Mike Baxter Poker Tournament Updates

Level 7 Update: Out of the Gates Fast

Aug 22, '10

Blinds: 300-600 with a 75 ante

Players Remaining: 193 out of 462

Notable Chip Counts:

1. Manuel Reyes — 300,000
2. Raymond Dolan — 198,000 (pictured right)
3. Vinnie Vinh — 174,000
4. McLean Karr — 170,000
5. Justin Young — 145,000
6. Micah Raskin — 135,000
7. Ari Goott — 129,000
8. Joe Sebok — 125,000
9. Franco Brunetti — 124,000
10. Soi Nguyen — 122,000

Average Chip Count: 62,096

Notable Eliminations:

Phil Hellmuth
Jason Mercier
Dan O’Brien
Hunter Frey
Cornel Cimpan

Chip Movers and Shakers

Manuel Reyes became the first player to hold 300,000 in the tournament and Raymond Dolan had a solid first level of the day, ending it with just under 200,000. Justin Young held strong in the top 10 and Joe Sebok and November Nine member Soi Nguyen have joined the club at the top of the leader board as well.

Some players that are hurting include Jennifer Tilly, Adam Geyer, Allen Carter, Ryan Hughes, and Zach Clark. They all hold less than 20,000.

Big Hands:

Marco Johnson Hits Quad Eights

There was 10,000 in the pot and a flop of J86 sitting on the table when Marco Johnson checked in middle position and Dalton Mills bet 8,000. Johnson check-raised to 19,000 and Mills reraised all in. Johnson made the call and they flipped over their cards:

Johnson: 88
Mills: JJ

Turn and River: Q and 8

Johnson won the hand with quad eights to grow his stack to 120,000 and Mills was eliminated.

Mike Baxter Eliminated

Mike Baxter moved all in preflop for 12,200 from the cutoff and Ryan Welch made the call after spending a moment in the tank on the big blind. Their cards:

Baxter: K2
Welch: A10

Board: A636J

Baxter was eliminated on the hand and Welch held 37,000.

Steve O’Dwyer Doubles Up

Steve O"Dwyer checked a board of AK55 from the small blind and Maria Ho bet 2,500 from the big blind. O’Dwyer check-raised to 9,900 and Ho went into the tank before making the call.

The river brought the 9 and O’Dwyer moved all in for 24,350. Ho made the call and O’Dwyer flipped over J5. Ho mucked AK and her stack fell to 97,000. O’Dwyer held 75,000 after the double up.

Left in the Deck

Schedule Expansion

The tournament staff has decided to play seven levels today in hopes of creating shorter days later in the tournament. Play should end around 1:45 a.m. tonight.

Falling Fast

Approximately 50 players busted out of the tournament during the first level of the day. At this rate will have a champion before midnight.

Player Tags: Maria Ho,   Marco Johnson,   Mike Baxter,   Steve O'Dwyer,   Ryan Welch

Level 9 Update: Chris Ferguson, Mike Baxter Eliminated

Jun 16, '09

Blinds: 800-1,500

Players Remaining: 116 out of 185

Chip Counts:

1. Jen Harman – 128,000
2. Maria Ho – 113,000
3. Josh Arieh – 112,000
4. Shaun Deeb – 106,000
5. Chino Rheem – 87,400
6. Vitaly Lunkin – 86,500
7. David Benyamine – 74,600
8. Greg Muelller – 72,000
9. Barry Greenstein – 67,100
10. Todd Brunson – 67,000

Average Chip Count: 47,844

Notable Eliminations:

Chris Ferguson
Mike Baxter

Big Hands:

Chris Ferguson Eliminated

Riding a short stack for quite some time, Chris Ferguson bet the last of his remaining chips with ace-queen on a board A76, and was called by the A7 of Josh Arieh. The 9 hit the turn and the 8 fell on the river, eliminating Ferguson. Arieh is now at 112,000.

Joe Cassidy Calls With Queen-High

In a blind vs. blind battle, Joe Cassidy was faced with a 3,000 chip bet on the river. Cassidy went into the tank and made the call, leaving just 10,000 behind in his stack. His opponent tabled eight-three for just eight high, and Cassidy exposed the QJ for queen-high to take the pot.

Mike Baxter Eliminated

Baxter bet the last of his remaining chips with the 1010 and was called by the KJ of an opponent. The flop was ugly for Baxter as it came K96. The turn brought the 3 and the K fell on the river, eliminating Baxter.

Player Tags: Josh Arieh,   Chris Ferguson,   Joe Cassidy,   Mike Baxter

Hour 2 Update: Jason Mercier, Brock Parker Advance

Jun 14, '09

Hour 2 Update

Players Remaining: 56 out of 256

Completed Round 3 Matches (Winner in Bold):

1. Jonathan Jaffe vs. Dario Minieri
2. Nathanael Poysti vs. Nicholas Rampon
3. Andrew Lichtenberger vs. Matt Hawrilenko
4. Brock Parker vs. Branden Hampton
5. Dustin Woolf vs. Mike Baxter
6. Jason Mercier Defeats Michael Pesek
7. Justin Smith vs. William Thorson
8. Steve O’Dwyer vs. Jeff Madsen

Big Hands:

Brock Parker Advances

Brocker Parker was able to flop two pair against the ace-king of Braden Hampton. The turn and river offered no help for Hampton and he was sent to the rail. Parker’s hopes for a third bracelet, in this still young World Series of Poker, are still alive.

Mike Baxter Eliminated

With the K10, Baxter called the all-in bet from his opponent on a board of K826 and immediately asked, “Do you have ace-king?” His opponent did indeed and tabled ace-king. The river was the Q, eliminating Baxter.

Jason Mercier Wins Huge Double Up, Advances Shortly After

Michael Pesek moved all-in preflop and Jason Mercier went into the tank. The bracelet winner from this summer eventually made the call with KQ, and asked, “Do you have a pair?” Pesek said no and flipped over the A9. The flop came Q72, putting Mercier way out in front. The Q sealed the deal with trip queens and a meaningless J fell on the river. Mercier was up to a commanding chip lead of 208,000 to 12,000. Not too long after, Mercier knocked off Pesek.

Player Tags: Brock Parker,   Michael Pesek,   Mike Baxter,   Jason Mercier