$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better - End of Day 2
Jun 20, '08
The final two-tables are set! Level 17 saw 7 eliminations and the staff at the Rio decided to call it a night with 18 players remaining. Foremost among the players returning tomorrow will be Mike Matusow. With a big stack of chips and an even bigger mouth, Matusow will be happy with nothing less than his 2nd bracelet of this year's series. To do so, he will have to fend off a number of big names. Hendon Mobber Ram Vaswani will enter the final day with the chip lead and he too will have a multiple-bracelet motivation: a win in this event will give him bracelets in consecutive years. Also in the hunt are high stakes cash specialists Chau Giang and David Benyamine. Benyamine, who was bounced on the final table bubble of the $5,000 stud high/low event only a few days ago, will have extra incentive to make a final table run here.
The players will reconvene at the Rio tomorrow at 3 p.m. PST.
Here is a recap of the final level of the day:
Blinds: 5,000-10,000
Players Left: 18 of 235
Chip Leaders:
Ram Vaswani - 450,000
Mike Matusow - 390,000
Chau Giang - 370,000
Greg Jamison - 315,000
Eugene Katchalov - 290,000
Toto Leonidas - 265,000
David Benyamine - 260,000
David Chiu - 260,000
Berry Johnston - 260,000
Hieu Ma - 230,000
Average Stack: 261,000
Eliminations:
19th – Patrick Rao
20th – James Grove
21st – James Van Alstyne
22nd – Danny Smith
23rd – Brad Booth
24th – Bruno Fitoussi
25th – Dustin Sitar
Big Hands and Storylines:
Dustin Donates And Goes Home
The two short stacks at the table Dustin Sitar and Stuart “thedonator” Patterson got all-in pre-flop and showed the following hands:
Patterson: A
10
7
2
Sitar: AK
J6
When the board – 109429 – had been dealt, Patterson’s nines and tens were enough to take down the pot. Sitar, slightly covered by Patterson, was eliminated in 25th place. Patterson is now up to 80,000.
“You Gotta Get Lucky”
Brad Booth raised from late position. Mike Matusow called from the button saying, “I’ll give you some action,” and William McMahon called in the big blind. The flop came JJ8. McMahon checked, Booth bet, Matusow raised, and his two rivals called. The turn was the 9 and McMahon and Booth both checked to Matusow who bet. This time McMahon cagily raised and Booth, with only 3,000 chips left, was forced to fold. Matusow called and the pair saw the river: 10. McMahon bet, Matusow raised, the call was made and they showed their hands:
Matusow: KKJ10
McMahon: KJ95
Matusow had re-drawn out on the river after McMahon had spiked a 6-outer on the turn. After the conclusion of the hand there was much discussion about whether the hand had played itself or if there was any other way it could have been played. Matusow put his inimitable stamp on the conversation when he opined, “You don’t think Phil Hellmuth has 11 bracelets because he plays good, do you? You gotta get lucky!” Matusow, whether through luck, skill, or a bit of both, is now up to 390,000.
You Gotta Get Lucky: Part II
The very next hand, William McMahon got most of his chips into the pot against David Chiu by the flop. McMahon bet his last 20,000 on the turn with the board reading KK510 and Chiu, after a great deal of thought, made a frustrated call. Chiu’s frustration grew when he saw McMahon’s holding: A10103. Chiu was drawing to only 3 outs with AA92 but the river was an unhelpful 9. The hand elevated McMahon to 120,000. Hey, you gotta get lucky.
Player Tags: Toto Leonidas, Tony Ma, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, Greg Jamison, David Chiu, Ram Vaswani, Chau Giang, Bruno Fitoussi, Berry Johnston, James Van Alstyne, Dustin Sitar, Eugene Katchalov, William McMahon, Brad Booth, Stuart Paterson
$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better - Day 2 - Level 16 Recap
Jun 20, '08
Note: The players are now on a 20-minute break
Blinds: 4,000-8,000
Players Left: 26 of 235
Chip Leaders:
Ram Vaswani - 385,000
Chau Giang - 360,000
David Benyamine - 320,000
David Chiu - 285,000
Berry Johnston – 250,000
Mike Matusow - 235,000
Greg Jamison - 215,000
Eugene Katchalov - 185,000
Toto Leonidas - 180,000
Jason Gray - 160,000
James Grove - 160,000
Average Stack:
Eliminations:
26th – Tony Ma
27th – Alexander Kostritsyn
Doyle Brunson
Erick Lindgren
Max Pescatori
Big Hands and Storylines:
They’re In The Money
The bubble has just burst and the players remaining are all now guaranteed to walk away from this tournament a bit richer than when they started (prop bets and cross-booking aside). Those who finish in places 19-27 will take home $22,090.
Whichever Comes First
According to the higher-ups here at the Rio, tonight’s event will play until the end of level 18 or until we reach the final table, whichever comes first. The former is looking far more likely with 26 players still remaining. If all goes according to plan, we should be out of here by about 3:30 tonight.
Katch Him If You Can
Eugene Katchalov just won a nice pot off of Toto Leonidas when Leonidas, after raising pre-flop from under-the-gun, check-called on every street against the Ukraine-born New Yorker. The final board was Q87Q4 and Katchalov showed A842 His two-pair, queens and eights, and nut low scooped him the pot, taking him up to 185,000. Leonidas is right on his tail with 180,000.
Dehkharghani Doubles
Ray Dehkharghani bet into two players on a flop of Q62, Danny Smith folded and Mike Matusow called. With only 26,000 left going into the turn, Dehkharghani committed himself by firing at Matusow when an 8 landed. Matusow set his opponent all-in and they revealed their hands:
Matusow: AJ62
Dehkharghani: KQJ10
The river was the Q and Dehkharghani scooped the pot, more than doubling him up to 80,000. The hand only took a sliver out of Matusow’s stack, which now sits at 220,000.
Berry Bests Brunson, Brad Booth
Brad Booth raised from middle position and got calls from Berry Johnston in middle position and Doyle Brunson in the small blind. The flop came K106 and Brunson led out, Booth raised, and Johnston raised him. Both Brunson and Booth called the bet and the turn was the 10. Brunson and Booth checked to Berry who, predictably, bet. This time Brunson and Booth bowed out of the hand and allowed Johnston to take down the pot. Berry Johnston now has 250,000 in chips. Booth is sitting with 100,000. Brunson was eliminated not too long after this hand, right on the bubble.
Player Tags: Toto Leonidas, Erick Lindgren, Tony Ma, Max Pescatori, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, Doyle Brunson, Greg Jamison, David Chiu, Jason Gray, Ram Vaswani, Chau Giang, Berry Johnston, Ray Dehkharghani, Eugene Katchalov, Brad Booth, Alexander Kostritsyn
$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better - Day 2 - Level 15 Recap
Jun 20, '08
Blinds: 3,000-6,000
Players Left: 35 of 235
Chip Leaders:
David Benyamine - 325,000
Greg Jamison - 305,000
Chau Giang - 300,000
Mike Matusow - 230,000
Toto Leonidas - 220,000
Ram Vaswani - 195,000
Danny Dang - 190,000
Bob Slezak - 190,000
Hieu Ma - 180,000
Pat Rao - 170,000
Average Stack: 134,300
Eliminations:
Robert Williamson III
Soheil Shamseddin
Big Hands and Storylines:
Crunch Time
We’re down to 35 players here in the Brasilia Room and with 27 places playing, play should start to tighten up not too long from now. Though the field is still littered with seasoned professionals who are looking for more than a 27th place finish, short stacks who are unlikely to mount a deep run might start to play a bit more conservatively.
All Bets Are Off
Mike Matusow asked David Benyamine, seated directly behind him, how many chips he had. After Benyamine informed him that he had 325,000 in front of him, Matusow remarked, “You’ve got 100,000 more than me. I’ll take +130 for $10,000.” Benyamine’s response: “I don’t bet with broken men.”
Ouch.
And There’s Poker Too!
Robert Williamson III was eliminated in a three-way pot involving Mike Matusow and James Van Alstyne. Matusow and Van Alstyne split the pot and Williamson was left shaking his head in disappointment.
At the table across the aisle, Soheil Shamseddin was eliminated by Max Pescatori. On a board of QJ96A, Shamseddin showed QQ108 for a straight along with a set of queens, but he was outdone by the Italian’s A1082. Pescatori, conversing about Italy’s chances against Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2008 quarterfinals, is now up to 165,000.
Brunson on the Move
Not only has Doyle Brunson taken a new seat at the table of Max Pescatori, Brad Booth, and Berry Johnston, but his chips have been on the move as well. Brunson dropped almost half of his chips during the last level, falling from 250,000 all the way to 130,000.
Player Tags: Trai "Danny" Dang, Toto Leonidas, Bob Slezak, Tony Ma, Pat Rao, Max Pescatori, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, Doyle Brunson, Greg Jamison, Ram Vaswani, Chau Giang, Robert Williamson III, Soheil Shamseddin
$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better - Day 2 - Level 14 Recap
Jun 20, '08
Note: The players are now on a 20-minute break
Blinds: 2,500-5,000
Players Left: 40 of 235
Chip Leaders:
Doyle Brunson - 250,000
Ram Vaswani - 210,000
Greg Jamison - 207,000
David Benyamine - 202,000
Mike Matusow - 190,000
Pat Rao - 189,000
Toto Leonidas - 180,000
Chau Giang - 160,000
James Van Alstyne - 148,000
Tony Ma – 145,000
David Chiu – 135,000
Average Stack: 117,500
Eliminations:
Alex Kravchenko
Chris Ferguson
Jen Harman
Nikolay Evdakov
Big Hands and Storylines:
Nikolay Evdakov Eliminated
Three hands at two tables, over the course of only 25 minutes, and Nikolay Evdakov would go from 110,000 chips to zero. Card Player was there to see the decline and fall of Evdakov...
Three Parts Giang, One Part Slezak
With a board reading J632 and three players in the hand, Bob Slezak checked to Evdakov who put in a bet of 10,000, Chau Giang raised and both Slezak and Evdakov called. The river was the 3 and action checked around to Giang who bet again. Slezak and Evdakov both called and Giang showed down an impressive holding: A432 for the nut low and a baby full house. Slezak could only muster AJ84 for half of the low pot. Evdakov mucked. Strike one for Evdakov.
Just Right for Ma
After being moved to a new table featuring the likes of Doyle Brunson, David Chiu, and Alexander Kostritsyn, Evdakov mixed it up with Tony Ma in what turned out to be a small but important pot.
Evdakov check-called a bet from Ma on a 332 flop. On the turn and river both players checked. With the final board reading 3329K, Evdakov showed K1092 for two-pair, kings and nines, but Ma took down the pot with AAQJ for a better two pair. Strike two.
You Don’t Mess with The Brunson
In his final act, Nikolay Evdakov tried to wrest some chips from the grasp of Doyle Brunson. Predictably, that one didn’t work out so well. Doyle raised pre-flop from middle position and Evdakov and Kostritsyn called from the blinds. On a flop of 965, Evdakov checked, Kostritsyn checked, Brunson fired a continuation bet, Evdakov raised, Kostritsyn folded, and Brunson called. The turn 5 paired the board and slowed down Evdakov, who check-called a bet from Brunson. The river was the K, with only an additional 10,000 behind, the Russian checked it over to Brunson, who put him all-in. Evdakov called and could only rap the table after seeing Brunson’s A872. Strike three. Evdakov is out.
Life Goes On
The rest of the players at Evdakov’s table seem to be in stable condition though. Kostritsyn has 100,000, David Chiu has 135,000, and Tony Ma has 145,000. Oh, yeah, there’s also the case of Doyle Brunson. After winning a number of pots in the past two levels, Brunson is the new chip leader with 250,000 in chips.
Player Tags: Toto Leonidas, Chris Ferguson, Tony Ma, Pat Rao, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, Doyle Brunson, Greg Jamison, David Chiu, Ram Vaswani, Jennifer Harman, Chau Giang, Alexander Kravchenko, James Van Alstyne, Nikolay Evdakov, Alexander Kostritsyn, European Report
$10,000 Omaha 8/b World Championship - Tony Ma Eliminated in 9th place ($55,225)
Jun 21, '08
Note: The remaining seven players have just begun a sixty-minute dinner break and will return at roughly 9:00 pm local time to resume play in Level 22 with increased blinds of 15,000-30,000 and stakes of 30,000-60,000.
Blinds: 15,0000-30,000
Stakes: 30,000-60,000
Players Left: 8
Eliminations:
Tony Ma Eliminated in 9th Place ($55,225)
Big Hands:
Tony Ma Eliminated in 9th Place ($55,225)
A severley short stacked Tony Ma got it all in on the turn on a board of 10743. Toto Leonidas looked him up.
Ma: 8543
Leonidas: A982
Ma flopped a flush and Leonidas flopped a better flush. The river was the A and Ma became very excited, thinking that Leonidas' low hand was counterfeited, but it wasn't. Leonidas scooped the pot with a better high and a better low hand than Tony Ma, who was eliminated in 9th place ($555,225).
Ram Vaswani Triples Up
On a board of Q1053, David benyamine bet out, Ram Vaswani raised, and David Chiu reraised. Banyamine called, Vaswani reraised all in, and both Chiu and Benyamine called to see the river (9). Benyamine and Chiu checked the side pot, and Vaswani turned over K1052 for two pair. Vaswani scooped the pot with the high hand, tripling up to over 500,000 chips after the hand.
Mike Matusow Chips Up
After nearly quadroupling up earlier in the level against David Benyamine, David Chiu and Eugene Katchalov, Matusow then took a bog pot off of Toto Leonidas to bring hom from the short stack all the way up to 350,000. In one of the last few hands before the dinner break, Matusow scooped a big pot off of Benyamine, chipping up to nearly 600,000 and finding some much needed momentum. Matusow kept telling the table not to let him duoble up even once or they'd be sorry. It looks as if Matusow was right.
Player Tags: Toto Leonidas, Tony Ma, David Benyamine, David Chiu, Ram Vaswani
$10,000 Omaha 8/b World Championship - Hour One
Jun 21, '08
Blinds: 6,000-12,000
Stakes: 12,000-24,000
Players Left: 16
Chip Leaders:
Chau Giang: 480,000
Ram Vaswani: 452,000
Mike Matusow: 442,000
Jason Gray: 400,000
Toto Leonidas: 400,000
Tony Ma: 398,000
David Chiu: 380,000
David Benyamine: 300,000
Gerg Jamison: 254,000
Berry Johnston: 218,000
Eliminations:
Ray Dehkharghani Eliminated in 18th Place ($27,612)
William McMahan Eliminated in 17th Place ($27,612)
Big Hands:
Ray Dehkharghani Eliminated in 18th Place ($27,612)
Tony Ma raised from early position and Ray Dehkhargani reraised from middle position. Ma called and the flop came 1065. Ma checked to Dehkhargani who bet, Ma raised (check-raise), and Dehkhargani called all in.
Tony Ma: AK84
Dehkhargani: AA75
Ma flopped an inside straight draw and an 8-4 low draw while Dehkhargani flopped the best hand with pocket aces for the overpair and a 7-A low. The turn was the Q, no help to either player, but the river was the 7, giving Ma the straight (high) and counterfeiting Dehkhargani's low hand. Ma scooped the pot while Dehkhargani was eliminated in 18th place ($27,612).
William McMahan Eliminated in 17th Place ($27,612)
Tony Ma raised from the small blind and William McMahan called from the big blind. The flop came 987, and Ma bet out, McMahan called. The turn was the K, and once again Ma bet out and McMahan called. The river was the 2, and Ma bet out (the bet being enough to put McMahan all in), McMahan called. McMahan turned over AJ82 for two pair (high) no low, while Ma showed 10653 for the flopped straight (high) and an 8-7-6-5-3 low. Ma scooped another pot and eliminated another player, this time it was William McMahan in 17th place ($27,612).
Player Tags: Tony Ma, Ray Dehkharghani, William McMahan
Tony Ma was all in preflop holding A-K against the pocket fives of Michael Wasserman.
5
Q
with Tony Ma all-in for his last 90,900.
, but Ma had him beat with Q
Tony Ma has just $4.5 million in live tournament earnings and won the 1999 Card Player Player of the Year Award.
Live Updates:
8
3
and Brunson checked once more. McNeil bet and Brunson folded his cards. McNeil then turned over A
A
Ford won the hand to double up and survive with 625,000 and McNeil was still cruising with 1.45 million.
John Monnette Eliminated in Seventh Place ($32,798)
Dao Bac Eliminated in Ninth Place ($19,753)
Tony Ma got the last of his stack all in with a set of kings on a A-K-J-5 board against an opponent’s pair and flush draw.
Varkonyi Takes Some From Rousso
Nguyen Makes Great Fold
On a board of 9
James Van Alstyne has been eliminated fromm the tournament by Tony Ma. 
After losing half of his stack with two pair against a set, Jonathan Little moved all in with less than 10 big blinds holding A-Q. Tony Ma woke up with A-K and the board failed to help Little out. 
The $1,500 buy-in seven-card stud high-low event is hours away. The buy increased from $1,000 a year ago to $1,500 this year.