Event 38 - $2000 PLHE - Michael Binger Is A Poker Genius
Jun 20, '08
Blinds: 800-1600
Players Remaining: 63
Chip Leaders:
Michael Binger: 148,000
Ayaz Mahmood: 112,000
Lee Watkinson: 101,800
David Chicotsky: 94,100
Shane Schleger: 85,000
George Shah: 76,000
Davood Mehrmand: 66,000
Derek Dempsey: 60,000
Paul Foltyn: 60,000
Keith Greer: 53,000
Eliminations: Noah Boeken, Peter Tran, Tom Werthmann
Notable Hands and Storylines:
Binger Makes Big Read, Takes Big Lead
Seat 3 raised from middle position to 4,200 and was called by three other players: the hijack, the cutoff, and Michael Binger on the button. There was no action on the flop of Q
8
6, with all players checking to the turn. The turn was nothing if not action inducing: Q, pairing the board and completing a flush draw. Action checked to the cutoff, Tom Werthmann, who bet another 4,500. Michael Binger then raised to 14,500, pushing the other players out of the pot. Werthmann went into the tank for some time before firing a reraise for an additional 22,500. It was then Binger's turn to go into the tank, and he studied his opponent for some time before raising again, moving all in. Werthmann made the call, showing AK
for the nut flush draw. Binger excitedly tabled A8 - he had induced all of this action with no more than middle pair, and he had been right to do so. Binger had to fade two aces, three kings, and eight other spades to take down the pot. Occasionally, it would seem, the poker gods choose to reward genius, and the deck treated Binger with a 7. Binger eliminated the player and skyrocketed to the top of the chip counts with over 140,000.
With only 64 players left and 63 spots getting paid, play has moved to hand for hand. Tournament staff announced that play would continue until the bubble burst, even if that meant going past the end of the level. While there have been several big action hands since then, no one has yet been eliminated. Tournament directors added another 20 minutes to the end of the level until the bubble burst. Part way through this time period, the tournament was stopped, however, to facilitate requests for a brief break. Despite loud booing and calls for no break to be held, the 10 minute recess was enforced.
Play resumed at the same blind level, and the clock was frozen until the bubble was burst.
Tran Bursts Bubble
Peter Tran would be the unfortunate bubble boy, and Derek Dempsey would be the one to send him home. Tran, short stacked to the point of being nearly all-in from the small blind, held 86
against Dempsey's AA. The board ran out J10449, the bubble burst, and players went home for the evening. They will reconvene at 2 p.m. tomorrow to play down to the final table.
Player Tags: Michael Binger, Derek Dempsey
