Justin Young Poker Tournament Updates

Bertrand Grospellier Defeats Justin Young

Mar 04, '11

At one point, the match between Justin Young and Bertrand Grospellier looked like it would be the shortest in the room. It wound up being the longest.

Young made a wheel early on to crippled Grospellier, but some lucky all ins found Grospellier with the chip lead. On the final hand, Young was all in holding A4 against Grospellier’s pocket kings.

The kings held and Young was eliminated. Grospellier will now face Phil Galfond in the next round.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Bertrand Grospellier

Justin Young Doubles Through Matt Affleck

Dec 05, '10

After a player raised to 6,000, Matt Affleck called and Justin Young moved all in for 37,300. The initial raiser folded and Affleck called, showing AQ.

Young showed pocket kings and they held when the board fell QJ8J2. Young is now back up to 85,000 while Affleck takes a hit down to 55,000.

There are 105 players remaining.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Matt Affleck

David Plastik Doubles Up

Dec 05, '10

David Plastik entered the day very short stacked but now has some more breathing room after doubling through Justin Young.

Plastik moved all in for his last 26,000 and Young made the call with pocket tens. Plastik showed pocket threes and caught up when the board fell 5432K.

Plastik now has about 55,000, while Young is still okay with 80,000.

Player Tags: David Plastik,   Justin Young

Level 7 Update: Bustout Bonanza

Oct 16, '10

Blinds: 400-800 with a 100 ante

Players Remaining: 177 out of 317

Chip Counts:

1. Payman Arjang — 225,000
2. Peter Braglia — 190,000
3. Sorel Mizzi — 185,000
4. David Peters — 180,000
5. Annette Obrestad — 170,000
6. Noah Schwartz — 165,000
7. Danial Shiff — 165,000
8. Jeff Madsen — 160,000
9. Brandon Novena — 157,000
10. Randal Flowers 145,000

Card Player Chip Counts

Jeff Shulman — 72,000

Average Chip Count: 69,289

Notable Eliminations:

Keven Stammen
Justin Young
Kathy Liebert
Jose Barbero
Vanessa Peng
William Reynolds
Tim West
Doyle Brunson
Tony Dunst
Dan Smith
Brock Parker
Jonathan Little
Jen Harman

Big Hands:

David Williams Doubles Up Through Jeff Shulman

David Williams got the last of his chips into the middle preflop against Jeff Shulman and they flipped over their cards:

Williams: A K
Shulman: A J

Board: 8 2 2 3 9

Williams doubled up on the hand and he now holds 23,500. Shulman dropped slightly to 72,000.

Justin Young and David Baker Eliminated

Cornel Cimpan raised from the cutoff preflop and Justin moved all in for 17,000. David Baker reraised all in over the top. Cimpan made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Cimpan: K-K
Baker: 9-9
Young: A-10

Board: 10-7-3-J-4

Cimpan eliminated both Young and Baker on the hand and after starting the day with 23,000 and change he now holds about 70,000.

Sorel Mizzi Jumps to Third in the Counts

There was 17,000 in the pot and the board read K 9 4 Q when Josh Arieh bet 8,800 from the small blind. Sorel Mizzi made the call under the gun and Jeremy Menard made the call from early position. The river fell K and Arieh checked.

Mizzi bet 7,000 and Menard made the call. Arieh mucked and Mizzi turned over 10 6. Menard mucked and Mizzi held 170,000 after the hand.

Poker Tweets

Left in the Deck

Best Tournament Director Quote Ever

While trying to quell the players after a controversial decision on a pot where he invoked the over-sized chip rule, Tournament Director John Nieznanski said, “I rule the same, whether it’s my ex-wife who I hate, or my daughter who I love.”

Player Tags: Cornel Andrew Cimpan,   Jeff Shulman,   Justin Young,   David Williams,   Sorel Mizzi,   David Baker

Level 4 Update: Frank Calo Scores Double Knockout

Oct 15, '10

Blinds: 150-300 with a 25 ante

Players Remaining: 234 out of 291

Chip Counts:

1. David Peters — 125,000
2. Michael Benvenuti — 110,000
3. Frank Calo — 95,000
4. Carter Phillips — 87,000
5. Nick Grippo — 87,000
6. Daniel Negreanu — 85,000
7. Frank Calo — 85,000
8. Amit Makhija — 85,000
9. Jeff Shulman — 82,000
10. David Sands — 80,000

Card Player Chip Counts

Barry Shulman — 48,000
Tony Dunst — 39,000
Jennifer Harman — 36,000

Average Chip Count: 49,743

Notable Eliminations:

Nick Mitchell
Paul Magriel
Shannon Shorr
Andrew Flaherty

Big Hands:

Michael Binger Applies Some Preflop Pressure

Michael Binger raised to 750 from the cutoff and was called by Christian Harder on the button. Scott Clements then reraised to 2,375 from the big blind and Binger took some time before reraising to 6,250.

Both Harder and Clements quickly folded and Binger chipped up to 72,000. Clements is still going strong with about 60,000.

Frank Calo Gets Double Knockout

On a flop of 1092, Andrew Flaherty checked and Frank Calo bet 3,200. Shannon Shorr then moved all in for 17,675 and Flaherty moved all in behind him for a little more.

Calo instantly called both all ins, showing pocket deuces for bottom set. Flaherty showed pocket kings and Shorr showed QJ for the open-ended straight draw.

The turn and river fell 43 and both Shorr and Flaherty hit the rail. Calo now has 95,000 in chips.

Tony Dunst Loses Chips

Tony Dunst raised to 800 from under the gun and was called by Justin Young in the cutoff and Men Nguyen in the small blind. The flop came down AJJ and Dunst continued with a bet of 1,700.

Young called and Nguyen folded, producing the 6 on the turn. Both players checked and the river was the 5. Young bet 3,800 and Dunst folded. Dunst is now down to 28,000 while Young is up to 27,000.

Faraz Jaka Calls All In To Double Up

On a board reading 842Q7, a player bets 15,000, enough to put Faraz Jaka all in for his last 12,825. After five minutes of thought, Jaka makes the call with pocket tens and his opponent showed pocket threes.

Jaka is now up to 43,000 in chips.

Featured Poker Tweets

Card Player TV

Check out the latest from Card Player TV as they talk with defending champion Tommy Vedes.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Scott Clements,   Michael Binger,   Shannon Shorr,   Faraz Jaka,   Tony Dunst,   Frank Calo

Level 7 Update: Bustout Bonanza

Oct 16, '10

Blinds: 400-800 with a 100 ante

Players Remaining: 177 out of 317

Chip Counts:

1. Payman Arjang — 225,000
2. Peter Braglia — 190,000
3. Sorel Mizzi — 185,000
4. David Peters — 180,000
5. Annette Obrestad — 170,000
6. Noah Schwartz — 165,000
7. Danial Shiff — 165,000
8. Jeff Madsen — 160,000
9. Brandon Novena — 157,000
10. Randal Flowers 145,000

Card Player Chip Counts

Jeff Shulman — 72,000

Average Chip Count: 69,289

Notable Eliminations:

Keven Stammen
Justin Young
Kathy Liebert
Jose Barbero
Vanessa Peng
William Reynolds
Tim West
Doyle Brunson
Tony Dunst
Dan Smith
Brock Parker
Jonathan Little
Jen Harman

Big Hands:

David Williams Doubles Up Through Jeff Shulman

David Williams got the last of his chips into the middle preflop against Jeff Shulman and they flipped over their cards:

Williams: A K
Shulman: A J

Board: 8 2 2 3 9

Williams doubled up on the hand and he now holds 23,500. Shulman dropped slightly to 72,000.

Justin Young and David Baker Eliminated

Cornel Cimpan raised from the cutoff preflop and Justin moved all in for 17,000. David Baker reraised all in over the top. Cimpan made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Cimpan: K-K
Baker: 9-9
Young: A-10

Board: 10-7-3-J-4

Cimpan eliminated both Young and Baker on the hand and after starting the day with 23,000 and change he now holds about 70,000.

Sorel Mizzi Jumps to Third in the Counts

There was 17,000 in the pot and the board read K 9 4 Q when Josh Arieh bet 8,800 from the small blind. Sorel Mizzi made the call under the gun and Jeremy Menard made the call from early position. The river fell K and Arieh checked.

Mizzi bet 7,000 and Menard made the call. Arieh mucked and Mizzi turned over 10 6. Menard mucked and Mizzi held 170,000 after the hand.

Poker Tweets

Left in the Deck

Best Tournament Director Quote Ever

While trying to quell the players after a controversial decision on a pot where he invoked the over-sized chip rule, Tournament Director John Nieznanski said, “I rule the same, whether it’s my ex-wife who I hate, or my daughter who I love.”

Player Tags: Cornel Andrew Cimpan,   Jeff Shulman,   Justin Young,   David Williams,   Sorel Mizzi,   David Baker

Level 4 Update: Frank Calo Scores Double Knockout

Oct 15, '10

Blinds: 150-300 with a 25 ante

Players Remaining: 234 out of 291

Chip Counts:

1. David Peters — 125,000
2. Michael Benvenuti — 110,000
3. Frank Calo — 95,000
4. Carter Phillips — 87,000
5. Nick Grippo — 87,000
6. Daniel Negreanu — 85,000
7. Frank Calo — 85,000
8. Amit Makhija — 85,000
9. Jeff Shulman — 82,000
10. David Sands — 80,000

Card Player Chip Counts

Barry Shulman — 48,000
Tony Dunst — 39,000
Jennifer Harman — 36,000

Average Chip Count: 49,743

Notable Eliminations:

Nick Mitchell
Paul Magriel
Shannon Shorr
Andrew Flaherty

Big Hands:

Michael Binger Applies Some Preflop Pressure

Michael Binger raised to 750 from the cutoff and was called by Christian Harder on the button. Scott Clements then reraised to 2,375 from the big blind and Binger took some time before reraising to 6,250.

Both Harder and Clements quickly folded and Binger chipped up to 72,000. Clements is still going strong with about 60,000.

Frank Calo Gets Double Knockout

On a flop of 1092, Andrew Flaherty checked and Frank Calo bet 3,200. Shannon Shorr then moved all in for 17,675 and Flaherty moved all in behind him for a little more.

Calo instantly called both all ins, showing pocket deuces for bottom set. Flaherty showed pocket kings and Shorr showed QJ for the open-ended straight draw.

The turn and river fell 43 and both Shorr and Flaherty hit the rail. Calo now has 95,000 in chips.

Tony Dunst Loses Chips

Tony Dunst raised to 800 from under the gun and was called by Justin Young in the cutoff and Men Nguyen in the small blind. The flop came down AJJ and Dunst continued with a bet of 1,700.

Young called and Nguyen folded, producing the 6 on the turn. Both players checked and the river was the 5. Young bet 3,800 and Dunst folded. Dunst is now down to 28,000 while Young is up to 27,000.

Faraz Jaka Calls All In To Double Up

On a board reading 842Q7, a player bets 15,000, enough to put Faraz Jaka all in for his last 12,825. After five minutes of thought, Jaka makes the call with pocket tens and his opponent showed pocket threes.

Jaka is now up to 43,000 in chips.

Featured Poker Tweets

Card Player TV

Check out the latest from Card Player TV as they talk with defending champion Tommy Vedes.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Scott Clements,   Michael Binger,   Shannon Shorr,   Faraz Jaka,   Tony Dunst,   Frank Calo

Level 13 Update: Day 2 Ends

Aug 23, '10

NOTE: Day 2 has come to a close. Check back for more live reports tomorrow, when the remaining players return at 1 p.m.

Blinds: 1,000-2,000 with a 300 ante

Players Remaining: 60 out of 462

Notable Chip Counts:

1. Phil Collins — 898,000 (pictured right)
2. Andrew Frankenberger — 589,000
3. J.C. Alvarado — 430,000
4. Kyle McCammond — 410,000
5. Tom Braband — 374,000
6. Jordan Young — 359,000
7. Elliot Smith — 337,000
8. Jason Dorfman — 336,500
9. Adam Schiffer — 322,500
10. Jonathan Little — 305,200

Average Chip Count: 192,500

Notable Eliminations:

Justin Young
Eric Blair

Chip Movers and Shakers

It was a volatile final level to end day 2 that saw a pretty substantial reshuffle of the top 10. Phil Collins is a huge chip leader at the end of the night with 898,000. J.C. Alvarado held strong in the top five, but new faces in the top 10 at the end of day 2 include Elliot Smith and Jonathan Little. Some players that are limping into day 2 with less than 60,000 include Joe Hachem, Todd Keikoan, Franco Brunetti, J.J Liu.

Big Hands:

Eric Blair Eliminated by Phil Collins

Eric Blair raised from the cutoff and Phil Collins reraised from the big blind before Blair reraised all in to 100,000. Collins made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Blair: AQ
Collins: QQ

Board: 543J9

Collins held 625,000 after the hand and Blair was eliminated from the tournament.

Justin Young Eliminated by Phil Collins

Phil Collins raised to 6,000 under the gun and Justin Young made the call. The big blind jumped into the pot as well and the flop was dealt 965. Action was checked to Young, who bet 11,000, and the big blind made the call before Collins check-raised to 50,000 total. Young then reraised all in for 100,000 and the big blind mucked. Collins made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Collins: 54
Young: 66

Turn and River: 7 and J

Collins won the hand with a flush and he built his stack to 800,000. Young was eliminated from the tournament on the hand.

Tank-tastic Part II

Tom Braband has been spending more time in the tank than G.I. Joe during the late stages of the tournament tonight. In a previous hand he spent more than 10 minutes mulling over a decision before his table mates called the clock and he spent another prolonged period in the tank in a recent hand.

This time one player limped preflop and his opponent in the previous long hand bet 6,5000 from middle position. Braband raised to 18,500 from the button. The original player to act mucked and Braband’s old nemesis made the call.

The flop fell A92 and Braband bet 13,000. His opponent check-raised all-in for an additional 65,000 and Braband went back into the tank. He thought for a couple of minutes but once again decided to muck his cards. Braband was left with 325,000 after the hand.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Joe Hachem,   David Sands,   Tom Braband,   Phil Collins,   Eric Blair

Level Two Hour One Update: Adams Chipping up

Jul 06, '10

Blinds: 100-200

Notable Chip Counts:

Minh Ly – 60,000
Kevin Saul – 55,850
Jean-Robert Bellande – 43,000
Amit Makhija – 40,000
Brandon Adams – 40,000
Dan Kelly – 37,000
Jeremiah Smith – 35,600

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jon Friedberg – 32,500

Notable Eliminations

Mark Seif

Big Hands:

Adams Chipping Up

Brandon Adams limped under the gun and the player in seat 5 raised to 850. The player in the big blind and Adams both called.

The flop ran 57Q and the big blind checked to Adams who bet 3,300. Seat 5 called the sizeable bet quickly and the big blind folded.

The J hit on the turn and Adams again led out for 6,000. Seat 5 called very quickly again.

The 10 landed on the river and Adams bet two orange chips for a 10,000 bet. This time seat 5 took a deep breath and tanked, shaking his head. He asked Adams if he had a set and Adams didn’t move a muscle.

Seat 5 eventually folded, flashing pocket kings and Adams scooped a nice pot that put his stack around 40,000.

Swick Takes Quick Hit

In a 3-way limped pot the flop ran 104K and action was checked to seat 9, who bet 1,200. UFC fighter Mike Swick made the call and the gentleman sitting to Swick’s left raised to 5,000. Seat 9 folded and so did Swick. Despite the loss, Swick still sits with around 30,000.

Young Gets Hit With a cold Deck and Crippled

On a flop of 272, Justin Young checked and his opponent on the button bet 2,275. Young check-raised to 6,700 and his opponent went into the tank. After a minute of thought or so, his opponent moved all-in for 22,075.

Young winced and said “I’m supposed to snap-call, but I don’t like it.”

Young eventually made the call and showed K2. His opponent on the button turned up A2, giving him the better kicker with his trips.

The turn was the 5 and the river was the Q and Young was crippled with around 4,000 left.

Le Doubles With Flush

Tuan Le got his last 10,000 or so all in on a flop of 467. he held AQ for a flush draw and his opponent held the flopped set with 44.

The 5 hit on the turn, giving Le the flush, and the 10 on the river meant that doubled up to around 21,500.

Williamson Over Dang

Robert Williamson III bet 250 on a fop of JQ5 and was called by Hac Dang. Both players checked the 10 turn and the 4 river card.

Williamson showed Q6 and Dang mucked. They are both hovering around the 30,000 starting stack.

Williamson Allegedly Lays Down Aces

On a board of 109210 Robert Williamson bet 2,800. His opponent raised to 8,000 and Williamson tanked. He eventually elected to fold. His opponent tabled the K10 and Williamson claimed he folded aces.

Player Tags: Tuan Le,   Justin Young,   Brandon Adams,   Mike Swick

Level 11 Update: Amarillo Slim and Vanessa Rousso Eliminated

May 31, '10

Blinds: 500-1,000 with a 100 ante

Players Remaining: 409 out of 4,345

Average Chip Count: 31,090

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Braxton Dunaway — 139,000
2. Terry Fleischer — 119,300
3. Timothy Boytor — 108,000
4. Nancy Todd Tyner — 103,000
5. Matthew Berkey — 100,400
6. Thomas Joanides — 98,200
7. Jerrymee Jose — 96,100
8. Drew Crawford — 95,000
9. Anders Taylor — 93,200
10. Nicholas Chlebeck — 92,000

Notable Eliminations:

Amarillo “Slim” Preston
Vanessa Rousso — $1,877

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jon Friedberg – 30,000

Big Hands:

Slim Sent Home Early

After a bunch of folds, Amarillo “Slim” Preston raised to 3,000 from the cutoff. Nick Chlebeck then three-bet from the small blind to 8,500 and Preston eventually made the call. The flop fell 346 and Preston tried to move all-in out of turn. Once he was told that the action was on Chlebeck, Chlebeck checked and Preston put out a couple stacks of chips and in rapid succession Chlebeck moved all-in and was Preston moved all of his 30,000 into the middle.

Chlebeck showed AA and Preston was in bad shape tabling the A3. The turn was the 8 and the river was the 5 giving Preston a very early exit on Day 2. Chlebeck now has about 75,000 in chips.

Hamby Doubles Up Opponent, But Still Healthy

It folded to the player in the cutoff, who moved his last 9,600 into the middle. Jared Hamby was in the big blind and eventually tossed in a call. Hamby tabled A5 and was behind his opponent’s A8.

Hamby politely asked the dealer for a chop pot with a wry smile. Unfortunately the dealer put an 8 on the flop and Hamby was drawing dead on the turn. He still has 29,000 in chips.

Ladies Aren’t Lucky for Rousso

A player in middle position raised to 2,700 and Lisa Parsons raised from late position to 7,000. Vanessa Rousso then moved all in for 30,000 and the original raiser moved in for 46,600. Parsons then folds A-K face up and the other two hands were revealed.

Rousso showed the QQ and was up against the KK of her opponent. The board didn’t bring a queen for Rousso and the table got a little uglier with her exit.

Justin Young Puts an Opponent All In

Justin Young (22,000 in chips) bet 2,500 preflop and was called by an opponent. The flop came Q104 and Young’s opponent checked. Young announced all in, having his opponent significantly covered. His opponent, with only about 12,000 in chips left, tanked before folding. Young showed the AK and took the pot to increase his stack to 26,000.

Left In The Deck:

The money bubble has burst and the action seems to be picking up. We should expect to see a lot of action in the next few levels.

With so many bustouts and stoppages of time to manage the number of tables and players in the field, the tournament officials have put players on their 20 minute break a little early.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Vanessa Rousso,   Jared Hamby,   Amarillo Slim

Justin Young Gets Value From Brandon Cantu

Apr 19, '10

We caught up with the action on a flop of AJ6 and Justin Young bet 26,500 into Brandon Cantu, who made the call.

Both players checked the 4 on the turn and the river was the K. Cantu checked and Young bet 66,000. Cantu immediately called, turning over AK for top two pair, but Young showed pocket aces to win the pot with top set.

Young is now up to 285,000 and Cantu remains strong with 412,000.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Brandon Cantu

Young vs. Harder

Apr 19, '10

Justin Young raised to 5,100 under the gun and one player behind him made the call. Christian Harder made the call on the button and the big blind made the call as well. The flop was dealt A84 and action was checked around. The turn fell 2 and Young was the first to act when he bet 8,000.

Harder made the call and everyone else mucked. The river was dealt 9 and Young bet 21,500. Harder made the call after some thought and Young revealed AK to win the hand when Harder mucked. His stack fell to 55,000 after the hand and Young held 175,000.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Christian Harder

Justin Young Eliminated by Tony Korfman

Oct 27, '09

We caught up with Justin Young as he was exiting the tournament area. When asked what happened, Young replied, “I’m one of the best bluffers in the room.”

When prompted to tell who picked him off, Young admitted that it was Tony Korfman. Korfman now has 33,000.

Player Tags: Justin Young,   Tony Korfman

Level 9 Update -- Field Stands at 275

Oct 22, '09

Blinds: 800-1,600 with a 200 ante

Players Left: 139 of 275 (Official)

Average Chip Count 118,705

Chip Leaders

Steve Gross — 405,000
Corwin Cole — 390,000
Chad Batista — 360,000
Jason Sommerville — 360,000
Chau Giang — 350,000
Mike Leah — 340,000
Markus Gonsalves — 320,000
Chino Rheem — 315,000
Justin Young — 290,000
Mark Seif — 270,000

Card Player Chip Counts

Mike Matusow — 210,000
Barry Shulman — 65,000
Jennifer Harman — Eliminated

Notable Eliminations:

Jennifer Harman
James Van Alstyne
Phil Hellmuth
Paul Wasicka
Hoyt Corkins
Isaac Haxton
Isaac Baron
Brian Rast
Beth Shak
Allen Cunningham
Nick Schulman
Men Nguyen
Matt Graham
Kenny Tran
Yevgeniy Timoshenko

Level Summary:

The official number of players in the tournament stands at 275 and the total prize pool is more than $4 million. The full payout structure has yet to be released, but it should be out soon.

There were 30 players that decided to skip the first day of play here at Bellagio enter the tournament on day 2. Two of the biggest names in the field that decided to take this approach have already busted out of the tournament. Phil Hellmuth entered the field during level 7, but before level 9 came to a close he was eliminated. Two hands where Hellmuth held A-K ultimately led to his demise. Both hands were coin flips and each time Hellmuth lost the flip. On Hellmuth’s final hand Dee Loung held pocket jacks to send him to the rail.

Kenny Tran jumped into play near the end of level 9 and he lasted only a few minutes after his stack was blinded down to 48,000. Tran moved all in preflop KQ and Steve Gross made the call with 77. The board fired out A22K7 and Tran was quickly eliminated by the full house of Gross. The hand took the chip stack of Gross up to 405,000, which is good for the chip lead with one level left on day 2.

One of the best hands of the level involved Justin Young. He opened a pot for a raise from early position and the button called. The flop fell 875 and Young led out for 6,500. His opponent made the call and the turn fell Q. Young bet 13,500 and the button called again. The river fell 2 and Young fired out 25,000. The button raised to 75,000 and Young went into the tank. He eventually made the call and his opponent instantly mucked. Young flipped over A10 as he collected the pot and grew his stack to 290,000.

Player Tags: Phil Hellmuth,   Justin Young,   Kenny Tran,   Lee Duong,   Steve Gross