$5,000 Omaha Rebuy - Level 16
Jun 15, '08
Blinds: 4000/8000
Players Left: 19 of 152 (with 483 rebuys)
Eliminations: Sigi Stockinger
Big Hands:
A Pair of Fours? Really?
The conservative action of the previous couple hours erupted like Phil Hellmuth on tilt -- and he wasn't even in the hand or at the table. With play stuck at 20 players -- and 18 making the money -- John Juanda finally broke through in dramatic fashion. The hand began with Sigi Stockinger raising to 28,000 from early position. Emmanuel Sebag made the call, as did Daniel Negreanu from the button. Alex Kostritsyn decided to join the fun from the small blind, and action was to Juanda in the big blind. Fearlessly, Juanda announced "pot" and made it 168,000 to go. Stockinger was pot-committed, having just 41,000 in chips remaining. But Sebag elected to make the call, leaving himself with just 95,000 in chips. Negreanu and Kostyritsyn happily stepped aside.
The flop came 1054 and Juanda announced pot again, enough to put Sebag all-in. Sebag folded, and Juanda showed his holdings -- AKJ4. The four was the key card, the only pair standing at the time. Stockinger showed AKQJ, and had missed the flop completely. With the 7 on the turn and 2 on the river, Juanda took the massive pot down with a simple pair of fours. Negreanu said he folded the winner . . . but who didn't?
Hellmuth Continues to Tilt
Phil Hellmuth has engaged in verbal warfare with Brian Rast for several levels, but his latest befuddlement came courtesy David Williams -- an earlier sparring partner. The Q105 flop was followed by the 8 on the turn. Williams bet 50,000 and Hellmuth called. The 9 was the river and both players checked. Hellmuth announced "queens and 10s" with a considerable tone of expectation, but Williams rolled over J985 for the straight. "When do they change the dealers in this place?" asked Hellmuth. "I flop two pair and I'm too scared to bet it. This is ridiculous."
Rast Steams Hellmuth Further
Phil Hellmuth was attempting to convince the table that Brian Rast wouldn't make the final table, despite his position as chip leader. "You don't think he'll make the final table?" asked Johnny Chan. "I'll bet you a thousand that he does." Hellmuth backed off, but was still steaming after a hand in which Rast bet 35,000 from the button on the river with the board reading A8755. Hellmuth called and held 6-4-x-x for the bottom end straight. Rast showed 9622 for top straight. "He called 9-6-2-2 with three diamonds in his hand from the button," fumed Hellmuth.
Rast Rakes it In
When he wasn't sparring with Hellmuth, Rast was taking chips from fellow front-runner Kirill Gerasimov. After a flop of 1093, the K came on the turn. Rast bet 47,000 and Gerasimov called. The 4 on river produced a 104,000 bet from Rast, and Gerasimov called again. Rast showed AJ76 for the nut flush and took the monster pot down.
Kostritsyn Does Damage
Kostritsyn raised to 22,000 under the gun and Adam Hourani called. The flop came K97 and both players checked, The turn brought the 3 and Kostritsyn bet 32,000 which produced a call. The 5 hit the river and Kostritsyn bet 70,000, which Hourani again called. Kostritsyn showed J1086 and swept in the pot.
Player Tags: John Juanda, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Kirill Gerasimov, David Williams, Emmanuel Sebag, Elias Hourani, Sigi Stockinger, Brian Rast, Alexander Kostritsyn