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Archive for the ‘Main event’ Category
WSOP Main Event: November Nine chips
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
The final table of the World Series Main Event is set. The players listed below will return in November to play for the Championship bracelet and the near-$9m first prize.
PokerStars players who cashed in the Main Event can be found on the prize-winners' page and you can review all of our World Series coverage on our dedicated World Series of Poker page.
We will be back in November for all the action from the final table.
| Player | Country | Status | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darvin Moon | USA | 58930000 | |
| Eric Buchman | USA | 34800000 | |
| Steven Begleiter | USA | 29885000 | |
| Jeff Shulman | USA | 19580000 | |
| Joseph Cada | USA | 13215000 | |
| Kevin Schaffel | USA | PokerStars sponsored player | 12390000 |
| Antoine Saout | France | 9500000 | |
| Phil Ivey | USA | 9765000 | |
| James Akenhead | UK | PokerStars qualifier | 6800000 |
WSOP Main Event: New November Nine
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
It started with the sun high in the blue Nevada sky and was ended this evening by a man named Moon. The players, organisers and media expected to finish in the early hours of Thursday with daylight dawning in Las Vegas. Instead it was wrapped up by 11pm. But the November Nine are now known, named and preparing themselves for 16 weeks of preparation for the final table of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker.
These are the players:
Seat 1: Darvin Moon - 58,930,000
Seat 2: James Akenhead - PokerStars qualifier - 6,800,000
Seat 3: Phil Ivey - 9,765,000
Seat 4: Kevin Schaffel - Pokerstars sponsored player - 12,390,000
Seat 5: Steven Begleiter - 29,885,000
Seat 6: Eric Buchman - 34,800,000
Seat 7: Joe Cada - 13,215,000
Seat 8: Antoine Saout - 9,500,000
Seat 9: Jeff Shulman - 19,580,000
Among them, is the PokerStars sponsored player Kevin Schaffel, who like his competitors will soon become a household name.
PokerStars sponsored player Kevin SchaffelSchaffel is a 51-year-old father of two, from Ft Lauderdale, Florida. He describes himself as "a bit more than a recreational poker player" and has the results to prove it, having cashed in the previous two World Series Main Events, two WPT events and the 2008 PCA. Formerly the owner of a printing and mailing firm, which he ran for 30 years, he has recently been pondering his future on the golf course and around the poker tables. After what is now guaranteed to be at least a $1.2m payday in November, the pondering has possibly become a good deal more relaxed.
The New November NineAfter a series of groundhog days, when it seemed as though this would never end, we finally reached the money on day four, only to start another four days to bring us to this point. But in a sense this was already the final stretch. Some campaigns began online weeks ago and will not finish until the second week in November. A summer in Vegas that will now be followed by an autumn on the TV and magazine front pages.
Schaffel in action at the end
Jonathan TamayoThe PokerStars qualifier Jonathan Tamayo was among the first suffering from a short stack and picked his moment to move in behind a raise from James Calderaro. Eric Buchman re-raised to 11 million forcing Calderaro out and Tamayo flipped over his [as][qd] but had clashed with Buchman's [kc][kh]. The [10d][10s][qc] flop wasn't the worst for Tamayo but he needed more. A third king came instead busting Tamayo in 21st place. PokerStars qualifier Andrew Lichtenburger went soon after in 18th place.
Nick Maimone
Nick Maimone set off on a rampage that, had it been bestowed upon him by some higher force at the time of his birth, to be used at the moment of his choice, he couldn't have found a better time. For a short spell Maimone seemed indestructible, first doubling up with queen-ten against queen-jack, then queen-five against pocket jacks, then sevens against tens and a race with queens against ace-king.
Higher providence seemed to be at work for Maimone who had launched himself up to more than 11 million from less than two, until his stack began to dwindle again with 16 left. This time Maimone's all-in was overpowered by the flopped top pair of Eric Buchman, out but rewarded with a hard earned $633,022.
Ben Lamb
Maimone was followed after the dinner break by Ben Lamb in 14th place for $633,022. The PokerStars sponsored player from Las Vegas tangled in his last hand against Jeff Shulman, betting 655,000 pre-flop from the cut off before Shulman raised enough to put Lamb in from the big blind. Lamb called to show [as][js] but Shulman had the upper hand with [ad][ks]. Lamb knew it was over for him by the second card of the flop. Falling [9h][kd][3s] Lamb needed Maimone-style help but by the [7d] turn it was all over.
PokerStars sponsored player Jamie Robbins
By now thoughts of a long night were evaporating. James Calderano soon went in 13th, then one-time chip leader Billy Kopp in 12th after a shock bust out. Just two more eliminations were required when PokerStars player Jamie Robbins moved all-in for 2,350,000 with [kc][qs]. Phil Ivey called with [ah][10h]. Suddenly the Main Event was close to its last table and five faceless cards later, Robbins was gone and the ten remaining shuffled up to the main feature stage.
Minutes later Jordan Smith got his chips in with pocket aces on a flop of [8c][2d][4d]. But he hadn't counted on Darvin Moon making a set of eights. It was over.
The story of the November Nine will be told next. The story of how we got there is now complete.
For a long time Team PokerStars Pros led a charge on records both of the personal kind and those that satisfy the itch of poker historians. Dennis Phillips ran deepest. Last year's third place finisher busted on day seven in 45th place, 33 places ahead of his old rival Peter Eastgate. The reigning champion was on an impossible mission to win back-to-back big ones. It was a thrilling ride, saluted by everyone, but he was flushed out in 78th place.
There were other cashes for the team. Noah Boeken cashed in 96th, former champ Joe Hachem in 104th, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier in 122nd, Thierry van den Berg in 122nd and Benjamin Kang in 246th. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who was sponsored by PokerStars, also recorded his first cash in 186th. Some 113 of the hundreds of PokerStars qualifiers and players cashed in the main event for a combined payout of $7,091,985. Among the top ten per cent of the field from earlier than today were Grayson Ramage (35th), Adam York (41st), Manuel Labandera (44th), Mark Ader (61st) and George Saca (63rd), just part of a long list available here.
We had the excitement of a packed Amazon Room, a potential Eastgate or Hachem double, not to mention the Grammy award winning hip-hopper Nelly rocking the Palms PokerStars party and shaking a few worlds with his show at Rain. We once joked how one of PokerStars' celebrity players was looking for a "Summer of George". Instead, once the dust settles, this will be known as yet another glorious summer of poker.
We'd like to thank you for following the all the news and action on the PokerStars Blog, from the start of the Series 57 events ago all the way through to the early hours of the last day. Poker may be in essence a game for the individual at the table, but away from it it's watched by the world - thanks for relying on us.
Of course it's not quite over. The World Series may pack up and leave the Rio but only for three and a half months when it returns to the Penn and Teller Theater for the November Nine finale. You can count on getting to know the finalists between now and then here on the PokerStars Blog.
Part of that introduction will come thanks to the video blog team who have provided hundreds of videos throughout our World Series coverage. You can watch any or all of them at PokerStars.tv.
We mock what we don't understand and there's nothing we don't understand less than the PokerStars foreign language blogs. But their expertise is second to none - follow their work on the Swedish, German, Dutch and Spanish blogs. You can also recap on events today at the links below.
Until November
Doubling up the hard way
Picking up the flag
Numero one
On the long road
The last supper
A Round on the Almost Final Table
Everyone on the PokerStars blog - Simon Young, Brad Willis, Howard Swains and Stephen Bartley - would like to thank all of those involved in putting in the hard hours and hard work involved in the blog each day since the World Series kicked off back in May. Our thanks to the unrivalled photographic eyes of Joe Giron, the Swedish of Lina, the German of Robin, the Dutch of Steve and the Spanish of Ivan. Also thanks to the video blog team of Hass, Ruairidh, Chris and Steven. Last but not least thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of Mad Harper.
Until November...That's all from us here in Las Vegas. It's been quite a ride. The blog rolls out of town tomorrow on its way to destinations new all over the world. Next stop Moscow and the start of season six on the European Poker Tour.
See you there.
WSOP Main Event: A Round On the Almost Final Table
Thursday, July 16th, 2009Players returned from their dinner break -- their final dinner break as either members of the November Nine or the Non-November Nine -- to play level 33 of the World Series Championship Event. At this point 14 players remained, seven on each table, and I was feeling in the mood for an "A Round With..." post.
When I get in that mood, there's very little that can stop me. And so damn it, here's A Round With The Feature Table as we approach the most business-like end of the business end.
The players were stacked as follows, and the blinds were 120,000-240,000 (30,000).
Seat one: Phil Ivey 7,325,000
Seat two: empty
Seat three: Steven Begleiter 27,260,000
Seat four: Antoine Saout 12,420,000
Seat five: James Akenhead 5,090,000
Seat six: Eric Buchman 28,670,000
Seat seven: Joe Cada 19,465,000
Seat eight: Jamie Robbins 1,340,000
Seat nine: empty
Here's how it panned out:
Hand one - Button with Antoine Saout in seat four
It's folded to Jamie Robbins, who raises and takes the blinds and antes.
Hand two - Button with James Akenhead in seat five
Phil Ivey opens from early position and Joe Cada calls from the big blind. Two players see a flop of [ad][7c][5d], and Cada check-calls Ivey's bet of 800,000. The turn is the [3d] and after Cada checks again, Ivey bets 1,500,000. This time, Cada is persuaded to lay it down. Cue raucous applause from the feature table audience.
Hand three - Button with Eric Buchman in seat six
It's folded to James Akenhead, who raises to 625,000, which is good enough to pinch the blinds and antes.
Hand four - Button with Joe Cada in the seat seven
The action is folded to Cada on the button, who raises to 700,000. Phil Ivey goes nowhere from his big blind and calls. The flop comes [jd][8c][6s] and after going into the tank for a while, Ivey checks. Cada senses weakness and bets 800,000, and Cada's instincts were correct. Ivey gets out the way.
Hand five - Button with Jamie Robbins in seat eight
Eric Buchman flexes his chip-leading muscles and opens the pot to 650,000 from the button. Cada defends his blind, but then check folds when Buchman fires out on the flop of [9d][8h][qd].
Hand six - Button with Phil Ivey in seat one
Action. Joe Cada raises to 600,000 and Jamie Robbins re-raises all in for his last million. All others get out of the way until action reaches Cada, who can't get the call in quickly enough. Here's why: he has [ad][ac] and is crushing Robbins' [10c][10s]. The flop comes [6h][kd][2d], offering no hope to the all in man. The turn is no better, but the river is a definitive [10h] and it keeps Robbins' tournament alive. (Also see 'Of the Hour' section below.)
Jamie Robbins
"And the dream goes on," says the feature table announcer, although with a little more than two million, Robbins will need at least several more of those.
Hand seven - Button with Steven Begleiter in seat three
Eric Buchman raises to 650,000; Joe Cada calls. Two of the big stacks see a flop of [2h][4s][4d] and Buchman bets 900,000. Cada calls. The turn is the [2d] and Buchman has another stab, this time 1,500,000. That is good.
Hand eight - Button with Antoine Saout in seat four
Joe Cada opens to 600,000. He's been the most active player in this round, despite having his aces cracked. This time Antoine Saout comes along for the ride from the button, as does Eric Buchman from the big blind. The flop comes [as][7c][8c] and after Buchman checks, Cada finds a continuation bet, worth one million. Saout folds, but Buchman calls and it's two huge stacks again. The turn is [5c] and Buchman bets out 2.5m, which is enough to get Cada to fold.
Hand nine - Button with James Akenhead in seat five
In a battle of the blinds, Buchman raises to 720,000 from the small and Cada calls from the big. The flop comes [2h][6d][qs]. Check, check. The turn is the [ks] and Cada bets 1.1m, which Buchman calls. The river is the [8d] and both players check, meaning we see a showdown. Buchman has [9h][9d] and Cada [js][10d].
* * * * *
ELIMINATION OF THE HOUR
PokerStars sponsored player Ben Lamb was eliminated on the secondary feature table after his ace-jack couldn't outrun Jeff Schulman's ace-king.
Lamb slaughtered
Lamb earned $633,022.
* * * * *
OTHER ELIMINATION OF THE HOUR
James Calderero will not be in the November Nine. He moved all in for his last two million-odd and Kevin Schaffel called. Schaffel showed [10d][10c] and Calderero was racing with [kh][js]. He couldn't catch up, though, and Calderero is toast.
* * * * *
STATISTIC OF THE HOUR
Everyone remaining in the 2009 WSOP is guaranteed a minimum of $896,730.
* * * * *
POKERSTARS BLOG ONE-TIME CHIP™ SHILL OF THE HOUR DISGUISED AS PHOTO OF THE HOUR OF THE HOUR
One time! said Jamie Robbins as he sought the ten to keep his World Series alive. It worked.
WSOP Main Event: The last supper
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009Nick Maimone, the PokerStars sponsored player from North Carolina, readily admitted today that he was running like God. Not only did he come from behind twice (once, a two outer on the turn), he managed to make pocket queens hold up against big slick. Within three hours this afternoon, he ran 1.5 million in chips up to more than ten million.
So, midway through the third level of Day 8, when he got in behind, he probably knew it was over. Maimone is a smart guy an he knows the rules of the PokerStars Blog One Time Chip. More on that in a second, but first how it happened.
Maimone came in for a raise with [Ah][Qh] and got re-popped by Erich Buchman. Mainmone called and they saw a flop of [Jc][8c][Ts]. Buckman check-raised Maimone all-in and Maimone called. He was behind to Buchman's jack-nine. Maimone had a bunch of outs until another jack came on the turn. That left Maimone needing a king and king only to survive.
That's when it was uttered somewhere around the feature table.
"King. One Time!"
There it was played. The PokerStars Blog One Time Chip.
If you are familiar with the rules of the One Time Chip, you are probably all-too aware that a One Time Chip issued from off the field of play is in violation of rule 3.113 (Geography and Distance) in the One Time Chip Terms and Conditions, and thus voids all warranties, promises, and magical powers.
Maimone, as you have probably deduced by this point, missed his four outs and exited in 15th place for $633,022.
There are rules with the One Time Chip. We suggest everyone tell their rail the next time they go deep.
Players are now headed on their 90-minute dinner break, the last supper break of the summer portion of the Series.
* * * * *
FEATURE-TABLE ANNOUNCER EUPHEMISMS FOR "FOLD" OF THE HOUR
QUOTE OF THE HOUR
"One fan? That's all really?" -- Feature table announcer Brooks Turk to the crowd after only person clapped for a winning hand.
SONG OF THE HOUR
From time to time here, when things get slow, the PokerStars Blog writers sing songs about the players still in the event. Last year it, the best of the lot was "Ylon and winding road." This year, out of the gates comes Stephen Bartley with another Beatles reference riffing on WSOP player Steven Begleiter.
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It's based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job, so I want to be Steven Begleiter.
Steven Begleiterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR
Ben Lamb celebrates doubling up
VIDEO OF THE HOUR
Watch WSOP 2009: Ylon on Final Feelings on PokerStars.tv
WSOP Main Event: On the long road
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
There's a long road ahead of us and it's called Highway18-9. It disappears over the horizon long away in the distance but while it stretches across the desert the road is in fact air conditioned and you don't move along it, it moves along you. The road is carpeted, lined by spectators and following along are the likes of us watching to see who falls off. It's that final run between 18 and nine, a November nine.
But despite warning signs on the verges of slow progress ahead the last hour has seen three players pushed out of the bandwagon, including PokerStars qualifier Andrew Lichtenberger. His World Series ended in 18th place when he bet out pre-flop to go heads up to the [3d][3c][6c] flop with Darvin Moon. Again Lichtenberger bet, 680,000 this time before Moon re-raised to 1.5 million. Lichtenberger moved in with all he had and was called, showing [jh][jd] to Moon's [kc][kh]. For him, the road ahead is now closed.
Elsewhere Nick "running like God" Maimone finally lost a hand. It was no stack killer, getting out kicked by Steve Begleiter king-jack vs ace-jack, but Maimone still no closer to earth, orbiting around the 10 million mark.
Following Lichtenberger to the door are Ian Tevelli in 17th place, falling away as the clock reached the end of the level, then Frenchman Ludovic Lacay, a familiar European Poker Tour regular (and former finalist), who was all-in on the other table at the same time. He departs in 16th.
* * * * *
FACT OF THE HOUR
Four players started the day with less than 2 million in chips. Only one of them remains. That is Nick "fu_15" Maimone, who started with 1,540,000 and now has in the neighborhood of ten million.
* * * * *
OBSERVATION OF THE HOUR
The last three main event winners have had a 'G' in their surname (Eastgate, Yang, Gold). After the elimination of Andrew Lichtenberger only Steve Begleiter can make it four.
* * * * *
DECONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUR
The Poker Kitchen, once home to everything from tacos to sushi (not to mention the famed Bobbie sandwich) is now a mere shell of itself in the service lot behind the Amazon Room* * * * *
TOURNAMENT HOUSEKEEPING OF THE HOUR
We've reached the end of level 31. The new level will 100,000-200,000 with a 30,000 ante. Just 15 players remain.
* * * * *
JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR
WSOP Main Event: Numero One
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009As was always to be expected, action has been slow in the Amazon Room today. The plan was to trim the field from 27 to nine, with an indefinite period allotted to do so, and the line was set at somewhere around three in the morning. That said, it hasn't been that slow and our ninth player of the day, Tommy Vedes, has just departed.
He followed the PokerStars qualifier Jonathan Tamayo out of the Amazon Room. Tamayo couldn't get any traction today, and when he found ace-queen, Eric Buchman had found kings.
Jonathan Tamayo
Tamayo took more than $350,000, and now with 18 players left, the field is now condensed around two tables. Cut it in half again and we have our final nine.
The figures coursing through those opening paragraphs are a mere taster for the below. In the spirit of the press release received yesterday, revealing such fascinating facts as the length of wire used to cover the World Series for broadcast, here is the PokerStars Blog facts and figures dump, crunching the numbers behind the digits behind the Greatest Blog on Earth.
Facts* are true at time of writing, 3.30pm, July 15.
Players remaining in the 2009 World Series Main Event: 18
PokerStars players remaining: 6 (Kevin Schaffel, Jamie Robbins, Ben Lamb, Nick Maimone, Andrew Lichtenberger, James Akenhead)
Highest finishing Team PokerStars Pro: Dennis Phillips (45th - $178,857)
Representatives of Team PokerStars Pro in the money: Phillips, Peter Eastgate (78th), Noah Boeken (96th), Joe Hachem (103rd) Bertrand Grospellier (122nd), Thierry van den Berg (138th), Ben Kang (246th)
PokerStars qualifiers cashing (so far): 82
Nothing into somethings: FPP qualifiers cashing so far: 2 (593rd - Preben Norup, 611th - Ben Tang, both winning $21,365)
Players outlasted by Peter Eastgate in two years of the World Series Main Event play: 13,259
Blog posts from WSOP 2009 Main Event (excluding this one): 143
Blog posts from WSOP 2009 Main Event (including this one): 144
English-language PokerStars blog reporters at WSOP Main Event: 3
Foreign-language PokerStars blog reporters at WSOP Main Event: 4 (German, Spanish, Dutch and Swedish)
Mad Harpers: 1
Approximate number of photographs taken by Joe Giron: 4,800
Video blogs provided from 2009 WSOP: 100
Length of wire used to produce PokerStars Blog: 26 feet (three laptop cables)
Number of pounds of equipment used to produce PokerStars Blog: 17 (two PC laptops and a Mac)
Combined approximate laundry bill for PokerStars Blog: $333
Combined hangovers of PokerStars Blog through Main Event: 19
Combined projected hangovers among PokerStars Blog at end: 3
*Embellishments and exaggerations were never true.
* * * * *
OTHER ELIMINATIONS OF THE HOUR
20th - George Caragiorgas (kings against Maimone's [qh][jh])
21st - Jonathan Tamayo ([as][qd] against the pocket kings of Eric Buchman)
22nd - Warren Zackey ([2s][2h] against Ian Tevelli's [qs][js])
23rd - Marco Mattes ([5c][5h] against the [8c][8s] of Joe Cada)
24th - Antonio Esfandiari ([5h][5d] against the [kc][tc] of Steven Begleiter)
* * * * *
MAIMONE MONSTER OF THE HOUR
The momentum behind Nick Maimone shows no sign of abating. He found pocket kings, flopped top set, got George Caragiorgas to put all his remaining chips in the middle on a flush draw, and turned quads to quash any hopes of being outdrawn. Caragiorgas was eliminated in 20th.
* * * * *
QUOTE OF THE HOUR
"If you need help carrying your chips, I'll be happy to help you." -- a tournament staffer to the members of the breaking outer table as they filled in the final two tables.
* * * * *
LEFTOVERS OF THE HOUR
Six breakfast sandwiches sit uneaten in a back hallway in an open, unheated chafing dish. Four are bookended by English muffins (which we all known are completely foreign to actual English people). The other two are topped with croissants. Props bets to ensue.
* * * * *
UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE HOUR
"It's a lot of fun." -- Steven Begleiter shortly after cracking Ben Lamb's aces with J-9
* * * * *
JOE GIRON'S PHOTO HOUR
Sharing a chair at the World Series
WSOP Main Event: Picking up the flag
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009Kevin Schaffel is one of those guys who isn't afraid to set lofty goals. When he filled out bio questionairres for poker web sites, he listed his top ambition as winning the World Series of Poker Main Event. For most people, that would be like quitting their job to focus more on winning the lottery. For Schaffel, it would be like if that lottery gave him 27-1 real odds to win.
As of the start of play on Day 8, Schaffel had more than 11 million chips, good for a fifth place start. Now, he is among the 23 players remaining and has a chance to achieve what seemed an unreachable goal.
The 51 year-old father of two has cashed in the Main Event twice and coming into today held $168,000 in lifetime live tourney winnings.
Schaffel has been begging for some time that he could win a big tournament so he could retire. Why?
He wants to play more.
Hailing from Coral Springs, suburb of Ft Lauderdale, Florida, Schaffel ran a printing and mailing firm for 30 years. He got rid of it last year while he worked out what he wanted to do with this life. In the meantime, he's been playing a lot of golf and poker.
Schaffel readily admits he is not a pro but is "a bit more than a recreational player." This is his best result to date but he came 42nd in 2004 and 324th last year.
* * * * *
QUOTE OF THE HOUR
"It was as if they knew this would be my last Bobbie." -- Anonymous media representative who fell in love with the Capriotti's Bobbie sandwich (roasted turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on a roll), having his final lunch of the 2009 WSOP and relishing it.
MIC CHECK OF THE HOUR
"One two three four five. This is the tournament announcer mic. One two three four five. Tournament announcer, tournament announcer, tournament announcer. One, two, three, four five.
STATISITIC OF THE HOUR
Number of people watching the main feature table from a position from where it's only possible to see the back of the cameraman's head: 13
THE HE-CAN'T-LOSE MOMENT OF THE HOUR
PokerStars sponsored player Nick Maimone told us yesterday he was card dead. Today, he's something else entirely. It's hard to even describe. After two come-from-behind wins last hour, he's managed to make the best hand hold up in a race.
Nick Maimone: [Qc][Qh]
Marco Mattes: [Ac][Kh]
The board ran out [8s][9c][8c][Js][3d] and Maimone doubled for the third time today. He's nearing the ten million mark.
JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR
Nick Maimone does it again, again
TWEET OF THE HOUR
"9.5m running like God. So epic" Nick Maimone
FIELD REPORT OF THE HOUR
Courtesy of Mad Harper
John Tamayo has had what he described as a "pretty stressful" first level of the day. He got up to 5.8 million and but then lost a huge pot. The board came down 9-9-3-6-Q.
"I called the river and he showed pocket sixes, so I mucked. That took me down to 2.5 million,: he said.
Since that pot, Tamayo has been shoving a lot and has managed to build his stack back up to 3.6m.. he says that although he's had some bad luck, he still feels very lucky to be here on Day 8.
CONSPICUOUS RAILBIRDS OF THE HOUR
The four railbirds of Steven Begleiter who chant something like "Beg! Beg! Beg!" in quick succession whenever their guy plays a hand.
SARTORIAL EXCELLENCE OF THE HOUR
Harrah's tournament official Joshua Treat, who is today wearing a grey pinstripe suit, a yellow shirt and an orange tie.
INTERVENTION OF THE HOUR
"Can I ask where you are going, sir?"--Security guard to railbird, walking briskly in direction of obviously cordoned off third table, while chomping on a candy bar. "Oh. I'm going the wrong way."
VIDEO OF THE HOUR
Watch WSOP 2009: Rude Players on PokerStars.tv
WSOP Main Event: Doubling up the hard way
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
A PokerStars player from Charlotte, North Carolina has had a dynamite first hour. Nick Maimone, who tweets his progress as FU_15, just doubled up in a rip roaring hand against Phil Ivey. With just a million left Maimone led by shoving, watching as the action folded to Ivey on the button. Ivey called with [js][jc] to Maimone's [qc][5c]. He would need some help...
Luckily, the poker gods had already decided the Carolina man's day would not be over just yet. The [10s][8h][2d] flop may not have helped, but the [qd] on the turn certainly did. Maimone's railbirds produced a sonic boom as the river [8s] came blank, doubling Maimone to more than 2.3 million and more importantly keeping him alive.
How long that life would last was not clear. His stack was far from sturdy and it wasn't long before his chips hit the middle again, this time with [7h][7d].
Maimone livesSmith had started the hand betting 320,000 from mid position before Maimone made it 825,000 from the button. Smith called for a [qd][8s][4c] flop and then moved in. Maimone insta-called, showing his sevens to Smith's [10s][10d]. It looked like curtains again for Maimone but that same god wasn't done with him yet, arranging the [7s] on the turn. That same sonic boom ripped through the Amazon Room as Maimone doubled up now to more than 4 million. His is a life shining twice as bright right now but showing no signs of fading.
PokerStars qualifier Nick MaimoneThat's more than can be said for two players already eliminated this afternoon. First to go was "last woman standing" Leo Margets from Barcelona, Spain, getting generous applause as she made her way to the cash desk for 27th place. Jesse Haabak followed in 26th and Frenchman Francois Balmigere in 25th.
Leo Margets, out in 27th* * * * *
MIRACLE MAN OF THE HOUR
PokerStars qualifier Nick Maimone.
* * * * *
JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR
* * * * *
VBLOG OF THE HOUR
Watch WSOP 2009: Day 7 Wrap on PokerStars.tv