Cazals Advances to Face Cheong in Finals; Long Match Forces Unscheduled Day 5
Jun 03, '12
Level: 26
Blinds: 15,000-30,000 with a 5,000 ante
Aubin Cazals Advances to Finals vs. Joseph Cheong
Warwick Mirzikinian Eliminated in 3rd Place ($162,443)
After a nine-hour battle of back and forth heads-up play, Aubin Cazals has finally put an end to the last semi-finals match and advanced to the championship round to face off against Joseph Cheong for the bracelet. Cazals entered Level 26 with a nearly 2:1 chip lead over Warwick Mirzikinian and finally took it home with ace high.
On the final hand of this semi-finals match, Aubin Cazals button-raised to 70,000 and four-bet shoved over Warwick Mirzikinian who called all in before the flop.
Cazals led with A
K
against Mirzikinian’s K
10.
The board came 95347, offering no additional help for either player as Aubin Cazals’ ace-high won the pot to eliminate Warwick Mirzikinian in 3rd place ($162,433). Aubin Cazals advances to the final match of heads-up play where he will face off with Joseph Cheong who earned his spot in the finals after defeating Hugo Lemaire in 4th place ($162,443).
With the elimination of Warwick Mirzikinian in 3rd place ($162,443), the final two players will return tomorrow at 12:00pm local time to begin their final heads-up match. The Noon start time was a compromise made between the players and the tournament staff that prompted an unscheduled fifth day of action.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Joseph Cheong, Aubin Cazals
Level 24 Update: Back and Forth, Mirzikinian Back in the Lead
Jun 03, '12
Level: 24
Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 out of 409
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,220,000
Abuin Cazals — 780,000
Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round
Live Updates:
Players Trade the Chip Lead, Mirzikinian Gets it Back
The chip lead was traded back and forth last level with Warwick Merzikinian taking it into the break. The stacks were so close during the first half of the level that the chip lead was changing almost with each hand as one player won a small pot, then did the other.
Aubin Cazals took the lead at about the halfway point this level after picking off a big bluff on the river by Mirzikinian in a pot worth over 1 million in chips. This hand put Cazals out in front with about 1.9 million to Mirzikinian’s 1.1 million, but Mirzikinian answered back and reclaimed the chip lead once again as the level came to end with an almost 3:1 lead over Cazals.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Aubin Cazals
Level 23 Update: Cazals Climbs Back to Nearly Even
Jun 03, '12
Level: 23
Blinds: 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 out of 409
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 1,680,000
Abuin Cazals — 1,340,000
Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round
Live Updates:
Cazals Gets Short, Doubles Back to Nearly Even
Aubin Cazals came into Level 23 at a 2:1 chip disadvantage but managed to end the level by closing the gap with about 1.3 million to Warwick Mirzikinian’s 1.6 million. Mirzikinian had Cazals down to just 573,000 towards the end of the level before Cazals five-bet shoved all in before the flop in what was one of the biggest pots of the night so far.
Cazals led before the flop with 1010 against Mirzikinian’s 33.
The board came K
Q982, offering no additional help to either player as Cazal’s pair of tens held to double him up to over 1 million in chips.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Aubin Cazals
Level 22 Update: Cazals Takes Lead, Loses it Back to Mirzikinian
Jun 03, '12
Level: 22
Blinds: 6,000-12,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 out of 409
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,087,000
Abuin Cazals — 933,000
Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round
Live Updates:
Cazals Doubles Up, Closes the Gap
Aubin Cazals opened the pot for 25,000 from the button, Warwick Mirzikinian three-bet to 65,000 from the big blind and Cazals called.
The flop came 1082, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 75,000 and Mirzikinian called.
The turn was the 10, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 135,000 and Mirzikinian called.
The river was the Q, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals moved all in for just about 380,000 and Mirzikinian called. Cazals turned over A10 for trip tens on the turn to beat Mirzikinian’s pair of queens on the river. Cazals doubled up to about 1.3 million that hand, closing the gap on Mirzikinian’s chip lead of about 1.7 million.
Cazals Takes the Lead, Mirzikinian Takes it Back
Shortly after doubling through Warwick Mirzikinian, Aubin Cazals managed to grab the chip lead for the first time tonight as the level started winding down. His run at the top was short lived however as Mirzikinian managed to regain a 2:1 chip lead over Cazals as the level came to an end.
Warwick Mirzikinian raised to 35,000 on the button and Aubin Cazals called from the big blind.
The flop came 764, Cazals checked, Mirzikinian bet 25,000, Cazals raised to 85,000 and Mirzikinian called the check-raise.
The turn was the 2, Cazals bet 210,000, Mirzikinian raised to 575,000 and Cazals called.
The river was the A, and both players checked. Cazals turned over 44 for a flopped set against Mirzikinian flopped straight with 85. Mirzikinian raked the pot claiming the chip lead once again with roughly 2,100,000 to Cazals’ 900,000.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Aubin Cazals
Level 21 Update: Mirzikinian Extends Lead Over Cazals
Jun 03, '12
Level: 21
Blinds: 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 out of 409
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,370,000
Abuin Cazals — 650,000
Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round
Live Updates:
Mirzikinian Rivers 3:1 Chip Lead
Warwick Mirzikinian entered the level with a 2:1 chip lead over Aubin Cazals and managed to extend that lead as the level tapered off. Cazals managed to find a little momentum early in the level but lost it halfway through when Mirzikinian rivered a flush to extend his chip lead to more than 3:1.
Aubin Cazals opened the button for 25,000 and Warwick Mirzikinian called in the big blind.
The flop came J54, and both players checked. The turn was the 5, Mirzikinian bet 30,000 and Cazals called.
The river was the 9, Mirzikinian bet 100,000 and Cazals called. Mirzikinian showed Q8 for a rivered flush, raking the 250,000 pot and taking a 3:1 chip lead over Cazals with about 2,300,000 to Cazals’ 750,000.
Cazals Fights Back with Big Bluff
While Aubin Cazals is down, he is certainly not out, and he proved that this past level after showing a big bluff that netted him more than a quarter million chips to hang on as the blinds were set to increase. Cazals opened the pot for a raise and continued to bet on every street including the river where he bet 225,000 into a 270,000 pot. Mirzikinian went into the tank and ultimately ended up folding the hand as Cazals showed the bluff and climbed back up to the 77 big blind range.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Aubin Cazals
Level 20 Update: Cheong Advances; Hugo Lemaire Eliminated in 4th Place ($162,443)
Jun 03, '12
Level: 20
Blinds: 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 out of 409
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 2,071,000
Aubin Cazals — 949,000
Joseph Cheong — 3,112,000 — advanced to final round
Players Eliminated:
Hugo Lemaire — 4th Place ($162,443)
Live Updates:
Joseph Cheong Advances to Final Round
Hugo Lemaire Eliminated in 4th Place ($162,443)
Joseph Cheong button-raised to 19,000 before the flop, Hugo Lemaire reraised to 55,000 from the big blind and Cheong called.
The flop came 1075, Lemaire bet 52,000 and Cheong called.
The turn was the 8, Lemaire checked, Cheong bet 89,000, Lemaire moved all in over the top and Cheong called. Cheong showed 62 for a flopped flush against Lemaire’s pocket pair of jacks.
Lemaire was drawing dead on the river and was eliminated in 4th place ($162,443) as Joseph Cheong won his semi-finals match and advanced to the final round.
Cheong will take 3,112,000 going into the final round of heads-up play where he will enter with a a slight chip lead over the winner of the next match who will start with 3,022,000.
Mirzikinian Extends Lead to Over 2:1
Warwick Mirzikinian entered the level with a slight chip lead and managed to widen the gap as the level closed out with a nearly 2:1 chip lead over Aubin Cazals. Mirzikinina seemed to be winning most of the showdowns this level and slowly chipped away at his opponent’s stack by playing the aggressor. Mirzikinian will enter Level 21 with more than 200 big blinds while Cazals will have some work to do with slightly less than half of that.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Hugo Lemaire, Joseph Cheong, Aubin Cazals
Level 19 Update: Cheong Takes Huge Lead, Mirzikinian Out in Front
Jun 03, '12
Level: 19
Blinds: 3,000-6,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 out of 409
Average Chip Count: 1,533,750
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 1,702,500
Aubin Cazals — 1,320,000
Joseph Cheong — 2,707,000
Hugo Lemaire — 405,000
Live Updates:
Warwick Mirzikinian vs. Aubin Cazals
Mirzikinian Takes the Lead
Warwick Mirzikinian entered Level 19 as the shorter stack in his heads-up match against Aubin Cazals, but managed to chip up and snag the lead himself this level after flopping a full house and getting paid off on the river in a big showdown.
Warwick Mirzikinian completed the small blind and Aubin Cazals checked the big blind.
The flop came 552, Cazals bet 9,000 and Mirzikinian called.
The turn was the Q, Cazals checked, Mirzikinian bet 25,000 and Cazals called.
The river was the A, Cazals checked, Mirzikinian bet 100,000 and Cazals called. Mirzikinian showed 22 for a flopped full house and Cazals threw his hand away. Mirzikinian took the chip lead that hand with roughly 1.6 million to Cazals’ 1.4 million.
Josesph Cheong vs. Hugo Lamaire
Cheong Takes Nearly 5:1 Chip Advantage over Lemaire
Joseph Cheong managed to extend his lead over Hugo Lemaire by the close of of the level after slowly chipping away at his stack after winning some small showdowns, but managed to put some real distance between himself and Lemaire after winning the biggest pot thus far after flopping two pair and getting paid off on the river.
Hugo Lemaire opened the button for 15,000 and Joseph Cheong called from the big blind.
The flop came KJ3, Cheong checked, Lemaire bet 14,000, Cheong raised to 51,000 and Lemaire called.
The turn was the 10, Cheong bet 77,000 and Lemaire called.
The river was the 8, Cheong bet 156,000 (about half the size of the pot) and Lemaire called. Cheong turned over K3 for two pair on the flop and Lemaire threw his cards into the muck. Cheong raked the nearly 500,000 pot, giving himself a considerable chip lead of nearly 5:1 over Lemaire with roughly 2,500,000 to 500,000.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Hugo Lemaire, Joseph Cheong, Aubin Cazals
Level 18 Update: Cheong, Cazals Lead Final Four
Jun 03, '12
Level: 18
Blinds: 2,500-5,000 with a 500 ante
Players Remaining: 4 out of 409
Average Chip Count: 1,533,750
Chip Counts:
Warwick Mirzikinian — 1,276,500
Aubin Cazals — 1,746,000
Joseph Cheong — 1,936,500
Hugo Lemaire — 1,175,500
Live Updates:
Warwick Mirzikinian vs. Aubin Cazals
Cazals Takes an Early Lead
Aubin Cazals opened the button for a standard three-times raise to 15,000 and Warwick Mirzikinian called from the big blind.
The flop came Q72, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 20,000 and Mirzirkinian called.
The turn was the 8, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 55,000 and Mirzikinian called.
The river was the Q, Mirzikinian checked, Cazals bet 160,000 and Mirzikinian called. Cazals showed Q8 for a full house to win the pot and take a slight chip with about 1.7 million to Mirzikinian’s 1.3 million.
Not long after turning two pair and rivering a full house to crack Warwick Mirzikinian’s pocket aces, Aubin Cazals rivered another full house, this time to best Mirzikinian’s straight. In a smaller pot that didn’t develop until the river, Cazals flopped trips with ace-deuce off suit, filling on the river while Mirzikinian made a straight with the same card. Mirzikina called off 185,000 on the river and slipped down to just over 1 million while Cazals extended his lead with about 2 million.
Josesph Cheong vs. Hugo Lemaire
Cheong Out in Front
Joseph Cheong opened the button for 12,000, Hugo Lemaire reraised to 30,000 from the big blind and Cheong called.
The flop came 773, and both players checked.
The turn was the J, Lemaire bet 40,000, Cheong raised to 125,000 and Lemaire called.
The river was the 4, Lemaire checked, Cheong bet 225,000 and Lemaire called. Cheong showed 33 for a flopped full house while Lamaire tossed his pocket pair of aces into the muck. This hand put Cheong out in front with roughly 1.9 million to Lemaire’s 1.1 million
Be sure to check back with Card Player for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Hugo Lemaire, Joseph Cheong, Aubin Cazals
Action Begins, Semi-Finals Now Underway
Jun 03, '12
The semi-finals round of Event no. 6 ($5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Mixed Max) is now underway, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
The No-Limit Hold’em Mixed Max event played differently than a traditional no-limit tournament. While the tournament started nine-handed on the first day, Day 2 was played six-handed and the final 32 players were to return the following day to play heads-up from there on out. Both Jesse Yaginuma and Raja Kattamuri were eliminated at the end of the night, so the remaining 31 players returned for Day 3 to play a series of individual heads-up matches. Only the final four remain as Day 4 gets going with the the semi-finals round of heads-up play.
Play will begin in Level 18 with blinds of 2,500-5,000 and a 500 ante, and the survivors of each round will face off in the final round of heads-up play where a winner will be determined.
Here is a look at the semi-final match ups:
Match 1: Warwick Mirzikinian — 1,547,500 vs. Aubin Cazals — 1,475,000
Match 2: Joseph Cheong — 1,567,000 vs. Hugo Lemaire — 1,545,000
While only 4 remain, this event gathered 409 players, creating a total prize pool of $1,922,300. Here is a look at the final payouts:
1st Place — $480564
2nd Place — $296,956
3rd Place — $162,443
4th Place — $162,443
Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Warwick Mirzikinian, Hugo Lemaire, Joseph Cheong, Aubin Cazals
Warwick Mirzikinian came into the day in the chip lead, but lost a few big pots this level to find himself short.
J
6
. The board came down 5
9