Katja Thater Poker Tournament Updates

Level 15 Update: Who Will Bubble?

Apr 27, '10

Blinds: 2,000-4,000 with a 300 ante

Players Remaining: 133 out of 848

Average Chip Count: 191,278

Chip Counts:

1. El Mostafa Bel Khayate — 420,000
2. Paul Berende — 410,000
3. Cristiano Guerro — 400,000
4. Nicolas Levi — 370,000
5. Thiago Nishijima — 370,000
6. Ronald Grauer — 355,000
7. Domenico Iannone — 350,000
8. Simon Munz — 340,000
9. Ramzi Jelassi — 330,000
10. Ekaterina Kolobekova — 320,000

Notable Eliminations:

Humberto Brenes
John Kabbaj
Ross Boatman
Katja Thater
Brent Wheeler
Andrew Scott

Big Hands:

Humbero Brenes Eliminated

Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes was all in holding K-7, but was called by an opponent who had him dominated with K-Q.

The board failed to bring any sevens and Brenes was eliminated.

Crowe Vs. Gomes

Alexandre Gomes raiased to 10,500 and Owen Crowe reraised to 26,500.

Gomes then reraised to 77,500 and Crowe didn’t hesitate to move in for just over 200,000. Gomes folded instantly and left his last 188,000 behind him.

Ronald Grauer Wins Big Pot From Chris Moneyaker

On a board reading J988Q, Ronald Grauer was all in for his last 125,000 and Chris Moneymaker made the call.

Grauer showed 98 for the full house and Moneymaker flashed the 10d, indicating his rivered straight. Gruaer is now up to 355,000 and Moneymaker has fallen to 250,000.

Katja Thater Eliminated on Bad Beat

Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater was all in holding pocket kings against the pocket eights of Sergey Lebedev.

The flop brought an eight and just like that, Thater was eliminated.

Player Tags: Humberto Brenes,   Chris Moneymaker,   Owen Crowe,   Katja Thater,   Alexandre Gomes,   Ronald Grauer

Level 10 Update: Crazy Action to Start the Day

Apr 27, '10

Blinds: 600-1,200

Players Remaining: 385 out of 848

Average Chip Count: 66,077

Chip Counts:

1. Thiago Nishijima — 215,000
2. Ramzi Jelassi — 215,000
3. Paul Berende — 195,000
4. Tommaso Briotti — 175,000
5. Simon Munz — 175,000
6. Chris Bjorin — 171,000
7. Brent Wheeler — 170,000
8. Antonio Palma — 169,000
9. Salvatore Bonavena — 156,000
10. Johannes Steindl — 141,000

Big Hands:

Vanessa Rousso and Allen Bari Chop It Up, Neither Realize It

Vanessa Rousso was all in holding A-J and up against Allen Bari’s A-K. The flop came down 10-7-5 and the turn was another 7, giving Rousso a flush draw.

The river was a 5 and Rousso reached over to shake Bari’s hand, resigned to her fate. Bari, not realizing both players held two pair with an ace kicker, accepted her hand and began to rake in the pot.

The dealer and the rest of the players at the table then informed both players that the pot was split and they both took back their bets, albeit a little red in the face.

After the hand, Bari began to joke, saying, “She shook my hand, isn’t that binding?” When another opponent asked if he had ever played poker before, Bari responded dryly, “Just once a year, here in Monte Carlo.”

Team PokerStars Pro Noah Boeken Hits the Rail

Noah Boeken was all in for his last 17,100 holding AQ against Claudio Pagano’s AJ and looking good to double up, but the board ran out AQ10K7 to end his tournament.

Not A Good Start For the Chip Leader

Thiago Nishijima entered the day with the chip lead and still has it, but he is going in the wrong direction.

Nishijima doubled up Anirudh Seth when his pair of queens failed to improve against a made straight. Nishijima is down to 215,000.

Van Zadelhoff Put In Tough Spot…Accidently

On a flop of Q103, Steven Van Zadelhoff bet 4,600 and then the action got weird. Yorane Kerignard, who is French, then verbalized the word “eighty.” Kerignard meant “eight,” but even that wasn’t enough for a proper raise. To top it all off, Kerignard only had 50,000 in his stack anyway.

The floor was called over and rule that he was required to raise all in, even though most at the table agreed his intention was to make it 8,000. Van Zadelhoff tanked for a bit and made the call with KQ, which was miles ahead of Kerignard’s K10.

Of course, the turn and river fell JA, and both player chopped the pot with a Broadway straight. A fitting end to an awkward situation.

Russell Carson Out Flops Dan O’Brien… Big Time!

Dan O’Brien was all in holding pocket aces and was in great shape to double up against Russell Carson’s pocket eights. Unfortunately, the flop brought the two case eights and O’Brien hit the rail.

Carson is now up to a whopping 120,000 in chips.

Katja Thater Doubles Up

Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater was all in for 16,700 holding pocket sevens and was up against Sami “Larz Luzak” Kelopuro’s A7.

The board fell 10324J and Thater doubled up to about 35,000 in chips.

Ramzi Jelassi Moves Near Chip Lead

On a board reading Q6510, Ramzi Jelassi bet 24,000 and his opponent, Christoph Pereira check-raised all in for 80,000 more.

Jelassi was angry with himself for not checking behind, but reluctantly made the call anyway, tabling 65 for two pair.

Pereira showed KQ for just a pair of queens and missed when the river was the 4. Jelassi now has 215,000 in chips.

Miracle For Monfils

Tennis Pro and Team PokerStars SportStar Gael Monfils was in major trouble, but found the river to double up to just over his starting stack.

Someone opened for 2,700 and the button reraised to 7,000. Monfils then decided to shove from the small blind for 14,500. The button insta-called with pocket aces and Monfils revealed KQ.

The board fell K726Q and Monfils got lucky to hit a non-diamond queen on the river to stay alive in the tournament.

Player Tags: Noah Boeken,   Allen Bari,   Vanessa Rousso,   Russell Carson,   Katja Thater,   Ramzi Jelassi,   Steven Van Zadelhoff,   Thiago Nishijima,   Dan O'Brien

Oktoberfest

Sep 04, '09

A trio of German players have found themselves seated together at the same table after the dinner break. Team PokerStars Germany Pros Katja Thater, Sebastian Ruthenberg, and Florian Langmann. Wunderbar!

Player Tags: Katja Thater,   Sebastian Ruthenberg,   Florian Langmann

Level 5 Hour 2: Johnny Chan Out

Jul 07, '09

Blinds: 200-400 with a 50 ante

Day 2A Field: 1,476

Chip Counts:

1. Samer Rahman – 145,000
2. Nick Maimone – 142,000
3. Redmond Lee – 140,000
4. Tom Schneider – 133,000
5. Fabrice Soulier – 130,000
6. Jim Bookstaff – 120,575
7. Craig Hopkins – 118,150
8. Jani Sointula – 113,000
9. Daniel Makowsky – 100,200
10. Lana Maier – 95,0000

Notable Eliminations:

Johnny Chan
Jennifer Tilly
Brian Townsend
Katja Thater
Barry Shulman
Jon Turner

Big Hands:

The Orient Express Derailed

Johnny Chan moved all in for 6,000 from the big blind. Matthew Woodward had limped in earlier and made the call. Chan tabled A4 while Woodward was in better shape with 99.

The board ran out K8Q10Q and Chan was eliminated from the 2009 main event.

Tilly Counterfeited, Sent Out

Jennifer Tilly moved all in after a flop 876 and was called by an opponent holding 99. Tilly tabled 86 for two pair.

The turn was the Q, holding Tilly’s lead but the 7 counterfeited her hand and sent her packing.

Laak Gets Bombed

After a flop of 843, a player bet 5,600 and another player in middle position called. The action was then on Phil Laak who shoved for over 53,000. Jani Sointula was also in the hand from the small blind and he made the call. The other players folded and Laak tabled K3 for the second nut flush draw and bottom pair. Sointula showed A6 for the nut flush draw.

Sointula made no flush on the turn, but did hit the 6 to take the lead. Laak was in trouble and the river was the 8, dropping Laak’s stack to just 11,000.

Brian Townsend Gone

Brian Townsend got his stack all in preflop with Q9. He was called by one player holding pocket jacks and Townsend needed help. The flop came down A103, giving little help to Townsend. The turn was the J, giving his opponent a set but Townsend outs to a straight. But the river bricked for Townsend and he was gone.

Thater Hammered Down, Then Busts

Katja Thater had her opponent all in on the turn with the board reading 928J. Her opponent was holding A7 for the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw, plenty of outs. But Thater held two of those outs to a straight as she held 1010.

Despite that, the 10 managed to fall on the river and Thater’s opponent doubled up. Thater was steaming after the hand, left with only 10,000 in chips. She would lose the rest of those later in the level.

Brunson Drops Chips

Picking up the action on the turn, the board read AK66. Todd Brunson was first to act and checked his option. His opponent bet 2,600 and Brunson made the call. The river was the 7. Brunson checked again and his opponent bet 5,100. Brunson called and was shown the bad news as his opponent flipped over 77 for a full house on the river. Brunson mucked and was under 30,000.

Don’t Bluff Me, I’m Kara Scott

A player in middle position raised to 1,025 preflop. The action folded to Kara Scott on the button. She raised to 3,000 and her opponent called. The flop was A2Q and action was checked to Scott. She bet 4,000 and her opponent came along. The turn was the 2 and Scott’s opponent led out for 6,700. Scott made the call and the river was the 6. Scott faced another bet, this one over 17,000.

She made the call and her opponent mucked his hand. She tabled A3 for two pair and built her stack up to 63,000.

Player Tags: Todd Brunson,   Phil Laak,   Johnny Chan,   Jennifer Tilly,   Brian Townsend,   Katja Thater,   Kara Scott

Katja Thater is Eliminated

Apr 29, '09

After a series of raises and reraises, Katja Thater shoved from the big blind with pocket kings. The button went all in over the top with A Q and the small blind called with A A. The aces stayed at the fore as the flop fell 9 5 4 and also on the turn, the 6, but the 2 came on the river to give the button runner-runner flush and hammer both pocket pairs.

Thater is the latest casualty of day 1B as players now make their way towards the bar for some extremely expensive burgers and pizza on the next break in the fantastic Monte Carlo sunshine.

Player Tags: Katja Thater

Thater and Hedlund Head Home

Apr 20, '09

Katja Thater (pictured below) and Peter Hedlund are the latest casualties as the field depletes rapidly.

Thater pushed all in to a raise with two overcards and the nut-flush draw on the flop against Tristan Clemencon but Clemencon called with an up and down straight draw and hit one of his cards to pair and took the pot convincingly when the lower end of his straight hit on the river.

Former EPT winner Pascal Perrault has also hit the rail.

Player Tags: Katja Thater,   Tristan Clemencon

Lellouche Lumps it in

Mar 11, '09

With around 3,800 in the pot on a board that reads Q7K6, Mike McDonald on the small blind bets 2,700 and Antony Lellouche on the big blind raises it to 7,200. McDonald tanks for a few minutes and looks slightly scared. He then calls.

The river is the J and both players check. McDonald shows K10 and Lellouche mucks, saying, "Small pair." A big pot goes in the opposite direction of Mike McDonald and Lellouche's stack is massively damaged.

In the very next hand, Lellouche raises the small blind to 1,600. The flop comes 962 and Lellouche bets 2,000. The small blind raises it up to 4,000 and Lellouche insta-folds. 

It looks like he is going on tilt when straight away he gets involved with Katja Thater. Raising it up preflop to 1,600, Thater reraises all-in for 6,150 and Lellouche, without batting an eyelid, calls. He flips over a very strong AK while Thater is behind with QJ.

The board falls 7645K and Lellouche successfully puts Thater out. He doubles up to around the 12,600 mark.

Player Tags: Katja Thater

Don't Hate Thater

Mar 11, '09

With 2,125 in the pot, the board is AQ2 and Katja Thater bets from the hijack - 1,650.

The big blind thinks and then moves all-in with A4. Thater calls and flips over AJ.

The turn is the K and the river the 6. Her opponent has her covered but is totally crippled and an icey-faced Thater chips up, while her opponent looks on in envy.

Player Tags: Katja Thater

Stepping Out on Day 1A

Oct 27, '08

Notable players stepping out for day 1A of this €4,000 buy-in event include Barny Boatman, Paul Testud, Danny Ryan, Marcel Luske, Katja Thater, Andreas Krause, Fintan Gavin, Sorel Mizzi, Annette Obrestad, Dave Colclough, and Markus Golser.

We're half way through level one and a sell out 270 players have taken to the felt. There will also be 270 players for tomorrow bring the total to 540 and creating a prize pool of €2.16 million.

Player Tags: Dave Colclough,   Barny Boatman,   Marcel Luske,   Markus Golser,   Andreas Krause,   Katja Thater,   Sorel Mizzi,   Annette Obrestad,   Danny Ryan,   Fintan Gavin,   Testud Paul

Thater Hater

Oct 02, '08

Another pro hits the rails in the form of Katja Thater. Seat 10 raises 2,100, Thater thinks, and then pushes her entire stack all in. Seat 10 calls and watches as Thater flips over pocket queens. He responds by revealing his pocket rockets. It's aces versus queens and the board comes down:

A 5 3 J 3

Seat 10 waves goodbye to Thater and so does the London EPT.

Player Tags: Katja Thater

European Player Profile: Katja Thater

Sep 11, '08

Katja Thater
 
Katja Thater, also known as “Lady Horror”, hails from Germany and is the most well known female player in her country of origin. Prior to becoming a professional poker player she worked for an event and marketing company. She also competed in dressage tournaments in horse shows and she is still a professional horse breeder. Thater became intrigued by the game of poker when she sat in for her husband in a high stakes cash-game while he went to use the bathroom. She won the first pot she entered and has not looked back since.

Thater has almost $300,000 in lifetime tournament earnings. The majority of that money was won when she took down her first World Series of Poker bracelet after making her second final table of that week (a week before she won her bracelet she finished 5th in the WSOP Ladies Championship). To win her bracelet she beat out a final table that included Paul “Eskimo” Clark and Mark Vos to win the $1,500 buy-in 7-card razz event in 2007. For that victory Thater earned $132,000. On the European Poker Tour Thater has made the money in two championship events. In 2007 she came in fifth in Warsaw and later that year she finished 47th in Barcelona.

Player Tags: Katja Thater

$50,000 H.O.R.S.E. - Day 3 - Level 15

Jun 27, '08

Limits and Blinds:

Hold'em and Omaha 8OB: 6,000 small blind -12,000 big blind

Stud Games: 3,000 ante - 3,000 bring-in - 12,000 completion

Players Left: 35 of 148

Chip Leaders:

Michael DeMichele - 1,280,000
Barry Greenstein - 1,010,000
Joseph Michael  - 770,000
Andy Bloch: 727,000
Farzad Bonyadi: 700,000
Daniel Negreanu: 620,000
Matthew Glantz: 590,000
Lyle Berman: 545,000
Patrick Bueno: 520,000
Huck Seed - 480,000

Average Stack: 422,857

Chip Mover:

Farzad Bonyadi shot up to 700,000 during the last level and he now sits in the top five, gaining 230,000 during the last level.

Eliminations:

"Miami" John Cernuto
Chris Reslock
Keith Sexton
Abe Mosseri
Steve Zolotow
Justin Bonomo
Greg Mascio

Big Hands and Storylines:

Hold'em

Erick Lindgren Doubles Up

Erick Lindgren raised to 24,000 preflop from the small blind and Marcel Luske made the call from the big blind. The flop rolled out J85 and Lindgren opened the action with the last of his chips. Luske made the call and they turned up their hands:

Luske: 75
Lindgren: A8

Turn and River: Q2

Lindgren doubled up on the hand to survive. Lindgren also doubled up a second time against Daniel Negreanu in the razz rotation for this level.

Stud 8OB

Ralph Perry Scoops

Ralph Perry and Raymond Davis got involved in a series of bets and raises all the way to seventh street. Their exposed cards:

Perry: A8Q3
Davis: AK6J

Perry turned up 543, which scooped the pot when Davis mucked.

Zolotow Takes the Low to Survive

On third street Katja Thater bet 12,000 and Steve Zolotow raised to 24,000. Thater made it another bet to go, and then Zolotow moved all in for the last of his chips. Thater made the call and they opened up thier hands. Full board after seventh street:

Zolotow: (74)924A(8)
Thater: (JJ)9KQA(2)

Thater took the high, while Zolotow took the low to survive. The run of luck would not conitnue for Zolotow though, and he hit the rail just a few hands later in the hold'em round.

Hold'em

Billy Argyros Triples Up - Ivey Low

Billy Argyos moved all in preflop against Phil Ivey and Jim Bechtel on a flop of 875. Both players made the call and then Ivey also moved all in against Bechtel after the 7 fell on the turn. Bechtel made the call, covering both of his opponents. Their cards:

Bechtel: AQ
Ivey: A5
Argyros: 97

River: 5

Argryos tripled up on the hand, and Ivey won the side pot with Bechtel to survive, although his chip stack was very low after the hand.

Note: The players went on a 20-minute break after the level. Cards back in the air at 11:40 p.m. Level 16 recap up at 1:10 a.m.

Player Tags: Erick Lindgren,   Raymond Davis,   Steve Zolotow,   Marcel Luske,   James Bechtel Sr.,   Katja Thater,   Ralph Perry,   European Report

$50,000 H.O.R.S.E - Level 2

Jun 25, '08

Following the level, play halted for a 60-minute dinner break.

Blinds:
Hold'em: 400-800
Omaha 8: 400-800
Razz: 200 ante, 200 bring-in, 800 completion
Stud: 200 ante, 200 bring-in, 800 completion
Eight or Better: 200 ante, 200 bring-in, 800 completion

Chip Counts:

Gus Hansen: 158,000
Bill Chen: 141,000
Ray Dehkharghani: 140,000
Michael DeMichele: 140,000
John Monnette: 136,000
Patrick Bueno: 130,000
Bill Gazes: 125,000
Max Pescatori: 125,000
Greg Mascio: 125,000
Pat Pezzin: 124,000

Hold'em

Kings For Gregorich

Joe Cassidy put in a raise and Mark Gregorich 3-bet right behind him. Action folded to Cassidy, who made the call. The flop came AJ2and both players checked. On the 5 turn Cassidy bet 1,600 and was called by Gregorich. Both players checked the 4 river and Cassidy showed K-J for a pair of jacks, but Gregorich rolled over pocket kings to take the pot.

Omaha 8

Nguyen Hits Full House to Take Pot From Defending Champ Deeb

Scotty Nguyen bet out on a board of Q1088and was raised by defending H.O.R.S.E champion Freddy Deeb. Nguyen called then bet out when the 10 fell on the river. Deeb made the call and Nguyen showed Q-J-10-3 for a rivered full house. Deeb looked at the board for a while then tossed in his cards, A-J-J-9 for the flopped straight. Nguyen scooped the pot.

Razz

Chen Takes Big Pot

A large pot had been built between Andrew Black and Bill Chen. But when Black called Chen's final bet he quickly mucked as Chen turned over 7-6-5-3-2-8-Q for a 7-low.

Grey Gets Better Cards... Or Worse?

David Grey and Thater both showed a deuce, and Thater bet out when she his an ace for her next card and Grey called with a 5. But when Thater hit a king and Grey hit a 6, Grey bet and Thater mucked. Their hands:
Grey: 2-5-6
Thather: 2-A-K

Stud

Alex Kravchenko Wins Multi-Way Pot

Jan Von Halle completed the bet on third street with the 2 and both Alex Kravechenko (5) and Michael Binger (7) called the raise.

Kravchenko: 5345 -AQ5
Binger: 76K8 - fold
Von Halle: 2463 - X-X-X

Jan Von Halle took the betting lead from the start, Kravchenko acting first and betting out with a pair of fives of sixth street. Both Binger and Von Halle made the call. Kravchenko also bet the river where Binger folded and Von Halle called. Kravchenko turned over trip fives and raked the pot.

Stud 8

Tran Takes Pot From Benyamine

Kenny Tran bet 800 after fourth street and was called by David Benyamine. Tran bet 16,000 and Benyamine raised on fifth street 3,200. Tran made the call and led out for 16,000 on sixth street. Benyamine called and both players checked the final card. Their hands were:

Tran: QJ210 (Q-9-6)
Benyamine: 85Q10 (AKx - 5)

Tran's pair of queens was good enough for the high and Benyamine missed his flush draw and didn't make a low draw, so Tran scooped the entire pot and said he had put Benyamine on a draw.

Ivey and Galfond Chop It

In what looks like something you'd see on Full Tilt Poker, Phil Ivey and recent bracelet winner Phil Galfond (known as OMGClayAiken online) went head to head in a stud 8 hand. Ivey bet and was called by Galfond on every street.
Ivey: 7KKQ (A-A-Q)
Galfond: 65410 (3-6-8)
Ivey took the high with a full house and Galfond took the low with an 8-low, splitting the pot early in level 2.

Player Tags: Scotty Nguyen,   David Benyamine,   Mark Gregorich,   Joe Cassidy,   David Grey,   Phil Ivey,   Kenny Tran,   Alexander Kravchenko,   Michael Binger,   Phil Galfond,   Katja Thater,   Freddy Deeb,   Jan Von Halle,   European Report