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Raymer, Haxton to hit ESPN tonight

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

It sort of feels like we just left the Amazon Room. We can still smell the burgers from the Poker Kitchen, see the thousands of players, and hear the countless bad beat stories. It feels like yesterday (instead of a couple of weeks ago).

Well, now it's time to go back.

If you live somewhere you can pick up ESPN, you'll be happy to know coverage of the $40,000 WSOP Anniversary tournament kicks off tonight. If you're a faithful reader (and if you're not, shame on you), you'll remember that PokerStars' own Greg Raymer and Isaac Haxton happened to be sitting at the final table of that event.

Now, we're all too aware that there are people out there who like to go in fresh. They avoid any internet coverage of the WSOP, stay as far from Vegas as they can, don't read Twitter, and lock themselves in a closet from June until late July. That's to say, we understand you don't want us to spoil this one for you.

If you'd like to read along as you watch tonight, we have full coverage. Pop along here, scroll down and enjoy.

Otherwise, just watch tonight and enjoy. Here's a preview from ESPN.

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, PokerStars news, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, gregraymer, isaachaxton | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: PokerStars’ Isaac Haxton runner-up for $1.1million

Monday, June 1st, 2009

It was a classic heads-up battle. After busting Greg Raymer in third place, PokerStars player Isaac Haxton went head-to-head with Russia's Vitaly Lunkin with a 2:1 chip advantage. It sounds a lot, but these things change quickly. And that's exactly what happened - quite a number of times as the lead switched repeatedly.

The two were locked for hours trying to determine who would collect the $1,891,012 first prize, but in the end Lunkin, who won the PokerStars RPT Moscow event only a few weeks ago, dealt the final blow when his aces held up against Haxton's flopped bottom pair and flush draw. Lunkin had bested 200 others, the world's top no-limit players among them, to grab the bracelet.

Isaac Haxton

A litlle earlier his aces had been cracked when Haxton hit a five-outer on the river to regain the chip lead. But a double up soon after, then the winning aces hand, meant he took the crown - and his second WSOP bracelet to whoops of delight from his supporters on the rail.

Haxton, a renowned online and tournament player, had impressed with his play in this $40,000 buy-in event, staged in recognition of this being the 40th annual WSOP jamboree. He confirms his status even more, and will be a force to watch for the rest of the series.

The story tonight could have been so different, not just for Haxton, but also for Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer, who had been desperate to secure his second WSOP bracelet after winning the Main Event in 2004. The Fossilman came so close, but lost a huge all-in against Haxton - 5-5 v 9-9 - to send him tumbling to the rail, albeit with a $774,927 cash.

Team PokerStars Holland Pro Lex Veldhuis started the final table big in chips, but never got going, ending his day in seventh place for $277,940 when he walked his A-7 into Raymer's pocket kings.

Congratulations to Vitaly Lunkin on a superb performance.

All photos © Joe Giron, IMPDI

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, isaachaxton | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Haxton uses “One Time Chip” to stay alive

Monday, June 1st, 2009

We've seen it used in Europe, South America, and now here for the first time at the WSOP in Las Vegas - yes, the PokerStars Blog One Time Chip has made an appearance and done its work for PokerStars player Isaac Haxton, who used it to double up and stay alive during heads-up of the $40,000 no limit.

We introduced the chip at EPT Copenhagen - see its explanation here - and since then it has helped countless players around the world*.

But none could have been as high profile as this - Isaac Haxton was trailing heads up against Russia's Vitaly Lunkin and got all in on a board showing K-5-3-6.

Lunkin: [as][ad]
Haxton: [ks][10s]

Haxton was in a world of trouble and praying for his tournament life, needing another king or a ten.

"This would be an appropriate moment to use my one time," he said.

At that, all his supporters in the crowd started chanting: "One time, one time."

The PokerStars Blog One Time Chip did its magic, and a second ten landed on the river, shooting Haxton back into the heads-up lead.

The only downside of our chip is that he is not allowed to use the "One time" again for the rest of the event, according to our trademarked rules.

Isaac Haxton

This heads-up battle is turning into a marathon, with the lead is chopping and changing all the time.

* Probably an exaggeration.

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, pokerstarsblogonetimechip | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Haxton busts Raymer for heads-up chip lead

Monday, June 1st, 2009

We're heads-up, and PokerStars player Isaac Haxton has more than a 2:1 chip lead after busting first Daniel Stern and then Greg Raymer in the biggest pot of the tournament so far.

Stern went in fourth place for a $548,315 payout after getting on the wrong end of Haxton in two successive hands. First he open limped on the button and when Haxton - the short stack at the time - shoved, he called.

Stern: [5h][5c]
Haxton: [kc][7c]

The flop was [ac][6s][3c] opening up loads of doors for Haxton - and the turn of [9c] gave him the pot, doubling up to 6,530,000.

It left Stern perilously short on 1,450,000, and the next hand it was all over. This time Stern shoved with [qh][10c] and was called by Haxton with [as][kh]. No help for Stern and his tremendous run in the $40,000 no limit event was over.

Isaac Haxton

That left the three survivors - Raymer, Haxton and Vitaly Lunkin - more or less neck-and-neck in chips:

Isaac Haxton, PokerStars player, 8,270,000
Greg Raymer, Team PokerStars Pro, 8,125,000
Vitaly Lunkin, 7,620,000

But then a monster, monster hand saw Haxton bust Raymer and take a huge chip lead over Russia's Lunkin. Raymer raised to 400,000 on the button, and Haxton re-raised to 1,250,000. Raymer was having none of it, and shoved for 8,105,000 in total. Haxton called.

Raymer: [5h][5d]
Haxton: [9d][9h]

The board ran out K-Q-10-3-3 and the Fossilman became extinct - signing his Fossil card protector as a souvenir for Haxton.

Greg Raymer, with Haxton behind

It had been a sensational run for Raymer, who came so close to picking up his second bracelet after winning the world championship back in 2004. While he'll be devastated to have got so close, his third place prize of $774,927 should go some way to dulling the pain.

Straight after being knocked out, he moved a few yards away to the Champions Invitational event where he had been blinded away, and promptly busted from there, too.

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Raymer multi-tables during boxing bout

Monday, June 1st, 2009

The $40,000 event is turning into a heavyweight boxing match with all four fighters slugging it out in the ring until the last man is left standing. First Daniel Stern found himself on the ropes, then PokerStars player Isaac Haxton, but no-one has suffered that knockout blow... yet

While three came back after a dinner break to re-fuel, Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer decided to play on... on the neighbouring Champions Invitational event, where he stayed for an orbit or two to keep his chip stack alive.

Greg Raymer

The Fossilman, who says he will sign and hand over his card-protector fossil to whoever knocks him out of the $40K (if anyone), currently holds the chip lead with 8,385,000, thanks in no small part to flopping a wheel against Daniel Stern. Raymer held [2d][5d] and was loving the [as][4c][3s] flop, more so when Stern called off his flop and river bets.

PokerStars player Haxton is the one currently with a bloody nose, bottom of the four players with 3,245,000. He lost a chunk when he raised Stern's limp and Lunkin's call to one million and had to fold to Vitaly Lunkin's all-in reply.

In fact, the only player of the four not to have got into any dramas so far today is Lunkin, a WSOP bracelet winner who also polished off the PokerStars RPT Moscow tournament a few weeks ago.

At the start of level 28 they're facing blinds of 80,000-160,000 (20,000), meaning it shouldn't be too long before someone receives a whopping right hook on the chin and is knocked out.

Chip stacks:
Greg Raymer, Team PokerStars Pro, 8,385,000
Vitaly Lunkin, 7,410,000
Daniel Stern, 4,975,000
Isaac Haxton, PokerStars player, 3,245,000

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Isaac Haxton retakes chip lead, four left

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

PokerStars player Isaac Haxton, the young New Yorker, has retaken the chip lead after busting Justin Bonomo in fifth place. We're now down to four-handed, with both Haxton and Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer fighting with Vitaly Lunkin and Daniel Stern for the bracelet - and nearly $1.9 million.

Haxton is no stranger to final tables: he finished runner up in the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $861,000, came second in the PokerStars EPT London high roller last year, and has three other WSOP final table cashes to his name. In his short career he has put together $1.4 million in tournament winnings - and if he holds on here for a few more hours he'll at least double that.

Isaac Haxton

The hand against Bonomo was something of a cooler. Bonomo raised to 255,000 and Haxton disguised his pocket aces with a flat call from the small blind. Raymer came along from the big blind as well, and they saw a flop of [10d][9h][3h]. Haxton bet 300,000, Raymer got out of the way, and Bonomo moved all in for 2,775,000 with [jd][jc].

He got the bad news when Haxton insta called with the rockets, and nothing changed on the turn or river, sending Bonomo to the rail with the consolation of a $413,166 pay day.

*********

Congratulations to Team PokerStars Germany Pro Sebastian Ruthenberg, who just missed out on a final table when he busted in tenth place in the $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better event, cashing $16,829.

Sebastian Ruthenberg

This result takes his tournament winnings to over the $3 million mark, a fantastic achievement for the young pro, who won the PokerStars Barcelona EPT last September.

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, isaachaxton | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Veldhuis out, Raymer clear leader

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Team PokerStars Holland Pro Lex Veldhuis has been busted by Greg Raymer, but at least he has the consolation of a $277,940 - and the comforting shoulder of Evelyn Ng. While Lex sloped off after his thrilling run at the $40,000 no limit title, Raymer has shot into the clear chip lead with near 8 million, more than double the average of the five remaining players.

Veldhuis had found himself short for the first time since the 201 players first sat down on Thursday - and found what he thought was the right time push. Raymer had bet 200,000 and the Dutchman moved all in from the small blind for his last 1,265,000 with [ad][7d]. His timing could not have been worse - Raymer insta-called with [kd][ks]. The [jh][6c][2c][qc][10s] brought not surprises.

Lex Veldhuis

While Veldhuis finished in seventh, Alec Torelli busted soon after in sixth for $329,730, when his [ah][2h] was outgunned by PokerStars player Isaac Haxton's [as][10d], and remained so on the Q-J-8-Q-5 board. That sent Haxton up to around 4.6 million, in third spot behind Raymer and Russia's Vitaly Lunkin.

Since then, Haxton has picked up enough blinds and antes to take him to 5,200,000 - and then he and Raymer tangled in a pot that the New Yorker was lucky to chop, when his A-Q was up against Raymer's 7-8 on a board showing 9-7-7-9 - then the 9 on the river evened things up.

Latest chip counts, level 26, blinds 50,000-100,000 (10,000). Five players left:

Greg Raymer, Team PokerStars Pro, 7,740,000
Vitaly Lunkin, 5,660,000
Isaac Haxton, Pokerstars player, 5,200,000
Justin Bonomo, 4,865,000
Daniel Stern, 2,200,000
Alec Torelli, $329,730
Lex Veldhuis, Team PokerStars Holland Pro, $277,940
Noah Schwartz, $246,834
Ted Forrest, $230,317

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, lexveldhuis | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Haxton and Raymer trade chip lead

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

We've lost Ted Forrest and Noah Schwartz already (Forrest out to Schwartz who then busted himself against Justin Bonomo), but the big news is Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer, a huge crowd favourite, has taken the chip lead from Isaac Haxton after a monster all-in pot.

Raymer had just lost a big pot when he doubled up Justin Bonomo, but then this happened: Haxton raised to 225,000 and Raymer made the call, putting on his trademark glasses. The flop came [9s][6h][5s], Haxton checked, then moved all for 2,560,000 when Raymer bet 400,000. Call...

Raymer: [6c][6d]
Haxton: [jh][jd]

The Fossilman was a mile ahead with a set of sixes, and needed to dodge one of two remaining jacks. The turn was [5h] and the river [kd], giving him a huge double up and the chip lead with 5.7 million. Haxton, who first learnt to play poker five years ago, slips down to 3,825,000.

Isaac Haxton, left, and Greg Raymer

Forrest busted in ninth for $230,317 when his [10h][jd] failed to overtake Noah Schwartz' [3s][3c] on a 9-K-2-8-4 board. Soon after, Schwartz himself busted for $246,834 when his [ah][kd] ran into Greg Raymer's pocket aces.

Chips in level 25, blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000). Seven players left:

Greg Raymer, Team PokerStars Pro, 6,410,000
Vitaly Lunkin, 4,340,000
Justin Bonomo, 3,795,000
Isaac Haxton, Pokerstars player, 3,405,000
Daniel Stern, 3,115,000
Lex Veldhuis, Team PokerStars Holland Pro, 1,660,000
Alec Torelli, 1,555,000
Noah Schwartz, $246,834
Ted Forrest, $230,317

************

Past world champions are now gathering and being presented to the crowd for the start of the first Champions Invitational, playing a two-day freeroll for ultimate bragging rights, and a restored 1970 red Corvette. It's currently on display in the Rio - a fine machine, but one, I suspect, Greg Raymer, would have trouble being comfortable in.

Not that it's a major issue right now - he'll be blinded off in the Invitational while he continues the hunt for his second bracelet in the $40,000 event.

We're well represented in this star-studded event. Along with Raymer (2004), we have two other Team PokerStars Pro past world champions in Joe Hachem (2005) and Chris Moneymaker (2003), as well as Friend of PokerStars Tom McEvoy (1983).

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, gregraymer, isaachaxton | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: $40,000 final table under way

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Under the lights of a sparkling television set, our nine final table players chat nervously together as they are introduced to a packed crowd filling every available space to catch the first major final of this year's WSOP. The finalists have carved through a 201-player field to get here, and each already have $230,317 locked up as a result. Nice, but the big prize comes for outlasting everyone - $1,891,012, tantalisingly laid out in bricks of bills just yards from the action.

The table is awash with talent. We have Team PokerStars Pros Greg Raymer, the 2004 Main Event champion now on his sixth WSOP final table, Lex Veldhuis, the Dutch player who wanted everyone to know "the Europeans are here", and PokerStars player Isaac Haxton, who came second at the PCA two year ago for $861,789. Haxton is a philosophy graduate from New York - who said poker was not a thinking man's game?

Raymer is clearly the crowd favourite - as the players were introduced by tournament director Jack Effel, it was the Fossilman who got by the far the biggest cheer. He's being backed by the general poker community, too, which sees a victory for him as being a another big step in cementing the reputation of the game.

That's not to take anything away from the other players, who all seem to have pockets of support in the stands. Veldhuis has some colorful and attractive backing in the shape of his girlfriend Evelyn Ng, and fellow Team PokerStars Pro Maridu Mayrinck from Brazil. The online star, who goes under the name of 'RaSZi' has banked more than $100,000 in live tournaments to date, but he'll be a far richer man by the end of today.

After shuffle up and deal the early stages have been tight - we did not see a flop for several orbits, although Daniel Stern moved all in to pick up the blinds and antes, starting today at 30,000-60,000 (5,000).

Here are the chip counts at the start of play, level 24:

Isaac Haxton, Pokerstars player, 5,820,000
Vitaly Lunkin, 4,565
Lex Veldhuis, Team PokerStars Holland Pro, 3,525,000
Greg Raymer, Team PokerStars Pro, 3,345,000
Alec Torelli, 2,755,000
Daniel Stern, 1,590,000
Justin Bonomo, 1,530,000
Noah Schwartz, 666,000
Ted Forrest, 425,000

*******

During all the excitement of the $40,000 final table, and the general madness of the $1,000 event, we'll be keeping a close watch on Team PokerStars Germany Pro Sebastian Ruthenberg, currently in the final 13 of the $1,500 Omaha Hi/Low 8 or Better and looking good for a final table place.

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseriesofpoker, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

WSOP Event #2: Team PokerStars Pros Greg Raymer and Lex Veldhuis make $40K final

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

The final table bubble took a long time to burst - over an hour of play, plus one more for dinner as Tony G insisted on taking the break rather than play on. But while he came back with his stomach full, he left again with his wallet half empty - he was the man to bust, leaving nine others to come back tomorrow to fight for the bracelet and the $1,891,012 first prize.

Greg Raymer

And what a day it will be for PokerStars. Two of the $40,000 event final tablists are Team PokerStars Pros: Greg Raymer, the 2004 WSOP Champion, and Lex 'RaSZi' Veldhuis, the online specialist from Holland. While Raymer will get all the attention, Veldhuis will be happy to remain under the radar, knowing that he's already guaranteed at least $230,317, by far the biggest payday of his live tournament career.

Veldhuis, apart from a blip that lasted no more than a level, was hovering around the chip lead all day, just as he had yesterday. At the start of play he told me: "It's going to be a good day," and that's exactly how it turned out.

Lex Veldhuis

He sits third in chips behind Isaac Haxton and Vitaly Lunkin, who won the PokerStars RPT event in Moscow just a few weeks ago. Right behind him is Raymer. He'll be having huge backing tomorrow - not just from the railbirds because he is a famous face, but from the poker community at large: Raymer winning a big event like this would be excellent for poker in terms of publicity.

The Fossilman won't let any of that expectation worry him though. He'll play his usual game, one that has served him so well over the years, and one that saw him not so much cruise through today, but certainly get through it without too many mini dramas. Even getting his aces cracked twice did not trouble him. His place on the final table means he'll likely have to miss the Tournament of Champions, due to begin two hours later, where all previous World Champions are invited to play in a freeroll to win a beautiful restored red Corvette.

When the final nine sit down for the 2pm start tomorrow, their chips stacks will look like this:

Isaac Haxton, 5,955,000
Vitaly Lunkin, 456,5000
Lex Veldhuis, Team PokerStars Holland Pro, 3,805,000
Greg Raymer, Team PokerStars Pro, 3,345,000
Alec Torelli, 2,340,000
Justin Bonomo, 1,685,000
Dani Stern, 1,300,000
Noah Schwartz, 660,000
Ted Forrest, 560,000

We'll also keep an eye on day 1B of the $1,000 No limit event, plus the final table of the $1,500 Omaha Hi/Low 8 or Better, where Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari is still going strong with about 50 players left.

Posted in $40K No Limit, 2009, 2009worldseries, Pokerstars, World Series of Poker, gregraymer, lexveldhuis | Comments Off

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Raymer, Haxton to hit ESPN tonight

WSOP Event #2: PokerStars’ Isaac Haxton runner-up for $1.1million

WSOP Event #2: Haxton uses “One Time Chip” to stay alive

WSOP Event #2: Haxton busts Raymer for heads-up chip lead

WSOP Event #2: Raymer multi-tables during boxing bout

WSOP Event #2: Isaac Haxton retakes chip lead, four left

WSOP Event #2: Veldhuis out, Raymer clear leader

WSOP Event #2: Haxton and Raymer trade chip lead

WSOP Event #2: $40,000 final table under way

WSOP Event #2: Team PokerStars Pros Greg Raymer and Lex Veldhuis make $40K final