James Calderaro Poker Tournament Updates

Level 28: Valdemar Kwaysser Wins Event No. 38

Jun 23, '10

Blinds: 40,000-80,000

Players Remaining: 1 out of 268

Notable Eliminations:

4. Konstantin Bucherl — $214,106
3. James Calderaro — $284,845
2. Matt Marafioti — $381,507

Big Hands:

Konstantin Bucherl Eliminated In Fourth Place ($214,106)

Konstantin Bucherl found himself all in preflop against Valdemar Kwaysser. Here were their cards:

Bucherl: AQ
Kwaysser: AK

The board ran out K10384 and Bucherl was eliminated.

James Calderaro Eliminated In Third Place ($284,845)

James Calderaro opened for a raise and Valdemar Kwaysser repotted. Calderaro then moved in for 1.7 million and Kwaysser made the call. Here were their cards:

Calderaro: AK
Kwaysser: JJ

The board ran out 65433 and Kwaysser’s jacks held, sending Calderaro to the rail in third.

Valdemar Kwaysser Wins Event No. 38 ($617,214), Matt Marafioti Eliminated In Second Place ($381,507)

Matt Marafioti raised to 200,000 preflop and Valdemar Kwaysser made the call. The flop came down J106 and Marafioti bet 425,000.

Kwaysser reraised the pot and Marafioti put all his chips in the middle. Here were their cards:

Marafioti: K6
Kwaysser: J8

Marafioti was drawing very live with four clubs against Kwaysser’s top pair. The turn and river were both black, but they were the Q and 7 and Kwaysser took down his first WSOP bracelet.

Player Tags: James Calderaro,   Konstantin Bucherl,   Matthew Marafioti,   Valdemar Kwaysser

Level 18 Update: Money Bubble Bursts

Jun 22, '10

Blinds: 5,000-10,000

Players Remaining: 26 out of 268

Average Chip Count: 309,230

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Peter Jetten – 684,000
2. Clement Thumy – 616,000
3. Sam Stein – 531,000
4. Thomas Marchese – 522,000
5. James Calderaro – 509,000
6. Marc Inizen – 492,000
7. Nathan Doudney – 465,000
8. Nikolai Yakovenko – 463,000
9. Dani Stern – 425,000
10. Alexander Kuzmin – 424,000

Notable Eliminations:

Jason Lester

Big Hands:

Makhija Busts Minnullin

Albert Minnullin raised to 25,000 from the button and Amit Makhija reraised from the big blind. Minnullin then came over the top with all of his chips and Makhija made the call.

Minnullin tabled QJ but was dominated by Makhija’s AQ.

The board ran out AJ910A to give Makhija trip aces and send Minnullin out the door. Makhija was at 184,000.

Calderaro Doubles Through Thumy

Clement Thumy raised to 17,000 and James Calderaro made the call from the cutoff. The flop came down Q33 and Thumy bet 18,000. Calderaro called and the 7 came on the turn.

Both players checked and the river was the 9. Thumy bet 56,000 and Calderaro shoved for 110,000. After a few moments of thought Thumy called.

Calderaro then tabled 77 for a full house and Thumy mucked. Calderaro doubled to 590,000 while Thumy was down to 420,000.

Jason Lester Busts, Hand For Hand Commences

Jason Lester found himself all in preflop against Peter Jetten. Lester was holding AK, but was in deep trouble against Jetten’s KK.

The board ran out 85577 and Lester was eliminated.

With his elimination the field was down to 28, resulting in the beginning of hand-for-hand play until the money bubble bursts.

Mike Matusow Triples Up And Bursts Money Bubble In Process

Mike Matusow moved all in for 33,000 before the flop and Ilya Bulychev moved all in right behind him. Both players were called by Konstantin Bucheri.

Matusow tabled AK, Bulychev showed KQ and Bucheri showed AQ.

The board ran out 987108 and Matusow’s ace-high held up. He tripled up to over 100,000 and Bulychev was the bubble boy as he lost the side pot with Bucheri.

After Surviving Bubble, Matusow First To Cash

Marc Inizen put in a raise preflop and Mike Matusow moved in from the small blind. Inizen called, tabling J10. Matusow was dominating as he showed A10.

But the flop came down J22 and Matusow was behind the 8-ball. The board finished off 98 and Matusow was the first player to earn some money in event no. 38.

Player Tags: Mike Matusow,   Jason Lester,   James Calderaro,   Amit Makhija,   Ilya Bulychev,   Albert Minnullin,   Clement Thumy

Level 17: Money Within Reach

Jun 22, '10

Blinds: 4,000-8,000

Players Remaining: 33 out of 268

Average Chip Count: 243,636

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Clement Thumy – 775,000
2. Sam Stein – 468,000
3. Nikolai Yakovenko – 405,000
4. Sandra Naujoks – 397,000
5. Peter Jetten – 385,000
6. Nathan Doudney – 375,000
7. Alexander Kuzmin – 375,000
8. Vitaly Lunkin – 366,000
9. Thomas Marchese – 360,000
10. Marc Inizan – 360,000

Notable Eliminations:

Nam Le

Big Hands:

Noah Boeken Doubles Up Again

Noah Boeken raised to 28,000 from under the gun and Steve Landfish repotted to 63,000 from the button.

Boeken then moved in for 20,000 more and Landfish made the call. Boeken turned over 99 while Landfish showed AQ.

The flop came down 987, giving Boeken top set. The board finished off 4 and 6, securing the double up for Boeken.

He was at 178,000 while Landfish was at 280,000.

Thumy Takes A Pot

Clement Thumy raised to 17,000 from under the gun and James Calderaro made the call from the cutoff. The flop then came down K108 and Thumy led out for 26,000.

Calderaro made the call and the turn was the 7 and Thumy checked. Calderaro fired 70,000 and Thumy made the call.

The river was the 2 and both players elected to check. Thumy showed down K9 for top pair and Calderaro mucked. Thumy was at 775,000.

Dani Stern Doubles Up

Dani Stern raised to 28,000 from early position and John Dwyer reraised to 80,000. Stern made the call, putting himself all in.

Stern turned over AQ while Dwyer tabled 99. The board ran out KJ6104 and Stern made Broadway to double up to 142,000.

Player Tags: Noah Boeken,   John Dwyer,   James Calderaro,   Dani Stern,   Clement Thumy

Level 28: Valdemar Kwaysser Wins Event No. 38

Jun 23, '10

Blinds: 40,000-80,000

Players Remaining: 1 out of 268

Notable Eliminations:

4. Konstantin Bucherl — $214,106
3. James Calderaro — $284,845
2. Matt Marafioti — $381,507

Big Hands:

Konstantin Bucherl Eliminated In Fourth Place ($214,106)

Konstantin Bucherl found himself all in preflop against Valdemar Kwaysser. Here were their cards:

Bucherl: AQ
Kwaysser: AK

The board ran out K10384 and Bucherl was eliminated.

James Calderaro Eliminated In Third Place ($284,845)

James Calderaro opened for a raise and Valdemar Kwaysser repotted. Calderaro then moved in for 1.7 million and Kwaysser made the call. Here were their cards:

Calderaro: AK
Kwaysser: JJ

The board ran out 65433 and Kwaysser’s jacks held, sending Calderaro to the rail in third.

Valdemar Kwaysser Wins Event No. 38 ($617,214), Matt Marafioti Eliminated In Second Place ($381,507)

Matt Marafioti raised to 200,000 preflop and Valdemar Kwaysser made the call. The flop came down J106 and Marafioti bet 425,000.

Kwaysser reraised the pot and Marafioti put all his chips in the middle. Here were their cards:

Marafioti: K6
Kwaysser: J8

Marafioti was drawing very live with four clubs against Kwaysser’s top pair. The turn and river were both black, but they were the Q and 7 and Kwaysser took down his first WSOP bracelet.

Player Tags: James Calderaro,   Konstantin Bucherl,   Matthew Marafioti,   Valdemar Kwaysser

Level 18 Update: Money Bubble Bursts

Jun 22, '10

Blinds: 5,000-10,000

Players Remaining: 26 out of 268

Average Chip Count: 309,230

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Peter Jetten – 684,000
2. Clement Thumy – 616,000
3. Sam Stein – 531,000
4. Thomas Marchese – 522,000
5. James Calderaro – 509,000
6. Marc Inizen – 492,000
7. Nathan Doudney – 465,000
8. Nikolai Yakovenko – 463,000
9. Dani Stern – 425,000
10. Alexander Kuzmin – 424,000

Notable Eliminations:

Jason Lester

Big Hands:

Makhija Busts Minnullin

Albert Minnullin raised to 25,000 from the button and Amit Makhija reraised from the big blind. Minnullin then came over the top with all of his chips and Makhija made the call.

Minnullin tabled QJ but was dominated by Makhija’s AQ.

The board ran out AJ910A to give Makhija trip aces and send Minnullin out the door. Makhija was at 184,000.

Calderaro Doubles Through Thumy

Clement Thumy raised to 17,000 and James Calderaro made the call from the cutoff. The flop came down Q33 and Thumy bet 18,000. Calderaro called and the 7 came on the turn.

Both players checked and the river was the 9. Thumy bet 56,000 and Calderaro shoved for 110,000. After a few moments of thought Thumy called.

Calderaro then tabled 77 for a full house and Thumy mucked. Calderaro doubled to 590,000 while Thumy was down to 420,000.

Jason Lester Busts, Hand For Hand Commences

Jason Lester found himself all in preflop against Peter Jetten. Lester was holding AK, but was in deep trouble against Jetten’s KK.

The board ran out 85577 and Lester was eliminated.

With his elimination the field was down to 28, resulting in the beginning of hand-for-hand play until the money bubble bursts.

Mike Matusow Triples Up And Bursts Money Bubble In Process

Mike Matusow moved all in for 33,000 before the flop and Ilya Bulychev moved all in right behind him. Both players were called by Konstantin Bucheri.

Matusow tabled AK, Bulychev showed KQ and Bucheri showed AQ.

The board ran out 987108 and Matusow’s ace-high held up. He tripled up to over 100,000 and Bulychev was the bubble boy as he lost the side pot with Bucheri.

After Surviving Bubble, Matusow First To Cash

Marc Inizen put in a raise preflop and Mike Matusow moved in from the small blind. Inizen called, tabling J10. Matusow was dominating as he showed A10.

But the flop came down J22 and Matusow was behind the 8-ball. The board finished off 98 and Matusow was the first player to earn some money in event no. 38.

Player Tags: Mike Matusow,   Jason Lester,   James Calderaro,   Amit Makhija,   Ilya Bulychev,   Albert Minnullin,   Clement Thumy

Level 17: Money Within Reach

Jun 22, '10

Blinds: 4,000-8,000

Players Remaining: 33 out of 268

Average Chip Count: 243,636

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Clement Thumy – 775,000
2. Sam Stein – 468,000
3. Nikolai Yakovenko – 405,000
4. Sandra Naujoks – 397,000
5. Peter Jetten – 385,000
6. Nathan Doudney – 375,000
7. Alexander Kuzmin – 375,000
8. Vitaly Lunkin – 366,000
9. Thomas Marchese – 360,000
10. Marc Inizan – 360,000

Notable Eliminations:

Nam Le

Big Hands:

Noah Boeken Doubles Up Again

Noah Boeken raised to 28,000 from under the gun and Steve Landfish repotted to 63,000 from the button.

Boeken then moved in for 20,000 more and Landfish made the call. Boeken turned over 99 while Landfish showed AQ.

The flop came down 987, giving Boeken top set. The board finished off 4 and 6, securing the double up for Boeken.

He was at 178,000 while Landfish was at 280,000.

Thumy Takes A Pot

Clement Thumy raised to 17,000 from under the gun and James Calderaro made the call from the cutoff. The flop then came down K108 and Thumy led out for 26,000.

Calderaro made the call and the turn was the 7 and Thumy checked. Calderaro fired 70,000 and Thumy made the call.

The river was the 2 and both players elected to check. Thumy showed down K9 for top pair and Calderaro mucked. Thumy was at 775,000.

Dani Stern Doubles Up

Dani Stern raised to 28,000 from early position and John Dwyer reraised to 80,000. Stern made the call, putting himself all in.

Stern turned over AQ while Dwyer tabled 99. The board ran out KJ6104 and Stern made Broadway to double up to 142,000.

Player Tags: Noah Boeken,   John Dwyer,   James Calderaro,   Dani Stern,   Clement Thumy

Dwyte Pilgrim Doubles Up

Apr 20, '10

James Calderaro raised from middle position preflop and Dwyte Pilgrim raised all in for 65,500. Calderaro made the call and turned over A6. Pilgrim held 88 and the board ran out KJ399. Pilgrim doubled up to 140,000 after the hand and Calderaro was left with 130,000.

Player Tags: James Calderaro,   Dwyte Pilgrim

James Calderaro Eliminated in 16th Place ($41,160)

Jan 13, '10

Carter Phillips raised to 10,500 in middle position and James Calderaro reraised to 25,500. Sandra Naujoks then moved all in from the button for 150,000.

Phillips then reraised all in to isolate, but Calderaro called as well. Naujoks showed pocket nines, Calderaro showed pocket kings and Phillips was praying for an ace with AK.

The board came JJ947 and Naujoks just about tripled up. Calderaro was eliminated and Phillips fell to 145,000.

After the hand, Matt Marafioti informed the table that he folded 94, so Naujoks actually hit a one-outer to survive and triple up. Calderaro earned $41,160 for his in the money finish.

Player Tags: James Calderaro,   Sandra Naujoks,   Carter Phillips

Level 33 Hour 1 Update: Jeff Shulman Eliminates Ben Lamb

Jul 15, '09

Blinds: 120,000-240,000 with a 30,000 ante

Players Remaining: 12 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Eric Buchman – 33,800,000
2. Steven Begleiter – 27,730,000
3. Darvin Moon – 25,100,000
4. Jeff Shulman – 22,600,000
5. Billy Kopp – 18,900,000
6. Jordan Smith – 16,700,000
7. Joe Cada – 12,260,000
8. Kevin Schaffel – 11,700,000
9. Antoine Saout – 10,055,000
10. Phil Ivey – 7,400,000

Card Player Chip Count:

Jeff Shulman – 22,600,000

Average Chip Count: 14,986,153

Eliminations:

14. Ben Lamb – $633,022
13. James Calderaro – $633,022

Twitter Updates:

Jeff Shulman at 22,600,000 (twitter feed)
Billy Kopp at 18,900,000 (twitter feed)
Phil Ivey at 7,400,000 (twitter feed)

Big Hands:

Phil Ivey Starts Level Off On Right Foot

Phil Ivey bet 675,000 preflop and Joe Cada called. The flop came A75 and Cada checked to the seven-time bracelet winner. Ivey bet 800,000 and Cada made the call. The 3 fell on the turn. Cada again checked, and this time Ivey bet 1,700,000. Cada mucked and Ivey took the pot to boost his chip stack to 9,030,000 after the hand.

Jamie Robbins Catches Miracle

Joe Cada raised to 600,000. Jamie Robbins moved all in for 1,370,000. Cada insta-called. Cada exposed the AA and was ahead of the 1010 of Robbins. The board read K625 on the turn, and Robbins needed to catch one of the two remaining tens in the deck to stay alive. The dealer pealed off the 10 to the shock of the crowd. Robbins doubled to 3,310,000.

Jeff Shulman Climbing

Jordan Smith raised 750,000 from under the gun. Next to act was Jeff Shulman and he made the call. Two players saw a flop of K102. Smith bet 650,000 and Shulman raised to 1,700,000. Smith contemplated briefly before finally mucking. Shulman was at 15,100,000 after the hand and Smith was at 15,700,000.

Jeff Shulman Eliminates Ben Lamb in 14th Place ($633,022)

From the cutoff, Ben Lamb bet 655,000. Action was folded to Jeff Shulman in the big blind. He raised enough to put Lamb all in. Lamb went into the tank and eventually made the call with the AJ. Shulman exposed the AK and was in command. The board ran out K9372, as Lamb was drawing dead on the turn. Shulman eliminated his opponent and built his stack to 22,000,000.

Chip Leader Getting Stronger

Joe Cada raised to 600,000 from under the gun. Antoine Saout called from the button and Eric Buchman called from the big blind. All three players saw a flop of A87 and Buchman checked. Cada fired out a million and Saout folded. Buchman made the call and the 5 fell on the turn. Buchman led out with 2,500,000 and Saout eventually mucked. Buchman was at 33,950,000 after the hand.

James Calderaro Eliminated in 13th Place ($633,022)

James Calderaro was short when he moved all in for 2,500,000 from the button. Kevin Schaffel made the call from the big blind. Schaffel exposed the 1010 while Calderaro exposed the KJ. The board ran out Q52Q, as Calderaro was down to his last card. He picked up a flush draw on the turn but nothing materialized as the 5 fell on the river. Schaffel is now at 11,700,000.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Phil Ivey,   Jamie Robbins,   James Calderaro

Level 32 Hour 2 Update: Phil Ivey Coming Back

Jul 15, '09

Note: The players are now on a 90 minute dinner break.

Blinds: 100,000-200,000 with a 30,000 ante

Players Remaining: 14 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Eric Buchman – 28,670,000
2. Steven Begleiter – 27,260,000
3. Darvin Moon – 23,800,000
4. Joseph Cada – 19,465,000
5. Jordan Smith – 18,884,000
6. Jeff Shulman – 13,800,000
7. Billy Kopp – 13,500,000
8. Antoine Saout – 12,420,000
9. Kevin Schaffel – 10,630,000
10. Phil Ivey – 7,325,000

Card Player Chip Count:

Jeff Shulman – 13,800,000

Average Chip Count: 12,988,000

Eliminations:

15. Nick Maimone — $633,022

Twitter Updates:

Jeff Shulman at 13,800,000 (twitter feed)
Billy Kopp at 13,500,000 (twitter feed)
Phil Ivey at 7,325,000 (twitter feed)

Big Hands:

Ivey Tries To Mount A Comeback

Phil Ivey started this hand as the short stack in the tournament, but it did not stop him from raising to 500,000 preflop. Antoine Saout made the call and the flop came down 663. Ivey bet 700,000 and that was enough to chase Saout away.

Ivey took down the pot and he was at 6.5 million.

Calderaro Doubles Up

Jeff Shulman raised to 600,000 preflop and Darvin Moon made the call. The action was on James Calderaro who moved in for about 2.5 million. Shulman mucked but Moon made the call.

Calderaro: AK
Moon: AQ

Board: 1044K3

Calderaro paired up on the turn but needed to avoid Moon’s gutshot straight draw. The 3 helped him do just that and he doubled up 5.8 million.

Joe Cada Moves All In

Joe Cada raised to 500,000 from the cutoff and Jamie Robbins raised to 1,700,000 from the button. Cada moved all in. Robbins instantly folded. Cada is at 17,090,000.

Jeff Shulman Doubles Up Ben Lamb

Shulman raised to 700,000. Lamb moved all in for 1,710,000 on top from the small blind. Shulman made the call. Lamb exposed the 1010 while Shulman table t he KJ. The players were off to a race. The board ran out 97QQ. Lamb was at 4,900,000 after the hand. Shulman was at 12,000,000 after the hand.

Antoine Saout Doubles Up

From the button, James Akenhead reraised Antoine Saout’s cutoff bet of 550,000. Saout moved in for just over 5.7 million and Akenhead made the call. Saout exposed the 88 and was up against the AK of Akenhead. The board ran out 1042Q3. Saout doubled to 13,020,000. Akenhead has just 2,600,000.

Ivey Coming Back

Phil Ivey raised preflop to 525,000 and Eric Buchman called from the big blind. Buchman checked on a flop of 622 and Ivey fired out a continuation bet of 700,000. Buchman folded and Ivey was at 7,200,000 after the hand.

James Akenhead Doubles Up

Jamie Robbins raised to 530,000 preflop. James Akenhead moved all in for 2,390,000 and Robbins called, exposing the AA. Akenhead exposed the dominated KQ. The board ran out KQJ75 and Akenhead cracked the aces to double to 5,090,000.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Phil Ivey,   James Calderaro

James Calderaro Eliminated in 20th Place ($105,525)

Apr 23, '08

James Calderaro is all in preflop from the big blind with 66 against Nick Binger's 99. The board comes 75257, and Binger's pocket nines hold up to win the pot, increasing his stack to about 665,000.

James Calderaro is eliminated in 20th place, earning $205,525.

Calderaro busted right on the heels of Jonathan Kalmar (21st place), and there might be a split in the prize money. We'll assume they finished 21st and 20th, but if it's declared a tie (chopping the prize money), we'll let you know.

Player Tags: James Calderaro,   Nick Binger

James Calderaro Crippled

Apr 23, '08

Nick Binger just doubled up through James Calderaro to grow his stack to 575,000. Calderaro is crippled on the hand down to 45,000. He tripled up a few hands later, but he us still the low stack left in play. 

Player Tags: James Calderaro,   Nick Binger