2008 WPT Festa Al Lago Main Event, from the Bellagio in Las Vegas - Day 1A Coverage
Monday, 20th of October 2008 10:45 PM
A total of 101 bags were tallied at the end of the night, meaning 52 of the original 153 found a way to dump a triple stack of chips on the first day. Here are the official chip counts, courtesy of www.worldpokertour.com:
1. Antonio Esfandiari - 313,000
2. Nicholas Sliwinski - 209,800
3. Jennifer Tilly - 195,050
4. Jeremiah Vinsant - 184,575
5. Andrew Robl - 173,450
6. Johannes Van Til - 151,000
7. Jason Mercier - 145,500
8. Joe Sebok - 142,050
9. Johnny Chan - 138,000
10. Kagawa Masaaki - 123,150
11. Isaac Baron - 116,825
12. Chau Giang - 115,025
13. Clenceau Calixto - 111,675
14. Kevin Albers - 107,575
15. Allen Cunningham - 105,825
16. Blake Cahail - 105,575
17. Olav Prinz Von Sachsen - 101,700
18. Daniel Negreanu - 99,325
19. Michael DeMichele - 97,775
20. Chad Layne - 97,575
21. Matt Stout - 97,425
22. Will Failla - 96,000
23. Abraham Mosseri - 95,900
24. Osmin Dardon - 94,500
25. Doyle Brunson - 94,200
26. Isaac Haxton - 91,225
27. Randall Skaggs - 91,075
28. Keith Ferrera - 89,075
29. William Mietz - 87,000
30. Jonathan Tare - 86,650
31. Iain Somers - 81,275
32. Shawn Cunix - 79,350
33. Stan Wasserkrug - 79,125
34. John Hennigan - 76,825
35. Alec Torelli - 76,450
36. James Sowers, Jr. - 75,975
37. Mike Wattel - 75,550
38. J.C. Tran - 71,550
39. Jonathan Little - 70,250
40. Lee Markholt - 67,800
41. Marco Traniello - 67,725
42. John Juanda - 66,925
43. Peter Neff - 65,575
44. Zach Clark - 62,225
45. Scotty Nguyen - 62,050
46. Phongthep Thiptinnakon - 61,025
47. John Janason - 60,825
48. Sean Dempsey - 60,250
49. Eric Liu - 60,000
50. Justin Bonomo - 59,675
51. Randy Haddox - 59,200
52. Scott Seiver - 57,250
53. Hoyt Corkins - 55,400
54. Ted Lawson - 55,000
55. John Monette - 54,800
56. Matt Keikoan - 54,275
57. Beth Shak - 54,225
58. Chris Bjorin - 53,975
59. Adam Junglen - 51,925
60. Paul Kroh - 50,525
61. "Syracuse" Chris Tsiprailidis - 49,825
62. Karga Holt - 46,625
63. Tu Van Huynh - 43,575
64. Theo Tran - 43,025
65. Scott Mayfield - 41,425
66. Markus Gonsalves - 41,125
67. Ron Levi - 39,525
68. Ryan Aiken - 38,800
69. Daniel Alaei - 38,800
70. Erik Seidel - 38,550
71. Gary Haglund - 38,025
72. Will Wilkinson - 37,250
73. Cliff "Johnny Bax" Josephy - 36,975
74. Alan Smurfit - 36,375
75. Tom Nguyen - 36,000
76. Phil Ivey - 34,850
77. Jennifer Harman - 33,125
78. Tom "Durrr" Dwan - 32,625
79. Brian Buckley - 31,500
80. Matt Graham - 31,225
81. Michele McLeod - 31,050
82. Adam Katz - 30,700
83. Mark Newhouse - 30,200
84. Greg "FBT" Mueller - 26,575
85. Alexandre Luz - 26,175
86. Robert Tracey - 25,375
87. Daniel Woodward - 23,675
88. Adam Levy - 23,375
89. Michael Kucinski - 22,475
90. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson - 22,400
91. Kyle Wilson - 22,225
92. Charles Kelley - 22,150
93. Al Adler - 21,675
94. Tony Grappo - 21,000
95. Paul Smith - 20,875
96. Andre Akkari - 18,950
97. Chris Bell - 18,600
98. Steve Sanzone - 14,775
99. Joanne "J.J." Liu - 14,350
100. Thomas Burgess - 7,450
101. Layne Flack - 6,775
Chip Average - 68,168
Be back Tuesday at 12 p.m. PDT as a new batch of players try their luck during Day 1B.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 08:45 PM
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| Esfandiari | |
Even though Tournament Director Jack McClelland was in street clothes after getting off work early, they continued his tradition stopping the clock in the day's closing minutes and drawing a card to find out how many hands each table will play til play closes. There were some eight-handed tables, so it was up to Doyle Brunson to draw from an eight card deck. The crowd let out a collective moan after Dolly drew the 8, meaning ocho more hands til we can say beunos noches.
It appears WPT poster boy Antonio Esfandiari is sitting behind the big stack. The chip counts show that the Magician has more than 260,000 in chips, but that's not official. The official chip counts will be posted here when they are made available.
Right on Esfandiari's heels is his buddy Phil Laaks better half, Jennifer Tilly. Thanks in part to Alan Goehring running his 99 into her aces, she's now over the 200K mark.
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| Jennifer Tilly | |
Tilly's road didn't get much easier after they replaced Goehring and Hellmuth's seats at the table. Their two seats were filled by Scotty Nguyen and Michael Demichele. The two met just months ago in the controversial $50K HORSE final table. Demichele would have to settle for runner-up, but top an inhebriated Nguyen in the class category, as Nguyen's antics may have cost the former Main Event winner a few fans. So far, the two have been on their best behavior. Don't expect any fireworks between them in Day 2, unless luck brings them back together after the redraw.
Andy Bloch, Eli Elezra, Tom Schneider, Dan Shak and Gavin Smith won't have to worry about the redraw. They are among those who managed to burn through 45K in less than five levels.
Play resumes tomorrow, Tuesday, at 12 p.m. PDT with Day 1B. Today's survivors will get a day off before returning Wednesday for Day 2. Join us tomorrow for more WPT Festa Al Lago live coverage from the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 07:30 PM
A couple of the Phils are gone.
Phil Hellmuth was the first, as he hit the bricks in the closing minutes of level 4. Hellmuth held A-Q and shipped it after a Q-high flop. Will Fallia would make the call to turn over KK. Hellmuth wasn't able to muster up a Q or ace and was bounced, having played less than two full levels today.
Phil Laak would make it through the break, only to fall in level 5, just after moving to his buddy and "I Bet You" co-star Antonio Esfandiari's table.
Phil Ivey appears to be alive and well, now carrying the hopes of Phils everywhere.
Other non-Phils to be busted; Freddy Deeb and Brandon Adams. The two have taken to the high stakes area in the Bellagio poker room (not quite Bobby's Room), sharing a table with WPT Borgata champ Vivek Rajkumar, Michael Phelps and others.
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| Danny Wong and Adam Junglen | |
While typing this post, I overheard Danny Wong telling somebody over the phone that he had busted. Turns out Wong called off the rest of his stack on a K-high board with top-top, only to have Isaac Haxton turn over K-3, having turned his second pair, 3's.
There's about an hour left in Level 5, the last level of the day. Blinds are at 300-600 with a 75 ante.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 06:30 PM
So Phil Hellmuth is here, but for real this time. Apparently, he was only making a breif cameo earlier, showing off his new Olympic buddy. He's now ditched the running clothes for his now standard leather jacket and cap. He made sure to let everyone know he still had 38K of his starting stack when he showed up. After winning a quick pot, he was right back to 45K. But the Poker Brat will have his work cut out for him, as not only is he sitting on Jennifer Tilly's right, but Will "The Thrill" Failla, J.J. Liu, Freddy Deeb and Alan Goehring are bellied up to the same table.
Suprisingly, even with the deep stacks, some of the tables are starting to break. This means a lot of people are burning through 45K. Among the handful of busted players are David Singer, James Van Alstyne, James "mig.com" Mackey, John Gale and Carlos Mortensen. Mortensen was the latest to go, after calling off the rest of his stack holding 8-6, which was only good for middle pair after the turn. He was in trouble after his opponent, John "World" Hennigan, turned over K-K. El Matador couldn't suck out on the river and the first man to claim both a WSOP and WPT Main Event title is gone in Day 1A.
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| Negreanu and Andrew Robl | |
Daniel Negreanu ain't going out like that. He proved that by laying down kings, face-up before the flop.
After a couple raises, Matt Keikoan shipped the rest of his stack in, worth about 30,000. Negreanu would take a dip in the tank, before deciding to muck his cowboys face-up, for everyone to see. Keikoan showed him just one card, an ace. Negreanu had better save those chips anyways, since he's now sandwiched between Jesus Ferguson and Andrew Robl.
Daniel Alaei lost about 40K in chips after his opponent turned a flush. Alaei would call his opponent's all in holding Q 9 on a Q 9 7 board. The 10 on the turn completed the flush and had Alaei looking to fill up on the river. After the 6 bricked off, a disgusted Alaei watched the monster pot shipped to the two seat. Not to fear, since Alaei still has about 30K in front of him.
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| JC Tran and Blake Cahail | |
"November Nine" member Chino Rheem is not playing today, but making his rounds, visiting his buddies. One Main Event final tabler is playing today and that is Scott Montgomery. Montgomery has nearly doubled his starting stack and looks to be sitting behind 80K in chips.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 05:30 PM
Players have returned from yet another 15-minute break. Play has resumed in Level 4, with 50 chip antes to go along with the 200-400 blinds.
Before the break, JC Tran was able to double up. The new bracelet owner would get his last 20K in preflop, holding KK against JJ. Tran was able to fade a jack, meaning he's right back where he started, right around 45K.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 04:45 PM
Registration has closed the day and it looks like 153 players showed up for Day 1A.
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| Brunson and Phelps - even Dolly can get starstruck | |
Arriving late, as always, is Phil Hellmuth. The "Poker Brat" returned from a work out to Level 3 and only a slightly dented starting stack. Before making his way to his seat, which is on Jennifer Tilly's left, Hellmuth would make his rounds, saying hi to anyone and everyone that will acknowledge him. This proved not to be a problem, as Phil had an olympic legend by his side.
Olypic record holder Michael Phelps is in the house. He had been on the rail for a few minutes, but the unshaved superstar went largely unnoticed in his basketball shorts, flip flops and hat. Phelps has been playing some events at Caesars. Hellmuth even passed stories of Phelps' poker game to some of his acquaintances. He told the table of Erik Seidel, John Juanda and Greg Meuller about how Michael finished 8th in a $1,500 event, getting it in with AK at the final table preflop, only to get rivered by a player holding KJ. Unfortunately, Phelps wasn't able to play the Festa Main Event, as he is leaving town tomorrow.
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| Seidel survives | |
From eight-time gold medal winners to eight-time bracelet winners. Erik Seidel sits fourth on the all-time bracelet list, but has already found himself all in in Day 1A.
With 3 5 6 7 on the board, and over 2K already in the pot, John Juanda would fold to a 1,100 bet by Meuller. Alexandre Gomes would call on the button, only to see Seidel shove his lat 7,900 in from the SB. Meuller would give up in the BB, followed by Gomes, giving Seidel the pot and the chips to fight another day. Or at least enough chips to last a little longer on the first day.
Tom "durrr" Dwan was able to double up. Dwan would get the rest of his stack in on a K-J-3-2-3 board, sending his opponent into the tank. Eventually, "durrr" would get a call and turn over AK. His opponent mucked and Dwan is just under 80K.
Here are the top notable chip stacks, courtesy of www.worldpokertour.com:
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| Dwan doubles | |
Antonio Esfandiari -- 145,000
Johnny Chan -- 100,000
Phil Ivey -- 92,000
Phil Laak -- 87,000
Joe Sebok -- 87,000
JJ Liu -- 84,000
Danny Wong -- 83,000
Ted Lawson -- 82,000
Chau Giang -- 82,000
Tom Dwan -- 78,000
Monday, 20th of October 2008 03:45 PM
We're about to start Level 3, with blinds
of 100-200, plus the 25 ante. The plan is to play five levels today.
The room added some more firepower, as Chris "Jesus" Ferguson showed up before the end of Level 2. Raymond Davis won't be back for Wednesday's Day 2. Davis fell victim to the cruel set-over-set situation. He sent his stack across the table to his good buddy Phil Ivey after his set of sixes ran into a set of queens.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 02:50 PM
Players returned from break to see a couple new tables added. We're now at 16 tables. Allen Cunningham, Brandon Adams and Tom "durrr" Dwan were seated at the 15th table. After a draw to make all tables nine-handed, the trio will have 2007 WSOP bracelet winner James "mig.com" Mackey and 2008 bracelet winner Scott Seiver to deal with. Andrew "good2cu" Robl and Corwin Cole are among the fashionably late that will occupy the 16th table.
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| Ivey | |
Eli Elezra also showed up late. He finds himself at his buddy Doyle's table. The two are the epotome of Bobby's Room regulars and probably itching to get the big game up and running a few times this week.
Another big gamer, Phil Ivey, took a big hit at the hands of Marco Traniello. A preflop raising war saw Ivey ship 2/3 of his stack to Marco after running his JJ into Mr. Jennifer Harman's AA. The board of rags wasn't a help to Ivey, who lost most of his stack, but not done. Traniello is over 60K after dragging in the pot.
Anna Wroblewski also ran into a big hand, but unfortunately, hers was for her tournament life. Wroblewski, who was coming off a prelim win here at the Bellagio, tanked, before calling off the rest of her stack on an A-6-2-K-2 board. Her opponent would quickly show 22, having rivered quads, and showed Anna the door.
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| Negreanu | |
Matt Keikoan, who captured a bracelet in June, wasn't looking to exit early. He would call a preflop reraise by Daniel Negreanu to see the dealer fan out A 10 Q. He would then call another 1,500 to see the 10 turn. Now it was 4,200 to go. Keikoan begins to eyeball Negreanu's stack. Kid Poker exposes the chips he had behind, but Keikoan tells him he's "not looking at your stack. I'm looking at the bet. You got a big hand? You bluffing?"
Keikoan would eventually fold A K face up. "I probably made a bad laydown."
Negreanu does him the 'favor' of showing the Ac. "Maybe, but what hands can you beat there?" asked Negreanu.
"A-J, maybe," answered Keikoan, as he watched the four-time bracelet winner stack about 12K.
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| David Singer and Phil Laak | |
Phil Laak is one table over, and not surprisingly making noise. Laak would lay down second pair to a big bet after a lowly deuce turned. His opponent would show the set of 2's. Laak grabs the ducks from the muck and holded them near the 2 on the board. "I knew you turned that. I'm a genius!"
Blinds are 100-200.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 01:45 PM
Level 1 is in the books. It looks like we're around 135 entrants, but with registration open for another level, we should see a few more faces in the Fontana Lounge. Players will be back in 15 minutes.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 01:00 PM
After about an hour of play, 14 of the 17 available tournament tables in the Fontana room are full. Talk about a stacked field. Here is a look at some of the tough table draws:
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| Harman and Mercier | |
Right when you enter the room, you can see two-time Main Event winner Johnny Chan battle youngsters Theo Tran and Matt Staudt, as well as veteran player Dan Shak.
The two of the hottest tournament players showed up to the Bellagio for the first of two Day 1 flights. Jason Mercier followed up his EPT San Remo win with another final table at the EPT Barcelona open, where he couldn't turn his gian stack into another win. He would then take down the EPT High Roller event in London, topping John Juanda for a big payday. Today, Mercier will have Jennifer Harman on his immediate right and Joe Sebok two to his left.
In addition to the EPT London High Roller runner-up, John Juanda is fresh off a dramatic win at the WSOPE Main Event, which gave Juanda the fourth bracelet of his career. He has his work cut out for him today. Not only is WPT stud Jonathan Little on his immediate left, but Erik Seidel, Greg "FBT" Meuller, James "mig.com" Mackey and Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy are also on the same patch of felt.
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| Juanda, mid-massage | |
Juanda would watch James Mackey get invovled in a big pot early with Team PokerStars Pro member Alexandre Gomes. Mackey had his QQ outflopped by Gomes' AQ on a J-2-A flop, but after the K turn and 10 river, the two would chop it up, each having found a runner-runner broadway straight.
Daniel Negreanu is in the house, just one table away from buddies Phil Ivey and Gavin Smith. Negreanu ventured over to the table to tell of his horrendous golf round of 112, telling Ivey that if they were to play, Ivey "would absolutely kill him." Now word on if they settled on a tee time for Tuesday.
Negreanu would pick up a nice pot early, after his 6 3 found a straight on the turn, but give some of those chips right back to the table after his two pair were trumped by an opponents flopped set of threes.
JC Tran and Andy Bloch showed up a little late and got seated at an alternate table. After a few other stranglers showed up and a couple players were moved to the table, Tran and Bloch now had to look across there once empty table at Billy Baxter, Francious Seffadine and Kevin Saul.
Also in action, Doyle Brunson, Jennifer Tilly, Tom Schneider, Hoyt Corkins, Beth Shak, Marco Traniello, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Carlos Mortensen and David Singer.
Monday, 20th of October 2008 12:00 PM
We are just moments from the start of Day 1A play. They haven't opened the doors to the Fontana Lounge yet, meaning 100+ pros are hovering around the tournament area until the gates open. The last time the Festa Al Lago was around (2006), 432 players showed up with the $15,000 buy-in in hand. Many in the poker industry are expecting 150-200 Day 1A players, with a larger crowd expected tomorrow for Day 1B.
Players will start with a triple-stack, some 45,000 chips strong. Blinds will be at a measley 50-100 for the first 90-minute level. We'll be back after the cards are in the air at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Poker Pages' live coverage of the $15,000 buy-in 2008 WPT Festa Al Lago main event begins Monday, October 20th, at noon PDT. A preview for this event can be found by clicking here.
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