Monday, March 10, 2014

3 more hands!

With 10 minutes left on the clock, the tournament staff has drawn a card, and the field will play 3 more hands before play wraps for the day.  Large stacks are being identified and the chip leader will earn $10,000.  Players advancing to Day 2 will return on Wednesday at 11am, while a new batch of players and re-entries will start Day 1B tomorrow at 11am.

Last level of the night

The blinds have just increased to 500/1,000 with a 100 ante, and this will be the last level of the night.  The Shooting Star has a special feature that the chip leader of Day 1A will earn $10,000 cash, so expect a few big stacks to make a few moves to try to capture this bonus money.

Daniel Negreanu has been eliminated


Daniel Negreanu was all in on a [5s][7s][Qs][Jd] board holding [Js][Jh] for a set of jacks, but was in trouble as David Forster had flopped a bigger set with his [Qh][Qd].  Daniel would need to hit a non-pair spade to make a flush or the last jack for quads to stay alive.  The [9h] river gave David the bounty, and in the photo above, Daniel mentions that this was the third time today that this table had set over set.  As Daniel signed his Shooting Star t-shirt, he shrugged and said, "Well, I'll be back tomorrow!"

Shooting Star $2k Final Table Update


While the Main Event plays on, the Shooting Star $2k is now down to heads up between Joe Keuther and Ronit Chamani.  Here are the results for the rest of the final table:

Kevin O'Donnell finishes in Fourth Place for $43,610 O'Donnell: [Jd][9s] Kuether: [Qc][8d] The flop is just what Kevin was looking for with a pair: [Ac][Kd][9d], but when 4th street came everything "turned" for him as a [Qh] hit, and the insignificant [3d] rivered.

George Hatzistratis finishes 5th for $32,490
All-in pre-flop, George Hatzistratis, was at risk when Ronit Chamani called his shove.
Hatzistratis: [4d][4s]
Chamani: [9d][9c]
The flop was almost gin for George: [6d][5d][3d] turn brick, river brick.

David Fong is eliminated in 6th place ($25,080) when his QT < K6, flopped a Q, King on the river!

Anthony Zinno finishes in 7th place for $19,380
We catch up to the action on a flop of [Jh][9d][8d]
There is a bet by Joe, and a re-raise by Anthony. Joe shoves and Anthony calls!
Zinno:[9s][8s]
Keuther: [Qc][9c]
Anthony had flopped bottom two pair, while Joe had initiated an over-bet with middle pair.
Turn: [Qd]
This was the dagger for Zinno as his two pair was bested by a better two pair and the River: [Ac]

Karl Handelsman finishes in 8th place for $14,250 Handelsman: [Jc][8c] Furnival: [As][Qh] The flop came out: [Qd][4h][4s] drawing dead

David Peters finishes in 9th ($10,260) Peters: [6d][6s] O'Donnell: [Jh][9h] It was a pure flip 50/50 pre-flop. The board ran out: [Jc][8h][2s][4c][8c]

Dan Furnival finishes 3rd ($55,200 + $7,500 WPT Shooting Star Main Event seat) in Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown:
Dan Furnival

After playing a well balanced, tight-aggressive, "short-stacked ninja" type of game throughout the tournament, including the final table, Dan had won the majority of this showdown hands in order to outlast 297 of the other players. Finally as the shortest of the remaining three players his deep run would end as he moved-in from the small blind and was called by Joe Kuether in the big blind!

Furnival: [Ks][9d]
Kuether: [Ah][Kd]

It was a phenomenal run for Dan Furnival as the board ran out: [Qs][6c][2d][Js][3h] and Ace-King high proved enough to send The Lord out of the tournament in 3rd place for his largest cash to date: $55,200 + The 2014 Bay 101 $7,500 World Poker Tour (WPT) Shooting Star Main Event seat!



Kevin O'Donnell finishes 4th ($43,610) 2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Stars Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown:
Kevin O'Donnell

After making a huge poker move, which ended up crippling him, against current chip leader, Joseph Kuether, Kevin was down to just a few blinds when he moved in from the big blind. Joseph had raise from under-the-gun and it was a race to the river.

O'Donnell: [Jd][9s]

Kuether: [Qc][8d]

The flop is just what Kevin was looking for with a pair: [Ac][Kd][9d], but when 4th street came everything "turned" for him as a [Qh] hit, and the insignificant [3d] rivered, the game came to close for the gentleman of the game, Kevin O'Donnell in 4th place for $43,610!




George Hatzistratis finishes 5th ($32,490) 2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown:
George Hatzistratis


All-in pre-flop, George Hatzistratis, was at risk when Ronit Chamani called his shove.

Hatzistratis: [4d][4s]
Chamani: [9d][9c]

The flop was almost gin for George: [6d][5d][3d] as he flopped an absolute monster for what each player held, an open-ended straight flush draw! Now any two or any seven would make his hand the winner, along with any four for a set. Unfortunately as all his outs were clean the rest of the board stayed clean for Ronit as she scored the elimination of George Hatzistratis, who finished in 5th for $32,490!

David Fong finishes 6th ($25,080) 2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Stars Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown:
David Fong


There was a raise on the button by Joe Keuther. It folds to the big blind of David Fong who move's in and is called by Joe, putting David at risk.

Fong: [Qh][Td]
Keuther: [Kd][6d]

The flop was the world for David: [Qs][4c][3s]. The turn was safe for him as well: [As], but the river was an absolute disaster when the [Kh] hit the river! The end for David Fong came in the form of 6th place for $25,080!

Mike Matusow's roller-coaster orbit ends with a bust-out


WARNING: The videos below are long and should only be consumed by the true poker fan.  Also, Mike Matusow is in the video, so expect some cursing.

It all started with a pot in which Mike bet all but 100 of his chips and Ryan D'Angelo called an won, leaving Mike severely crippled.  Ryan was kicking himself for not realizing Mike was all in, and failing to collect his bounty.

On the next hand, Mike was all in with [Kd][Ts] and hit a king to nonuple up (Google it, it's a real word).

Again, on the next hand, Mike was all in with [9c][8c] and again hit top pair in a 3 way pot, and he doubled up.

Mike took a few hands off, but soon got his chips in again on a [Qh][6s][2c] flop in a multiway pot.  After the [3c] turn and [9s] river got checked down, Mike's [Kc][2h] could not beat Ryan D'Angelo's [As][9d].  Ryan will collect the bounty he was destined to, and Mike will head to the re-entry desk.


Photos of recent Shooting Star eliminations

Shooting Stars have been dropping left and right, but we were able to snap a few photos of some of their bustout hands:

John Juanda is glued to his phone as his [Ac][7s] falls to his opponent's [Jh][Jc]
JC Tran delivers his autographed Shooting Star t-shirt
Phil Hellmuth stands to watch the dealer collect his chips after he loses a flip with pocket sixes
Scotty Nguyen's straight flush draw loses to quads

Anthony Zinno finishes 7th ($19,380) in 2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown:
Anthony Zinno
We catch up to the action on a flop of [Jh][9d][8d]

There is a bet by Joe, and a re-raise by Anthony. Joe shoves and Anthony calls!

Zinno:[9s][8s]
Keuther: [Qc][9c]

Anthony had flopped bottom two pair, while Joe had initiated an over-bet with middle pair.

Turn: [Qd]

This was the dagger for Zinno as his two pair was bested by a better two pair and the River: [Ac] was no good as Anthony's great play got him all the way to a 7th place finish for $19,380!

Players are back from dinner break

Cards are back in the air for Day 1A of the Shooting Star Main Event.  Blinds are now 250/500 with a 75 ante.

Karl Handelsman finishes 8th ($14,250) in 2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown:
Karl Handelsman



All-in pre-flop, Karl took a stand with his remaining chips and was called by Dan Furnival, who had Karl covered.

Handelsman: [Jc][8c]
Furnival: [As][Qh]

The flop came out: [Qd][4h][4s], and as a [5s] came on the turn, Karl was drawing dead and ended his deep run at 8th place for $14,250 

Photos of Shooting Star eliminations

Players are now on a 1 hour dinner break. Here are some photos from recent Shooting Star eliminations in the last level:
Phil Laak signs his Shooting Star shirt after being eliminated
Jennifer Tilly is eliminated moments after Phil Laak
Tony Dunst watches as his opponent hits a 6 outer to eliminate him
Noah Schwartz's pocket nines fall to his opponent's pocket fours
Joe Hachem is all smiles as he exits the tournament

YouTube video: Daniel Negreanu tries to decrypt Phil Laak's thoughts



Do you ever wonder what Phil Laak is thinking sometimes?  Well, Daniel Negreanu does, and he took a break from playing on the featured table to chat with him and Jennifer Tilly.

Phil Hellmuth all in bet is not called


Phil Hellmuth check-called a bet of 800 on a [Ad][8h][4c] flop, and check-called again on the [As] turn, this time for 2,800.  When the [2h] hit the river, Phil checked and saw his opponent bet 7,400.  After a bit of time in the tank, Phil eventually moved all in.  Now it was his opponent's turn to go into the tank, contemplating his decision before eventually folding.

After the hand, Phil showed his hand to Matt Savage, and another player asked to see the cards.  The dealer flipped over Phil's [8s][8c] for a full house.  Phil then chatted with another player, explaining "I told him he was going to be drawing dead."

Watch the video below:

Phil Laak has been eliminated


Phil Laak was all in with [9h][6h] all in on a [2d][5h][Ts][3h] against his opponent's [8d][8c].  Phil held just nine high, but had lots of out with a flush draw, a straight draw, and even a draw to a pair of nines.  The [2c] on the river was not what Phil was looking for, and he will be another Shooting Star casualty of Day 1A.

David Peters finishes 9th ($10,260) at 2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event

2014 Bay 101 $2,000 Shooting Star Event Final Table Breakdown: 
David Peters


All-in pre-flop David Peters moved in and was called by Kevin O'Donnell, Peters was at risk. 



Peters: [6d][6s] 

O'Donnell: [Jh][9h] 

It was a pure flip 50/50 pre-flop. The board ran out: [Jc][8h][2s][4c][8c].  

Unfortunately for Peters his run at the final table and this tournament ended with a toss of a coin. The silver lining is that he had outlasted 290 other top players and won $10,260 for his 9th place finish.

$2k Final Table will begin shortly

 David Peters is the short stack
The Shooting Star $2k Final Table will begin shortly.  Blinds will continue at 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante for 12:51, and the remaining levels will be hour long.  Here are the chip counts & seating assignments:

Seat 1: Kevin O'Donnell - 720,000
Seat 2: David Peters - 52,000
Seat 3: George Hatzistratis - 108,000
Seat 4: Joe Keuther - 470,000
Seat 5: Anthony Zinno - 268,000
Seat 6: Karl Handelsman - 208,000
Seat 7: Ronit Chamani - 596,000
Seat 8: David Fong - 420,000
Seat 9: Dan Furnival - 159,000

Here are the payouts for the final 9:

1st Place: $152,080 + $7,500 Main Event seat
2nd Place: $86,550 + $7,500 Main Event seat
3rd Place: $55,200 + $7,500 Main Event seat
4th Place: $43,610
5th Place: $32,490
6th Place: $25,080
7th Place: $19,380
8th Place: $14,250
9th Place: $10,260

Paul Volpe has been eliminated

Michael McClain (left) gets his shirt signed by Paul Volpe (right)
Paul Volpe was all in preflop holding A-T against Michael McClain's pocket queens.  Paul flopped trip aces, but Michael rivered a queen to make a full house and send Paul Volpe to the rail.  Michael will collect $2,500 for knocking out a Shooting Star.



YouTube video: Matt Marafioti interview



Tournament Director Matt Savage chats with Matt Marafioti on break from the 2014 Bay 101 Shooting Star Main Event

Players are now on break

It is the second break of the day, and the board reads 303 players seated in Day 1A.  The blinds will be 150/300 with a 50 ante when the players return from break.

Phil Hellmuth doubles: full house over full house


Phil Hellmuth has doubled up when his [6s][6d] made a full house on a [5h][6h][5s][4s][8c] board

Jennifer Tilly triples up in dramatic fashion



Jennifer Tilly was all in preflop holding [Ks][Kd] against two players holding [Ac][Qs] and [4h][3h].  The [4s][Kc][3s] flop looked scary as one of her opponents flopped two pair, but with top set, Jennifer could only lose to runner-runner.  The turn [6d] locked up the win for Jennifer, and the [Ad] was a spiteful river for the player holding ace queen.

Jennifer Tilly now sits on approximately 18,000 in chips mid-way through 100/200 blinds.

Daniel Negreanu chops one

Daniel Negreanu pulls back his chips after chopping the pot
Daniel Negreanu was all in and at risk when his [Qh][Th] was up against his opponent's [Ad][Td] on a [9h][7d][8d][6c] board.  Both players had turned a straight, but each had outs for the win.  Daniel could win the pot if a non-diamond jack hit the board, and his opponent could win with a diamond.  20% of the time Daniel would be eliminated, but the [2s] river left the pot to be chopped and Daniel to fight on.  He now sits on 21,250.

Watch the action unfold below:

Marvin Rettenmaier is an international player!

Marvin Rettenmaier (seat 5) at his Shooting Star table, alongside Jennifer Tilly (seat 10)
Marvin Rettenmaier's player bio mentions him playing in "many countries," and we challenged Marvin to name all of the countries he has cashed in that appear on his Hendon Mob page.  He made a valiant attempt and was able to name at least 10 of those countries, but he fell short of the 19 we counted: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherland Antilles, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and of course, United States.  With just under starting stack Marvin has a long way to go to add another stateside cash to his poker resume.

Photo: Day 1A Shooting Stars


As is tradition at the Bay 101 Shooting Star, all of the bounties pose for a group photo on the first break of the tournament.  Here are the bounties pictured above:

Back row, left to right:
Scotty Nguyen
JC Tran
Faraz Jaka
Jason Koon
David Chiu
Erik Seidel
Jonathan Duhamel
Eugene Katchalov
Daniel Negreanu
Loni Harwood
Tony Dunst
Dominik Nitsche
Jay Farber
Marvin Rettenmaier
Matt Savage (tournament director)

Middle row (seated), left to right:
Matt Salsberg
Phil Hellmuth
Jennifer Tilly
Phil Laak
Todd Brunson
John Juanda
Nam Le

Front row (seated), left to right:
Paul Volpe
Blaire Hinkle
Brian Rast
Mike Sexton
Antonio Esfandiari
Joe Hachem
Noah Schwartz

Loni Harwood triples up

Loni Harwood was the second Shooting Star to be all in today, but the first to be at risk.  Loni was all in for 27,575 with [Qd][Qc] against two opponents holding [As][Kh] and [Ad][Jd].  Loni flopped a set on the [Qh][Jd][5s] flop, and the [Ad] on the turn changed nothing, as her opponent would need to catch one of the four tens in the deck to make a straight.  The river was the [3h], however, and Loni survived her all in and will triple up.

Featured table seating assignments

Blinds are now 75/150, and you can watch all the action on our live stream at www.Bay101Live.com.  Here's who's at our featured table:

Seat 1: William Davis
Seat 2: Josh Atkinson
Seat 3: Gary Lee
Seat 4: Joe Barry
Seat 5: Daniel Negreanu
Seat 6: Jeremy Kottler
Seat 7: Moe Saquing
Seat 8: Rishi Agarwal
Seat 9: Shashi
Seat 10: Ryan Welch

Cards are in the air

Cards are in the air for Day 1A of the Bay 101 Shooting Star Main Event.  The button starts in the 7 seat, and tables are 10-handed to start.

On our featured table, we have Daniel Negreanu in seat 5.  You can tune in to www.Bay101Live.com to watch the players try to get his bounty.

Shooting Star Main Event Day 1A begins at 11am PST

We're just a few hours away from Day 1A in the 2014 Shooting Star Main Event.  Many names like Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem, Jonathan Duhamel, and Erik Seidel will be taking their seats, and many others will be vying for those player's $2,500 bounties.  On our live streaming table, our bounty will be Mike Matusow, so make sure you tune in at 11am to see the fireworks.

For a full registration list as of late last night, please click here.

Official final table reached!

Chip leader Kevin O'Donnell
On the first hand of the unofficial final table, Luis Pires busted out in 10th place ($7,980) to set up the official final table.  The final 9 are bagging up their chips and will return at 4pm to play down to a winner.  Blinds will continue at 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante for 12:51.  Here are the chip counts & seating assignments for the final table:

Seat 1: Kevin O'Donnell - 720,000
Seat 2: David Peters - 52,000
Seat 3: George Hatzistratis - 108,000
Seat 4: Joe Keuther - 470,000
Seat 5: Anthony Zinno - 268,000
Seat 6: Karl Handelsman - 208,000
Seat 7: Ronit Chamani - 596,000
Seat 8: David Fong - 420,000
Seat 9: Dan Furnival - 159,000

Pat Lyons crippled, then David Peters cripped

Pat Lyons pounds the table when the river brings no three for David Peters (left)
After a raise by David Fong, Pat Lyons moved all in with pocket eights and David called with ace king.  Pat had David covered, but David was lucky when he rivered a king to survive.

On the very next hand, Pat put his remaining 34,000 in the pot after David Peters moved all in for more.  Pat was ahead with [As][Qd] against David's [Ad][3c].  No three appeared and Pat doubled up, crippling David Peters down to 43,000.

Registration list as of March 10

Here are the players that are registered for the Bay 101 Shooting Star $7,500 Main Event as of March 10, 2014:
      DAY 1A - MONDAY, MARCH 10 DAY 1B - TUESDAY, MARCH 11
Last First Last First
Aboukhalil Abraham Advani Monish
Affleck Matt  Affleck Matt 
Agarwal Rish Ajmani Nipun
Ajlouny Anthony Amdal Mike
Arnold Steve Batra Sakat
Atkinson Joshua Bidwell Jason
Azimzadeh Ahmad Bui Joey
Bachir Simon Chan Raymond
Bare Lori Chang Weikai
Barry Joe  Chen An
Berger Seth Chong Wesley
Bidinger Ken Dang Johnny
Blumenfield Neil Dao Quy
Bonita Christopher Davenport David
Borovetz H Michael Dempsey Steve 
Borrego Andrew Evans Daniel
Borrego Justin Fahmy Sarwat
Brecher Steven Gil Randy
Brewer Mark Habib Ubaid
Bronstein Noah Hanna Fred
Brubaker Brian Hart Tal
Brunson Todd Heshmati Mike
Bulutoglu Ferit Hillman Grantland
Calagna Christopher Holmes John
Carlton Everett Huh Misuk
Cervantes Jose   Huynh Tri (Sonny)
Chao Will Huynh Tri (Sonny)
Chau David Ignatowski Charles
Chawla Jitendra Izushima Masaaki
Cheong Joseph Jauregui Alejandro
Chhabra Rogen  Johnston Walter
Chiu David Kawar Dwayne
Cielulko Kamil Khaziri Amir
Collins Candace Kirk Tanya
D'Angelo Ryan Kramer Bruce
Davis William Kumar Bob
Delaney Keith Lai Yinhur
Dempsey Steve  Levy Steven
Duhamel Jonathan Luu Toko
Eskenazi Scott Lyons Patrick
Evans Daniel Malkin Zeev
Farber Jay Marchioni Diego
Farrell Niall Mayo Leo
Feinberg Irwin McKnight Traig
Fernandes Domingos Milon Jonathan
Fernandez Jose Minnis Ron 
Florentz Justin Monaco Michael Del
Foley Trevor Moreno Jose Mario
Follain Bryan Mustafa Anwar
Forster David Nabizadah Obaidullah
Foutty Stephen Nahum Kfir
Fox Steven Neuberger Michael   
Geyer Richard Ng  Chi 
Gil Randy Nguyen Chuc
Griffith Wade Nguyen Hoang J
Grio Bernardo Nguyen Joe 
Ha David Nguyen John
Hachem Joseph Nguyen Sang 
Hadley John Nguyen Tam
Haile Abraham Niknam Nicky
Hartman John  Numoto Scott
Herbertson Scott O'Donnell Kevin
Hernandez Lazaro Oshana Johnny
Hinton Clyde Palomo Armando
Ho Duy Panzica Samuel
Hoang Quyen Ngoc Pauka Andy
Holst Kristina Porter Rep
Hortin Dylan James Pump Jason
Hutter Barry Quijano Felipe
Islas Luis Raines Taylor
Ivanoff Ronald Robertson Aaron
Jacob Mike Robertson Walter
Johnson Marco Rooney Robert
Kalman Ian Saeteune Fae
Kalman Ian Salahudeen Aquil
Karim Zohair Samuel Thomas
Kim Moon Schiopu Mario
Kochhar Sanjay Sessler Gregory
Koplan Adam Shaw John
Krenzin Randy Singh Kulwant
Kuether Joseph Spruitenburg Jeffrey
Kurmana Srikanth Spruitenburg Tom 
Kwok Raymomd Sripadam Kumar
Labarbera Michael Stribling Jeremy
Le Allan Swan Paul
Le Nam Szuchopa Ferenc
Lee Gary Tada Steven
Lee Raymond Tan Christopher
Lehavot Amir Toelkes Tahoma
Levy Adam Tomasetti Brandon
Levy Steven Tran JJ
Lew Randy Tran Minh
Little Jonathan Tran Thien
Lutz Thomas Tran  Tai 
Luu Mimi Truong Tam
Mai Thuy Umali Tomas
Mather Robert Ushakoff Victor
Matusow Michael Vanageatigul Lisa
May Benjamin Velador Luis
McCaffrey Paul Velasquez John
McCaffrey Paul Villa Baltazar
McCarrel Casey Vu Quyen
McCormick Thomas Wu  Ronald
Medici Giorgio Yi Alex
Minnis Ron  Zeledon Jimmy
Moreno Jose Mario
Nahum Kfir
Negreanu Daniel
Nguyen Bong
Nguyen Minh
Nguyen Phouc
Nguyen Tai 
Nitsche Dominik
O'Brien Daniel
Odegard Larry
OPEN
Ouyang-Hung Christina
Pahuja Mukul
Pak Hung
Paredes David
Park Brian 
Pauka Andy
Pham Kim
Pires John
Pisano Thomas
Plenninger Maryalice
Pock D. Allen
Price Oliver
Rettenmaier Marvin
Richardson Paul
Rockowitz Jesse
Rosenberger Derrick
Salsberg Matthew
Sankey Gabriel
Sankey Gabriel
Saquing Moses
Schindler Jacob
Sego Tom
Seidel Erik
Sewell Gary
Shane Brandon
Shankar Ravi
Shannon James
Shayesteh Amir
Sigua Rellie
Silva Jonathan
Singarapu Shashi
Sinishtaj Gjergj
Sippl Roger
Smith Elizabth
Souza Dan
Spera Cosimo
Steinberg Max
Stout Matthew
Strelitz Daniel
Suer Robert
Sundaram Karthik
Swan Chris
Sylvia Jesse James
Tavafrashti Shahab
Tepper Robert
Terry Todd
Testa Gabriele
Thomason Steven
Ticehurst Darrell
To Joey
Tran Hai 
Tran Phi 
Tran Tee
Tri  Phi 
Trieu Johnny
Vamplew Gregory
Vayo Gordon
Vedas Tommy
Velasquez Johnny
Volpe Paul
Vu Chau
Walch Tom
Wang Lu 
Watson Cylus
Webber Neil
Weinraub Adam
Weinstein Spencer
Weissman Joey
Wilkerson Dylan
Williams Brian
Withrow Dale
Yaginuma Jesse
Yarkov Vitaly
Yilmaz Erkut
Young Justin
Zhang Haixia