Fabrice Soulier Poker Tournament Updates

Fabrice Soulier Wins Event #37 ($609,130)

Jun 24, '11

Shawn Buchanan Eliminated in 2nd Place ($376,458)
Omaha 8

Shawn Buchanan entered the final day with a chip deficit of more than 6:1 with just 910,000 to Fabrice Soulier’s 6,290,000 in chips. Buchanan couldn’t really get anything going this afternoon and was eliminated in 2nd place shortly after the day began.

Fabrice Soulier button-raised before the flop and Shawn Buchanan called from the big blind.

The flop came 10 8 4, Buchanan bet, Soulier raised, Buchanan reraised, Soulier four-bet and Buchanan called all in.

Buchanan: J J 10 7
Soulier: Q J 8 6

Buchanan was ahead with a pair of jacks when the money went in on the flop, but the turn and river were the A and the 6, giving Soulier two pair on the river to scoop the pot. Shawn Buchanan was eliminated in 2nd place ($376,458) while Fabrice Soulier wins the gold bracelet for Event #37 and the $609,130 grand prize.

Player Tags: Shawn Buchanan,   Fabrice Soulier

Level 29: Day 4 Begins; Soulier Leads Buchanan Heads-Up

Jun 24, '11

NOTE: Play ended last night at approximately 4:00am in accordance with the ten-level rule and resumed at 3:00pm. The final two players will continue to play today until a winner is determined.

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 100,000-200,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 50,000-100,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 20,000
Bring In: 30,000
Completion: 100,000

Players Remaining: 2 out of 240

Average Chip Count: 3,600,000

Chip Counts:

1. Fabrice Soulier – 6,290,000
2. Shawn Buchanan – 910,000

Payouts:

1st. $609,130
2nd. $376,458

Eliminations:

3rd. Andrewy Zaichenko – $247,799
4th. Daniel Ospina – $180,750
5th. Tom Dwan – $134,480
6th. Matthew Ashton – $101,813
7th. Michael Binger – $78,328
8th. Jacobo Fernandez – $61,160

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Shawn Buchanan,   Fabrice Soulier

Level 28: End of Day 3; Soulier Leads Buchanan Heads-Up

Jun 24, '11

NOTE: Play ended for the night at approximately 4:00am with the conclusion of Level 28. The remaining two players will return at 3:00pm and will continue until a winner is determined.

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 100,000-200,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 50,000-1000,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 20,000
Bring In: 30,000
Completion: 100,000

Players Remaining: 2 out of 240

Average Chip Count: 3,600,000

Chip Counts:

1. Fabrice Soulier – 6,290,000
2. Shawn Buchanan – 910,000

End of Day 3; Soulier Leads Buchanan Heads-Up

Shawn Buchanan started heads-up play with a 2:1 chip lead of 4.8 million to Fabrice Soulier’s 2.4 million. Soulier quickly took the chip lead in the Omaha 8 round after making a wheel to scoop a big pot and take the lead with 5 million to Buchanan’s 2.2 million.

Soulier went on to widen the gap a bit in the following Razz and Seven Card Stud portions, ultimately amassing 10:1 chip lead of 6.5 million to Buchanan’s 650,000. Buchanan doubled back in the Stud 8 round and then again in the the Hold’em portion, but still ended the night on the short stack with under one million.

Soulier takes a comfortable chip lead of more than 6:1 heading into Day 4, so be sure to check at 3:00pm for hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Shawn Buchanan,   Fabrice Soulier

Level 27: Buchanan Leads Soulier Heads-Up; Zaichenko 3rd

Jun 24, '11

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 80,000-160,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 40,000-80,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 20,000
Bring In: 20,000
Completion: 80,000

Players Remaining: 2 out of 240

Average Chip Count: 3,600,000

Chip Counts:

1. Shawn Buchanan – 4,455,000
2. Fabrice Soulier – 2,820,000

Eliminations:

3rd. Andrey Zaichenko – $247,799

Andrey Zaichenko Eliminated in 3rd Place ($247,799)

Fabrice Soulier brought it in with the A, Shawn Buchanan called with the 7, Andrey Zaichenko raised all in for 70,000 with the 5 and both players called. Both players checked the side pot until sixth street when Buchanan bet out and Soulier folded.

Zaichenko: J 8 5 2 10 5 5
Buchanan: 10 7 7 7 A 6 J

Buchanan scooped the pot with trip sevens and Andrey Zaichenko was eliminated in 3rd place.

NOTE: With the elimination of Andrey Zaichenko in 3rd place, Shawn Buchanan took the chip lead going into heads-up play with 4,455,000 to Farbrice Soulier’s 2,820,000.

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Fabrice Soulier,   Andrey Zaichenko

Level 26: Daniel Ospina Eliminated in 4th Place ($180,750)

Jun 24, '11

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 60,000-120,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 30,000-60,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 15,000
Bring In: 20,000
Completion: 60,000

Players Remaining: 3 out of 240

Average Chip Count: 2,400,000

Chip Counts:

1. Shawn Buchanan – 3,385,000
2. Fabrice Soulier – 2,030,000
3. Andrey Zaichenko – 1,775,000

Eliminations:

4th. Daniel Ospina – $180,750

Daniel Ospina Eliminated in 4th Place ($180,750)
Hold’em

Shawn Buchanan opened for a raise from under the gun, Daniel Ospina moved all in with the short stack from the small blind, Fabrice Soulier called from the big blind and Buchanan called the raise.

The flop came J 9 4 and both players checked the side pot.

The turn was the 9, Soulier bet and Buchanan folded.

Soulier turned over 4 4 for a full house while Ospina was drawing dead with Q 10. The river was the 8 and Daniel Ospina was eliminated in 4th place ($180,750).

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Shawn Buchanan,   Fabrice Soulier,   Daniel Ospina

Level 23: Pescatori Eliminated 9th, Final Table Now Underway

Jun 23, '11

NOTE: Play ended last night with 23 players in accordance with the ten-level rule and resumed at 3:00pm. With the elimination of Max Pescatori in 9th place ($48,436), the official eight-handed final table is now underway.

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 30,000-60,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 15,000-30,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 7,000
Bring In: 10,000
Completion: 30,000

Players Remaining: 8 out of 240

Average Chip Count: 900,000

Chip Counts:

1. Tom Dwan – 1,842,000
2. Fabrice Soulier – 1,700,000
3. Andrey Zaichenko 1,181,000
4. Daniel Ospina – 1,111,000
5. Shawn Buchanan – 826,000
6. Michael Binger – 358,000
7. Matthew Ashton – 103,000
8. Jacobo Fernandez – 46,000

Payouts:

1st. $609,130
2nd. $376,458
3rd. $247,799
4th. $180,750
5th. $134,480
6th. $101,813
7th. $78,328
8th. $61,160

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Player Tags: Max Pescatori,   Shawn Buchanan,   Fabrice Soulier,   Michael Binger,   Tom Dwan,   Jacobo Fernandez,   Andrey Zaichenko,   Matthew Ashton,   Daniel Ospina

Level 17 Hour Two Update: Lots of Eliminations Early

Jul 14, '10

Blinds: 3,000-6,000 with a 1,000 ante

Players Remaining: 500 out of 7,319

Average Chip Count: 439,140

Card Player Chip Counts:

Adam Schoenfeld — 320,000
Andrew Brokos — 487,000
Josh Brikis — 1,194,000

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Tony Dunst – 1,470,000
2. Duy Le – 1,460,000
3. Matt Affleck – 1,450,000
4. Phil Galfond – 1,392,000
5. Matthew Jarvis – 1,373,000
6. Garrett Adelstein – 1,290,000
7. Benjamin Statz – 1,283,000
8. Theo Jorgensen – 1,260,000
9. Matthew Brown – 1,203,000
10. Josh Brikis – 1,194,000

Notable Eliminations:

Lauren Kling
Fabrice Soulier
Yevgeniy Timoshenko
Eric Buchman
Shannon Shorr
Matt Matros

Big Hands:

Lee Finds a Double

Bernard Lee got his last 41,000 into the middle prefop against Dragan Galic. Galic tabled AQ and Lee showed 66 and it was time to race.

Lee flopped a set and doubled up to 100,000 as the board ran out 862A5.

Billirakis Scores an Early KO

Jamie Robbins and Steve Billirakis got tangled up in a preflop raising war which led to Robbins committing the last of his chips in the middle and Billirakis making the call.

Robbins tabled K-Q and Billirakis showed AK. The board ran out good for Billirakis as it came 649K9. Robbins shook Billirakis’ hand and headed to claim his prize money.

Matros Crippled Compliments of a Cold Deck

Matt Matros and Kevin Stani got all of Stani’s chips in the middle preflop. Matros showed KK, but ran into the AA of Stani. The board came A8763 and Matros lost 294,000 to Stani, leaving him with just 59,000.

Matros was eliminated just an orbit later.

The Johnny Chan Show Continues on Day Five

Andrew Jeter moved in his last 42,000 from the small blind after Johnny Chan had raised under-the-gun. Chan made the call and it was off to showdown.

Jeter showed K8 and Chan was ahead with pocket threes. The board came out Q32AJ. Chan is up to 1,170,000 and Jeter is off to collect his money.

Soulier Gone

Fabrice Soulier moved all-in for his last 79,000 from the cutoff and David Emmons three-bet from the button to isolate and both blinds folded.

Soulier was in trouble when Emmons showed AK and Soulier could only muster up K10. Soulier caught a good flop of Q106, but the J on the turn gave Emmons the nut straight. The 8 couldn’t salvage a chop for Soulier and he was eliminated.

Buchman Eliminated as Rice Doubles

Shawn Rice and Eric Buchman got into a prelflop battle with Rice and Buchman being on the button and in the big blind. They ended up getting all-in with very similar stack sizes.

Buchman showed KQ and Rice held KK. After they counted out the stacks, it was revealed that Rice had Buchman covered by just 2,000 chips.

The board ran out 599A7 and Buchman’s chances at a repeat of last year’s final table appearance are over.

Hougaard Slips

Isaac Krantz moved all-in on a flop of J64 and Jesper Hougaard quickly made the call.

Hougaard showed pocket kings, but had to fade some cards when Krantz showed 57, giving him an open-ended straight draw. The 8 on the turn meant that Hougaard went from first to worst and he slipped to 757,000 and Krantz doubled up to 320,000.

Rast Sent Packing

Brian Rast raised from early position and Greg Schaefer three-bet from middle position. Rast made the call and the fop came Q94. All the money got in the middle and Rast showed A7, good for a flush draw and Schaefer showed AQ, giving him top pair.

The turn was the 10 and the river was the A. Rast missed his draw and he was sent to the rail, while Schaefer is now up to 810,000 in chips.

David Peters Doubles Up

David Peters got his stack of about 300,000 in preflop with the AK versus the 75 of an opponent. The board ran out J10368 and he doubled to about 640,000.

Brett Richey Doubles Up

A player in middle position bet 16,000 and Brett Richey moved all in for 209,000. His opponent went into the tank before eventually making the call. Richey exposed the AK while his opponent tabled the AQ. The board ran out K102104 and Richey doubled to about 460,000.

Shannon Shorr Eliminated

On a board of K1033 one player was already all in. There was a side pot between Shannon Shorr and another player. Shorr and his opponent got all the money in and Shorr tabled pocket tens but was no good against the pocket kings of his opponent. The river bricked for Shorr and his stack of over 400,000 was gone. The other all-in player had A-K and was also eliminated.

Lauren Kling Eliminated

Lauren Kling moved all in preflop for 52,000 with the AQ and was called by an opponent with the 88. The pocket pair held as the board ran out 10-6-5-2-9. Kling was gone.

Eric Baldwin Doubles Up a Player

A player in late position moved all in for 93,000 and it was folded to Eric Baldwin in the small blind. Baldwin tanked before finally moving all in over the top to force the big blind out. Baldwin’s opponent tabled the QQ and Baldwin exposed the 77. The queens held as the board ran out 662AJ. Baldwin was still at over 400,000 after the hand.

Twitter Accounts

Bernard Lee
Scotty Nguyen
Tristan Wade
Brandon Cantu

Player Tags: Eric Buchman,   Johnny Chan,   Fabrice Soulier,   Steve Billirakis,   Bernard Lee,   Brian Rast,   Shannon Shorr,   Eric Baldwin,   Lauren Kling

Level 19 Update: A Couple Eliminations Already

Jul 03, '10

Blinds: 8,000-16,000

Players Remaining: 26 out of 346

Average Chip Count: 346,000

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Tom Dwan – 910,000
2. Julio Marines – 675,000
3. Danny Wong – 563,000
4. Ville Mattila – 540,000
5. Ludovic Lacay – 528,000
6. Seamus Cahill – 495,000
7. Daniel Harmetz – 490,000
8. Miguel Proulx – 468,000
9. Dmitry Stelmak – 448,000
10. Alessio Isaia – 443,000

Notable Eliminations:

Shawn Hattem – $19,839
Fabrice Soulier – $19,839
Nenad Medic – $19,839

Big Hands:

Jason Lester Doubles Up

Jason Lester raised to 24,000 from the button and Leandro Pimentel called from the small blind.

The flop came 10104 and Lester bet 24,000 and was called by Pimentel. The turn was the 3 and after Pimentel checked again, Lester moved in for his last 72,000 and was called by Pimentel.

Pimentel showed A437 and was behind Leter’s KKJ9.

The river was the 2 and Lester doubled up to 267,000.

Fabrice Soulier Eliminated

Fabrice Soulier raised on the button to 19,000 and Ville Mattila three-bet to 61,000 from the big blind. Soulier made the call and the fop came A37.

Mattila led out with a bet of 45,000 and Soulier moved in and was called by Mattila. Mattila showed KKJ5 and was ahead of Soulier’s JJ610.

The turn was the A and the river was the 10 and Soulier missed his diamond or a jack and was eliminated.

Dwan Slips Up

Dmitry Stelmak and Tom Dwan limped in before Stephen Pierson raised the size of the pot from the small blind. Stelmak and Dwan both called and the flop came 2K6.

Pierson moved all in for his last 105,000 and Dwan made the call. Dwan tabled K2J8 and Pierson showed AA67.

Dwan had two pair, but Pierson had aces and a flush draw. The 6 on the turn gave Pierson a flush and the 5 kept Pierson’s flush in the lead and Dwan slipped to 740,000, while Pierson climbed to 340,000.

Player Tags: Jason Lester,   Fabrice Soulier,   Tom Dwan

Level 27 Hour 2 Update: Last of the November Nine Fall

Jul 14, '09

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 43 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Billy Kopp – 15,500,000
2. Tommy Vedes – 9,900,000
3. Darvin Moon – 9,350,000
4. Phil Ivey – 8,600,000
5. Jonathan Tamayo – 8,200,000
6. Ludovic Lacay – 7,550,000
7. Antoine Saout – 7,500,000
8. Joseph Cada – 7,400,000
9. Luis Nargentino – 7,050,000
10. Steven Begleiter – 6,500,000

Average Chip Count: 4,427,727

Card Player Chip Count:

Jeff Shulman – 4,800,000

Notable Eliminations:

49. Fabrice Soulier — $138,568
45. Dennis Phillips — $178,857
Twitter Updates:

Jeff Shulman at 4,600,000 (twitter feed)
Billy Kopp at 14,340,000 (twitter feed)
Phil Ivey at 7,400,000 (twitter feed)
Nick Maimone at 4,300,000 (twitter feed)
Ludovic Lacay at 7,150,000 (twitter feed)
Francois Balmigere at 3,900,000 (twitter feed)
Jesse Haabak at 1,805,000 (twitter feed)

Big Hands

Fabrice Soulier Busted By Tommy Vedes

Tommy Vedes raised to 185,000 from under the gun and Fabrice Soulier made it a cool million from middle position, putting himself all in. Action folded around to Vedes who made the call. Vedes tabled AK and Soulier showed down 1010 and the race was on.

The flop came down J98, giving Vedes the nut flush draw. The turn was the 5 and Soulier was on the verge of doubling up. But the river was the 8, giving Vedes the flush and sending Soulier out the door. Vedes was amongst the chip leaders with 8.55 million after the hand.

Andrew Lichtenberger Doubles Up

Andrew Lichtenberger raised to 180,000 from the small blind and Eric Buchman repopped to 460,000. Lichtenberger moved all in and Buchman made the call. Buchman tabled 99 and Lichtenberger showed AQ.

The flop came down 443 and things were not looking good. But the turn was the A and Lichtenberger was in the lead. The river was the 7 and Lichtenberger doubled up.

Vedes Takes One Off Lacay

Ludovic Lacay raised 150,000 and three players called. The flop then came down KK5. Action was checked to Lacay who fired 325,000. Christopher Bach and Tommy Vedes were the only callers and the turn was the 3.

Everyone checked and they did the same after the 3 fell on the river. Vedes then tabled 55 for a flopped full house and took the pot. He was at 9.45 million.

Hieu Luu Eliminated in 48th Place ($138,568)

Hieu Luu was down his last 410,000 and was in the big blind when action folded around to Marc McLaughlin in the small blind. McLaughlin raised enough to put Luu all in and Luu made the call. “I don’t care,” said Luu as he put his chips in.

He may not have cared, but he was ahead with his lowly 105 against McLaughlin’s 93, but the 926 flop did him in. Neither the turn or the river contained a 10 and Luu was sent home in 48th place.

Three Outs Is More Than Enough for Labandeira

Miguel Labandeira moved all in preflop for his last 815,000 and Steven Begleiter called from the big blind. The cards were turned up and Begleiter saw he had a big lead with his AQ against Labandeira’s A6.

The flop kept Begleiter in the lead as it fell K108 and the turn was a 4, furthering Begleiter’s strangle hold on the hand. The river, however, changed things, as it came carrything the 6 on the river, giving the pot to Labandeira. Begleiter was so angry that he had to get up and walk around while he missed a few hands, but he still has over 5,000,000 in chips.

The Chip Leaders Gets Caught In The Ivey

Billy Kopp raised to 150,000 from the hijack position and Phil Ivey made the call from the cutoff. They both saw a flop of 772 and checked. The turn was the 4 and both players checked again. The river brought the A and Kopp took a shot with 225,000.

Ivey raised it up to 700,000 and Kopp got out of the way. Ivey raked in the pot and was up to 8.6 million in chips.

A few hands later, Ivey made a button raise to 150,000 and was three-bet by Luis Nargentino to 460,000. Ivey didn’t back down and made it 1,160,000, which Nargentino called.

The flop was K104 and Ivey bet 1,200,000 after Nargentino checked. Nargentino folded and Ivey surpassed the 10,000,000 mark in chips.

Vedes Freerolls On Haabak, But Chops

Tommy Vedes raised to 165,000 from late position and Jesse Haabak moved all in for 1,386,000. Vedes made the call and they AQ and Haabak showed AQ and more than likely they were going to chop the pot.

J108 and both players picked up backdoor flush draws. The 3 fell on the turn and now Haabak was unable to win the pot, he could only lose it. The 2 fell on the river, however, and they were abel to chop up the pot.

Dennis Phillips’ Second Trip to the November Nine Stopped by Francoios Balmigere

Antoine Saout raised to 165,000 and Francois Balmigere called. Dennis Phillips made it 450,000 and then Balmigere decided he would move all in after Saout got out of the way. Phillips called and his tournament life was at risk.

Balmigere showed AK and Phillips had AK. Usually this ends up a split pot, but Dennis Phillips didn’t like it when the flop came K64. The turn was safe for Phillips when the 10 fell, but the river did him in, like so many others, as the 5 hit the river, ending Phillips’ main event run.

Player Tags: Eric Buchman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Phil Ivey,   Tommy Vedes,   Billy Kopp,   Ludovic Lacay,   Andrew Lichtenberger

Level 23 Hour 1 Update: J.C. Tran Eliminated

Jul 13, '09

Blinds: 12,000-24,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 107 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Wesley Ismay – 3,650,000
7. Eugene Kathchalov – 3,600,000
8. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
9. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
10. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000

Average Chip Count: 1,694,087

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,505,000

Notable Eliminations:

108. J.C. Tran – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour:

- Jeff Shulman has been moved to a new table with Joe Sebok, James Akenhead, and Fabrice Soulier. Shulman is down a little bit to 2,505,000.

- Antonio Esfandiari has moved down to 2.225 million.

- Nichoel Peppe dropped down to 800,000 when she ran into aces.

- Wesley Ismay has jumped up to 3.65 million.

- Joseph Ward doubled up to 2.4 million.

- Eugene Kathchalov doubled up to 3.6 million.

- Kent Goulding eliminated two opponents in the same hande to grow his stack to 2.1 million.

Big Hands:

Antonio Esfandiari Builds Stack

Antonio Esfandiari bet 60,000 preflop and was called by an opponent to his immediate left and the big blind. The flop came K82 and the big blind checked. Esfandiari checked as well and the player to his left bet 130,000. The big blind quickly mucked and Esfandiari made the call. The turn brought the Q and Esfandiari checked. His opponent checked behind and both players saw a 10 fall on the river. Esfandiari bet 250,000 and his opponent made the call. Esfandiari exposed the Q10 for a flush draw that turned into two pair. His opponent mucked and Esfandari is at 2,330,000.

Nichoel Peppe at Risk

Nichoel Peppe raised preflop from middle position and was reraised by James Akenhead in the big blind. Peppe made the call leaving herself with only 594,000 behind. The flop came 1043 and Akenhead led out with 260,000. Peppe didn’t take long before announcing all in and Akenhead went into the tank for minutes. He finally mucked to the small reraise of 394,000 more. Akenhead is at 1,750,000 and Peppe is now at 1,200,000.

Fabrice Soulier Running Hot

On a flop of Q95, Frabrice Soulier check-called a 200,000 chip bet from Alex Gurevich. The turn was the 2 and both players checked. When the 3 fell on the river Soulier bet 300,000. Gurevich made the call and exposed the AQ but was no good as Soulier tabled the KK. Soulier is now at 3,560,000.

James Akenhead Eliminates Opponent

James Akenhead raised from the button and Randy Propson moved all in from the small blind. Akenhead made the call for the tiny all in and tabled the J9 and was up against the A8 of Propson. The board ran out AK3Q and Akenhead needed a ten in order to eliminate his opponent. The 10 on the river completed the straight draw to eliminate Propson. Akenhead is at 1,750,000.

J.C. Tran Eliminated in 108th Place ($40,288)

Dennis Phillips raised preflop and J.C. Tran called from the big blind. Both players saw a flop of 1092. Tran had just under 90,000 chips left and moved all in right away. Phillips called and exposed the K10. Tran turned over the A6 and was in bad shape. The turn brought the Q and the 3 on the river ended his 2009 main event. Phillips is at 1,410,000.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Antonio Esfandiari,   Fabrice Soulier,   James Akenhead

Level 22 Hour 2 Update: Shulman Rolling, ElkY Busts

Jul 13, '09

Note: Players are currently on a 20 minute break and will return at 4:50 PDT.

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 120 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
7. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
8. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000
9. Jamie Brown – 3,120,000
10. Kasper Cordes – 3,060,000

Average Chip Count: 1,623,500

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 3,302,000

Notable Eliminations:

125. Theo Tran — $40,288
124. Eric Cloutier — $40,288
122. Bertrand Grospellier – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour:

- Craig Boyd moved up to 3 million in chips when snapped off a bluff from Hieu Luu to double up.

- Blair Hinkle was eliminated from the tournamrnt shortly after his stack was crippled down to 33,000.

- Ahn Van Nguyen was knocked down to 1,225,000 after tangling in a hand with Steve Begleiter, who held trip deueces and is now close to 3 million.

Big Hands:

Peter Eastgate Eliminates Edward Teems

Edward Teems moved all in preflop under the gun and action was folded around to Peter Eastgate in the big blind. He made the call and the two players then flipped up their cards as the featured table crowd perked up in their seats.

Eastgate: AQ
Teems: JJ

Board: A10586

Eastgate eliminated Teems and the crowd gave a round of applause. Eastgate now holds just over 700,000.

Billy Kopp Soars to Top of Chip Counts, Eliminates El Nasr

Billy Kopp raised to 52,000 preflop and Dennis Phillips called. Action folded around to Nasr El Nasr put in another bet, as he made it 173,000. Billy Kopp opted to make it 506,000 and Dennis Phillips got out of the way before El Nasr moved all in for 1,325,000, which was snap called by Kopp.

Kopp turned over AA and El Nasr showed QQ. The board ran out safe for Kopp as it came 2410103 and El Nasr is eliminated and Billy Kopp now has 4,660,000 in chips.

Shulman Flirts With 3 Million

The player in seat 5 raised to 55,000 and Jeff Shulman repopped it to 200,000 from the small blind. Seat 5 called and the flop was A59. Shulman led out with 250,000 and seat 5 made the call. The turn was the 4 and both players checked. The river was the 10 and both players checked again.

Shulman then turned over a monster, 62, for a flush. Seat 5 didn’t have a diamond in his hand as he mucked and Shulman took the pot, his stack around 2.85 million.

Nichoel Peppe Muscles Out Her Opposition

Tommy Vedes raised to 58,000 from the cutoff and Berhard Parner called from the button. Nichoel Peppe did the same from the small blind and the flop was 1076 and Vedes fired 230,000. Parner folded but Peppe would not hear of such a thing, instead pushing all in for almost 760,000 total.

Vedes took a session in the tank and eventually folded his hand. Peppe took the pot and she was at 1.2 million.

Soulier Scores Another Knockout

Don Tran moved all in preflop and Fabrice Soulier made the call. Tran tabled AJ while Soulier showed down the ladies, QQ.

The flop came down 978 and Tran flopped a gutshot straight draw. The turn was the 9 and the river was the 7, missing Tran completely and he was eliminated. Soulier was over 3 million in chips.

Affleck’s Bluff Gets Picked Off, Stack Tumbles

On a flop of 994, Mark Ader led out for 220,000 and was met with a raise from Matt Affleck who moved all in and had Ader well covered. Ader tanked about calling off his last 720,000 and eventually made the call.

Affleck’s head sank as he turned over 710, for a complete bluff and Ader turned over pocket queens. The turn and river didn’t bring running tens or sevens and Afflecks stack dropped to 890,000, while Mark Ader increased his stack to 2,350,000 in chips.

Bertrand Grospellier Eliminated in 122nd Place ($40,288)

Bertrand Grospellier bet 47,000 from middle position and an opponent reraised to 150,000. ElkY moved all in for about 375,000 total, slightly less than what his opponent had in his stack. Grospellier’s all in was snap called and he turned over the AK. His opponent tabled the KK. The board ran out 3226J and ElkY was eliminated in heartbreaking fashion.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Nicholle Peppe,   Bertrand Grospellier,   Billy Kopp,   Peter Eastgate,   Matt Affleck,   Nasr El Nasr

Level 22 Hour 1 Update: Joe Serock Eliminated

Jul 13, '09

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000

Players Remaining: 126 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
7. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
8. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000
9. Jamie Brown – 3,120,000
10. Kasper Cordes – 3,060,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,900,000

Average Chip Count: 1,498,615

Notable Eliminations:

145. Joseph Serock – $40,288
142. Jose Rosenkrantz – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour

- John Martin took down a pot on the flop against Adam Bilzerian and Antoine Saout. He is up to 2,400,000.

- ElkY lost some chips when he flopped top pair with A-J against the trip sevens of Alex Gurevich. ElkY lost another pot after and is short with 350,000.

- With pocket aces, Billy Kopp eliminated Nasr El Nasr who held pocket queens. Kopp is at 4,660,000.

- James Akenhead won a nice pot with pocket kings against the ace-king of Herbie Gelman. Akenhead is at 1,660,000

Big Hands:

Joseph Serock Eliminated

Right before the break, Joseph Serock went into the tank preflop with the KK versus the all-in bet of Antoine Saout. The two players put in a series of raises, and Serock eventually called the bet for the majority of his stack. Unfortunately, Saout tabled the AA, having the only hand that Serock didn’t want to see. The pot stood at 3,260,000 as the board ran out 75386. Serock was crippled to just 180,000 and had to go on a 20 minute break. Shortly after returning to the floor, Serock was eliminated from the main event.

He decided to open-shove from the cutoff and Jake Abdalla went all in over the top. Both blinds quickly folded and Serock exposed the Q5 and was behind against the 99 of Abdalla. The board offered no help as it ran out AA57K and his main event was over.

Fabrice Soulier on a Rush

Fabrice Soulier raised to 49,000 preflop and Steven Levy came over the top, going all in for 601,000. Soulier made the call and tabled AK while Levy showed down 1010.

The flop came down K76, with the king in the window. Soulier jumped out in front and the turn was the J. The river was the Q and Levy was eliminated.

Ludovic Lacay Eliminates Ian Woodley

John Martin decided to limp in late position and then Ian Woodley raised to 85,000. Ludovic Lacay reraised to 225,000 in the cutoff and action was to Alex Prendes in the small blind. He moved all in for 1,900,000 and Martin folded. Woodley went into the tank and eventually folded. Lacay snap called and exposed the AA. Prendes tabled the dominated KK. The board ran out Q5288. Another huge pot in the tournament of aces versus kings resulted in a large chip swing. Lacay is at 4,120,000 after the hand.

Jeff Shulman Cracks The Ladies

Darvin Moon raised to 85,000 preflop and Jeff Shulman made the call. The flop came down AJ3 and Moon bet 100,000. Shulman made the call and the turn was the 9. Both players checked and the river 6 and Moon led out again with 200,000. Shulman made the call and Moon tabled QQ.

Shulman showed down AK and took down the pot, elevating his stack to 2.75 million.

Elky Short

Fernando Gordo raised to 56,000 preflop. Bertrand Grospellier, Scott Cook and Don Tran all called and saw a flop of K53. Gordo was first to act and bet 155,000. Grospellier and Cook both called. The turn was the 3 and Gordo bet 250,000 this time. The action was the same again as Grospellier and Cook both called. The river was the 8 and Gordo checked. ElkY checked as well, leaving himself with about 350,000 behind. Cook checked as well. Grospellier exposed the AK and Gordo exposed the AK. However, Cook exposed the 55 for fives full. Cook took down the huge pot and is at 3,100,000.

Jose Rosenkrantz Eliminated

Jamie Robbins and Jose Rosenkrantz got all in on the flop of Q 42. Robbins exposed the KQ as Rosenkrantz flipped over the AQ. The K on the turn was a disaster for Rosenkrantz, giving Robbins two pair. The 5 fell on the river and he was eliminated.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Ian Woodley,   Bertrand Grospellier,   Joseph Serock,   Ludovic Lacay

Level 21 Hour 2 Update: Hachem And Eastgate Get Involved

Jul 13, '09

Note: Players are now on a 20 minute break and play will commence at 2:20 PDT.

Blinds: 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante

Players Remaining: 151 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,100,000
2. Kasper Cordes – 4,352,000
3. Darvin Moon – 4,100,000
4. Billy Kopp – 3,350,000
5. Tom Schneider – 3,168,000
6. Charlie Elias – 3,100,000
7. Tim Kahlmeyer – 3,100,000
8. Miika Puumalainen – 2,894,000
9. Bernhard Perner – 2,680,000
10. Steven Begleiter – 2,500,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,100,000

Average Chip Count: 1,290,198

Notable Eliminations:

162. Cole South — $36,626
156. John Monnette — $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour

- Adam York doubled up to 840,000 through Nichoel Peppe. Peppe was knocked down to 920,000 after handing her chips over to York.

- Vesa Leikos was eliminated by Joe Serock. Serock grew his stack to 1.7 million with the knockout.

- Anh Van Nguyen cracked the aces of Steven Begleiter with a stright to move up to just under 2 million. Begleiter was left with 2.5 million after the hand.

- Dennis Phillips check-called a bet of 160,000 from the cutoff. The river completed a possible flush and Phillips quickly checked. The cutoff went into the tank for minutes and finally checked. Philips exposed just a pair of eights to take the pot. He is at 1,210,000.

Big Hands:

Soulier Notches Knockout

Fabrice Soulier raised from the cutoff to 47,000 and Seth Thomsen moved all in for 302,000. Soulier thought for a few moments before deciding to make the call. Thomsen turned over KQ and was off to the races against Souliers 77.

The flop was gave Thomsen a few extra outs as it fell AJ6, giving Thomsen a straight draw as well. The turn and river were no help as it came 2 and 7, giving Soulier a set of sevens and the pot. Soulier is now up to 1,900,000 in chips.

Affleck Takes out Jensen

Benjamin Jensen open shoved all in for his last 243,000 and was called by Matt Affleck. Jensen was in good shape when he turned up AQ and Affleck showed AJ.

The flop didn’t contain a jack as came 746 and the Q on the turn sealed the hand for Jensen.

Prahlad Friedman Doubles Up

Prahlad Friedman raised to 40,000 and Jesse Haabak put in another raise to 125,000. Friedman moved all in for his last 269,000 and was called by Haabak. Haabak made the call and showed A6 and needed help against Friedman’s pocket eights.

The board ran QQ5410 and Friedman doubled up to 580,000.

Phil Ivey Grabs A Pot

Phil Iver and his opponent saw a flop of Q1010. Both players checked and they did the same on the turn that brought the A. The river was the 8 and the action was checked to Ivey.

He took a stab at the pot with a bet of 50,000 and his opponent mucked. Ivey raked in the pot and has started the day with a positive note, improving his chip stack to 1.7 million.

Adam Lattimer Knocked Out

Billy Kopp raised to 42,000 from under the gun and Adam Lattimer made it 150,000 to go. Kopp then moved in for 366,000 and Lattimer called, putting himself all in. Kopp turned over AA while Lattimer tabled QQ.

The board ran out AJ85J and Lattimer was eliminated.

Hachem And Eastgate Tangle

Peter Eastgate raised to 44,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to Joe Hachem in the big blind. He made the call and the flop came down 825. Both players checked and the turn was the 2. Hachem led out for 40,000 and Eastgate made the call. The river was the K and Hachem bet 120,000. Eastgate made the call.

Hachem then tabled 55 for a full house and Eastgate mucked. Hachem took the pot and was at 800,000 while Eastgate was at 550,000.

Cole South Eliminated

Cole South moved all in on the flop with ace-king but ran into his opponent’s pocket aces. The turn and the river never gave South any help and he was eliminated, taking home $36,626 for his efforts.

Phillips Gets The Best Of Tran

Dennis Phillips raised to 42,000 from under the gun and J.C. Tran made the call from the hijack. The two players saw a flop of J105 and Phillips led out with 60,000. Tran made the call and both players checked the 5 on the turn.

The river was the 7 and Phillips bet 80,000. Tran made the call and Phillips tabled KJ for two pair. Tran mucked and was down to 440,000. Phillips raked in the pot and was at 1.2 million.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Prahlad Friedman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Phil Ivey,   Joe Hachem,   Peter Eastgate,   Dennis Phillips,   Matt Affleck

Level 4 Hour 2 Update: Soulier Doing Well

Jul 04, '09

Blinds: 150-300 with a 25 ante

Players Left: 720 of 873

Chip Counts:

1. Nick Maimone – 129,000
2. Vadim Gruzglin – 123,500
3. Jim Bookstaff – 119,000
4. Samer Rahman – 117,000
5. Craig Hopkins – 113,000
6. Jesse Rios – 112,000
7. Carlos Oliveira – 105,000
8. Fabrice Soulier – 99,000
9. Daniel Didech – 95,000
10. Karin Lehoussing – 87,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Todd Brunson — 35,000
Mike Matusow — 18,000

Notable Eliminations:

Dustin Woolf

Big Hands

Davis Runs Into Aces, Then Vents

Raymond Davis raised to 1,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to the big blind. He made the call and the flop came down K73. Both players decided to check and the 10 fell on the turn. The big blind bet 2,000 and Davis came along for the ride. The river was the 2 and the big blind fired 6,000. Davis made the call again and the big blind showed AA. Davis mucked and he was down to 63,900.

A few hands later, Davis was in the big blind and facing a raise to 800 from seat 3. Davis made the call and the flop came down 5-3-2 and seat 3 bet 1,200. Davis immediately raised to 3,200 and seat 3 mucked. Davis then showed 10-7 for a bluff. “I don’t miss every flop, just most of them,” Davis said. “That was a bit of frustration man,” he explained to Hoyt Corkins on his right. “I’ve been getting robbed all day.” Davis was at 65,000 after that hand.

Greenstein Back To The Beginning

Barry Greenstein raised to 800 preflop from middle position and the player on the button made the call. The flop came down 1065 and Greenstein led out with 1,200. The button quickly mucked and Greenstein took the pot, getting his stack back to the original starting stack of 30,000.

Soulier Takes One Off Hansen

After a flop of 432, Fabrice Soulier bet 1,000 and a player called. Thor Hansen then raised to 2,000 and Soulier was the only one to call. The turn was the A and both players checked. They did the same after the 8 fell on the river.

Soulier then showed A7 and Hansen mucked his hand. Soulier raked in the pot and was around 90,000 while Hansen was down to 17,150.

Yeah, That Just Happened

Dustin Woolf raised to 1,000 from the cutoff and the button mucked. The small blind then moved all in for over 15,000 and Woolf made the call, putting himself all in. The small blind showed AK while Woolf showed AK.

This being the fourth of July, the fireworks were about to drop as the flop came K98, leaving Woolf praying for two black cards on the turn and river to chop the pot. But the turn was the 4, giving the small blind the nut flush and knocking Woolf out of the main event in dramatic fashion.

Seidel Drops Some Chips

On a flop of Q22, the small blind led out with 2,000 and Erik Seidel raised to 5,000. The small blind called and the turn was the 3. The small blind checked to Seidel who bet 7,500. The small blind called and the A fell on the river.

Action was checked to Seidel again and he bet 10,000. The small blind quickly called and showed AQ for top two pair. Seidel mucked his hand and was under 25,000.

Player Tags: Erik Seidel,   Barry Greenstein,   Raymond Davis,   Fabrice Soulier,   Dustin Woolf

Level 27 Hour 2 Update: Last of the November Nine Fall

Jul 14, '09

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 43 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Billy Kopp – 15,500,000
2. Tommy Vedes – 9,900,000
3. Darvin Moon – 9,350,000
4. Phil Ivey – 8,600,000
5. Jonathan Tamayo – 8,200,000
6. Ludovic Lacay – 7,550,000
7. Antoine Saout – 7,500,000
8. Joseph Cada – 7,400,000
9. Luis Nargentino – 7,050,000
10. Steven Begleiter – 6,500,000

Average Chip Count: 4,427,727

Card Player Chip Count:

Jeff Shulman – 4,800,000

Notable Eliminations:

49. Fabrice Soulier — $138,568
45. Dennis Phillips — $178,857
Twitter Updates:

Jeff Shulman at 4,600,000 (twitter feed)
Billy Kopp at 14,340,000 (twitter feed)
Phil Ivey at 7,400,000 (twitter feed)
Nick Maimone at 4,300,000 (twitter feed)
Ludovic Lacay at 7,150,000 (twitter feed)
Francois Balmigere at 3,900,000 (twitter feed)
Jesse Haabak at 1,805,000 (twitter feed)

Big Hands

Fabrice Soulier Busted By Tommy Vedes

Tommy Vedes raised to 185,000 from under the gun and Fabrice Soulier made it a cool million from middle position, putting himself all in. Action folded around to Vedes who made the call. Vedes tabled AK and Soulier showed down 1010 and the race was on.

The flop came down J98, giving Vedes the nut flush draw. The turn was the 5 and Soulier was on the verge of doubling up. But the river was the 8, giving Vedes the flush and sending Soulier out the door. Vedes was amongst the chip leaders with 8.55 million after the hand.

Andrew Lichtenberger Doubles Up

Andrew Lichtenberger raised to 180,000 from the small blind and Eric Buchman repopped to 460,000. Lichtenberger moved all in and Buchman made the call. Buchman tabled 99 and Lichtenberger showed AQ.

The flop came down 443 and things were not looking good. But the turn was the A and Lichtenberger was in the lead. The river was the 7 and Lichtenberger doubled up.

Vedes Takes One Off Lacay

Ludovic Lacay raised 150,000 and three players called. The flop then came down KK5. Action was checked to Lacay who fired 325,000. Christopher Bach and Tommy Vedes were the only callers and the turn was the 3.

Everyone checked and they did the same after the 3 fell on the river. Vedes then tabled 55 for a flopped full house and took the pot. He was at 9.45 million.

Hieu Luu Eliminated in 48th Place ($138,568)

Hieu Luu was down his last 410,000 and was in the big blind when action folded around to Marc McLaughlin in the small blind. McLaughlin raised enough to put Luu all in and Luu made the call. “I don’t care,” said Luu as he put his chips in.

He may not have cared, but he was ahead with his lowly 105 against McLaughlin’s 93, but the 926 flop did him in. Neither the turn or the river contained a 10 and Luu was sent home in 48th place.

Three Outs Is More Than Enough for Labandeira

Miguel Labandeira moved all in preflop for his last 815,000 and Steven Begleiter called from the big blind. The cards were turned up and Begleiter saw he had a big lead with his AQ against Labandeira’s A6.

The flop kept Begleiter in the lead as it fell K108 and the turn was a 4, furthering Begleiter’s strangle hold on the hand. The river, however, changed things, as it came carrything the 6 on the river, giving the pot to Labandeira. Begleiter was so angry that he had to get up and walk around while he missed a few hands, but he still has over 5,000,000 in chips.

The Chip Leaders Gets Caught In The Ivey

Billy Kopp raised to 150,000 from the hijack position and Phil Ivey made the call from the cutoff. They both saw a flop of 772 and checked. The turn was the 4 and both players checked again. The river brought the A and Kopp took a shot with 225,000.

Ivey raised it up to 700,000 and Kopp got out of the way. Ivey raked in the pot and was up to 8.6 million in chips.

A few hands later, Ivey made a button raise to 150,000 and was three-bet by Luis Nargentino to 460,000. Ivey didn’t back down and made it 1,160,000, which Nargentino called.

The flop was K104 and Ivey bet 1,200,000 after Nargentino checked. Nargentino folded and Ivey surpassed the 10,000,000 mark in chips.

Vedes Freerolls On Haabak, But Chops

Tommy Vedes raised to 165,000 from late position and Jesse Haabak moved all in for 1,386,000. Vedes made the call and they AQ and Haabak showed AQ and more than likely they were going to chop the pot.

J108 and both players picked up backdoor flush draws. The 3 fell on the turn and now Haabak was unable to win the pot, he could only lose it. The 2 fell on the river, however, and they were abel to chop up the pot.

Dennis Phillips’ Second Trip to the November Nine Stopped by Francoios Balmigere

Antoine Saout raised to 165,000 and Francois Balmigere called. Dennis Phillips made it 450,000 and then Balmigere decided he would move all in after Saout got out of the way. Phillips called and his tournament life was at risk.

Balmigere showed AK and Phillips had AK. Usually this ends up a split pot, but Dennis Phillips didn’t like it when the flop came K64. The turn was safe for Phillips when the 10 fell, but the river did him in, like so many others, as the 5 hit the river, ending Phillips’ main event run.

Player Tags: Eric Buchman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Phil Ivey,   Tommy Vedes,   Billy Kopp,   Ludovic Lacay,   Andrew Lichtenberger

Level 23 Hour 1 Update: J.C. Tran Eliminated

Jul 13, '09

Blinds: 12,000-24,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 107 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Wesley Ismay – 3,650,000
7. Eugene Kathchalov – 3,600,000
8. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
9. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
10. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000

Average Chip Count: 1,694,087

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,505,000

Notable Eliminations:

108. J.C. Tran – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour:

- Jeff Shulman has been moved to a new table with Joe Sebok, James Akenhead, and Fabrice Soulier. Shulman is down a little bit to 2,505,000.

- Antonio Esfandiari has moved down to 2.225 million.

- Nichoel Peppe dropped down to 800,000 when she ran into aces.

- Wesley Ismay has jumped up to 3.65 million.

- Joseph Ward doubled up to 2.4 million.

- Eugene Kathchalov doubled up to 3.6 million.

- Kent Goulding eliminated two opponents in the same hande to grow his stack to 2.1 million.

Big Hands:

Antonio Esfandiari Builds Stack

Antonio Esfandiari bet 60,000 preflop and was called by an opponent to his immediate left and the big blind. The flop came K82 and the big blind checked. Esfandiari checked as well and the player to his left bet 130,000. The big blind quickly mucked and Esfandiari made the call. The turn brought the Q and Esfandiari checked. His opponent checked behind and both players saw a 10 fall on the river. Esfandiari bet 250,000 and his opponent made the call. Esfandiari exposed the Q10 for a flush draw that turned into two pair. His opponent mucked and Esfandari is at 2,330,000.

Nichoel Peppe at Risk

Nichoel Peppe raised preflop from middle position and was reraised by James Akenhead in the big blind. Peppe made the call leaving herself with only 594,000 behind. The flop came 1043 and Akenhead led out with 260,000. Peppe didn’t take long before announcing all in and Akenhead went into the tank for minutes. He finally mucked to the small reraise of 394,000 more. Akenhead is at 1,750,000 and Peppe is now at 1,200,000.

Fabrice Soulier Running Hot

On a flop of Q95, Frabrice Soulier check-called a 200,000 chip bet from Alex Gurevich. The turn was the 2 and both players checked. When the 3 fell on the river Soulier bet 300,000. Gurevich made the call and exposed the AQ but was no good as Soulier tabled the KK. Soulier is now at 3,560,000.

James Akenhead Eliminates Opponent

James Akenhead raised from the button and Randy Propson moved all in from the small blind. Akenhead made the call for the tiny all in and tabled the J9 and was up against the A8 of Propson. The board ran out AK3Q and Akenhead needed a ten in order to eliminate his opponent. The 10 on the river completed the straight draw to eliminate Propson. Akenhead is at 1,750,000.

J.C. Tran Eliminated in 108th Place ($40,288)

Dennis Phillips raised preflop and J.C. Tran called from the big blind. Both players saw a flop of 1092. Tran had just under 90,000 chips left and moved all in right away. Phillips called and exposed the K10. Tran turned over the A6 and was in bad shape. The turn brought the Q and the 3 on the river ended his 2009 main event. Phillips is at 1,410,000.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Antonio Esfandiari,   Fabrice Soulier,   James Akenhead

Level 22 Hour 2 Update: Shulman Rolling, ElkY Busts

Jul 13, '09

Note: Players are currently on a 20 minute break and will return at 4:50 PDT.

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 120 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
7. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
8. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000
9. Jamie Brown – 3,120,000
10. Kasper Cordes – 3,060,000

Average Chip Count: 1,623,500

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 3,302,000

Notable Eliminations:

125. Theo Tran — $40,288
124. Eric Cloutier — $40,288
122. Bertrand Grospellier – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour:

- Craig Boyd moved up to 3 million in chips when snapped off a bluff from Hieu Luu to double up.

- Blair Hinkle was eliminated from the tournamrnt shortly after his stack was crippled down to 33,000.

- Ahn Van Nguyen was knocked down to 1,225,000 after tangling in a hand with Steve Begleiter, who held trip deueces and is now close to 3 million.

Big Hands:

Peter Eastgate Eliminates Edward Teems

Edward Teems moved all in preflop under the gun and action was folded around to Peter Eastgate in the big blind. He made the call and the two players then flipped up their cards as the featured table crowd perked up in their seats.

Eastgate: AQ
Teems: JJ

Board: A10586

Eastgate eliminated Teems and the crowd gave a round of applause. Eastgate now holds just over 700,000.

Billy Kopp Soars to Top of Chip Counts, Eliminates El Nasr

Billy Kopp raised to 52,000 preflop and Dennis Phillips called. Action folded around to Nasr El Nasr put in another bet, as he made it 173,000. Billy Kopp opted to make it 506,000 and Dennis Phillips got out of the way before El Nasr moved all in for 1,325,000, which was snap called by Kopp.

Kopp turned over AA and El Nasr showed QQ. The board ran out safe for Kopp as it came 2410103 and El Nasr is eliminated and Billy Kopp now has 4,660,000 in chips.

Shulman Flirts With 3 Million

The player in seat 5 raised to 55,000 and Jeff Shulman repopped it to 200,000 from the small blind. Seat 5 called and the flop was A59. Shulman led out with 250,000 and seat 5 made the call. The turn was the 4 and both players checked. The river was the 10 and both players checked again.

Shulman then turned over a monster, 62, for a flush. Seat 5 didn’t have a diamond in his hand as he mucked and Shulman took the pot, his stack around 2.85 million.

Nichoel Peppe Muscles Out Her Opposition

Tommy Vedes raised to 58,000 from the cutoff and Berhard Parner called from the button. Nichoel Peppe did the same from the small blind and the flop was 1076 and Vedes fired 230,000. Parner folded but Peppe would not hear of such a thing, instead pushing all in for almost 760,000 total.

Vedes took a session in the tank and eventually folded his hand. Peppe took the pot and she was at 1.2 million.

Soulier Scores Another Knockout

Don Tran moved all in preflop and Fabrice Soulier made the call. Tran tabled AJ while Soulier showed down the ladies, QQ.

The flop came down 978 and Tran flopped a gutshot straight draw. The turn was the 9 and the river was the 7, missing Tran completely and he was eliminated. Soulier was over 3 million in chips.

Affleck’s Bluff Gets Picked Off, Stack Tumbles

On a flop of 994, Mark Ader led out for 220,000 and was met with a raise from Matt Affleck who moved all in and had Ader well covered. Ader tanked about calling off his last 720,000 and eventually made the call.

Affleck’s head sank as he turned over 710, for a complete bluff and Ader turned over pocket queens. The turn and river didn’t bring running tens or sevens and Afflecks stack dropped to 890,000, while Mark Ader increased his stack to 2,350,000 in chips.

Bertrand Grospellier Eliminated in 122nd Place ($40,288)

Bertrand Grospellier bet 47,000 from middle position and an opponent reraised to 150,000. ElkY moved all in for about 375,000 total, slightly less than what his opponent had in his stack. Grospellier’s all in was snap called and he turned over the AK. His opponent tabled the KK. The board ran out 3226J and ElkY was eliminated in heartbreaking fashion.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Nicholle Peppe,   Bertrand Grospellier,   Billy Kopp,   Peter Eastgate,   Matt Affleck,   Nasr El Nasr

Level 22 Hour 1 Update: Joe Serock Eliminated

Jul 13, '09

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000

Players Remaining: 126 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
7. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
8. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000
9. Jamie Brown – 3,120,000
10. Kasper Cordes – 3,060,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,900,000

Average Chip Count: 1,498,615

Notable Eliminations:

145. Joseph Serock – $40,288
142. Jose Rosenkrantz – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour

- John Martin took down a pot on the flop against Adam Bilzerian and Antoine Saout. He is up to 2,400,000.

- ElkY lost some chips when he flopped top pair with A-J against the trip sevens of Alex Gurevich. ElkY lost another pot after and is short with 350,000.

- With pocket aces, Billy Kopp eliminated Nasr El Nasr who held pocket queens. Kopp is at 4,660,000.

- James Akenhead won a nice pot with pocket kings against the ace-king of Herbie Gelman. Akenhead is at 1,660,000

Big Hands:

Joseph Serock Eliminated

Right before the break, Joseph Serock went into the tank preflop with the KK versus the all-in bet of Antoine Saout. The two players put in a series of raises, and Serock eventually called the bet for the majority of his stack. Unfortunately, Saout tabled the AA, having the only hand that Serock didn’t want to see. The pot stood at 3,260,000 as the board ran out 75386. Serock was crippled to just 180,000 and had to go on a 20 minute break. Shortly after returning to the floor, Serock was eliminated from the main event.

He decided to open-shove from the cutoff and Jake Abdalla went all in over the top. Both blinds quickly folded and Serock exposed the Q5 and was behind against the 99 of Abdalla. The board offered no help as it ran out AA57K and his main event was over.

Fabrice Soulier on a Rush

Fabrice Soulier raised to 49,000 preflop and Steven Levy came over the top, going all in for 601,000. Soulier made the call and tabled AK while Levy showed down 1010.

The flop came down K76, with the king in the window. Soulier jumped out in front and the turn was the J. The river was the Q and Levy was eliminated.

Ludovic Lacay Eliminates Ian Woodley

John Martin decided to limp in late position and then Ian Woodley raised to 85,000. Ludovic Lacay reraised to 225,000 in the cutoff and action was to Alex Prendes in the small blind. He moved all in for 1,900,000 and Martin folded. Woodley went into the tank and eventually folded. Lacay snap called and exposed the AA. Prendes tabled the dominated KK. The board ran out Q5288. Another huge pot in the tournament of aces versus kings resulted in a large chip swing. Lacay is at 4,120,000 after the hand.

Jeff Shulman Cracks The Ladies

Darvin Moon raised to 85,000 preflop and Jeff Shulman made the call. The flop came down AJ3 and Moon bet 100,000. Shulman made the call and the turn was the 9. Both players checked and the river 6 and Moon led out again with 200,000. Shulman made the call and Moon tabled QQ.

Shulman showed down AK and took down the pot, elevating his stack to 2.75 million.

Elky Short

Fernando Gordo raised to 56,000 preflop. Bertrand Grospellier, Scott Cook and Don Tran all called and saw a flop of K53. Gordo was first to act and bet 155,000. Grospellier and Cook both called. The turn was the 3 and Gordo bet 250,000 this time. The action was the same again as Grospellier and Cook both called. The river was the 8 and Gordo checked. ElkY checked as well, leaving himself with about 350,000 behind. Cook checked as well. Grospellier exposed the AK and Gordo exposed the AK. However, Cook exposed the 55 for fives full. Cook took down the huge pot and is at 3,100,000.

Jose Rosenkrantz Eliminated

Jamie Robbins and Jose Rosenkrantz got all in on the flop of Q 42. Robbins exposed the KQ as Rosenkrantz flipped over the AQ. The K on the turn was a disaster for Rosenkrantz, giving Robbins two pair. The 5 fell on the river and he was eliminated.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Ian Woodley,   Bertrand Grospellier,   Joseph Serock,   Ludovic Lacay

Level 21 Hour 2 Update: Hachem And Eastgate Get Involved

Jul 13, '09

Note: Players are now on a 20 minute break and play will commence at 2:20 PDT.

Blinds: 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante

Players Remaining: 151 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,100,000
2. Kasper Cordes – 4,352,000
3. Darvin Moon – 4,100,000
4. Billy Kopp – 3,350,000
5. Tom Schneider – 3,168,000
6. Charlie Elias – 3,100,000
7. Tim Kahlmeyer – 3,100,000
8. Miika Puumalainen – 2,894,000
9. Bernhard Perner – 2,680,000
10. Steven Begleiter – 2,500,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,100,000

Average Chip Count: 1,290,198

Notable Eliminations:

162. Cole South — $36,626
156. John Monnette — $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour

- Adam York doubled up to 840,000 through Nichoel Peppe. Peppe was knocked down to 920,000 after handing her chips over to York.

- Vesa Leikos was eliminated by Joe Serock. Serock grew his stack to 1.7 million with the knockout.

- Anh Van Nguyen cracked the aces of Steven Begleiter with a stright to move up to just under 2 million. Begleiter was left with 2.5 million after the hand.

- Dennis Phillips check-called a bet of 160,000 from the cutoff. The river completed a possible flush and Phillips quickly checked. The cutoff went into the tank for minutes and finally checked. Philips exposed just a pair of eights to take the pot. He is at 1,210,000.

Big Hands:

Soulier Notches Knockout

Fabrice Soulier raised from the cutoff to 47,000 and Seth Thomsen moved all in for 302,000. Soulier thought for a few moments before deciding to make the call. Thomsen turned over KQ and was off to the races against Souliers 77.

The flop was gave Thomsen a few extra outs as it fell AJ6, giving Thomsen a straight draw as well. The turn and river were no help as it came 2 and 7, giving Soulier a set of sevens and the pot. Soulier is now up to 1,900,000 in chips.

Affleck Takes out Jensen

Benjamin Jensen open shoved all in for his last 243,000 and was called by Matt Affleck. Jensen was in good shape when he turned up AQ and Affleck showed AJ.

The flop didn’t contain a jack as came 746 and the Q on the turn sealed the hand for Jensen.

Prahlad Friedman Doubles Up

Prahlad Friedman raised to 40,000 and Jesse Haabak put in another raise to 125,000. Friedman moved all in for his last 269,000 and was called by Haabak. Haabak made the call and showed A6 and needed help against Friedman’s pocket eights.

The board ran QQ5410 and Friedman doubled up to 580,000.

Phil Ivey Grabs A Pot

Phil Iver and his opponent saw a flop of Q1010. Both players checked and they did the same on the turn that brought the A. The river was the 8 and the action was checked to Ivey.

He took a stab at the pot with a bet of 50,000 and his opponent mucked. Ivey raked in the pot and has started the day with a positive note, improving his chip stack to 1.7 million.

Adam Lattimer Knocked Out

Billy Kopp raised to 42,000 from under the gun and Adam Lattimer made it 150,000 to go. Kopp then moved in for 366,000 and Lattimer called, putting himself all in. Kopp turned over AA while Lattimer tabled QQ.

The board ran out AJ85J and Lattimer was eliminated.

Hachem And Eastgate Tangle

Peter Eastgate raised to 44,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to Joe Hachem in the big blind. He made the call and the flop came down 825. Both players checked and the turn was the 2. Hachem led out for 40,000 and Eastgate made the call. The river was the K and Hachem bet 120,000. Eastgate made the call.

Hachem then tabled 55 for a full house and Eastgate mucked. Hachem took the pot and was at 800,000 while Eastgate was at 550,000.

Cole South Eliminated

Cole South moved all in on the flop with ace-king but ran into his opponent’s pocket aces. The turn and the river never gave South any help and he was eliminated, taking home $36,626 for his efforts.

Phillips Gets The Best Of Tran

Dennis Phillips raised to 42,000 from under the gun and J.C. Tran made the call from the hijack. The two players saw a flop of J105 and Phillips led out with 60,000. Tran made the call and both players checked the 5 on the turn.

The river was the 7 and Phillips bet 80,000. Tran made the call and Phillips tabled KJ for two pair. Tran mucked and was down to 440,000. Phillips raked in the pot and was at 1.2 million.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Prahlad Friedman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Phil Ivey,   Joe Hachem,   Peter Eastgate,   Dennis Phillips,   Matt Affleck

Level 4 Hour 2 Update: Soulier Doing Well

Jul 04, '09

Blinds: 150-300 with a 25 ante

Players Left: 720 of 873

Chip Counts:

1. Nick Maimone – 129,000
2. Vadim Gruzglin – 123,500
3. Jim Bookstaff – 119,000
4. Samer Rahman – 117,000
5. Craig Hopkins – 113,000
6. Jesse Rios – 112,000
7. Carlos Oliveira – 105,000
8. Fabrice Soulier – 99,000
9. Daniel Didech – 95,000
10. Karin Lehoussing – 87,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Todd Brunson — 35,000
Mike Matusow — 18,000

Notable Eliminations:

Dustin Woolf

Big Hands

Davis Runs Into Aces, Then Vents

Raymond Davis raised to 1,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to the big blind. He made the call and the flop came down K73. Both players decided to check and the 10 fell on the turn. The big blind bet 2,000 and Davis came along for the ride. The river was the 2 and the big blind fired 6,000. Davis made the call again and the big blind showed AA. Davis mucked and he was down to 63,900.

A few hands later, Davis was in the big blind and facing a raise to 800 from seat 3. Davis made the call and the flop came down 5-3-2 and seat 3 bet 1,200. Davis immediately raised to 3,200 and seat 3 mucked. Davis then showed 10-7 for a bluff. “I don’t miss every flop, just most of them,” Davis said. “That was a bit of frustration man,” he explained to Hoyt Corkins on his right. “I’ve been getting robbed all day.” Davis was at 65,000 after that hand.

Greenstein Back To The Beginning

Barry Greenstein raised to 800 preflop from middle position and the player on the button made the call. The flop came down 1065 and Greenstein led out with 1,200. The button quickly mucked and Greenstein took the pot, getting his stack back to the original starting stack of 30,000.

Soulier Takes One Off Hansen

After a flop of 432, Fabrice Soulier bet 1,000 and a player called. Thor Hansen then raised to 2,000 and Soulier was the only one to call. The turn was the A and both players checked. They did the same after the 8 fell on the river.

Soulier then showed A7 and Hansen mucked his hand. Soulier raked in the pot and was around 90,000 while Hansen was down to 17,150.

Yeah, That Just Happened

Dustin Woolf raised to 1,000 from the cutoff and the button mucked. The small blind then moved all in for over 15,000 and Woolf made the call, putting himself all in. The small blind showed AK while Woolf showed AK.

This being the fourth of July, the fireworks were about to drop as the flop came K98, leaving Woolf praying for two black cards on the turn and river to chop the pot. But the turn was the 4, giving the small blind the nut flush and knocking Woolf out of the main event in dramatic fashion.

Seidel Drops Some Chips

On a flop of Q22, the small blind led out with 2,000 and Erik Seidel raised to 5,000. The small blind called and the turn was the 3. The small blind checked to Seidel who bet 7,500. The small blind called and the A fell on the river.

Action was checked to Seidel again and he bet 10,000. The small blind quickly called and showed AQ for top two pair. Seidel mucked his hand and was under 25,000.

Player Tags: Erik Seidel,   Barry Greenstein,   Raymond Davis,   Fabrice Soulier,   Dustin Woolf

Level 27 Hour 2 Update: Last of the November Nine Fall

Jul 14, '09

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 43 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Billy Kopp – 15,500,000
2. Tommy Vedes – 9,900,000
3. Darvin Moon – 9,350,000
4. Phil Ivey – 8,600,000
5. Jonathan Tamayo – 8,200,000
6. Ludovic Lacay – 7,550,000
7. Antoine Saout – 7,500,000
8. Joseph Cada – 7,400,000
9. Luis Nargentino – 7,050,000
10. Steven Begleiter – 6,500,000

Average Chip Count: 4,427,727

Card Player Chip Count:

Jeff Shulman – 4,800,000

Notable Eliminations:

49. Fabrice Soulier — $138,568
45. Dennis Phillips — $178,857
Twitter Updates:

Jeff Shulman at 4,600,000 (twitter feed)
Billy Kopp at 14,340,000 (twitter feed)
Phil Ivey at 7,400,000 (twitter feed)
Nick Maimone at 4,300,000 (twitter feed)
Ludovic Lacay at 7,150,000 (twitter feed)
Francois Balmigere at 3,900,000 (twitter feed)
Jesse Haabak at 1,805,000 (twitter feed)

Big Hands

Fabrice Soulier Busted By Tommy Vedes

Tommy Vedes raised to 185,000 from under the gun and Fabrice Soulier made it a cool million from middle position, putting himself all in. Action folded around to Vedes who made the call. Vedes tabled AK and Soulier showed down 1010 and the race was on.

The flop came down J98, giving Vedes the nut flush draw. The turn was the 5 and Soulier was on the verge of doubling up. But the river was the 8, giving Vedes the flush and sending Soulier out the door. Vedes was amongst the chip leaders with 8.55 million after the hand.

Andrew Lichtenberger Doubles Up

Andrew Lichtenberger raised to 180,000 from the small blind and Eric Buchman repopped to 460,000. Lichtenberger moved all in and Buchman made the call. Buchman tabled 99 and Lichtenberger showed AQ.

The flop came down 443 and things were not looking good. But the turn was the A and Lichtenberger was in the lead. The river was the 7 and Lichtenberger doubled up.

Vedes Takes One Off Lacay

Ludovic Lacay raised 150,000 and three players called. The flop then came down KK5. Action was checked to Lacay who fired 325,000. Christopher Bach and Tommy Vedes were the only callers and the turn was the 3.

Everyone checked and they did the same after the 3 fell on the river. Vedes then tabled 55 for a flopped full house and took the pot. He was at 9.45 million.

Hieu Luu Eliminated in 48th Place ($138,568)

Hieu Luu was down his last 410,000 and was in the big blind when action folded around to Marc McLaughlin in the small blind. McLaughlin raised enough to put Luu all in and Luu made the call. “I don’t care,” said Luu as he put his chips in.

He may not have cared, but he was ahead with his lowly 105 against McLaughlin’s 93, but the 926 flop did him in. Neither the turn or the river contained a 10 and Luu was sent home in 48th place.

Three Outs Is More Than Enough for Labandeira

Miguel Labandeira moved all in preflop for his last 815,000 and Steven Begleiter called from the big blind. The cards were turned up and Begleiter saw he had a big lead with his AQ against Labandeira’s A6.

The flop kept Begleiter in the lead as it fell K108 and the turn was a 4, furthering Begleiter’s strangle hold on the hand. The river, however, changed things, as it came carrything the 6 on the river, giving the pot to Labandeira. Begleiter was so angry that he had to get up and walk around while he missed a few hands, but he still has over 5,000,000 in chips.

The Chip Leaders Gets Caught In The Ivey

Billy Kopp raised to 150,000 from the hijack position and Phil Ivey made the call from the cutoff. They both saw a flop of 772 and checked. The turn was the 4 and both players checked again. The river brought the A and Kopp took a shot with 225,000.

Ivey raised it up to 700,000 and Kopp got out of the way. Ivey raked in the pot and was up to 8.6 million in chips.

A few hands later, Ivey made a button raise to 150,000 and was three-bet by Luis Nargentino to 460,000. Ivey didn’t back down and made it 1,160,000, which Nargentino called.

The flop was K104 and Ivey bet 1,200,000 after Nargentino checked. Nargentino folded and Ivey surpassed the 10,000,000 mark in chips.

Vedes Freerolls On Haabak, But Chops

Tommy Vedes raised to 165,000 from late position and Jesse Haabak moved all in for 1,386,000. Vedes made the call and they AQ and Haabak showed AQ and more than likely they were going to chop the pot.

J108 and both players picked up backdoor flush draws. The 3 fell on the turn and now Haabak was unable to win the pot, he could only lose it. The 2 fell on the river, however, and they were abel to chop up the pot.

Dennis Phillips’ Second Trip to the November Nine Stopped by Francoios Balmigere

Antoine Saout raised to 165,000 and Francois Balmigere called. Dennis Phillips made it 450,000 and then Balmigere decided he would move all in after Saout got out of the way. Phillips called and his tournament life was at risk.

Balmigere showed AK and Phillips had AK. Usually this ends up a split pot, but Dennis Phillips didn’t like it when the flop came K64. The turn was safe for Phillips when the 10 fell, but the river did him in, like so many others, as the 5 hit the river, ending Phillips’ main event run.

Player Tags: Eric Buchman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Phil Ivey,   Tommy Vedes,   Billy Kopp,   Ludovic Lacay,   Andrew Lichtenberger

Level 23 Hour 1 Update: J.C. Tran Eliminated

Jul 13, '09

Blinds: 12,000-24,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 107 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Wesley Ismay – 3,650,000
7. Eugene Kathchalov – 3,600,000
8. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
9. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
10. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000

Average Chip Count: 1,694,087

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,505,000

Notable Eliminations:

108. J.C. Tran – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour:

- Jeff Shulman has been moved to a new table with Joe Sebok, James Akenhead, and Fabrice Soulier. Shulman is down a little bit to 2,505,000.

- Antonio Esfandiari has moved down to 2.225 million.

- Nichoel Peppe dropped down to 800,000 when she ran into aces.

- Wesley Ismay has jumped up to 3.65 million.

- Joseph Ward doubled up to 2.4 million.

- Eugene Kathchalov doubled up to 3.6 million.

- Kent Goulding eliminated two opponents in the same hande to grow his stack to 2.1 million.

Big Hands:

Antonio Esfandiari Builds Stack

Antonio Esfandiari bet 60,000 preflop and was called by an opponent to his immediate left and the big blind. The flop came K82 and the big blind checked. Esfandiari checked as well and the player to his left bet 130,000. The big blind quickly mucked and Esfandiari made the call. The turn brought the Q and Esfandiari checked. His opponent checked behind and both players saw a 10 fall on the river. Esfandiari bet 250,000 and his opponent made the call. Esfandiari exposed the Q10 for a flush draw that turned into two pair. His opponent mucked and Esfandari is at 2,330,000.

Nichoel Peppe at Risk

Nichoel Peppe raised preflop from middle position and was reraised by James Akenhead in the big blind. Peppe made the call leaving herself with only 594,000 behind. The flop came 1043 and Akenhead led out with 260,000. Peppe didn’t take long before announcing all in and Akenhead went into the tank for minutes. He finally mucked to the small reraise of 394,000 more. Akenhead is at 1,750,000 and Peppe is now at 1,200,000.

Fabrice Soulier Running Hot

On a flop of Q95, Frabrice Soulier check-called a 200,000 chip bet from Alex Gurevich. The turn was the 2 and both players checked. When the 3 fell on the river Soulier bet 300,000. Gurevich made the call and exposed the AQ but was no good as Soulier tabled the KK. Soulier is now at 3,560,000.

James Akenhead Eliminates Opponent

James Akenhead raised from the button and Randy Propson moved all in from the small blind. Akenhead made the call for the tiny all in and tabled the J9 and was up against the A8 of Propson. The board ran out AK3Q and Akenhead needed a ten in order to eliminate his opponent. The 10 on the river completed the straight draw to eliminate Propson. Akenhead is at 1,750,000.

J.C. Tran Eliminated in 108th Place ($40,288)

Dennis Phillips raised preflop and J.C. Tran called from the big blind. Both players saw a flop of 1092. Tran had just under 90,000 chips left and moved all in right away. Phillips called and exposed the K10. Tran turned over the A6 and was in bad shape. The turn brought the Q and the 3 on the river ended his 2009 main event. Phillips is at 1,410,000.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Antonio Esfandiari,   Fabrice Soulier,   James Akenhead

Level 22 Hour 2 Update: Shulman Rolling, ElkY Busts

Jul 13, '09

Note: Players are currently on a 20 minute break and will return at 4:50 PDT.

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante

Players Remaining: 120 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
7. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
8. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000
9. Jamie Brown – 3,120,000
10. Kasper Cordes – 3,060,000

Average Chip Count: 1,623,500

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 3,302,000

Notable Eliminations:

125. Theo Tran — $40,288
124. Eric Cloutier — $40,288
122. Bertrand Grospellier – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour:

- Craig Boyd moved up to 3 million in chips when snapped off a bluff from Hieu Luu to double up.

- Blair Hinkle was eliminated from the tournamrnt shortly after his stack was crippled down to 33,000.

- Ahn Van Nguyen was knocked down to 1,225,000 after tangling in a hand with Steve Begleiter, who held trip deueces and is now close to 3 million.

Big Hands:

Peter Eastgate Eliminates Edward Teems

Edward Teems moved all in preflop under the gun and action was folded around to Peter Eastgate in the big blind. He made the call and the two players then flipped up their cards as the featured table crowd perked up in their seats.

Eastgate: AQ
Teems: JJ

Board: A10586

Eastgate eliminated Teems and the crowd gave a round of applause. Eastgate now holds just over 700,000.

Billy Kopp Soars to Top of Chip Counts, Eliminates El Nasr

Billy Kopp raised to 52,000 preflop and Dennis Phillips called. Action folded around to Nasr El Nasr put in another bet, as he made it 173,000. Billy Kopp opted to make it 506,000 and Dennis Phillips got out of the way before El Nasr moved all in for 1,325,000, which was snap called by Kopp.

Kopp turned over AA and El Nasr showed QQ. The board ran out safe for Kopp as it came 2410103 and El Nasr is eliminated and Billy Kopp now has 4,660,000 in chips.

Shulman Flirts With 3 Million

The player in seat 5 raised to 55,000 and Jeff Shulman repopped it to 200,000 from the small blind. Seat 5 called and the flop was A59. Shulman led out with 250,000 and seat 5 made the call. The turn was the 4 and both players checked. The river was the 10 and both players checked again.

Shulman then turned over a monster, 62, for a flush. Seat 5 didn’t have a diamond in his hand as he mucked and Shulman took the pot, his stack around 2.85 million.

Nichoel Peppe Muscles Out Her Opposition

Tommy Vedes raised to 58,000 from the cutoff and Berhard Parner called from the button. Nichoel Peppe did the same from the small blind and the flop was 1076 and Vedes fired 230,000. Parner folded but Peppe would not hear of such a thing, instead pushing all in for almost 760,000 total.

Vedes took a session in the tank and eventually folded his hand. Peppe took the pot and she was at 1.2 million.

Soulier Scores Another Knockout

Don Tran moved all in preflop and Fabrice Soulier made the call. Tran tabled AJ while Soulier showed down the ladies, QQ.

The flop came down 978 and Tran flopped a gutshot straight draw. The turn was the 9 and the river was the 7, missing Tran completely and he was eliminated. Soulier was over 3 million in chips.

Affleck’s Bluff Gets Picked Off, Stack Tumbles

On a flop of 994, Mark Ader led out for 220,000 and was met with a raise from Matt Affleck who moved all in and had Ader well covered. Ader tanked about calling off his last 720,000 and eventually made the call.

Affleck’s head sank as he turned over 710, for a complete bluff and Ader turned over pocket queens. The turn and river didn’t bring running tens or sevens and Afflecks stack dropped to 890,000, while Mark Ader increased his stack to 2,350,000 in chips.

Bertrand Grospellier Eliminated in 122nd Place ($40,288)

Bertrand Grospellier bet 47,000 from middle position and an opponent reraised to 150,000. ElkY moved all in for about 375,000 total, slightly less than what his opponent had in his stack. Grospellier’s all in was snap called and he turned over the AK. His opponent tabled the KK. The board ran out 3226J and ElkY was eliminated in heartbreaking fashion.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Nicholle Peppe,   Bertrand Grospellier,   Billy Kopp,   Peter Eastgate,   Matt Affleck,   Nasr El Nasr

Level 22 Hour 1 Update: Joe Serock Eliminated

Jul 13, '09

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000

Players Remaining: 126 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,120,000
2. Billy Kopp – 4,660,000
3. Tom Schneider – 4,150,000
4. Ludovic Lacay – 4,060,000
5. Charlie Elias – 4,000,000
6. Darvin Moon – 3,450,000
7. Antoine Saout – 3,300,000
8. Bernhard Perner – 3,200,000
9. Jamie Brown – 3,120,000
10. Kasper Cordes – 3,060,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,900,000

Average Chip Count: 1,498,615

Notable Eliminations:

145. Joseph Serock – $40,288
142. Jose Rosenkrantz – $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour

- John Martin took down a pot on the flop against Adam Bilzerian and Antoine Saout. He is up to 2,400,000.

- ElkY lost some chips when he flopped top pair with A-J against the trip sevens of Alex Gurevich. ElkY lost another pot after and is short with 350,000.

- With pocket aces, Billy Kopp eliminated Nasr El Nasr who held pocket queens. Kopp is at 4,660,000.

- James Akenhead won a nice pot with pocket kings against the ace-king of Herbie Gelman. Akenhead is at 1,660,000

Big Hands:

Joseph Serock Eliminated

Right before the break, Joseph Serock went into the tank preflop with the KK versus the all-in bet of Antoine Saout. The two players put in a series of raises, and Serock eventually called the bet for the majority of his stack. Unfortunately, Saout tabled the AA, having the only hand that Serock didn’t want to see. The pot stood at 3,260,000 as the board ran out 75386. Serock was crippled to just 180,000 and had to go on a 20 minute break. Shortly after returning to the floor, Serock was eliminated from the main event.

He decided to open-shove from the cutoff and Jake Abdalla went all in over the top. Both blinds quickly folded and Serock exposed the Q5 and was behind against the 99 of Abdalla. The board offered no help as it ran out AA57K and his main event was over.

Fabrice Soulier on a Rush

Fabrice Soulier raised to 49,000 preflop and Steven Levy came over the top, going all in for 601,000. Soulier made the call and tabled AK while Levy showed down 1010.

The flop came down K76, with the king in the window. Soulier jumped out in front and the turn was the J. The river was the Q and Levy was eliminated.

Ludovic Lacay Eliminates Ian Woodley

John Martin decided to limp in late position and then Ian Woodley raised to 85,000. Ludovic Lacay reraised to 225,000 in the cutoff and action was to Alex Prendes in the small blind. He moved all in for 1,900,000 and Martin folded. Woodley went into the tank and eventually folded. Lacay snap called and exposed the AA. Prendes tabled the dominated KK. The board ran out Q5288. Another huge pot in the tournament of aces versus kings resulted in a large chip swing. Lacay is at 4,120,000 after the hand.

Jeff Shulman Cracks The Ladies

Darvin Moon raised to 85,000 preflop and Jeff Shulman made the call. The flop came down AJ3 and Moon bet 100,000. Shulman made the call and the turn was the 9. Both players checked and the river 6 and Moon led out again with 200,000. Shulman made the call and Moon tabled QQ.

Shulman showed down AK and took down the pot, elevating his stack to 2.75 million.

Elky Short

Fernando Gordo raised to 56,000 preflop. Bertrand Grospellier, Scott Cook and Don Tran all called and saw a flop of K53. Gordo was first to act and bet 155,000. Grospellier and Cook both called. The turn was the 3 and Gordo bet 250,000 this time. The action was the same again as Grospellier and Cook both called. The river was the 8 and Gordo checked. ElkY checked as well, leaving himself with about 350,000 behind. Cook checked as well. Grospellier exposed the AK and Gordo exposed the AK. However, Cook exposed the 55 for fives full. Cook took down the huge pot and is at 3,100,000.

Jose Rosenkrantz Eliminated

Jamie Robbins and Jose Rosenkrantz got all in on the flop of Q 42. Robbins exposed the KQ as Rosenkrantz flipped over the AQ. The K on the turn was a disaster for Rosenkrantz, giving Robbins two pair. The 5 fell on the river and he was eliminated.

Player Tags: Jeff Shulman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Ian Woodley,   Bertrand Grospellier,   Joseph Serock,   Ludovic Lacay

Level 21 Hour 2 Update: Hachem And Eastgate Get Involved

Jul 13, '09

Note: Players are now on a 20 minute break and play will commence at 2:20 PDT.

Blinds: 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante

Players Remaining: 151 out of 6,494

Chip Counts:

1. Warren Zackey – 5,100,000
2. Kasper Cordes – 4,352,000
3. Darvin Moon – 4,100,000
4. Billy Kopp – 3,350,000
5. Tom Schneider – 3,168,000
6. Charlie Elias – 3,100,000
7. Tim Kahlmeyer – 3,100,000
8. Miika Puumalainen – 2,894,000
9. Bernhard Perner – 2,680,000
10. Steven Begleiter – 2,500,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Jeff Shulman – 2,100,000

Average Chip Count: 1,290,198

Notable Eliminations:

162. Cole South — $36,626
156. John Monnette — $40,288

Chip Movers and Shakers During the Last Hour

- Adam York doubled up to 840,000 through Nichoel Peppe. Peppe was knocked down to 920,000 after handing her chips over to York.

- Vesa Leikos was eliminated by Joe Serock. Serock grew his stack to 1.7 million with the knockout.

- Anh Van Nguyen cracked the aces of Steven Begleiter with a stright to move up to just under 2 million. Begleiter was left with 2.5 million after the hand.

- Dennis Phillips check-called a bet of 160,000 from the cutoff. The river completed a possible flush and Phillips quickly checked. The cutoff went into the tank for minutes and finally checked. Philips exposed just a pair of eights to take the pot. He is at 1,210,000.

Big Hands:

Soulier Notches Knockout

Fabrice Soulier raised from the cutoff to 47,000 and Seth Thomsen moved all in for 302,000. Soulier thought for a few moments before deciding to make the call. Thomsen turned over KQ and was off to the races against Souliers 77.

The flop was gave Thomsen a few extra outs as it fell AJ6, giving Thomsen a straight draw as well. The turn and river were no help as it came 2 and 7, giving Soulier a set of sevens and the pot. Soulier is now up to 1,900,000 in chips.

Affleck Takes out Jensen

Benjamin Jensen open shoved all in for his last 243,000 and was called by Matt Affleck. Jensen was in good shape when he turned up AQ and Affleck showed AJ.

The flop didn’t contain a jack as came 746 and the Q on the turn sealed the hand for Jensen.

Prahlad Friedman Doubles Up

Prahlad Friedman raised to 40,000 and Jesse Haabak put in another raise to 125,000. Friedman moved all in for his last 269,000 and was called by Haabak. Haabak made the call and showed A6 and needed help against Friedman’s pocket eights.

The board ran QQ5410 and Friedman doubled up to 580,000.

Phil Ivey Grabs A Pot

Phil Iver and his opponent saw a flop of Q1010. Both players checked and they did the same on the turn that brought the A. The river was the 8 and the action was checked to Ivey.

He took a stab at the pot with a bet of 50,000 and his opponent mucked. Ivey raked in the pot and has started the day with a positive note, improving his chip stack to 1.7 million.

Adam Lattimer Knocked Out

Billy Kopp raised to 42,000 from under the gun and Adam Lattimer made it 150,000 to go. Kopp then moved in for 366,000 and Lattimer called, putting himself all in. Kopp turned over AA while Lattimer tabled QQ.

The board ran out AJ85J and Lattimer was eliminated.

Hachem And Eastgate Tangle

Peter Eastgate raised to 44,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to Joe Hachem in the big blind. He made the call and the flop came down 825. Both players checked and the turn was the 2. Hachem led out for 40,000 and Eastgate made the call. The river was the K and Hachem bet 120,000. Eastgate made the call.

Hachem then tabled 55 for a full house and Eastgate mucked. Hachem took the pot and was at 800,000 while Eastgate was at 550,000.

Cole South Eliminated

Cole South moved all in on the flop with ace-king but ran into his opponent’s pocket aces. The turn and the river never gave South any help and he was eliminated, taking home $36,626 for his efforts.

Phillips Gets The Best Of Tran

Dennis Phillips raised to 42,000 from under the gun and J.C. Tran made the call from the hijack. The two players saw a flop of J105 and Phillips led out with 60,000. Tran made the call and both players checked the 5 on the turn.

The river was the 7 and Phillips bet 80,000. Tran made the call and Phillips tabled KJ for two pair. Tran mucked and was down to 440,000. Phillips raked in the pot and was at 1.2 million.

Player Tags: J.C. Tran,   Prahlad Friedman,   Fabrice Soulier,   Phil Ivey,   Joe Hachem,   Peter Eastgate,   Dennis Phillips,   Matt Affleck

Level 4 Hour 2 Update: Soulier Doing Well

Jul 04, '09

Blinds: 150-300 with a 25 ante

Players Left: 720 of 873

Chip Counts:

1. Nick Maimone – 129,000
2. Vadim Gruzglin – 123,500
3. Jim Bookstaff – 119,000
4. Samer Rahman – 117,000
5. Craig Hopkins – 113,000
6. Jesse Rios – 112,000
7. Carlos Oliveira – 105,000
8. Fabrice Soulier – 99,000
9. Daniel Didech – 95,000
10. Karin Lehoussing – 87,000

Card Player Chip Counts:

Todd Brunson — 35,000
Mike Matusow — 18,000

Notable Eliminations:

Dustin Woolf

Big Hands

Davis Runs Into Aces, Then Vents

Raymond Davis raised to 1,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to the big blind. He made the call and the flop came down K73. Both players decided to check and the 10 fell on the turn. The big blind bet 2,000 and Davis came along for the ride. The river was the 2 and the big blind fired 6,000. Davis made the call again and the big blind showed AA. Davis mucked and he was down to 63,900.

A few hands later, Davis was in the big blind and facing a raise to 800 from seat 3. Davis made the call and the flop came down 5-3-2 and seat 3 bet 1,200. Davis immediately raised to 3,200 and seat 3 mucked. Davis then showed 10-7 for a bluff. “I don’t miss every flop, just most of them,” Davis said. “That was a bit of frustration man,” he explained to Hoyt Corkins on his right. “I’ve been getting robbed all day.” Davis was at 65,000 after that hand.

Greenstein Back To The Beginning

Barry Greenstein raised to 800 preflop from middle position and the player on the button made the call. The flop came down 1065 and Greenstein led out with 1,200. The button quickly mucked and Greenstein took the pot, getting his stack back to the original starting stack of 30,000.

Soulier Takes One Off Hansen

After a flop of 432, Fabrice Soulier bet 1,000 and a player called. Thor Hansen then raised to 2,000 and Soulier was the only one to call. The turn was the A and both players checked. They did the same after the 8 fell on the river.

Soulier then showed A7 and Hansen mucked his hand. Soulier raked in the pot and was around 90,000 while Hansen was down to 17,150.

Yeah, That Just Happened

Dustin Woolf raised to 1,000 from the cutoff and the button mucked. The small blind then moved all in for over 15,000 and Woolf made the call, putting himself all in. The small blind showed AK while Woolf showed AK.

This being the fourth of July, the fireworks were about to drop as the flop came K98, leaving Woolf praying for two black cards on the turn and river to chop the pot. But the turn was the 4, giving the small blind the nut flush and knocking Woolf out of the main event in dramatic fashion.

Seidel Drops Some Chips

On a flop of Q22, the small blind led out with 2,000 and Erik Seidel raised to 5,000. The small blind called and the turn was the 3. The small blind checked to Seidel who bet 7,500. The small blind called and the A fell on the river.

Action was checked to Seidel again and he bet 10,000. The small blind quickly called and showed AQ for top two pair. Seidel mucked his hand and was under 25,000.

Player Tags: Erik Seidel,   Barry Greenstein,   Raymond Davis,   Fabrice Soulier,   Dustin Woolf

Final Table Update: Down to Six

Jun 16, '09

Flop Games: 10,000-20,000
Stud Games: Ante – 5,000, Bring-In – 5,000, Stakes – 20,000-40,000

Players Remaining: 6 out of 770

Chip Counts:

1. Mitch Schock — 850,000
2. Shannon Shorr — 730,000
3. James Van Alstyne — 512,000
4. Brian Malcolm — 500,000
5. Bryan Micon — 410,000
6. Tad Jurgens — 320,000

Average Chip Count: 577,500

Notable Eliminations:

8. Ron Schiffman – $26,780
7. Fabrice Soulier – $31,657

Elimination Hands

Ron Schiffman Eliminated in Eighth Place ($26,780)

Omaha 8OB

Brian Malclom raised preflop and Ron Schiffman made the call. The flop was dealt K64 and Schiffman bet. Malcolm made the call and the turn fell 8. Schiffman bet and Malcolm raised. Schiffman called and the river fell Q.

Schiffman checked, Malcolm bet, and Schiffman check-called all in. Malcolm turned up A443 to scoop the pot and Schiffman was eliminated in eighth place.

Fabrice Soulier Eliminated in Seventh Place ($31,657)

Razz

Fabrice Soulier completed with X-X-3 and Brian Malcolm raised. Mitch Schock made the call and Soulier called as well. Action checked to Schock on fourth street and then Soulier check-raised. Malcolm mucked and then Schock and Soulier capped the betting until Soulier was all in. The two players then turned up their hands:

Soulier: (7-5)3-A-9-5(X)
Schock: (A-5)3-6-2-Q(9)

Schock made a 6-5 low to win the pot and Soulir was eliminated in seventh place.

Player Tags: Fabrice Soulier,   Mitch Schock,   Brian Malcolm

Day 2B Level 3 Hour 1

Jul 11, '07

So Its Not Just A Clever Name

Todd Brunson has been nursing a short stack most of the day, and he finally made a stand after his opponent re raised his preflop bet, Brunson asked, “I guess you have Aces don’t you?”  As his opponent hesitated, Brunson was convinced he couldn’t, but for extra effect he pushed in his energy drink can, the name of which appropriately matched the state of his chips at the moment.  Brunson showed K K and his opponent held 10 10.  The board came A 93 Q 3, and Brunson doubled to just over $50,000.

Strange Raise Benefits Matador

Carlos Mortensen limped under the gun, Seat 9 limped from the cutoff, the button limped, the small blind limped, and interestingly the big blind raised only $3,000 more.  None of the limper could be chased out for such a small bet, so they all called.  The flop was A 8 Q.  Seat 2 led out for $6,000 from the small blind.  The big blind folded, Mortensen raised to $15,000, chasing all the other players out of the pot except Seat 2 who called.  The turn was the 2, Seat 2 checked, Mortesen bet $15,000, and Seat 2 called.  The river was the 6, Seat 2 checked, and Mortensen thought about betting, but merely tapped the table.  Seat two showed A J, but Mortensen had outflopped him, showing Q 8.

Commanding Respect

John Murphy and Lee Watkinson apparently have players who respect their raises, or they simply like to bluff.  Murphy raised to $6,500 from the big blind after three players limped, and all but the small blind called.  The flop came A 6 4, and all players checked.  Murphy and the player in Seat 8 checked the K on the turn, the player in Seat 3 bet $15,000, and Murphy beat him into the pot with a raise to $45,000.  After some consideration Seat 3 conceded the pot to Murphy.

At another table, Lee Watkinson raised preflop from early position, Fabrice Souiler called from the cutoff, the button reraised to $20,000, Watkinson eventually made the call, and Souiler quickly folded.  The flop came A 9 3, and both players checked.  The turn was the A, Watkinson checked, the button bet $22,500, and Watkinson raised to $50,000.  The button asked for a confirmation of the size of the raise and subsequently folded.

There are currently 81 tables in play, with approximately 725 players still in the field.

Gus Hansen and Bill Edler are the two most recognizable among the chip leaders both have an excess of $300,000.

Still alive for Team PokerStars in the field are Humberto Brenes, Chris Moneymaker, and of course featured table favorite Daniel Negreanu

Notable Chip Counts

Gus Hansen	400,000
Bill Edler	320,000
Chip Jett	247,000
Ted Forrest	235,000
Maria Ho	210,000
Lee Watkinson	200,000
Chad Brown	195,000
J.C. Tran	188,000
Thor Hansen	180,000
Daniel Negreanu	180,000
John Murphy	170,000
Gavin Smith	170,000
Amnon Filippi	152,000
Chris Ferguson	150,000
Carlos Mortensen	148,000
Nick Binger	140,000
Sorel Mizzi	135,000
Warren Karp	130,000
Dario Minieri	114,000
Darrell Dicken	105,000
Leif Force	104,000
Ralph Perry	95,000
Isaac Haxton	90,000
Todd Brunson	75,000
Fabrice Soulier	70,000
Hasan Habib	65,000
Michael Binger	64,000
Bernard Lee	60,000
Humberto Brenes	56,800
Prahlad Friedman	52,000
Melissa Hayden	52,000
Jon "Pearljammer" Turner	46,000
Mimi Tran	45,000
Chris Grigorian	38,000
Tony Hachem	29,100
Eric Mizrachi	26,000

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Carlos Mortensen,   Todd Brunson,   Fabrice Soulier,   John Murphy

The Night Shift - Round Two

Jul 06, '07

Break
The players are on a 20 minute break. 

Controversy Before the Break
One player raised from the 6 seat in middle position to $1,200.  The dealer announced his raise but then for some reason just reached over and mucked his cards.  She began to apologize almost immediately as the player angrily called the floor over.  The tournament director, as she had done all series, ruled that the player's action must stand, but that he would be returned his raise, only having to contribute $400 to the pot.  This ruling did not satisfy him, mainly because he claimed to have had pocket Kings.  He continued to protest for all of his bet, but the ruling stood.  Eventually, he agreed that the ruling was correct, but that it was still a terrible solution to what is basically, human error. 

Each player is responsible for protecting their cards, and once they hit the muck they are dead, regardless of who put them there.  Usually this situation happens to the players in the one or ten seat, as they are located right next to the dealer.  It is unusual for this to happen to players located across the table.  The player who won the pot on a Jack high board declined to comment whether or not the Kings would have been good, so it is unknown if the dealer accidentally saved the gentleman any chips or not. 

Soulier Sends Opponent To The Rail

On a board of Q 6 5 9 Q Fabrice Soulier pushed the last of his chips into the pot.  His opponent instantly began to shake his head in disgust, obviously angered by a club and board pair on the river.  He eventually called with the 87, which was the nut straight on the turn.  Soulier revealed the A 3, for the nut flush, taking down the pot and sending his opponent to the rail. 

Eliminations

Allen Kessler Mike Mizrachi and Steve Paul-Ambrose were eliminated during this past hour.

Not Everybody Loves Raymond
A player in seat three limps and Ray Romano raises to $2,600.  A team Pokerstars member reraiseson the button to $7,000 and seat three makes the call. Romano says. "lets get this over with." and shoves his remaining money into the pot, raising $1,275 more.  Both the button and seat three call and the flop comes J54.  Seat three checks and seat eight bets $16,000.  Seat three (who looks an awful lot like Doctor Dre) tanks then finally mucks.  The button shows AA, and has Romano in trouble with KQ.  The turn is the K giving Romano some life, but the river brings the 8 and he is eliminated.  As he stood up from the table he yelled, "Crazy Horse, Lets Go!"  He then went over to Brad Garrett's table and caroused with him for a while before leaving.

Notable Chip Counts

Andy Black	120,000
Joe Awada	59,000
Huck Seed	55,000
Barry Greenstein	54,000
Victor Ramdin	42,500
Joe Tehan	32,000
Liz Lieu	27,000
Mike Sexton	21,000
Jonathan Little	20,000
Dustin Woolf	19,800
Mickey Appleman	10,000
David Ulliott	2,600

Player Tags: Allen Kessler,   Michael Mizrachi,   Fabrice Soulier,   Brad Garrett,   Ray Romano

Day 2B Level 3 Hour 1

Jul 11, '07

So Its Not Just A Clever Name

Todd Brunson has been nursing a short stack most of the day, and he finally made a stand after his opponent re raised his preflop bet, Brunson asked, “I guess you have Aces don’t you?”  As his opponent hesitated, Brunson was convinced he couldn’t, but for extra effect he pushed in his energy drink can, the name of which appropriately matched the state of his chips at the moment.  Brunson showed K K and his opponent held 10 10.  The board came A 93 Q 3, and Brunson doubled to just over $50,000.

Strange Raise Benefits Matador

Carlos Mortensen limped under the gun, Seat 9 limped from the cutoff, the button limped, the small blind limped, and interestingly the big blind raised only $3,000 more.  None of the limper could be chased out for such a small bet, so they all called.  The flop was A 8 Q.  Seat 2 led out for $6,000 from the small blind.  The big blind folded, Mortensen raised to $15,000, chasing all the other players out of the pot except Seat 2 who called.  The turn was the 2, Seat 2 checked, Mortesen bet $15,000, and Seat 2 called.  The river was the 6, Seat 2 checked, and Mortensen thought about betting, but merely tapped the table.  Seat two showed A J, but Mortensen had outflopped him, showing Q 8.

Commanding Respect

John Murphy and Lee Watkinson apparently have players who respect their raises, or they simply like to bluff.  Murphy raised to $6,500 from the big blind after three players limped, and all but the small blind called.  The flop came A 6 4, and all players checked.  Murphy and the player in Seat 8 checked the K on the turn, the player in Seat 3 bet $15,000, and Murphy beat him into the pot with a raise to $45,000.  After some consideration Seat 3 conceded the pot to Murphy.

At another table, Lee Watkinson raised preflop from early position, Fabrice Souiler called from the cutoff, the button reraised to $20,000, Watkinson eventually made the call, and Souiler quickly folded.  The flop came A 9 3, and both players checked.  The turn was the A, Watkinson checked, the button bet $22,500, and Watkinson raised to $50,000.  The button asked for a confirmation of the size of the raise and subsequently folded.

There are currently 81 tables in play, with approximately 725 players still in the field.

Gus Hansen and Bill Edler are the two most recognizable among the chip leaders both have an excess of $300,000.

Still alive for Team PokerStars in the field are Humberto Brenes, Chris Moneymaker, and of course featured table favorite Daniel Negreanu

Notable Chip Counts

Gus Hansen	400,000
Bill Edler	320,000
Chip Jett	247,000
Ted Forrest	235,000
Maria Ho	210,000
Lee Watkinson	200,000
Chad Brown	195,000
J.C. Tran	188,000
Thor Hansen	180,000
Daniel Negreanu	180,000
John Murphy	170,000
Gavin Smith	170,000
Amnon Filippi	152,000
Chris Ferguson	150,000
Carlos Mortensen	148,000
Nick Binger	140,000
Sorel Mizzi	135,000
Warren Karp	130,000
Dario Minieri	114,000
Darrell Dicken	105,000
Leif Force	104,000
Ralph Perry	95,000
Isaac Haxton	90,000
Todd Brunson	75,000
Fabrice Soulier	70,000
Hasan Habib	65,000
Michael Binger	64,000
Bernard Lee	60,000
Humberto Brenes	56,800
Prahlad Friedman	52,000
Melissa Hayden	52,000
Jon "Pearljammer" Turner	46,000
Mimi Tran	45,000
Chris Grigorian	38,000
Tony Hachem	29,100
Eric Mizrachi	26,000

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Carlos Mortensen,   Todd Brunson,   Fabrice Soulier,   John Murphy

The Night Shift - Round Two

Jul 06, '07

Break
The players are on a 20 minute break. 

Controversy Before the Break
One player raised from the 6 seat in middle position to $1,200.  The dealer announced his raise but then for some reason just reached over and mucked his cards.  She began to apologize almost immediately as the player angrily called the floor over.  The tournament director, as she had done all series, ruled that the player's action must stand, but that he would be returned his raise, only having to contribute $400 to the pot.  This ruling did not satisfy him, mainly because he claimed to have had pocket Kings.  He continued to protest for all of his bet, but the ruling stood.  Eventually, he agreed that the ruling was correct, but that it was still a terrible solution to what is basically, human error. 

Each player is responsible for protecting their cards, and once they hit the muck they are dead, regardless of who put them there.  Usually this situation happens to the players in the one or ten seat, as they are located right next to the dealer.  It is unusual for this to happen to players located across the table.  The player who won the pot on a Jack high board declined to comment whether or not the Kings would have been good, so it is unknown if the dealer accidentally saved the gentleman any chips or not. 

Soulier Sends Opponent To The Rail

On a board of Q 6 5 9 Q Fabrice Soulier pushed the last of his chips into the pot.  His opponent instantly began to shake his head in disgust, obviously angered by a club and board pair on the river.  He eventually called with the 87, which was the nut straight on the turn.  Soulier revealed the A 3, for the nut flush, taking down the pot and sending his opponent to the rail. 

Eliminations

Allen Kessler Mike Mizrachi and Steve Paul-Ambrose were eliminated during this past hour.

Not Everybody Loves Raymond
A player in seat three limps and Ray Romano raises to $2,600.  A team Pokerstars member reraiseson the button to $7,000 and seat three makes the call. Romano says. "lets get this over with." and shoves his remaining money into the pot, raising $1,275 more.  Both the button and seat three call and the flop comes J54.  Seat three checks and seat eight bets $16,000.  Seat three (who looks an awful lot like Doctor Dre) tanks then finally mucks.  The button shows AA, and has Romano in trouble with KQ.  The turn is the K giving Romano some life, but the river brings the 8 and he is eliminated.  As he stood up from the table he yelled, "Crazy Horse, Lets Go!"  He then went over to Brad Garrett's table and caroused with him for a while before leaving.

Notable Chip Counts

Andy Black	120,000
Joe Awada	59,000
Huck Seed	55,000
Barry Greenstein	54,000
Victor Ramdin	42,500
Joe Tehan	32,000
Liz Lieu	27,000
Mike Sexton	21,000
Jonathan Little	20,000
Dustin Woolf	19,800
Mickey Appleman	10,000
David Ulliott	2,600

Player Tags: Allen Kessler,   Michael Mizrachi,   Fabrice Soulier,   Brad Garrett,   Ray Romano

Seven Tables

Jul 01, '07

There are currently 63 players left on seven tables.

Many big names fell in the last level including defending champion Lee Watkinson, Johnny Chan, Eli Elezra, Tony G, David Sklansky, and Fabrice Souiler. 

Hellmuth didn't have a very good end to his level.  Hellmuth was able to get away from a dangerous situation early on in the level when he raised preflop with pocket Kings and one set of suited cards.  His opponent re-raised him, and Hellmuth folded after much deliberation.  His opponent then showed him pocket Aces with a King.  Later on though Hellmuth flopped top two pair in a hand, only to have his opponent backdoor a flush, calling him down originally with only top pair and a gutshot straight draw.

Michael Binger who was short stacked in the last level, managed to crack an opponent's Aces by flopping a seven-high straight.  Then Binger was able to eliminate Fabrice Souiler with Aces of his own.  Binger is making a push for his seventh cash of this World Series.

Doyle Brunson managed to crack a smile when he made a mutliway full house.  Brunson bet out on the A 8 3 flop only getting called by Robert Mizrachi.  They both checked the A on the turn.  The J hit on the river, and Brunson fired again, only to have his chips beaten into the pot by Mizrachi's cards.  Brunson then grinned and said, "When I hit a full house I really hit one." He then showed the A 8 8 8 in his hand.
Notable Chip Counts

Andy Bloch	185,000
Annie Duke	180,000
Scotty Nguyen	175,000
Robert Mizrachi	160,000
Greg Raymer	150,000
Patrik Antonius	130,000
Doyle Brunson	114,000
Dave Colclough	110,000
Huckleberry Seed	64,000
JC Tran	36,000
Chau Giang	7,500

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Robert Mizrachi,   Antanas Guoga,   Phil Hellmuth,   Doyle Brunson,   Eli Elezra,   Johnny Chan,   Fabrice Soulier,   David Sklansky

12 Tables

Jul 01, '07

Amazingly two-thirds of the starting field is now gone as only 99 players remain.

Sam Grizzle has been tearing his table apart beating two nut-flushes in succession.  First Grizzle committed all of his chips on a flop of K87 where he had flopped top set holding K K Q J.  Allen Cunninham made the call with A 10 10 2.  Cunningham caught the flush with the 4 on the turn, but the 7, filled Grizzle's boat, and secured him the pot.  A few hands later, John Phan was the victim of quite a cooler, and a hell of a sharp needle.  Phan, holding A K Q 6, flopped top two pair against Grizzle's (Q 7 7 5)open-ended straight-flush draw, on a K 6 4 flop.  The turn 7 gave Grizzle the lead with a set of sevens, and the 8, gave Phan the nut flush, but also completed Grizzle's straight flush.  Phan was eliminated on the hand.  Cunningham was also sent packing soon after when his opponent caught a gutshot straight to crack his two Aces.

Phil Hellmuth, who had been folding to Ted Forrest's reraises, was able to take him out when he beat Ted's turned two-pair with a backdoor flush.  Todd Brunson doubled up through Fabrice Soulier after he flopped a set of tens, and got action from Souiler's top pair.

Souiler is still among the chip leaders, with Patrik Antonius leading the pack.
Notable Chip Counts

Annie Duke	151,000
Robert Mizrachi	132,000
Patrik Antonius	125,000
Fabrice Soulier	125,000
Doyle Brunson	124,500
Andy Bloch	102,000
Scotty Nguyen	101,000
Greg Raymer	89,000
Surinder Sunar	69,000
David Sklansky	62,000
David Chiu	56,000
Phil Hellmuth	55,000
Chau Giang	50,000
Huckleberry Seed	45,000
JC Tran	42,000
Eli Elezra	39,000
Dave Colclough	39,000
Johnny Chan	34,000
Tony G	30,500
Dewey Tomko	18,000

Player Tags: John Phan,   Sam Grizzle,   Allen Cunningham,   Ted Forrest,   Todd Brunson,   Phil Hellmuth,   Fabrice Soulier