Done and Done
Jun 06, '07
Just like that play has ended in the $1,000 No Limt Hold 'Em with rebuys event. Nine players will return tomorrow at 3 p.m. to battle for a first place prize of $585,774 and the right to be called a World Series of Poker bracelet winner.
Todd Witteles was the final player eliminated today. Witteles finished in 10th place and will take home $23,811. With all the money in before the flop, Witteles was heads up against Barry Cales. Witteles had Q-Q and Cales had A-K. The board held strong for Witteles up until the river when the king hit and gave Cales the higher pair.
Amir Vahedi heads into the final the table as the clear chip leader with over $1,300,000. Accompanying him tomorrow are Mike Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Michael Chu, Barry Cales, Tommy Vu, Shane Schleger, Robert Aron and Jan Von Halle.
CardPlayer.com will be back tomorrow with level updates and Pro Blogs.
Player Tags: Amir Vahedi, Michael Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Shane Schleger, Todd Witteles, Robert Aron, Michael Chu, Jan Von Halle, Tommy Vu, Barry Cales
Down to One
Jun 06, '07
The players are taking a short break while tournament officials color off the yellow $1,000 chips. We are down to ten players and when the players return play will resume at one table
Micheal Binger was eliminated in 14th place when his J-8 ran into Dolph Arnold's Q-9 and never improved. Binger walked away today $21,278 richer. Jason Strasser busted out in 12th place when he went heads up against Amir Vahedi. Vahedi had Q
Q
and Strasser had one live overcard with A
Q
. Strasser was eliminated and Vahedi moved up to over $1,000,000 in chips.
Marcello del Grosso was the player eliminated in 11th place and causing the redraw. Del Grosso had A-7 and Tommy Vu woke up with aces. Del Grosso couldn't catch and was eliminated. Del Gross will take home $23,811.
Player Tags: Dolph Arnold, Marcello Del Grosso, Michael Binger, Jason Strasser, Tommy Vu
Hour Seven Update
Jun 07, '07
Can We Get Some More People In Here?
The final table of this event is easily the least attended event so far. There are many empty seats, prompting the ESPN and Harrah's staff to corral people to fill their set.
Tommy Vu
Tommy Vu has raised every pot of four handed play so far. Look for his unbridled aggression to continue as he accumulates more chips.
Folding Fun
Here is a quick recap of the last two levels. Player A raises to three times the big blind....everyone folds. Flops have been few and far between and with the passive play seen so far this final table may go deep into the night.
Tommy Vu Doubles Up
Micheal Chu raises to $185,000 and Tommy Vu moves all in for $840,000. Chu makes the call with A10 but is dominated by Vu's A
Q. The flop comes 943 and Vu retains the lead. The turn is the 10 and Chu hits a pair, but Vu picks up a backdoor flush draw. The river comes 8, Vu hits the nut flush and doubles up. After the hand a member of Vu's support section stepped down and tipped the dealer. The media couldn't see the amount of the bill, but given the high stakes consensus is it was most likely $100.
Barry Cales Doubles Up
With an already large pot the flop comes J105. Barry Cales moves all in for his last $630,000 with AJ and is called by Dolph Arnold with KQ. The next two cards come 104 and Cales doubles up.
Dolph Arnold Eliminated 4th ($157,050)
Dolph Arnold is all in for his last $75,000 with 85 against Tommy Vu's Q9. The board comes Q6377, Arnold can't improve and is sent home in 4th place for $157,050.
Who's Running This Thing?
Apparently Tommy Vu, he has taken an unscheduled bathroom break . Instead of starting play without him, tournament staff had decided to wait. This is clearly frustrating the ESPN crew as well as the spectators.
Player Tags: Dolph Arnold, Michael Chu, Tommy Vu, Barry Cales
Hour Three Update
Jun 07, '07
Hour Three Starts with A Bang
Amir Vahedi raises to $90,000 and Dolph Arnold makes the call from the big blind. The flop comes J
9
2
, and Vahedi bets $140,000. Arnold moves all in for $437,000 total and Vahedi insta-calls. Vahedi only has $448,000 and if he loses this pot he will be crippled. Arnold shows down 10
7
, and Vahedi Q
Q
. The turn is the Q
giving Vahedi a set of queens. The river is the 8
and Arnold hits his straight draw. Vahedi looks disgusted as he counts down the chips to ship to Arnold. Vahedi is left with just $11,000.
Amir Vahedi Eliminated 7th ($63,327)
Amir Vahedi moves all in for his last $4,000 and Michael Chu raises to $125,000. Shane Schleger moved all in over the top for $94,000 more. Chu quickly made the call and the cards were turned up. Schleger tabled A
K
, Chu A
J
, and Vahedi 6
5
. A rowdy cheer when out when Vahedi's hand was announced, followed by some laughter. The board came A
8
3
4
4
, Schleger double up and Vahedi was eliminated 7th for $63,327.
Shane Schleger Cracks Aces
Barry Cales raises to $85,000 and Shane Schleger calls. The flop comes J
9
7
, Schleger checks and Cales bets $150,000. Schleger raises all in for $276,000 and Cales immediately calls with A
A
. Schleger tables Q
J
and needs some help. The turn is the 4
, and Schleger has one foot out the door. However the river comes Q
, Schleger spikes two pair and doubles up.
Michael Gracz Eliminated 6th ($84,858)
Michael Gracz moves all in for his last $200,000 with Q
6
and is called by Tommy Vu with K
K
. The board comes A
10
3
A
6
, Gracz cannot beat Vu, and is eliminated in 6th place for $84,858.
Break
Players are on break.
Player Tags: Amir Vahedi, Michael Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Shane Schleger, Michael Chu
Hour Two Update
Jun 07, '07
Back From Break
We are back from break and the blinds have been raised to $15,000-$30,000 with a $4,000 ante. We are seven handed, and remaining players are what is left from the original field of 844. There were 1,814 rebuys creating a prize pool of $2,533,062. With the blinds doubling this level, expect a lot of action.
Tommy Vu Comes Out Firing
Tommy Vu has raised the first three hands to $90,000 and more. It was a good strategy until Amir Vahedi picked off $90,000 with a $200,000 reraise.
Barry Cales Doubles Up
Barry Cales raises to $110,000 and Michael Gracz moves all in from the big blind. Cales only briefly thinks, then makes the call for his last $350,000 with K
10
. Gracz tables 9
9
and is a marginal favorite. The flop comes J
9
4
, Gracz spikes a set and takes a huge lead in the hand but Cales still can with with a queen or running diamonds. The turn is the Q
, Cales hits his straight and is able to dodge Gracz's redraw to the full house when the river comes 3
. Cales is just over $900,000.
Gracz Can't Catch a Break
Shortly after spiking a set and losing to a gutshot, Michael Gracz calls Dolph Arnold's $261,000 all in. Arnold shows down K
Q
and Gracz A
J
. The first four cards come 7
6
3
2
, and Gracz is still in the lead. But the river is the K
, and Gracz again loses against an all in opponent. He is still alive and he has to believe his luck will return in the near future.
Player Tags: Michael Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Tommy Vu, Barry Cales
Hour One Update
Jun 07, '07
Blinds Raised
The blinds are now $10,000-$20,000 with a $3,000 ante.
Jan Von Halle Eliminated 9th ($34,196)
Dolph Arnold calls and Jan Von Halle moves all in. Michael Chu makes the call and shows down A
K
. Von Halle tables 9
2
. The board comes A
5
5
3
10
, Von Halle fails to improve and is eliminated in 9th place for $34,196.
Michael Chu Takes Down Big Pot
Amir Vahedi raises and Michael Chu reraises to $140,000. Vahedi makes the call and the flop comes 10
8
3
. Chu bets $150,000 and Vahedi quickly calls. The turn is the 9
, Chu bets $250,000 and Vahedi calls. The river is the K
, both players check and Chu shows Q
Q
. Vahedi mucks and Chu drags a pot worth over $1,000,000 chips.
Chu Taking No Prisoners
Michael Chu has come out of the gates firing. He has been consistently raising and reraising, and players have taken notice. That could be why he was able to get paid of by Vahedi a few hands ago when Chu held queens. We will have to wait for the hole cards to find out.
Barry Cales Doubles Up
Dolph Arnold raises to $60,000 and Michael Gracz reraises to $180,000. Barry Cales moves all in for his last $225,000 with A
J
and is called by Gracz with K
10
. The crowd begins to chant, "Barry, Barry, Barry" but its Gracz that takes the lead on the 10
8
5
flop. His lead is shortlived because Cales turns the A
to make the best hand. The river is the 9
, and Cales wins a pot worth over $500,000 chips.
Robert Aron Eliminated 8th ($46,862)
Tommy Vu raises to $70,000 and Robert Aron moves all in for his final $154,000. Vu makes the call and tables Q
10
, but is dominated by Aron's A
Q
. The first four cards come J
5
4
9
, and Vu can win by spiking a king, ten or eight. The river is the K
, Vu makes the straight and sends Aron home with $46,862.
Break
Hour one ends with the players on a 20 min break.
Player Tags: Amir Vahedi, Dolph Arnold, Robert Aron, Michael Chu
