Benjamin Zamani - Live Updates

Benjamin Zamani Eliminated

Mar 12, '09

With 17,000 in the pot and a flop of Q107 on show. Benjamin Zamani pushes all in for 46,800 and his opponent calls with Q10. Zamani also shows two pair but is behind with 107.

The turn is the 4 and the river the 4 and Zamani is no more.

Player Tags: Benjamin Zamani

$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.
 

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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

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 17 Recap

Jun 15, '08

Blinds/Antes: 5,000-10,000-1,000

Players Remaining: 36 of 2,706

Average Chip Stack: 159,000

Chip Leaders:

Richard Alm - 576,000
Malyshev Nikolay - 560,000
Tony Gargano - 465,000
Deb Blair - 410,000
Phillip Yeh - 373,000
Barry Schultz - 340,000
Aliaksandr Dzianisau - 274,000
Jason Duffy - 245,000
Ali Salman - 240,000
Danny Dang - 210,000

Eliminations:

37th: Jean Robert Bellande
38th: Justin Pechie
39th: Ben Zamani
40th: Trai Dang
41st: Don Zewin
42nd: Steve Matulac

Big Hands and Storylines:

Bellande out in 37th place

Jean-Robert Bellande moved all in with AQ from the big blind and found himself in huge hole against Philip Yeh's A-K. The flop gave him the chance at a split of the pot when it came T-6-6, but it didn't work out for him and he was eliminated. Bellande won $10,711 for his two-day effort.

Zamani ousted by Blair

Ben Zamani found himself all in on a jack-high flop, and after the turn and river was dealt he was all out. Zamani held a two to go with his jack, while Deb Blair's kicker was a king. At the end of the level Blair, who is the only female left in the field, had over 400,000 chips.

Pechie out after run-in with aces

Justin Pechie, very short-stacked, pushed all in from the big blind with A-K. However, the player under the gun, Trevor Donaldson, held pocket aces and instantly called. Pechie headed to the exit, and Donaldson now has roughly 200,000 chips.

Player Tags: Jean-Robert Bellande,   Deb Blair,   Benjamin Zamani

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 15 Recap

Jun 15, '08

Blinds/Antes: 3,000-6,000-500

Players Remaining: 51 of 2,706

Average Chip Stack: 159,000

Chip Leaders:

Richard Alm - 520,000
Phillip Yeh - 400,000
Harold Akiona - 380,000
John Myung - 360,000
Benjamin Zamani - 320,000
Harold Akiona - 320,000
Malyshev Nikolay - 310,000
Ali Salman - 280,000
Aliaksandr Dzianisau - 260,000

Big Hands and Storylines:

Players frustrated by tourney structure

As the players returned from dinner break, many of them discussed the tournament's structure. With the blinds now heading to four and eight thousand, many players have less than 20 big blinds.

Battle goes Akiona's way

A player from early position raised to 17,000 and three players made the call. The flop came 974 and Ben Zamani bet 21,000. Harold Akiona raised to 71,000. The other two players got out of the way and Zamani made the call. Both players checked after the 8 on the turn and T on the river. Akiona showed KQ for the flush, which beat Zamani's pocket nines for a set. After the hand Akiona had roughly 380,000 chips, while Zamani had 350,000 chips.

Gray makes blind call and wins

A player moved all in from middle position for 31,500. It folded to Jason Gray in the big blind, and he asked a couple times how much for him to call. Finally he made the call and flipped over his hand for everyone -- including himself -- to see. He had 72, and was up against his opponent's AT. But a seven and two came on the flop, and he won the pot with two pair. After the hand Gray had ove 150,000 chips.

Player Tags: Jason Gray,   Benjamin Zamani,   Harold Akiona

Mixed Hold 'Em - Day 2 - Levels 31 and 32

Jun 03, '08

Blinds/Antes: 4000/8000 limit, 2500/5000/500 no-limit

Players Remaining: 13 of 332

Average Stack: 255,385

Chip Counts:
David Rheem - 550,000
Ron Haeri - 340,000
David Williams - 306,000
Justin Bonomo - 260,000
Erick Lindgren - 230,000
Isaac Haxton - 227,000
Benjamin Zamani - 210,000
Howard Lederer - 180,000
Pat Pezzin - 160,000
Roland de Wolfe - 152,000

Recent Eliminations:
Andy Bloch
Robert Williamson
Jordan Smith
David Olson

Big Hands:

Andy Bloch Decimated After Folding to Williams

On a board of AJT73 in the limit round, David Williams fired a bet into the pot, and Andy Bloch contemplated a call.  The pot was fairly large, but Andy would need to call of all of his remaining stack.  He took several minutes before electing to fold, saying that he missed his 11-out draw.  Andy Bloch left himself with slightly less than 24,000 in chips, and was due both blinds on the immediate next two hands.

Giang Finds Rockets to Soar Ahead

On the next hand, Williams raised from middle position and Chau Giang, next to act, put in 3 bets.  Williams called, and the two saw the KQ5 flop.  Williams checked, Giang bet and David called.  The J on the turn brought checks from both players.  On the T river, David Williams checked and called Giang’s bet.  Chau flipped over the AA for the nut straight and Williams mucked.

Robert Williamson Eliminated

During the same limit round, Robert Williamson got it all in with Pat Pezzin on a flop of KT9.  Williamson eagerly flipped over his AK, and Pezzin turned over KJ for top pair, the second nut flush draw, and an inside straight draw.  The Q on the turn filled the latter, and the river failed to bring a jack for Williamson to catch up.

Jordan Smith Eliminated by David Rheem

Jordan Smith and David Rheem got into a raising war pre-flop to put Smith all in.  Rheem made the call and flipped over TT, dominating Smith’s AT.  The board brought no help for Smith, and he was eliminated.  David Rheem currently has over 600,000 in chips.

Roland de Wolfe Busts Two in a 3-Way All In Pot

Andy Bloch’s tournament life came to an end from the small blind when he forced himself to commit the remainder of his chips to a raise from Roland de Wolfe without looking at his cards.  David Olson called the raise from the big blind and called the remainder of his stack on a flop of A86.  Olson turned over KQ and de Wolfe tabled A2.  Bloch picked this moment to finally look at his hand and realized he was in second place with the 98.  The Q on the turn and 4 on the river improved neither Bloch nor Olson, and both were eliminated.

Andrew Robl Busts Anh van Nguyen

Anh van Nguyen’s tournament life came to an end when Andrew Robl got it all in with AT to van Nguyen’s KJ.  Robl spiked the A on the flop and took down the pot.  Andrew Robl has had a particularly dramatic round during the no limit level, quickly accumulating and losing chips.

Player Tags: Erick Lindgren,   Andy Bloch,   Howard Lederer,   Chau Giang,   Pat Pezzin,   David Williams,   Justin Bonomo,   Chino Rheem,   Robert Williamson III,   Ron Haeri,   Isaac Haxton,   Benjamin Zamani,   European Report