Matt Russell Wins $3,000 Event; Quick Update on $5,000 Event
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 2:00 PM
Matt Russell wins the $3,000 event, earning a bracelet and $274,075. Meanwhile, in the $5,000 event that started on Thursday, 62 players remain in the hunt for the money that will be awarded to the top 18 finishers. First prize will be $435,980. Here are some of the players still in action as the players break for dinner:
Carlos Mortensen, Erik Seidel, Paul Phillips, Michael Mizrachi, David Plastik, Tony Ma, Thomas Keller, Ross Boatman, Antonio Esfandiari, Josh Arieh, Tony G., Chris Johannson, Ron Rose, Randy Jensen, Allen Kessler, Craig Hartman, Bill Gazes, and Jason Lester.
Matt Russell Wins the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:50 AM
Farzad Bonyadi pushes all in preflop, and he's immediately called by Matt Russell, who has pocket aces. Bonyadi has pocket fours and is a big underdog. The flop comes 10-10-3, and Bonyadi is going to need to catch a four to stay alive. The last two cards fall Q-2, and Farzad Bonyadi is eliminated in second place, earning $153,530.
Matt Russell wins the $3,000 no-limit hold'em event, winning a bracelet and $274,075, which includes a $25,500 seat in the WPT Championship next week.
Approximate Chip Counts
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:45 AM
The tables have turned after that last all-in bet, and Matt Russell now has roughly a 3-to-2 chip lead (these are rough approximates):
1. Matt Russell - $940,000
2. Farzad Bonyadi - $600,000
Matt Russell Doubles Up
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:42 AM
Matt Russell pushes all in preflop with A-K, and Farzad Bonyadi calls with pocket sixes. Russell takes the lead on a flop of K-Q-7, and improves with an ace on the turn. Bonyadi needs a six to eliminate Russel, but the last card is a 4. Russell doubles up in chips.
Blinds Increase to $8,000-$16,000 ($3,000 ante)
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:33 AM
There haven't been any huge pots or all-in bets called yet, but Farzad Bonyadi did bet $70,000 on a board of J-10-9-x-K, and he got a call out of Matt Russell. Bonyadi showed Q-5 to take down the pot with a straight.
The blinds have just increased to $8,000-$16,000, with a $3,000 ante.
Heads-Up Play Begins; Chip Counts
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:14 AM
The players take a short five-minute break before playing heads-up. Here are the chip counts:
1. Farzad Bonyadi - $1,045,000
2. Matt Russell - $517,000
Bonyadi has Russell outchipped about 2-to-1, but Russell has plenty of money relative to the blinds, so it could still last for a while.
Antony Lellouche Eliminated in 3rd Place ($76,765)
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:06 AM
Antony Lellouche raises all in preflop for $111,000, and Matt Russell thinks long and hard before folding. Shortly after that, Antony Lellouche raises all in preflop again, this time for $91,000 more. Farzad Bonyadi calls, showing 10-9 of hearts, while Lellouche has K-8 offsuit. Bonyadi immediately takes the lead on a flop of 9c-6h-3s, and the 8h on the turn gives Bonyadi a gut-shot straight-flush draw. Lellouche needs to catch a king that's not a heart (2 outs) in order to survive. The river card is the 5c, and Antony Lellouche is eliminated in third place, earning $76,765.
Approximate Chip Counts
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 11:00 AM
Here are the approximate chip counts of the final three players in the $3,000 no-limit hold'em event:
Richard Tatalovich Eliminated in 4th Place ($43,870)
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 10:47 AM
Richard Tatalovich is short stacked and pushes all in preflop for $51,000 more. Farzad Bonyadi calls with K-J, and Tatalovich shows Q-5 of diamonds. The flop comes Ad-As-6s, and Tatalovich needs help. The turn card is the 3d, giving him some help in the form of a flush draw. He has 15 outs to double up on the river, but it's the Ks, giving Bonyadi an unnecessary pair, and eliminating Richard Tatalovich in fourth place, earning $43,870.
Antony Lellouche vs. Matt Russell
Posted: Thu, Apr 14, 05, 10:33 AM
Antony Lellouche and Matt Russell see a raised flop of Jh-8h-2d, and Lellouche bets out for $120,000. Russell thinks for a little while before raising all in for $162,000 more. Lellouche thinks for a little while himself, eventually folding his hand.
