3,500 and Barry Greenstein pushed his entire stack into the middle from the small blind. The cutoff made the call and showed AK, dominating Greenstein's AJ. The flop killed any flush possibilities for Greenstein as it came with the wrong color, 1084. The turn brought the A, giving each player top pair but Greenstein's kicker was useless. He needed to hit a jack to stay alive, but the 8 fell on the river and Greenstein signed his book and made his exit from the main event.

Giang Gets The Best of Corkins

Chau Giang raised to 4,000 from middle position after Hoyt Corkins had limped in from early position. The player in seat 4 called the raise, as did Corkins. The flop came 942 and action was checked to Giang. He fired 11,000 and seat 4 mucked. Corkins then looked down at his hand and thought about what to do. Eventually, he mucked his hand and Giang raked in the pot. He was at around 160,000 while Corkins was down to about 75,000.

Baxter Busts

On a flop of 432, Billy Baxter bet 10,000 and the player in seat 4 raised to 22,000. Baxter moved all in for 68,000 total and seat 4 asked for a chip count before going into the tank. After much deliberation, he made the call and showed QQ. Baxter showed A9 for the nut flush draw. The turn was the right color, but the wrong suit as the 10 hit the felt. The same deal on the river as the J fell on the river and Baxter was eliminated.

Rousso Bows Out With Top Pair

On a flop of AQ9, the player in seat 9 bet 3,000 and Vanessa Rousso made the call. The turn was the K and both players checked. The river was the 10 and seat 9 led out with 6,000. Rousso went into the tank, as there was now a four card straight on the board, as well as a possible flush. She stacked her chips repeatedly, as if she was about to move all in. Eventually, she turned over the A and threw it into the middle, mucking her hand. Her opponent then showed the A and threw his hand in the muck. Rousso told her opponent that she was beat because her kicker was not very good. Her stack was at around 90,000.

Schulman Out

A few minutes later at the same table where Baxter was sent to the rail, Nick Schulman moved all in preflop and showed JJ against his opponent's KK. The board ran out KQ77A and Schulman was eliminated.

Kravchenko Can't Beat a Pair...

Alex Kravchenko raised to 3,000 from late position and the player in seat 9 made the call from the button. The flop came down Q29 and both players checked. The turn was the 10 and both players played it passive again. The river brought the Q, inducing a check from both players one last time. Seat 9 showed 88 and Kravchenko mucked. His stack was around 125,000.

...Then Kravchenko Heads To Broadway, But Falls In The River

The player in seat 1 bet 12,000 on the turn with the board showing AQJ10. Last year's fourth-place finisher in the main event Alexander Kravchenko took several minutes before finally just calling. The 6 fell on the river and seat 1 moved the rest of his stack in - around 28,000. Kravchenko made the call and soon after saw he had been rivered. Seat 1 showed KJ for a turned straight that became a flush on the river. Kravchenko flashed A-K for the same straight before mucking. Kravchenko was down to around 55,000 after the hand.

Smith Still Rolling

On a flop of Q109, Stefan Mattsson bet 16,500 and Jeremiah Smith made the call. The turn was the 9, and this time Mattsson bet 25,000. Smith tanked for a minute before raising to 85,000. Mattsson went into the tank himself for a few minutes before ultimately folding the hand. Smith says to him, "I think that was just a value bet." Mattsson replied, "I had pocket jacks." Smith then said, Wow, I'm just making everybody fold pocket jacks." Referring of course to a bg hand last level where Smith raised to 85,000, then causing Walter Hall to lay down a pair of jacks. After this hand Smith brings his chip count up to 280,000.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Barry Greenstein,   Chau Giang,   Alexander Kravchenko,   Vanessa Rousso,   Nick Schulman,   Billy Baxter,   Jeremiah Smith

$10,000 Main Event - Liebert Out

Jul 08, '08

Blinds/Antes: 500-1,000 with a 100 ante

Players Left: 612

Chip Leaders:

Brian Schaedlich: 500,000
Hunter Frey: 378,000
David Rheem: 367,000
Jeremiah Smith: 246,000
Robert Mizrachi: 242,000
Jason Risenberg: 242,000
Keith Hawkins: 240,000
Patrick Fortin: 235,000
Sinai Farhad: 235,000
Jeff Bryan: 231,000

Eliminations: Kathy Liebert, Shaun Deeb, Erick Lindgren

Big Hands:

Beware of the Smith and Wesson

Despite being seated at the same table with two world-class pros in Barry Greenstein and Stefan Mattsson, at the moment Jeremiah Smith seems to have complete control of his table.

Jeremiah Smith raised to 2,500 before the flop and the player in seat 8 made the call. The flop came 1053, and Smith let out with 3,000. Seat 8 called and the turn was the 2. Both players checked and the river was the 7. Once again both players checked and Smith turned over AQ for the queen-high flush. Smith raked the pot, breaking the 200,000 chip mark this hand.

The very next hand and Jeremiah Smith opened the pot with a raise to 2,500 from middle position and Stefan Mattsson defended his big blind with a call. The flop came 995, and Mattsson checked to smith who bet 3,000. Mattsson folded and Smith raked another pot.

The next hand after that, the player from under the gun limped into the pot for 1,000 followed by Jeremiah Smith from early position and seat 8 from middle position. Walter Hall raised to 7,000 from late position and the action folded around back to Smith who made the call. The flop came 1062, and Smith checked to Hall who bet 6,000. Smith raised (check-raise) to 16,000 and Hall made the call. The turn was the 6 and Smith led out first, sliding a stack of orange chips (85,000) into the pot. Hall tanked for about four or five minutes, counting and recounting his stack until he finally mucked pocket jacks face-up. Smith raked his third consectutive pot, letting his table know who's boss as he brought his chip count up to 230,000 after the hand.

A Gorgeous Flop for Gazes

Bill Gazes and the player in seat 7 saw a flop of QJ2. Gazes checked and seat 7 fired 10,000 into the pot. Gazes smooth called and the turn came with the 5. Seat 7 moved all in after Gazes checked. Gazes made the call and turned over 65 for a flopped diamond flush. Seat 7 showed AQ and was drawing dead when the J fell on the river. Gazes doubled up to 50,000.

Adams Forced Out

With four players in the hand, a flop of J106 hit the felt. Brandon Adams fired 4,000 into the pot. The players in seat 7 and seat 8 got out of the way, but the player in seat 1 stuck around as he made the call. The turn was the 8 and seat 1 checked to Adams. Adams fired another shot, this one for 10,000. Seat 1 moved into action as he raised 25,000 more. Adams went into the tank for several minutes before mucking his hand. He was around 196,000 after surrendering the pot.

Poker Kat Scratched, Then Put Down

Kathy Liebert was in the big blind and the player in seat 2 was in the small blind as the two players saw a flop of J42. Liebert fired out a bet and was called by seat 2. The turn was the 3 and Liebert bet 6,000. Seat 2 made the call and the river was the 9. Seat 2 led out this time, betting 13,000 into the pot. Liebert studied her opponent, looking at his stack and then at him directly. After much thought, she laid down her hand and was down to about 40,000.

Later, Liebert moved all in for her final 11,100 on a board showing QQ2JA. Her opponent wasted little time calling, showing K10 for a broadway straight on the river. Liebert showed Q10 for a set of queens on the flop and she made her way toward the exit.

Boatman Loses One

Barny Boatman raised to 2,500 from late position and two players called. The flop came 932 and Boatman fired 3,500 after the action was checked to him. One player folded but the player in seat 6 hung around and the turn was the A. Both players checked and the 10 fell on the river. Boatman checked and seat 6 took control of the hand, firing 7,000. Boatman mucked his hand and he was down to around 60,000.

Player Tags: Kathy Liebert,   Barry Greenstein,   Bill Gazes,   Brandon Adams,   Jeremiah Smith,   Stefan Mattsson,   European Report

$10,000 Main Event - Must Be the Money

Jul 10, '08

Note: Hand-for-Hand play began at around 10:30 p.m. with 675 players. It took a while, but the money bubble has burst as Steve Chung went out in 667th place. However, he did not go home empty-handed as Milwaukee's Best has given him the $10,000 entry fee for the 2009 World Series Of Poker main event. There are 666 players left and the remaining field is now guaranteed at least $21,230. Players have gone on a 20 minute break and tournament directors will color up the black "100" chips as they will no longer be necessary.

Blinds/Antes: 1,500-3,000 with a 400 ante

Players Left: 666 of 6,844

Chip Leaders:

Jeremiah Smith: 1,150,000
Sigurd Eskeland: 950,000
Alberto Font: 830,000
Iwan Jones: 770,000
Robert Georato: 760,000
Karle Wilson: 690,000
Jeff Kimber: 690,000
Sarkis Akopyan: 680,000
Andrew Brokos: 660,000
Owen Crowe: 645,000

Average Stack: 205,217

Big Hands:

Big Bully

The player in seat 8 raised under the gun to 8,000. Action folded to Jeremiah Smith in the small blind and he shipped it, putting seat 8 at risk. Unfortunately for Smith, seat 8 quickly called and turned over QQ. Smith showed down 96. TIme was taken as the table waited for the television crews to arrive. "Classic race situation," Smith joked as he admitted he was just trying to punish people on the bubble. The cameras arrived, and did they ever see a show. The flop dropped 1087, giving Smith a straight along with a straight flush draw. Media surrounding the table gasped as a touch of destiny touched Smith. The turn paired the board as the 10 dropped, but the river brought the A and Smith pulled a miracle knockout. 

"I was just trying to be a bully," Smith said after the hand. The player who was eliminated stormed off, so Smith apologized to him through the ESPN cameras. Smith was at 1,150,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Jeremiah Smith

$10,000 Main Event - Day 3 - Level 13 (Hr. 2)

Jul 10, '08

Blinds/Antes: 1,200-2,400-300

Players Left: 747 of 6844

Chip Leaders:
Alberto Font - 745,000
Sigurd Eskeland - 700,000
Jeff Kimber - 670,000
Jeremiah Smith - 650,000
Vito Branciforte - 560,000
Mark Ketteringham - 560,000
Geert Jans - 550,000
Jeremy Joseph - 520,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 520,000
Victor Ramdin - 510,000

Other Notables
Mark Vos – 360,000
Phil Hellmuth – 300,000
Owen Crowe – 280,000
Jon Turner – 275,000
Robert Mizrachi – 275,000
Shawn Sheikhan – 270,000
Jeff Madsen – 260,000
Bertrand Grospellier – 250,000
Ryan Daut – 205,000
Gus Hansen – 200,000
Brandon Adams – 190,000
Rolf Slotboom – 125,000
Craig Marquis – 110,000
Leo Wolpert – 100,000
Jason Gray – 88,000
Maya Antonius – 73,000
Ari Engel – 65,000
Bill Gazes – 65,000
Thor Hansen – 65,000
Alexander Kravchenko – 32,000

Big Hands/Storylines

Five-Alive for Hansen

Gus Hansen was getting short-stacked, but managed a significant breakthrough with about 40 minutes remaining before the dinner break. Hansen was on the button and called a preflop raise from a player one from the cut-off. The flop came 953, and the first player bet 15,000. Hansen then moved all-in for his remaining 61,500. The player called. Hansen showed 55 for the flopped set, while his opponent held K9. The A and 7 completed the board and Hansen doubled up.

Kido Pham’s Stack Dwindling

Action folded around to the button where Kido Pham raised to 9,000. The small blind called and they saw a flop. The was AK7 and the small blind checked to Pham. Pham bet 12,000 and was quickly called. The K on the turn slowed down the action and both players checked. The river was the 10 and again both players checked. The small blind showed his A8 for a pair of aces and that was good to take down the pot. This hand continues the decline of Kido Pham, who is now down to 85,000.

Smith's monster stack gets even bigger

Preflop, Ryan Daut raised to 6,300 from early position and was called by Jeremiah Smith and the big blind. The flop came J95 and when it checked around to Smith he bet 12,000. Daut called and the turn was the J. Daut checked and Smith quickly fired 20,000. Daut again called and then checked after the T came on the river. Smith again bet quickly, this time for 25,000. Daut folded and Smith took down the pot. After the hand Smith was over 700,000 chips. 

Bad Time to Push

Jamal Sawaqdeh was in the small blind and called a preflop raise from the player with the button. The flop came KJ10, and after Sawaqdeh checked, the button went all-in for 47,900. Sawaqdeh made the call and and showed QJ for middle pair, along with flush and straight draws. His opponent could only manage Q3 for the open-ender. The K on the turn didn't change anything, but the 9 on the river gave Sawaqdeh the straight flush to eliminate his opponent.

Hellmuth moves all in, gets fold, "so sick"

Phil Hellmuth was on the button and was in a pot against the big blind. The flop was AJ9 and Hellmuth bet 6,000 after his opponent checked. The blind called and then bet out 25,000 when the turn came J. Hellmuth thought for a minute and then moved all in. He had the blind, who said this situation was "so sick" a couple times, covered. Finally he flashed 87 and folded. Hellmuth jumped out of his chair and told him he was drawing dead and was mad at himself for raising. After the hadn he was up to about 260,000 chips.

Player Tags: Gus Hansen,   Phil Hellmuth,   Kido Pham,   Jeremiah Smith,   Ryan Daut

$10,000 Main Event - Smith Shoots Ahead of Competition

Jul 08, '08

Blinds/Antes: 600-1,200 with a 200 ante

Players Left: 513

Chip Leaders:

Brian Schaedlich: 480,000
Jeremiah Smith: 412,000
Hunter Frey: 400,000
Eric Crain: 353,000
Ron Adams: 345,000
David Rheem: 340,000
Sinai Farhad: 312,000
Patrick Fortin: 290,000
Kellen Hunter: 282,000
Markus Golser: 270,000

Eliminations: John Hennigan, Ray Romano

Big Hands:

Adams KOs Opponent, Climbs

Brandon Adams called an opponent's all in bet preflop and turned over JJ. His opponent showed 33. The flop came J72, giving Adams top set and leaving his opponent dead to running threes. The turn was the A, sealing the victory for Adams, and the meaningless 8 fell on the river. Adams climbed to 208,000 after the hand.

Smith Running Hot, Cracks Kings with 7-5

On a flop of 986 Walter Hall moved all in for his last 80,000. Jeremiah Smith made the call. Hall turned over pocket kings for the overpair, while Smith showed 7-5 for the flopped nut straight. The turn and river brought the 3 and the 9, bringing no help for Hall and he was eliminated. Smith has dominated his table all day while climbing to 400,000 in chips - good enough for second on the leaderboard.

Zolotow Doubles

An increasingly short-stacked Steve Zolotow moved his last 14,400 all in preflop and got one caller. Zolotow showed 88 and was in a race against his opponent's AQ. The board ran 109797 and Zolotow doubled to more than 30,000.

Seidel Knocks Out Another One

Erik Seidel raised from the button, only to have a shortstack push all in. Seidel made the call and showed KQ. The all in player showed 66. The flop made the all in player cry out, "Nooo!" coming KJ3 to give Seidel top pair. The 5 and 9 completed the board and Seidel eliminated the player. Seidel currently sits with 145,000.

Battle of the Blinds

Action folded to the small blind in seat 1, who raised to 3,600. Hoyt Corkins called from the big blind and the flop came 643. The small blind checked and Corkins fired 4,000 into the pot. The small blind check-raised to 15,000 total. Corkins thought for a second then mucked his hand. Corkins barely felt the hit to his stack, and still had around 180,000 after the hand.

Habib Bets Out Opponent On River

Hasan Habib checked to the player in seat 9 on a flop of A63. Seat 9 bet 4,500 and Habib called after a brief pause. Both players checked the 3 on the turn, but when the Q hit on the river Habib fired 10,000 and his opponent folded. Habib has played patiently to climb to 126,000.

Turner Plays It Slow, Takes Pot

In a limped 3-way pot, Jon "PearlJammer" Turner called the player in the big blind's bet of 3,000 on a flop. The small blind folded and Turner was heads up with the big blind when the 3 fell on the turn. Both players checked and when the big blind checked the 9 river Turner said he thought he was probably good but elected to check as well. He flipped over KQ for top pair and his opponent shook his head as he mucked. Turner had around 90,000 after the hand.

Gould Eliminated - Kings Vs. Aces

Peter Gould was eliminated when his pocket kings ran into pocket aces before the flop. Gould failed to improve and saw his tournament come to an end late in the day.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Erik Seidel,   Hasan Habib,   Steve Zolotow,   Jon Turner,   Brandon Adams,   Peter Gould,   Jeremiah Smith,   European Report

$10,000 Main Event - Greenstein, Schulman Out

Jul 08, '08

Note: Players are now on a 20-minute break

Blinds/Antes: 500-1,000 with a 100 ante

Players Left: 549

Chip Leaders:

Brian Schaedlich: 500,000
Hunter Frey: 373,000
Dave Rheem: 310,000
Sinai Farhad: 305,000
Patrick Fortin: 292,000
Kellen Hunter: 282,000
Ron Adams: 271,000
Jeff Bryan: 260,000
Keith Hawkins: 258,000
Jeremiah Smith: 246,000

Eliminations: Barry Greenstein, Billy Baxter, Nick Schulman

Big Hands:

Greenstein Signs His Book, You Know What That Means

The player in the cutoff raised to 3,500 and Barry Greenstein pushed his entire stack into the middle from the small blind. The cutoff made the call and showed AK, dominating Greenstein's AJ. The flop killed any flush possibilities for Greenstein as it came with the wrong color, 1084. The turn brought the A, giving each player top pair but Greenstein's kicker was useless. He needed to hit a jack to stay alive, but the 8 fell on the river and Greenstein signed his book and made his exit from the main event.

Giang Gets The Best of Corkins

Chau Giang raised to 4,000 from middle position after Hoyt Corkins had limped in from early position. The player in seat 4 called the raise, as did Corkins. The flop came 942 and action was checked to Giang. He fired 11,000 and seat 4 mucked. Corkins then looked down at his hand and thought about what to do. Eventually, he mucked his hand and Giang raked in the pot. He was at around 160,000 while Corkins was down to about 75,000.

Baxter Busts

On a flop of 432, Billy Baxter bet 10,000 and the player in seat 4 raised to 22,000. Baxter moved all in for 68,000 total and seat 4 asked for a chip count before going into the tank. After much deliberation, he made the call and showed QQ. Baxter showed A9 for the nut flush draw. The turn was the right color, but the wrong suit as the 10 hit the felt. The same deal on the river as the J fell on the river and Baxter was eliminated.

Rousso Bows Out With Top Pair

On a flop of AQ9, the player in seat 9 bet 3,000 and Vanessa Rousso made the call. The turn was the K and both players checked. The river was the 10 and seat 9 led out with 6,000. Rousso went into the tank, as there was now a four card straight on the board, as well as a possible flush. She stacked her chips repeatedly, as if she was about to move all in. Eventually, she turned over the A and threw it into the middle, mucking her hand. Her opponent then showed the A and threw his hand in the muck. Rousso told her opponent that she was beat because her kicker was not very good. Her stack was at around 90,000.

Schulman Out

A few minutes later at the same table where Baxter was sent to the rail, Nick Schulman moved all in preflop and showed JJ against his opponent's KK. The board ran out KQ77A and Schulman was eliminated.

Kravchenko Can't Beat a Pair...

Alex Kravchenko raised to 3,000 from late position and the player in seat 9 made the call from the button. The flop came down Q29 and both players checked. The turn was the 10 and both players played it passive again. The river brought the Q, inducing a check from both players one last time. Seat 9 showed 88 and Kravchenko mucked. His stack was around 125,000.

...Then Kravchenko Heads To Broadway, But Falls In The River

The player in seat 1 bet 12,000 on the turn with the board showing AQJ10. Last year's fourth-place finisher in the main event Alexander Kravchenko took several minutes before finally just calling. The 6 fell on the river and seat 1 moved the rest of his stack in - around 28,000. Kravchenko made the call and soon after saw he had been rivered. Seat 1 showed KJ for a turned straight that became a flush on the river. Kravchenko flashed A-K for the same straight before mucking. Kravchenko was down to around 55,000 after the hand.

Smith Still Rolling

On a flop of Q109, Stefan Mattsson bet 16,500 and Jeremiah Smith made the call. The turn was the 9, and this time Mattsson bet 25,000. Smith tanked for a minute before raising to 85,000. Mattsson went into the tank himself for a few minutes before ultimately folding the hand. Smith says to him, "I think that was just a value bet." Mattsson replied, "I had pocket jacks." Smith then said, Wow, I'm just making everybody fold pocket jacks." Referring of course to a bg hand last level where Smith raised to 85,000, then causing Walter Hall to lay down a pair of jacks. After this hand Smith brings his chip count up to 280,000.

Player Tags: Hoyt Corkins,   Barry Greenstein,   Chau Giang,   Alexander Kravchenko,   Vanessa Rousso,   Nick Schulman,   Billy Baxter,   Jeremiah Smith

$10,000 Main Event - Liebert Out

Jul 08, '08

Blinds/Antes: 500-1,000 with a 100 ante

Players Left: 612

Chip Leaders:

Brian Schaedlich: 500,000
Hunter Frey: 378,000
David Rheem: 367,000
Jeremiah Smith: 246,000
Robert Mizrachi: 242,000
Jason Risenberg: 242,000
Keith Hawkins: 240,000
Patrick Fortin: 235,000
Sinai Farhad: 235,000
Jeff Bryan: 231,000

Eliminations: Kathy Liebert, Shaun Deeb, Erick Lindgren

Big Hands:

Beware of the Smith and Wesson

Despite being seated at the same table with two world-class pros in Barry Greenstein and Stefan Mattsson, at the moment Jeremiah Smith seems to have complete control of his table.

Jeremiah Smith raised to 2,500 before the flop and the player in seat 8 made the call. The flop came 1053, and Smith let out with 3,000. Seat 8 called and the turn was the 2. Both players checked and the river was the 7. Once again both players checked and Smith turned over AQ for the queen-high flush. Smith raked the pot, breaking the 200,000 chip mark this hand.

The very next hand and Jeremiah Smith opened the pot with a raise to 2,500 from middle position and Stefan Mattsson defended his big blind with a call. The flop came 995, and Mattsson checked to smith who bet 3,000. Mattsson folded and Smith raked another pot.

The next hand after that, the player from under the gun limped into the pot for 1,000 followed by Jeremiah Smith from early position and seat 8 from middle position. Walter Hall raised to 7,000 from late position and the action folded around back to Smith who made the call. The flop came 1062, and Smith checked to Hall who bet 6,000. Smith raised (check-raise) to 16,000 and Hall made the call. The turn was the 6 and Smith led out first, sliding a stack of orange chips (85,000) into the pot. Hall tanked for about four or five minutes, counting and recounting his stack until he finally mucked pocket jacks face-up. Smith raked his third consectutive pot, letting his table know who's boss as he brought his chip count up to 230,000 after the hand.

A Gorgeous Flop for Gazes

Bill Gazes and the player in seat 7 saw a flop of QJ2. Gazes checked and seat 7 fired 10,000 into the pot. Gazes smooth called and the turn came with the 5. Seat 7 moved all in after Gazes checked. Gazes made the call and turned over 65 for a flopped diamond flush. Seat 7 showed AQ and was drawing dead when the J fell on the river. Gazes doubled up to 50,000.

Adams Forced Out

With four players in the hand, a flop of J106 hit the felt. Brandon Adams fired 4,000 into the pot. The players in seat 7 and seat 8 got out of the way, but the player in seat 1 stuck around as he made the call. The turn was the 8 and seat 1 checked to Adams. Adams fired another shot, this one for 10,000. Seat 1 moved into action as he raised 25,000 more. Adams went into the tank for several minutes before mucking his hand. He was around 196,000 after surrendering the pot.

Poker Kat Scratched, Then Put Down

Kathy Liebert was in the big blind and the player in seat 2 was in the small blind as the two players saw a flop of J42. Liebert fired out a bet and was called by seat 2. The turn was the 3 and Liebert bet 6,000. Seat 2 made the call and the river was the 9. Seat 2 led out this time, betting 13,000 into the pot. Liebert studied her opponent, looking at his stack and then at him directly. After much thought, she laid down her hand and was down to about 40,000.

Later, Liebert moved all in for her final 11,100 on a board showing QQ2JA. Her opponent wasted little time calling, showing K10 for a broadway straight on the river. Liebert showed Q10 for a set of queens on the flop and she made her way toward the exit.

Boatman Loses One

Barny Boatman raised to 2,500 from late position and two players called. The flop came 932 and Boatman fired 3,500 after the action was checked to him. One player folded but the player in seat 6 hung around and the turn was the A. Both players checked and the 10 fell on the river. Boatman checked and seat 6 took control of the hand, firing 7,000. Boatman mucked his hand and he was down to around 60,000.

Player Tags: Kathy Liebert,   Barry Greenstein,   Bill Gazes,   Brandon Adams,   Jeremiah Smith,   Stefan Mattsson,   European Report

$10,000 Main Event - Must Be the Money

Jul 10, '08

Note: Hand-for-Hand play began at around 10:30 p.m. with 675 players. It took a while, but the money bubble has burst as Steve Chung went out in 667th place. However, he did not go home empty-handed as Milwaukee's Best has given him the $10,000 entry fee for the 2009 World Series Of Poker main event. There are 666 players left and the remaining field is now guaranteed at least $21,230. Players have gone on a 20 minute break and tournament directors will color up the black "100" chips as they will no longer be necessary.

Blinds/Antes: 1,500-3,000 with a 400 ante

Players Left: 666 of 6,844

Chip Leaders:

Jeremiah Smith: 1,150,000
Sigurd Eskeland: 950,000
Alberto Font: 830,000
Iwan Jones: 770,000
Robert Georato: 760,000
Karle Wilson: 690,000
Jeff Kimber: 690,000
Sarkis Akopyan: 680,000
Andrew Brokos: 660,000
Owen Crowe: 645,000

Average Stack: 205,217

Big Hands:

Big Bully

The player in seat 8 raised under the gun to 8,000. Action folded to Jeremiah Smith in the small blind and he shipped it, putting seat 8 at risk. Unfortunately for Smith, seat 8 quickly called and turned over QQ. Smith showed down 96. TIme was taken as the table waited for the television crews to arrive. "Classic race situation," Smith joked as he admitted he was just trying to punish people on the bubble. The cameras arrived, and did they ever see a show. The flop dropped 1087, giving Smith a straight along with a straight flush draw. Media surrounding the table gasped as a touch of destiny touched Smith. The turn paired the board as the 10 dropped, but the river brought the A and Smith pulled a miracle knockout. 

"I was just trying to be a bully," Smith said after the hand. The player who was eliminated stormed off, so Smith apologized to him through the ESPN cameras. Smith was at 1,150,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Jeremiah Smith

$10,000 Main Event - Day 3 - Level 13 (Hr. 2)

Jul 10, '08

Blinds/Antes: 1,200-2,400-300

Players Left: 747 of 6844

Chip Leaders:
Alberto Font - 745,000
Sigurd Eskeland - 700,000
Jeff Kimber - 670,000
Jeremiah Smith - 650,000
Vito Branciforte - 560,000
Mark Ketteringham - 560,000
Geert Jans - 550,000
Jeremy Joseph - 520,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 520,000
Victor Ramdin - 510,000

Other Notables
Mark Vos – 360,000
Phil Hellmuth – 300,000
Owen Crowe – 280,000
Jon Turner – 275,000
Robert Mizrachi – 275,000
Shawn Sheikhan – 270,000
Jeff Madsen – 260,000
Bertrand Grospellier – 250,000
Ryan Daut – 205,000
Gus Hansen – 200,000
Brandon Adams – 190,000
Rolf Slotboom – 125,000
Craig Marquis – 110,000
Leo Wolpert – 100,000
Jason Gray – 88,000
Maya Antonius – 73,000
Ari Engel – 65,000
Bill Gazes – 65,000
Thor Hansen – 65,000
Alexander Kravchenko – 32,000

Big Hands/Storylines

Five-Alive for Hansen

Gus Hansen was getting short-stacked, but managed a significant breakthrough with about 40 minutes remaining before the dinner break. Hansen was on the button and called a preflop raise from a player one from the cut-off. The flop came 953, and the first player bet 15,000. Hansen then moved all-in for his remaining 61,500. The player called. Hansen showed 55 for the flopped set, while his opponent held K9. The A and 7 completed the board and Hansen doubled up.

Kido Pham’s Stack Dwindling

Action folded around to the button where Kido Pham raised to 9,000. The small blind called and they saw a flop. The was AK7 and the small blind checked to Pham. Pham bet 12,000 and was quickly called. The K on the turn slowed down the action and both players checked. The river was the 10 and again both players checked. The small blind showed his A8 for a pair of aces and that was good to take down the pot. This hand continues the decline of Kido Pham, who is now down to 85,000.

Smith's monster stack gets even bigger

Preflop, Ryan Daut raised to 6,300 from early position and was called by Jeremiah Smith and the big blind. The flop came J95 and when it checked around to Smith he bet 12,000. Daut called and the turn was the J. Daut checked and Smith quickly fired 20,000. Daut again called and then checked after the T came on the river. Smith again bet quickly, this time for 25,000. Daut folded and Smith took down the pot. After the hand Smith was over 700,000 chips. 

Bad Time to Push

Jamal Sawaqdeh was in the small blind and called a preflop raise from the player with the button. The flop came KJ10, and after Sawaqdeh checked, the button went all-in for 47,900. Sawaqdeh made the call and and showed QJ for middle pair, along with flush and straight draws. His opponent could only manage Q3 for the open-ender. The K on the turn didn't change anything, but the 9 on the river gave Sawaqdeh the straight flush to eliminate his opponent.

Hellmuth moves all in, gets fold, "so sick"

Phil Hellmuth was on the button and was in a pot against the big blind. The flop was AJ9 and Hellmuth bet 6,000 after his opponent checked. The blind called and then bet out 25,000 when the turn came J. Hellmuth thought for a minute and then moved all in. He had the blind, who said this situation was "so sick" a couple times, covered. Finally he flashed 87 and folded. Hellmuth jumped out of his chair and told him he was drawing dead and was mad at himself for raising. After the hadn he was up to about 260,000 chips.

Player Tags: Gus Hansen,   Phil Hellmuth,   Kido Pham,   Jeremiah Smith,   Ryan Daut

No Limit Hold'Em - Level 7

May 31, '08

Blinds: 300-600 ante 75

Players Remaining: 310

Average Stack: 19,800

Chip Leaders:

Ryan D'Angelo - 90,000
Gavin Griffin - 65,000
Jeremiah Smith - 63,000
Henry Tran - 60,000
Cesar Flores - 54,000
Shane Schleger - 45,500
Paul Lee - 42,000
Chris Vaughn - 42,000
Mark Ketteringham - 40,000
Mark Hanna - 36,000

Eliminations:

Greg Raymer
Johnny Chan
Brett Jungblut

Big Hands:

D’Angelo Takes The Lead

Ryan D’Angelo won a massive pot to give himself the largest stack in the tournament.  He raised pre-flop from middle position and got a call from the player directly on his left and John Cernuto in the big blind.  On a flop of J94, Cernuto checked, D’Angelo put out a pot-sized bet and the player to his left – who had quite a stack himself -- set him all-in immediately. D’Angelo leaned back in his chair and moaned, “We’re gonna need a count. This is sick. This is sick.” After a few more reminders of how sick the situation was, he made the call and the players revealed their cards:

D’Angelo: AJ
Opponent: QJ

The turn came T giving his opponent and open-ended straight-draw in addition to his flush draw, but the river was the A, sending a mountain of chips D’Angelo’s way, bringing him to a total of nearly 90,000.

Roveto knocks out Alvarado

After committing most of his chips preflop, J.C Alvarado moved all in on the flop with A-5 and was called by John Roveto, who held A-Q. Alvarado flopped a gutshot straight draw, but did not catch a card on the turn or river and was eliminated.

Gazes takes a hit

After a short stack moved all in preflop, Bill Gazes reluctantly made the call with QT. His opponent flipped over AK and flopped a king to end the suspense. After the hand Gazes was left with under 20,000 chips.

Together at Last

Gavin Griffin was moved to Shane Schleger's table, putting two of the chip leaders on a collision course with one another. Matt "Allinat420" Stout immediately noticed the move and came over to the table, willing to bet that the two of them would be bust within two hours.

Player Tags: John Cernuto,   Brett Jungblut,   Johnny Chan,   Paul Lee,   Gavin Griffin,   Greg Raymer,   Mark Hanna,   Shane Schleger,   Henry Tran,   Jeremiah Smith,   Ryan D'Angelo,   Cesar Flores

No-Limit Hold'em - Back From Dinner Break

May 31, '08

Player Tags: Mark Ketteringham,   Paul Lee,   Gavin Griffin,   Mark Hanna,   Shane Schleger,   Henry Tran,   Jeremiah Smith,   Ryan D'Angelo,   Chris Vaughn,   Cesar Flores

No Limit Hold 'Em Level 5

May 31, '08

Blinds: 150-300 ante 25

Players Remaining: 510

Chip Count:

Jeremiah Smith 43,000
Henry Tran: 40,000
Mark Hanna: 36,000
Phaly Nou: 29,000
Todd Brunson: 25,200
Paul Lee: 24,000
Schane Schleger: 24,000
Jean Robert-Bellande: 24,000
Men Nguyen: 22,000
Terrance Chan: 20,775

Eliminations:

Johnny Chan

Big Hands:

Big Stack Bellande Makes a Big Move

Richard Preuninger on a short stack of $1,200 open-raised all in from middle position and was called by Justin Hoffman on the button. Jean-Robert Bellande, on the big blind with a big stack, decided to reraise all in, putitng the squeeze on Hoffman., whol ultimately folded. Bellande showed AQ, but Preuninger's 66 survived. Hoffman later lamented that he had folded pocket jacks. Bellande is still one of the tournament leaders with 24,000 in chips.

I Don't Believe You, Sir

After a flop of AJ9, JJ Tran pushed all in for his remaining 3,750. Steven "Doc" Vigdor, the only other player in the hand, deliberated for more than a minute before calling with KK, saying, "I don't believe you, sir." Tran wasn't lying--he, in fact, held 99 for bottom set--but the K on the turn gave the good doctor the pot, busting Tran from the tournament.

Sharks Among Fish

A field of 3,558 is going to have a lot of fish. But not at table 34, where Barry Schulman, Men "The Master" Nguyen, Jon Friedberg and Philip Collins AKA USCPhildo are seated together.

Friedberg Takes Down A Big Pot

Friedberg was involved in a big hand after calling a raise of 900 preflop. After J85 flopped, Friedberg got all in and was insta-called by seat 8 who showed Q-Q for an overpair. But Friedberg flipped 8-8 for a set of eights. The hand held and he doubled to around 20,000.

"He'd Hate To Double Me Up"

A few hands later, Men "The Master" Nguyen pushed all in preflop. As Jon Friedberg thought about calling Nguyen pretended to muck and take the pot. The players laughed and Friedberg did eventually muck and Nguyen took the pot, showing Q-J. Friedberg joked with Nguyen, saying he had 7 high but was tempted to call so he could say he busted "The Master." Nguyen told Friedberg that people would laugh at him if he made that call, then turned to the player to his right and said, "He'd hate to double me up."

Playing "Shaniac" Poker

On a flop of J32, Shane Schleger AKA Shaniac called a short stack's all in bet and turned over A-J. The all in player showed J-7 and didn't improve from the 4 turn and 6 river. Schleiger is among the chip leaders with around 24,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Jean-Robert Bellande,   Jeremiah Smith