$1,500 Razz - Christopher Viox Eliminated in 3rd Place ($59,132)
Jun 15, '08
Blinds/Antes: 7,000 ante, 10,000 bring-in, 30,000 completion
Players Left: 2
Chip Counts:
Barry Greenstein: 985,000
Chris Klodnicki: 380,000
Eliminations:
Chris Viox Eliminated in 3rd Place ($59,132)
Big hands:
Christopher Viox Eliminated in 3rd Place ($59,132)
Christopher Viox was all in on fifth street against Christopher Klodnikci and the players turned up their cards.
Viox: 7-4-6-K-2-A-X
Klodnicki: 9-4-2-Q-3-5
Viox had formidable lead heading to sixth street where Viox hit an ace against Klodnicki's 5. With a 5 on sixth street, Klodnikci needed an ace or a 6 to win. Klodnicki hit his ace, trumping Viox's 7-6 with the wheel. Klodnicki finally eliminated Chris Viox in 3rd place ($59,132).
And Then There Were Two...
With Chris Viox finally out of their way, Barry Greenstein (985,000) and Chris Klodnicki (380,000) begin heads-up play.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz - Greenstein Hols on to Lead
Jun 15, '08
Blinds/Antes: 5,000 ante, 5,000 bring-in, 20,000 completion
Players Left: 3
Chip Counts:
Barry Greenstein: 779,000
Chris Klodnicki: 315,000
Chris Viox: 271,000
Big Hands:
Chris Klodnicki Gets Crippled, Then Doubles Up
It wasn't long after the dinner break where Chris Klodnicki found himself heads-up in a pot with Chris Viox. With plenty of action, Klodnicki finished the hand second to Viox with a 10-6-5-3-2 against Viox's 8-7-3-2-A low. After this pot Klodnicki was down to about 75,000 in chips.
The very next hand and Klodnicki doubled through chip leader Barry Greenstein with an 8-7 against Greenstein's painted board. Klodnicki climbed back up to 150,000 in chips.
Chris Viox Closes the Gap
In a heads-up pot with Chris Viox, Barry greenstein was the aggressor, betting thw whole way while Viox called him down. Greenstein made a 10-8-6-4-2 on seventh street while Viox made a 9-7-5-4-A on the river. After this hand Viox had about 550,000 to greenstein's 650,000.
Chris Klodnicki Doubles Through Chris Viox
All in on fifth street, Chris Klodnicki had locked-up a win with 9-5-4-2-A while Viox was drawing dead with Q-J-7-6-2. Klodnicki doubled up to ver 300,000 this hand while Viox had fallen to just under 300,000. With the two Chris's almost even again, Greenstein's 800,000 now has a much greater value as the betting limits continue to increase ever so fast.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz - Dinner Break
Jun 15, '08
Note: Players took a short thirty-minute dinner break around 8:45 pm and will return shortly to Level 23.
Blinds/Antes: 3,000 ante, 5,000 bring-in, 15,000 completion
Players Left: 3
Chip Counts:
Barry Greenstein: 895,000
Chris Klodnicki: 241,000
Chris Klodnicki: 229,000
Big Hands:
Chris Klodnicki Doubles Through Chris Viox
Chris Klodnicki was involved in a big pot with Chris Viox, getting all in on the irver. Viox had him covered. Viox managed to make an 8-6-4-3-2 low against Viox's 8-7-5-2-A, doubling up to just over 200,000. Heading to dinner this puts the two Chris's about even, Greenstein still with the monster stack.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz - Greenstein Widens His Lead
Jun 15, '08
Blinds/Antes: 3,000 ante, 3,000 bring-in, 12,000 completion
Players Left: 3
Chip Counts:
Barry Greenstein: 846,000
Chris Viox: 353,000
Chris Klodnicki: 166,000
Big Hands:
Action this past round has been terribly slow as Greenstein starts to put the squeeze on his opponents.
Barry Greenstein Widens His Lead
Barry Greenstein has picked up the few pots of any consequence this round, beating Chris Viox in a showdown with 7-5-4-3-A and then beating Chris Klodnicki with 8-7-6-4-2. Greenstein has run himself up to over 700,000 while the two Chris's are about even with 300,000 each at this point.
It was quite some time later that the players would see seventh street again, Greenstein of course winning the pot in his all too familiar fashion. Betting the whole way, Greenstein fired one last bet on the river, causing Klodnicki to fold once again after hitting a brick on seventh street. Greenstein's patience has been paying off, and after this hand he has moved up to over 800,000 in chips.
Klodnicki Cripples Viox
Chris Viox took the betting initiative in a big pot against Chris Klodnicki who called him down all the way and looked him up on seventh street. Viox finsihed the hand with an 8-7-5-4-3 while Klodnicki went on to make a 7-6-5-3-2 low. After this hand, the former chip leader was reduced to his last 100,000 in chips.
Chris Viox Doubles Through Chip Leader Barry Greenstein
A few hands after getting crippled by the other Chris, Chris Viox found himself all in on sixth street against chip Leader Barry Greenstein. Viox made a 7-6-5-2-A low against Greenstein's 9-8-4-3-A to double up to just under 200,000. Greenstein takes a minor hit and drops down to just over 700,000 after this hand.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz - Mark Tenner Eliminated in 4th place ($43,571), Greenstein Takes Chip Lead
Jun 15, '08
Note: The remining three players have just returned from a short twenty-minute break after the conclusion of Level 20.
Blinds/Antes: 3,000 antes, 3,000 bring-in, 12,000 completion
Players Left: 3
Chip Counts:
Barry Greenstein: 664,000
Chris Viox: 503,000
Chris Klodnicki: 198,000
Eliminations:
Mark Tenner Eliminated in 4th Place ($43,571)
Mark Tenner Eliminated in 4th place ($43,571)
With Chris Viox crippling Mark Tenner a few hands prior, it was Chris Klodnicki that delivered the final death blow when Mark Tenner got it all in on fifth street. This one came down to the river, Tenner hitting a jack to compliment his 7-6-2-A low. Klodnicki finished the hand with 7-6-4-3-2 low, good enough to rake the pot and send Mark Tenner home in 4th place ($43,571).
Barry Greenstein Takes the Chip Lead
Barry Greenstein won two key pots uncontested this round, one off of Chris Viox and the other off of Chris Klodnicki. Never missing a bet, Greenstein just kept firing at the pot, getting each opponent to close their cards on the river. A few hands later and Greenstein officially took control of the chip lead after trumping Viox's 9-4-3-2-A with an 8-7-5-4-3 low. This hand put Greenstein over 650,000.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz - Michael Joseph Eliminated 6th ($25,831), Brandon Leeds 5th ($33,301)
Jun 15, '08
Blinds/Antes: 2,000 ante, 3,000 bring-in, 10,000 completion
Players Left: 4
Chip Counts:
Chris Viox: 525,000
Chris Klodnicki: 320,000
Barry Greenstein: 307,000
Mark Tenner: 137,000
Eliminations:
Michael Joseph Eliminated in 6th Plac ($25,831)
Brandon Leeds Eliminated in 5th place ($33,301)
Big Hands:
Chris Klodnicki Goes From Worst to First, Takes the Chip Lead...For a Minute
Chris Viox started this round as the short stack with just under 30,000 in chips, and one hour later Viox has grabbed the chip lead with almost 375,000. Viox had increased his fire power ten-fold this round after getting invloved in a big pot with Barry Greenstein and emerging victorious. After that hand, Klodnicki surged to over 300,000 while Greenstein fell to just about half that amount. Klodnicki and Viox have been tangling with the chip lead ever since.
Joseph Michael Eliminated in 6th place ($25,831)
Mark Tenner completed the bet with a 4 and Chris Viox called the raise with a 7. Joseph Michael reraised with a 7, Tenner folded and Viox made it three bets to go. Michael came back over the top and reraised all in for a total of 35,000. Michael went on to make a 9-7-6-4-3 low while Viox made an 8-7-6-4-A on seventh street. Chris Viox raked the pot, regaining the chip lead once again while Joseph Michael was eliminated in 6th place ($25,831).
Brandon Leeds Eliminated in 5th place ($33,301)
The now short stacked Brandon Leeds moved all in on fourth street with an A-2 on board against the chip leader, Chris Viox who was showing A-6. Viox went on to make a 6-5-4-2-A on the river while the best Leeds could do was make an 8-6-4-3-A low. Chris Viox adds even more chips to his growing stack while Brandon Leeds has to settle for 5th place and $33,301.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox, Brandon Leeds, Joseph Michael
$1,500 Razz - Mike Wattel Eliminated in 8th Place ($16,495)
Jun 15, '08
Note: The remaining seven players have taken a short twenty-minute break while the tournament staff races off the 500 chips.
Blinds/Antes: 1,500 ante, 2,000 bring-in, 6,000 completion
Chip Counts:
Chris Viox: 368,000
Joseph Michael: 274,000
Barry Greenstein: 264,000
Mark Tenner: 250,000
Brandon Leeds: 150,000
Chris Klodnicki: 49,000
Archie Karas: 23,000
Eliminations:
Mike Wattel Eliminated in 8th Place ($16,495)
Big Hands:
Mike Wattel Eliminated in 8th Place ($16,495)
Mike Wattel was all in in a three-way pot with Barry Greenstein and Chris Viox.
Wattel: 4-6-A-4 - X-X-X
Greenstein: 6-7-9-8 - X-X-X
Viox: 10-4-3-K - A-2-5
Apparently there was some controversy over Wattel closing his cards on seventh street, signifying that his hand was weak. This upset Greenstein, giving Viox information as to the relative strength of his hand, and eventually Greenstein made the call. Viox turned over the wheel and raked the pot, eliminating Mike Wattel in 8th place ($16,495).
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Michael Wattel, Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz Final Table Preview
Jun 15, '08
The $1,500 Razz final table starts today at 3 pm local time and here is a look at the final eight players and their starting chip counts…
Christopher Viox of Glen Carbon, Illinois comes to this final table first in chips (359,500) and with some prior WSOP experience. This will be Christopher’s fourth cash and second WSOP final table. Viox cashed in both the ‘06 and ‘07 Main Event, and placed third in ‘06 $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em event, taking home his biggest prize to date of $85,904. Christopher Viox has over a quarter million dollars in live action tournament winnings and comes here tonight looking for both his first bracelet and his first six-figure cash.
Barry Greenstein, affectionately known as “Bear”, comes to his second WSOP final table of the year second in chips (243,000), and looking to score his third gold bracelet. One of the game’s most recognizable faces, this is Greenstein’s twelfth WSOP final table and 34th overall WSOP cash, making him 55th on the WSOP all-time money list. Greenstein now has over $6 million in live tournament winnings and in addition to his success at the World Series, Greenstein has three WPT Championships under his belt. As respected away from the game as he is feared on the table, Greenstein is considered one of the industry’s greatest philanthropists, donating his poker winnings to charity and earning himself the nickname, “Robin Hood of Poker”.
Brandon Leeds of Phoenix, Arizona comes to this final table third in chips (206,500), and with only two prior WSOP cashes, Leeds comes here tonight locking down the biggest cash of his career with a guaranteed $13,382 ninth place pay-out.
Joseph Michael of Austin, Texas has three lifetime WSOP cashes, all in 2007, and spread out over a wide variety of games. This will be Michael’s first final table and with 155,000 (4th) in chips, and although Michael might be one of the least experienced players at table, he has more than enough fire power to hold his ground.
Archie “The Greek” Karas is one of the world’s most infamous gamblers, and is said by many to be the world’s biggest loser. In his lifetime, Karas is rumored to have gone from broke to over $25 million, and then back to broke again. Karas built up a formidable bankroll as a pool hustler, moving on to poker, and eventually ending up at Binion’s Horsehoe Casino in 1993 where he challenged the greatest poker players in the world to the greatest stakes of all time. Chip Reese, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan…at one time or another, “The Greek” had beat them all. Karas then took an eight-figure bankroll to the craps pits and started rolling the dice at a million dollars a toss. One time on Mr. Karas’ Wild Ride, he had won all of the Horseshoe’s $5,000 chips, and Binion had to buy them all back from him. Karas comes to the table fifth in chips with 113,000. This is Karas’ third WSOP cash and third final table, all of which have come in some variation of stud.
Local resident, Mark Tenner of Henderson, Nevada comes to his first WSOP final table with 120,000 in chips (6th) and four prior WSOP cashes. Tenner cashed in this event in 2005, with his most impressive finish coming in the main event of that same year. Tenner has just over $108,500 in live winnings, and is eagerly looking forward to adding to that number here tonight. This is Tenner’s fifth WSOP in-the-money finish and his first final table.
Chris Klodnicki of Worhees, New Jersey comes to the final table as one of the short stacks (7th) with 105,000 in chips. This is Klodnicki’s second WSOP cash and his first final table. His most impressive finish coming at the EPT’s Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure of this year, Klodnicki came in 35th place and cashed for $32,000. Klodnicki has guaranteed himself a five figure cash here tonight, escalating his live tournament winnings into six-figure territory.
Mike Wattel is a true veteran of the game with 16 WSOP cashes, ten final tables and one bracelet. Going after his second here today, Wattel has a lot of obstacles to overcome and a major chip deficit as the short stack with only 74,000. This is Wattel and Karas’ second WSOP final table together. Wattel finished 5th and Karas finished 4th in this very same event just three years ago in 2005. In fact, this is Wattel’s fourth time at the final table in this event since 1999. Even with the minimum, Mike Wattel has just hit a pivotal moment in his career. This final table guarantees Wattel enough prize money to break the million dollar mark and grant him exclusive access in the poker-made millionaires club. Wattel is clearly one of the biggest threats at this table, and with his chip count down, don’t count him out because experience counts for a lot in this game and Wattel has plenty of it.
Player Tags: Barry Greenstein, Michael Wattel, Mark Tenner, Archie Karas, Chris Klodnicki, Chris Viox, Brandon Leeds, Joseph Michael
On to the Final Table
Jun 14, '08
Limits: 4,000-8,000 with a 1,500 ante, 2,000 bring-in
Average Stack: 151,000
Players Left: 8 of 453
Eliminations:
20th: Jeffrey Lisandro: $4,019
19th: Andrew Brown: $4,019
18th: George Shahrezay: $4,019
17th: Ben Tang: $4,019
16th: John Martin: $5,255
15th: Martin Stilling: $5,255
14th: David Levi: $7,110
13th: Roland Isra: $7,110
12th: Tom Schneider: $10,202
11th: Stephen Ladowsky: $10,202
10th: Phillip Luong: $13,294
9th: Frank Kassela: $13,294
Final Table
Christopher Viox: 350,000
Barry Greenstein: 220,000
Brandon Leeds: 195,000
Joseph Michael: 140,000
Archie Karas: 130,000
Mark Tenner: 120,000
Chris Klondnicki: 115,000
Michael Wattel: 75,000
And Then There Were Eight
The final table is set for the $1,500 buy-in razz tournament. Barry Greenstein did not have to autograph his book for anyone as he is second in chips heading into the final day. Players like Tom Schneider, David Levy and Ted Lawson were among the casualties during Day 2. The remaining players are guaranteed to earn at least $16,386, while the eventual victor will take home $157,619 and, of course, a 2008 World Series of Poker gold bracelet. Play will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Big Hands:
Frank Kassela Crippled, then Eliminated in 9th Place, The Final Table is Set
Kassela: (A-A)-2-Q-3-5-(5)
Christopher Viox: (9-7)-2-10-3-7-(6)
Kassela bet on every street trying to represent a made low hand. Viox was not buying it as he called his opponent down. On the river, Kassela bet again and Viox made the call, confirming his suspicions that Kassela was trailing. Viox and his 9-low took the hand, besting Kassela's queen-low.
After the hand, Kassela was left with just 2,500, 1,500 of which was anted off. He was eliminated on the next hand by Viox.
Player Tags: Chris Viox
$1,500 Razz - Day 2 - Level 10 Recap
Jun 14, '08
Note: Players are now on a 20-minute break
Limits: 800-1,600, 200 ante, 200 bring in
Players Left: 69 of 456
Chip Leaders:
David Levi - 61,000
Joseph Michael - 57,000
Jonathan Schwatz - 56,000
Barry Greenstein - 40,000
Christopher Viox - 33,000
Michael Wattel - 29,000
Anthony Viganola - 28,000
Ted Lawson - 28,000
Frank Kassela - 26,200
Steven Merrifield – 25,000
Average Stack: 19,850
Eliminations:
Dario Alioto
Dewey Tomko
Vanessa Rousso
Big Hands and Storylines:
How much?!
The tournament screen displaying information for the next level showed that the bring-in would be 3,000 chips. This prompted a word from the supervisor that the bring-in for the next level would in fact be 300 and not 3,000. That, of course, makes much more sense considering the stakes will only be 1,000-2,000.
Nassif Takes a Pot Off Levi
Edward Nassif: 3
5
K
5
David Levi: 62Q2
The player in the 2 seat raised with the 5 up and David Levi called. Ed Nassif raised and both players came for 4th street. On 4th street Nassif bet, the 2 seat folded and Levi called. Levi then took the initiative and bet on 5th and 6th streets after two abysmal cards were dealt to Nassif. Nassif called twice however, and on 7th street both players checked. Levi turned over (7-3-3) for a Q-7-6-3-2 low and Nassif seemed shocked when his (Q-6-4) underneath allowed him to take down the pot with a meager Q-6-5-4-3. Nassif is now up to 19,000 and Levi is still tops with 61,000.
Merrifield on a Run
Starting the day with only 8,000, Steven Merrifield has done a tremendous job of running his stack up to 25,000. A good deal of that money came from a recent pot contested with Andy Bloch:
Merrifield: T672
Bloch: Q749
Merrifield bet out with his superior upcards on 5th, 6th, and 7th streets and on each occasion he was called by Bloch. Merrified showed T65 for a T-7-6-5-2 low, good enough to scoop the pot. After the pot Bloch was left with 18,000.
Sklansky Bucks Lawson
Ted Lawson bet on 4th street with the 4 up and David Sklansky called showing the 4. On 4th street, Lawson was dealt the 5 and Sklansky the 6; both players checked. On 6th street Sklansky was dealt the 7 and bet into Lawson who drew the Q. Lawson folded and Sklansky won the pot. It’s not all bad news for Ted Lawson though, as he still has nearly 30,000 in chips. Sklansky has about 10,000.
Player Tags: Frank Kassela, Barry Greenstein, David Levi, Andy Bloch, Dewey Tomko, Michael Wattel, Ted Lawson, David Sklansky, Vanessa Rousso, Edward Nassif, Chris Viox, Dario Alioto, Joseph Michael, Anthony Viganola, Steven Merrifield
