| Oct 24, '09 |
2009 Festa al Lago Classic |
WPT Festa Al Lago Championship -- No-Limit Hold'em |
4 |
+ |
Level 16 Update: Dan Shak Takes Horrible Beat
Oct 24, '09
Blinds: 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Left: 33 of 275
Average Chip Count: 500,000
Chip Counts:
1. Jonas Entin — 1,070,000
2. Jason Lavallee — 1,030,000
3. Tommy Vedes — 1,010,000
4. Dee Luong — 735,000
5. Mark Seif — 715,000
6. Kido Pham — 700,000
7. Chad Batista — 650,000
8. Jason Burt — 600,000
9. Jason Somerville — 590,000
10. Shawn Cunix — 575,000
Notable Eliminations:
Nestor Martinez
Dan Shak
Mike Chiappetta
Cliff Josephy
Big Hands:
Chad Batista Gets Lucky To Stay Alive
Chad “lilholdem954” Batista (pictured right) found himself all in for over 300,000 in chips holding pocket jacks and was in bad shape against chip leader Corwin Cole’s pocket queens.
No problem for the online pro, however, when the board came J 9 7 2 A , giving him the winning set.
He now has over 630,000 while Cole took a hit down to 685,000.
Dan Shak Takes Really Tough Beat
Dan Shak and Tommy Vedes got into a raising war preflop that saw Shak’s A K go up against Vedes and his A Q .
The flop came out K K 10 giving Shak trips, but the turn was the J , giving Vedes the Broadway straight.
Shak needed help on the river, but it was the 9 that ended his tournament, giving Vedes a huge pot and a stack of over 1 million.
Freddy Deeb Slows Down Jason Lavallee
Jason Lavallee raised to 25,000 and Freddy Deeb called in the cutoff. The flop came A 7 6 and both players checked.
The turn was the A and Lavallee bet 41,000. Deeb minraised to 82,000 and Lavallee just called.
Both players checked down the 5 on the river and Lavallee showed A Q to win the pot and cross the million dollar mark.
Cliff Josephy Eliminated by Kido Pham
Some more bad luck for Cliff Josephy when his pocket jacks were cracked by the A J of Kido Pham.
The board was safe until an ace hit the turn, giving Pham the elimination credit and a new stack of 700,000 in chips.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak, Kido Pham, Cliff Josephy, Tommy Vedes, Freddy Deeb, Chad Batista, Jason Lavallee, Corwin Cole
|
| Sep 30, '09 |
2009 PokerStars.com EPT London - Season VI |
EPT High-Roller Event - Event 1 |
1 |
+ |
Dan Shak Eliminated
Sep 30, '09
Dan Shak spent most of the day as a short stack, but spent most of the last level battling back to a respectable 65,000 or so.
Things were looking up when he raised pocket queens under the gun and his opponent reraised. Illari Sahamies then came over the top, putting Shak all in, which he quickly obliged.
The other player got out of the way and Shak was happy to see that he was ahead of Sahamies and his A-Q. Alas, an ace hit the turn and Shak was sent packing.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak, Ilari Sahamies
Dan Shaks Up
Sep 30, '09
Dan Shak is in the big blind with very little left behind. There are two others in the pot – Evan McNiff and Erik Cajelais. The flop is J 3 2 , it’s checked around to Shak who pushes his remaining 9,500 in chips in the middle. Evan McNiff makes the call, as does Cajelais.
The turn is the 8 and McNiff asks Cajelais how much he has. He then thinks for a few moments and bets 9,200. Cajelais then folds. McNiff dramatically turns over pocket aces, while Dan Shak’s less impressive looking hand, J-8, leaves McNiff in the dust.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak
|
| Jun 07, '09 |
2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker |
Event 18 - $10,000 World Championship Omaha 8 or Better |
1 |
+ |
Level 2: Madsen Uses Birthday Luck
Jun 07, '09
Blinds: 150-300
Players Remaining: 159 out of 159
Chip Counts:
1. Barry Greenstein — 30,000
2. Annie Duke — 30,000
3. Bill Gazes — 30,000
4. Chau Giang — 30,000
5. Gavin Smith — 30,000
6. Greg Raymer — 30,000
7. Jeff Madsen — 30,000
8. Jennifer Harman — 30,000
9. Lee Markholt — 30,000
10. John D’Agostino — 30,000
Average Chip Count: 30,000
Big Hands:
Shak’s Big Draw Bricks Off

Nick Schulman raises under the gun, Dan Shak calls from middle position, and Will Chen also comes along from the small blind.
The flop is 2 9 5 . Chen checks, Schulman checks, and Shak bets 300. Chen folds and Schulman calls. The turn is the 2 and both players check. The 9 falls on the river and Schulman and Shak both check. Schulman announces “Two sevens” and they were good for the whole pot as Shak tabled A 3 K 10 , which was good for a flush draw, the nut low draw, and overs to Schulman’s sevens.
Mike Matusow chimed in to let Shak know how much of a favorite he was in that hand, while Schulman stacked the chips.
Madsen’s Birthday Brings Him Good Fortune
We pick up the action on the turn on a board of 8 J 2 3 rainbow. Madsen bets 600 and is raised to 1200. He opts to call the additional big bet and the river is the A.
Madsen now leads again for 600 and is just smooth called by his opponent. Madsen tables the 4 5 for the nuts and is good for the whole pot.
Pezzin Gets the Best of Black

The action folds around to Andrew Black on the button who raises to 600. The small blind folds and Pat Pezzin calls the additional 300 from the big blind. The flop is J 7 5 . Pezzin leads out for 300 and is called by Black.
The turn was the 6 and Pezzin leads out again for 600, which is again called by Black. The river was the J and Pezzin fires out 600 and is called by Black again.
Pezzin turns over the 8 9 10 4 for the flush and an 8 low. Black mucked his hand and Pezzin scooped the pot.
Left In The Deck:
ESPN commentator Mike Patrick has decided to put up the $10,000 to play poker with some of the world’s best.
Player Tags: Pat Pezzin, Daniel Shak, Nick Schulman, Jeff Madsen, Andrew Blackmore
|
| May 31, '09 |
2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker |
Event 4 - $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em |
2 |
+ |
Level 6 Update: Bernard Lee, Chad Brown Double Up
May 31, '09
Blinds: 100-200 with a 25 ante
Players Remaining: 1,100 out of 3,000
Notable Eliminations:
John Phan
Michael Carroll
Michael Binger
Nick Binger
Daniel Shak
Alex Jacob
Big Hands:
Bernard Lee Doubles Up…Again
The UTG player opens for a raise and gets three callers including Bernard Lee from middle position. The flop comes K-K-9, and action checks around to Lee who moves all in. The UTG player makes the call and both players turn over their cards. Lee turns over K-J suited for trip kings while his opponent shows pocket aces. The turn is a 3 and the river is a 10 as Bernard Lee doubles up again, this time to 6,700 in chips.
Chad Brown Doubles Up
Chad Brown just doubled up when he made an ace-high flush against an opponent’s straight. Brown is almost up to 5,000 after this hand.
Michael Carroll is Eliminated
The severely short stacked Mike Carroll went all-in pre-flop for 1200 total. Action was folded to the button who instantly called with Q Q . Carroll was well behind as he turned over the 8 8 . The board ran out 4 K 10 3 A and Carroll was unable to have another deep run in another multiple thousand player field.

Dan Shak Eliminated
Dan Shak was short stacked when he shoved all-in with 4 5 , and unfortunately ran up against the pocket queens and pocket kings of two other opponents. The flop came 10 10 4 and Shak needed a four to stay alive. The board bricked out and Shak was sent to the rail.
Dinner Break
The remaining players in today’s $1,000 NLH event are now on a ninety-minute dinner break and will return at 8:30 PDT to begin Level 7.
Player Tags: Chad Brown, Daniel Shak, Bernard Lee
|
| Mar 16, '09 |
2009 Bay 101 Shooting Star |
WPT Championship - Event 2 |
1 |
+ |
Level 7 Update
Mar 16, '09
Level: 7
Blinds: 200-400 with a 50 ante
Players Left: 81 of 135
Score Board
Notable Chip Counts
Faraz Jaka: 105,500
Augie Foxx: 81,000
Will Failla: 80,000
Chad Brown: 58,000
Annie Duke: 46,000
Joe Sebok: 46,000
Freddy Deeb: 40,000
Mike Matusow: 40,000
Hoyt Corkins: 39,000
Steve Brecher: 38,500
Average: 31,627
Notable Eliminations
Allen Kessler
Jamie Gold
Toto Leonidas
Shooting Star Watch
Here are the Shooting Stars in action on day 1A:
Andy Bloch - out
Todd Brunson
Hoyt Corkins
Freddy Deeb
Annie Duke
Layne Flack
Jamie Gold - out
Phil Hellmuth - out
John Juanda - out
Erick Lindgren
Jonathan Little
Mike Matusow
David Pham
Joe Sebok
Erik Seidel - out
David Singer - out
Gavin Smith
Kenny Tran
Marco Traniello
Paul Wasicka
Lee Watkinson - out
Robert Williamson III
Jerry Yang - out
Big Hands:
Marco Traniello Doubles Up
Marco Traniello got all of his chips into the middle against Dan Shak on a flop of K J 7 . Shak held Q J and Traniello turned up A K . The turn and river fell 4 5 and Traniello doubled up to survive.
Jamie Gold Eliminated
Late position opened a pot for a raise and Jamie Gold moved all in for 5,000. Shawn Buchanan reraised all in for 11,000 and then the player in late position reraised all in and covered everyone with 1,200 to spare. Their cards:
Late Position: K K
Gold: J J
Buchanan: A Q
Board: A 9 6 3 2
Gold was eliminated on the hand and Buchanan collected his second $5,000 bounty of the day.
Chainsawed
Allen Kessler moved all in with A-J on a A-K-J flop, but he ran straight into the Q-10 of Tim West. The Broadway straight won the hand and Kessler was eliminated from the tournament.
Player Tags: Allen Kessler, Shawn Buchanan, Marco Traniello, Daniel Shak, Jamie Gold
|
| Feb 24, '09 |
2009 L.A. Poker Classic |
No-Limit Hold'em Championship (WPT) - Event 35 |
4 |
+ |
Dan Shak Eliminated in 57th Place ($23,052)
Feb 24, '09
Dan Shak has busted out of the tournament in 57th place and he will take home $23,052 in prize money.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak
Level 16 Update
Feb 23, '09
Level: 16
Blinds: 1,500-3,000 with a 500 ante.
Players Left: 64 out of 696
Score Board
Notable Chip Counts:
Kofi Farkye - 730,000
Dan O'Brien - 537,000
Mike Sowers - 532,000
Chris Karagulleyan - 497,000
Jason Dewitt - 475,000
Anthony Venturnini - 450,000
Don D'Auria - 427,000
Matt Woodward - 400,000
Blake Cahail - 320,000
Chris Ferguson - 312,000
Average:167,711
Notable Eliminations:
Adam Geyer
Ryan Young
Rodeen Talebi
Toto Leonidas
Jonathan Plens
Young Phan
Ross Boatman
Tom Dobrilovic
Mark Zajdner
David Chiu
Shannon Shorr
Paul Darden
Jimmy Fricke
Antonio Esfandiari
Featured Table
It took some time today, but a featured table has finally stood out above the rest.
Table 33
Seat 1: Paul Wasicka
Seat 2: Nick Schulman
Seat 3: Dan O'Brien
Seat 4: Antonio Esfandiari - David Pham moved in
Seat 6: Mike Sowers
Seat 8: Hoyt Corkins
Seat 9: Erica Schoenberg
Esfandiari Takes a Large Preflop Hit
Paul Wasicka bet 8,000 and Dan O'Brien raised to 23,000. Esfandiari reraised to 71,000 total, and Wasicka mucked. O'Brien then shoved all in and put Esfandiari on a decision for his tournament life. He eventually mucked and O'Brien took down the huge hand preflop. "Was that the right play, you're the expert," asked Esfandiari of Hoyt Corkins after the hand. This was the latest hand in a series of pots that have played out aggressively between O'Brien and Esfandiari. O'Brien has the upper hand so far, after leading for much of the day Esfadiari has been knocked down to 175,000.
Esfandiari Eliminated
Antonio Esfandiari moved all in preflop and Mike Sowers called him down. Esfandiari held A-K and Sowers A-Q. The board was dealt A-J-J-Q-3. Esfandiari was eliminated just short of the money after holding the chip lead for most of the tournament. This is a similar fate that he suffered at WPT Festa al Lago in late 2008.
Big Hands:
David Chiu Eliminated by Greg Mueller
On a flop of Q-J-8 David Chiu moved all in and Greg Mueller called him down. Chiu held A-10 and Mueller held Q-9. The turn and river bricked out and Chiu was knocked out of the tournament to start the last level of the night.
The Dragon Shows his Bluff
David Pham raised to 30,000 preflop after a series of players limped and then called a small raise to join a pot preflop. Three players mucked their hands and then Pham flipped up J 4 as he collected the pot.
Maria Ho Eliminates One
Maria Ho just knocked out a player with two kings in the hole. Her opponent held A-K but Ho's hand held to win the pot. Ho held 90,000 after the hand.
Dan Shak Eliminates One
Dan Shak moved all in preflop for 65,000 and seat 2 called all in against him. Shak had pocket jacks and seat 2 held pocket queens. A jack hit on the flop, and then a fourth came on the river to make quads for Shak and eliminate his opponent.
Slaubaugh vs. Grospellier
On a flop of Q 9 6 Cody Slaubaugh bet 15,500 from middle position and Bertrand Grospellier made the call from late position. The K fell on the turn and Slaubaugh bet 16,500. Grospellier made the call again and the 9 was dealt on the river. Both players checked and Slaubaugh turned up a bluff (4 2 ). Grospellier showed down A J and won the hand to increase his stack.
Money Bubble
As time expired during day 3 the tournament was stuck on the money bubble. Play went to hand-for-hand with 64 players remaining and it actually continued past the end of level 16. Day 3 will end when one more player busts out.
Player Tags: David Pham, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg Mueller, David Chiu, Daniel Shak, Paul Wasicka, Bertrand Grospellier, Daniel O'Brien, Cody Slaubaugh, Mike Sowers
|
| Feb 23, '09 |
2009 L.A. Poker Classic |
No-Limit Hold'em Championship (WPT) - Event 35 |
3 |
+ |
Dan Shak Eliminated in 57th Place ($23,052)
Feb 24, '09
Dan Shak has busted out of the tournament in 57th place and he will take home $23,052 in prize money.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak
Level 16 Update
Feb 23, '09
Level: 16
Blinds: 1,500-3,000 with a 500 ante.
Players Left: 64 out of 696
Score Board
Notable Chip Counts:
Kofi Farkye - 730,000
Dan O'Brien - 537,000
Mike Sowers - 532,000
Chris Karagulleyan - 497,000
Jason Dewitt - 475,000
Anthony Venturnini - 450,000
Don D'Auria - 427,000
Matt Woodward - 400,000
Blake Cahail - 320,000
Chris Ferguson - 312,000
Average:167,711
Notable Eliminations:
Adam Geyer
Ryan Young
Rodeen Talebi
Toto Leonidas
Jonathan Plens
Young Phan
Ross Boatman
Tom Dobrilovic
Mark Zajdner
David Chiu
Shannon Shorr
Paul Darden
Jimmy Fricke
Antonio Esfandiari
Featured Table
It took some time today, but a featured table has finally stood out above the rest.
Table 33
Seat 1: Paul Wasicka
Seat 2: Nick Schulman
Seat 3: Dan O'Brien
Seat 4: Antonio Esfandiari - David Pham moved in
Seat 6: Mike Sowers
Seat 8: Hoyt Corkins
Seat 9: Erica Schoenberg
Esfandiari Takes a Large Preflop Hit
Paul Wasicka bet 8,000 and Dan O'Brien raised to 23,000. Esfandiari reraised to 71,000 total, and Wasicka mucked. O'Brien then shoved all in and put Esfandiari on a decision for his tournament life. He eventually mucked and O'Brien took down the huge hand preflop. "Was that the right play, you're the expert," asked Esfandiari of Hoyt Corkins after the hand. This was the latest hand in a series of pots that have played out aggressively between O'Brien and Esfandiari. O'Brien has the upper hand so far, after leading for much of the day Esfadiari has been knocked down to 175,000.
Esfandiari Eliminated
Antonio Esfandiari moved all in preflop and Mike Sowers called him down. Esfandiari held A-K and Sowers A-Q. The board was dealt A-J-J-Q-3. Esfandiari was eliminated just short of the money after holding the chip lead for most of the tournament. This is a similar fate that he suffered at WPT Festa al Lago in late 2008.
Big Hands:
David Chiu Eliminated by Greg Mueller
On a flop of Q-J-8 David Chiu moved all in and Greg Mueller called him down. Chiu held A-10 and Mueller held Q-9. The turn and river bricked out and Chiu was knocked out of the tournament to start the last level of the night.
The Dragon Shows his Bluff
David Pham raised to 30,000 preflop after a series of players limped and then called a small raise to join a pot preflop. Three players mucked their hands and then Pham flipped up J 4 as he collected the pot.
Maria Ho Eliminates One
Maria Ho just knocked out a player with two kings in the hole. Her opponent held A-K but Ho's hand held to win the pot. Ho held 90,000 after the hand.
Dan Shak Eliminates One
Dan Shak moved all in preflop for 65,000 and seat 2 called all in against him. Shak had pocket jacks and seat 2 held pocket queens. A jack hit on the flop, and then a fourth came on the river to make quads for Shak and eliminate his opponent.
Slaubaugh vs. Grospellier
On a flop of Q 9 6 Cody Slaubaugh bet 15,500 from middle position and Bertrand Grospellier made the call from late position. The K fell on the turn and Slaubaugh bet 16,500. Grospellier made the call again and the 9 was dealt on the river. Both players checked and Slaubaugh turned up a bluff (4 2 ). Grospellier showed down A J and won the hand to increase his stack.
Money Bubble
As time expired during day 3 the tournament was stuck on the money bubble. Play went to hand-for-hand with 64 players remaining and it actually continued past the end of level 16. Day 3 will end when one more player busts out.
Player Tags: David Pham, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg Mueller, David Chiu, Daniel Shak, Paul Wasicka, Bertrand Grospellier, Daniel O'Brien, Cody Slaubaugh, Mike Sowers
|
| Feb 17, '09 |
2009 L.A. Poker Classic |
H.O.R.S.E Championship - Event 29 |
2 |
+ |
Dan Shak Busts
Feb 17, '09
A very short stacked Dan Shak has been eliminated from the tournament. After his elimination, the remaining 64 players are seated at the final eight tables.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak
|
| Jan 17, '09 |
2009 Aussie Millions |
$100,000 No-Limit Hold'em Challenge - Event 8 |
2 |
+ |
Dan Shak Eliminated in Fourth Place ($200,000 AUD)
Jan 17, '09
David Steicke raised to 55,000 preflop and Dan Shak reraised the pot. Steicke moved all in and Shak made the call for his tournament life. Their cards:
Shak: 3 3
Steicke: 7 7
Board: 9 7 7 9 K
Dan Shak was eliminated in fourth place and he will take home $200,000 AUD.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak, David Steicke
Dan Shak Doubles Up
Jan 17, '09
David Steicke raised to 56,000 preflop and then Dan Shak moved all in. Their cards:
Shak: K K
Steicke: A J
Board: 10 4 2 7 10
Shak doubled up on the hand and he survived with 170,000.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak, David Steicke
Bill Jordanou Doubles Up Twice
Jan 17, '09
Bill Jordanou has skirted death twice at the final table early. The first time he flopped a Broadway straight against J.C. Tran, who held pocket eights, and the second time he held A-Q to dominate the A-J of Dan Shak. Jordanou now holds more than 200,000.
Player Tags: J.C. Tran, Daniel Shak, Bill Jordanou
|
| Oct 01, '08 |
2008 PokerStars.com EPT London - Season V |
EPT Main Event |
1 |
+ |
Dan Shak Eliminated
Oct 01, '08
Dan Shak has busted out of the tournament on Day 1A.
Player Tags: Daniel Shak
|