David Pham Wins the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event ($270,165)
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 11:40 AM
David Pham wins the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at Bellagio's Five-Star World Poker Classic, earning $270,165, a $25,500 seat in the WPT World Championship, and a bracelet. Don't forget to check CardPlayer.com on Sunday at 3 pm PST for full coverage of the final table for today's $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em event.
Update on Saturday's $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 11:35 AM
For a full recap of the action for today's final table in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event that started yesterday, keep reading. This entry is a quick update on Saturday's $5,000 event.
There were 195 players who entered this event, creating a total prize pool of $945,750. Here is the pay structure:
With 83 players left in the event, here are some of the big names still in contention for the final table that will be played tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm (when CardPlayer.com will resume coverage):
Ram Vaswani, Scott Fischman, Layne Flack, Christer Johansson, Joe Awada, "Miami" John Cernuto, David "Devilfish" Ulliott, Barry Shulman, Jerry Buss, Gabe Kaplan, Surinder Sunar, Warren Karp, Ted Forrest, Barry Greenstein, Martin de Knijff, Isabelle Mercier, and Scotty Nguyen.
David Pham vs. Jean Gaspard
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 11:00 AM
David Pham comes in for a raise on the button, and Jean Gaspard pushes all in for $306,000 more. Pham counts out the chips before calling, and he shows pocket eights. Gaspard has A-9 offsuit, and we're off to the races. With Gaspard needing an ace or a nine to stay alive, the flop comes Kc-7c-7d, and the 3c on the turn gives Pham a flush draw with the only club. Gaspard is down to four outs -- looking for an ace or a nine that is not a club. Sure enough, the 9c falls on the river, making Gaspard his higher pair while his opponent makes a flush. (Pham eliminated Snow the same way just 20 minutes earlier.) Jean Gaspard is eliminated in second place, earning $145,475.
David Pham wins the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at Bellagio's Five-Star World Poker Classic, earning $270,165, a $25,500 seat in the WPT World Championship, and a bracelet.
Sam Oliverio Eliminated in 3rd Place ($72,740)
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 10:45 AM
Sam Oliverio is all in preflop with K-9 of clubs against Jean Gaspard's A-9 of diamonds. It's over before it even gets going as the flop comes J-5-2 -- all diamonds. Gaspard flops the nuts, and Oliverio is drawing dead. (The turn and river also come diamonds, Q-4, to make a flush on the board, but Gaspard's ace-high flush wins the pot.) Sam Oliverio is eliminated in third place, earning $72,740.
Alan Snow Eliminated in 4th Place ($39,670)
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 10:41 AM
Alan Snow and David Pham are all in preflop with K-Q for Snow and A-8 suited for Pham. Pham retained the lead after a flop of 9-5-3. The turn card was the jack of clubs, giving Snow a gut-shot straight draw, but giving Pham a flush draw. The river card is the queen of clubs, giving Snow a pair, but giving Pham a flush. Alan Snow is eliminated in fourth place, earning $39,670.
Approximate Chip Counts
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 10:30 AM
With four players left, here are the approximate chip counts:
1. David Pham - $720,000 (seat 2)
2. Alan Snow - $310,000 (seat 10)
3. Jean Gaspard - $220,000 (seat 8)
4. Sam Oliverio - $85,000 (seat 5)
David Pham has a sizable chip lead, but he's not invulnerable. Jean Gaspard reraised all in preflop, forcing Pham to think for a while before laying down a hand.
Daniel Alaei Eliminated in 5th Place ($29,755)
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 10:17 AM
David Pham and Daniel Alaei are all in preflop, but the short-stacked Alaei has Q-10 offsuit up against Pham's pocket aces. The flop comes 7-5-2, all spades. Alaei has the 10 of spades, and Pham has two red aces, so he's picked up a spade flush draw. The turn is a red 7, and the river is a red 2. Daniel Alaei is eliminated in fifth place, earning $29,755.
Approximate Chip Counts
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 10:15 AM
Here's where the players stand (approximately) as play resumes after the break:
1. David Pham - $675,000 (seat 2)
2. Alan Snow - $255,000 (seat 10)
3. Jean Gaspard - $200,000 (seat 8)
4. Sam Oliverio - $130,000 (seat 5)
5. Daniel Alaei - $115,000 (seat 6)
Players Take a 15-Minute Break
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 10:00 AM
The players take a fifteen-minute break before the blinds increase in the next round. Five players remain, and here are the prize payouts they'll eventually receive:
1st - $270,165 + $25,500 seat in the WPT World Championship
2nd - $145,475
3rd - $72,740
4th - $39,670
5th - $29,755
David Pham Takes a Large Pot
Posted: Sat, Apr 09, 05, 9:52 AM
David Pham and Jean Gaspard are battling over a board of A-5-A-10-10. David Pham bets very large on the river, forcing Gaspard to consider things for a while. Gaspard folds, and Pham takes down a large pot.
