Thayer Rasmussen Poker Tournament Updates

New Chipleader

Sep 14, '08

Looking around the room once again it looks like the new chipleader is Thayer "THAY3R" Rasmussen with just over 130,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Takes a Bad Beat

Sep 15, '08

The button raises and Thayer Rasmussen reraises from the big blind. The button then shoves all in for 172,800. Rasmussen instantly calls showing A-K and he's happy to see his opponent is dominated with K6.

Unfortunately, the board comes 10634K and Rasmussen takes a huge hit to his stack. Instead of nearly 600,000, he now sits with 266,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Vinny Pahuja Eliminated in 28th Place ($21,000)

Sep 16, '08

Vinny Pahuja is all in with Q-10 against Thayer Rasmussen's A-K. The board offers no help to either player and Ace high is good enough to take the pot and eliminate Pahuja in 28th place.

Pahuja currently sits in eighth place in Card Player's Player of the Year Race. He will earn no points here but continues to have a strong year adding $21,000 to his career earning of $500,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   Vinny Pahuja

Thayer vs. Young

Sep 16, '08

On a flop of AQQ Ryan Young raised 100,000 and Thayer Rasmussen made the call. Both players then checked down the 6 on the turn, and the 3 on the river. Rasmussen flipped over pocket kings and he took down the pot when Young mucked. Rasmussen now holds 1.3 million.














 

Player Tags: Ryan Young,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Eliminated in 12th Place ($65,000)

Sep 17, '08

Action is folded around to Thayer Rasmussen who moves all in from the small blind. Vivek Rajkumar makes the call from the big blind and the two internet phenoms turn over their cards.

Rasmussen shows K-5 and Rajkumar has A-4.

The board comes 9-8-2-3-2 and Rasmussen is eliminated in 12th place. He earns $65,000 for his finish.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   V R

Thayer Rasmussen Doubles Up

Sep 17, '08

After getting dangerously short, Thayer Rasmussen moves all in for just over 300,000 in the cutoff. Mark Seif calls from the big blind showing A3. Rasmussen shows Q8 and will need a lot of help to survive.

He gets it when the flop comes K95 giving him a flush. The turn and river come AA and Rasmussen doubles up to about 720,000.

Player Tags: Mark Seif,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Takes a Monster Hit

Sep 17, '08

Thayer Rasmussen raises in the cutoff and Dan Heimiller reraises to 220,000 from the small blind. Rasmussen thinks it over before reraising to 500,000. After a long time of though, Heimiller calls and both players see a flop of AK2.

Heimiller checks and Rasmussen checks behind. On the 8 turn, Heimiller bets a smallish 375,000. Rasmussen calls and the river is the 5. Both players check and Heimiller announces that he has an ace, turning over A3. Rasmussen says that it is good and mucks his hand.

After the hand, Rasmussen has 880,000 and Heimiller is up to 3,550,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Ted Forrest Eliminated in 27th Place ($26,000)

Sep 17, '08

Well, that was quick.

On one of the first hands of play, Ted Forrest got his 600,000 chip stack in with pocket aces against Thayer Rasmussen's pocket eights. Rasmussen continued to run well as an eight hit the flop and sent Forrest home prematurely. Rasmussen is now in second chip position with over 2,000,000.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Thayer Rasmussen

New Chipleader

Sep 14, '08

Looking around the room once again it looks like the new chipleader is Thayer "THAY3R" Rasmussen with just over 130,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Takes a Bad Beat

Sep 15, '08

The button raises and Thayer Rasmussen reraises from the big blind. The button then shoves all in for 172,800. Rasmussen instantly calls showing A-K and he's happy to see his opponent is dominated with K6.

Unfortunately, the board comes 10634K and Rasmussen takes a huge hit to his stack. Instead of nearly 600,000, he now sits with 266,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Vinny Pahuja Eliminated in 28th Place ($21,000)

Sep 16, '08

Vinny Pahuja is all in with Q-10 against Thayer Rasmussen's A-K. The board offers no help to either player and Ace high is good enough to take the pot and eliminate Pahuja in 28th place.

Pahuja currently sits in eighth place in Card Player's Player of the Year Race. He will earn no points here but continues to have a strong year adding $21,000 to his career earning of $500,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   Vinny Pahuja

Thayer vs. Young

Sep 16, '08

On a flop of AQQ Ryan Young raised 100,000 and Thayer Rasmussen made the call. Both players then checked down the 6 on the turn, and the 3 on the river. Rasmussen flipped over pocket kings and he took down the pot when Young mucked. Rasmussen now holds 1.3 million.














 

Player Tags: Ryan Young,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Eliminated in 12th Place ($65,000)

Sep 17, '08

Action is folded around to Thayer Rasmussen who moves all in from the small blind. Vivek Rajkumar makes the call from the big blind and the two internet phenoms turn over their cards.

Rasmussen shows K-5 and Rajkumar has A-4.

The board comes 9-8-2-3-2 and Rasmussen is eliminated in 12th place. He earns $65,000 for his finish.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   V R

Thayer Rasmussen Doubles Up

Sep 17, '08

After getting dangerously short, Thayer Rasmussen moves all in for just over 300,000 in the cutoff. Mark Seif calls from the big blind showing A3. Rasmussen shows Q8 and will need a lot of help to survive.

He gets it when the flop comes K95 giving him a flush. The turn and river come AA and Rasmussen doubles up to about 720,000.

Player Tags: Mark Seif,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Takes a Monster Hit

Sep 17, '08

Thayer Rasmussen raises in the cutoff and Dan Heimiller reraises to 220,000 from the small blind. Rasmussen thinks it over before reraising to 500,000. After a long time of though, Heimiller calls and both players see a flop of AK2.

Heimiller checks and Rasmussen checks behind. On the 8 turn, Heimiller bets a smallish 375,000. Rasmussen calls and the river is the 5. Both players check and Heimiller announces that he has an ace, turning over A3. Rasmussen says that it is good and mucks his hand.

After the hand, Rasmussen has 880,000 and Heimiller is up to 3,550,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Ted Forrest Eliminated in 27th Place ($26,000)

Sep 17, '08

Well, that was quick.

On one of the first hands of play, Ted Forrest got his 600,000 chip stack in with pocket aces against Thayer Rasmussen's pocket eights. Rasmussen continued to run well as an eight hit the flop and sent Forrest home prematurely. Rasmussen is now in second chip position with over 2,000,000.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Thayer Rasmussen

New Chipleader

Sep 14, '08

Looking around the room once again it looks like the new chipleader is Thayer "THAY3R" Rasmussen with just over 130,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Takes a Bad Beat

Sep 15, '08

The button raises and Thayer Rasmussen reraises from the big blind. The button then shoves all in for 172,800. Rasmussen instantly calls showing A-K and he's happy to see his opponent is dominated with K6.

Unfortunately, the board comes 10634K and Rasmussen takes a huge hit to his stack. Instead of nearly 600,000, he now sits with 266,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Vinny Pahuja Eliminated in 28th Place ($21,000)

Sep 16, '08

Vinny Pahuja is all in with Q-10 against Thayer Rasmussen's A-K. The board offers no help to either player and Ace high is good enough to take the pot and eliminate Pahuja in 28th place.

Pahuja currently sits in eighth place in Card Player's Player of the Year Race. He will earn no points here but continues to have a strong year adding $21,000 to his career earning of $500,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   Vinny Pahuja

Thayer vs. Young

Sep 16, '08

On a flop of AQQ Ryan Young raised 100,000 and Thayer Rasmussen made the call. Both players then checked down the 6 on the turn, and the 3 on the river. Rasmussen flipped over pocket kings and he took down the pot when Young mucked. Rasmussen now holds 1.3 million.














 

Player Tags: Ryan Young,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Eliminated in 12th Place ($65,000)

Sep 17, '08

Action is folded around to Thayer Rasmussen who moves all in from the small blind. Vivek Rajkumar makes the call from the big blind and the two internet phenoms turn over their cards.

Rasmussen shows K-5 and Rajkumar has A-4.

The board comes 9-8-2-3-2 and Rasmussen is eliminated in 12th place. He earns $65,000 for his finish.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   V R

Thayer Rasmussen Doubles Up

Sep 17, '08

After getting dangerously short, Thayer Rasmussen moves all in for just over 300,000 in the cutoff. Mark Seif calls from the big blind showing A3. Rasmussen shows Q8 and will need a lot of help to survive.

He gets it when the flop comes K95 giving him a flush. The turn and river come AA and Rasmussen doubles up to about 720,000.

Player Tags: Mark Seif,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thayer Rasmussen Takes a Monster Hit

Sep 17, '08

Thayer Rasmussen raises in the cutoff and Dan Heimiller reraises to 220,000 from the small blind. Rasmussen thinks it over before reraising to 500,000. After a long time of though, Heimiller calls and both players see a flop of AK2.

Heimiller checks and Rasmussen checks behind. On the 8 turn, Heimiller bets a smallish 375,000. Rasmussen calls and the river is the 5. Both players check and Heimiller announces that he has an ace, turning over A3. Rasmussen says that it is good and mucks his hand.

After the hand, Rasmussen has 880,000 and Heimiller is up to 3,550,000.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen

Ted Forrest Eliminated in 27th Place ($26,000)

Sep 17, '08

Well, that was quick.

On one of the first hands of play, Ted Forrest got his 600,000 chip stack in with pocket aces against Thayer Rasmussen's pocket eights. Rasmussen continued to run well as an eight hit the flop and sent Forrest home prematurely. Rasmussen is now in second chip position with over 2,000,000.

Player Tags: Ted Forrest,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thay3r Plays A Little Hold'em....954

Jul 12, '08

Sitting with a gutshot draw to the wheel along with a flush draw, Thayer Rasmussen called the all in of Chad Batista who held a set of deuces. The river gave Rasmussen his flush and a big stack of about 74,000 in chips.

Of course, Batista was quickly replaced by WSOP heads up finalist Alec "traheho" Torelli, keeping the toughest table in the room's reputation intact.

Click here to read Alec Torelli's blog for CardPlayer.com.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   Chad Batista

Thayer Picks Up Chips

Jul 15, '08

Thayer Rasmussen has picked up quite a few chips in today's first level, getting closer and closer to his neighbor Mike "SirWatts" Watson. Rasmussen scored a bunch of those chips when his overpair held up against Bryan Devonshire's lower pair.

Player Tags: Michael Watson,   Thayer Rasmussen

Thay3r Plays A Little Hold'em....954

Jul 12, '08

Sitting with a gutshot draw to the wheel along with a flush draw, Thayer Rasmussen called the all in of Chad Batista who held a set of deuces. The river gave Rasmussen his flush and a big stack of about 74,000 in chips.

Of course, Batista was quickly replaced by WSOP heads up finalist Alec "traheho" Torelli, keeping the toughest table in the room's reputation intact.

Click here to read Alec Torelli's blog for CardPlayer.com.

Player Tags: Thayer Rasmussen,   Chad Batista

Thayer Picks Up Chips

Jul 15, '08

Thayer Rasmussen has picked up quite a few chips in today's first level, getting closer and closer to his neighbor Mike "SirWatts" Watson. Rasmussen scored a bunch of those chips when his overpair held up against Bryan Devonshire's lower pair.

Player Tags: Michael Watson,   Thayer Rasmussen

$10,000 Main Event - Day 2 Done

Jul 09, '08

Day 2 has come to an end. Almost 2,400 players played in Day 2B and only 855 made it to Day 3. There are no more flight days from here on in. The 1,324 players who survived Day 2 will gather in the Amazon Room Wednesday at noon and play another five levels. It may be a day that see's the field reach the 666 player mark, signaling the money bubble. Tune in to Card Player then for all of the live updates from Day 3 of the 2008 main event.

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

Players Left: 855 of 2,378

Chip Leaders:

Alex Outhred: 486,000
Peter Biebel: 380,000
Raja Kattamuri: 375,000
Steve Goosen: 358,000
Reagan Silber: 340,000
Darryl Ranconi: 315,000
Jason McClane: 312,000
Rafael Caiaffa: 310,000
Victor Ramdin: 307,000
Andrew Teng: 298,000

Spade Club:

David Kim: 112,000

Eliminations: David Singer, Bryan Micon, Tom Chambers, David Tran, Liz Lieu

Big Hands:

"The Goofball Beat Me, Honey!"

Phil Hellmuth raised to 4,000 under the gun and the player in seat 5 made the call. The flop came Q55 and Hellmuth checked, letting seat 5 bet 7,000. Hellmuth called and again checked when the 5 hit on the turn. Seat 5 bet 10,000 and Hellmuth removed his shades and studied the board and his opponent. After asking his opponent how much he had left, Hellmuth just called. The 10 fell on the river and seat 5 pushed all in for about 40,000. "Okay buddy, you win this one," Hellmuth said as he mucked his hand. "My turn next time, okay?"

But it wasn't okay with the layer in seat 5. Two hands later Hellmuth bet 7,500 on a flop of K53 and only seat 5 made the call. The A hit on the turn and Hellmuth led out for 13,000. Seat 5 announced he was all in and Hellmuth was stunned. He mucked and jumped from his seat to talk to his wife.

"The goofball beat me, honey!" he said to her. "He might be the worst player here by far."

But Hellmuth's confidence was still not shaken as he said, "I want to tell you something. He's going to be drawing dead against me in the next 10 minutes."

Chan Doubles, Demands Micon Gets His Drink

Johnny Chan raised to 4,600 from late position and was called by the big blind. The flop was J82 and the big blind led out for 11,000. Chan reached to his stack and re-raised, making it 26,000 more to go. The big blind wasted little time pushing all in, having Chan covered by around 12,000. Chan made the call and was all in for his tournament life. The big blind flipped up JJ for top set and was in the lead. But Chan showed J9 and was far from drawing dead. The turn brought the 6 to complete Chan's flush and the A completed the board, making Chan's flush the best hand and giving him reason to pump his fist as he doubled up to 180,000.
The table is an interesting one - featuring Chan, Bryan Micon and Shawn Sheikhan. After doubling up and cripping his opponent, Chan yelled "Get this man a drink!" The playful demand was in reference to Micon, who has been nursing his short stack and calling for a cocktail waitress for a while.

Suck & Re-Suck: Chris Grigorian Doubles Through David Singer

On a flop of A75, David Singer bet 6,000 and Chris Grgorian made the call. The turn was the A, and this time Singer led out with 15,000. Grigorian made the call and the river was the Q. Singer bet 30,000 and Grigorian quickly moved all in. Singer called just as quick and turned over A7 for a full house (aces full of sevens). Singer flopped top two pair and turned the full house. Grigorian showed AQ for a better full house (aces full of queens) on the river. Singer fell down to 42,000 in chips while "The Armenian Express" brought himself up over 100,000 this hand. Singer would bust later in the level.

Clements Tries to Defend, But Can't Connect

The player in seat 7 raised to 4,600 from the button and Scott Clements repopped to 10,200 from the small blind. Seat 7 made the call and the flop came down KJ6 and Clements blasted 20,000 into the pot. Seat 7 went nowhere, however, making the call. Both players checked the 2 on the turn and the river brought the 3. Both players checked again and Clements announced, "Ace high." Seat 7 turned over QJ for second pair and took a good sized pot. Clements was down to about 72,000.

THAY3R Gets Love From The Ladies

Thayer "THAY3R" Rasmussen called a short stack's all in bet and flipped over QQ. The all in player showed AJ and had one over-card. The board ran 98248 and Rasmussen knocked out another player while increasing his stack to around 110,000.

Don't Mess With Evelyn's Big Blind

The player in seat 8 raised to 3,300 from the button and Evelyn Ng repopped to 9,300 from the big blind. The button made the call and the flop came down K26 and Ng fired 14,000. Seat 8 nodded his head, signaling it was too much to call and folded his hand. Ng took the pot and increased her stack to a very healthy 176,000.

Micon Pushes Back, Then Gets Pushed Out

Shawn Sheikhan raised to 4,500 and Johnny Chan folded his hand from the small blind. Micon was next to act in the big blind and, after pump faking a fold, decided to push all in for 17,400 more. Sheikhan decided to muck his hand and Micon added some chips to his short stack. He was at 23,100 while Sheikhan was at 131,500. Micon would not last, however, as he would go bust later in the level.

Matusow Takes a Pot

Mike Matusow raised to 3,800 from under the gun. The player in seat 2 called from the button and the two players were heads up going to the flop. "It's just me and the other human card rack," Matusow said before the flop of J93 hit the felt. Matusow then led out with 6,400 and seat 2 quickly mucked. Matusow then showed his QQ and raked in the pot. He was around 70,000.

Player Tags: Chris Grigorian,   Evelyn Ng,   Shawn Sheikhan,   Mike Matusow,   David Singer,   Johnny Chan,   Scott Clements,   Bryan Micon,   Thayer Rasmussen

$10,000 Main Event - Day 2B - Level 8

Jul 09, '08

Blinds: 400-800, 100 ante

Eliminations:
Matt Hawrilenko

Big Hands and Storylines:

Matt Hawrilenko Eliminated

Action folded around to Ross Smith who raised it up from the button. Matt Hawrilenko, who had about 23,000 to start, 3-bet from the small blind. After a bit of thought, Smith, having Hawrilenko covered, moved all-in. Hawrilenko quickly called and the two showed their hands:

Smith: AQ
Hawrilenko: AK

The flop was a dire one for Smith: 1074. The turn 4 paired the board and now Smith had extra outs for a split-pot. He wouldn’t need those outs, however, as the river was the Q, giving him the entire pot and eliminating Hawrilenko.

Cunningham Wins a Vital Pot

Allen Cunningham raised pre-flop and was called by a single player in the big blind. On a flop of 822, the big blind led out for 3,100 and Cunningham smooth called. The turn was the J and it was checked to Cunningham who bet 5,000. The opponent called and the two saw the 3 on the river. Again it checked over to Cunningham. This time Cunningham bet 10,000, leaving himself only a couple thousand behind. His opponent folded, however, and this brought Cunningham up to about 3,500.

Rasmussen Report

Action folded around to the button who raised. The only caller was Thayer Rasmussen in the big blind. On a flop of 984, both players checked. Rasmussen checked the 10 on the turn and then called when the button bet 2,300. The 3 came on the river and, again, both players checked. At showdown, Rasmussen showed A10 for top pair top kicker, and took down the pot. Rasmussen now has about 65,000.

Binger Survives All-in

Michael Binger continues to hold on by a thread, but it’s been enough to this point. The flop came A103, and after the board paired with the 3 on the turn, Binger moved all-in for his final 6600. Binger had been under the gun to begin the hand, and the lone remaining player was to his immediate left. But the player, with about 30,000, elected to muck his pocket queens and Binger was able to move up to 20,000 in chips.

Goldstein Also Hanging On

Ken Goldstein also is nursing a shortstack. He was able to see a cheap flop from the small blind when three players limped and the big blind checked. But after a flop of A73, Goldstein and the big blind checked, a player in middle position bet 2500, and the rest of the table folded.

Evdakov Looks to Pad Record

Nikolay Evdakov has already cashed in 10 events of this World Series of Poker, a new record for the WSOP. He continues to hang tough in the main event, having just added another pot. Evdakov was in the big blind and called a raise of 2500 from the button. The flop came KJJ, and after Evdakov checked, the button came out for 3000. Evdakov made the call. The board double-paired on the turn with the K appearing, and both players checked. The 7 was the river card, and Evdakov stepped out for 5000. He was called, and showed K7 for the turned full house. His opponent mucked.

Singer Singed

The flop came down K53 after a preflop raise, and now the small blind bet 6000. David Singer, one from the cut-off, made the call. The 5 paired the board on the turn and the small blind bet 15000. Singer again made the call. The J was the river card and both players checked. Small blind showed KQ to take down the pot, while Singer slipped to 125,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Allen Cunningham,   Kenny Goldstein,   David Singer,   Matt Hawrilenko,   Michael Binger,   Thayer Rasmussen,   Nikolay Evdakov

$10,000 PLO - Day 2 - Hour Three

Jun 30, '08

Note: Players took a twenty-minute break at the end of Level 12 and returned back to their seats around 4:20 pm to begin Level 13.

Blinds: 1,500-3,000

Players Left: 64

Chip Leaders:
Josh Arieh: 545,000
Dario Alioto: 450,000
Peter Jetten: 415,000
Brandon Moran: 355,000
Eddy Scharf: 334,000
Billy Argyros: 310,000
Michael Mizrachi: 265,000
Brant Hale: 250,000
Shawn Buchanan: 238,000
Robin Larsson: 194,000

Eliminations: Matt Giannetti, Bradley Berman, Ross Boatman, Thayer Rasmussen,  Alberto Romero, Dan Shak, Jeff Lisandro

Big Hands:

Ross Boatman Eliminated

Ross Boatman and  Clonie Gowen limped into a dry pot when Nick Gibson raised to 16,500 behind them. Boatman reraised all in for about 40,000, Gowen fodled and Gibson made the call. Both players turned over their cards.

Boatman: AKK6
Gibson: AA58
Board: QJJ37

Boatman got it in with kings agianst Gibson's pocket aces. Both players flopped a pair of jacks, giving them each two pair, Gibson  of course having the nut two pair. The turn and river failed to improve Boatman's hand an he was eliminated at the begining of Level 13.

Kido Pham Doubles Through Rob Hollink

Rob Hollink raised to 7,000 from under the gun and got four callers. The flop came 986, and Hollink bet 9,000. Kido Pham raised to 20,000, the other two players folded, and Hollink called. The turn was the A, and Hollink bet enough to put Pham all in. Pham called for the rest of his chips and Hollink had him covered. Both players turned over their cards.

Hollink: A1042
Pham: A1096

Pham flopped two pair (nines and sixes) and turned aces up (aces and nines). Hollink flopped the nut flush, an inside straight draw, and what he thought was overcards, turning top pair to go along with all of his draws. The river was the case ace (A), giving Hollink trip aces to the ten, and giving Pham a full boat, aces full of nines. Pham raked the pot and slightly more than doubled up to 160,000 while Hollink fell down to just under 100,000.

Dario Alioto Chips Up, Eliminates Thayer Rasmussen and Alberto Romero in Same Hand

Alberto Romero raised to 10,500 from middle position and both Thayer Rasmussen and Dario Alioto made the call. The flop came Q96, and Romero fired 36,000 chips into the pot. Alioto raised to 144,000 and both Rasmussen and Romero called all in. With their tournament lives on the line, Alioto had them both covered as all three players turned over their cards.

Alioto: AJ109
Romero: AA104
Rasmussen: J1098

Alito flopped a a pair of nines, the nut straight draw and the nut re-draw while Romero held the over pair (aces) and Rasmussen made the open-ended straight draw and a club flush draw to go along with his pair of nines on the flop. Rasmussen's straight draw was useless however as Alioto held the same jack-ten straight draw and the ace, meaning that if the king came, Alioto would have the higher straight to the ace. The turn was the 9, giving both Rasmussen and Alioto trip nines, Alioto leading with the ace kicker. The river was the 2, and Dario Alioto had just eliminated both Thayer Rasmussen and Alberto Romero in the same hand, climbing up the chip ladder to the no. 2 spot with roughly 450,000.

 

Player Tags: Ross Boatman,   Rob Hollink,   Kido Pham,   Dario Alioto,   Thayer Rasmussen

Event 39 - $1,500 NLH - Level 1

Jun 21, '08

Blinds: 25-50

Entrants: Approx 2,720

Eliminations: Carlos Mortenson, Greg Raymer, Andy Bloch

Big Hands: 

Esfandiari All In Early

Antonio Esfandiari wasted little time before putting his stack at risk. After the seat 2 player limped and the small blind called, Esfandiari checked his option on the big blind. The flop came 643 and after the small blind checked, Esfandiari led out for 150. The seat 2 player min-raised to 300 and the small blind called. Esfandiari wasted little time in moving all in, inducing folds from both players. The small blind showed 109. Esfandiari won about 700 chips in that hand, equivalent to almost a quarter of each player's starting stack.

Bellande Concedes Pot

After action checked to Jean-Robert Bellande, he bet 525 on a board of QJ107, and the player in seat 7 nonchalantly tossed in two 500s. He had meant to raise, but after Bellande requested a floor ruling, it was determined that he had just called. The river was the 7 and the seat 7 player led out for 500. "That's so sick," muttered Bellande, flashing the Q. "If that's a bluff, you deserve the pot." He mucked his hand, and is down to less than 2,000 early.

Negreanu Shows the "Bluff"

An early position player raised to 200 and drew two callers, a woman in seat 3 on the button and Daniel Negreanu on the big blind. Negreanu checked a flop of 533, and the original raiser bet 225. The Lady on the Button called, and Negreanu then raised to 500. The first player folded, but the button mulled it over for a few seconds before making a decision. "Want me to tell you your hand?" asked Negreanu, after she folded. "Two eights or two nines?" She shook her head, and Negreanu flipped over 77 before tossing his cards to the muck.

THAY3R Sighting

Arriving 20 minutes into the level Thayer "Thay3r" Rasmussen didn't waste time getting involved. In one hand, he raised to 200 from the button and got two callers. The flop came J83, seat 1 bet 600, seat 2 made the call, and Rasmussen mucked. A couple hands later Rasmussen raised to 275, and while seat 1 thought about it then let her hand go, seat 2 again called. The flop was 622, seat 2 checked, Rasmussen bet 650 and seat 2 folded.
The very next hand Rasmussen was in with another player for a 250 raise when someone new joined the fray, as seat 9 went all in, forcing everyone to fold and reminding Masmussen and the players in seats 1 and 2 that they weren't the only ones playing.
A couple hands later, Rasmussen popped it to 150 and got 3 callers. The flop was 1063 and seat 5 bet out 400. Rasmussen and seat 7 both called and the other player foled. The 5 turn was checked by all players and when the 7 fell on the river action checked to Rasmussen who showed J10 to scoop the pot.

Player Tags: Daniel Negreanu,   Antonio Esfandiari,   Jean-Robert Bellande,   Thayer Rasmussen

$5,000 World Championship Seven-Card Stud 8/b - Day 2 - Level 13 Recap

Jun 18, '08

Limit: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante, 500 bring in

Players Left:  56 of 261

Chip Leaders:
Robert Lauria - 132,000
Shahram "Shawn" Sheikhan - 110,000
Steve Sung - 107,000
David Benyamine - 106,000
Matt Grapenthien - 90,000
Jan Suchanek - 83,000
Tim Frazin - 80,000
Chris Ferguson - 78,000
Kirill Gerasimov - 75,000
Alessio Isaia - 72,000

Average Stack: 46,600

Eliminations:

Big Hands and Storylines:

Matusow Motivated

Annie Duke and Mike Matusow were having a lighthearted conversation about how if they could just stay at their table without it breaking for a few hours longer they could sneak into the money. Matusow then added, “I want to win.” He continued, “I just know that every year somebody wins 2 bracelets, and I want to be the one that does it.” He’ll need a bit of help to accomplish that goal though, as he has a below average stack of 35,000. Duke, with 28,000, is in need of some aid too.

Cunningham Scoops Rasmussen

Allen Cunningham just took a nice pot off of Thayer “thay3r” Rasmussen as his broadway straight took the high side of the pot and neither player could make a low:

Cunningham: J10KK
Rasmussen: 6397

Cunningham brought in with the J and called Rasmussen’s raise. On 4^th and 5^th streets Cunningham check-called, but on 6^th street, pairing his king, he bet out. Rasmussen called the bet and both players checked 7^th street. Cunningham showed (A)(J)Q) for a broadway straight (to go along with two pair) and Rasmussen mucked his hand. Cunningham is now at 57,000 while Rasmussen is left with only 15,000.

Everything Coming Up Roses for Violette

Cyndy Violette, who already has a World Series bracelet in Stud 8/b, just busted a very short-stacked opponent. They got their money all-in on 3^rd street. Though her opponent made a straight on 6^th street, Violette made aces full of fours on 7^th street to take down the entire pot and eliminate a player. Violette is sitting at about average with 50,000.

Kill Kirill

Barry Greenstein just won a small pot against Kirill Gerasimov. With Barry’s board reading 546, he fired out against Kirill’s AQJ on both 4^th and 5^th streets. Though Kirill called the first barrel, he laid his hand down following the second. Gerasimov still has the bigger stack though, his 75,000 is more than double Greenstein’s 34,000.

Player Tags: Chris Ferguson,   Annie Duke,   Barry Greenstein,   Matt Grapenthien,   Allen Cunningham,   Shawn Sheikhan,   David Benyamine,   Mike Matusow,   Cyndy Violette,   Kirill Gerasimov,   Steve Sung,   Jan Suchanek,   Thayer Rasmussen,   Tim Frazin,   Alessio Isaia

The Bubble Boy Thayer

Apr 18, '08

There were three confrontations on the money bubble, all of which involved Steven Miller.

On the second hand, Steven Miller moved all in from early position and Danny Wong moved all in from the small blind to isolate. They both showed A-K and chopped it when the board failed to produce any flushes.

Then Miller moved all in from his small blind and Maz Nawab called all in from the big blind. Nawab was in trouble with A2 against Miller's AK, but the board comes A10822 and Nawab hits a full house to stay alive. The bad beat leaves Miller with just 9,000, which he gets in a few hands later.

Miller moves all in for 6,000, the size of the big blind, and David Baker moves all in from the small blind. Thayer Rasmussen decides to put his last 30,000 or so all in as well from the big blind. The three players show down their hands.

Baker - A9

Rasmussen - A2

Miller - QJ

The board comes Q6473 and Miller triples up. Rasmussen is eliminated in the side pot by Baker and once again, walks out of the room with a sheepish "Why Me?" look to his face.

The photo of Rasmussen in this live update, is not a good representation of that face.

The remaining 18 players are now in the money, although one or two have been eliminated since I sat down to write this.

Player Tags: Steven Miller,   Thayer Rasmussen,   Mazhar Nawab,   David Baker