Brandon Cantu Dominates the End of Play and Enters the Final Table with the Chip Lead

By Ryan Lucchesi

The play down day at the Bay 101 Shooting Stars event is one of the most entertaining days of tournament poker each year. That's in large part, thanks to the six-handed tables that instigate more explosive, over the top action, than a Michael Bay summer blockbuster. Although the levels were long (2 hours) and the blinds were relatively low at the start (1,500-3,000), this short-handed day on the World Poker Tour failed to disappoint.

The day began with 85 minutes left in level 16, and during that time 13 unlucky players hit the rail. They included seven amateurs and six well-known professionals in Layne Flack (35), Paul Wasicka (34), Anna Wroblewski (30), Jimmy Tran (27), Ted Forrest (25), and Blair Hinkle (24), with both Flack and Forrest representing a bounty. Forrest made a valiant stand to defend his win last year by making a deep run through a field of 376 to finish in 25th place, for which he earned $16,000.

Among all this chaos Michael Baker increased his chip lead from 952,500 to 1,067,500 and Lee Watkinson doubled up twice to move into second place with 843,000. The most bizarre thing to happen during the first level was the performance of 28th-place finisher, J.P. 'The Ghost' Byrne. He never bothered to show up this morning and his short stack went on a ghost ride. By the time Byrne showed up a few minutes before noon, he was already out. Play moved so quickly, however, that by the time his chip stack was blinded off, he finished one money level up at $16,000.

Things calmed down a little bit at the start of the second level of the day, and all eyes in the field and on the rail fell upon the final three Shooting Stars: Joe Hachem, Jennifer Harman, and J.C. Tran. Harman handled the pressure well, and she doubled up twice during the second level of the day to survive. Hachem on the other hand, ran into the bounty hunter - Brandon Cantu:
On a flop of 965, Hachem bet 20,000 from the small blind, and Cantu made the call from the big blind. The turn brought the 2, Hachem bet 40,000, and Cantu raised to 150,000. Hachem went into the tank for about four minutes, and finally decided to move all in for a total of 231,500. Cantu asked for an exact count before he called with A6. Hachem showed down K9. Cantu required an ace or a six to bust Hachem, who walked away from the table so he wouldn't have to watch the river card with his own eyes. The river then brought the A! The crowd let out a shocked moan, while Hachem yelled, "No!" and 'Every time!' as he grabbed his head in disbelief.

Cantu won the pot with two pair, aces and sixes, and Hachem was eliminated in 20th place ($20,000). The exciting hand also gave Cantu his fourth bounty of the tournament. He has also busted Bill Edler, John Juanda, and Phil Laak. Cantu has already made $30,000 for the tournament; he earned $10,000 for holding the day 1A chip lead, and $20,000 as a bounty hunter.

The final 11 players went to dinner at 4:30 p.m. and when they returned from the break a state of catharsis took over the tournament field for an hour and ten minutes. Virtually nothing happened thanks to the low blinds before Thanh Phung got all of his chips into the middle against Harman on a board of 855. Harman held A8 to Phung's K10, and after the turn and river brought the 4 and 7, Phung was eliminated in 11th place. Jason Gray was eliminated shortly after that in 10th place, and there was another 20 minute stretch that transpired before Watkinson hit the rail in ninth place.

On a board of K93Q, Phan checked, Baker bet 80,000, and Watkinson raised to 240,000. Phan got out of the way and Baker moved all in. Watkinson thought for a while before he called with KQ for top two pair, kings and queens. But Baker showed 99 for a set. The river brought the 3 and Baker won the pot with a full house, nines full of threes. Watkinson was eliminated in ninth place, and he took home $44,000.

Cantu then went on an amazing run where he won 17 hands in a row! At a time where the other players at his table were playing weak and timid, he poured on full-fledged aggression. The streak lasted 30 minutes and he took the chip lead in the process. Cantu also managed to eliminate David Tran during this stretch (13th hand): Cantu and Tran limped to a flop of KJ9 before Tran moved all in and Cantu made the call. Cantu held Q10 for a flopped straight to Tran's K6. The turn and river fell AQ. Tran was eliminated in 8th place, and he took home $68,000.

The final seven players then combined at a final table, where the television bubble boy (or girl) would be decided. It took only a few hands, and once again Cantu was on the side of victory. On the final hand of the night, J.C. Tran raised to 22,000 and Cantu made the call. Sung, Harman, and Baker also called and the flop brought 652. Tran moved all in for 49,000 and Cantu made the call. Sung and Harman mucked before Baker also called, and the A fell on the turn. Cantu and Baker both checked before the K fell on the river. Baker checked, Cantu bet 80,000, and Baker folded. Tran and Cantu then turned up their hands. Tran showed down pocket kings for a set, but Cantu turned over pocket aces for the top set! Tran was eliminated in seventh place, and he will take home $68,000. Cantu finished off his dominating performance by claiming his fifth bounty of the tournament and play ended for the evening.

The final table will begin at 4 p.m. PDT tomorrow. Here is a look at the seating chart and chip counts:

Seat 1: Noah Jefferson - 842,000
Seat 2: John Phan - 374,000
Seat 3: Brandon Cantu - 3,323,000
Seat 4: Steve Sung - 474,000
Seat 5: Jennifer Harman - 541,000
Seat 6: Michael Baker - 1,964,000

Here are the official chip counts for tomorrow's televised WPT Final Table, scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm PT.

1. Noah Jefferson - 842,000
2. John Phan - 374,000
3. Brandon Cantu - 3,323,000
4. Steve Sung - 474,000
5. Jennifer Harman - 541,000
6. Mike Baker - 1,964,000

The blinds are still at 4,000-8,000, with a 1,000 ante.

Hand 11: J.C. Tran raises from early position to 22,000, Brandon Cantu calls from the cutoff, Steve Sung calls from the button, Jennifer Harman calls from the small blind, and Mike Baker calls from the big blind. There are five players in this set.

The flop comes 652, and it's checked to J.C. Tran, who moves all in for 49,000. Cantu calls, Sung folds, Harman folds, and Baker calls.

The turn card is the A, and Baker and Cantu both check. The river card is the K, Baker checks, Cantu bets 80,000, and Baker folds.

J.C. Tran shows KK for a set of kings, but Brandon Cantu shows AA -- a set of aces. It's been that kind of day for Brandon Cantu.

J.C. Tran is eliminated on the TV bubble in seventh place, earning $68,000.

The final six players are set. Official chip counts coming soon.

The blinds are still 4,000-8,000, with a 1,000 ante.

Hand 6: John Phan raises under the gun to 22,000, Mike Baker calls from the button, and J.C. Tran calls from the big blind. The flop comes Q96, Tran checks, Phan bets 27,000, Baker calls, and Tran folds. The turn card is the 7, Phan bets 51,000, and Baker calls. The river card is the 8, Phan bets another 51,000, and Baker calls with 1010. Phan shows 1010, and they chop the pot, as both players hold pocket tens.

Hand 7: Steve Sung raises from early position to 22,000, and Jennifer Harman calls from middle position. The flop comes K74, Sung bets 30,000, and Harman calls. The turn card is the 9, Sung checks, Harman bets 70,000, and Sung calls. Sung checks in the dark, and the river card is the 6. Harman checks behind him, and Sung shows KQ for a pair of kings. Harman mucks, and Steve Sung wins the pot.

Hand 8: Jennifer Harman raises from early position to 22,000, and Brandon Cantu calls from the big blind. The flop comes Q97, Cantu bets 35,000, and Harman folds. Brandon Cantu takes the pot.

Hand 9: Mike Baker limps from early position for 8,000, Noah Jefferson limps from middle position, J.C. Tran limps from the cutoff, Brandon Cantu completes the small blind, and Steve Sung checks his option. The flop coms 996, and all five players check. The turn card is the 5, and it's checked to J.C. Tran who bets 30,000. Cantu, Sung, and Baker all fold, and Jefferson moves all in. Tran folds, and Noah Jefferson takes the pot.

Hand 10: Brandon Cantu raises from the button to 30,000, winning the blinds and antes.

The blinds are still at 4,000-8,000, with a 1,000 ante.

Hand 5: John Phan raises from early position to 21,000, Brandon Cantu calls from middle position, Steve Sung reraises from the cutoff to 90,000, Phan folds, and Cantu folds. Steve Sung shows AA as he collects the pot.

Brandon Cantu's streak is stopped at 17 straight pots, but it took aces to end it.

There is more than an hour and a half left in Level 20, with blinds at 4,000-8,000 and a 1,000 ante.

Hand 1: J.C. Tran raises from the button to 22,000, and Brandon Cantu calls from the big blind. The flop comes Q75, and both players check. The turn card pairs the board with the Q, Cantu bets 15,000, and Tran calls. The river card trips the board with the Q, Cantu bets 30,000, and Tran calls. Cantu shows 54 for a full house, queens full of fives, and Tran mucks. Brandon Cantu wins the pot.

Brandon Cantu has won the last 14 pots in a row.

Hand 2: J.C. Tran raises from the cutoff to 25,000, Brandon Cantu moves all in from the small blind, and Tran folds. Brandon Cantu takes the pot.

Brandon Cantu has won the last 15 pots in a row.

Hand 3: Brandon Cantu raises from the button to 30,000, winning the blinds and antes.

Brandon Cantu has won the last 16 pots in a row.

Hand 4: Brandon Cantu raises from the cutoff to 30,000, and Steve Sung calls from the button. The flop comes Q103, Cantu bets 50,000, and Sung folds. Brandon Cantu takes the pot.

Brandon Cantu has won the last 17 pots in a row.

The final seven players consolidate at one table, and play will continue until one more player busts.

1. Noah Jefferson - 790,000
2. J.C. Tran - 269,000
3. John Phan - 420,000
4. Brandon Cantu - 2,679,000
5. Steve Sung - 565,000
6. Jen Harman - 737,000
7. Mike Baker - 2,060,000

Our hand-for-hand coverage will now reset with the first hand at this new table.

Brandon Cantu continues to dominate his table right now. He wins every hand in this post as well, and runs his streak of victorious hands to 13 in a row!

Hand 108: Cantu raises to 30,000 and Sung reraises to 80,000. Cantu re-raises all in and Sung folds.

Hand 109: Harman raises to 18,000, Cantu calls, and the flop rolls out Q52. Harman bets 32,000 and Cantu raises to 100,000. Harman folds.

Hand 110: All four players limp and the flop brings 853. Harman bets 17,000 and Tran calls. Cantu raises to 103,000 and everyone folds.

Hand 111: Cantu raises to 30,000 and everyone folds.

Hand 112: Cantu raises to 30,000 again and everyone folds.

Hand 113: Cantu and Tran limp to a flop of KJ9. Tran moves all in and Cantu makes the call. Cantu holds Q10 for a flopped straight to Tran's K6. The turn and river fall AQ. Tran is eliminated in 8th place, and he will take home $68,000. Cantu is now the chip leader heading into the final seven, and he has over 2.5 million.

The blinds are still at 4,000-8,000, with a 1,000 ante.

Hand 79: John Phan raises from the button to 21,000, and Mike Baker calls from the small blind. The flop comes K74, Baker checks, Phan bets 22,000, and Baker calls. The turn card is the A, Baker checks, Phan bets 50,000, and Baker folds. John Phan takes the pot.

Hand 80: John Phan raises under the gun to 24,000, winning the blinds and antes.

Hand 81: Mike Baker raises under the gun to 26,000, and John Phan calls from the big blind. The flop comes QJ7, Phan checks, Baker bets 50,000, and Phan calls. The turn card is the 9, and both players check. The river card is the 4, Phan bets 100,000, and Baker calls.

Phan shows KQ for a pair of queens and a busted flush draw, and Baker shows Q9 for two pair, queens and nines. Mike Baker wins the pot.