Thursday, March 11, 2010

We have reached our final 7 players


After playing 10-handed for almost six hours, three players were knocked out, and we have now combined to our final table of seven. Play will continue until we have our six players that will be filmed tomorrow for the World Poker Tour. Blinds are currently 6k/12k with a 2k ante. Here are your final seven and their approximate chip counts:

Seat 1 - Elon Diamond - 370,000
Seat 2 - Hassan Habib - 900,000
Seat 3 - Phil Hellmuth - 1,150,000
Seat 4 - Andy Seth - 1,500,000
Seat 5 - Matt Keikoan - 460,000
Seat 6 - McLean Karr - 1,200,000
Seat 7 - Daniel O'Brien - 900,000

Scotty Nguyen - 8th Place - $58,600


Scotty Nguyen was all in preflop holding [Jh][8h] against the [Kh][Qd] of Andy Seth. Once the flop fell [Qc][4d][2s], Nguyen was all but eliminated. He was drawing dead after the turn fell the [5d], and the river was a meaningless [As]. Nguyen will earn $58,600 for his finish, and Seth will collect the $5,000 bounty.

Brian Rast - 9th Place - $38,000

Dave Forster - 10th Place - $38,000


Dave Forster was all in on a queen high, all diamond flop holding KQ against the [Kd][9d] of McLean Karr. Forster was drawing only to runner runner, and the turn card locked up the win for Karr. Forster will collect $38,000 for his finish.

Blinds have been increased to 6k/12k with a 2k ante

Blinds have been increased to 5k/10k with a 1k ante.

Dave Forster doubles up


Dave Forster was unlucky enough to pick up [Kh][Kc] against the [As][Ah] of Matt Keikoan, but got pretty lucky when the flop fell [Kd][8h][5h].  The board failed to materialize an ace when the turn and river fell [4s][Js], and Forster doubled up to over 700,000.

Scotty Nguyen doubles up


Scotty Nguyen was all in on a [Qc][Td][7d] flop holding [Kh][Jh] against Andy Seth's [8h][8d].  Nguyen could catch any nine or ace to make a straight, or a king or a jack to make a bigger pair.  That card came in the form of the [Ks], and Nguyen's hand stayed the best hand when the [7s] hit the river to double him up to around 400k.

YouTube video: Brian Rast doubles up

Click here to view the video in HD

Elon Diamond fighting back

Since being crippled by Brian Rast, Elon Diamond has been all in and called at least three times and has won all three times.

The first time was the hand after Diamond was crippled, when he tripled up against Phil Hellmuth and Scotty Nguyen. Diamond held [As][Jh], Hellmuth held [Kd][Jc], and Scotty Nguyen held [9s][5s], and the board ran out [Qh][7s][4s][Qc][7h].

Shortly thereafter, in a blind vs. blind confrontation, Hellmuth check-called Diamond's all in on a [Td][6d][4d] flop. Diamond had the best hand with [6h][2c], but had to fade a lot of outs as Hellmuth held straight, flush, and a pair draw with his [8d][5h]. The turn came the [Jh] and the river came the [Qh] and Diamond doubled up.

On the last double-up, the room went nuts when Diamond's AQ held up against Andy Seth's QJ. After that, Diamond 4-bet and was not called. He is now up to over 300,000.

Brian Rast doubles up

Brian Rast is all in preflop holding [8h][8c] vs. Elon Diamond's [Kd][Qs]. Rast wins the flip when the board comes [Ac][9c][5h][5c][2s] and leaves Elon Diamond crippled.

Blinds have been increased to 4k/8k with a 1k ante.

YouTube video: John Cernuto elimination hand

"Miami" John Cernuto was all in on a T♣T♦2♦ flop holding Q♥T♥ vs. McLean Karr's 8♦4♦. Cernuto had to fade a diamond to double up, and he looked good when the 6♣ hit the turn. But when the 7♦ hit the river, Karr completed his flush and collected Cernuto's bounty.

Click here to view the video in HD

"Miami" John Cernuto - 11th Place - $29,300


"Miami" John Cernuto was all in on a [Tc][Td][2d] flop holding [Qh][Th] vs. McLean Karr's [8d][4d]. Cernuto had to fade a diamond to double up, and he looked good when the [6c] hit the turn. But when the [7d] hit the river, Karr completed his flush and collected Cernuto's bounty.

Dave Forster doubles up

Dave Forster was all in preflop holding [9d][9c] against the pocket treys of Matt Keikoan. The board came pretty safe, reading [9s][8c][5c][7h][As], and Forster has doubled up.

Dave Gamon - 12th Place - $29,300


Dave Gamon was all in holding [Ad][8d] vs. Andy Seth's pocket kings.  The board ran out [Jc][Ts][5h][Qs][6d] and Dave Gamon is eliminated in 12th place.

Down to 12 players

With our last elimination, we are now down to our final two 6-handed tables.  All remaining players are now guaranteed at least $29,300.

Table 41:
Seat 1 - Dave Gamon
Seat 2 - Elon Diamond
Seat 3 - Scotty Nguyen
Seat 4 - Andy Seth
Seat 5 - Brian Rast
Seat 6 - Phil Hellmuth

Table 20:
Seat 1 - Dave Forster
Seat 2 - Matt Keikoan
Seat 3 - John Cernuto
Seat 4 - Hassan Habib
Seat 5 - Daniel O'Brien
Seat 6 - McLean Karr

Nick Schulman - 13th Place - $23,400

Chau Giang - 14th Place - $23,400

Joseph Elpayaa - 15th Place - $23,400

Timothy McDermott - 16th Place - $23,400


Timothy McDermott was all in preflop holding pocket tens vs. the pocket queens of Phil Hellmuth. When no ten hit the board, McDermott was sent to the rail in 16th place.

Lars Elmore - 17th Place - $23,400

Faraz Jaka - 18th Place - $23,400


Faraz Jaka was all in preflop with [Ac][Ts] vs. Scotty Nguyen's AQ. When the board ran out [8d][6d][4c][Qc][2d], Jaka was eliminated in 18th place.

Cards are back in the air

Down to 18 players

With the last elimination, we are down to the final 18 players.  The players have redrawn for seats and will restart play shortly.  When we come back, we will be playing 2k/4k blinds with a 400 ante.

Vanna Tea - 19th Place - $20,500

John Monnette - 20th Place - $20,500

Jonathan Tamayo - 21st Place - $20,500

Johnathan Little - 22nd Place - $20,500

Taylor Raines - 23rd Place - $20,500

Blinds have been increased to 2k/4k with a 500 ante.

Thomas Marchese - 24th Place - $20,500

Thuy Phan - 25th Place - $17,600

Ted Jivkov - 26th Place - $17,600

Kfir Nahum - 27th Place - $17,600

Cards are in the air!

Day 3 has begun and the 27 remaining players are now playing the last 60 minutes of 1500/3000 blinds with a 500 ante. They will be playing 2 hour levels for the remainder of the day.