Level 20 Update: Pulford 4th ($20,663), Vaca-Rondon 5th ($15,359)
May 29, '12
Level: 20
Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 out of 732
Average Chip Count: 732,000
Chip Counts:
Seat no. 1 — James Routos — 660,000
Seat no. 7 — Chiab Saechao — 1,200,000
Seat no. 9 — Patricia Baker — 300,000
Players Eliminated:
Ray Pulford — 4th Place ($20,663)
Nicolas Vaca-Rondin — 5th Place ($15,359)
Live Updates:
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon Eliminated in 5th Place ($15,359)
Chiab Saechao limped in from under the gun, Nicolas Vaca-Rondon moved all for about 200,000 behind him and Saechao called.
Saechao led before the flop with A
A
against Vaca-Rondon’s 7
7
.
The board came K65J2, offering no help to Nicolas Vaca-Rondon who was eliminated in 5th place ($15,359).
Chiab Saechao ~ 850,000
Ray Pulford Eliminated in 4th Place ($20,663)
Patricia Baker limped in the pot for 20,000 from under the gun and Ray Pulford checked his option in the big blind.
The flop came 1085, Pulford checked, Baker bet 80,000 and Pulford called.
The turn was the Q, Pulford checked, Baker shoved and Pulford called all in.
Pulford led the turn with 55 for a set of fives on the flop against Baker’s two pair on the turn with Q8.
The river was the Q, giving Baker a better full house to win the pot and eliminate Ray Pulford in 4th place ($20,663).
Patricia Baker ~ 600,000
Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Ray Pulford, Chiab Saechao, Patricia Baker
Level 19 Update: Chiab Saechao Doubles Twice, Turns Short Stack Into Chip Lead
May 29, '12
Level: 19
Blinds: 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 out of 732
Average Chip Count: 439,200
Chip Counts:
Seat no. 1 — James Routos — 550,000
Seat no. 2 — Nioclas Vaca-Rondon — 160,000
Seat no. 7 — Chiab Saechao — 650,000
Seat no. 8 — Ray Pulford — 600,000
Seat no. 9 — Patricia Baker — 240,000
Live Updates:
Chiab Saechao Doubles Through Ray Pulford
Chiab Saechao moved the short stack all in before the flop for about 170,000 from the button and chipleader Ray Pulford called from the small blind.
Pulford led before the flop with 66 against Saechao’s QJ.
The board came Q5248, giving Saechao top pair on the flop to double up and knock the chipleader down to 43 bbs.
Chiab Saechao ~ 360,000
Ray Pulford ~ 690,000
Chiab Saechao Does it Again; Doubles Through Patrica Baker
Patricia Baker opened the pot for 32,000 from under the gun, Choab Saecho moved all in for about 250,000 and Baker called the raise.
Saechao led before the flop with 1010 against Patricia Baker’s AQ.
The board came Q5310Q, giving Baker top pair on the flop but Saechao spiked a ten on the turn and another queen on the river to fill up against Baker’s trips. Chiab Saechao doubled up to over 550,000 (currently second place) while Patricia Baker slipped down to the short stack with just 125,000 (7 bbs).
Chiab Saeichao ~ 570,000
Patricia Baker ~ 125,000
Patricia Baker Stays Alive; Doubles Through Nicolas Vaca-Rondon
Shortly after being doubled through by Chiab Saechao, Patricia Baker moved all in with the short stack for just under 100,000 from the button after Ray Pulford opened the pot for 37,000 from the cutoff. Nicolas Vaca-Rondon shoved the big blind for about 275,000 and Pulford folded to the raise.
Baker led before the flop with 44 against Pulford’s AJ.
The board came J10844, giving Pulford top pair on the flop to take the lead, but Baker spiked two running fours to make quads and double up to just under a quarter million in chips.
Patricia Baker ~ 240,000
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon ~ 160,000
Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: Ray Pulford, Chiab Saechao, Patricia Baker
Action Begins, Official Final Table Underway
May 28, '12
The final table of Event no. 1 (Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em – $500) is now underway, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
With the elimination of John Vohs in 10th Place ($4,189), the official, nine-handed final table is now set. Play will begin in Level 17 with blinds of 5,000 – 10,000 with a 1,000 ante, and will continue until a winner is determined. Play may be extended an additional day if it takes more than 10 levels to reach a winner as noted on the official structure sheet.
With cards now back in the air, here is a look at the final table and how these players match up:
Seat no. 1 — James Routos — 425,000
Seat no. 2 — Nicolas Vaca-Rondon — 90,000
Seat no. 3 — Georgi Ivanov — 190,000
Seat no. 4 — Matthew Wilmot — 230,000
Seat no. 5 — Jay Pinkussohn — 121,000
Seat no. 6 — Steven Phan — 152,000
Seat no. 7 — Chiab Saechao — 99,000
Seat no. 8 — Ray Pulford — 498,000
Seat no. 9 — Patricia Baker — 395,000
While only 9 remain, this event gathered 732 players, creating a total prize pool of $329,400. Here is a look at the final payouts:
1st Place — $70,859
2nd Place — $43,754
3rd Place — $28,206
4th Place — $20,663
5th Place — $15,359
6th Place — $11,571
7th Place — $8,824
8th Place — $6,808
9th Place — $5,309
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: James Routos, Ray Pulford, Chiab Saechao, Georgi Ivanov, Matthew Wilmot, Patricia Baker, Steven Phan
We arrived to see Ray Pulford all-in with A
Q
K
of Edward Holstein.
5
Steven Levy is involved in a three-way all in and has both Chris Bjorin and Ray Pulford covered. 
A
and is dominating Borjin's A
K
.