$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - End of Day 1
Jun 30, '08
Play has ended for the day. With about 20 minutes remaining in the final level, the money bubble was burst. Players remaining will return for day 2 of the tournament at 2 p.m. and play down to a final nine.
Blinds: 600/1200 with 100 ante
Players Left: 227 of 2693
Average Stack: 35,474
Storylines/Big Hands
Cautious play was the order of the day as time wound down in level 10, the final level of the day. With 271 players remaining, hand-for-hand play lasted about 20 minutes before the ultimate shortstack was ushered out. The player in seat 9 had just a single 100 chip remaining, enough for her ante, when she was in the big blind. There was a 1200 call in middle position, and Leo Labbe was in the small blind and also called.
The flop cameJ
J
10
and Labbe announced all-in for about 5000. The other opponent with chips folded, and Labbe apologized "I had to" as he flipped over 10
10. The all-in big blind was admittedly drawing thin, but the hand didn't end without drama. She showed 87, and when the J fell on the turn, she suddenly had a gut-shot straight flush draw. It failed to come home however, the 7 on the river giving her a meaningless full house.
Neiman Scoops, Then Donates
As hand-for-hand play was ongoing, a significant pot developed with Joe Neiman and two others. Neiman, one of the chip leaders, bet 7000 oin the turn, with the board reading 10877. His first opponent contemplated a call for a while, which would have been for about one-third of his stack. But in the end both players folded and Neiman showed the 97 for trips with an open-ender.
Neiman then dropped 18,200 after regular play began anew. He raised to 4000 with AJ, and seat 1 then moved all-in, which Neiman called. He was behind the KK of his rival and the board finished J8792.
Rousso Avoids Trouble
Vanessa Rousso, with only about 8000 in chips, was the small blind during hand-for-hand, and limped to be part of a three-way pot. The flop came Q53 and all three players checked. The J on the turn brought three more checks, then the A hit the river. The big blind bet the minimum 1200, and he drew two callers. Rousso and the big blind both had aces, but the original caller held K10 and made the straight to take the small pot down.
No Call for Miller
With the field two spots from the money, a player in mid-position raised to 3200, and Jim Miller, one of the chip leaders, then announced all-in from the button. The raiser was agitated. "If it was aced-king I would," he said, folding his AQ. Probably a good decision as Miller showed him QQ.
Player Tags: Jim Miller, Joseph Neiman, Vanessa Rousso
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Level 9
Jun 30, '08
Blinds: 500/1000 with 100 ante
Players Left: 285 of 2693
Average Stack: 28,347
Chip Leaders:
Alvin Zeidenfeld - 157,000
Jim Miller - 112,000
Joe Neiman - 89,300
Nath Pizzolatto - 83,500
Elliot Smith - 72,000
Lisa Surdyka - 68,000
Dan Harmetz - 65,600
Cody Slaubaugh - 56,000
Farzad Rouhani - 53,000
Dan Heimiller - 52,300
Eliminations: David Pham, Erica Schoenberg, Jacobo Fernandez.
Storylines/Big Hands
After not being able to walk past a table after the dinner break without hearing the words "all-in", play has ground to a near halt as the field closes in on the money. The top 270 players will place in the money.
Neiman Sends a Message
Joe Neiman limped from early position and was raised off. Next hand as under the gun, he raised to 2,600, then once again was raised off the pot by another all-inner. Finally as big blind, play was folded around to the small blind who announced all-in for about 10,000. Neiman had had enough, and called, showing Q10. The small blind seemed in good position with A4 -- until the flop came down J109. Now with middle pair and open-ended, Neiman just needed to dodge an ace, and did so when the 8 on the turn and K on the river extended an already made straight.
Seiver Struggling at New Table
Once among the early chip leaders, Scott Seiver finds himself with only about 15,000 in chips since a table change. He was able to raise preflop and get no callers in one hand, but shortly afterwards he had to fold his big blind in the face of two raises, then as the small blind he limp-called, only to have the big blind make it 4000 to play and Seiver folded again.
Rousso Has Just Enough
Vanessa Rousso risked her tournament life with an all-in push from the cut-off, sending about 15,000 in chips to the center of the table. It was just enough to scare off all opponents as she didn't draw a call.
First Works, Second Doesn't
Elliot Smith is effectively using his big stack. He raised to 3,000 under the gun and drew no callers. But later in the level, he tried the same move and had a player in middle position reraise to 8,000. Smith let his hand go.
Carnac Would be Proud
Jeff Kennedy loosened them up with a joke, then took their chips. Apparently the conversation took to Johnny Carson, and Kennedy offered up a favourite Carson joke from The Tonight Show. Even as his tablemates chuckled at the punchline, Kennedy was announcing "raise" preflop and put 4000 into the middle of the table. Everyone folded and Kennedy showed the AK.
Player Tags: Joseph Neiman, Vanessa Rousso, Jeff Kennedy
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Day 2 - Level 17 Recap
Jul 01, '08
Blinds: 5,000-10,000
Players Left: 28 of 2,693
Chip Leaders:
Matthew Matros - 712,000
Scott Sitron - 570,000
Richard Kirsch - 490,000
Cody Slaubaugh - 410,000
Elliot Smith - 380,000
Andrey Zaichenko - 375,000
Farzad Rouhani - 310,000
Voitto Rintala - 310,000
Joseph Neiman - 310,000
Corwin Cole - 282,000
Average Stack: 288,535
Eliminations:
Ben Spraggons
John McCauley
Esther Garza
Tim Barchie
Big Hands and Storylines:
Sundberg Doubles Up Through Tran
Mimi Tran raised to 30,000 from the button and Lars Sundberg moved all-in from the big blind. It was 49,000 more to Tran and she analyzed her decision. After about 50 seconds of thought, she made the call and the two turned up their cards:
Sundberg: 88
Tran: AQ
The board came 10975J and Sundberg won the hand with a jack-high straight. Sundberg now has 170,000 while Tran is languishing with 100,000.
Matros Keeps Accumulating
Twice during recent rounds, players have attempted to steal the blinds of Matt Matros. On both occasions Matros put in a big raise and forced the players to lay down their hands. Matt Matros did play a hand that went to showdown though. Anders Fraulund raised to 30,000 and this time Matros opted to call in the big blind. Matros checked the 965 flop and called a 45,000 bet from Fraulund. Both players checked when the 6 paired the board. The river was the 7 and Matros led out for 90,000. Fraulund called instantly and when Matros had confirmed this with the dealer he showed A6 for turned trips. Fraulund showed K9 and said, “Good hand.”
Matros has about 700,000. Fraulund is down to 160,000.
Tim Barchie Eliminated By Cody Slaubaugh
Tim Barchie moved all-in from early position and action folded around to Cody “thugmoneymkr” Slaubaugh in the small blind. It was 80,000 more to call for him. Instead of simply calling, he shoved over the raise for about 300,000. The big blind folded and the two showed their hands:
Barchie: A4
Slaubaugh: A6
The flop was perfect for Slaugbaugh: J106. Barchie could not catch up and he was eliminated.
Slaubaugh now has 410,000.
Player Tags: Farzad Rouhani, Mimi Tran, Richard Kirsch, Joseph Neiman, Cody Slaubaugh, Voitto Rintala, Scott Sitron, Andrey Zaichenko, Elliot Smith, Corwin Cole, Tim Barchie, Anders Fraulund
