$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 4
Jun 11, '08
Blinds/Antes: 100/200/25
Players Remaining: 510 of 731
Average Stack: 14,333
Notable Chip Counts:
Mark Newhouse - 40,000
Can Kim Hua - 30,200
Gavin Smith - 28,900
Jonathan Little - 28,000
Anthony Chatelain - 25,000
Marco Johnson - 20,800
Bill Edler - 20,700
Johnny Chan - 20,200
Men Nguyen - 18,300
Erica Schoenberg - 18,000
Scott Freeman - 17,500
Recent Eliminations:
Jean-Robert Bellande
Jeff Shulman
Big Hands/Storylines:
Jean-Robert Bellande Erupts After Elimination
After limping and subsequently moving all in to a late position raise from a player who others later said was committed to the pot, Jean-Robert Ballande found his A
K
up against A
5 and in good statistical shape. The 974 flop seemed to be in his favor, but the 6 turn and 3 river that completed his opponent’s runner-runner straight sent Bellande into an angry profanity-filled tirade. As he exited the tournament area, the dealer apologized on Bellande’s behalf to two elderly women spectators who watched the scene unfold.
Chris Ferguson Protects His Small Stack
On a board of 8653, Chris Ferguson checked to his opponent. Facing a bet of 850, Ferguson opted to lay his hand down and keep his remaining 5,000 in chips for another battle.
Seven-Way Limped Pot Goes to Watkinson
In the cut-off, Lee Watkinson was one of five limpers into a pot on his table. Both the small blind and the big blind respectively called and checked. On a J52 flop, the action checked to Watkinson who fired 1,400 into the pot. All players folded, and Watkinson took the 1,650 pot.
Jeff Shulman Dealt a Bad Beat
After his stack became crippled on a previous hand, Jeff Shulman shipped in his last 575 into the pot after two early position players limped into the pot. The first limper then moved all in for 6,200, causing the other limper to give up his hand. Shulman was in great shape with AK against his opponent’s KQ
, but the JT9 flop gave his opponent a straight. Shulman failed to improve on the turn and river, and was eliminated.
Players in Awe over Andy Black’s Skull
As tables continued to break, missing spots in other tables were quickly filled by transferred players. On blue table No. 44, a particularly stacked table was in the works as Gavin Smith, Andy Black, Eli Elezra, and Greg Raymer all sat side by side. The focus of their conversation was the decorated crown of a human skull Black brought with him to today’s event, presumably as a good luck charm. Black promised that it was authentic, and also added that he had previously eaten out of it as a dish. After a request to drink from it, Raymer came to his defense by saying, "He's going to eat dinner out of that later."
Jennifer Tilly V. Antonio Esfandiari
Meanwhile, Antonio Esfandiari found himself at the same table as his good friend Phil Laak’s famous girlfriend, Jennifer Tilly. During one hand, Tilly, Esfandiari, and an additional opponent saw a flop of AJ9. All three players checked, and the Q fell on the turn. Tilly bet 1,500, causing the other opponent to fold. Esfandiari paused before raising an additional 2,500. After deliberating, Tilly released her hand and Esfandiari declined to show his cards.
Player Tags: Lee Watkinson, Can Kim Hua, Chris Ferguson, Jeff Shulman, Men Nguyen, Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Johnny Chan, Jean-Robert Bellande, Jennifer Tilly, Andy Black, Mark Newhouse
$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 3
Jun 11, '08
Blinds/Antes: 100/200
Players Remaining: 600 of 731
Average Stack: 12,183
Notable Chip Counts:
Can Kim Hua - 30,200
Johnny Chan - 20,200
Jonathan Little - 20,000
Marco Johnson - 20,000
Gavin Griffin - 18,000
Shaun Deeb - 17,400
Alan Smurfit - 16,900
Bill Edler - 16,100
Alan Sass - 16,000
Andy Bloch - 15,000
Jeff Shulman – 4,000
Recent Eliminations:
Bill Gazes
Big Hands/Storylines:
Jeff Shulman’s Rocky Road
After losing two key hands, Jeff Shulman finished the level as one of the tournament’s shorter stacks.
Facing a raise to 450 from an opponent in middle position, Shulman called from the big blind and checked the J54 flop. His opponent checked behind, and the 3 fell on the turn. Again Shulman checked, allowing his opponent to fire a bet of 525 into the pot. Shulman check-raised to 2,000 total, and his opponent moved all in for 3,450 total. Shulman made the call and turned over A2 for a wheel straight. His opponent showed 75 for a flush draw and an inside straight draw. The K on the river completed the flush, and Shulman was left with less than 3,000 in chips.
Several hands later, Shulman limped from late position. The big blind checked his option, and both players saw a flop of K52. The big blind checked and Shulman bet 400, which was called. The 10 on the turn brought two checks, and Shulman’s opponent check-called a bet of 500 by Shulman on the 9 river. Shulman showed Q10, but his opponent turned over K9 for two pair. Shulman was left with 1,525 after the hand.
His stack increased to slightly over 4,000 later in the level.
Johnny Chan Eliminates an Opponent
Johnny Chan, vying for his record tying 11th World Series of Poker bracelet, eliminated an opponent when his 88 held up against his opponent’s QJ. Chan now has around 20,000 in chips.
Jamie Gold Folds Under Pressure
On a board of 8765, Jamie Gold faced a bet from his opponent of 1,600. After taking some time to deliberate and count down his remaining chips, Gold released his hand. His stack hovered around his initial 10,000 throughout most of level three.
Hevad "Rain" Khan V. Michael McKenna
After raising to 450 from under-the-gun, Hevad "Rain" Khan was called by Michael McKenna immediately to his left. Both players took the flop heads up, and Khan bet 600 on a board of Q94. McKenna released his hand. Although Khan’s stack is only 9,000, he has accumulated almost 4,000 of his total during this level.
Player Tags: Can Kim Hua, Jeff Shulman, Johnny Chan, Jamie Gold, Michael McKenna, Marco Johnson, Hevad Khan
$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 2
Jun 11, '08
Blinds/Antes: 50/100
Players Remaining: 660 of 731
Average Stack: 11,076
Notable Chip Counts:
Can Kim Hua - 21,000
Gavin Griffin – 20,000
Huck Seed - 15,700
Jennifer Tilly - 15,000
Anthony Chatelain - 14,800
Jonathan Little - 14,000
Shankar Pillai - 13,800
Bill Gazes - 11,200
Kristy Gazes - 10,700
Jeff Shulman – 7,000
Big Hands/Storylines:
Johnny World Calls a Value Bet on a Dangerous Board
After raising preflop from middle position and being called by his opponent on the button, John Hennigan checked the A64 and his opponent bet 500. Hennigan then raised to 1,300 total, and his opponent called. The K on the turn brought checks from both players. On the J river, Hennigan again checked only to face a 1,500 bet from his opponent. Hennigan called but was unhappy to see his opponent’s 44 for bottom set. Unable to beat a set, Hennigan mucked his cards.
Erik Seidel Picks Up a Pot
After momentarily leaving his table to join Phil Ivey at a table in the blue section of the Amazon Room to discuss the outcome of the next Lakers-Celtics basketball game, Erik Seidel returned just as the cards were being dealt for his turn with the button. The player under-the-gun came in for a raise to 250 and Seidel made the call. Both players checked the 1086 flop as well as the 3 turn. The original aggressor again checked the Q on the river, but Seidel bet 300 causing his opponent to fold.
Vanessa Rousso Bluffed Big Time
On a board of KQ973, Vanessa Rousso faced a bet of 2,675 from her opponent, Craig Marquis, into a pot that already contained over 6,500 in chips. Rousso deliberated for several minutes, at one point remarking, “I think you have ten-jack.” Ultimately, Rousso elected to fold and save her remaining 5,000 in chips. Marquis took the opportunity to turn over his 86 for a stone-cold bluff.
Daniel Alaei Takes Away Some Chips From Harry Demetriou
After originally limping into the pot pre-flop, Harry Demetriou called Daniel Alaei’s button raise. The two players both checked the J108 flop. On the 6 turn, Demetriou checked and Alaei bet 600. Demetriou quickly called, almost beating Alaei into the pot. The river was the 4, and again Demetriou checked. Alaei this time bet 1,500. Demetriou paused for a moment before calling. Alaei turned over KJ and Demetriou mucked his hand.
Gavin Griffin Adds to Growing Stack
Gavin Griffin took down a large pot with a set of fives, and has doubled his initial starting stack.
Player Tags: Can Kim Hua, Erik Seidel, Jeff Shulman, Huck Seed, John Hennigan, Daniel Alaei, Gavin Griffin, Jennifer Tilly, Vanessa Rousso
