Level Nine Recap - We're in the Money
Jun 16, '08
Blinds/Antes: 500-1,000-100
Players Remaining: 90 of 1,012
Average Chip Stack: 52,700
Chip Counts:
Alon Shahar - 230,000
Kyle Hoffman - 150,000
Eric Lucas - 143,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg - 126,000
Cory Albertson - 120,000
Justin Filtz - 103,000
Shankar Pillai - 94,000
Max Pescatori - 91,000
Dario Minieri - 90,000
Bill Chen - 80,000
Eliminations:
Robert Williamson III
Brandon Cantu
David 'Devilfish' Ulliott
Big Hands and Storylines:
Star-studded table is down to one
When just 109 players were left in the tournament, three of the more well known ones were at the same table: Brandon Cantu, Dario Minieri and Robert Williamson III. When 105 players were still in the tournament, only one of the three were still alive.
With just one person to go before the money bubble was broken, Robert Williamson III got all his chips into the pot on a flop of T
9
2. Kyle Hoffman was right there with him and showed 9
9 for a set. Williamson was in disbelief as he turned over K
K. Help didn't come on the turn and river and Williamson just missed out on what would have been his 21st career cash in the World Series.
Just a couple hands later, Minieri called an all in check raise by Brandon Cantu on a A-A-4-4 board. Minieri held A-3 for a full house, and had Cantu drawing dead with just a king.
Skomac sees his queens survive
Michael Skomac called off his chips with pocket queens against two opponents. He had one covered, but the other player had many more chips than him. Fortunately, both had A-K. The board came T-9-5-9-8 and he nearly tripled up to over 80,000 chips. David 'Devilfis' Ulliott folded pocket fives on the hand, and would have quadrupled up on the hand if he ever had been able to see the flop.
Player Tags: Robert Williamson III, Dario Minieri, Brandon Cantu, Michael Skomac, European Report
Six-Handed Tournament - Level 16
Jun 17, '08
Blinds/Antes: 4000/8000/1000
Players Remaining: 12 of 1,012
Average Stack: 350,000
Chip Counts:
Alon Shahar - 810,000
Kevin Song - 590,000
Stuart Marshak - 540,000
Justin Filtz - 475,000
John O'Shea - 455,000
Frank Rusnak - 400,000
Scotty Nguyen - 385,000
Todd Terry - 336,000
Bruno Fitoussi - 333,000
Seth Fischer - 145,000
Recent Eliminations:
Michael Skomac
Terry Boyd
Leo Fernandez
Big Hands:
John O’Shea Takes a Hit
Moments after doubling up through Michael Skomac, John O’Shea raised from under-the-gun and was called by Justin Filtz, who checked the K64 flop. O’Shea bet 35,000, allowing Filtz the opportunity to check-raise to 105,000 total. O’Shea went into the tank before releasing his hand and protecting his remaining chips.
Kevin Song and Scotty Nguyen Continue to Battle
Kevin Song and Scotty Nguyen have been contesting the majority of pots at their table. In one hand, Nguyen raised pre-flop and was called by Song in the big blind. Song checked the 875 flop to Nguyen, who announced, “Twenty-five, baby, twenty-five.” Nguyen tossed five pink 5,000 chips into the pot. Song released his hand, and as Nguyen dragged the pot said, “I’ll let you bluff that one.”
Terry Boyd Eliminated by Todd Terry
Terry Boyd pushed his remaining stack all in from the cut-off and was called by Todd Terry. Boyd turned over 77 and Terry turned over AJ, meaning the two were involved in a coin-flip situation with Boyd’s tournament life at stack. The flop was extremely kind to Terry, JJ4, and the 10 turn and K river didn’t help Boyd who was eliminated.
Michael Skomac Says Good Night
After seeing Bruno Fitoussi raise from the cut-off, Michael Skomac pushed all in over the top. The action folded to Frank Rusnak, who asked for a count. After Skomac replied that he had around 130,000 behind the bet, Rusnak moved all in against Fitoussi for around 250,000 total. Fitoussi folded, and Skomac told Rusnak, “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’re in great shape.” Skomac turned over KQ, and he was indeed in bad shape against Rusnak’s AQ. The K92 hit Skomac, but Rusnak caught the A on the river to eliminate Skomac.
Twelve players remain, each guaranteed at least a $27,233 payday.
Player Tags: Scotty Nguyen, Kevin Song, Bruno Fitoussi, Dario Minieri, Michael Skomac, European Report, John O'Shea
Six-Handed Tournament - Three Tables Left
Jun 17, '08
Blinds/Antes: 3000/6000/500
Players Remaining: 18 of 1,012
Average Stack: 26,519
Chip Counts:
Kevin Song - 500,000
Justin Filtz - 485,000
Alon Shahar - 470,000
Dario Minieri - 410,000
Frank Rusnak - 400,000
Leo Fernandez - 385,000
Bruno Fitoussi - 335,000
Scotty Nguyen - 315,000
Michael Skomac - 270,000
Brendan Keenan – 237,000
Recent Eliminations:
Bill Chen
Big Hands:
Bill Chen Eliminated Sending Players to Three Tables
Notable pro Bill Chen was sent to the rail by way of Justin Filtz early in round 15. Chen’s elimination in 19th place meant that the remaining 18 players would be combined into three tables of six each.
Dario Minieri Wins a Pot Despite a Scary Board
On the first hand after the tables combined, Dario Minieri raised to 16,000 from under-the-gun and Stu Marshak made the call from the small blind. On a flop of AA10, Marshak made a bet of 23,000 which was called by Minieri. Both players checked the 9 on the turn and 6 on the river. Marshak turned over QJ, and Minieri revealed 103 for a pair of tens. As Minieri was pushed the pot, Scotty Nguyen rejoined his table after taking a short break. “I’m not here and you raise with ten-three, baby?” Nguyen jokingly remarked as the hands were shown down.
Nguyen Loses a Sizeable Pot to Kevin Song
After raising to 17,000 from his position under-the-gun, Kevin Song faced a call from Scotty Nguyen in the small blind. Both players checked the A75 flop, and Nguyen took the lead by betting 24,000 when the 9 fell on the turn. Song made the call, and Nguyen checked the 10 on the river. Song’s bet 50,000 sent Nguyen into the tank. “I played this hand so bad. I let you get there. Two kings,” Nguyen remarked as he folded his hand face down.
Stu Marshak’s Cowboys Good Against Kevin Song
Despite witnessing Nguyen’s trouble making pocket kings hold up against Kevin Song, Stu Marshak used his to double through Song. On a board of 1086, Marshak made a bet of 30,000 and Song put Marshak all in for 60,000 more. Marshak called and flipped up KK. Song turned over 109, and the turn and river failed to improve him. Marhsak successfully doubled up and moved to the middle of the pack in chip counts.
O’Shea Catches a Card to Double Through Skomac
After getting it all in pre-flop, John O’Shea turned over A10 and was a severe underdog to Michael Skomac’s AQ. The 10 appeared in the door of the flop, and remained the top card on the 106332 board. O’Shea doubled up, and Skomac took a sizable hit.
Player Tags: Scotty Nguyen, Kevin Song, Dario Minieri, Michael Skomac, European Report, Stuart Marshak, John O'Shea
