Stephen Graboski Poker Tournament Updates

$1,500 PLO - Level Four

Jun 24, '08

Blinds/Antes: 100/200

Players Remaining: 351 of 720

Average Stack: 6,334

Chip Counts:
Stephen Graboski - 26,000
Randy Kaas - 14,200
Gavin Smith - 14,000
Martin "Dick" Corpuz - 13,200
George Danzer - 12,500
Eric Lynch - 12,400
Joe Hachem - 10,000
Jean-Robert Bellande - 10,000
Chip Jett - 10,000Brett Jungblut - 8,800

Big Hands:

Four-Way All In Pot Draws a Crowd

The spectators and media were buzzing around table No. 46 as a massive pot was brewing. Barny Boatman and Layne Flack, also at the table but not involved in the hand, looked on as several players put their tournament life at risk. With two players all in pre-flop, the two remaining active players saw a flop of J108. The first player put the other all in, and after serious deliberation the player called. All players turned over their hands:

Seat 1: 9964
Seat 3: AKJ2
Seat 6: A952
Seat 8: AJ42

The final board: J101085

Seats 8 and 3 chopped the pot with the same high hand. Seat 6, who was all in pre-flop, was eliminated. Seat 1 had all the players covered, and took a large hit but remains alive.

Jeff Madsen Crippled By Three-Way All In Pot

The action continued to heat up in level 4 as many of the tournaments shorter stacks began to aggressively push all in. After one such player got all his chips in pre-flop from under-the-gun, Jeff Madsen and his opponent on the button remained active players on a flop of K85. Madsen put his remaining opponent all in and got a call. Madsen turned over KKA2 for a set of kings, and his opponent on the button turned over A763 for an open-ended straight draw and low draw. The opponent who was all in pre-flop turned over 7432.

The final board read: AK985

The button scooped the side pot with a straight and a low and split the main pot with the under-the-gun player’s nut low. Madsen was crippled and left the hand with only 975 in chips.

Mel Judah on the Brink of Elimination

In an already large pot, Mel Judah checked from the small blind when the 975 flop fell. The player in the cut-off checked, and the button bet 1,000. Both players called, and the Q appeared on the turn. Judah bet 4,000 and the cut-off moved all in for slightly more than Judah’s bet. The button folded, and Judah made the call. The hands were turned over:

Judah: 8643 (nut straight)
Opponent: AK92 (nut flush and nut low draw)

The 4 on the river completed both draws for his opponent, and Judah was left with less than 1,000 in chips.

Player Tags: Mel Judah,   Gavin Smith,   Stephen Graboski,   Jeff Madsen,   Randy Kaas,   European Report

Hour Three

Jun 13, '07

Steve Graboski Eliminated in 5th Place ($32,178)

Steve Graboski was the next player to meet elimination head on in fifth place. He took home $32,178 in prize money.

The Devastation of Greg Raymer

Greg Raymer was still the chip leader with $550,000. He was about to experience an unfortunate sequence of events. He started this journey by losing two pots to the tune of $100,000.

Next he lost the chip lead to Ryan Hughes. Raymer mucked on fifth street and Hughes now held $481,000 to Raymer’s $455,000. He then lost a pot to Min Lee. Lee turned up 8 3 (2 2 K 5) 2 and Raymer mucked. This was another large blow that knocked the Fossilman down to $280,000.

The most fatal blow to Raymer was delivered by his nemesis, Hughes. The two pumped the pot to epic proportions of chips and Raymer held only $8,000 when Hughes flipped up K 9 (10 K 6 8) 9. Raymer mucked and he was now mortally wounded.

Raymer was now in all-in mode. “I figured the first time I got all in I was going to lose. So my plan was never to get all in,” said Raymer after he doubled up on the next hand. He won the next hand as well and said, “Sweet, I might not have to play this hand.”

While all this was going on Hughes had built his stack to $700,000. It was then Hughes who busted Raymer a few hands later. Raymer turned up 6 2 (A Q 8 J) J and Hughes showed down K 3 (10 3 3 2) 8. Raymer was eliminated in fourth place and he took home $61,880 in prize money. Hughes now had $820,000 to work with for ammo.

Douglas Carli Eliminated in 3^rd Place ($61,880)

Douglas Carli was eliminated shortly after Raymer in third place and he took home $61,880 in cash.

Heads-Up!

The heads-up match was now set and the chip counts were as follows:

Ryan Hughes: $973,000
Min Lee: $388,000

Player Tags: Ryan Hughes,   Greg Raymer,   Stephen Graboski,   Min Lee

Hour Two

Jun 13, '07

Ron Ware Eliminated in 7^th Place ($18,873)

Ron Ware hit the rail next in seventh place and he took home $18,873 in prize money.

Lee Rising

Min Lee went on a nice run over the hour to perch himself near the top of the leader board in second place. He was close to elimination just an hour ago and he is now making a strong push to take home the bracelet.

Fossilman First

If Lee wants to take home that bracelet he will have to go through Greg Raymer. Over the past hour Raymer has built a massive stack of $482,000. This is more than enough for the chip lead.

Reversal of Fortune

Raymer took another pot off of Steve Graboski to almost knock him off the face of the felt. Graboski had only $9,000 after leading the table for the first hour of the match.

Jim Weir Eliminated in 6^th Place ($24,443)

Jim Weir was next to hit the rail when he was covered in a pot with Raymer and Graboski. Raymer took the high pot with aces up and Graboski took the low with a seven low. Weir mucked his hand and he was eliminated in sixth place. He took home $24,443 in prize money.

Player Tags: Greg Raymer,   Stephen Graboski,   Ron Ware,   Min Lee,   James Weir

Hour One

Jun 13, '07

Adam Spiegelberg Eliminated in 8th Place ($13,923)

Adam Spiegelberg was the first to be eliminated from the table, he was sent home in eighth place and took home $13,923. He was eliminated shortly after the table began.

Short Stacks

Steve Graboski had a hefty chip lead and he was trailed closely by Ryan Hughes. Greg Raymer rounded out the top three. The rest of the stacks on the table were a little slime in comparison to say the least. There should be a number of quick bust outs unless some people are able to double up and get some chips.

Min Lee Survives With the Low

Things looked dire indeed for Min Lee when he was all in against Ryan Hughes. Hughes showed down a straight, as well as a seven low. Lee turned over a six low and survived by the skin of his teeth.

When Big Stacks Collide

Greg Raymer then grabbed a pot off of Ryan Hughes. Both players checked on the final street and Raymer began to turn over his cards. Hughes instantly threw his cards into the muck and the 2004 world champion gained some ground.

Player Tags: Ryan Hughes,   Greg Raymer,   Stephen Graboski,   Adam Spiegelberg,   Min Lee