Brandon Cantu - Live Updates

Brandon Cantu Eliminated

Oct 28, '09

Brandon Cantu got the last of his chips into the middle against Jimmy Tran preflop. Their cards:

Tran: QQ
Cantu: A10

Board: 77294

Cantu was eliminated on the hand and Tran grew his chip stack to 175,000.

Player Tags: Jimmy Tran,   Brandon Cantu

Brandon Cantu Doubles Up

Oct 28, '09

On a flop of 872 seat 4 bet 10,000 from the big blind and Brandon Cantu raised all in for 57,700 UTG+1. Seat 4 went into the tank for a minute or two and then made the call. Their cards:

Cantu: AQ
Seat 4: 66

Turn and River: 85

Cantu doubled up on the hand to 116,000 with a flush and seat 4 was crippled down to 400 in chips. He was eliminated shortly thereafter.

Player Tags: Brandon Cantu

Level 17 Update: Money Bubble Bursts

Oct 24, '09

Blinds: 6,000-12,000 with a 1,000 ante

Players Left: 27 of 275

Average Chip Count: 611,111

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Lavallee — 1,615,000
2. Freddy Deeb — 1,405,000
3. Tommy Vedes — 1,165,000
4. Mark Seif — 1,085,000
5. Jason Burt — 970,000
6. Jonas Entin — 755,000
7. Shawn Cunix — 740,000
8. Kido Pham — 686,000
9. Jeff Blenkarn — 660,000
10. Jason Somerville — 583,000

Notable Eliminations:

Dee Luong
Andy Bloch
Brandon Cantu
Jason Somerville

Big Hands:

Dee Luong Eliminated

Dee Luong (pictured right) was crippled after Freddy Deeb doubled up through her with pocket aces to grow his stack to 1,230,000. Luong held pocket kings but she watched her stack fall down to 87,000. A few hands later Jason Lavallee opened a pot for a raise and Luong reraised all in. Lavallee made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Luong: 66
Lavallee: A8

Board: AJ378

Luong was eliminated on the hand and Lavallee held 1,350,000.

Brandon Cantu Eliminated

Brandon Cantu moved all in preflop for 160,000 and Mrk Seif made the call. Their cards:

Cantu: A8
Seif: 99

Board: K6322

Cantu was eliminated on the hand and Seif grew his stack to 1,145,000.

Andy Bloch Eliminated in Two Parts

Part I

Kido Pham raised to 27,000 from the cutoff and Aaron Jones reraised all in for 171,000 from the button. Andy Bloch reraised all in and Pham mucked. The cards:

Jones: Q10
Bloch: KK

Board: Q74103

Bloch was knocked down to 305,000 on the hand and Jones doubled up to 395,000.

Part II

Andy Bloch raised to 32,000 from the cutoff and Jason Burt reraised from the small blind. Bloch reraised all in and Burt made the call. Their cards:

Burt: 1010
Bloch: AQ

Board: Q52K10

Burt grew his stack to 970,000 and Bloch was eliminated.

Jason Somerville Eliminated

Jason Somerville moved all in preflop on a short stack (180,000) for the third time in a row and Jeff Blenkarn made the call. Their cards:

Blenkarn: AA
Somerville: 1010

Board: K6495

Blenkran grew his stack to 660,000 and Somerville was eliminated on the hand.

Chau Giang Eliminated on the Money Bubble

Matt Stout raised from early position to 32,000 and Chau Giang reraised all in from middle position for 199,000. Prahlad Friedman reraised all in from the cutoff for 259,000 and Stout mucked pocket tens. Friedman and Giang then revealed their cards:

Giang: AK
Friedman: JJ

Board: Q9644

Friedman held 515,000 after the hand and Giang was eliminated on the money bubble in 28th place.

Player Tags: Andy Bloch,   Prahlad Friedman,   Chau Giang,   Dee Luong,   Jason Somerville,   Matt Stout,   Brandon Cantu,   Jason Lavallee,   Aaron Jones,   Jason Burt

Level 14 Update: Somerville Gets Stronger

Oct 23, '09

Blinds: 3,000-6,000 with a 500 ante

Players Left: 45 of 275

Average Chip Count: 366,000

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Somerville — 915,000
2. Jason Lavallee — 870,000
3. Dee Luong — 800,000
4. Matt Stout — 790,000
5. Jonas Entin — 725,000
6. Dutch Boyd — 610,000
7. Scott Clements — 445,000
8. Andy Bloch — 430,000
9. Matthew Glantz — 360,000
10. Steve Brecher — 350,000

Notable Eliminations:

Adam Geyer
Alan Smurfit
Mike Leah

Big Hands:

Jason Somerville Crosses the 900,000 Mark

Jason Somerville raised on the button and the big blind reraised an additional 30,000. Somerville set him all in with pocket sevens and the big blinds called with KQ.

The board came Q96108 and Somerville’s backdoor straight took it down to send the opponent to the rail and put his stack at 915,000.

Adam Geyer Busts to Dee Luong

Adam Geyer (pictured right) raised to 14,000 and Dee Luong reraised and Geyer announced all in. Luong called with AK and was racing against Geyer’s pocket queens.

The board came down 822A5 and Luong’s pair of aces sent Geyer to the rail short of the money. Luong now has 800,000, well above her husband Prahlad Friedman who is still alive in this tournament.

Corwin Cole Chips Up Big

During the level, Corwin Cole (pictured left) busted a player with set over set to bring his stack to a very impressive 760,000.

Brandon Cantu Busts POY Candidate Mike Leah

On a flop of Js10h8s, Brandon Cantu was all in and covering Mike Leah, who made the call with Jd10d. Cantu showed KsQh for the up and down straight draw and it hit when the turn and river came 9h4c.

Cantu now sits with 545,000.

Player Tags: Dee Luong,   Jason Somerville,   Brandon Cantu,   Adam Geyer,   Mike Leah,   Corwin Cole

Level 17 Update: Money Bubble Bursts

Oct 24, '09

Blinds: 6,000-12,000 with a 1,000 ante

Players Left: 27 of 275

Average Chip Count: 611,111

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Lavallee — 1,615,000
2. Freddy Deeb — 1,405,000
3. Tommy Vedes — 1,165,000
4. Mark Seif — 1,085,000
5. Jason Burt — 970,000
6. Jonas Entin — 755,000
7. Shawn Cunix — 740,000
8. Kido Pham — 686,000
9. Jeff Blenkarn — 660,000
10. Jason Somerville — 583,000

Notable Eliminations:

Dee Luong
Andy Bloch
Brandon Cantu
Jason Somerville

Big Hands:

Dee Luong Eliminated

Dee Luong (pictured right) was crippled after Freddy Deeb doubled up through her with pocket aces to grow his stack to 1,230,000. Luong held pocket kings but she watched her stack fall down to 87,000. A few hands later Jason Lavallee opened a pot for a raise and Luong reraised all in. Lavallee made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Luong: 66
Lavallee: A8

Board: AJ378

Luong was eliminated on the hand and Lavallee held 1,350,000.

Brandon Cantu Eliminated

Brandon Cantu moved all in preflop for 160,000 and Mrk Seif made the call. Their cards:

Cantu: A8
Seif: 99

Board: K6322

Cantu was eliminated on the hand and Seif grew his stack to 1,145,000.

Andy Bloch Eliminated in Two Parts

Part I

Kido Pham raised to 27,000 from the cutoff and Aaron Jones reraised all in for 171,000 from the button. Andy Bloch reraised all in and Pham mucked. The cards:

Jones: Q10
Bloch: KK

Board: Q74103

Bloch was knocked down to 305,000 on the hand and Jones doubled up to 395,000.

Part II

Andy Bloch raised to 32,000 from the cutoff and Jason Burt reraised from the small blind. Bloch reraised all in and Burt made the call. Their cards:

Burt: 1010
Bloch: AQ

Board: Q52K10

Burt grew his stack to 970,000 and Bloch was eliminated.

Jason Somerville Eliminated

Jason Somerville moved all in preflop on a short stack (180,000) for the third time in a row and Jeff Blenkarn made the call. Their cards:

Blenkarn: AA
Somerville: 1010

Board: K6495

Blenkran grew his stack to 660,000 and Somerville was eliminated on the hand.

Chau Giang Eliminated on the Money Bubble

Matt Stout raised from early position to 32,000 and Chau Giang reraised all in from middle position for 199,000. Prahlad Friedman reraised all in from the cutoff for 259,000 and Stout mucked pocket tens. Friedman and Giang then revealed their cards:

Giang: AK
Friedman: JJ

Board: Q9644

Friedman held 515,000 after the hand and Giang was eliminated on the money bubble in 28th place.

Player Tags: Andy Bloch,   Prahlad Friedman,   Chau Giang,   Dee Luong,   Jason Somerville,   Matt Stout,   Brandon Cantu,   Jason Lavallee,   Aaron Jones,   Jason Burt

Level 14 Update: Somerville Gets Stronger

Oct 23, '09

Blinds: 3,000-6,000 with a 500 ante

Players Left: 45 of 275

Average Chip Count: 366,000

Chip Counts:

1. Jason Somerville — 915,000
2. Jason Lavallee — 870,000
3. Dee Luong — 800,000
4. Matt Stout — 790,000
5. Jonas Entin — 725,000
6. Dutch Boyd — 610,000
7. Scott Clements — 445,000
8. Andy Bloch — 430,000
9. Matthew Glantz — 360,000
10. Steve Brecher — 350,000

Notable Eliminations:

Adam Geyer
Alan Smurfit
Mike Leah

Big Hands:

Jason Somerville Crosses the 900,000 Mark

Jason Somerville raised on the button and the big blind reraised an additional 30,000. Somerville set him all in with pocket sevens and the big blinds called with KQ.

The board came Q96108 and Somerville’s backdoor straight took it down to send the opponent to the rail and put his stack at 915,000.

Adam Geyer Busts to Dee Luong

Adam Geyer (pictured right) raised to 14,000 and Dee Luong reraised and Geyer announced all in. Luong called with AK and was racing against Geyer’s pocket queens.

The board came down 822A5 and Luong’s pair of aces sent Geyer to the rail short of the money. Luong now has 800,000, well above her husband Prahlad Friedman who is still alive in this tournament.

Corwin Cole Chips Up Big

During the level, Corwin Cole (pictured left) busted a player with set over set to bring his stack to a very impressive 760,000.

Brandon Cantu Busts POY Candidate Mike Leah

On a flop of Js10h8s, Brandon Cantu was all in and covering Mike Leah, who made the call with Jd10d. Cantu showed KsQh for the up and down straight draw and it hit when the turn and river came 9h4c.

Cantu now sits with 545,000.

Player Tags: Dee Luong,   Jason Somerville,   Brandon Cantu,   Adam Geyer,   Mike Leah,   Corwin Cole

Final Table Update: Brandon Cantu Wins Event No. 48

Jun 27, '09

Blinds: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 1 out of 762

Chip Counts:

1. Brandon Cantu – 3,249,000
2. Lee Watkinson – 0

Average Chip Count: 3,249,000

Notable Eliminations:

2. Lee Watkinson – $141,873

Elimination Hands

Brandon Cantu Wins Event No. 48 ($228,867), Lee Watkinson Eliminated In Second ($141,873)

Brandon Cantu raised to 150,000 from the button and Lee Watkinson just called. The flop came Q64 and both players got all their chips into the middle. Cantu exposed the A1074, for a pair of fours with a flush draw. Watkinson tabled the 2357 for a low draw, a straight draw with multiple cards completing it, and an inferior flush draw. However, the turn brought the 9 and the 4 fell on the river, giving Cantu trip fours. Watkinson was sent home in second place.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Brandon Cantu

Final Table Begins at 2 p.m.

Jun 27, '09

The remaining nine players will resume action at 2.pm today. Brandon Cantu is the massive chip leader with 1,025,000 in the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha 8 or better event. Cantu is looking for his second career bracelet after a disappointing second place finish in event no. 39 ($1,500 no-limit hold’em) just five days ago. Bracelet winner Lee Watkinson is also in the running to take the title. Phil Hellmuth made a run at the final table but finished short in fourteenth place.

Here are the seat positions and chip counts:

Seat 1: Lee Watkinson — 412,000
Seat 2: Steve Jelinek — 260,000
Seat 3: William McMahan — 168,000
Seat 4: Brandon Cantu — 1,025,000
Seat 5: Ted Weinstock — 239,000
Seat 6: Aaron Sias — 353,000
Seat 7: Jacqmin Mathieu — 552,000
Seat 8: Ronnie Hofman — 76,000
Seat 9: Tommy Vedes — 334,000

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Phil Hellmuth,   Brandon Cantu

End of Day 2

Jun 27, '09

Action has ended for the night as the players have reached a final table. Brandon Cantu is the massive chip leader with 1,025,000 in the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha 8 or better event. Cantu is looking for his second career bracelet after a disappointing second place finish in event no. 39 ($1,500 no-limit hold’em) just five days ago. Phil Hellmuth made a run at the final table but finished short in fourteenth place.

Here are the seat positions and chip counts:

Seat 1: Lee Watkinson — 412,000
Seat 2: Steve Jelinek — 260,000
Seat 3: William McMahan — 168,000
Seat 4: Brandon Cantu — 1,025,000
Seat 5: Ted Weinstock — 239,000
Seat 6: Aaron Sias — 353,000
Seat 7: Jacqmin Mathieu — 552,000
Seat 8: Ronnie Hofman — 76,000
Seat 9: Tommy Vedes — 334,000

Player Tags: Phil Hellmuth,   Brandon Cantu

Final Table Update: Brandon Cantu Wins Event No. 48

Jun 27, '09

Blinds: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 1 out of 762

Chip Counts:

1. Brandon Cantu – 3,249,000
2. Lee Watkinson – 0

Average Chip Count: 3,249,000

Notable Eliminations:

2. Lee Watkinson – $141,873

Elimination Hands

Brandon Cantu Wins Event No. 48 ($228,867), Lee Watkinson Eliminated In Second ($141,873)

Brandon Cantu raised to 150,000 from the button and Lee Watkinson just called. The flop came Q64 and both players got all their chips into the middle. Cantu exposed the A1074, for a pair of fours with a flush draw. Watkinson tabled the 2357 for a low draw, a straight draw with multiple cards completing it, and an inferior flush draw. However, the turn brought the 9 and the 4 fell on the river, giving Cantu trip fours. Watkinson was sent home in second place.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Brandon Cantu

Final Table Begins at 2 p.m.

Jun 27, '09

The remaining nine players will resume action at 2.pm today. Brandon Cantu is the massive chip leader with 1,025,000 in the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha 8 or better event. Cantu is looking for his second career bracelet after a disappointing second place finish in event no. 39 ($1,500 no-limit hold’em) just five days ago. Bracelet winner Lee Watkinson is also in the running to take the title. Phil Hellmuth made a run at the final table but finished short in fourteenth place.

Here are the seat positions and chip counts:

Seat 1: Lee Watkinson — 412,000
Seat 2: Steve Jelinek — 260,000
Seat 3: William McMahan — 168,000
Seat 4: Brandon Cantu — 1,025,000
Seat 5: Ted Weinstock — 239,000
Seat 6: Aaron Sias — 353,000
Seat 7: Jacqmin Mathieu — 552,000
Seat 8: Ronnie Hofman — 76,000
Seat 9: Tommy Vedes — 334,000

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Phil Hellmuth,   Brandon Cantu

End of Day 2

Jun 27, '09

Action has ended for the night as the players have reached a final table. Brandon Cantu is the massive chip leader with 1,025,000 in the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha 8 or better event. Cantu is looking for his second career bracelet after a disappointing second place finish in event no. 39 ($1,500 no-limit hold’em) just five days ago. Phil Hellmuth made a run at the final table but finished short in fourteenth place.

Here are the seat positions and chip counts:

Seat 1: Lee Watkinson — 412,000
Seat 2: Steve Jelinek — 260,000
Seat 3: William McMahan — 168,000
Seat 4: Brandon Cantu — 1,025,000
Seat 5: Ted Weinstock — 239,000
Seat 6: Aaron Sias — 353,000
Seat 7: Jacqmin Mathieu — 552,000
Seat 8: Ronnie Hofman — 76,000
Seat 9: Tommy Vedes — 334,000

Player Tags: Phil Hellmuth,   Brandon Cantu

Ray Foley Wins Event No. 39 ($657,969)

Jun 23, '09

Brandon Cantu raised to 305,000 preflop and Ray Foley made the call. The flop fell J93 and Foley checked. Cantu bet 450,000 and Foley raised all in. Cantu made the all-in call and the final two players in the tournament flipped up their cards:

Cantu: J7
Foley: QJ

Turn and River: 105

Foley won the tournament with a pair of jacks and queen kicker to win his first gold bracelet and $657,969 in prize money. Cantu falls short of winning a bracelet in second place ($403,951).

Player Tags: Ray Foley,   Brandon Cantu

Final Table Update: Down to Heads-Up

Jun 23, '09

Blinds: 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 2,715

Chip Counts:

1. Brandon Cantu — 6,995,000
2. Ray Foley — 5,210,000

Average Chip Count: 6,108,750

Notable Eliminations:

4. Alex Jacob – $190,857
3. Wei Mu – $269,609

Elimination Hands:

Alex Jacob Eliminated in Fourth Place ($190,857)

Alex Jacob moved all in for 310,000 preflop from the small blind after he was nearly crippled doubling up Brandon Cantu. Ray Foley called from the big blind. Their cards:

Jacob: J9
Foley: A4

Board: K6472

Jacob was eliminated in fourth place.

Wei Mu Eliminated in Third Place ($269,609)

Brandon Cantu raised to 275,000 from the cutoff and Wei Mu made the call. The flop fell K43 and Cantu bet 350,000. Mu raised all in and Cantu made the call. Their cards:

Cantu: K10
Mu: K9

Turn and River: 65

Cantu won the hand to grow his stack to almost 7 million. Mu was eliminated in third place.

Player Tags: Ray Foley,   Alex Jacob,   Wei Mu,   Brandon Cantu

Final Table Update: Down to Six

Jun 22, '09

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 6 out of 2,715

Chip Counts:

1. Brandon Cantu — 4,100,000
2. Tyler Spaulding — 1,985,000
3. Ray Foley — 1,835,000
4. Alex Jacob — 1,800,000
5. Wei Mu — 750,000
6. Jonathan Markham — 420,000

Average Chip Count: 1,527,187

Notable Eliminations:

8. Richard Lutes – $85,608
7. Chairud Vangchailued – $96,355

Elimination Hands:

Richard Lutes Eliminated in Eighth Place ($85,608)

Brandon Cantu checked a flop of A74 and Richard Lutes shoved all in for 500,000. Cantu made the call and they flipped up their cards:

Lutes: K10
Cantu: J10

Turn: 2

Cantu made an ace-high flush on the river and Lutes was drawing dead. Lutes was eliminated in eighth place and Cantu grew his stack to over 4 million.

Chairud Vangchailued Eliminated in Seventh Place ($96,355)

Chairud Vangchailued rasied to 120,000 and Tyler Spalding made the call. Alex Jacob moved all in for 800,000 and Vangchailued made the all-in call. Spalding mucked and the two players turned up their cards:

Vangchailued: QJ
Jacob: JJ

Board: KQJ85

Vangchailued was eliminated in seventh place and Jacob grew his stack to 1.8 million.

Player Tags: Alex Jacob,   Brandon Cantu,   Richard lutes,   Chairud Vangchailued

Final Table Update: Patrick O'Connor Eliminated in Ninth Place

Jun 22, '09

NOTE: The final table went on a 60-minute dinner break and they will return at 9:20 p.m. PDT.

Blinds: 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 8 out of 2,715

Chip Counts:

1. Ray Foley — 2,860,000
2. Brandon Cantu — 1,700,000
3. Alex Jacob — 1,600,000
4. Tyler Spaulding — 1,485,000
5. Wei Mu — 1,370,000
6. Richard Lutes — 1,300,000
7. Chairud Vangchailued — 875,000
8. Jonathan Markham — 800,000

Average Chip Count: 1,527,187

Notable Eliminations:

9. Patrick O’Connor – $80,049

Elimination Hands:

Patrick O’Connor Eliminated in Ninth Place ($80,049)

Patrick O’Connor moved all in preflop for 500,000 from the small blind and Brandon Cantu made the call from the big blind. Their cards:

Cantu: 33
O’Connor: A4

Board: Q8297

O’Connor was eliminated in ninth place on the hand and Cantu grew his stack to 1.7 million.

Player Tags: Brandon Cantu,   Patrick O'Connor

Level 14 Update

Mar 18, '09

Big Hands:

Daniel Negreanu Eliminated

Daniel Negreanu moved all in under the gun for 6,400. And both the big blind and Jeremy Meier called him down. Their cards:

Meier: JJ
Big Blind: 1010
Negreanu: AK

Board: J5348

Negreanu was eliminated on the hand and Meier collected the $5,000 bounty.

Freddy Deeb and Brandon Cantu Eliminated

Brandon Cantu and Freddy Deeb moved all in preflop and John Monnette called them both down. Their cards:

Monnette: AQ
Cantu: 44
Deeb: 1010

Board: AK2J6

Deeb and Cantu were eliminated on the same hand, while Monnette added to his chip lead while collecting $10,000 in bounties. He now holds 395,000.

Player Tags: Daniel Negreanu,   John Monnette,   Brandon Cantu,   Freddy Deeb

Overbet of the Year

Oct 28, '08

Four players build a pot to 5,000 and then see a flop of 1073. Action is checked around to the cutoff in seat 4. Seat 4 then bet 50,000 and John Phan mucked under the gun as well as another opponent in middle position.

Brandon Cantu then went into the tank in the hi-jack, considering what to do about the massive overbet that sat in front of him. The rest of the table looked confused as well. A mixture of grins, smirks, and perplexed looks making up their facial expressions.

Cantu eventually decided to fold, but a rabbit chase of the cards revealed that his 76 in the hole would have teamed up with the 8 on the river to win him a massive pot.

Player Tags: Brandon Cantu

Cantu Scores a Pot

Oct 24, '08

Brandon Cantu raised to 125 on a flop of J102 from the button with 375 in the pot and Brad Augsburger made the call. The turn brought the A and after Augsburger bet 1,000, Cantu raised to 2,300. Augsburger mucked and Cantu took the lead in the heads-up match.













 

Player Tags: Brandon Cantu

Brandon Cantu Eliminated

Oct 22, '08

Brandon Canut was just eliminated in the biggest hand of the tournament so far. He got all of his chips in preflop against Bob Wyndle. Their cards:

Cantu: AQ
Wyndle: JJ

Board: 75588

Cantu was eliminated on the hand and Wyndle more than took the chip lead. He won a few more pots after the hand, and now holds 178,000.







 

Player Tags: Brandon Cantu,   Bob Wyndle

Noah Schwartz Eliminated

Oct 22, '08

On a board of AJ6 Brandon Cantu bet more than enough to put Noah Schwartz all in and he made the call. Their cards:

Cantu: 86
Schwartz: KK

Turn and River: 26

Schwartz was eliminated by the river card and Cantu is now up to 42,000.








 

Player Tags: Brandon Cantu,   Noah Schwartz