Joseph Serock Poker Tournament Updates

Level Two, Hour Two: Ivey Climbing

Jul 08, '10

Blinds: 100-200

Notable Chip Counts:

1. Khamsy Nuanmanee – 115,000
2. Alex Aram – 77,000
3. Kara Scott – 70,000
4. Brent Baldrey – 69,000
5. Steve Billirakis – 68,000
6. Allen Cunningham – 66,800
7. Phil Ivey – 66,500
8. Joe Serock – 60,000
9. Anh Van Nguyen – 59,500
10. Jennifer Harman – 52,000

Card Player Family Chip Counts

Jeff Shulman — 22,000
Steve Zolotow — 31,500

Notable Eliminations:

None

Big Hands:

Serock and Elizabeth Give Some Away

In a 4-way raised pot, the flop cam e429 and seat 6 checked to Shannon Elizabeth, who fired 2,000 into the pot. Seat 4 folded and Joe Serock made the call. Seat 6, the original checker, then check-raised to 6,000.

Elizabeth folded by Serock tanked and made the call. When the J fell on the turn seat 6 quickly moved all in for over 20,000. Serock quickly folded, giving the pot to his opponent.

Serock still had 43,000 after the hand, but Elizabeth was down to around 17,000.

Buffer Straightens Out Opponent

Burce Buffer bet 1,000 on a 3-way flop of 487 ad was called by seat 7 and 8. On the 6s turn seat 7 fired 1,400 and seat 8 made the call. Buffer wasted little time raising to 4,000 total. Seat 7 folded but seat 8 decided to call.

The 6h came on the river and seat 8 checked to the aggressor. Buffer fired 2,500 and seat 8 checked his cards before letting them hit the muck. Buffer showed anyway, the A5 for a turned straight. He had around 35,000 after the hand.

Hachem Loses to Two Pair

Entering the action late, Joe Hachem faced a bet of 1,600 from his opponent on a board of Q8A109. He eventually called and said “nice hand” as soon as he opponent showed A10 for two pair. Hachem had around 24,000 after the loss.

Ivey Forces a Big Laydown

Entering the action late, a pot of 17,000 had developed on a board of 9463. When the K peeled off on the river Phil Ivey bet enough to put his opponent all in for his last 12,000.

After tanking for a while in front of the ESPN cameras, his opponent folded QQ face up and said “Go ahead man.” Ivey now has around 62,000 in chips.

Little Value for Little’s Set

On a board of QJ79, seat 8 folded to Jonathan Little’s bet of 1,000. Little let him know that he wasn’t picking on him and flashed the 99 for a turned set. He sat with around 29,500 after the hand.

Ferguson Takes A Pot, But John Phan The Star

With 2,500 already in the pot preflop, Justin Smith fired 1,800 after the flop came down 876. Chris Ferguson was next to act and he raised it to 5,300.

The action was then on John Phan, and the action stayed on John Phan for awhile. He tanked for more than three minutes, giving the ESPN camera crews along with other players time to crowd around the table. Phan counted out a call, then counted out a raise, then looked at his cards, then shuffled his chips altogether, then looked at his hand again.

The player in seat 1 then leaned over to the dealer and asked in a whisper what the procedure was when asking to call a clock on a player. Eventually, Phan did release his hand. Smith did the same in much faster fashion as his cards almost beat Phan’s to the muck. Ferguson took the pot and he was back around 30,000.

“You were going to get reraised anyway,” Phan told Smith after the hand.

“Yeah,” Smith responed. “But I call you.”

Smith was at 32,000 and Phan was at 28,000.

Sheikhan Can’t Call

Picking up the action after the board read AJ103, there was 800 in the pot and Shawn Sheikhan led out with 550. The player in seat 7 called as did the player in seat 10. Another player in the hand folded and the three remaining saw the J fall on the river.

Sheikhan checked and seat 7 bet 1,500. Seat 10 mucked and Sheikhan soon followed suit. Sheikhan was down to 28,300.

George Danzer Chops a Pot

On a board read Q77QA a player in middle position bet 1,050 and George Danzer quickly called. His oppnented tabeled the 87 and Danzer exposed the 97 for a chop. Danzer was at right around the starting stack of 30,000 after the hand.

Kirk Morrison Sitting With Just a Beer

Over in the pavilion room, Kirk Morrison was sitting at a table with a beer and no chips. Morrison wasn’t all in, but simply waiting to receive his chips and to be dealt a hand, after registering late on day 1d. Morrison was the last player that made it into the main event last year, but said he showed up this year fifteen minutes earlier in order to avoid another close call.

David Saab Moves All In

David Saab bet from early position and was called by an opponent on the button. The flop came J82 and Saab bet 1,000. His opponent raised to 3,125. Saab instantly moved all in for 12,125 more. His opponent went into the tank before finally folding. Saab was up to 20,000 after the hand.

Bernard Lee Wins a Nice One

Bernard Lee reraised to 1,525 preflop after his opponent raised to 400. Another opponent and the original raiser made the call and the flop was dealt K K Q. One opponent bet 4,500 and Lee made the call. The other player got out of the way and the turn fell 3.

His opponent bet 8,500 and Lee made the call. The river brought the 8 and and both players checked. Lee revealed A-K and his opponent mucked. Lee held 41,000 after the hand and he has finished level 2 with 43,650.

Left in the Deck:

Players will be on a 20-minute break shortly.

Player Tags: John Phan,   Shawn Sheikhan,   Phil Ivey,   Bernard Lee,   Joe Hachem,   Kirk Morrison,   Jonathan Little,   Shannon Elizabeth,   Joseph Serock,   David Saab

Level One, Hour Two Update: David Benyamine Starts Well

Jul 08, '10

Blinds: 50-100

Average Chip Count: 30,000

Notable Chip Counts:

1. Kara Scott – 71,000
2. Brent Baldrey – 65,000
3. Corey Emery – 60,000
4. Alex Aram – 60,000
5. Steve Billirakis – 57,000
6. Aaron Gustavson – 48,000
7. Amanda Musumeci – 47,000
8. David Benyamine – 46,000
9. Bill Chen – 46,000
10. Phil Ivey – 45,700

Card Player Family Chip Counts

Jeff Shulman — 30,000
Jennifer Harman — 30,000
Steve Zolotow — 30,000

Notable Eliminations:

None

Player Twitter Accounts

Phil Ivey
Doyle Brunson
Jeff Shulman
Bryan Micon
Jonathan Little
Cyndy Violette
Vanessa Rousso
Zachary Clark

Big Hands:

Phil Ivey Faces a Minimum Four-Bet

A player in the cutoff bet 250 and Phil Ivey raised to 800 total. The player in the small blind four-bet to 1,350 and it was folded to the cutoff. She folded and Ivey quickly called.

The flop came 9638 and action went check-check. The 8 fell on the turn and Ivey’s opponent bet 1,200. Ivey insta-called and the 10 landed on the river. The small blind checked and Ivey bet 4,300. Ivey’s opponent deliberated before eventually folding. Ivey was at 34,000 in chips after the hand.

Steve Billirakis Starting off Strong

On a board of 10937 was faced with a 6,000-chip bet. Billirakis called and the river brought the J. Billirakis led out for 4,000 and his opponent called. Billirakis tabled the J9 for two pair. His opponent mucked the KK. Billirakis was up to 54,000 after the hand.

David Benyamine Drops A Pot

David Benyamine raised to 300 preflop and the small blind made the call. The flop came down A63 and both players checked.

The turn was the 6 and the small blind led out with 500. Benyamine made the call and the river was the 8.

The small blind led out with 500 again and Benyamine decided to look him up. The small blind showed A7 for aces and sixes and Benyamine mucked. Despite dropping that pot, Benyamine was off to a strong start with close to 49,000 in chips.

Cindy Violette Takes One Down

Cyndy Violette raised to 300 and was called by two players. The flop came 9dKh5c and Violette bet 1,000 to force out her opponents. She had around 31,500 after the hand.

“This is Our Maaain Event Of The Evening”

Bruce Buffer raised to 350 from middle position and was called by JJ Lui on the button. The flop ran 782 and Buffer led for 525. Lui folded and Buffer chipped back up to around his starting stack of 30,000.

Joe Serock Takes One From Elizabeth

On a 3-way flop of A78 seat 2 checked and so did Joe Serock. Shannon Elizabeth bet 600 and seat 2 folded, but Serock called.

The 7 fell on the turn and Serock led for 1,800. Elizabeth called and the A fell on the river. Both players checked and Elizabeth mucked when she saw Serock’s Q7.

Serock was at around 39,000 after the hand, while Elizabeth dropped to around 23,000.

Hevad Khan Loses a Big One

Hevad Khan called a bet of 2,250 from seat 7 on a board of 599A. On the 6 river Khan checked and seat 7 fired 7,600. There was already a lot in the pot, and Khan tanked for a moment before electing to fold.

He had 26,000 after the hand.

Steve Dannenmann Run Over By Jacks

Steve Dannenmann bet 250 on a board of 36Q7 and was called by seat 1. The button then raised to 1,050 and Dannenmann called, while seat 1 got out of the way.

The K river was checked around and a stubborn moment left Dannenmann and the player on the button refusing to show their cards first. Finally Dannenmann showed 75 for a pair and the button showed JJ for a better pair. After the loss Dannenmann had around 28,000.

Kenny Tran Wins a Pot

Kenny Tran had the button and was tangled up in a pot versus a player in the cutoff. On a board of AK63 the action went check-check. The 8 fell on the river and the cutoff checked. Tran bet 4,000 and the cutoff tanked. He eventually made the call and Tran exposed the 72 for a flush. Tran’s opponent mucked and Tran raked in the pot. He was up to about the starting stack after the hand.

Mizzi Drops One

With 650 in the pot, the board read 10523. Sorel Mizzi fired 350 and the player in seat 9 made the call.

The river was the 3 and Mizzi checked. Seat 9 fired 1,575 and Mizzi threw away his hand. He was at 32,000 after the loss.

Ferguson Can’t Call

Chris Ferguson raised to 600 on the button and the player in seat 5 made the call from middle position. The flop came down 642 and seat 5 checked.

Ferguson fired 1,000 and seat 5 quickly check-raised to 2,000. Ferguson thought for a bit and made the call. The turn was the 4 and seat 5 checked again.

Ferguson thought for a little while longer and bet 3,000. Seat 5 called again and the river was the 10.

Seat 5 took the lead this time, firing 2,500 and Ferguson released his hand. Ferguson was down to 26,000 after dropping that pot.

Rousso Bluffs Off Half Her Stack

Picking up the action after the flop came down Q85, Vanessa Rousso led out with 3,500 and the player in seat 7 made the call.

The turn was the J and Rousso thought long before sliding out 7,000. Seat 7 then tanked and asked Rousso for a count. The rest of the players at the table left as the 20-minute break had begun.

Seat 7 eventually called and the river was the 9. Rousso played with her chips awhile but checked. Seat 7 checked behind and Rousso tabled AK for ace-high. Seat 7 tabled 87 for a pair of eights and a heart draw on the flop.

Rousso dropped a big pot before the break and she was down to 26,000 after starting the hand with close to 49,000.

Player Tags: Chris Ferguson,   David Benyamine,   Cyndy Violette,   Phil Ivey,   Kenny Tran,   Joanne Liu,   Steve Billirakis,   Bruce Buffer,   Vanessa Rousso,   Steve Dannenmann,   Shannon Elizabeth,   Sorel Mizzi,   Hevad Khan,   Joseph Serock

Level 3: Shaun Deeb Chipping Up

Jun 20, '10

Blinds: 150-300

Players Left: 250 of 268

Average Chip Count: 32,160

Leaderboard

1. Dani Stern — 80,000
2. Jonathan Little — 77,000
3. Steve O’Dwyer — 64,000
4. Shaun Deeb — 62,000
5. Marcus Lehmann — 54,000
6. Bertrand Grospellier — 53,000
7. Roberto Romanello — 52,000
8. Jesse martin — 51,000
9. Christian Harder — 49,500
10. Jennifer Tilly — 47,000

Big Hands

Deeb Chips Up With Bluff

Shaun Deeb bet 6,000 on a board of JJ24K and his opponent folded, unable to commit half of his remaining stack on the hand. Deeb showed 87 for a total bluff, and his stack grew to around 62,000.

Serock Out-kicks Flack

Joe Serock already has three deep runs in the 2010 World Series of Poker and he’s hoping for another one. He was recently in a pot with Layne Flack, where on a flop of A63 Serock bet 1,000 and Flack and another player called.

Serock slowed and checked to Flack on the 5 turn and Flack fired 3,200. The other played folded but Serock called. The K hit on the river and both players checked. Their hands:

Flack: A7
Serock: AJ

Both had a pair of aces but Serock had Flack out-kicked, taking the pot to boost up to 33,000, while Flack dropped to around 20,000.

Player Tags: Layne Flack,   Shaun Deeb,   Joseph Serock

Level 8 Update: Three POY Contenders Still Remain

Dec 15, '09

Blinds: 600-1,200 with a 100 ante

Players Remaining: 187 out of 328 (unofficial)

Chip Counts:

1. Antonio Esfandiari — 310,000
2. John Hennigan — 280,000
3. Eric Hershler — 260,000
4. Jon Turner — 255,000
5. Cory Carroll — 242,000
6. Vivek Rajkumar — 230,000
7. Chad Batista — 200,000
8. Dutch Boyd — 195,000
9. Darryll Fish — 180,000
10. Eric Lynch — 175,000

Average Chip Count: 105,000

Notable Eliminations:

Erik Nomberg
Randall Flowers
Kevin Schaffel
Isabelle Mercier
David Singer

Big Hands:

Doyle Brunson Gets Unlucky

On a flop of K66, Doyle Brunson puts Jamie Rosen all in and Rosen reluctantly makes the call with pocket aces. Brunson shows him the bad news with 86 for trips, but the turn and river runs out 10A to give Rosen the winning hand with a full house.

Brunson, who registered late in level 7, is now down to 28,000 in chips.

Hunter Frey Eliminated by Joe Serock

In a glorified coinflip, Hunter Frey was all in holding AK against Joe Serock’s pocket nines. The board ran out 822610 and Frey was eliminated from the tournament.

Serock now has a massive stack of 192,000 chips in front of him, by far the most at his table.

Cornel Cimpan Quads Up to Double Up

Cornel Cimpan raised to 3,500 and Michael Watson reraised to 9,000 in the cutoff behind him. Cimpan thought it over before making the call, leaving himself with just 15,100.

The flop came down 1044 and Cimpan checked to Watson, who put him all in. Cimpan instantly called with 44 for quads and Watson showed AQ, drawing dead.

The inconsequential turn and river were the K7 and Cimpan doubled up to about 50,000 in chips. Watson is now on the short stack with about 22,000.

Hasan Habib Gets Flush To Win a Huge Pot From John Juanda

We caught up with the action on a flop of K64. Hasan Habib checked, John Juanda bet 8,000 and Yevgeniy Timoshenko called. Tom Dwan passed and Habib check-raised to 26,000.

Juanda thought for a bit before raising to 53,000 and Timoshenko folded. Habib then went into the tank, pondering his decision with his last 40,000 in front of him. Eventually, he put it in, Juanda called and the two players revealed their hands.

Juanda showed pocket sixes for a set and Habib showed A10 for a flush draw. The turn and river came 29, and Habib doubled up. A few hands later and Habib was at 172,000, while Juanda has to start all over with 67,000.

Left In the Deck:

Registration is now closed. The official numbers and prize pool should be announced shortly.

Card Player TV:

The folks over at Card Player TV recently caught up with Yevgeniy Timoshenko during the break to discuss his 2009 campaign.

Player Tags: Cornel Andrew Cimpan,   John Juanda,   Hasan Habib,   Michael Watson,   Joseph Serock,   Yevgeniy Timoshenko,   Hunter Frey

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

Brock Parker Wins Event No. 14 ($552,745)

Jun 10, '09

Joe Serock raised to 200,000 preflop and Brock Parker reraised to 1 million. Serock reraised all in and Parker made the call. Their cards:

Parker: QQ
Serock: 1010

Board: A72KQ

Parker won the hand, $552,745, and his second gold bracelet of the week. Parker won event No. 14 ($2,500 six-handed limit hold’em) on June 7 to win his first gold bracelet and now he owns two. Serock was eliminated in second place and took home $341,783 in prize money.

Player Tags: Brock Parker,   Joseph Serock

Final Table Update: Down to Heads-Up Play

Jun 10, '09

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

Players Remaining: 2 out of 1,068

Chip Counts:

1. Joe Serock — 5,400,000
2. Brock Parker — 2,600,000

Average Chip Count: 4,005,000

Notable Eliminations:

3. Russell Crane — $220,633

Elimination Hands:

Russell Crane Eliminated in Third Place ($220,633)

Joe Serock raised in the small blind and Russel Crane moved all in.

Serock called with A9 and was ahead of Crane’s J10. The board ran out 975A6 and Crane was eliminated.

NOTE: With this elimination, Brock Parker has taken the lead in the WSOP Player of the Year race.

Player Tags: Joseph Serock,   Russell Crane

Level 22 Update: Sheikh 12th, Serock 11th, Yitzhaki 10th

Jun 06, '09

Level Structure:

2-7 triple draw, limit hold’em, and Omaha 8OB: 500-1,000 blinds and 1,000-2,000 limits

7-card stud, razz, and 7-card stud 8OB: 200 ante, 300 bring-in, with a 1,000 completion and 1,000-2,000 limits

no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha: 250-500 blinds with a 150 ante

NOTES: Games change every eight hands. Two players will be forced to sit out during 2-7 triple draw each hand.

Players Remaining: 9 out of 194

Chip Counts:

1. Scott Dorin — 1,400,000
2. Huck Seed — 870,000
3. James Van Alstyne — 865,000
4. Ville Wahlbeck — 684,000
5. Allie Prescott — 622,000
6. Mike Wattel — 394,000
7. Mark Gregorich — 372,000
8. David Chiu — 343,000
9. Todd Brunson — 276,000

Average Chip Count: 646,666

Notable Eliminations:

12. Aurangzeb Sheikh — $34,958
11. Joe Serock — $34,958
10. Roman Yitzhaki — $42,818

Big Hands:

RAZZ

Aurangzeb Sheikh Eliminated in 12th Place ($34,958)

Joe Serock completes the bet on third street with the 4 and Aurangzeb Sheikh raises with the 7. Serock three-bets and Sheikh calls.

Serock: (A)(8)43AJ(7)
Sheikh: (5)(2)7Q44(Q)

Sheikh gets the last of his chips in on fourth street and the the players turn their cards face up. Sheikh ends up making a pair low on sixth street while Serock makes an 8-7 low by the river. Aurangzeb Sheikh is eliminated in 12th place ($34,958).

NLH

Joe Serock Eliminated in 11th Place ($34,958)

Joe Serock moves all in before the flop for 35,000 and gets three callers; David Chiu (Button), Scott Dorin (Small Blind) and James Van Alstyne (Big Blind).

The flop comes KQ2, and all three players check. The turn is the 4 and once again, all three players check. The river is the J and everyone checks. Serock turns over A3 for ace-high while Chiu shows A4 for a pair of fours. Chiu rakes the pot and eliminates Joe Serock in 11th place ($34,958).

LIMIT HOLD’EM

Roman Yitzhaki Eliminated in 10th place ($42,818)

After a series a of raises and reraises, Roman Yitzhaki gets it all in pre-flop with pocket jacks against Huck Seed’s pocket aces. The board comes A-2-3-2-6, giving Seed a full house and eliminating Roman Yitzhaki in 10th place 9$42,818).

Left In The Deck:

At the conclusion of Level 22, the remaining nine players will take a seventy-five minute dinner break and will return to Level 23 at approximately 7:00 pm PDT.

Player Tags: Huck Seed,   David Chiu,   James Van Alstyne,   Roman Yitzhaki,   Joseph Serock,   Scott Dorin

Joe Serock Eliminated in 15th Place

Oct 03, '08

Joe Serock is all in with A8 against Jeff Papola and his pocket aces.

The board runs out J5586 and Serock is eliminated in 15th place.

Player Tags: Joseph Serock,   Jeffrey Papola