Tournament Info

Play has ended for the day after 18 levels.  Of the 148 that started, only 127 remain.  Eli Elezra is still the dominant chip leader, but Bruno Fitoussi and David Oppenheim are hot on his heels. Players have seemed generally happy with the structure, and only a relative few busted out today.  Many, like Max Pescatori, ended the day with roughly the amount they started with.  In a large field, short stacked tournament this might not be such a desirable position at the end of the day. .The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament is not like most other events at the series, however, and $115,000 will leave Pescatori, and others in similar chip positions, with plenty of play going into day two.

Eliminations

David Benyamine was eliminated during the omaha eight or better level, despite making a small comeback during the previous hold'em level.  Mark Vos also busted out early this level.  Sammy Farha was eliminated during the Razz level, when his 10-8-5-2-A couldn't beat David Oppenheim's 7-6-5-2-A. 

Up and Dirty

In all seven card stud games, including razz, the seventh card is dealt face down.  Cyndy Violette was accidentally dealt her last card, a 5, face up.  This card paired her board of 8-5-A-J. Greg Mueller revealed his last card to be fair, and lead out showing 6-2-3-2-5.  Violette agonized for a moment before calling, only to see that Mueller had made a 6-5-4-3-2 low on the last card.  With the extra knowledge that Violette had paired up, Mueller could safely bet knowing that it was impossible for her to have a five-high low.

Tony G and Williamson Go Back and Forth

Antanas "Tony G"  and David Williamson III got involved in a number of pots during the razz level.  At one point Guoga was down to only a few thousand after Williamson won a big pot with the wheel.  The very next hand the two got involved again, and Williamson eventually had to fold to Guoga's all-in when he made two pair.   This kind of back and forth passing of chips happened throughout the level between the two.


Play will resume tomorrow at  2 p.m., so make sure to check in at Cardplayer.com for hourly updates and the Pro Blogs of Huck Seed, Justin Bonomo, Chip Reese, Andy Bloch.

At the end of levels 15 and 16 only 17 tables, with 136 players remained.

STUD EIGHT OR BETTER

The stud eight or better portion of the level was noticeably slower than the past two levels, and though players still got involved, by the end most pots were heads up and usually split.   It seemed that the heavier action would have to wait until the next level.

HOLD'EM

The game really opened up during the hold'em portion of the level.  Early on, with a board of A J 8 3 9, Eli Elezra called an opponent all the way down with Q J, which was good for the pot.  

Benyamine Wins With "No Pair"

Gabe Kaplan, David Benyamine and Phil Hellmuth saw a flop of Q J 9.  Benyamine led out, and Hellmuth raised.  After kaplan folded, Benyamine called.  Hellmuth asked for a deuce, but the the dealer brought the K.  Benyamine pushed the last of his short stack in, and Hellmuth called.  Benyamine smiled and said, "I have no pair." Hellmuth revealed his J 9, for jacks-up.  Benyamine tabled his 4 2.  The river brought a 5, and Benyamine took down the pot and doubled up with a flush, but indeed without a pair.

Eliminations

Gus Hansen busted recently and instead of quickly taking off, he has been walking around the tournament area and actually stopped to sweat Chip Reese for a while, sitting on his shoulder for a number of hands.  Chau Giang was also eliminated from the event recently.

Greenstein Outflops Grey

Barry Greenstein and David Grey got involved in a big pot. David Grey's K-K was ahead of Greenstein's Q-Q until the board came down the Q 4 3 5 2, giving Greenstein top set and the pot.
Notable Chip Counts

Eli Elezra	427,000
Gavin Smith	237,000
Toto Leonidas	224,000
Scotty Nguyen	215,000
Darrell Dicken	200,000
Allen Cunningham	198,000
Phil Hellmuth Jr.	192,000
Erik Seidel	190,000
Tim Phan	183,000
Erick Lindgren	180,000
Annie Duke	178,000
Carlos Mortensen	175,000
Barry Greenstein	173,000
Mike Matusow	168,000
Phil Ivey	162,000
John Juanda	146,000
Huckleberry Seed	142,000

RAZZ

Rolled Up Aces Wasted

Bart Hanson was dealt (A-A) A during the razz portion of this past hour, and facing a raise from Phil Hellmuth had to muck the rolled up aces. 

The Dragon Hits The Rail

All in after three cards, the short stacked David Pham was showing a jack, while Eli Elezra was showing a 2.  Elezra called and revealed the 5-3-2, which was ahead of Pham's J-5-8. Pham paired his jack, and when Elezra made a six low after five cards, Pham was drawing dead.  Elezra remains the clear chip leader, with around $500,000.

Vos Short on Chips and Energy

Mark Vos has appeared extremely under the weather all-day, and it seems it chip stack has suffered because of it.  Vos' stack was essentially halved by the second part of this level.

STUD

Pescatori Takes Brown Downtown

Max Pescatori won a sizable pot off of "Downtown" Chad Brown with a broadway straight.

Gazes Busts Berman

Lyle Berman was sent to the rail during the stud portion of this level.   Gazes started with (A x) Q against (7-7) K.   Gazes caught an ace on fifth street and despite never filling her flush, her aces held against Berman's hand and sent him to the rail.

Kaplan vs. Hellmuth

Gabe Kaplan and Phil Hellmuth played an interesting pot together.  With a board of A A K 5 for Kaplan and 7 7 K 9 for Hellmuth, Kaplan bet out as he had each previous street.  Hellmuth thought for a moment and called, saying, "Nice hand , Gabe."  Kaplan jokingly ribbed Hellmuth, saying, " You played this hand awful, and somebodies writing it down " as he gestured to the media.  After the seventh card was dealt, Kaplan again bet, and Hellmuth eventually called.  Kaplan revealed a K for aces up, prompting Hellmuth to reveal his (Q Q Q) for a full house.   

Atmosphere Changes
The player are back from their extended dinner break and there is certainly a much less convivial atmosphere than before. There is an air of determination and focus. The frenzy of autograph hunters witnessed earlier has abated and while there is still a sizeable crowd in the Amazon Room eager to catch a glimpse of the big-timers there is an air of knuckling down to work around this tournament now as the players take each other on at Razz.

Euro Chip Counts

There are still a lot of European players in the event. Here are some chip counts:

Marco Tranellio $75,000
John Duthie $80,000
David Benyamine $22,600
Gus Hansen $20,000
John Kabbaj $45,000
Buno Fitoussi $217,000
Rob Hollink $121,500
Patrik Antoinus $88,600
Jani Sointula $75,000
Thor Hansen $112,700
Patrick Bueno $42,600
Max Pescatori $55,200

Andy Black busted out with 15 minutes to go on this level.
Notable Chip Counts

Greg Raymer	103,000
Darrell Dicken	103,000
John Juanda	102,500
Sam Farha	102,000
Ted Forrest	95,000
Gabe Kaplan	94,000
David Williams	93,000
T.J. Cloutier	92,000
Cyndy Violette	91,000
Freddy Deeb	86,500
Tony G	83,000
David Sklansky	83,000
Daniel Negreanu	82,000
Mike Sexton	81,000
Robert Williamson III	80,000
Phil Ivey	80,000
John Phan	65,000
John D'Agostino	55,000
Jennifer Harman	44,000
Chris Ferguson	42,000
Phil Laak	40,500
David Benyamine	26,000
Gus Hansen	23,000

River Gazing

The game was Hold’em for the first part of hour six and on one hand Sam Grizzle bet $1,500 from middle position. Sammy Farha raised to $3,000, then David Grey called from the cut off. Bill gazes called from the big blind and Grizzle made it four to the flop when he called. The flop was dealt Q 4 3 and Farha bet $1,500. Grey folded, Gazes raised to $3,000, and Grizzle called. The turn brought the 6, and Grizzle bet $3,000 after Gazes checked. Gazes called and the 2 fell on the river. Grizzle fired out another $3,000 and this time Gazes folded. Grizzle took down the robust pot with a slight grin on his face.

Going to Omaha on a Wheel

The game was then switched to Omaha eight-or-better and an interesting hand developed at table seven. Doyle Brunson raised to $3,000 preflop and both Phil Laak and Tony G called. The flop came J 5 4 and Laak checked in the big blind. Brunson bet $1,500 and Tony G called. Laak check raised to $3,000 and both players called. The turn brought the 10 and Laak checked again. Brunson fired out $3,000 and Tony G mucked. Laak called and the river rolled out the 2. Laak said, “You got a wheel don’t you,” then made the crying call. Brunson flipped over A Q 7 3 for the wheel and took down the pot.

Nap Time

Mark Vos had now taken up catnaps between pots as his favorite way to pass the time. He did not look too good, and he reportedly missed a portion of the morning’s play while sleeping on a bench in the halls of the Rio Pavilion.

Bloch Scoops a Pot

On a flop of Q 6 5 Andy Bloch bet $1,500 from the cut off and Jerri Thomas raised to $3,000 from the small blind. Max Pescatori called from the big blind, as did Bloch, and the turn brought the 2. Pescatori bet $3,000, Bloch raised to $6,000 and Thomas called. Pescatori reraised to $9,000 and both players called again. The river rolled out the 10 and Thomas checked. Pescatori fired out $3,000 and both Bloch and Thomas simply called. Thomas turned up 9 5 4 2 and Pescatori mucked after Bloch turned over A K Q 4. Bloch scooped the large pot, and neither of his opponents looked too happy about that fact.

European News

Jeff Lisandro is gone, indeed he had the ignominious honor of being first out. But two Europeans, Alex Kravchenko and Bruno Fitoussi are among the chip leaders with around $180,000 and $190,000 in chips respectively.

Elsewhere Gus Hansen is in trouble with only about $27,000 in chips, John Kabbaj has around $108,000, John Duthie about $79,000, Marco Traniello  about $75,000, Partick Bueno $38,000, Max Pescatori $112,000, Thor Hansen $80,000, Jani Sointula $108,000, Rob Hollink $100,500, Andy Black $33,000 and Patrik Antonius $132,000.

Before the break Cyndy Violette spilled a drink on her table to a chorus of 'oohhh's' and 'ahhhh's' from her table mates. The floor person decreed that they should move to an empty table behind them but Eli Elezra protested 'This is my lucky table,' and Andy Black chimed in 'You can't move us i've just won a pot!'

Dinner Time

The players went to a catered dinner at 7 p.m. and play will resume again at 9 p.m.

Notable Chip Counts

Eli Elezra	355,000
Phil Ivey	175,000
Barry Greenstein	175,000
Allen Cunningham	171,000
Andy Bloch	170,000
Scotty Nguyen	165,000
Gavin Smith	165,000
Mike Matusow	160,000
Erik Seidel	159,900
Todd Brunson	155,200
Toto Leonidas	148,000
Sherkhan Farnood	148,000
Phil Laak	148,000
Annie Duke	145,000
Sam Grizzle	140,000
Erick Lindgren	139,000
David Grey	137,000
Doyle Brunson	135,500
Isabelle Mercier	129,000
Jason Lester	123,000
Howard Lederer	122,000
Huckleberry Seed	120,000
Phil Hellmuth Jr.	119,000
Sam Farha	118,000
Dewey Tomko	110,000
Ted Forrest	109,000
Gabe Kaplan	109,000
Freddy Deeb	109,000
Chip Reese	109,000
Mike Sexton	106,000
Allen Kessler	105,000
Greg Raymer	103,000
Cyndy Violette	103,000
Michael Mizrachi	99,000
Robert Mizrachi	95,000
Jennifer Harman	87,000
Daniel Negreanu	85,000
David Sklansky	83,000
Robert Williamson III	80,000
John D'Agostino	78,000
David Williams	78,000
T.J. Cloutier	77,700
Tony G	59,000
John Juanda	57,000
Andrew Black	51,000
Chau Giang	45,500
Gus Hansen	45,000
Chris Ferguson	42,000
Phil Laak	40,500
David Benyamine	40,000
Josh Arieh	26,000
Johnny Chan	25,000

Break Time

The players started the hour on a 15 minute break, and when they returned it was to play some more stud.

Here’s What They’re Playing For

The official number of entrants was released, and the 148 players had created a prize pool of $7,104,000. The first-place finisher will take home $2,276,832.

Two Kings

Mike Sexton bets $1,600 on fifth street with two kings exposed and T.J. Cloutier made the call. Cloutier then asked, “You only have two kings Mike?” Cloutier then called down Sexton’s bets on sixth and seventh street. Cloutier then turned up 4 4 (5 10 4 9) 6.

Blue Moon

Six players to a flop in seven card stud is rare, four players remaining at the end of the hand happens once in a blue moon. That was what happened when “Captain” Tom Franklin turned over a flush on the end of a hand with Maureen Feduniak, Jerrod Ankenman, and a player in seat one. The three players mucked and Franklin took down the hefty pot.

Quick Hits

Near the end of the hour Tim Phan and Max Pescatori tangled on a pot to the river, but Pescatori mucked when Phan flipped up jacks and fives. Rafi Amit also took a hit when his opponent turned up three of a kind threes.

Annie Duke	145,000
Mickey Appleman	145,000
Erick Lindgren	145,000
Allen Cunningham	143,300
Scotty Nguyen	140,000
Doyle Brunson	135,500
Bill Chen	135,000
Mike Matusow	135,000
Steve Zolotow	134,000
Daniel Negreanu	133,000
Phil Hellmuth Jr.	119,000
Sam Farha	118,000
Bill Gazes	117,800
Max Pescatori	109,000
Ted Forrest	108,000
Chip Reese	108,000
Freddy Deeb	108,000
Tim Phan	108,000

Back to Omaha Eight-or-Better

As action moved into hour four, there were 19 tables remaining and the game was now Omaha eight-or-better. The stud eight-or-better and hold’em rounds transpired rather quietly, which is no great surprise considering how low the blinds are in relation to the limits. Soheil Shamseddah had jumped into the chip lead with $154,000. Joe Tehan, Barry Greenstein, Eli Elezra, and Andy Bloch rounded out the top five. No one player was a dominant presence over the field at this point though.

The Chopping Block

Many hands during Omaha eight-or-better were understandably chopped up, and in some cases quartered. Hand after hand would be chopped, and player after player would show frustration. Sometimes the river card would be the catalyst that dished out dividends to multiple players. Both Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi ($20,000) and Jeffrey Lisandro ($ 15,000) were low in chips at this point of the day.

Hand of the Day, Thus Far

The action switched back to Razz for the second time of the day and things got interesting in a big hand. Tuan Le, Eli Elezra, Chad Brown, and David Chiu were involved in a hand that was capped on every single street leading up to the final down card. After peeking at his, Tuan bet out, and Elezra called in the dark. Both Brown and Chiu folded their cards and Elezra turned over a 7-5-4-3-2 low. Tuan mucked and Elezra collected the $115,000 pot. After the hand, Elezra jokingly said, “Tuan, you want to help me count it.” Tuan then punched down the stack of yellow chips in question as a playful response.

Doyle Brunson	133,000
Howard Lederer	111,000
John D'Agostino	103,000
Daniel Negreanu	102,000
Phil Laak	102,000
Phil Ivey	97,000
David Sklansky	95,500
Greg Raymer	90,100
David Singer	88,300
Chip Reese	82,000
Justin Bonomo	80,000
Nick Schulman	72,000
Huckleberry Seed	72,000
John Juanda	47,000
Josh Arieh	45,000
Gus Hansen	26,500
Johnny Chan	23,000

Razzle Dazzle

Level three was reached and the tournament was now on the first level of razz.

Greatest Preliminary Day Table Ever

Todd Brunson took the vacant seat eight at table 16 and joined Kirk Morrison, Ali Eslami, David Singer, T.J. Cloutier, Mike Sexton, Dewey Tomko, and Phil Ivey. This table had no weak link now, and is arguably the greatest table during a preliminary day in tournament poker history.

Razzed

Brunson got involved in a hand with Singer during the razz level, and Brunson had 5 3 4 3 exposed when he fired out $1,600 on sixth street. Singer made the call and both players were dealt their final hole card. Brunson fired out another $1,600 and once again Singer called. Brunson then turned up his hole cards, 7 6 4, and Singer mucked.

Tournament Announcements

It was then announced that the tournament will play 15 levels on day one and the players would be sent to dinner at 7 p.m. The tournament staff said they will do their best to stick to this schedule throughout the five day event, speed of play permitting.

Hellmuth Sighting

Phil Hellmuth showed up in his usual style, making a fashionably late appearance. He took his seat right next to David Benyamine at table 13. The table also featured Jason Lester and John Hennigan.

Perry vs. Antonius

With 2 4 K 6 exposed Patrik Antonius fired out $1,600 on seventh street and Ralph Perry reached for his chips with 6 7 9 K exposed. The second Perry made a move toward his chips Antonius instantly mucked his hand.

Stud

It was now level four and the game was seven card stud.

I’m Not Your Huckleberry

Tom Schneider bet $1,600 on sixth street with 3 6 9 5 exposed and Huck Seed mucked with 7 4 J 10 out on the table. There had been a lot of action on this hand, including a $3,200 reraise from Schneider on fifth street, so Huck mucked with a bit of apprehension. Seat five called Schneider down to the end and he flipped up 6 3 3. Seat five mucked.

Perry vs. Antonius – Part II

Antonius and Perry were at it again and they raised and reraised on fifth street, and sixth street. They both checked seventh street and Antonius flipped up 7 7 (J 7 6 J) 4. Perry had Q 10 J 10 exposed and he revealed a single queen before he turned the rest of his cards over and mucked.

We Three Kings…

Dewey Tomko bet $1,600 on fifth street and Phil Ivey mucked. Ali Eslami made the call and T.J. Cloutier mucked before sixth street. Tomko led out on both remaining streets and Eslami called. With the 5 3 5 Q exposed, Tomko flipped up three kings in the hole. Eslami then mucked his hand.

Break Time

After the first stud level expired the players went on a fifteen minute break. When they returned it was for the first seven card stud eight-or-better round.

David Williams	110,000
Michael Mizrachi	84,000
T.J. Cloutier	69,500
Daniel Negreanu	66,800
Annie Duke	63,000
Sam Grizzle	35,000

Euro Chip Counts:
Marco Traniello $87,700
John Duthie $85,000
David Benyamine $76,200
John Kabbaj $73,300
Alex Kravchenko $132,700
Gus Hansen $53,000
Andy Black $65,500
Rob Hollink $80,000
Jani Sointula $83,000
Jeff Lisandro $18,300
Thor Hansen $82,000

There’s a lot of action in Amazon Room right now as the second hour of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event has come to an end. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow is seeing a lot of action on his table as he gets out in front with the early chip lead. But the action doesn’t just stop at the table for Matusow as he has a $10,000 last-longer side bet going with Barry Greenstein. Despite having less chips than “The Mouth”, Greenstein is so confident in his ability to outlast the field that he laid Matusow 7:5 odds from the shorter stack. 

Although the Amazon Room is filled with familiar faces and the tables are shared by friends, the competition is immense and everyone has their eyes on the prize. While most people are trying to take as many chip as possible off of their table mates, others are making table changes to avoid a head-on collision with each other. Todd Brunson took his seat across the table from his father Doyle, but after requesting a table change by the floor staff, both father and son can now focus their aggression on the rest of field and not each other.

During Level 2; Omaha eight-or-better, Darrell Dicken was one of Matusow’s early contributors, donating a decent amount of chips to Matusow’s cause. Both Matusow,  and Dicken limp into a four-handed pot followed by John Phan out of the small blind and the big blind who checked his option. The flop came 7 6 4, and Matusow bets out, Dicken calls, and both the blinds fold behind them. The turn brought the 3 and this time Matusow checks to Dicken who fires out. Matusow called and the river brought the 2. Both players check the river and Matusow turns over 6 4 for two pair and A 3 for the nut low. Dicken who had been playing for the low turns over A 2 for the nut low, and he gets quartered. Matusow takes ¾ of the pot.

The Omaha eight-or-better round also brought a smile to Mike Sexton’s face when he flipped over K K on a K 5 2 K 7 board for quad kings. T.J. Cloutier wasn’t smiling after this hand as he too was playing for the high hand while Mike Sexton scooped the pot.    

Halfway through the second hour, the game switched to Razz and Thor Hansen managed to take a really nice pot off of John Phan. Phan comes in for a raise and Hansen calls behind him. Phan had been betting the whole time with a board of 3 6 J 7 while Hansen had been calling him down to the river with a board of 2 5 J 10. Phan bets the river and Hansen raises him. Phan calls and turns over A 2 8 for the seven-low while Hansen shows 6 4 3for the six-low.

Fifteen Europeans have entered the event and most are household names in the poker community :
Max Pescatori, Jeff Lisandro, Marco Traniello, Rob Hollink, Andy Black, Thor Hansen, Patrick Bueno, Jani Sointula, Patrik Antonius, John Kabbaj, Alex Kravchenko, Gus Hansen, David Benyamine, John Duthie, and Bruno Fitoussi.

That's about 10% of the field. Last year Patrik Antonius was the only European to cash, finishing in 9th place.

This is just a small preview of the action to come over the next five days, so be sure to check back with CardPlayer.com

for more updates and the Pro Blogs of last year’s champion, David “Chip” Reese, and runner-up, Andy Bloch.