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World Poker Tour - World Championship - Day 1B
by 2008 World Poker Tour Coverage   
Sunday, 20 April 2008


WPT $25K World Championship from the Bellagio - Day 1B
Monday, 21st of April 2008 12:45 AM


The chip counts are in.  Of the 545 who entered, 422 will see Day 2.


Here are the 50 biggest stacks from Days 1A and 1B combined:

1
Jeff
King 211,575
2
Paul
Chauderson 200,900
3
Kenny
Tran 193,025
4
Robert
Mizrachi 173,375
5
Carlos
Mortensen 172,075
6
Jordan
Morgan 171,750
7
David
Benyamine 169,350
8
William
Baxter 167,150
9
Darrel
Dicken 163,675
10
Steve
Billirakis 156,800
11
Tom
Dwan 155,675
12
Nashaat
Antonious 153,375
13
Andrew
Shack 150,300
14
Scott
Epstein 147,800
15
Charles
Kelley 147,325
16
Brandon
Cantu 145,125
17
Joseph
Tehan 143,275
18
J Onathan
Kalmar 140,325
19
Michael
Katz 138,500
20
JC
Tran 138,350
21
James
Mordue 137,500
22
Michael
Sohayean 134,275
23
Greg
Mueller 132,675
24
Soheil
Shamseddin 131,300
25
Jayde
Tran 129,025
26
Thomas
Wahlroos 127,875
27
Jimmy

Tran 125,125
28
John
Hillman 124,550
29
Rock
Cloutier 124,025
30
Abraham
Mosseri 123,400
31
Victor
Ramdin 122,675
32
Martin
Hansen 121,125
33
John
Celii 121,075
34
Josh
Arieh 120,250
35
Dario
Minieri 118,650
36
Marcel
Luske 117,225
37
Vanessa
Selbst 117,025
38
Will
Wilkinson 116,050
39
Eliahu
Elezra 115,000
40
James
Bechtel 115,000
41
John
Hoang 113,350
42
Anna
Wroblewski 112,450
43
Michael
Gracz 111,650
44
T J
Cloutier 110,525
45
Gus
Hansen 110,325
46
Brian
Rast 110,175
47
Eugene
Katchalov 109,900
48
Rhynie
Campbell 109,675
49
Tam
Hang 108,000
50
Ron
Levi 106,775


Day 2 begins Monday at 12 p.m. PST.




 
 
Roland de Wolfe
Sunday, 20th of April 2008 08:45 PM


In the last hand of the day, Roland de Wolfe found himself all in.

After Jordan Morgan limped, de Wolfe made it 1700 to go and was joined by three callers, inlcuding Joe Hachem and Morgan.  The K 4 5 flop saw it checked to the bettor and de Wolfe made it 5K to play.  The unknown player would quickly make it 15K, pushing out Hachem and Morgan.  De Wolfe would tank, before moving all in.  His opponent would call a few thousand more and show de Wolfe his set of fours.  "I got outs," said de Wolfe, who tabled J J.  The runner-runner spades were the outs he needed, de Wolfe has survived to double up.

Players are bagging their chips.  Chip counts will be available shortly.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 08:42 PM


The last level of the day claimed the tournament lives of Gavin Griffin and Theo Tran.  Tran was in with aces, but was done dirty when his opponents flush draw turned into runner-runner two pair.

Eli Elezra was chosen by the tournament directors to draw the hands card.  The seven was pulled, meaning each table with have just over a half dozen hands before they can say they survived Day 1.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 07:17 PM


The break is over.  Blinds are now 300-600 with 75 antes.

This will be the last level of play in Day 1B.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 07:02 PM


It's break time.

Before the break, Mark Teltscher was able to double up.

WSOP final tabler John Kalmar made it 1200 from the button and Teltscher called from the SB.  Sorel Mizzi would make it 4050 to go, forcing Kalamar out.  Teltscher would then move all in, shoving his last 22K in the pot.  Mizzi quickly called with A Q and would need to catch up to Teltscher's 6 6.  The 4 K J 6 9 board only helped Teltscher, who would double up, now just under 50K.


 
 
Shorr and Phan
Sunday, 20th of April 2008 06:59 PM


Shannon Shorr and Tim Phan are battling.

First, Shorr was all in for his last 9K and was quickly called by Phan, who held 10 10.  After Shorr tabled A K, it was off to the races.  The board ran out 7 6 K Q Q and Shorr had doubled up.

On the very next hand, Phan limped UTG and Shorr check his option from the BB.  Shorr would bet out 1,700 after the 7 9 6 flop and was called by Phan.  The 9 on the turn earned another 3,200 from Shorr and another call by Tim.  The 8 triggered a check-check.  Shorr showed J 8, while Phan took the pot with 9 10 to get most of his chips back.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 05:33 PM


The 315 remaining players have returned for level four; 200-400 blinds, 50 for an ante.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 05:10 PM


Smoke break.  We'll fire up level four play in 15.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 05:03 PM


With A 7 J on the board, it's checked to Doug Lee, who makes it 2,550.  His opponent delivers the check-raise, making it 6K.  Lee would call.  The 2 on the turn triggered the opponent to lead out for 10,500 and put Lee in the tank.  Lee decides to put his whole stack in, about 20K.  His opponent made a somewhat-reluctant call, tabling A 5.  Lee held A 3 and after the river came 2, the two would each drag half of the chopped pot.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 05:00 PM


Here's the complete payout structure:

Place      Prize
1     $3,389,140
2     $1,714,800
3     $923,355
4     $593,645
5     $395,725
6     $263,815
7     $237,435
8     $211,050
9     $184,670
10     $158,290
11-15     $131,910
16-20     $105,525
21-30     $79,145
31-40     $65,955
41-50     $52,765
51-100     $39,570

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 04:51 PM



 
 
A festive Tom Dwan
We've had a few notable eliminations.  Jennifer Tilly has been sent home by Anna Wroblewski.  Tom "Durrr" Dwan took out both Justin Bonomo and Beth Shak to chip up (Shak ran her kings into Dwan's fruit hat and pocket aces).  Dwan looks to be the big stack in the room, along with Rhynie Campbell. 

Jordan Morgan is chipping up, now around 100K.  Morgan held A-A on a A-7-4-6 board and pushed out Joe Hachem, who folded the better hand.  Hachem asked Morgan if he held 8-5 before folding 5-3 for the straight.  Hachem is down to half his stack, ~25K.

It turns out that Dwan lost a bet to Allen Sass and he will be wearing the fruit hat as long as he's still in the tourney.


Sunday, 20th of April 2008 03:54 PM


Players have returned from the snack bar to 100-200 blinds with a 25 ante.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 03:40 PM


Level two has wrapped.  Players have earned another 15 minute break.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 03:34 PM


The prize pool has been announced, but yet to be posted.  I can tell you that 545 players was good enough to put together a $3.38 million grand prize.  The top 100 will get paid, gauranteed no less than $40K.  A complete payout structure will be available soon.

Owen and Pokerlistings watched Matt Brady limp in early position with K-K and names like Joe Hachem, Roland de Wolfe, Chau Giang and Joe Awada to act behind.  Awada would bump it to 800 and Brady would make the call.  Awada held J-J and would improve to jacks full after the flop.  Brady would tank to Awada's re-raise, before folding his cowboys on the river.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 03:12 PM


The majority of the field seems to be hovering around the 50K starting stack.  Two-time bracelet winner Burt Boutin and Turks and Caicos champ Rhynie Campbell look to be the only players over 100K, with 130K and 110K, respectively.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 02:47 PM


Registration has closed, but we're still waiting for the Bellagio to release the final count and prize pool.  I will get those up as soon as they are made available.

In the main poker room, 12 tables are peppered amongst the cash games.  Chris Ferguson drew the toughest table in the poker room, with Jordan Rich, Erica Schoenberg and Nenad Medic to his left, and Paul Wasicka and Kathy Liebert to his right.  Bill Edler must share the felt with Josh Arieh, Clonie Gowen and James Mackey.  Antonio Esfandiari, the new face of the WPT, has to deal with Marcel Luske, Vanessa Rousso and Mark Seif.

Also in the main poker room; Nam Le, EPT Grand Final champ Glen Chorny, John Juanda, Cindy Violette, Huck Seed, Sammy Farha, Steve Dannenman, Amir Vaheedi, Chad Brown and Erick Lindgren.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 01:57 PM


Break is over.  Level two means 100-200 blinds.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 01:45 PM


Due to the tournament location, there is no rail to view from.  So with 15 minutes to go in the first level, it was my turn to check out the tournament floor.  Not a soft seat in the house, here's some notable tables and players.

Justin Bonomo, Tom Dwan, Peter Feldman share the table with Beth Shak.  Dwan's wearing a genie hat, no word as to why, yet.  Sorel Mizzi has "de chark" Humberto Brenes on his left and Freddy Deeb and PCA champ Betrand "ElKy" Grospellier across the table.  Near the patio, Michael Mizrachi, Alex Jacob, John Duthie (of EPT fame), Ross Boatman, Mimi Tran and Steve Zolotow share the felt.  I hope the Grinder isn't looking forward to the famous Bellagio fountain show, since Alex Jacobs afro is obstructing his view and probably the view of many others.

Phil Ivey has to deal with Scotty Nguyen on his immediate left, while Scotty has the green hatted "Action" Dan Harrington two to his left.  Allen Cunningham has his work cut out for him, with Patrik Antonious and David Benyamine battling for the same pots.  Some other names around the room include; Dutch Boyd, Hevad Kahn, Jennifer Harman, Michael Binger, Thomas Wahlroos, T.J. Cloutier, Bryan Devonshire, Ted Forrest, Daniel Negreanu, Gavin Griffin, Mike Matusow, Lee Watkinson, Jennifer Tilly, Andy Bloch, John D'Agostino, Gavin Smith, Marco Traniello and the Devilfish.

Deep stacks and a tough field is leading to cautious play to start Day 1B.  By the end of Day 1A, the bigger stacks had little more than double the starting stack, so expect more of the same today.  This tournament is a week long grind.

The board is showing 537 total players, which is about 100 less than last year.  Registration is about to close and we should have the final numbers and payout structure ready for you shortly.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 12:15 PM


Tournament Director Jack McClelland has announced it's time to shuffle up and deal.  Blinds are 50-100.

Sunday, 20th of April 2008 11:00 AM


Day 1B begins Sunday at 12 p.m. PST.  Join us for live coverage from the Fontana Room at the Bellagio.

Here's the top 25 from Day 1A:

First Name Last Name Chip Count
William Baxter 167,150
Darrel Dicken 163,675
Steve Billirakis 156,800
Scott Epstein 147,800
Brandon Cantu 145,125
John Hillman 124,550
Abraham Mosseri 123,400
John Celii 121,075
Dario Minieri 118,650
James Bechtel 115,000
John Hoang 113,350
Michael Gracz 111,650
Brian Rast 110,175
Eugene Katchalov 109,900
Ron Levi 106,775
Steve Sung 105,800
John Kincaid 105,600
Peter Neff 104,275
Jimmy Dowda 103,925
Steven Koplow 103,000
Mike Sexton 101,325
Edwin Ting 101,000
Roy Winston 101,000
John Hennigan 100,250
Alex Melnikow 99,775



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