Rene Angelil Poker Tournament Updates

Hour One Recap

Jun 29, '07

Standing in the Amazon room with your eyes closed, one might think they were surrounded by thousands crickets chirping.  The omnipresent noise of riffling chips is of course not crickets, but there is a swarm in the Rio.  The Amazon room and Player's Pavilion are both filled with people. 

The field seems to be predominately made up of unknown hopefuls, but  pros are scattered around.  The distribution is such that there is usually one pro for every few tables, but there are of course some exceptions.  Table 75, for example, started out with Harry Demetriou , Andrew Black, Johnny Chan and Amnon Filippi.  In this first thirty minutes three players were eliminated, including Harry Demetriou.  Another player was brought over, and got involved with Johnny Chan in his first hand at the table.  With a flop of A 10 6 the player bet $600 and Chan called from the button.   The 2 came on the turn and the player once again bet at the pot, this time firing $1,600.  Chan pushed all-in and his opponent called with only a few hundred behind.  Chan revealed A K for top pair, and his opponent turned over K K.  Chan had his opponent drawing to one out going into the river, and when the A fell on the end Chan had him.  The player seemed happy enough to have been eliminated by such a well known player, and smiled as he left, telling his previous table, "I lost on the first hand to Johnny Chan," as he walked by.  Andrew Black then told a story about Doyle Brunson busting five opponents, each of whom came to the table excited to sit with Doyle and left just as excited after he busted them.

Jared Hamby came to his seat late, only to find it occupied by Rene Angelil.  It was a relatibely easy fix.  Hamby got the untouched stack Angelil was supposed to use at his table, and brought it to his assigned seat, while Angelil took the stack he was playing and brought it to his real seat next to Shannon Elizabeth.  

With a large field and relatively short stacks, the pace should be quick today, so make sure to check in on the action here at Cardplayer.com.

Player Tags: Johnny Chan,   Harry Demetriou,   Amnon Filippi,   Rene Angelil,   Andy Black,   Jared Hamby

Slow Grind

Jun 28, '07

Juha Helppi is slowly grinding away at Rene Angelil. Rene has been knocked down to about $110,000 in chips.

Blinds are now $2,000-$4,000 with a $500 ante.

Player Tags: Juha Helppi,   Rene Angelil

Heads Up

Jun 28, '07

We are now down to heads up play between Rene Angelil and Juha Helppi. Rene, who started the day last in chips, comes into the match with a slight chip lead.

Rene Angelil -- $200,000
Juha Helppi  -- $165,000

Blinds are still $1,500-$3,000 with a $500 ante.

Player Tags: Juha Helppi,   Rene Angelil

Vadim Trincher Eliminated In 3rd Place ($28,375)

Jun 28, '07

Vadim Trincher raised to $10,000 from the button. Rene Angelil pondered for a bit before making it $30,000 to go. Vadim then moved all-in and Rene quickly called. Vadim showed J J but was way behind the A A of Rene.  The board of K 8 9 3 Q was no help to Vadim and Rene took down the pot.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil

Slow Down

Jun 28, '07

Since we got down to three handed play, action has slowed considerably.  We have only seen a few flops and have not had a showdown yet.

Rene Angelil is still chip leader, although Juha Helppi has been slowly chipping up and is starting to gain on him.

Player Tags: Juha Helppi,   Rene Angelil

Rene Doubles Up Huge!

Jun 28, '07

Rene Angelil raised to $7,000 from the button. Vadim Trincher re-raised from the big blind to $20,000. Rene then made it $45,000 total and Vadim moved all-in. Rene said "I have to call" and turned up K K which was in great shape against the Q Q of Vadim. The board only made Rene's hand stronger when it came K 9 5 8 J.

Rene doubled up to $250,000 and Vadim, the former chip leader, was left crippled.

Fortunately for Vadim, he was able to double up on the very next hand against Peter Moore and is now back to $45,000.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil

Rene Angelil Doubles Up

Jun 28, '07

On a flop of K 6 8, Rene Angelil moved all-in against Vadim Trincher. Vadim made the call and showed A T for the nut flush draw and was up against the K J of Rene.  The turn brought the 4 and the river was the 8 allowing Rene's hand to hold up.  Rene now has $88,000 in chips and doesn't look to be slowing down.

Blinds have increased and the table is now playing with blinds of $800-$1,600 with a $200 ante.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil

Ezra Udoff Gets the Gold and $69,985

Jun 14, '07

After losing the chip lead to Ezra Udoff, Rene Angelil started shoving all-in every hand until Udoff finally called him. Angelil pushed all-in from the small blind for the third or fourth time in a row, and this time Udoff made the call. Angelil turns over 9 9 while Udoff shows K 8. The board comes A Q 6 K K, and Udoff goes runner-runner for trip kings and the win. Rene Angelil is eliminated in 2^nd place ($47,290), and Ezra Udoff is our new champion. Udoff wins Event 3, the gold bracelet, and the $69,985 grand prize.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff

And The Table Has Turned

Jun 14, '07

Ezra Udoff calls from the small blind and Rene Angelil checks his option. The flop comes 8 7 4, and Angelil checks to Udoff. Udoff bets $8,000 and Angelil check-raises him another $15,000. Udoff calls and the turn brings the A. Angelil bets out $15,000 and Udoff raises him another $15,000. Angelil calls and the river brings the 4. Angelil puts Udoff all-in for $107,000 and Udoff makes the call. Angelil flips over 8 4 for a full house, but Udoff shows A A for the better full house. Udoff doubles through Angelil, taking a commanding chip lead and leaving Rene with only $56,000.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff

Angelil With the Check-Raise

Jun 14, '07

Ezra Udoff calls out of the small blind and Rene Angelil raises $10,000 more. Udoff calls and the flop comes A 10 8. Angelil checks to Udoff who bets $15,000. Angelil check-raises $45,000 more and gets Udoff off of his hand.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff

Udoff Makes a Move

Jun 14, '07

Rene Angelil limps in from the small blind and Erza Udoff raises $12,000 out of the big blind. Angelil calls and the flop comes K 9 9. Udoff checks to Angelil who bets $20,000, and Udoff calls. The 4 hits the turn and both players check around. The river brings the 3 and Udoff fires out $25,000, getting Angelil to fold his cards.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff

Level 13

Jun 14, '07

Players have just returned from break, where as Rene Angelil and Ezra Udoff are now playing heads-up.

Here are the current chip counts going into heads-up play...

Rene Angelil -- $266,000

Ezra Udoff -- $124,000

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff

Karl Mahrenholz Eliminated in 3rd Place ($24,590)

Jun 14, '07

Rene Angelil limps in from the small blind, while Karl Mahrenholz raises $10,000 more out of the big blind. Angelil re-raises another $30,000 and Mahrenholz pushes all-in. Angelil calls and has him covered. Mahrenholz turns over K 9, while Angelil shows A A. The board comes Q 8 4 10 K, not enough help for Karl Mahrenholz as he is eliminated in 3^rd place ($24,590).

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Karl Mahrenholz

Chip Counts

Jun 14, '07

Here are the current chip counts for the remaining three players...

Rene Angelil -- $140,000

Ezra Udoff -- $126,000

Karl Mahrenholz -- $124,000

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff,   Karl Mahrenholz

Daniel Tarnopol Eliminated in 4th Place ($13,325)

Jun 14, '07

Rene Angelil raises $12,000 from the cutoff and gets two callers in Daniel Tarnopol and Ezra Udoff out of the blinds. The flop comes K Q 3 and Udoff moves all-in for $44,500. Angelil folds to Tarnopol who calls off the rest of his chips($42,000). Udoff turns over 9 7 for the flush draw while Tarnopol shows K Q for top two pair. The turn brings the 6, giving Udoff his flush and the river brings the 5 just to throw a little salt in the Tarnopol's wound.

Daniel Tarnopol is eliminated in 4^th place and will receive $13,235.

Player Tags: Daniel Tarnopol,   Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff

Level 12

Jun 14, '07

Players have just entered Level 12 where the blinds have increased to $2,000-$4,000 with a $500 ante.

Here are the current chip counts...

Rene Angelil -- $181,000

Karl Mahrenholz -- $81,000

Daniel Tarnopol -- $77,000

Ezra Udoff -- $51,000

Player Tags: Daniel Tarnopol,   Rene Angelil,   Ezra Udoff,   Karl Mahrenholz

John Roveto Eliminated in 5th Place ($10,405)

Jun 14, '07

Rene Angelil makes a pre-flop raise and John Roveto flat calls. The flop comes J 10 9 and Roveto moves all-in. Angelil calls and flips over K Q while Roveto shows 10 9. The turn brings the 4, giving Angelil a flush and the river brings the A now giving Angelil a royal flush. John Roveto is eliminated in 5^th place and will take home $10,405.

Player Tags: Rene Angelil,   John Roveto Jr.