$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 9
Jun 30, '08
Blinds: 500/1000 with 100 ante
Players Left: 285 of 2693
Average Stack: 28,347
Chip Leaders:
Alvin Zeidenfeld - 157,000
Jim Miller - 112,000
Joe Neiman - 89,300
Nath Pizzolatto - 83,500
Elliot Smith - 72,000
Lisa Surdyka - 68,000
Dan Harmetz - 65,600
Cody Slaubaugh - 56,000
Farzad Rouhani - 53,000
Dan Heimiller - 52,300
Eliminations: David Pham, Erica Schoenberg, Jacobo Fernandez.
Storylines/Big Hands
After not being able to walk past a table after the dinner break without hearing the words "all-in", play has ground to a near halt as the field closes in on the money. The top 270 players will place in the money.
Neiman Sends a Message
Joe Neiman limped from early position and was raised off. Next hand as under the gun, he raised to 2,600, then once again was raised off the pot by another all-inner. Finally as big blind, play was folded around to the small blind who announced all-in for about 10,000. Neiman had had enough, and called, showing Q
10. The small blind seemed in good position with A4 -- until the flop came down J
10
9. Now with middle pair and open-ended, Neiman just needed to dodge an ace, and did so when the 8
on the turn and K on the river extended an already made straight.
Seiver Struggling at New Table
Once among the early chip leaders, Scott Seiver finds himself with only about 15,000 in chips since a table change. He was able to raise preflop and get no callers in one hand, but shortly afterwards he had to fold his big blind in the face of two raises, then as the small blind he limp-called, only to have the big blind make it 4000 to play and Seiver folded again.
Rousso Has Just Enough
Vanessa Rousso risked her tournament life with an all-in push from the cut-off, sending about 15,000 in chips to the center of the table. It was just enough to scare off all opponents as she didn't draw a call.
First Works, Second Doesn't
Elliot Smith is effectively using his big stack. He raised to 3,000 under the gun and drew no callers. But later in the level, he tried the same move and had a player in middle position reraise to 8,000. Smith let his hand go.
Carnac Would be Proud
Jeff Kennedy loosened them up with a joke, then took their chips. Apparently the conversation took to Johnny Carson, and Kennedy offered up a favourite Carson joke from The Tonight Show. Even as his tablemates chuckled at the punchline, Kennedy was announcing "raise" preflop and put 4000 into the middle of the table. Everyone folded and Kennedy showed the AK.
Player Tags: Vanessa Rousso, Jeff Kennedy
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 8
Jun 30, '08
Players are now on a 20-minute break.
Blinds: 400/800 with 100 ante
Players Left: 360 of 2693
Average Stack: 21,281
Chip Leaders:
Alvin Zeidenfeld - 92,000
Jim Miller - 88,200
Elliot Smith - 79,000
Dan Harmetz - 67,200
Joe Neiman - 60,000
Nath Pizzolatto - 59,000
Cody Slaubaugh - 56,700
Lisa Surdyka - 54,100
Matt Matros - 43,600
Jason Gross - 39,000
Big Hands
Bad Move Twice
Things didn't work out for Vivek Rajkumar in level 8. Midway through the level he had the misfortunate of being moved to the table of current chip leader Jim Miller when his own table broke. A few hands later, he was sent to the rails by the aforementioned Mr. Miller.
Rajkumar lost much of his stack when his pocket 10s fell victimn to Miller's pocket queens. A few hands later, in mid-position and after some deliberation, Rajkumar moved his remaining 8925 into the middle of the table. Miller, on the button called and showed that this time it was he with 1010. He was in solid position against Rajkumar's J2. The flop came AA9, followed by the 3 on the turn and Q on the river, ending Rajkumar's tournament.
Kennedy Eliminates One
The player under the gun raised to 4000 -- just less than half his stack, and two players later Jeff Kennedy ("like the dead presidents" he explained) reraised enough to put his opponent all in. The player appeared close to folding, but finally made the call while showing ace-jack. Kennedy had AK. The flop came Q85, followed by the 10 on the turn. His opponent then celebrated when the J hit on the river, before being advised that the card also gave Kennedy the nut straight.
Pham Hanging Around
David "Dragon" Pham moved from about 9,000 in chips to about 17,000 during the level. In one hand he raised preflop to 2400 and drew no callers. In another, as a big blind, he and two others limped to see the flop come K84. The initial limper bet 2000 and both blinds folded.
Rousso Just Under Average
Vanessa Rousso has about 16,000 in chips, following an under-the-gun raise to 2200 that went uncalled.
Player Tags: David Pham, Jim Miller, Vanessa Rousso, V R, Jeff Kennedy
