Pot-Limit Hold'em - Only Two More Levels To Go
May 30, '08
Note: The players are now on a 15-minute break
Blinds/Antes: 600-1,200
Players left: 114 of 352
Average Stack: 62,000
Chip Leaders:
Anthony Licastro - 240,000
Vivek Rajkumar - 180,000
Keith Lehr Jr - 160,000
Marco Johnson - 148,000
Emad Tahtouh - 134,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 132,000
Shawn Keller - 120,000
Raphael Zimmerman - 110,000
Grant Lang - 110,000
Phil Laak - 106,000
Eliminations:
Alan “The Usher” Sass
Brad Berman
David Chiu
Gavin Griffin
Big Hands:
Sigh Duck: Set No Good
On a board of K
J
5
Q9, Eli Elezra checked to Vivek “psyduck” Rajkumar. Rajkumar thought for a minute before inquiring, “Is a set any good?” and betting 8,000 into the pot of about 12,000. Elezra thought only momentarily before calling and turning over JT. Vivek, true to his word, showed QQ for a set of queens and mucked. Elezra was boosted to 90,000. Rajkumar's setback proved to be only temporary, as he fought back to regain a big stack (180,000).
Grundy wins blind vs. blind battle
With a board of QK5J5
, Ben Grundy reluctantly called a bet of 15,000. As soon as his chips hit the felt the small blind mucked his hand. Grundy scooped up the pot and increased his chip stack to roughly 135,000.
Ryan Young fails to entice bet
From the big blind Ryan Young check-called a bet of 5,700 on a flop of 633 After the 9 came on the turn, Young checked and then called a 15,000 bet. The river was the 4 and Young again bet. This time is opponent checked and Young sheepishly flipped over pocket 3s.
Sprengers springs a trap
Ben Sprengers of Florida made a major leap forward in a span of three hands. Playing from late position, Sprengers raised to 4,000 and was called by the button. On a dangerous flop of AK9 Sprengers fired out a bet of $17,000. He was called, which resulted in Sprengers checking the turn when the 8 struck. The button also checked. The river brought the 10, and Sprengers fired out a bet of 32,000. The button called. Sprengers rolled over the T8 for running two pair, while the button revealed the KQ.
Two hands later, Sprengers increased his stack to 125,000 when his pocket kings busted a short-stacked opponent.
Benyamine cashes in
David Benyamine increased his stack to 128,000 when his pocket aces crippled an opponent with pocket kings. The double-paired board of J85J8 didn’t scare either player.
Newhouse rakes a pot
John Juanda raised to 3,800 from middle position. A player in late position called and Mark “Newhizzle” Newhouse came along from the big blind. On a flop of K93, Newhouse checked to Juanda, who bet 7,200, the late position player folded and Newhouse called. After a 5 came on the turn, Newhouse check-called a 14,600 bet. Both players checked the river and Newhouse took down the pot with KQ.
Haxton gets the better of Saul
On a board of KQ274, Kevin “BeL0WaB0Ve” Saul checked to Isaac “Ike” Haxton who bet the remainder of his stack – 17,000 – into a pot of 30,000. Saul thought for a few moments before calling, only to muck quickly after Haxton flipped KT for top pair. The hand strengthened Haxton to 65,000 and dropped Saul to 84,000.
Player Tags: John Juanda, Phil Laak, David Benyamine, Eli Elezra, David Chiu, Gavin Griffin, Bradley Berman, Shawn Keller, Grant Lang, Anthony Licastro, Ben Sprengers, Raphael Zimmerman, Ryan Young, Kevin Saul, Ben Grundy, Keith Lehr, Mark Newhouse, Alan Sass, V R, Marco Johnson, Emad Tahtouh, Alexander Kostritsyn, European Report
Jacobo Fernandez Eliminated in Fourth Place ($238,871)
Ben Sprengers Eliminated in Third Place ($292,034)
Chuck Slkar Doubles Up