2008 Wynn Classic Championship from the Wynn in Las Vegas - Day 1 Coverage
Monday, 17th of March 2008 12:16 AM
Sunday was a strange day at the Wynn Classic. Nearly half the field fell by the wayside, yet they did it very quietly. More often than not, players would dissappear without so much as a blow up or bad beat story.
A total of 183 showed up for the $10K championship, just a handful less than last year's field of 198. A fair ammount of pros helped contribute to the $1.75 million prize pool, many of which flourishing during the opening day.
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| Roy Winston | |
Mike Matusow is not just looking to make it back to the Wynn Classic Championship final table, he's looking to win it all. He's well on his way, hovering above the 100K mark. Roy "the Oracle" Winston spent the better part of the day behind the biggest stack on the floor, finishing the day with as the only other player in six-figures. The two will face tough competition in Day 2as up-and-comer Blair Hinkle and veteran Ralph Perry aren't far behind. Rick Salomon scooped pots to grab and early chip lead, but shed them quicker than you could say 'night vision' and finished below the chip average.
Last years champ Zach Hyman busted before the dinner break, as did his twin bro Matt. Hyman's 2007 final table mates, with the exception of Matusow, also had a rough day. Michael "the Grinder" Mizrachi saw his aces up against kings, only to see a king on the flop, ending his day in level one. Scott Fischman and Ted Lawson faired a little better, each making it through the dinner break before making the walk of shame.
Many big names are alive and well. Scotty Nguyen may have been the last player to show up, but he won't go down without a fight. He will return to the Wynn as one of the shorter stacks, but doesn't need a lot of chips to be dangerous. Erick Lindgren and Men "the Master" Nguyen managed to share a table all day without a major confrontation. The online community will be well represented in Day 2. Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonomo, Darrell "Gigabet" Dicken, James "mig.com" Mackey and Vivek "Psyduck" Rajkumar will all return to the Wynn Monday with stacks in the top 20.
Play will resume tomorrow, Monday, at 12 p.m. PST. Now that the field has been trimmed to just 92, the tournament will be moved from the casino floor to the main poker room. Make your way to PokerPages.com Monday as we continue live coverage from the Wynn in Las Vegas.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 11:33 PM
Play has ended for the evening. The tournament data is showing just 92 players left standing. The bag and tag process has begun. Word is that the tournament will be moved to the main poker room for a noon start up tomorrow.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 11:05 PM
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| Erick Lindgren | |
Jerry Buss is busted. He couldn't survive a table that included Lindgren, the Master and James Mackey. The Lakers owner returned, only to get ribbed by Lindgren.
"You're back? Are you here to buy the casino? You could rename it the 'Buss'."
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 10:34 PM
A few bustouts to report. Brandon Cantu's day is done. He'll have to drown his sorrows by bathing in the million he won last week at Bay 101. Also gone are Scott Fischman, who was looking to make it two-for-two in Wynn Classic Championship final table appearances, and last year's runner-up Ted Lawson.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 09:56 PM
Last level of the day, shuffle up and deal. Still a 25 ante, but blinds will jump to 200/400.
So far, 84 players have been sent to the rail today. It is looking like we could trim half the starting field of 183 in Day 1.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 09:27 PM
Some recent bustouts:
David Williams
Dutch Boyd
Layne Flack
John Phan
Roy Winston is alive and well, sitting behind a stack of about 70K. Big stacks are sitting in seats 1,2 and 3 at table 27. Darrell "Gigabet" Dicken is in the 1 seat and is pushing the 50K mark. Seat 2, Matusow, has chipped up to over 60K. Everybody's favorite movie star, Rick Salomon, is in the 3 seat and still stands above 50K+. Meanwhile, Kathy Liebert is at the same table, still well above the average stack with 40K.
Down to just 112 players on 12 tables. Average stack is 30K. Just a couple minutes left in leve five. Players are already sneaking out for their break. Be back in 15.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 09:05 PM
New WPT champ Brandon Cantu took a hit. After the 7 10 8 flop, Cantu check raised an opponent to 10K. The opponent moved all in, Cantu called the extra 2,700, only to see he was in bad shape; his Q Q up against A A . Turn and river bricks shipped half of Cantu's stack across the table. He's left with 22K.
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| Scotty Nguyen | |
Scotty Nguyen made the move to the Binger/Singer table. Singer and Scotty each hold around 35-40K, while Binger has fallen back near even. Blair Hinkle picked up a big pot on the next table over, pushing him to about 75K and, from what I can see, the chip lead.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 08:35 PM
Just some rough chip counts after making a pass trough the room:
Rick Salomon -- 65,000
Kevin "BeL0WaB0Ve" Saul -- 50,000
Jonathan Little -- 40,000
Mike Matusow -- 40,000
James "mig.com" Mackey -- 40,000
Average stack is 29,000. Still 126 players on 13 tables.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 07:57 PM
Players are on another break, level 4 is done. They are prepping to bust another table, that would leave us with a baker's dozen. There are 126 players remaining. Antes will fire up in level five, 100/200 blinds, ante of 25.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 07:32 PM
After the 6 8 7 flop, two players checked to David Singer who tossed in 2K. The small blind raised to 8,500, enough to get the other player out of the way and get Singer to commit the rest of his chips. Singer turned over 5 9 for the straight, his opponent tabled a set of sixes, which he couldn't believe wasn't good. Two bricks would follow and Singer would push his stack back over the 20K mark.
On the neighboring table, two players limped and Toto Leonidas bumped it to 1,050 from the cutoff. Ryan Young would call from the button, as would the two players in the middle. The J K 9 10 4 board was checked to the river, then the player in middle position would take a 3,700 stab at the pot. Toto wasn't having it and made the call with J 10. "Good call," said his opponent, as he tabled a pair of nines.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 07:10 PM
"JohnnyBax" is steaming.
After the hijack made it 1,300 to go, Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy made it 3,300 from the button. An older gentleman, who had limped UTG, called 1,300, not seeing the re-raise. The floor was called and ruled that the 1,300 was in the pot and he could either fold, or call the re-raise of 2K. He makes the call and the hijack got out of the way.
Flop comes 8 9 3. UTG bets 5K into Josephy, who just moves his last 7,500 in and is called. Josephy turns over K K, still ahead of UTG's J 9. That was until the J on the turn. Josephy was already on his way out the door when the 2 bricked on the river, sending the online legend home in level 4.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 06:42 PM
Michael Binger picked up A A to double up. He was paid off by an opponent holding J J, for 24,875 in chips, to be exact. With the handful of chips already in the pot, Binger is up over 50K.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 06:27 PM
Shuffle up and deal. The 147 returning players will sit down to 100/200 blinds.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 05:07 PM
Dinner break is just a few minutes away and players have already started to scatter to meet or make reservations. As of right now, there are 150 players who will return from break to level 4. Coverage will resume in 75 minutes.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 04:41 PM
Toto Leonidas has survived an all in to double up. With about 9K in the pot and Q Q 5 J on the board, Mike Sexton bets 6K into Toto, who took a couple minutes before making the call. The river was the 10 and Sexton wasted no time firing 10K, Toto would call with his last 5,125. Sexton would turn over trips, Q 8, but Toto's A Q had him outkicked. Toto is up over 31K.
We will have a new champion. 2008 Wynn Classic champ Zach Hyman is gone, joining his twin brother, who busted out during the previous level.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 04:15 PM
Gavin Smith has busted. He was short stacked and all in with two pair, but found himself counterfeited on the river as his opponent's top pair improved with a pair on the board. David Williams has taken his seat.
Last year's champ Zach Hyman took a hit from Ralph Perry. After the A-10-5 flop, Perry led out for 2,500 and Hyman raised to 5,700. Perry put him all in and Hyman laid down his A-J. Perry showed Hyman 9-5, just bottom pair.
Watkinson has moved to one of the dark tables at the end of the room. He's right next to Vanessa Rousso and John Racener.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 03:20 PM
Here's the complete payout structure:
Level two is dunzo. Play will resume in 15 with 75-150 blinds.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 03:11 PM
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| Salomon, Gavin and Hershler | |
We're down to 165, that means tables being busted. Men "the Master" and Jerry Buss have joined Brandon Cantu, Erick Lindgren and online pro /bracelet winner James "mig.com" Mackey.
Eli Elezra and Max Pescatori are sharing a table, albeit one of the darker tables tucked away in the corner of the tournament area.
Pamela's ex Rick Salomon has moved as well, now seated with Gavin Smith, 2007 LAPC winner Eric Hershler and Kathy Liebert.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 02:29 PM
Scotty Nguyen was fashionably late. He also had his driver chasing him around the casino, looking to get paid. The former WSOP champ has already been busy catching up with Layne Flack and been targeted by the big stack at his table, all before he's even played a hand.
A few interesting tables:
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Men "the Master" Nguyen
John "the Razor" Pham
Peter "Nordberg" Feldman
Tom "durrr" Dwan
Scott Fischman
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| Matusow talking NBA betting with Flack | |
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Toto Leonidas
Anna Wroblewski
Erik Seidel
Mike Sexton
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Ted Lawson
Mike Matusow
Layne Flack
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Jimmy Tran
David Singer
David "the Dragon" Pham
Clif "JohnnyBax" Josephy
Still 175 of the 183 entrants remaining.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 02:13 PM
The Grinder just left the tourney floor. I overheard him say he was all in preflop with AA and his opponent turned over kings. The K on the flop KO'd the Grinder.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 01:54 PM
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| Lee Watkinson and Jerry Buss | |
Play is about to begin and the numbers are in. A total of 183 players, creating a prize pool of $1,775,100. First place will pocket $692,286. I'll have the complete payouts when they are made more available.
The Lakers/Rockets game is on TVs throughout the tournament area. Strangely, Laker's owner Jerry Buss is at one of the few tables without a view of the game.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 01:45 PM
Level one is in the books, without any fireworks. When players get back from the 15 minute break, they'll sit down to 50-100 blinds.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 01:03 PM
Mike Matusow is back to try and make another Wynn final table. PCA winner Bertrand "ElKy" Grospellier is here, hard to recognize him without all the PokerStars gear. Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonomo has pulled up a seat to Dutch's right. John "the Razor" Phan, fresh off a Bay 101 final table, just ran by with a backpack on, asking "where do I sign up?"
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 12:35 PM
Structure: Ante SB BB
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| Level 1 |
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| 25 |
50 |
| Level 2 |
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| 50 |
100 |
| Level 3 |
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| 75 |
150 |
| Level 4 |
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| 100 |
200 |
| Level 5 |
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| 25 |
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| 100 |
200 |
| Level 6 |
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| 25 |
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| 200 |
400 |
| Level 7 |
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| 50 |
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| 300 |
600 |
| Level 8 |
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| 75 |
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| 400 |
800 |
| Level 9 |
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| 100 |
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| 600 |
1,200 |
| Level 10 |
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| 200 |
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| 800 |
1,600 |
| Level 11 |
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| 200 |
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| 1,000 |
2,000 |
| Level 12 |
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| 300 |
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| 1,200 |
2,400 |
| Level 13 |
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| 300 |
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| 1,500 |
3,000 |
| Level 14 |
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| 400 |
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| 2,000 |
4,000 |
| Level 15 |
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| 500 |
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| 3,000 |
6,000 |
| Level 16 |
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| 1,000 |
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| 4,000 |
8,000 |
| Level 17 |
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| 1,000 |
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| 6,000 |
12,000 |
| Level 18 |
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| 2,000 |
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| 8,000 |
16,000 |
| Level 19 |
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| 2,000 |
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| 10,000 |
20,000 |
| Level 20 |
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| 3,000 |
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| 12,000 |
24,000 |
| Level 21 |
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| 3,000 |
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| 15,000 |
30,000 |
| Level 22 |
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| 4,000 |
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| 20,000 |
40,000 |
Players start with 20K stacks, blinds at 25-50. Levels are 90 minutes, with a 15 minute break after each level. They are calling for six levels of play today, so throw in the dinner break and we're looking like a noon-midnight show.
Total players is up to 170. Among those to make the late appearance; Kathy Liebert, Toto Leonidas, WPT host Mike Sexton, Mark Seif and Dutch Boyd. 2008 Wynn champ Zachary Hyman is in the house, but so is his identical twin brother, Matt. I'll try not to get them mixed up.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 12:21 PM
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| Chad Brown and Jonathan Little | |
Just looking around the room, there are some familiar faces. Bay 101 winner Brandon Cantu is sharing a table with Erick Lindgren. Last year's Wynn Classic runner-up Ted Lawson is seated with Layne Flack. A few of the others in attendance; Gavin Smith, Allen Kessler, Chad Brown, Jonathan Little, Gavin Griffin, Lee Watkinson, Peter "Nordberg" Feldman, Vanessa Rousso and a pair from last year's final table, Michael "the Grinder" Mizrachi and Scott Fischman.
Small field here today, but registration is still open.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 12:09 PM
Play has begun, but there are still some empty seats out there. As of right now, there are 150 entrants creating a prize pool of $1,455,000. Registration remains open, so expect some stragglers to juice up the prize money. I'll be back after I make my rounds, letting you know who's in the field today.
Sunday, 16th of March 2008 11:05 AM
We are about an hour away from the kickoff of the 2008 Wynn Classic Championship. The tournament floor is still empty, but staff is expecting a couple hundred players to arrive shortly with their $10K buy-in in hand. Last year, the Wynn in Las Vegas saw 198 players enter the inaugural $10,000 Wynn Classic Championship. A prize pool of $1.9 million was generated, with amateur Zachary Hyman outlasting a table featuring Johnny Chan, Mike Matusow, Michael "the Grinder" Mizrachi, Scott Fischman, Chau Giang and eventual runner-up Ted Lawson to grab the $729,033 prize.
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| 2007 Champ - Zachary Hyman | |
I will return shortly with more tournament information and eventually, live coverage from the Wynn in Las Vegas.
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