Last night was an unusual night for online poker. The most obvious difference this week was the absence of the UltimateBet $200,000 guarantee. (Read on to find out why it wasn't held.) Along with that, both the PokerStars Sunday Million and the Full Tilt $500,000 guarantee had significantly reduced attendances.
PokerStars' two new powerhouse tournaments, the Sunday Hundred Grand and the High Stakes Showdown, also had lower turnouts this weekend. The Sunday Hundred Grand had "just " 19,203 entrants last night, marking the first time the tournament has ever not reached its maximum number of allowed entrants (which was upped to 20,000 last weekend). The High Stakes Showdown had just eight entrants this weekend, which marked the first time that the tournament has not had 16 entrants. Current Online Player of the Year leader board first-place holder Sorel "Imper1um" Mizzi won the tournament (under the screen name zangbezan24), which makes the second time that he's taken down the event since its inception just four weeks ago.
PokerStars Sunday Million
Guesty001 rivers jacks full of fours to best Dsnyder9521's eights full of jacks and eliminate Dsnyder9521 from the tournament.
The PokerStars Sunday Million tournament had 6,567 entrants on Sunday, which generated a prize pool of $1,313,400. This was down quite a bit from the last time the $200 buy-in version of the tournament was held (two weeks ago, on July 22) when 6,959 entrants bought in.
Prominent online poker pro Derek "Dsnyder9521" Snyder made the final table of the event. He entered the final table in second place with $10.9 million compared to soad_live's first-place stack of $12.1 million. Guesty001 was the short stack at the final table, but he managed to avoid the chopping block for the first elimination hand.
Zizou444 lost a huge portion of his stack when he bet heavily on every street of a board reading 6
5
2 3
A. Soad_live called him down and showed A 10 for a rivered pair of aces. Zizou444 turned over pocket nines and was crippled, losing around $6 million in the hand and leaving him with just $1.7 million when the big blind was at $400,000.
Zizou444 went out less than 10 minutes later when Dsnyder9521 pushed all in when action folded to him in the small blind and zizou444 called in the big blind and showed pocket fours. Dsnyder9521 held 7 5 and the board ran out 9 7 2 Q 2
, giving him two pair, sevens up, to take down the pot. Zizou444 earned $8,143 for ninth place.
Taskel was the next to go when he open-pushed all in preflop for $3.6 million, when the big blind was at $500,000, and tetergold reraised all in, folding the remaining players. Tetergold showed pocket sevens and taskel was slightly behind in a race with his A K. The board paired, but otherwise put out blanks, and tetergold's sevens held up to eliminate taskel in eighth place ($13,134).
Loosefer then went down to the felt just two minutes later. He put in his $6.9 million preflop and tetergold again reraised all in, this time for $9.1 million. The remaining players folded and tetergold turned over pocket aces. His hand was crushing loosefer's pocket fives as the board completely bricked out. Loosefer collected his $21,671 payday for seventh place.
Soad_live's stack took hit after hit until he was the short stack at the table with $5.5 million in chips (when the big blind was at $600,000). He finally open-pushed all in from under the gun and tilerman reraised all in over the top, folding the remaining players. Tilerman showed pocket aces and had a commanding lead versus soad_live's A Q. The board ran out K 6 2 6 7 and soad_live made an earlier-than-expected exit in sixth place ($30,208).
Dsnyder9521 became the new short stack at the table and was the next to go just one minute later. Dsnyder9521 ($8.6 million) raised to $1.6 million preflop and Guesty001 ($14.4 million) reraised to $4.2 million. Dsnyder9521 pushed all in over the top and Guesty001 called and showed A J. He was trailing Dsnyder9521's pocket eights, and was in even worse trouble when the flop came J 8 4, giving him a pair but improving Dsnyder9521 to a set of eights. Dsnyder9521 was a 95 percent favorite to win the hand after the flop. The turn brought the J, which gave Guesty001 some hope with any ace or 4 (to give him a better full house than Dsnyder9521) or the case jack to give him quad jacks, but Dsnyder9521 was still an 84 percent favorite to win the hand. The river, however, was the 4 and Guesty001 won the hand with jacks full of fours and eliminated Dsnyder9521 in fifth place. Dsnyder9521 made $42,160 for his finish.
The final four players eventually paused the tournament to discuss a possible chop. After some haggling and some miscalculation of numbers, a slightly modified by-the-chips chop was agreed upon with Omoneyman0, the shortstacked player, receiving $3,000 extra from both tilerman and Guesty001. Tilerman, the chip leader at the time, was guaranteed $107,238, Guesty001 was guaranteed $103,913, tetergold was guaranteed $91,720, and Omoneyman0 was guaranteed $80,323; $30,000 was left on the line for the eventual winner, per the PokerStars chopping rules.
Tetergold was the first to go post-deal. Tilerman min-raised to $1.6 million preflop and tetergold reraised all in for $7.1 million. Tilerman called and revealed pocket deuces and was slightly ahead of tetergold's K 7. The flop further improved tilerman when it came J 6 2, giving him a set of deuces. Tetergold was drawing dead and out in fourth place.
Omoneyman0 then doubled up in the very next hand when he pushed all in preflop and was called by tilerman, who showed J 10. Omoneyman0 held Q 7 for the lead and spiked an unnecessary queen on the river to double up to more than $12 million (which left him in third place).
Another big hand took place just a minute later. Omoneyman0 raised to $2.4 million preflop and Guesty001 reraised all in for $14.7 million, having Omoneyman0 covered. Omoneyman0 called all in and flipped up pocket aces. Guesty001 held pocket tens and was dominated. The board paired, but otherwise improved neither player, and Guesty001 was severely crippled while Omoneyman0 doubled up to more than $25 million.
Guesty001 went out a minute later when tilerman min-raised preflop and he pushed all in for $1.9 million. Tilerman called and showed A 8 and was ahead of Guesty001's 7 2. The board ran out A K 9 5 4 and Guesty001 was eliminated in third place.
Tilerman still had the chip lead when heads-up play began. He had $40.7 million in chips versus Omoneyman0's $25 million. A big hand occurred four minutes into the match. Tilerman raised to $3 million preflop, with the big blind now at $1 million, and Omoneyman0 reraised to $11 million. Tilerman called and the flop came A Q 10. Omoneyman0 pushed all in for his last $10.1 million and tilerman hesitated before calling. Tilerman showed Q 9 for a pair of queens, which was ahead of Omoneyman0's K 5 for king high with a gutshot straight draw. The turn was the 8 and the river the J, which completed Omoneyman0's Broadway straight to double him up and put him in the chip lead. The two players had virtually exchanged stacks.
The final hand came four minutes later. Omoneyman0 ($50.6 million) raised to $3 million preflop and tilerman ($15.1 million) called. The flop came K 10 9 and tilerman bet $3 million. Omoneyman0 raised to $24 million and tilerman called all in and showed J 9 for a pair of nines and a gutshot straight draw. Omoneyman0 held Q 2 for a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. The turn was the K and the river the 3, completing Omoneyman0's flush and sending tilerman packing in second place. Omoneyman0 earned the extra $30,000, which put his total winnings at $110,323.
The final results were:
*1) Omoneyman0 – $110,323
*2) tilerman – $107,238
*3) Guesty001 – $103,913
*4) tetergold – $91,720
5) Derek "Dsnyder9521" Snyder – $42,160.14
6) soad_live – $30,208.20
7) loosefer – $21,671.10
8) taskel – $13,134
9) zizou444 – $8,143.08
* Payout reflects a slightly modified four-way by-the-chips chop with $30,000 left for the eventual winner, per the PokerStars chopping rules.
Full Tilt $500,000 Guarantee
Annette_15 flops quad sixes to eliminate boltsva.
The Full Tilt $500,000-guaranteed tournament's attendance was also down significantly this weekend. The tournament had 3,268 entrants, which was 110 entrants fewer than the week before. Nevertheless, the event's turnout generated a prize pool of $653,600.
Insanocut was the chip leader when the final table began, with $3.3 million in chips. However, two prominent Internet pros were right behind him. Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad was in second place with $1.6 million and kasedowgy was in third place with $1.3 million. Also at the table was notable online player Brian "1LUCKYesOBEY" Darmanin.
Kasedowgy eventually made an early exit. Annette_15 raised to $100,000 preflop from early position, with the big blind at $40,000, and insanocut called in mid-position. Kasedowgy pushed all in from the big blind for $924,000 and Annette_15 folded. Insanocut called and showed A Q and was ahead of kasedowgy's 10 9. The board ran out A 8 2 Q 4 and kasedowgy was out in sixth place, earning $20,124.
1LUCKYesOBEY got down to fourhanded play before eventually pushing all in preflop as the short stack. He was called by boltsva, who showed A J. 1LUCKYesOBEY held a dominated A 8 and needed help. The flop was mixed news when it came J 9 2, giving him a flush draw but also further improving boltsva to a pair of jacks. The turn and river were blanks, the 2 and 6, and 1LUCKYesOBEY was out in fourth place ($36,275).
When it got down to three-way play, Annette_15 was the chip leader with $3.7 million compared to insanocut with $3.6 million and boltsva with $2.5 million. Ten minutes later, insanocut lost ground and was down to $1.3 million while Annette_15 had $5.4 million and boltsva had $3.1 million.
In the next elimination hand, Annette_15 raised to $220,000 preflop, with the big blind at $80,000, and boltsva reraised to $360,000. Annette_15 called and the flop came 6 6 2. Boltsva bet $400,000 and Annette_15 called. The turn was the 4 and boltsva bet $1.8 million. Annette_15 reraised to $3.7 million, enough to put boltsva all in, and boltsva called and showed pocket jacks. Annette_15 turned over a monster, pocket sixes for quad sixes, and took boltsva out after the irrelevant river brought the 7. Boltsva made $46,406 for third place.
Annette_15 now had $8.5 million versus insanocut's $1.3 million. The tournament was over after the very first hand of heads-up play. Insanocut raised to $236,000 preflop and Annette_15 reraised all in. Insanocut called all in and showed A 10. Annette_15 held a dominating A Q and the flop came Q 6 3, furthering her lead with a pair of queens. The turn gave insanocut some hope with the 4, for the nut flush draw, but the river was the A and he was out in second place ($71,242). Annette_15 raked in the final pot to pocket the $117,027 first-place prize.
The final results were:
1) Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad – $117,027.08
2) insanocut – $71,242.40
3) boltsva – $46,405.60
4) Brian "1LUCKYesOBEY" Darmanin – $36,274.80
5) waitamin08 – $27,124.40
6) kasedowgy – $20,065.52
7) BBOY06 – $15,032.80
8) Tutnik – $11,764.80
9) OthrPeoplesMony – $8,758.24
UltimateBet $200,000 Guarantee
The UltimateBet $200,000-guaranteed tournament was replaced by a $500 buy-in (with $30 entry fee) satellite to the Aruba Classic. The tournament guaranteed 50 Aruba Classic prize packages and also offered a $1,000 bounty on Phil Hellmuth, who was playing in the tournament. The packages were for the $5,500 buy-in into the event and $3,000 for travel and accommodations.
Among those who won prize packages was Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet (who bubbled the final table of the Bodog $100,000 guarantee).
Bodog $100,000 Guarantee
The Bodog $100,000-guaranteed tournament had 926 entrants last night, up slightly from the 912 entrants of the weekend before. The tournament required a $7,400 overlay to match the guarantee. Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet eventually became the final table bubble boy in the event when he finished in 10th place, earning $1,000. Garrett "GBecks" Beckman also made it deep in the tournament.before busting out in 14th place ($1,000).
Insanitydk had the chip lead in the first full hand of play at the final table with $611,000 versus eburns in second with $369,000. Also at the table were notable Internet players Josh "pesto" Prager and eisenhower1, both of whom came in as mid-stacks. Eburns quickly took over the chip lead through aggressive play. He held the chip lead throughout the majority of the final table action.
Insanitydk made his exit when he slowly became a short stack and then pushed all in preflop on the button with A-5. Eisenhower1 called with pocket kings. The flop was exciting when it came A-K-5, giving Insanitydk two pair but leaving eisenhower1 with a set. The set held up and Insanidydk was out in sixth place ($4,400).
Pesto went out next when he got his chips in on a board of K 6 2 9 and eburns called and showed 7 6 for a pair of sixes. Pesto held A 5 for a flush draw, but the river bricked out and he was sent to the rail in fifth place, for $5,400.
Eisenhower1 took over the chip lead when he eliminated Park_Place in fourth place ($6,500) and it was down to threehanded play. Eisenhower1 had $1.12 million in chips compared to eburns with $949,000 and People_Mover with $248,000. People_Mover doubled up off eburns before the next elimination hand.
Eburns ($575,000) raised to $76,000 preflop, with the big blind at $20,000, and eisenhower1 called. The flop came Q 10 3 and both players checked. The turn was the 5 and eisenhower1 bet $87,000. Eburns called and the river was the 7. Eisenhower1 checked and eburns pushed all in for $412,000. Eisenhower1 quickly called and showed pocket kings for an overpair to the board. Eburns held A 5 for just a pair of fives and was eliminated in third place ($9,000).
Eisenhower1 now had $1.9 million versus People_Mover's $420,000. Despite the major chip advantage eisenhower1 had, the heads-up match lasted almost 15 minutes. People_Mover managed to double up once in that time when he held K J versus eisenhower1's K 3 on a board of A-J-4-K-K. His stack was quickly whittled back down, however, before the final hand.
People_Mover ($272,000) pushed all in preflop and Eisenhower1 ($2 million) called instantly and showed A J. People_Mover held K Q and needed to improve. The board ran out J 8 5 8 10 and eisenhower1 made an unneeded ace-high flush to eliminate People_Mover. People_Mover earned $14,000 for second place and eisenhower1 raked in a $25,000 payday for first place.
The final results were:
1) eisenhower1 – $25,000
2) People_Mover – $14,000
3) eburns – $9,000
4) Park_Place – $6,500
5) Josh "pesto" Prager – $5,400
6) Insanitydk – $4,400
7) juancito888 – $3,400
8) 3pounder – $2,400
9) Bears – $1,550
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