$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - End of Day 1
Jun 30, '08
Play has ended for the day. With about 20 minutes remaining in the final level, the money bubble was burst. Players remaining will return for day 2 of the tournament at 2 p.m. and play down to a final nine.
Blinds: 600/1200 with 100 ante
Players Left: 227 of 2693
Average Stack: 35,474
Storylines/Big Hands
Cautious play was the order of the day as time wound down in level 10, the final level of the day. With 271 players remaining, hand-for-hand play lasted about 20 minutes before the ultimate shortstack was ushered out. The player in seat 9 had just a single 100 chip remaining, enough for her ante, when she was in the big blind. There was a 1200 call in middle position, and Leo Labbe was in the small blind and also called.
The flop cameJ
J
10
and Labbe announced all-in for about 5000. The other opponent with chips folded, and Labbe apologized "I had to" as he flipped over 10
10. The all-in big blind was admittedly drawing thin, but the hand didn't end without drama. She showed 87, and when the J fell on the turn, she suddenly had a gut-shot straight flush draw. It failed to come home however, the 7 on the river giving her a meaningless full house.
Neiman Scoops, Then Donates
As hand-for-hand play was ongoing, a significant pot developed with Joe Neiman and two others. Neiman, one of the chip leaders, bet 7000 oin the turn, with the board reading 10877. His first opponent contemplated a call for a while, which would have been for about one-third of his stack. But in the end both players folded and Neiman showed the 97 for trips with an open-ender.
Neiman then dropped 18,200 after regular play began anew. He raised to 4000 with AJ, and seat 1 then moved all-in, which Neiman called. He was behind the KK of his rival and the board finished J8792.
Rousso Avoids Trouble
Vanessa Rousso, with only about 8000 in chips, was the small blind during hand-for-hand, and limped to be part of a three-way pot. The flop came Q53 and all three players checked. The J on the turn brought three more checks, then the A hit the river. The big blind bet the minimum 1200, and he drew two callers. Rousso and the big blind both had aces, but the original caller held K10 and made the straight to take the small pot down.
No Call for Miller
With the field two spots from the money, a player in mid-position raised to 3200, and Jim Miller, one of the chip leaders, then announced all-in from the button. The raiser was agitated. "If it was aced-king I would," he said, folding his AQ. Probably a good decision as Miller showed him QQ.
Player Tags: Jim Miller, Joseph Neiman, Vanessa Rousso
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 8
Jun 30, '08
Players are now on a 20-minute break.
Blinds: 400/800 with 100 ante
Players Left: 360 of 2693
Average Stack: 21,281
Chip Leaders:
Alvin Zeidenfeld - 92,000
Jim Miller - 88,200
Elliot Smith - 79,000
Dan Harmetz - 67,200
Joe Neiman - 60,000
Nath Pizzolatto - 59,000
Cody Slaubaugh - 56,700
Lisa Surdyka - 54,100
Matt Matros - 43,600
Jason Gross - 39,000
Big Hands
Bad Move Twice
Things didn't work out for Vivek Rajkumar in level 8. Midway through the level he had the misfortunate of being moved to the table of current chip leader Jim Miller when his own table broke. A few hands later, he was sent to the rails by the aforementioned Mr. Miller.
Rajkumar lost much of his stack when his pocket 10s fell victimn to Miller's pocket queens. A few hands later, in mid-position and after some deliberation, Rajkumar moved his remaining 8925 into the middle of the table. Miller, on the button called and showed that this time it was he with 1010. He was in solid position against Rajkumar's J2. The flop came AA9, followed by the 3 on the turn and Q on the river, ending Rajkumar's tournament.
Kennedy Eliminates One
The player under the gun raised to 4000 -- just less than half his stack, and two players later Jeff Kennedy ("like the dead presidents" he explained) reraised enough to put his opponent all in. The player appeared close to folding, but finally made the call while showing ace-jack. Kennedy had AK. The flop came Q85, followed by the 10 on the turn. His opponent then celebrated when the J hit on the river, before being advised that the card also gave Kennedy the nut straight.
Pham Hanging Around
David "Dragon" Pham moved from about 9,000 in chips to about 17,000 during the level. In one hand he raised preflop to 2400 and drew no callers. In another, as a big blind, he and two others limped to see the flop come K84. The initial limper bet 2000 and both blinds folded.
Rousso Just Under Average
Vanessa Rousso has about 16,000 in chips, following an under-the-gun raise to 2200 that went uncalled.
Player Tags: David Pham, Jim Miller, Vanessa Rousso, Vivek Rajkumar, Jeff Kennedy
