Update on the $5,000 Event - After Joseph Grech doubled up, Tony Ma began eating away at his chips again, until finally, Grech was short-stacked and all in with J-6, while Tony Ma has A-4 suited. The flop of A-10-3 makes Tony Ma a huge favorite, and the last two cards are 2-7, and Joseph Grech is eliminated in second place, earning $244,070.
Tony Ma wins the $5,000 no-limit hold'em event at Bellagio's Five-Star World Poker Classic, winning a bracelet and $435,980, which includes a $25,500 seat in the WPT World Championship that starts on Monday.
Joseph Grech Doubles Up
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 2:59 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - It's still heads-up between Tony Ma and Joseph Grech in the $5,000 no-limit hold'em event, and there haven't been any called all-in bets. Tony Ma seems to be exploiting Grech's tight play by picking up small pot after small pot, catching up in chips, and then accumulating a larger and larger lead. Eventually, Joseph Grech is running out of options, and when Tony Ma pushes all in, he flips a coin, and decides to call. Tony Ma shows A-9, and Grech is dominated with J-9.
Dominated, that is, until the flop of 10-8-4 gives Grech an open-ended straight draw, and the 7 on the turn completes it. The 8 on the river clinches the victory for Joseph Grech, who doubles up in chips.
Tony Ma still has a solid chip lead, with roughly $1.5 million to Grech's $900,000.
Tony Ma v. Joseph Grech
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 2:19 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - Tony Ma has finally caught up to Joseph Grech in chips, with a little over a million in chips for each of them. They are still playing somewhat tight, safe from the blinds, but Tony Ma is taking better advantage of the situation.
Brief Update on Heads-Up Action
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 1:30 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - The final two players continue to battle over fairly small pots, as neither one is too eager to finish in second place. They both have plenty of money relative to the blinds, and they can afford to be patient.
Players Take a Short Break; Chip Counts
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 1:10 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - The players take another short break now that it's heads-up. Here are the approximate chip counts:
1. Joseph Grech - $1,500,000
2. Tony Ma - $780,000
Antonio Esfandiari Eliminated in 3rd Place ($122,035)
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 1:05 PM
Joseph Grech raised preflop, and Antonio Esfandiari came back at him with a substantial reraise. Grech pushed all in, and Antonio reluctantly called because he had pot-committed himself with 7-5 offsuit. Meanwhile, Grech had A-10 offsuit. The flop of 10-6-4 was actually quite good for Antonio, as he picked up an open-ended straight draw. The 2 on the turn offered no help, nor did the 6 on the river, and Antonio Esfandiari was eliminated in third place, earning $122,035.
15-Minute Break; Chip Counts; Blinds Increase
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 12:45 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - The final three players take a 15-minute break before the blinds increase. Here are the chip counts:
1. Joseph Grech - $1,080,000 (seat 3)
2. Tony Ma - $775,000 (seat 4)
3. Antonio Esfandiari - $450,000 (seat 5)
Joseph Grech Doubles Up Through Tony Ma
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 12:34 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - Joseph Grech pushes all in on a board of Q-9-7-3-5, and Tony Ma calls. Grech shows 8-6 for a straight on the river, and Tony Ma shows pocket jacks. Joseph Grech doubles up in chips.
Final Three Players Take a Short Break; Chip Counts
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 12:10 PM
Update on $5,000 Event - The final three players take a short break before resuming play. Here are the chip counts:
1. Tony Ma - $1,325,000 (seat 4)
2. Antonio Esfandiari - $500,000 (seat 5)
3. Joseph Grech - $485,000 (seat 3)
Thomas Keller Eliminated in 4th Place ($66,540)
Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 05, 12:06 PM
Thomas Keller is short-stacked and all in preflop against Tony Ma and Antonio Esfandiari. Both players check all the way down to the river, offering him no protection at all. The final board reads 10c-9s-6s-4h-8h. Antonio has J-4 of diamonds (jack-high), but Tony Ma has A-7 for a runner-runner straight. Keller shows Q-10, and he was in the lead until the 8 fell on the river to complete Tony Ma's straight. Thomas Keller is eliminated in fourth place, earning $66,540.
