Vasili Lazarou Poker Tournament Updates

Level 20: Six Remain; Eslami 7th, Lazarou 8th

Jun 04, '11

Ante: 2,000
Low Card: 2,000
Completion: 8,000
Limits: 8,000-16,000

Players Remaining: 6 out of 357

Average Chip Count: 267,750

Chip Counts:

1. Eugene Katchalov – 525,000
2. Eric Buchman – 455,000
3. Jonathan Spinks – 320,000
4. Alessio Isaia – 151,000
5. Dennis Parker – 125,000
6. Kai Landry – 40,000

Eliminations:

7th. Ali Eslami – $14,723
8th. Vasili Lazarou – $11,301

Eslami Doubles Through Isaia

Eslami had dropped down to the short stack with less than two full big bets at one point before he managed to double through the former chip leader, Alessio Isaia in this hand.

Third Street: Alessio Isaia completed with the K, Ali Eslami raised with the A and Isaia called.

Fourth Street: Isaia paired his door card (K K) and got it all in against Eslami’s A 4.

Eslami: A 4 5 7 (A 3 A)
Isaia: K K 8 3 (K 9 7)

Isaia was ahead with trip kings, but Eslmai nailed a third ace on the river (trip aces) to double up to 80,000. Isaia was down to 140,000 after this hand.

Vasili Lazarou Eliminated in 8th Place ($11,301)

Vasili Lazarou was eliminated by Eugene Katchalov in a two-part series, with Lazarou losing all of his chips except for one single bet on the hand right before his elimination.

Lazarou went all the way to seventh street with 10 J 2 8 against Katchalov’s A 5 J A, but folded to a blind bet by Katchalov on the river.

On the very next hand, Lazarou got it all in on third street with the 4 against Katchalov’s A.

Lazarou ended up with a pair of threes 4 9 6 A (3 5 3) while Katchalov double-paired and made a flush on the river with A A 2 2 7 6 K. Katchalov secured the chip lead after these hands with over 500,000 while Vasili Lazarou was eliminated in 8th place ($11,301).

Ali Eslami Eliminated in 7th Place ($14,723)

Third Street: Jonathan Spinks came in with the low card (3), Ali Eslami completed with the Q, Eugene Katchalov called with the 7 and Spinks called the raise.

Fourth Street: Eslami bet with Q J, Katchalov called with 7 6 and Spinks folded 3 2.

Fifth Street: Eslami bet Q J A, Katchalov raised 7 6 10 and Eslami called all in.

Eslami showed Q 5 for split queens and Katchalov showed 8 7 for split eights.

Sixth Street: Katchalov made two pair with the 8 and Eslami fell behind with the 7.

River: Katchalov makes a final board of 7 6 10 8 (8 7 5) for two pair while Eslami bricks with Q J A 7 (Q 5 K) for one pair. Ali Eslami is eliminated in 7th place ($14,723).

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Ali Eslami,   Eugene Katchalov,   Vasili Lazarou,   Alessio Isaia

Ausmus Eliminated 9th; Final Table Now Underway

Jun 04, '11

NOTE: The final nine players consolidated down to one table, and with the elimination of Jeremy Ausmus in 9th place ($8,800), the official eight-handed final table began at around 4:20pm.

Level: 19
Ante: 1,500
Low Card: 1,500
Completion: 6,000
Limits: 6,000-12,000

Players Remaining: 8 out of 357

Average Chip Count: 200,812

Chip Counts:

1. Eric Buchman – 386,500
2. Jonathan Spinks – 263,500
3. Alessio Isaia – 228,000
4. Eugene Katchalov – 195,000
5. Kai Landry – 153,000
6. Vasili Lazarou – 140,000
7. Dennis Parker – 94,000
8. Ali Eslami – 80,000

Payouts:

1st. $122,909
2nd. $75,911
3rd. $48,961
4th. $35,476
5th. $26,083
6th. $19,546
7th. $14,723
8th. $11,301

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Eric Buchman,   Ali Eslami,   Eugene Katchalov,   Dennis Parker,   Vasili Lazarou,   Alessio Isaia,   Kai Landry

World Championship Seven Card Stud - Level 16

Jun 08, '08

Blinds: 5,000-10,000 ante 1,000 bring in 2,000

Chip Counts:
Vasilis Lazarou: 415,000
Alexander Kostritsyn: 304,000
Jacobo Fernandez: 255,000
David Oppenheim: 240,000
James Paluszek: 228,000
Minh Ly: 180,000
Robert Mizrachi: 170,000
Tom Weideman: 160,000
Barry Mullinax: 148,000
Phil Ivey: 135,000

Players Left: 20-158

Eliminations: Brian Lieberman, Barbara Lewis

Big Hands:

New Tables

After a twenty minute break, players redrew for seats, resulting in one table that saw chip leader Vasilis Lazarou in seat 1, Ivey in seat 2, Negreanu in seat 3, Minh Ly in seat 4, Robert Mizrachi in seat 5, David Levi in seat 6, Brian Lieberman in seat 7, and Barbara Lewis, the lone female of the field, in seat 8.

Lieberman, the youngest player at the table, didn't shy away from the big boys, taking on Negreanu and Ivey in consecutive pots. Lieberman managed to wrest a small pot from Ivey after he folded on fifth street, but any momentum garnered there fizzled after he tangled with Negreanu. On fifth street, Lieberman showed AQ10, Negreanu AQ5. The turn spelled trouble though, when Negreanu's five paired and he immediately fired 10,000. Negreanu bet again on the river, Lieberman called, and Negreanu showed the unfortunate news: AJ7 in the hole, for aces up. Lieberman mucked his cards. A short while later, he was the first casualty of three-table play courtesy of Robert Mizrachi.

Barbara Lewis was eliminated soon after, when her paired nine went up against David Levi's hole queens and failed to improve.

No Chop for Ly

Mizrachi and Minh Ly were showing the exact same hand on fourth street--jack five--when things got nasty: after Ly checked, Mizrachi bet 10,000, and Ly raised to 20,000. Ly, who paired sevens up on sixth street, bet the rest of the way. When Mizrachi called the last bet, Ly seemed to know he was in trouble, showing down two pairs, jacks and sevens. Mizrachi confirmed the bad news: a king on sixth street had made him a better two pair: jacks and kings.

Brown Still Alive

Over at table 10, Chad Brown was all in with Q77 against David Oppenheim's 644. Brown made a flush on sixth street to double through to about 50,000.

Player Tags: David Levi,   Vasili Lazarou,   Brian Lieberman

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud World Championship - Day 2 - Level 12 Recap

Jun 08, '08

Note: Players are now on an hour-long dinner break

Limit: 2,500/5,000, 500 ante, 700 bring in

Players Left: 35 of 158

Chip Leaders:
Vasilis Lazarou - 245,000
Jacobo Fernandez - 164,000
David Oppenheim - 145,000
Tom Weideman - 131,000
David Benyamine - 124,000
Barry Mullinax - 122,000
Mike Fiorito - 117,000
Chad Brown - 113,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 112,000
Matt Hawrilenko -  110,000
Brian Lieberman - 98,000

Average Stack: 90,300

Eliminations:
Men Nguyen
Shannon Elizabeth
Tony Guoga

Big Hands and Storylines:

Caught Bluffing

Matthew Hawrilenko: 2Q9J
Mickey Appleman: 94410
Randall Skaggs: 865

Hawrilenko brought-in with the 2, Appleman called, Skaggs completed, and Hawrilenko and Appleman both called. On 4^th street, Hawrilenko bet out with his 2Q showing and both players called. Appleman checked 5^th street after pairing his four, Skaggs checked behind, and Hawrilenko bet. Appleman called and Skaggs folded. Upon drawing a 10 on 6^th street, Appleman led out for 5,000 and Hawrilenko quickly folded.

“Oh! They were spades!” joked Hawrilenko as he slid his downcards toward the muck. Appleman asked what the youngster had and he responded, “Backdoor flush door. Overcards.” Quipped Appleman, “Nothin’” as he grinned and tossed in his ante for the next hand. Hawrilenko still has over 100,000 in chips and Appleman is close behind with 85,000.

Doesn’t Get Much Better

Katja Thater and David Levi played a heads-up pot:

Thater: 8TQJ
Levi: AJ57

Thater completed on 3^rd street and Levi raised. The action went bet-call on 4^th and 5^th street but Levi checked 6^th street and folded to a bet by Thater. Thater flipped up (8)(9) for the straight flush and raked in the pot. Thater now has 80,000 and Levi has 75,000.

Player Tags: Antanas Guoga,   David Levi,   Mickey Appleman,   Men Nguyen,   Randall Skaggs,   David Oppenheim,   David Benyamine,   Mike Fiorito,   Matt Hawrilenko,   Tom Weideman,   Katja Thater,   Shannon Elizabeth,   Barry Mullinax,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Vasili Lazarou,   Alexander Kostritsyn,   European Report,   Brian Lieberman

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud World Championship - Day 2 - Level 11 Recap

Jun 08, '08

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

Players Left: 50 of 158

Chip Leaders:
Vasilis Lazarou - 155,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 152,000
Chad Brown - 116,000
Daniel Negreanu - 105,000
Tom Weideman - 105,000
Brian Lieberman - 97,000
Robert Mizrachi - 86,000
Helmut Koch - 85,000
Matt Hawrilenko - 82,000
Andy Bloch - 80,000

Average Stack: 61,200

Eliminations:
Rolf Slotboom
Scott Fischman
Todd Barlow

Big Hands and Storylines:

Ivey Outduels “The Master”

Phil Ivey: A7A6
Men Nguyen: 9Q3J

Ivey was the aggressor throughout this whole hand, betting all the way from 3^rd street until the end. Nguyen continued calling despite Ivey showing a pair of aces. On 7^th street though, Men finally conceded defeat and folded to Ivey’s bet of 4,000. The hand chips Ivey up to 60,000 and slides Nguyen back to a mere 10,000, only half of yesterday’s starting stack.

Rolled-Up Rolf

Todd Barlow brought in with the 7 showing and Mickey Appleman completed with the 6. Rolf Slotboom called showing the K and Barlow came along for 4^th street as well:

Slotboom: KJA5
Barlow: 783T

Slotboom lead out on 4^th street and was quickly raised by Barlow. Appleman didn’t think much of his chances and bailed out. When the action came back around to Slotboom he 3-bet, which was matched by a 4-bet of Barlow; Slotboom capped the street. The final three betting rounds were much more straightforward: Slotboom betting out every time and every time being called by Barlow. At showdown, Slotboom unfurled (K)(K)(6) for rolled up kings. Barlow, incredulous at this twist of fate, mucked his cards. He would be eliminated shortly after.

Zeidman Meets The Dutchman

Shortly after the previous hand, Slotboom got into another big pot, this time with Cory Zeidman:

Zeidman: K59J
Slotboom: QAT2

Slotboom completed on third street and called a raise from Zeidman. Slotboom amped up the aggression thereafter though, betting and 3-betting Zeidman on 4^th street, then betting again on 5^th street. Zeidman was confident his hand was good and continued calling. Slotboom checked on 6^th and, sensing weakness, Zeidman bet. Slotboom called and the pair saw 7^th street. Slotboom against checked and Zeidman made a bet. As Slotboom deliberated, Zeidman kept goading him, telling him that there was no way that he was calling. It turns out that Zeidman is just as prescient as he is gabby, and Slotboom laid down his hand. After the hand Slotboom was left with 29,000 and Zeidman 40,000. The day would only get worse though for Slotboom, as he would be eliminated a few hands later.

Player Tags: Robert Mizrachi,   Andy Bloch,   Men Nguyen,   Daniel Negreanu,   Cory Zeidman,   Phil Ivey,   Helmut Koch,   Matt Hawrilenko,   Tom Weideman,   Todd Barlow,   Vasili Lazarou,   Alexander Kostritsyn,   European Report,   Brian Lieberman

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud World Championship - Day 2 - Level 10 Recap

Jun 08, '08

Note: Players just finished a 20-minute break

Limit: 1,500/3,000, 300 ante, 500 bring in

Players Left: 58 of 158

Chip Leaders:
Alexander Kostritsyn - 152,000
Vasilis Lazarou - 136,000
Chad Brown - 130,000
Mike Fiorito - 112,000
Tom Weideman - 101,000
David Benyamine - 95,000
Daniel Negreanu - 86,000
David Levi - 85,000
Matt Hawrilenko - 82,000
Andy Bloch - 80,000

Average Stack: 54,500

Eliminations:
Bill Chen
Doyle Brunson
Greg Raymer
Shawn Seikhan

Big Hands and Storylines:

Big Enough

Shawn Sheikhan was all-in on 7^th street against Daniel Negreanu with boards showing:

Sheikhan: 62J3
Negreanu: A429

After checking his downcards, Negreanu informed Sheikhan that he had only one pair. “How big?” asked Sheikhan. Negreanu answered his question by flipping up (Q)(Q)(K), besting Sheikhan’s (A)(6)(9). After eliminating Sheikhan, Negreanu was up to 68,000.

Kings and...

Negreanu: K266
Opponent: K33T

On 3^rd street, an early position player completed to 1,500, the opponent raised, Negreanu made it 4,500, the original raiser folded and the opponent called. Negreanu again bet on 4^th and was called. His opponent paired threes on 5^th street and bet out, Negreanu calling. Then the tables were turned; Negreanu paired his six and led into his opponent, garnering a call. 7^th street went check-check and the players revealed their hands. Negreanu showed (K)(7)(9) and his opponent showed (K)(9)(5). Negreanu’s kings and sixes barely held up and the pot took him to 85,000.

Robert Mizrachi Wins One

R. Mizrachi: KK73
Seidel: A367

Mizrachi bet on every street and each time Seidel favored him with a call. When the final call was made, Mizrachi tabled (Q)(Q)(4) for a flush. Seidel carefully rechecked his hand before slowly mucking. The pot takes Mizrachi up to 60,000 and drops Seidel to 50,000.

Chad Brown Vying For Chip Lead

David Oppenheimer: K57K
Chad Brown: QKJ9

Brown called a bet from Oppenheim on 6^th street with a straight draw evident. On 7^th, when checked to, Brown fired out 3,000, which was called by Oppenheim. Brown had indeed hit his draw, but not his straight draw, showing (3)(4)(6) for the rivered flush. Brown now sits near the top of the leaderboard with 130,000 while Oppenheim’s lousy luck has him near the felt.

Player Tags: Robert Mizrachi,   Erik Seidel,   David Levi,   Andy Bloch,   Daniel Negreanu,   Shawn Sheikhan,   David Benyamine,   Mike Fiorito,   Matt Hawrilenko,   Tom Weideman,   Vasili Lazarou,   Alexander Kostritsyn

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud World Championship - Day 2 - Level 9 Recap

Jun 08, '08

Limit: 1,200/2,400, 300 ante, 300 bring in

Players Left:  71 of 158

Chip Leaders:
Alexander Kostritsyn - 121,100
Mike Fiorito - 101,900
Barry Mullinax - 92,000
Chad Brown - 89,100
Vasilis Lazarou - 81,000
Daniel Negreanu - 79,700
Ralph Perry - 79,000
Cyndy Violette - 70,300
David Benyamine - 67,000
Eric Brooks - 62,100

Average Stack: 44,507

Eliminations:
Becki Vincent
John Duthie
Jordan Rich

Big Hands and Storylines:

Annie Duke Adds to Her Stack

Showing a board of QQ76, an opponent made a bet after receiving his river card.  Annie Duke called almost instantly showing AT54and waited for her opponent to reveal his hand.  "You're looking at it," her opponent declared, referring to his pair of queens.  Duke flipped over (A)(A)(9) for three aces and dragged the pot.

Oppenheim Cripples Rich

Jordan Rich was eliminated shortly after a back-and-forth hand against David Oppenheim:

David Oppenheim: T2AQ
Jordan Rich: T5Q3

Oppenheim completed to 1,200 and Rich raised to 2,400; Oppenheim called. Rich lead out on 4^th street with his T5 showing and Oppenheim came along. Buying an ace on 5^th street, Oppenheim lead into Rich and Rich made the call. Action went check-check on 6^th, and on 7^th street Oppenheim again led into Rich. With only 6,500 left behind Rich thought long and hard, staring into the pot of nearly 15,000, before laying down his holding. This hand was the beginning of the end for Rich, who was eliminated only a few hands later. Oppenheim now has about 28,000 chips.

7^th Street Kind to Moskowitz

Greg Mascio: 2KJQ
David Moskowitz: J6J7

Mascio brought in with the deuce of spades and called a raised by Moskowitz, whose J was the highest upcard. 4^th street went check-check. After pairing his Jack, Moskowitz bet out and was called by Mascio. Slowing down on 6^th street, Moskowitz check-called a bet, but soon resumed his aggression by betting into Mascio on the river. Mascio made the call and Moskowitz flipped over (8)(5)(4) for the fortuitous straight made on the end. Moscowitz is now at about 53,000.

Player Tags: Annie Duke,   Greg Mascio,   Daniel Negreanu,   David Oppenheim,   David Benyamine,   David Moskowitz,   Cyndy Violette,   John Duthie,   Eric Brooks,   Jordan Rich,   Mike Fiorito,   Becki Vincent,   Ralph Perry,   Barry Mullinax,   Vasili Lazarou,   Alexander Kostritsyn