Michael Greco Poker Tournament Updates

Welcome to Team PokerStars Pro Liv...

Sep 30, '10

…Here are some chips.

Just before break, brand new Team PokerStars Pro member Liv Boeree doubled her stack through fellow Brit and friend Michael Greco. Greco opened from early position, French rap artist, Bruno Lopez aka Kool Shen raised it up a little, and Boeree called from the big blind. Greco flat-called and the flop came Q 9 7.

Boeree checked the flop as did Greco. Kool Shen then bet out 6,000, Boeree called, and Greco moved all in covering both players. Shen got out of the way and a wide-eyed Boeree stared at Greco. After a minute she makes the call and turns over 9 9 for a set of nines. Greco looks ill and flips over 7 7. The turn was the 5 and the river the 3. “So sick,” said a disgusted Greco. Boeree is on the 60,000 mark.

Player Tags: Michael Greco,   Liv Boeree

Final Table Update: Michael Greco Eliminated In 3rd Place

Jun 18, '10

Blinds: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 2 out of 596

Average Chip Count: 1,490,000

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. L.J. Klein — 2,775,000
2. Miguel Proulx – 1,695,000

Notable Eliminations:

3. Michael Greco — $129,691

Big Hands:

Michael Greco Eliminated In Third Place ($129,691)

L.J. Klein opened for a raise and Michael Greco moved all in for his last 485,000. Klein made the call and turned over KJ76 while Greco showed A10105.

The board ran out J6845, giving Klein a straight and knocking out Greco in third place.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Final Table Update: Pope 7th, Gal 6th, Engels 5th, Tayar 4th

Jun 17, '10

Blinds: 20,000-40,000

Players Remaining: 3 out of 596

Average Chip Count: 1,490,000

Tournament Leaderboard:

1. Miguel Proulx – 1,910,000
2. L.J. Klein – 1,710,000
3. Michael Greco – 850,000

Notable Eliminations:

7. Trevor Pope — $41,850
6. Karl Gal — $54,736
5. Joerg Engels — $72,227
4. Stephane Tayar — $96,243

Big Hands:

Trevor Pope Eliminated In Seventh Place ($41,850)

Trevor Pope raised to 100,000 from under the gun and action folded to Miguel Proulx. He repotted and Pope made the call for the rest of his chips.

Pope turned over J1098 and Proulx showed KKJ7.

The board ran out A6334, missing Pope completely and he was ousted from the tournament.

Karl Gal Eliminated In Sixth Place ($54,736)

Karl Gal moved all in for his last 200,000 and Miguel Proulx made the call. He showed down QJ106 while Gal showed KK87.

The flop was good for both players as it came down QJ2, giving Gal a flush and Proulx two pair. The turn was the A, helping neither player.

But the river was the Q, giving Proulx the full house and Gal was eliminated.

Joerg Engels Eliminated in Fifth Place ($72,227)

Joerg Engels raised to 110,000 from the button and Michael Greco made the call from the big blind. The flop came down 665 and Greco checked. Engels moved all in and Greco made the call.

Engels showed down A994 and Greco showed A633.

Greco had trips and improved to a full house when the A fell on the turn and the river was the 7, securing Engels’ fate as he was eliminated.

Stephane Tayar Eliminated In Fourth Place ($96,253)

Stephane Tayar raised to 140,000 from under the gun and Miguel Proulx was the only caller. Tayar only had 10,000 behind and threw it into the pot before the flop was dealt. Proulx made the call and showed AK43 while Tayar showed QJ98.

The board ran out Q10227, giving Proulx a superior spade flush and Tayar was eliminated.

Player Tags: Michael Greco,   Miguel Proulx,   Stephane Tayar,   Karl Gal,   Joerg Engels

Michael Greco Eliminated in 13th Place (€35,000)

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco got all in against Georgios Kapalas preflop. Their cards:

Kapalas: AQ
Greco: J10

Board: A227A

He took home €35,000 in prize money for finishing in 13th place.

Player Tags: Michael Greco,   Georgios Kapalas

Greek Chips for Greco

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco chose his moment to move all in with pocket sixes for his last 143,000.

Georgios Kapalas calls with pocket twos. The board comes K 10 8 6 5 and Greco doubles up with his set.

He now has 286,000 in chips, but is still fatally short stacked.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Soapstar Pokerstar

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco is currently the short stack of the event with 199,000. He awaits his moment as he patiently folds each and every hand.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Greco Doubles Up

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco is all in preflop with pocket aces versus Santiago Ambite’s A-K. Although the board slowly brings Ambite a straight draw, he doesn’t make it and Greco doubles through.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Michael Greco Takes Out an Opponent

Sep 07, '09

Seat 4 raised all in for 90,000 from the big blind preflop and Michael Greco went into the tank. He decided to call and the two players flipped over their cards:

Greco: A9
Seat 4: A5

Board: K1089J

Greco won the hand when the 9 hit on the turn and his opponent was eliminated. Greco now holds 161,000.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Go Shorty It's Your Birthday

Sep 07, '09

The shortstacks are trying to double up as the field gets smaller and smaller.

Samer Rahman bets 16,000 from the cutoff plus 1. Mike McDonald is next to act and he raises it to 42,500 from the cutoff. Mohamed Naddaf on the button pushes all in for 120,000 and Rahman gets out of the way.

McDonald watches his opponent and then shakes his head and mucks. Naddaf takes the pot.

Elsewhere, a player in middle position bets 12,000, Jens Kyllonen raises it up to 31,000 from the button, and then Michael Greco decides to make his move. He pushes all in for 148,000 from the big blind. It’s folded around and Greco rakes it in.

There are 54 remaining.

Player Tags: Mike McDonald,   Michael Greco,   Jens Kyllonen

Michael Greco Eliminated in 13th Place (€35,000)

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco got all in against Georgios Kapalas preflop. Their cards:

Kapalas: AQ
Greco: J10

Board: A227A

He took home €35,000 in prize money for finishing in 13th place.

Player Tags: Michael Greco,   Georgios Kapalas

Greek Chips for Greco

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco chose his moment to move all in with pocket sixes for his last 143,000.

Georgios Kapalas calls with pocket twos. The board comes K 10 8 6 5 and Greco doubles up with his set.

He now has 286,000 in chips, but is still fatally short stacked.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Soapstar Pokerstar

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco is currently the short stack of the event with 199,000. He awaits his moment as he patiently folds each and every hand.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Greco Doubles Up

Sep 08, '09

Michael Greco is all in preflop with pocket aces versus Santiago Ambite’s A-K. Although the board slowly brings Ambite a straight draw, he doesn’t make it and Greco doubles through.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Michael Greco Takes Out an Opponent

Sep 07, '09

Seat 4 raised all in for 90,000 from the big blind preflop and Michael Greco went into the tank. He decided to call and the two players flipped over their cards:

Greco: A9
Seat 4: A5

Board: K1089J

Greco won the hand when the 9 hit on the turn and his opponent was eliminated. Greco now holds 161,000.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

Go Shorty It's Your Birthday

Sep 07, '09

The shortstacks are trying to double up as the field gets smaller and smaller.

Samer Rahman bets 16,000 from the cutoff plus 1. Mike McDonald is next to act and he raises it to 42,500 from the cutoff. Mohamed Naddaf on the button pushes all in for 120,000 and Rahman gets out of the way.

McDonald watches his opponent and then shakes his head and mucks. Naddaf takes the pot.

Elsewhere, a player in middle position bets 12,000, Jens Kyllonen raises it up to 31,000 from the button, and then Michael Greco decides to make his move. He pushes all in for 148,000 from the big blind. It’s folded around and Greco rakes it in.

There are 54 remaining.

Player Tags: Mike McDonald,   Michael Greco,   Jens Kyllonen

Final Table Update: McCaffrey 4th ($176,165), Greco 3rd ($248,855)

Jun 13, '09

Blinds: 40,000-80,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 2,506

Chip Counts:

1. Andy Seth – 5,875,000
2. Panayote Vilandos – 5,345,000

Average Chip Count: 5,638,500

Notable Eliminations:

4. Glenn McCaffrey — $176,165
3. Michael Greco — $248,855

Big Hands:

Glenn McCaffrey Eliminated in 4th Place ($176,165)

Andy Seth raises from the button and Glenn McCaffrey moves all in behind him. Seth calls and both players turn over their cards.

McCaffrey: AJ
Seth: A7

Board: Q6582

McCaffrey got it in good, but Seth went runner-runner for a four-card flush, eliminating Glenn McCaffrey in 4th place ($176,765).

Michael Greco Eliminated in 3rd Place ($248,855)

Andy Seth raises from the button and Michael Greco moves all in from the big blind. Seth calls and both players turn over their cards.

Greco: A10
Seath: 77

Board: 663KQ

Seth’s pair of sevens hold up and Michael Greco is eliminated in 3rd place ($248,855).

Player Tags: Michael Greco,   Andy Seth,   Glenn McCaffrey

Michael Greco Eliminated

May 01, '09

Michael Greco was down to his last 32,000 chips and got them in with Q-7 versus Eric Qu's pocket eights. The eights held and Greco hit the rail.

Player Tags: Michael Greco

$2,000 PLH Final Table - Two Gone

Jun 22, '08

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Chip Leaders:

Big Hands and Storylines:

Ben Roberts Doubles Up

Short stacked and desperate, Ben Roberts got his last 34,000 in against Michael Greco in the big blind. Roberts revealed A8 and was up against Greco's 42. The board ran out AJQ58 and Roberts was given new life.

Michael Greco Eliminated in Ninth Place ($22,573)

Michael Greco raised to 40,000 and Chris Bell reraised to 100,000. It was folded back around to Greco who moved all in and Bell quickly called. Greco showed pocket kings and Bell predictably turned over pocket aces. The board came 1075108 and Greco was eliminated in ninth place.

Ben Roberts Eliminated in Eighth Place ($30,831)

Robert Cheung raised to 39,000 and Ben Roberts moved all in for his last 52,000. Cheung called with KJ and needed to hit against Roberts and his pocket sevens. The board came 855J2 and Roberts was sent home in eighth place.

Keith Greer Doubles Up

Keith Greer raised to 56,000 and Chris Bell made the call. The flop came 852 and Greer checked. Bell bet enough to put him all in and Greer instantly called with pocket aces. Bell could only produce pocket jacks, and the board failed to produce any miracle two-outers. Greer doubled up to over 400,000.

Player Tags: Benjamin Roberts,   Chris Bell,   Robert Cheung,   Michael Greco

$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em - End of Day 2

Jun 21, '08

The final table of event 38 is set and the big name of the lot is Lee Watkinson. Watkinson will be making his first final table since last year's World Series main event where he finished a dissapointing 8th place. Watkinson entered 10-handed play with a paucity of chips, a situation he would soon remedy by winning a race against Robert Cheung. He would never look back and by the time the final table was set, he would be 2nd in chips with 390,000. Jan Von Halle, whose play has been solid as a rock, will enter the final table with the chip lead. Other notables who will have the chance to earn a bracelet tomorrow include Ayaz Mahmood, Robert Cheung, and Chris Bell.

Action will begin tomorrow at 2 p.m. PST.
 

Players Left: 9 of 605

Chip Leaders:
Jan Von Halle - 470,000
Lee Watkinson - 390,000
Ayaz Mahmood - 330,000
Robert Cheung - 315,000
Keith Greer - 280,000
Chris Bell - 265,000
Michael Greco - 125,000
Benjamin Roberts - 120,000
Davidi Kitai - 80,000

Average Stack: 161,300

Eliminations:
10^th – Benjamin Zamani
11^th – Michael Binger
12^th – Keith Lehr
13^th – Jeff Sluzinski
14^th – Amato Galasso
15^th – Chris Dombrowski

The Road To The Final Table

Keith Lehr Is A Man Of His Word; He’s Also Eliminated

Before the start of the hand, Keith Lehr in the big blind warned everyone at his 6-handed table not to raise unless they were willing to play for 83,000, the size of his stack. Ayaz Mahmood, undeterred by this portentous statement, raised to 23,000. Action folded around to Lehr who – surprise, surprise – moved all of his chips in. Mahmood made the call and the two showed their hands:

Lehr: A9
Mahmood: 44

The flop came K33. The turn 8 gave Lehr a flush draw in addition to his two overcards. The river was the 7 though, ending Lehr’s day a few hours earlier than he would have liked.

Bell Tolls For Binger

Chris Bell raised from middle position to 25,000 and Michael Binger raised to 78,000, leaving himself 75,000 behind. After a bit of thought, Bell moved all-in and Binger called. The two were racing: Bell’s JJ against Binger’s AQ. Binger was not aided by the board – 975109 – and he was eliminated in 11^th place.

Ayaz Mahmood Folds.... A-K? Really?

Ayaz Mahmood raised to 28,000 and action at the 6-handed table folded to Bob Cheung in the big blind. Cheung stacked his chips and slid them forward and backward in thought, never moving them into the center of the table. After a minute or so of this, Mahmood implored Cheung, “Put your money in.” Another minute passed before Cheung raised the pot, making it 61,000 more and leaving about 160,000 behind. This prompted Mahmood to fold A-K offsuit face up. Mahmood and Cheung were the two biggest stacks at the table at the time; perhaps Mahmood did not want to tangle with someone who could cripple him before the final table.

Final Table Action

Watkinson Doubles Up

Early on at the final table, Lee Watkinson doubled up off of Robert Cheung. Cheung had QQ and Watkinson had AK. The flop was good news for Watkinson – K22 – the king giving him a near lock on the hand. The turn was the A, giving him an unnecessary two pair, but also providing Cheung with a flush draw. The river blanked, however, and Watkinson was able to double up, giving him a stack that would not wane for the remainder of the day.

Greer Doubles Up

Severely short-stacked Keith Greer, in the cutoff, moved 20,000 into the pot for a raise and reached for more chips to add to it, but since he had not announced an amount, the min-raise had to stand. Ayaz Mahmood called the 10,000 extra in the big blind. Both players checked the Q107 flop. On the 8 turn Mahmood bet 30,000, putting Greer all-in. Greer made a quick call and declared a set of tens. His 1010 had Mahmood’s 102 drawing dead. Greer doubled up to a little over 100,000.

Greer Double Doubles Up

Perhaps a simpler title would have been Greer Quadruples Up, but this was anything but a simple hand. Benjamin Zamani raised to 26,000 from middle position. Robert Cheung min-raised to 40,000. The action was only beginning though. Keith Greer, who had been playing extraordinarily tight, moved in for 67,000. Ayaz Mahmood cold-called the 4-bet, and Zamani called also, leaving himself 90,000 behind. Cheung asked the dealer, “The pot is open for a re-raise, right?” The dealer confirmed that it indeed was, and that put Cheung into decision mode. With numbers racing through his head, he stood up, and, after confirming that Mahmood had about 270,000 left behind him, he moved all-in. Mahmood folded, as did Zamani, and the massive pot was to be contested between Cheung and Greer. Greer showed QQ, which was not unexpected, but the table exploded in a cacophony of disbelief when Cheung showed his KQ. The board rolled off harmlessly and Greer was able to more than quadruple up.

The insanity wasn’t quite over yet. Remarkably, Ayaz Mahmood claimed to have fold pocket kings. Then again, perhaps it was not so unbelievable when you consider his berating of Cheung after the hand. He and Cheung got into a bit of a tiff about the hand which was quickly quashed by the dealer as play recommenced.

Michael Greco summed all of the action quite succinctly: “Mental. Mental. Absolutely mental.”

The Backbreaker

Davidi Kitai and Benjamin Zamani, the two short stacks, got all of their chips into the middle and showed the following hands:

Zamani: 1010
Kitai: AQ

The board peeled off A525K and Kitai had doubled up. After counting out what Zamani owed the Frenchman, he was left with a mere two chips. There would be no miracle comeback for Zamani today, as Jan Von Halle took his pair of chips only two hands later. Zamani's 10th place finish is good for $14,314.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Ayaz Mahmood,   Benjamin Roberts,   Chris Bell,   Michael Binger,   Robert Cheung,   Keith Lehr,   Davidi Kitai,   Michael Greco,   Amato Galasso,   Jeff Sluzinski,   Jan Von Halle,   Keith Greer,   Chris Dombrowski,   Benjamin Zamani

$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em - Day 2 - Level 15 Recap

Jun 21, '08

Blinds: 3,000-6,000

Players Left: 15 of 605

Chip Leaders:
Ayaz Mahmood - 250,000
Chris Bell - 250,000
Davidi Kitai - 195,000
Jeff Sluzinski - 180,000
Michael Binger - 170,000
Keith Lehr - 155,000
Benjamin Zamani - 145,000
Michael Greco- 110,000
Benjamin Roberts - 110,000
Amato Galasso - 105,000

Average Stack: 161,300

Eliminations:
16^th – Neil Channing
17^th – Davood Mehrmand
18^th – Eugene Todd
19^th – Dan Quinn
20^th – Rob Perry
21^st – Al Adler


Big Hands and Storylines:

Two Tables Left

It took only 15 minutes to eliminate 3 participants and reach the final 18 players. Players were drawn to their new seats and play resumed. Another 3 players were eliminated before the end of the level, leaving us with only 15 players left.

Watkinson Makes Nice Laydown

Lee Watkinson raised to 18,000 from early position and was met by a raise from Keith Lehr. The bet was 45,000 more to Watkinson who only thought for seconds before folding 9-9 face-up. Lehr sportingly showed his J-J and congratulated Watkinson on a nice fold.

Cheung Eliminates Perry

Robert Cheung raised to 20,000 from middle position and Rob Perry moved all-in from the small blind for about 55,000. Cheung called, saying, “I don’t have much.” Cheung turned over QJ and was delighted to see Perry flip 77. The flop was 944, but the turn was the Q and Perry tossed his orange high into the air in frustration (catching it as it came down, of course). The turn 8 brought no help and Perry was eliminated in 20^th place.

Kitai Does In Quinn

Dan Quinn limped on the button, Davidi Kitai call from the small blind, and Michael Binger checked his option. The flop rolled out QJ7 and the two blinds checked to Quinn who bet 12,000. Kitai called and Binger folded. The turn was the A. Kitai checked again, Quinn bet 42,000, and Kitai raised a nominal amount to put Quinn all-in. The two showed their cards:

Kitai: Q10
Quinn: Q9

The river was the 5 and Quinn was eliminated in 19^th place.

Player Tags: Ayaz Mahmood,   Davood Mehrmand,   Benjamin Roberts,   Neil Channing,   Robert Perry,   Chris Bell,   Eugene Todd,   Al Adler,   Michael Binger,   Robert Cheung,   Keith Lehr,   Dan Quinn,   Davidi Kitai,   Michael Greco,   Amato Galasso,   Jeff Sluzinski,   Benjamin Zamani

$2,000 PLH Final Table - Two Gone

Jun 22, '08

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Chip Leaders:

Big Hands and Storylines:

Ben Roberts Doubles Up

Short stacked and desperate, Ben Roberts got his last 34,000 in against Michael Greco in the big blind. Roberts revealed A8 and was up against Greco's 42. The board ran out AJQ58 and Roberts was given new life.

Michael Greco Eliminated in Ninth Place ($22,573)

Michael Greco raised to 40,000 and Chris Bell reraised to 100,000. It was folded back around to Greco who moved all in and Bell quickly called. Greco showed pocket kings and Bell predictably turned over pocket aces. The board came 1075108 and Greco was eliminated in ninth place.

Ben Roberts Eliminated in Eighth Place ($30,831)

Robert Cheung raised to 39,000 and Ben Roberts moved all in for his last 52,000. Cheung called with KJ and needed to hit against Roberts and his pocket sevens. The board came 855J2 and Roberts was sent home in eighth place.

Keith Greer Doubles Up

Keith Greer raised to 56,000 and Chris Bell made the call. The flop came 852 and Greer checked. Bell bet enough to put him all in and Greer instantly called with pocket aces. Bell could only produce pocket jacks, and the board failed to produce any miracle two-outers. Greer doubled up to over 400,000.

Player Tags: Benjamin Roberts,   Chris Bell,   Robert Cheung,   Michael Greco

$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em - End of Day 2

Jun 21, '08

The final table of event 38 is set and the big name of the lot is Lee Watkinson. Watkinson will be making his first final table since last year's World Series main event where he finished a dissapointing 8th place. Watkinson entered 10-handed play with a paucity of chips, a situation he would soon remedy by winning a race against Robert Cheung. He would never look back and by the time the final table was set, he would be 2nd in chips with 390,000. Jan Von Halle, whose play has been solid as a rock, will enter the final table with the chip lead. Other notables who will have the chance to earn a bracelet tomorrow include Ayaz Mahmood, Robert Cheung, and Chris Bell.

Action will begin tomorrow at 2 p.m. PST.
 

Players Left: 9 of 605

Chip Leaders:
Jan Von Halle - 470,000
Lee Watkinson - 390,000
Ayaz Mahmood - 330,000
Robert Cheung - 315,000
Keith Greer - 280,000
Chris Bell - 265,000
Michael Greco - 125,000
Benjamin Roberts - 120,000
Davidi Kitai - 80,000

Average Stack: 161,300

Eliminations:
10^th – Benjamin Zamani
11^th – Michael Binger
12^th – Keith Lehr
13^th – Jeff Sluzinski
14^th – Amato Galasso
15^th – Chris Dombrowski

The Road To The Final Table

Keith Lehr Is A Man Of His Word; He’s Also Eliminated

Before the start of the hand, Keith Lehr in the big blind warned everyone at his 6-handed table not to raise unless they were willing to play for 83,000, the size of his stack. Ayaz Mahmood, undeterred by this portentous statement, raised to 23,000. Action folded around to Lehr who – surprise, surprise – moved all of his chips in. Mahmood made the call and the two showed their hands:

Lehr: A9
Mahmood: 44

The flop came K33. The turn 8 gave Lehr a flush draw in addition to his two overcards. The river was the 7 though, ending Lehr’s day a few hours earlier than he would have liked.

Bell Tolls For Binger

Chris Bell raised from middle position to 25,000 and Michael Binger raised to 78,000, leaving himself 75,000 behind. After a bit of thought, Bell moved all-in and Binger called. The two were racing: Bell’s JJ against Binger’s AQ. Binger was not aided by the board – 975109 – and he was eliminated in 11^th place.

Ayaz Mahmood Folds.... A-K? Really?

Ayaz Mahmood raised to 28,000 and action at the 6-handed table folded to Bob Cheung in the big blind. Cheung stacked his chips and slid them forward and backward in thought, never moving them into the center of the table. After a minute or so of this, Mahmood implored Cheung, “Put your money in.” Another minute passed before Cheung raised the pot, making it 61,000 more and leaving about 160,000 behind. This prompted Mahmood to fold A-K offsuit face up. Mahmood and Cheung were the two biggest stacks at the table at the time; perhaps Mahmood did not want to tangle with someone who could cripple him before the final table.

Final Table Action

Watkinson Doubles Up

Early on at the final table, Lee Watkinson doubled up off of Robert Cheung. Cheung had QQ and Watkinson had AK. The flop was good news for Watkinson – K22 – the king giving him a near lock on the hand. The turn was the A, giving him an unnecessary two pair, but also providing Cheung with a flush draw. The river blanked, however, and Watkinson was able to double up, giving him a stack that would not wane for the remainder of the day.

Greer Doubles Up

Severely short-stacked Keith Greer, in the cutoff, moved 20,000 into the pot for a raise and reached for more chips to add to it, but since he had not announced an amount, the min-raise had to stand. Ayaz Mahmood called the 10,000 extra in the big blind. Both players checked the Q107 flop. On the 8 turn Mahmood bet 30,000, putting Greer all-in. Greer made a quick call and declared a set of tens. His 1010 had Mahmood’s 102 drawing dead. Greer doubled up to a little over 100,000.

Greer Double Doubles Up

Perhaps a simpler title would have been Greer Quadruples Up, but this was anything but a simple hand. Benjamin Zamani raised to 26,000 from middle position. Robert Cheung min-raised to 40,000. The action was only beginning though. Keith Greer, who had been playing extraordinarily tight, moved in for 67,000. Ayaz Mahmood cold-called the 4-bet, and Zamani called also, leaving himself 90,000 behind. Cheung asked the dealer, “The pot is open for a re-raise, right?” The dealer confirmed that it indeed was, and that put Cheung into decision mode. With numbers racing through his head, he stood up, and, after confirming that Mahmood had about 270,000 left behind him, he moved all-in. Mahmood folded, as did Zamani, and the massive pot was to be contested between Cheung and Greer. Greer showed QQ, which was not unexpected, but the table exploded in a cacophony of disbelief when Cheung showed his KQ. The board rolled off harmlessly and Greer was able to more than quadruple up.

The insanity wasn’t quite over yet. Remarkably, Ayaz Mahmood claimed to have fold pocket kings. Then again, perhaps it was not so unbelievable when you consider his berating of Cheung after the hand. He and Cheung got into a bit of a tiff about the hand which was quickly quashed by the dealer as play recommenced.

Michael Greco summed all of the action quite succinctly: “Mental. Mental. Absolutely mental.”

The Backbreaker

Davidi Kitai and Benjamin Zamani, the two short stacks, got all of their chips into the middle and showed the following hands:

Zamani: 1010
Kitai: AQ

The board peeled off A525K and Kitai had doubled up. After counting out what Zamani owed the Frenchman, he was left with a mere two chips. There would be no miracle comeback for Zamani today, as Jan Von Halle took his pair of chips only two hands later. Zamani's 10th place finish is good for $14,314.

Player Tags: Lee Watkinson,   Ayaz Mahmood,   Benjamin Roberts,   Chris Bell,   Michael Binger,   Robert Cheung,   Keith Lehr,   Davidi Kitai,   Michael Greco,   Amato Galasso,   Jeff Sluzinski,   Jan Von Halle,   Keith Greer,   Chris Dombrowski,   Benjamin Zamani

$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em - Day 2 - Level 15 Recap

Jun 21, '08

Blinds: 3,000-6,000

Players Left: 15 of 605

Chip Leaders:
Ayaz Mahmood - 250,000
Chris Bell - 250,000
Davidi Kitai - 195,000
Jeff Sluzinski - 180,000
Michael Binger - 170,000
Keith Lehr - 155,000
Benjamin Zamani - 145,000
Michael Greco- 110,000
Benjamin Roberts - 110,000
Amato Galasso - 105,000

Average Stack: 161,300

Eliminations:
16^th – Neil Channing
17^th – Davood Mehrmand
18^th – Eugene Todd
19^th – Dan Quinn
20^th – Rob Perry
21^st – Al Adler


Big Hands and Storylines:

Two Tables Left

It took only 15 minutes to eliminate 3 participants and reach the final 18 players. Players were drawn to their new seats and play resumed. Another 3 players were eliminated before the end of the level, leaving us with only 15 players left.

Watkinson Makes Nice Laydown

Lee Watkinson raised to 18,000 from early position and was met by a raise from Keith Lehr. The bet was 45,000 more to Watkinson who only thought for seconds before folding 9-9 face-up. Lehr sportingly showed his J-J and congratulated Watkinson on a nice fold.

Cheung Eliminates Perry

Robert Cheung raised to 20,000 from middle position and Rob Perry moved all-in from the small blind for about 55,000. Cheung called, saying, “I don’t have much.” Cheung turned over QJ and was delighted to see Perry flip 77. The flop was 944, but the turn was the Q and Perry tossed his orange high into the air in frustration (catching it as it came down, of course). The turn 8 brought no help and Perry was eliminated in 20^th place.

Kitai Does In Quinn

Dan Quinn limped on the button, Davidi Kitai call from the small blind, and Michael Binger checked his option. The flop rolled out QJ7 and the two blinds checked to Quinn who bet 12,000. Kitai called and Binger folded. The turn was the A. Kitai checked again, Quinn bet 42,000, and Kitai raised a nominal amount to put Quinn all-in. The two showed their cards:

Kitai: Q10
Quinn: Q9

The river was the 5 and Quinn was eliminated in 19^th place.

Player Tags: Ayaz Mahmood,   Davood Mehrmand,   Benjamin Roberts,   Neil Channing,   Robert Perry,   Chris Bell,   Eugene Todd,   Al Adler,   Michael Binger,   Robert Cheung,   Keith Lehr,   Dan Quinn,   Davidi Kitai,   Michael Greco,   Amato Galasso,   Jeff Sluzinski,   Benjamin Zamani