Tommy Vu Poker Tournament Updates

Heads Up Play

Jun 07, '07

Heads Up Play Begins
Heads up play has begun with the players almost equal in chips.

Vu Fires First Salvo
Michael Chu raises to $200,000 and Vu reraises to $700,000. Chu makes the call and the flop comes Q74. Both players check and the turn is the 10. Again both players check and the river is the 7. Vu bets $800,000 and Chu mucks. Vu then tables 8-2, showing his bluff.

Huge Pot
Tommy Vu limps and Michael Chu raises to $200,000. Vu makes the call and the flop is 983. Chu bets $375,000 and Vu moves all in. Chu quickly makes the call and tables J10 while Vu shows down 86. The turn is the 5 and Vu is still in the lead, but the river comes 7 making Chu's straight.  He was all in for a total of $1,830,000 and scores a huge double up. Chu now has $4,420,000 and Vu 1,080,000.

Michael Chu Wins Event #8 $1,000 NHLE with Rebuys ($585,774)
Tommy Vu open pushes with K8 and Chu calls with A3. The board comes 65364, Chu fades the flush draw and takes down the pot and the title. He is surrounded by his spectators and gets on his cell phone to pass along the news. He wins $585,774 and a gold Wsop bracelet. Second place finisher Tommy Vu takes home $364,761 for his efforts.

Player Tags: Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu

Hour Eight Update

Jun 07, '07

Break
Players are on a 15 minute break

Play Resumes
Blinds are now $40,000-$80,000 with a $10,000 ante. 

Barry Cales Eliminated 3rd ($235,575)
Barry Cales limps and Michael Chu raises to $330,000.  Cales moves all in and Chu insta-calls with QQ.  Cales tables J7 and flop comes A32.  The turn is the 5 and Cales could split the pot with a 4.  The river comes K, Cales doesn't improve and is sent home in 3rd place for $235,575. 

Heads Up Play Begins
Heads up play begins between Tommy Vu and Michael Chu.  The heads up chip counts are:

Tommy Vu -- $2,915,000
Michael Chu -- $2,405,00

Player Tags: Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Hour Seven Update

Jun 07, '07

Can We Get Some More People In Here?
The final table of this event is easily the least attended event so far.  There are many empty seats, prompting the ESPN and Harrah's staff to corral people to fill their set.

Tommy Vu
Tommy Vu has raised every pot of four handed play so far.  Look for his unbridled aggression to continue as he accumulates more chips.

Folding Fun
Here is a quick recap of the last two levels.  Player A raises to three times the big blind....everyone folds.  Flops have been few and far between and with the passive play seen so far this final table may go deep into the night. 

Tommy Vu Doubles Up
Micheal Chu raises to $185,000 and Tommy Vu moves all in for $840,000.  Chu makes the call with A10 but is dominated by Vu's AQ.  The flop comes 943 and Vu retains the lead.  The turn is the 10 and Chu hits a pair, but Vu picks up a backdoor flush draw.  The river comes 8, Vu hits the nut flush and doubles up.  After the hand a member of Vu's support section stepped down and tipped the dealer.  The media couldn't see the amount of the bill, but given the high stakes consensus is it was most likely $100.

Barry Cales Doubles Up
With an already large pot the flop comes J105.  Barry Cales moves all in for his last $630,000 with AJ and is called by Dolph Arnold with KQ.  The next two cards come 104 and Cales doubles up.

Dolph Arnold Eliminated 4th ($157,050)
Dolph Arnold is all in for his last $75,000 with 85 against Tommy Vu's Q9.  The board comes Q6377, Arnold can't improve and is sent home in 4th place for $157,050. 

Who's Running This Thing?
Apparently Tommy Vu, he has taken an unscheduled bathroom break .  Instead of starting play without him, tournament staff had decided to wait.  This is clearly frustrating the ESPN crew as well as the spectators. 

Player Tags: Dolph Arnold,   Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Hour Two Update

Jun 07, '07

Back From Break
We are back from break and the blinds have been raised to $15,000-$30,000 with a $4,000 ante.  We are seven handed, and remaining players are what is left from the original field of 844.  There were 1,814 rebuys creating a prize pool of $2,533,062.  With the blinds doubling this level, expect a lot of action. 

Tommy Vu Comes Out Firing
Tommy Vu has raised the first three hands to $90,000 and more.  It was a good strategy until Amir Vahedi picked off $90,000 with a $200,000 reraise. 

Barry Cales Doubles Up
Barry Cales raises to $110,000 and Michael Gracz moves all in from the big blind.  Cales only briefly thinks, then makes the call for his last $350,000 with K10.  Gracz tables 99 and is a marginal favorite.  The flop comes J94, Gracz spikes a set and takes a huge lead in the hand but Cales still can with with a queen or running diamonds.  The turn is the Q, Cales hits his straight and is able to dodge Gracz's redraw to the full house when the river comes 3.  Cales is just over $900,000. 

Gracz Can't Catch a Break
Shortly after spiking a set and losing to a gutshot, Michael Gracz calls Dolph Arnold's $261,000 all in.  Arnold shows down KQ and Gracz AJ.  The first four cards come 7632, and Gracz is still in the lead.  But the river is the K, and Gracz again loses against an all in opponent.  He is still alive and he has to believe his luck will return in the near future.  

Player Tags: Michael Gracz,   Dolph Arnold,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Done and Done

Jun 06, '07

Just like that play has ended in the $1,000 No Limt Hold 'Em with rebuys event. Nine players will return tomorrow at 3 p.m. to battle for a first place prize of $585,774 and the right to be called a World Series of Poker bracelet winner.

Todd Witteles was the final player eliminated today. Witteles finished in 10th place and will take home $23,811. With all the money in before the flop, Witteles was heads up against Barry Cales. Witteles had Q-Q and Cales had A-K. The board held strong for Witteles up until the river when the king hit and gave Cales the higher pair.

Amir Vahedi heads into the final the table as the clear chip leader with over $1,300,000. Accompanying him tomorrow are Mike Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Michael Chu, Barry Cales, Tommy Vu, Shane Schleger, Robert Aron and Jan Von Halle. CardPlayer.com will be back tomorrow with level updates and Pro Blogs.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   Michael Gracz,   Dolph Arnold,   Shane Schleger,   Todd Witteles,   Robert Aron,   Michael Chu,   Jan Von Halle,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Down to One

Jun 06, '07

The players are taking a short break while tournament officials color off the yellow $1,000 chips. We are down to ten players and when the players return play will resume at one table

Micheal Binger was eliminated in 14th place when his J-8 ran into Dolph Arnold's Q-9 and never improved. Binger walked away today $21,278 richer. Jason Strasser busted out in 12th place when he went heads up against Amir Vahedi. Vahedi had QQ and Strasser had one live overcard with AQ. Strasser was eliminated and Vahedi moved up to over $1,000,000 in chips.


Marcello del Grosso was the player eliminated in 11th place and causing the redraw.  Del Grosso  had A-7  and Tommy Vu woke up with  aces. Del Grosso couldn't catch and was eliminated. Del Gross will take home $23,811.

Player Tags: Dolph Arnold,   Marcello Del Grosso,   Michael Binger,   Jason Strasser,   Tommy Vu

Closer and Closer

Jun 06, '07

Tournament officials have moved the remaining 18 players down to two tables, effectively condensing the amount of talent left in the field. Seated at one table are Sorel Mizzi, Shane Schleger, Jason Strasser and Mike Gracz. The other table contains Tommy Vu, Mark Newhouse and Amir Vahedi.

Vinnie Vinh was finally blinded off and eliminated after failing to show up for day two of play. Vinh came into day two amongst the chip leaders but failed to play even a single hand all day. Vinh finished in 20th place and earned $16,232.

Barry Cales had the good fortune of doubling up through Gioi Luong and eliminating his opponent in the process. Luong pushed all in with KQ and Cales called with AK. The board came 93278 and Cales doubled up and Luong was eliminated in 19th place. Luong takes home $16,232 for his efforts in this event.

Mark Newhouse was the 18th place finisher, earning him $18,475. Newhouse pushed all in for the second hand in a row with Tommy Vu and Amir Vahedi still to act on his left. Vu reraised and Vahedi angrily folded his hand. Heads up, Newhouse had 99 and Vu showed KQ. The flop was Q106 and Newhouse stood up from his seat. The turn and river were no help (8,A) and Newhouse was sent to the rail.

After being crippled, Sorel Mizzi has been eliminated in 17th place. Mizzi had 10-5 with a 10 on the flop against his opponent who had K-10. Already behind, a king came on the river and when the dust settled, Mizzi was left with few chips. Mizzi was eliminated when his A10 ran into Joshua VanDuyn's pocket aces. Mizzi earns $18,475 for his finish.

There are 16 players remaining and play will continue today until the final table is reached.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   Gioi Luong,   Michael Gracz,   Shane Schleger,   Jason Strasser,   Joshua VanDuyn,   Mark Newhouse,   Sorel Mizzi,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Tourney Gaining Speed

Jun 05, '07

There are approximately 100 players left in today's field that started with 844. It seems that tables are continously breaking and forcing new match ups. Brett Jungblutt is now seated to the right of Gavin Griffin and Alex Prendes Jr. moved into the ten seat at his new table, directly to the left of Amir Vahedi and across the table from Kristy Gazes. Vahedi has been on a roll recently and has built his stack to $165,000. Vahedi has created a revolving door at his table, sending players packing before they can even get comfortable. Playing on his good fortune, Vahedi has taken it upon himself to grab the seat cards and yell "Floorman!" every time he busts another player.

Freddy Deeb and Kathy Liebert were eliminated in hand involving Tommy Vu and plenty of action. As told to CardPlayer.com, Liebert pushed all in for $6,000 and a player in middle position came over the top all in for about $3,000 more. Freddy Deeb and Tommy Vu both make the call and the flop came 986. Vu pushed all in and both Deeb and the player in middle position call. Liebert was holding A-A and Deeb had AQ for the nut flush draw. Vu turned over 9-9 for top set and the player in middle position had J-10. The turn was the K and the river was the 5 bringing no heart for Deeb, no ace for Liebert and no straight for the player in middle position. All three players were eliminated and Vu collected a very large pot. Daniel Negreanu and David Plastik were both eliminated this round as well.

The tournament will continue for one more level until 2 a.m., which conclude play for day one.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   David Plastik,   Kathy Liebert,   Kristy Gazes,   Daniel Negreanu,   Alex Prendes Jr.,   Freddy Deeb,   Tommy Vu

Heads Up Play

Jun 07, '07

Heads Up Play Begins
Heads up play has begun with the players almost equal in chips.

Vu Fires First Salvo
Michael Chu raises to $200,000 and Vu reraises to $700,000. Chu makes the call and the flop comes Q74. Both players check and the turn is the 10. Again both players check and the river is the 7. Vu bets $800,000 and Chu mucks. Vu then tables 8-2, showing his bluff.

Huge Pot
Tommy Vu limps and Michael Chu raises to $200,000. Vu makes the call and the flop is 983. Chu bets $375,000 and Vu moves all in. Chu quickly makes the call and tables J10 while Vu shows down 86. The turn is the 5 and Vu is still in the lead, but the river comes 7 making Chu's straight.  He was all in for a total of $1,830,000 and scores a huge double up. Chu now has $4,420,000 and Vu 1,080,000.

Michael Chu Wins Event #8 $1,000 NHLE with Rebuys ($585,774)
Tommy Vu open pushes with K8 and Chu calls with A3. The board comes 65364, Chu fades the flush draw and takes down the pot and the title. He is surrounded by his spectators and gets on his cell phone to pass along the news. He wins $585,774 and a gold Wsop bracelet. Second place finisher Tommy Vu takes home $364,761 for his efforts.

Player Tags: Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu

Hour Eight Update

Jun 07, '07

Break
Players are on a 15 minute break

Play Resumes
Blinds are now $40,000-$80,000 with a $10,000 ante. 

Barry Cales Eliminated 3rd ($235,575)
Barry Cales limps and Michael Chu raises to $330,000.  Cales moves all in and Chu insta-calls with QQ.  Cales tables J7 and flop comes A32.  The turn is the 5 and Cales could split the pot with a 4.  The river comes K, Cales doesn't improve and is sent home in 3rd place for $235,575. 

Heads Up Play Begins
Heads up play begins between Tommy Vu and Michael Chu.  The heads up chip counts are:

Tommy Vu -- $2,915,000
Michael Chu -- $2,405,00

Player Tags: Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Hour Seven Update

Jun 07, '07

Can We Get Some More People In Here?
The final table of this event is easily the least attended event so far.  There are many empty seats, prompting the ESPN and Harrah's staff to corral people to fill their set.

Tommy Vu
Tommy Vu has raised every pot of four handed play so far.  Look for his unbridled aggression to continue as he accumulates more chips.

Folding Fun
Here is a quick recap of the last two levels.  Player A raises to three times the big blind....everyone folds.  Flops have been few and far between and with the passive play seen so far this final table may go deep into the night. 

Tommy Vu Doubles Up
Micheal Chu raises to $185,000 and Tommy Vu moves all in for $840,000.  Chu makes the call with A10 but is dominated by Vu's AQ.  The flop comes 943 and Vu retains the lead.  The turn is the 10 and Chu hits a pair, but Vu picks up a backdoor flush draw.  The river comes 8, Vu hits the nut flush and doubles up.  After the hand a member of Vu's support section stepped down and tipped the dealer.  The media couldn't see the amount of the bill, but given the high stakes consensus is it was most likely $100.

Barry Cales Doubles Up
With an already large pot the flop comes J105.  Barry Cales moves all in for his last $630,000 with AJ and is called by Dolph Arnold with KQ.  The next two cards come 104 and Cales doubles up.

Dolph Arnold Eliminated 4th ($157,050)
Dolph Arnold is all in for his last $75,000 with 85 against Tommy Vu's Q9.  The board comes Q6377, Arnold can't improve and is sent home in 4th place for $157,050. 

Who's Running This Thing?
Apparently Tommy Vu, he has taken an unscheduled bathroom break .  Instead of starting play without him, tournament staff had decided to wait.  This is clearly frustrating the ESPN crew as well as the spectators. 

Player Tags: Dolph Arnold,   Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Hour Two Update

Jun 07, '07

Back From Break
We are back from break and the blinds have been raised to $15,000-$30,000 with a $4,000 ante.  We are seven handed, and remaining players are what is left from the original field of 844.  There were 1,814 rebuys creating a prize pool of $2,533,062.  With the blinds doubling this level, expect a lot of action. 

Tommy Vu Comes Out Firing
Tommy Vu has raised the first three hands to $90,000 and more.  It was a good strategy until Amir Vahedi picked off $90,000 with a $200,000 reraise. 

Barry Cales Doubles Up
Barry Cales raises to $110,000 and Michael Gracz moves all in from the big blind.  Cales only briefly thinks, then makes the call for his last $350,000 with K10.  Gracz tables 99 and is a marginal favorite.  The flop comes J94, Gracz spikes a set and takes a huge lead in the hand but Cales still can with with a queen or running diamonds.  The turn is the Q, Cales hits his straight and is able to dodge Gracz's redraw to the full house when the river comes 3.  Cales is just over $900,000. 

Gracz Can't Catch a Break
Shortly after spiking a set and losing to a gutshot, Michael Gracz calls Dolph Arnold's $261,000 all in.  Arnold shows down KQ and Gracz AJ.  The first four cards come 7632, and Gracz is still in the lead.  But the river is the K, and Gracz again loses against an all in opponent.  He is still alive and he has to believe his luck will return in the near future.  

Player Tags: Michael Gracz,   Dolph Arnold,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Done and Done

Jun 06, '07

Just like that play has ended in the $1,000 No Limt Hold 'Em with rebuys event. Nine players will return tomorrow at 3 p.m. to battle for a first place prize of $585,774 and the right to be called a World Series of Poker bracelet winner.

Todd Witteles was the final player eliminated today. Witteles finished in 10th place and will take home $23,811. With all the money in before the flop, Witteles was heads up against Barry Cales. Witteles had Q-Q and Cales had A-K. The board held strong for Witteles up until the river when the king hit and gave Cales the higher pair.

Amir Vahedi heads into the final the table as the clear chip leader with over $1,300,000. Accompanying him tomorrow are Mike Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Michael Chu, Barry Cales, Tommy Vu, Shane Schleger, Robert Aron and Jan Von Halle. CardPlayer.com will be back tomorrow with level updates and Pro Blogs.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   Michael Gracz,   Dolph Arnold,   Shane Schleger,   Todd Witteles,   Robert Aron,   Michael Chu,   Jan Von Halle,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Down to One

Jun 06, '07

The players are taking a short break while tournament officials color off the yellow $1,000 chips. We are down to ten players and when the players return play will resume at one table

Micheal Binger was eliminated in 14th place when his J-8 ran into Dolph Arnold's Q-9 and never improved. Binger walked away today $21,278 richer. Jason Strasser busted out in 12th place when he went heads up against Amir Vahedi. Vahedi had QQ and Strasser had one live overcard with AQ. Strasser was eliminated and Vahedi moved up to over $1,000,000 in chips.


Marcello del Grosso was the player eliminated in 11th place and causing the redraw.  Del Grosso  had A-7  and Tommy Vu woke up with  aces. Del Grosso couldn't catch and was eliminated. Del Gross will take home $23,811.

Player Tags: Dolph Arnold,   Marcello Del Grosso,   Michael Binger,   Jason Strasser,   Tommy Vu

Closer and Closer

Jun 06, '07

Tournament officials have moved the remaining 18 players down to two tables, effectively condensing the amount of talent left in the field. Seated at one table are Sorel Mizzi, Shane Schleger, Jason Strasser and Mike Gracz. The other table contains Tommy Vu, Mark Newhouse and Amir Vahedi.

Vinnie Vinh was finally blinded off and eliminated after failing to show up for day two of play. Vinh came into day two amongst the chip leaders but failed to play even a single hand all day. Vinh finished in 20th place and earned $16,232.

Barry Cales had the good fortune of doubling up through Gioi Luong and eliminating his opponent in the process. Luong pushed all in with KQ and Cales called with AK. The board came 93278 and Cales doubled up and Luong was eliminated in 19th place. Luong takes home $16,232 for his efforts in this event.

Mark Newhouse was the 18th place finisher, earning him $18,475. Newhouse pushed all in for the second hand in a row with Tommy Vu and Amir Vahedi still to act on his left. Vu reraised and Vahedi angrily folded his hand. Heads up, Newhouse had 99 and Vu showed KQ. The flop was Q106 and Newhouse stood up from his seat. The turn and river were no help (8,A) and Newhouse was sent to the rail.

After being crippled, Sorel Mizzi has been eliminated in 17th place. Mizzi had 10-5 with a 10 on the flop against his opponent who had K-10. Already behind, a king came on the river and when the dust settled, Mizzi was left with few chips. Mizzi was eliminated when his A10 ran into Joshua VanDuyn's pocket aces. Mizzi earns $18,475 for his finish.

There are 16 players remaining and play will continue today until the final table is reached.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   Gioi Luong,   Michael Gracz,   Shane Schleger,   Jason Strasser,   Joshua VanDuyn,   Mark Newhouse,   Sorel Mizzi,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Tourney Gaining Speed

Jun 05, '07

There are approximately 100 players left in today's field that started with 844. It seems that tables are continously breaking and forcing new match ups. Brett Jungblutt is now seated to the right of Gavin Griffin and Alex Prendes Jr. moved into the ten seat at his new table, directly to the left of Amir Vahedi and across the table from Kristy Gazes. Vahedi has been on a roll recently and has built his stack to $165,000. Vahedi has created a revolving door at his table, sending players packing before they can even get comfortable. Playing on his good fortune, Vahedi has taken it upon himself to grab the seat cards and yell "Floorman!" every time he busts another player.

Freddy Deeb and Kathy Liebert were eliminated in hand involving Tommy Vu and plenty of action. As told to CardPlayer.com, Liebert pushed all in for $6,000 and a player in middle position came over the top all in for about $3,000 more. Freddy Deeb and Tommy Vu both make the call and the flop came 986. Vu pushed all in and both Deeb and the player in middle position call. Liebert was holding A-A and Deeb had AQ for the nut flush draw. Vu turned over 9-9 for top set and the player in middle position had J-10. The turn was the K and the river was the 5 bringing no heart for Deeb, no ace for Liebert and no straight for the player in middle position. All three players were eliminated and Vu collected a very large pot. Daniel Negreanu and David Plastik were both eliminated this round as well.

The tournament will continue for one more level until 2 a.m., which conclude play for day one.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   David Plastik,   Kathy Liebert,   Kristy Gazes,   Daniel Negreanu,   Alex Prendes Jr.,   Freddy Deeb,   Tommy Vu

Heads Up Play

Jun 07, '07

Heads Up Play Begins
Heads up play has begun with the players almost equal in chips.

Vu Fires First Salvo
Michael Chu raises to $200,000 and Vu reraises to $700,000. Chu makes the call and the flop comes Q74. Both players check and the turn is the 10. Again both players check and the river is the 7. Vu bets $800,000 and Chu mucks. Vu then tables 8-2, showing his bluff.

Huge Pot
Tommy Vu limps and Michael Chu raises to $200,000. Vu makes the call and the flop is 983. Chu bets $375,000 and Vu moves all in. Chu quickly makes the call and tables J10 while Vu shows down 86. The turn is the 5 and Vu is still in the lead, but the river comes 7 making Chu's straight.  He was all in for a total of $1,830,000 and scores a huge double up. Chu now has $4,420,000 and Vu 1,080,000.

Michael Chu Wins Event #8 $1,000 NHLE with Rebuys ($585,774)
Tommy Vu open pushes with K8 and Chu calls with A3. The board comes 65364, Chu fades the flush draw and takes down the pot and the title. He is surrounded by his spectators and gets on his cell phone to pass along the news. He wins $585,774 and a gold Wsop bracelet. Second place finisher Tommy Vu takes home $364,761 for his efforts.

Player Tags: Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu

Hour Eight Update

Jun 07, '07

Break
Players are on a 15 minute break

Play Resumes
Blinds are now $40,000-$80,000 with a $10,000 ante. 

Barry Cales Eliminated 3rd ($235,575)
Barry Cales limps and Michael Chu raises to $330,000.  Cales moves all in and Chu insta-calls with QQ.  Cales tables J7 and flop comes A32.  The turn is the 5 and Cales could split the pot with a 4.  The river comes K, Cales doesn't improve and is sent home in 3rd place for $235,575. 

Heads Up Play Begins
Heads up play begins between Tommy Vu and Michael Chu.  The heads up chip counts are:

Tommy Vu -- $2,915,000
Michael Chu -- $2,405,00

Player Tags: Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Hour Seven Update

Jun 07, '07

Can We Get Some More People In Here?
The final table of this event is easily the least attended event so far.  There are many empty seats, prompting the ESPN and Harrah's staff to corral people to fill their set.

Tommy Vu
Tommy Vu has raised every pot of four handed play so far.  Look for his unbridled aggression to continue as he accumulates more chips.

Folding Fun
Here is a quick recap of the last two levels.  Player A raises to three times the big blind....everyone folds.  Flops have been few and far between and with the passive play seen so far this final table may go deep into the night. 

Tommy Vu Doubles Up
Micheal Chu raises to $185,000 and Tommy Vu moves all in for $840,000.  Chu makes the call with A10 but is dominated by Vu's AQ.  The flop comes 943 and Vu retains the lead.  The turn is the 10 and Chu hits a pair, but Vu picks up a backdoor flush draw.  The river comes 8, Vu hits the nut flush and doubles up.  After the hand a member of Vu's support section stepped down and tipped the dealer.  The media couldn't see the amount of the bill, but given the high stakes consensus is it was most likely $100.

Barry Cales Doubles Up
With an already large pot the flop comes J105.  Barry Cales moves all in for his last $630,000 with AJ and is called by Dolph Arnold with KQ.  The next two cards come 104 and Cales doubles up.

Dolph Arnold Eliminated 4th ($157,050)
Dolph Arnold is all in for his last $75,000 with 85 against Tommy Vu's Q9.  The board comes Q6377, Arnold can't improve and is sent home in 4th place for $157,050. 

Who's Running This Thing?
Apparently Tommy Vu, he has taken an unscheduled bathroom break .  Instead of starting play without him, tournament staff had decided to wait.  This is clearly frustrating the ESPN crew as well as the spectators. 

Player Tags: Dolph Arnold,   Michael Chu,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Hour Two Update

Jun 07, '07

Back From Break
We are back from break and the blinds have been raised to $15,000-$30,000 with a $4,000 ante.  We are seven handed, and remaining players are what is left from the original field of 844.  There were 1,814 rebuys creating a prize pool of $2,533,062.  With the blinds doubling this level, expect a lot of action. 

Tommy Vu Comes Out Firing
Tommy Vu has raised the first three hands to $90,000 and more.  It was a good strategy until Amir Vahedi picked off $90,000 with a $200,000 reraise. 

Barry Cales Doubles Up
Barry Cales raises to $110,000 and Michael Gracz moves all in from the big blind.  Cales only briefly thinks, then makes the call for his last $350,000 with K10.  Gracz tables 99 and is a marginal favorite.  The flop comes J94, Gracz spikes a set and takes a huge lead in the hand but Cales still can with with a queen or running diamonds.  The turn is the Q, Cales hits his straight and is able to dodge Gracz's redraw to the full house when the river comes 3.  Cales is just over $900,000. 

Gracz Can't Catch a Break
Shortly after spiking a set and losing to a gutshot, Michael Gracz calls Dolph Arnold's $261,000 all in.  Arnold shows down KQ and Gracz AJ.  The first four cards come 7632, and Gracz is still in the lead.  But the river is the K, and Gracz again loses against an all in opponent.  He is still alive and he has to believe his luck will return in the near future.  

Player Tags: Michael Gracz,   Dolph Arnold,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Done and Done

Jun 06, '07

Just like that play has ended in the $1,000 No Limt Hold 'Em with rebuys event. Nine players will return tomorrow at 3 p.m. to battle for a first place prize of $585,774 and the right to be called a World Series of Poker bracelet winner.

Todd Witteles was the final player eliminated today. Witteles finished in 10th place and will take home $23,811. With all the money in before the flop, Witteles was heads up against Barry Cales. Witteles had Q-Q and Cales had A-K. The board held strong for Witteles up until the river when the king hit and gave Cales the higher pair.

Amir Vahedi heads into the final the table as the clear chip leader with over $1,300,000. Accompanying him tomorrow are Mike Gracz, Dolph Arnold, Michael Chu, Barry Cales, Tommy Vu, Shane Schleger, Robert Aron and Jan Von Halle. CardPlayer.com will be back tomorrow with level updates and Pro Blogs.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   Michael Gracz,   Dolph Arnold,   Shane Schleger,   Todd Witteles,   Robert Aron,   Michael Chu,   Jan Von Halle,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Down to One

Jun 06, '07

The players are taking a short break while tournament officials color off the yellow $1,000 chips. We are down to ten players and when the players return play will resume at one table

Micheal Binger was eliminated in 14th place when his J-8 ran into Dolph Arnold's Q-9 and never improved. Binger walked away today $21,278 richer. Jason Strasser busted out in 12th place when he went heads up against Amir Vahedi. Vahedi had QQ and Strasser had one live overcard with AQ. Strasser was eliminated and Vahedi moved up to over $1,000,000 in chips.


Marcello del Grosso was the player eliminated in 11th place and causing the redraw.  Del Grosso  had A-7  and Tommy Vu woke up with  aces. Del Grosso couldn't catch and was eliminated. Del Gross will take home $23,811.

Player Tags: Dolph Arnold,   Marcello Del Grosso,   Michael Binger,   Jason Strasser,   Tommy Vu

Closer and Closer

Jun 06, '07

Tournament officials have moved the remaining 18 players down to two tables, effectively condensing the amount of talent left in the field. Seated at one table are Sorel Mizzi, Shane Schleger, Jason Strasser and Mike Gracz. The other table contains Tommy Vu, Mark Newhouse and Amir Vahedi.

Vinnie Vinh was finally blinded off and eliminated after failing to show up for day two of play. Vinh came into day two amongst the chip leaders but failed to play even a single hand all day. Vinh finished in 20th place and earned $16,232.

Barry Cales had the good fortune of doubling up through Gioi Luong and eliminating his opponent in the process. Luong pushed all in with KQ and Cales called with AK. The board came 93278 and Cales doubled up and Luong was eliminated in 19th place. Luong takes home $16,232 for his efforts in this event.

Mark Newhouse was the 18th place finisher, earning him $18,475. Newhouse pushed all in for the second hand in a row with Tommy Vu and Amir Vahedi still to act on his left. Vu reraised and Vahedi angrily folded his hand. Heads up, Newhouse had 99 and Vu showed KQ. The flop was Q106 and Newhouse stood up from his seat. The turn and river were no help (8,A) and Newhouse was sent to the rail.

After being crippled, Sorel Mizzi has been eliminated in 17th place. Mizzi had 10-5 with a 10 on the flop against his opponent who had K-10. Already behind, a king came on the river and when the dust settled, Mizzi was left with few chips. Mizzi was eliminated when his A10 ran into Joshua VanDuyn's pocket aces. Mizzi earns $18,475 for his finish.

There are 16 players remaining and play will continue today until the final table is reached.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   Gioi Luong,   Michael Gracz,   Shane Schleger,   Jason Strasser,   Joshua VanDuyn,   Mark Newhouse,   Sorel Mizzi,   Tommy Vu,   Barry Cales

Tourney Gaining Speed

Jun 05, '07

There are approximately 100 players left in today's field that started with 844. It seems that tables are continously breaking and forcing new match ups. Brett Jungblutt is now seated to the right of Gavin Griffin and Alex Prendes Jr. moved into the ten seat at his new table, directly to the left of Amir Vahedi and across the table from Kristy Gazes. Vahedi has been on a roll recently and has built his stack to $165,000. Vahedi has created a revolving door at his table, sending players packing before they can even get comfortable. Playing on his good fortune, Vahedi has taken it upon himself to grab the seat cards and yell "Floorman!" every time he busts another player.

Freddy Deeb and Kathy Liebert were eliminated in hand involving Tommy Vu and plenty of action. As told to CardPlayer.com, Liebert pushed all in for $6,000 and a player in middle position came over the top all in for about $3,000 more. Freddy Deeb and Tommy Vu both make the call and the flop came 986. Vu pushed all in and both Deeb and the player in middle position call. Liebert was holding A-A and Deeb had AQ for the nut flush draw. Vu turned over 9-9 for top set and the player in middle position had J-10. The turn was the K and the river was the 5 bringing no heart for Deeb, no ace for Liebert and no straight for the player in middle position. All three players were eliminated and Vu collected a very large pot. Daniel Negreanu and David Plastik were both eliminated this round as well.

The tournament will continue for one more level until 2 a.m., which conclude play for day one.

Player Tags: Amir Vahedi,   David Plastik,   Kathy Liebert,   Kristy Gazes,   Daniel Negreanu,   Alex Prendes Jr.,   Freddy Deeb,   Tommy Vu