Dylan Honeyman Wins Event #7 of the 2013 Aussie Millions

Honeyman was one of 355 players who bought into the $1,650 No Limit Hold’em Bounty tournament, and what a decision that turned out to be.

Dylan Honeyman is a very accomplished online poker tournament player. For years he has terrorised players at the virtual felt under the alias "WhiteRabbito," but he has struggled to transfer his form into the live arena. Until now.

Honeyman was one of 355 players who bought into the $1,650 No Limit Hold'em Bounty tournament, and what a decision that turned out to be. Day 1 was a couple of days ago, fast forward to today and Honeyman has won his first major live title of his career, becoming Event #7 of the 2013 Aussie Million's champion.

2013 Aussie Million Event #7 Final Table Seat Draw

Seat 1: George Giannopoulos - 584,000 chips
Seat 2: Daniel Lee - 687,000
Seat 3: Fabian Craib - 926,000
Seat 4: Tam Truong - 609,000
Seat 5: Julius Colman - 632,000
Seat 6: Frank Rusnak - 677,000
Seat 7: Will Jones - 596,000
Seat 8: Dylan Honeyman - 630,000

It did not take long at all for the eight-handed table to lose its first player, that dubious honour going to Daniel Lee. After making an ill-timed move with ace-eight against Honeyman's queens, Lee was left nursing an eight big blind stack and in was in real bad shape. He got his remaining chips into the middle with As-10c and ultimately lost the the Ad-Qd of Julius Colman, which flopped two.

Will Jones was the next casualty of the final table, losing to back-to-back Broadway straights. The first saw his Jh-Jd lose to the Ac-Ks of Frank Rusnak, then immediately after that hand, he got his chips in against the Ad-Qd of Colman and when the board ran out 4s-Jd-10d-Kd-3c it was game over for Jones.

Next to head for the sidelines was George Giannopoulos. Down to 180,000 chips, Giannopoulos looked down at Ad-8d and decided to three-bet all-in over the top of a Honeyman raise to 50,000. Honeyman felt priced in to call with his Jh-7s and the dealer got to work putting the community cards into play. By the river the board read 5h-Qs-6s-7d-10h, Honeyman's pair of sevens was the best hand and Giannopoulos was eliminated.

Another player who committed his stack with the best hand but still lost was Fabian Craib. Tam Truong opened the betting with a raise to 60,000 from under the gun and Craib, the last remaining $1,000 bounty in the tournament, three-bet all-in for 400,000 in total. Truong rechecked his cards and called with Kc-9c, finding himself up against the Ac-2d of Craib. The 8s-10d-7s flop gave Truong plenty of extra outs as he picked up an open-ended straight draw. The Qh turn was not one of them, but the 6d was and Craib was dispensed of.

Four became three with the demise of Rusnak. Colman opened to 80,000 and Rusnak thought the best play for his Jd-9c was to move all-in for 600,000 in total. Colman called with a superior Kd-Qd and although neither player's hand improved by the river, Colman's king-high bettered the jack-high of Rusnak and the latter was busted out of Event #7.

The penultimate elimination claimed the scalp of Colman, who just couldn't put the chips he won from Rusnak to good use. Colman got a little frisky with 6d-4s on a 4c-2s-9h flop and ran into the Ad-9s of Honey man. No six or four appeared on the turn or river, and  Colman was left with just 6,000 chips. These went into the middle on the next hand, Colman's Qc-9d losing to the 8c-4c of Honeyman when the board ran out 7c-2c-Ac-Ad-Kc.

Going into the heads-up encounter, Honeyman trailed Truong by 2.3 million to 3.075 million chips. Within minutes, Honeyman had drawn level, then pulled in front, only to see Troung reclaim the lead again! After swapping the title of chip leader several times, Honeyman finally ran out on top.

The final hand saw Honeyman open to 125,000 and Truong call. Truong checked the arrival of the Ac-Kc-2c flop, but when Honeyman fired a continuation bet of 140,000 Truong check-raised to 280,000. Honeyman was done with his hand though, far from it, instead he raised to 545,000 and after much deliberation, Truong called. The 7h turn as Truong check-raise all-in with Ad-6h but he was drawing completely dead as Honeyman had flopped a flush with his 7c-6c. The meaningless 2s river was the final card dealt in the tournament, and Honeyman had won all of the chips in play.

2013 Aussie Millions Event #7 Final Table Results

1st: Dylan Honeyman - $120,000
2nd: Tam Truong - $78,500
3rd: Julius Colman - $50,000
4th: Frank Rusnak - $40,000
5th: Fabian Craib - $30,000
6th: George Giannopoulos - $25,000
7th: Will Jones - $20,000
8th: Daniel Lee - $15,000

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Frederik Jensen Wins EPT Madrid Main Event

Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 18 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Frederik Jensen (Photo: Neil Stoddart, official photographer of the EPT)

This is Jensen's first major title of his career and it finally kicks the proverbial monkey off his shoulder as until this tournament he had a number of near misses in major events.

A little under a week ago a total of 477 players started the Madrid Main Event of the European Poker Tour and they were all outlasted by one man, Denmark's Frederik Jensen, the newest EPT champion.

This is Jensen's first major title of his career and it finally kicks the proverbial monkey off his shoulder as until this tournament he had a number of near misses in major events. In 2010 he came second in the Aussie Millions Main Event, third in a €5,000 side event at the EPT Grand Final , sixth in the EPT Vilamoura Main Event and fifth in a €5,000 six max side event at EPT Barcelona. Now he has his first outright win and let's not forget about the €495,000 winner's prize.

The eight-handed final table lasted 11-hours, including breaks, and was the home of a number of talented poker players. It took almost two full 75-minute levels for the table to lose its first player, Jason Duval moving all in with 7h-7c and losing out to the Ah-Kd of Andrei Stoenescu when the latter flopped a pair of aces.

Next to go was EPT regular Nicolas Levi and his trademark Trilby hat. This was Frenchman Levi's third EPT fial table appearance but he is going to have to make a fourth if he wants an EPT title. He started as the short-stack and just could not dig his way out of that particular hole and his misery was ended when he shoved with Ks-Qd bit could not pair either of his holecards to beat the pocket sevens of rapper Bruno "Kool Shen" Lopes. Shortly afterwards Ilan Boujenah's hopes of taking the title back to Israel were ended when he committed his stack with As-Js on an Ac-Jd-10h-5d-5h board only to discover Lopes was sat there with Kh-Qh all the time for the nut straight.

In the EPT's eight long seasons there is yet to be a Spanish winner and that record will last until at least EPT Campione in a week's time because Ricardo Ibanez busted out in fifth place when he open-shoved from the small blind with ace-deuce but did not count on Stoenescu waking up in the big blind with a pair of ladies, which held, to send the last standing Spaniard to the rail much to the disappointment of the Spaniards in the crowd.

Cash-game specialist Stoenescu then found queens again to send Lopes home in fourth spot. Fraser Macintyre had opened the betting with a standard raise and Lopes three-bet all-in over the top with what turned out to be Ad-10d. Unfortunately for him Stoenescu found the queens again and reshoved over the top, forcing Macintyre to fold. The board ran out 7h-4d-2s-3d-6s and then there were just three players remaining.

The surviving trio then struck a deal that saw Macintyre lock up €290,000, Stoenescu €330,000 and Jensen €385,000 with the remainder of the prizepool going to whoever eventually won the title. That turned out not to be Stoenescu as his Kd-8h lost to Jensen's 7s-6s after the pair got it on on a 10d-8s-5s flop. The Ks turn gave the Romanian some hope but the Qc river was not what he needed and the tournament entered the heads-up phase.

Jensen entered the one-on-one battle with a 2:1 chip advantage and it only took 15-minutes for him to press this advantage home. Macintyre was all in with As-9d against the Ac-10h of Jensen and when the board ran out Js-8d-4d-Qh-Qs it was game over for the Scot and Jensen had won his first major title.

The EPT now heads to Campione on the Swiss / Italian border. I'll be there in a reporting capacity and I'm sure Jensen will be too. The last two EPT titles have been one by Danes, will Campione be the third on the spin? We will find out in a week or so's time.

EPT Madrid final table results

1st: Frederik Jensen - €495,000
2nd: Fraser Macintyre - €290,000
3rd: Andrei Stoenescu - €330,000
4th: Bruno Lopes - €140,000
5th: Ricardo Ibanez - €115,000
6th: Ilan Boujenah - €92,000
7th: Nicolas Levi - €69,450
8th: Jason Duval - €48,000

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GSOP Event #12: Pot Limit Not a Betfair Strong Point

Grand Series of Poker VIII / Matthew Pitt / 12 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Pot Limit Hold'em

Although I am not personally a fan of Pot Limit Hold'em I love the idea of one rebuy and one add-on formats so please Betfair Poker add some more of these to the regular schedules

It appears that in Team Betfair circles there is a big thumbs up for Pot Limit Omaha but a resounding chorus of boos and hisses for the same betting structure when applied to Texas Hold'em. Why? Divert your eyes downwards to find out.

Event #12: $100+$8 Pot Limit Hold'em 1r1a $50,000 Guaranteed

Although I am not personally a fan of Pot Limit Hold'em I love the idea of one rebuy and one add-on formats so please Betfair Poker add some more of these to the regular schedules. The reason I like them is the fact they help increase the prize pools and allow you to loosen up a tad without having to have a gigantic bankroll to rebuy a dozen times. Anyway, more on that later, let's get down to the action or should I saw lack of it.

I wish you guys could see my Holdem Manager database to see the cards I was being dealt early on, they were ridiculous to say the least. We started with Js5h, 7s5h, Qd7h, Qh5s, 3s3h, Ts6d, Jh5d, Jh4h, Tc8s, Qd2h, 8c3h, 7c2h, 6c6d, Kd2h and 6s2s! Amazing. I then picked up QdQc, raised and picked up the blinds to start the ball of crap cards rolling again.

I'd lost a coupled of 150-200 chip pots trying to get creative but it looked like another early bath was on the cards until I picked up KdKs during the 50/100 level. BobbyJ4 opened to 300 from under the gun, one player folded before tiltnogood8 three-bet to 699. Another player folded before I shoved for 1,935 in total. BobbyJ4 then re-shoved for 5,785 and when tiltnogood8 folded I found myself up against pocket queens. A ten-high board was enough to see me scoop the pot.

Although things weren't going my way I decided to add-on during the break which is why I was able to donate 8,143 chips to my opponent during the 300/600 level. The action folded to Sircall in the butoff and he made it 1,200 to play. I was on the button and three-bet to 3,480 then called off my 4,663 remaining chips when Sircall essentially shoved on me. My 8s8c were ever so slightly ahead of the Ah9h of villain but I don't win flips and didn't win this one either as the board ran out Jh-Jd-10d-Ad-Kh to bust me out in 160/297. Meh.

It appears that PLHE is not the forte of my fellow Betfair players either because only three of us made it into the money places. Toots2_x finished in 40th, Doobs faired a little better busting in 24th whilst Mulegrynet's tournament came to an abrupt end in 14th place. Still over $1,700 won so not all lost by any means. Well done everyone who cashed!

Event #12 in numbers

Total entrants: 297
Total prize pool: $72,100
Total Team Betfair entrants: 44
Total Team Betfair cashes: 3
Total Team Betfair prize money: $1,711.05

Mini-GSOP Event #12: $10+$1 Pot Limit Hold'em 1r1a $10,000 Guaranteed

This particular event was one of the worst I had played in, not because of the format or anything like that but the fact I lasted exactly 37 hands despite rebuying! Yes I suck.

I'd already won a couple of little pots (before I rebought) so was seated with 2,600 chips when I picked up jacks in middle position. The UTG+1 player min-raised and I opted to call. I should possible have raised but whatever, I called. Gairy87, on the cutoff, also called and it was three ways to the 7s-7d-2h flop. UTG+1 checked, I bet 145 into the 225 pot and Gairy87 raised to 345. Our friend folded and it was no heads-up to the 6d turn. I now checked, villain bet just 165 into 915 and I called bringing us to the Ks turn. I checked again and villain bet again, setting the price at 555. I remember saying to myself that he had to have typed that amount in deliberately but I couldn't fathom out what it meant. It wasn't a king that's for sure. I opted to call and wasn't shown a king instead I got to see 9h7h for trip sevens. Ah, that makes sense!

I topped up my stack with some more chips and got back trying to find a hand. The blinds were 50/100 when I next got involved, making it 245 to play with my Ah6h from middle position. Everyone folded to the delightfully named CalzonePizza in the small blind and he called. We shared a flop reading 3h-7h-Jd and when my doughy friend checked to me I continued with a 300 bet into 590 only to see him suddenly check-raise to 800. Now here I should probably call and re-evaluate on the turn but that isn't fun is it? No it isn't, so I put in a raise myself, this one to 2,990. Have that! CalzonePizza did not take after his namesake and fold instead he shoved for 3,242 in total with ace-jack and I obviously called and even more obviously missed my flush.

The Pizza then busted me three hands later when I got the rest of my chips in with sevens to his eights and I couldn't find a third seven on the five community cards. Another finish outside the money for me, 361/412. Time for bed for Pudding.

Like the bigger GSOP Event #12 only a select few managed to make it into the money, four in total. PapAmericano made it into the money places yet again finishing in 59th place and he was joined by robmug (51st), dukeboy10 (19th) and a big shout out to 586527 who reached the final table before being eliminated in fifth for $520.19.

Mini-GSOP Event #12 in numbers

Total entrants: 412
Total prize pool: $10,000
Total Team Betfair entrants: 52
Total Team Betfair cashes: 4
Total Team Betfair prize money: $675.23

So by the time the dust had settled on the 12th events the figures looked a little something like this. In the GSOP Betfair players have cashed a total of 307 times winning $415,046.38 in the process whilst the mini-GSOPers have cashed 338 times for combined winnings of $32,216.73.

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GSOP Event #9: So Full Of Win!

Grand Series of Poker VIII / Matthew Pitt / 08 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

The caption says it all.

MacStokir of Poland was the third place finisher netting himself $29,309.04 and ZOMGMCBACON fell just short of victory coming second for $40,720.35.

One of my favourite poker tournament formats is one played to No Limit Hold'em rules with a deep stacked structure and has tons of money money in the prizepool so surely Event #9 of the Grand Series of Poker (GSOP) should have been right up my street. Well it was but it did not go exactly how I planned to.

GSOP Event #9: $190+$10 No Limit Hold'em Deepstack $400,000 Guaranteed

If ever an online tournament had my name on it then it was this one. $65,000 up top would have been the perfect amount for me to significantly boost my bankroll, treat the family to a holiday of a lifetime and purchase a new motor. Instead I picked up some Player Points, a little bit of experience and approximately $3 in valueback; hardly the same is it?

My tournament started off slowly with it taking 34 hands to pick up my first pair, fives, and a further five to pick up an ace with a kicker higher than a three. If only 8c5c was a premium hand. The first pot of note that went my way saw me call a UTG+1 raise to 125 (blinds 25/50) whilst in the cutoff holding Jh10h. The flop came down a rather draw heavy 7s-8c-Jc and I called villain's 175 continuation bet. The turn was the 10c and we both checked but the river was the 10d and when villain checked I bet 335 into 675 and he quickly called then mucked when shown my full house. That was the only action I saw until the 80/160 level but when it came it was certainly worth the waiting.

I picked up AdAc UTG+1 so obviously I came out raising, making it 320 to play. It looked like I was about to pick up the blind when the button three-bet to 909. He didn't seem like a complete monkey so he probably had a decent hand, a hand that he would possibly call a four-bet to 2,315 with! Except he didn't call, no, he shoved for 9,967 and I snap-called off my remaining 2,524 chips and was shown KhKs. The flop was a perfect Ah-3h-3s and it is a good job I flopped a boat because the turn and river were both hearts and I would have lost in cruel circumstances but as it were I was now armed with 9,918 chippies. Nom nom nom.

A few hands later and I attempted to steal with queen-seven but met some resistance from the blinds. My cause was helped though by flopping a queen and hitting a seven on the river to add another 2,000 or so chips to my stack but as they say "easy come easy go" I lost a huge pot as a 96% favourite, which is pretty standard for me. I picked up aces again and min-raised to 320 and to my delight the player to my immediate left three-bet to 800. With the action back on me I four-bet to 2,240 and villain now called. The 5c-9h-Ac flop was pretty damn good and with the pot being 4,720 and villain only having 3,550 left I just shoved and he snap called with AhQh! Result! Pass the sugar. Ship it. BOOM! But just as I was about to virtually stack my 18,000 pot the turn came the 2h and the river the Jh to send the lovely stack of multicoloured pixels to the horrendous fish, who never made it to the money by the way.

Unfortunately neither did I and it was pocket aces again that almost killed me off. The blinds were now 100/200 and I was in the big blind with AcAh. The cutoff open-limped, yes open-limped in a a $200 buy-in tournament, the small blind completed and I raised to 700. Both villains called and we shared a 7d-10d-Jh flop. Not the kind of flop to slow play so when the small blind checked I bet but mistakenly bet just 800 into the 1,600 pot and the limper called but the small blind folded. The turn was the Kd and I should have just bet because I was intended to call his inevitable shove as he only had 2,990 chips and the pot was 3,200. He shoved, I called and eh showed me KsJs. FML. River was the six of clubs and I was left with just 878 chips.

These went into the middle two hands later with my Qs10s only to run into As10d, neither of us caught any of the flop but his ace-kicker came into play and I was sent tot he rail in 1,288/2,160, around four hours earlier than I had planned.

Thankfully Team Betfair players chose this event to absolutely kill it! We had a total of 64 pf our men and women make it into the money places, each one winning a minimum of $279.88 but Betfair players aren't happy with min-cashes so it was no surprise to see no fewer than 19 of them in the top 100 places. By this stage they had all locked up $626.10 and the money was starting to get serious, even more so by the time IvanDimidov and weigolio busted out in 35th and 34th respectively because they were all now walking away with over $1,300 but the best was yet to come because not only did we have two players on the final table we actually finished in Event #9 in second and third place for a combined score of more than $70,000!

MacStokir of Poland was the third place finisher netting himself $29,309.04 and ZOMGMCBACON fell just short of victory coming second for $40,720.35. Amazing performances all round but especially from these two players. Over $70,000 in prize money for $400 outlay, I'd take that every day of the week!

Event #9 in numbers

Total entrants: 2,160
Total prize pool: $410,400
Total Team Betfair entrants: 379 (17.55% of field)
Total Team Betfair cashes: 64
Total Team Betfair prizes: $103,492.39 (25.22% of prize pool)

Mini GSOP Event #9: $20+$2 No Limit Hold'em Deepstack $30,000 Guaranteed

Another GSOP, another set of bad beats and another cashless finish for yours truly; this is starting to get on my nerves! As early as the 25/50 level I was struggling for chips after getting my money in with a full house but it was not meant to be. Shu11er77 open-limped from under the gun and the aptly named svanedonk raised to 200 from the cutoff. I was on the button with QhQs and I raised to 540 and when the initial limper called he screamed a big hand but he didn't raise so I though he probably had ace-king or something like that, maybe kings but meh. Donk called and the flop came down As-Qd-Qc. Both players checked to me and I bet 1,100 into 1,695 only to see the UTG player shove for 3,090 in total then donk shove for 3,600! Surely they haven't got AA and AQ? Nope, UTG held AdKs and donk boy AhJc. The 4d on the turn meant I was about to scoop the 11,985 pot but the Kc river put paid to those plans and I was down to 2,655 chips.

Although not really short-stacked I was not in a position that I had hoped but that was about to change during the 40/80 level wasn't it, especially as I had just picked up KhKc and saw some ridiculous action in front of me. The dude with the ace-king a few hands ago open-limped the player to his immediate left raised to 200, the player to his left called as did the button! Seriously! The small blind then moved all in for 2,255 chips and I instantly re-shoved. Everyone else then folded and I was up against AcQs. The 3c-2s-10d flop was superb but the Ad turn was beyond horrid and when the 10h landed on the river my stack had been decimated and I was sat behind just 480 chips. These were shoved in with queen-jack a few hands later and I busted in 1,545 when I was called by both ace-ten and ace-three and nobody caught any of the board. GG me. Maybe I should start folding AA and KK preflop from now on!

Whilst I was busy texting my poker playing friends with my bad beat stories Team Betfair players were busy making their way into the money places, all 43 of them. The first to cash, and the first to cash in the entire tournament, was gs12345678 of the Czech Republic was the first Betfair player to cash and the first player in the tournament overall, he picked up $26.51 fir his efforts and by the time Gadgerno1 had busted out in 30th place the prize money had increased to $155.68. Alendel0n7 picked up slightly more at $192.72 for his 16th place finish and HarziMcGoon of Germany $509.85 for making it all the way to the final table before busting in ninth. But mini Event #9's star performer was zzzzzzzze of Latvia who was finally eliminated in fifth place for $1,451.38.

Mini Event #9 in numbers

Total entrants: 1,859
Total prize pool: $37,180
Total Team Betfair entrants: 263 (14.15% of field)
Total Team Betfair cashes: 43
Total Team Betfair prizes: $3,921.45 (10.55% of prize pool)

Event #9 and its mini equivalent were the most profitable of the GSOP yet with $107,413.84 won! Absolute phenomenal stuff from Team Betfair. This huge wins mean that through Event #9 Betfair players have cashed 270 times winning $388,549.20 in the process whilst the mini GSOPers have cashed 296 times for winnings of $26,802.61.

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Roger Johannessen lands Betfair Poker Live! London Event

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Yann Dion Leads Final 12 at Aussie Millions Main Event; Phil Ivey in 12th

Poker News / Short-Stacked Shamus / 27 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Yann Dion leads with 12 remaining at the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event (Photo: PokerNews)

After just missing the $100,000 Challenge final table (finishing 9th), Ivey has been among the leaders at the end of each day of the Main Event, although will return to the shortest stack among the final 12 for Day 5.

They've played down from 659 to just 12 at the Aussie Millions Main Event, with the Canadian Yann Dion finishing Day 4 as chip leader with 2.67 million. Bjorn Li of Hong Kong sits nearby in second with 2.471 million, followed by Mohamad Kowssarie of Sweden in third with 2.23 million. And after ending each of the previous days near the top of the counts, Phil Ivey continues to hold on though now with a short stack in 12th.

Londoner Karim Jomeen will begin Saturday in fourth, followed by Daniel Idema (Canada) and Lee Nelson (New Zealand).

As mentioned, Phil Ivey, who finished ninth in the $100,000 Challenge won by Dan Smith, just missing the final table there, started strong in the Aussie Millions Main Event and has been on the leaderboard since he played in the third of the three Day 1 flights.

Ivey ended that day in the top 10 overall with 305 players left, then finished Day 2 second behind Tim O'Shea with 75 remaining. Day 3 ended with 26 players still in the hunt and Ivey in sixth.

Others still alive on Friday but who did not make it through to Day 5 included David Steicke who was the first elimination of the day in 26th, good for a $35,000 return on his $10,600 buy-in (AUD). Among the others hitting the rail as the day progressed were Tim O'Shea (22nd, $45,000), Joey Lawrence (17th, $60,000), Minh Nguyen (16th, $60,000), Grant Levy (15th, $75,000), and Matt Turk (15th, $75,000).

The final hand of the night saw Danny Chevalier all in with Kd-Js against Yann Dion's Ah-Qd. The board came Jh-Ad-6d-8s-7h, sending Chevalier out in 13th ($75,000) and giving Dion the chips and the lead.

Here's how they'll stack up when play begins on Saturday:

1. Yann Dion -- 2,670,000
2. Bjorn Li -- 2,471,000
3. Mohamad Kowssarie -- 2,230,000
4. Karim Jomeen -- 2,063,000
5. Daniel Idema -- 1,840,000
6. Lee Nelson -- 1,651,000
7. Patrick Healy -- 1,565,000
8. Janis Lesinskis -- 1,501,000
9. Kenneth Wong -- 1,498,000
10. Oliver Speidel -- 809,000
11. Mile Krstanoski -- 755,000
12. Phil Ivey -- 699,000

Also of interest this weekend will be that $250,000 Challenge, a.k.a. the "Super High Roller." Originally scheduled for Friday, that event has been pushed back to take place during the weekend.

The Main Event also has had an extra day added to its schedule, as the plan will be for these 12 to play down to a seven-handed final table on Saturday, then return on Sunday to determine who among them will be taking away the $1.6 million first prize.

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2011 World Series of Poker Main Event November Nine Preview

Poker News / Short-Stacked Shamus / 04 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

For nine players, the 2011 WSOP Main Event bracelet is still within reach (Photos: PokerNews)

It's the most international WSOP ME final table ever -- with the nine players coming from seven different countries -- as well as one of the youngest ever, with seven of the nine players aged 26 or less.

After nearly four months of waiting, the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event is almost ready to resume, with the nine remaining players -- a.k.a. the "November Nine" -- having returned to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to battle for the bracelet.

The final table starts just after noon Vegas time this Sunday, with Martin Staszko of the Czech Republic the current leader. Even ninth-place Sam Holden of Sussex has chips with which to work, however, meaning any of the nine can still take the title.

Here's a look at the chip stacks to which each player will be returning on Sunday:

Seat 1: Matt Giannetti (U.S.) -- 24,750,000
Seat 2: Badih Bounahra (Belize) -- 19,700,000
Seat 3: Eoghan O'Dea (Ireland) -- 33,925,000
Seat 4: Phil Collins (U.S.) -- 23,875,000
Seat 5: Anton Makiievskyi (Ukraine) -- 13,825,000
Seat 6: Sam Holden (U.K.) -- 12,375,000
Seat 7: Pius Heinz (Germany) -- 16,425,000
Seat 8: Ben Lamb (U.S.) -- 20,875,000
Seat 9: Martin Staszko (Czech Rep.) -- 40,175,000

There will be almost 35 minutes left in Level 36 when play resumes, where the blinds are 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante. Thus even Holden has more than 24 BBs, which should afford him some time to be judicious at least during that first half-hour. And with everyone else within striking distance of the leader Staszko, the final table will likely provide much drama as the chips start moving back and forth.

As we've grown accustomed to over recent years, the stakes at the WSOP Main Event final table are enormous, with a huge gap between finishing first and ninth.

In fact, each player was already paid ninth-place prize money ($782,115) back in July, with the remaining funds placed into a money market account to draw a little bit of interest to add to the eight remaining spots. Here are the updated payouts for the final table:

1st: $8,715,638
2nd: $5,433,086
3rd: $4,021,138
4th: $3,012,700
5th: $2,269,599
6th: $1,720,831
7th: $1,314,097
8th: $1,010,015
9th: $782,115

Looking at the final nine players, two characteristics jump out. It's the most international WSOP ME final table ever, with the nine players coming from seven different countries. Interestingly, three of those seven nations -- Belize, the Czech Republic, and the Ukraine -- are being represented for the very first time at a WSOP ME final table. A total of 85 countries were represented among the 6,865 entrants in this year's WSOP Main Event, proving that poker is certainly a global game.

It is also an especially young final table, with seven of the nine players aged between 21-26. Only Staszko is in his 30s (aged 35), and Bounahra will be the table's elder statesman at 47. Anton Makiievskyi comes into this weekend still just 21 years old, and would be the youngest ever Main Event champion should he battle back from eighth place to win.

Of additional note is the fact that this Main Event final table is comprised of a number of especially tough competitors, all of whom (aside from Bounahra, a businessman) would fit into the "pro" category by most definitions.

Adding to the drama, coverage of this year's Main Event final table will be the most comprehensive ever, with every single hand -- with hole cards (shown after hands are completed) -- being televised on a 15-minute delay on the ESPN networks.

In the U.S., fans can watch them play down from nine players to three on Sunday on ESPN2 starting at 12:30 p.m. Vegas time. Then on Tuesday, Americans can watch from 6:00 p.m. Vegas time over on ESPN. The coverage will be shown online as well on the ESPN3 site (for those who are allowed access).

Meanwhile, for viewers outside the U.S., ESPN will also be carrying the coverage on several of its international networks. And if you don't happen to get any of those channels, non-Americans can view all of the coverage streaming over on the WSOP.com site.

Here are a few items about each player to contemplate as you follow along on Sunday and Tuesday:

Martin Staszko (1st, 40.175 million)
-- hopes to be the first player from the Czech Republic ever to win a WSOP bracelet
-- has cashed in five WSOP events this year (including the ME); his best finish in a preliminary event was 39th in the $1,500 PLO8 (Event No. 51)
-- brought a total of $20,000 to Las Vegas this summer to play in events; ended up playing in 15 total (including the ME) - Betfair Odds 5.8

Eoghan O'Dea (2nd, 33.925 million)
-- had five WSOP cashes in 2011 (including the ME and a final table at the World Series of Poker Europe in the €5,300 PLO event)
-- would be the second-ever WSOP ME winner from Ireland (Noel Furlong, 1999)
-- son of Irish player Donnacha O'Dea who made two WSOP Main Event final tables (1983, 1991); the pair comprise the first ever father-son duo to make WSOP ME FTs; Donnacha has won one WSOP bracelet (1998) and is a member of the European Poker Players Hall of Fame Betfair Odds 5.5

Matt Giannetti (3rd, 24.75 million)
-- was in the bottom ten in chips (with just 11 big blinds) with 378 players left
-- was the short stack with 10 remaining, but doubled up twice (with pocket jacks both times) to survive
-- had himself a profitable break from the WSOP ME, winning the WPT Malta Main Event and the €200,000 first prize in late September Betfair Odds 7.8

Phil Collins (4th, 23.875 million)
-- has yet to be all in once the entire tourney, enjoying an above-average stack throughout
-- has a bachelor's degree in business, earned at the University of South Carolina
-- is a Phil Collins fan, so doesn't mind his rail singing "In the Air Tonight" and other hits by the pop star Betfair Odds 7.0

Ben Lamb (5th, 20.875 million)
-- has already clinched the 2011 WSOP Player of the Year, with five cashes (including ME), a bracelet in the $10K PLO Championship (Event No. 42), and two other final tables
-- finished 14th in the WSOP Main Event in 2009, and 156th in the WSOP ME in 2007
-- has more than $3.3 million in lifetime tourney earnings, by far the most of any of the final nine Betfair Odds 6.6

Badih "Bob" Bounahra (6th, 19.7 million)
-- originally from Lebanon, also the birthplace of 2005 WSOP ME winner Joe Hachem
-- one of only two players from the central American country of Belize (pop. ~330,000) to enter this year's WSOP ME
-- stated repeatedly during play in July that seven-deuce offsuit was his favorite hand; was shown playing and winning with 72o during ESPN's coverage last week Betfair Odds 16.0

Pius Heinz (7th, 16.425 million)
-- only the second German ever to make a WSOP ME final table (Henry Nowakowski finished seventh in 2001)
-- hopes to be the 12th German ever to win a WSOP bracelet (and first ME winner)
-- made another WSOP final table this summer, finishing seventh in a $1,500 no-limit hold'em event (Event No. 48) Betfair Odds 12.5

Anton Makiievski (8th, 13,825 million)
-- was the start of Day 8 chip leader (with 27 players left)
-- hopes to be the fifth Ukrainian to earn a 2011 WSOP bracelet, and (as mentioned) the youngest WSOP ME winner ever (at age 21 years, 262 days); is already the youngest ever to play at a WSOP ME final table
-- his trip to Las Vegas this summer to play in the WSOP was the first time he'd ever visited the United States Betfair Odds 13.5

Sam Holden (9th, 12.375 million)
-- 2011 was the first WSOP for the 22-year-old, and the Main Event just his fourth WSOP event
-- has a degree in forensic science from the University of Kent
-- hopes to become the first-ever U.K.-born WSOP Main Event winner Betfair Odds 17.5

Check out the latest odds on the WSOP on Betfair

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Out Of The Main Event, But Still Grinding

Articles / John Tabatabai / 13 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

John in action during Day 2

So yesterday was Day 2 of the Main Event and it sadly didn't go how I predicted earlier in the day. I thought I was going to finish the dinner break with 160,000 but I finished up with 160,000 less than that because I busted just before the dinner break, which is kind of tilting.

To be honest the whole day sucked. I had a really good table but I just couldn't get anything to work. I managed to run ace-king into kings button versus blind and then queens into aces, again button versus blind. The whole day was like I was up against a brick wall. Then right at the end I got my last chips in with ace-nine against ace-two of clubs and the flop came club, club, club, obviously so that was a good game.

After I busted I went to relax a little bit and went to the Venetian to play some cash and it was the complete opposite of the Main Event! Every hand that I played, even if it was ten-three of diamonds, I just hit so I did OK there. The plan now is to play in the $5k Main Event at the Venetian, which I am looking forward to because I think it'll be a really good structure. I mean, if you're not in the Main Event what else are you going to do? You have to keep playing, right?!

I'm going to spend the next couple of days focussing on poker, I want to play a few more tournaments, get a good result in the $5k and then it is back to clubbing and partying again! Before I go I want to give a shout out to the six remaining Betfair Poker players who have made it to Day 3, which starts at noon on Thursday. Good luck to those and all my friends still in.

Betfair Poker players through to Day 3

David "DoinGodsWork" Lawrence: 103,100
Thomas "Nunchok" Pedersen: 102,100
George "PauloPavlou" McDonald: 50,800
Elizabeth Hille: 51,100
Daniel "Readbook4u" Carlsson: 42,800
Mark "Goosey82" Shanta: 29,100

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2011 WSOP Main Event Third-Largest Ever

World Series of Poker 2011 / Matthew Pitt / 11 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Ever since the passing of "Black Friday" the poker community has been busy speculating the potential turnout for the World Series of Poker Main Event. With the likes of PokerStars and Full Tilt completely closing their doors to American customers (and the latter losing its operating licence) many believed that the total number of participants would be 5,000 or less.

This figure looked to be on the cards when only 897 players passed through the doors of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for Day 1a, though the first starting day is traditionally the least attended. Day 1b improved slightly with 985 players parting company with $10,000 in exchange for 30,000 tournament chips but it was the third and fourth starting days that have seen the attendance soar to levels that make this year's WSOP Main Event the third-largest in history.

Day 1c saw 2,181 players take part and this number was eclipsed by the staggering 2,802 who turned out for Day 1d on Sunday. A quick tot up of the figures shows a fantastic turnout of 6,865 players for the Main Event, only 2006 and 2010 Main Events have attracted more players at 8,773 and 7,319 respectively.

This bumper attendance has created a prizepool of $64,531,000 which is going to be shared out amongst the top 693 players. Finishing in 693rd place will see the player walk away with $19,359 whilst anyone making it to the final table and become a member of the November Nine will walk away guaranteed $782,115, with each subsequent player becoming a poker millionaire. But the prize everyone still in the tournament wants to get their hands on is the $8,711,956 first place prize. Simply, WOW!

However, there is still a long, long way to go before the money places are reached as the 2,031 surviving players from Day 1a and 1c will combine and return to their seats later today, with Tuesday seeing those who made it through Day 1b and 1d do the same. Then Wednesday will see everyone seated and playing together for the first time and the field will continue to be whittled down until only the final table of nine remain, which will occur at some point on Tuesday 19 July. The tournament will then be paused until November 5 when they will return to the Rio and continue to play until just two players have chips in front of them, and they will then fight it out for the title on November 7.

The official chip counts are still not in for Day 1a so the provisional chip leader going into the two Day 2s is Fred Berger of Las Vegas, Nevada who managed to turn his 30,000 starting stack into an impressive 209,000 on Day 1a. Day 1b's leader was none of than Ben Lamb with 188,925, the man who has been on fire at this year's WSOP and is currently in second place in the Player of the Year listings. The leader from Day 1c was Kevin Song with 163,325 chips and the unofficial leader of Day 1d was Mory Little with 179,450 chips.

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Devilfish and Moorman Deep in Event #35

World Series of Poker 2011 / Matthew Pitt / 22 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Event #35 of the World Series of Poker is the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Six-handed tournament and two of the biggest names in British poker have made it to the last 15 places. Both Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott and Chris "Moorman1" Moorman will return to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino at 1430 Las Vegas time to play for a coveted WSOP bracelet and the $$619,575 first place prize.

Day 1 saw 507 players take their seats in the vast Pavilion Room of the Rio for the inaugural six-handed PLO event and after the allotted 10 levels had been played only 105 of them remained. Not amongst them after busting out at various points during the day included Barry Greenstein, recent Triple Crown winner Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Daniel Negreanu. Amongst those who did make it through to the second day included Vanessa Selbst, who was the overnight chipleader, Shaun Deeb and Mike "Timex" McDonald, the latter playing in his first-ever series this year.

Of the 105 who made it through to Day 2, 57 of them would go home empty handed in terms of money won, the last of which being Matthew Ezrol who earned the unwanted title of "Bubble Boy" for his 49th place finish. One by one some of the best PLO players in the world started heading for the rail after losing their stacks in this crazy four-card game, amongst them WSOPE bracelet winner Jesper Hougaard, Hac "trex313" Dang, David "Raptor" Benefield, Isaac "WestMenloAA" Baron and British pro John Kabbaj.

When only 20 players remained the field was extremely pro-heavy but the eliminations of Emil "whitelime" Patel of Two Months Two Million fame (20th), Selbst (18th), Erick Lindgren (17th) and Tom "durrrr" Dwan (16th) made the route to a bracelet a little easier for those still in contention. That said, at the close of play the last 15 players still read like a who's who of poker with Gregory Brooks leading the way with 1,294,000 chips, David Chiu on 891,000 looking for bracelet number five and McDonald on 827,000 hoping to add a WSOP title to go with his EPT win a few years back. Also in the last 15 are Jared "Harrington10" Bleznick, a talented high-stakes cash game specialist, Jason Mercier and Peter Jetten, plus the aforementioned Ulliott and Moorman.

Ulliott won his first and only bracelet back in 1997 in a $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event and a win here would not only give the man from Hull a bankroll boost but may help to dispel claims by the poker community that the Devilfish is no more than a wet fish in today's modern game. On the other hand there is no doubting Moorman's ability in the high-octane world of modern poker and although he will start the day 13th from 15 in chips he knows all too well that an early double up would see him right back in contention of winning that, so far, elusive first WSOP bracelet.

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Satellite Winner Takes Down Shooting Star Event

Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 21 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

From left ot right, Mike Sexton, Alan Sternberg and Vivek Rajkumar. Photo credit to the World Poker Tour

Although it may not have been as epic as Chris Moneymaker turning a $38 online satellite win into $2,500,000 when he won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event but Alan Sternberg's win at the Bay 101 Shooting Star World Poker Tour event will go down as one of the great success stories.

The Bay 101 Shooting Star Main Event is one of the toughest fields on the WPT circuit due to the heavy presence of well-known and respected professional players taking part but that did not seem to bother Sternberg who handled himself impeccably throughout the tournament despite finding himself on the end of a horrible bad beat early at the final table.

The six handed final table played for just under an hour, during which time 27 hands were played, before it lost its first player. With blinds at 12,000/24,000/4,000a Mike Matusow raised to 55,000 from the button and then called when Mike Sexton moved all in for 200,000 from the big blind. Sexton's KcQs was dominating the KhJd of Matuswo but by the river the board read Ah-8d-4s-2h-Jc and Sexton was sent to the rail to pick up $148,000.

Casey McCarrel followed him just three hands later, his AhQh losing to the JcTs of World Series of Poker bracelet winner Steven Kelly. The money went in preflop and Kelly spiked a ten on the flop, which held, to eliminate McCarrel in fifth place, worth $221,800.

Then on the 45th hand of the final table disaster struck for Sternberg. On a board reading As-6c-5h-Qd-Qc he called an all in bet from Vivek "Psyduck" Rajkumar whilst holding 6d6s for a full house, only for Rajkumar to flip over QhQs for rivered quads! Losing a 1,800,000 chip pot would be enough to tilt most players but Sternberg kept his cool, did not panic and sat patiently choosing his spots to accumulate chips

Whilst he was doing so Rajkumar was busy losing the chips he had won from Sternberg, though it took another 100 hands for him to do so. On hand #131 with blinds now at 30,000/60,000/10,000a Rajkumar found himself with just 750,000 chips and these found their way into the middle when he open shoved from the button. Kelly re-shoved and Matusow showed king-queen before folding. This didn't please Kelly as he also held king-queen and Matusow had two of his outs but Rajkumar had made the play with KdJc and was badly dominated. The final board ran out Ac-3c-2h-7d-Th and Rajkumar was eliminated in fourth place, worth $295,800.

Matusow followed suit another hour later as his dream of a first WPT title lay in ruins. The blinds had increased to 40,000/80,000/10,000a and when Sternberg raised to 180,000 on the button, Matusow moved all in for 1,380,000 from the big blind. Sternberg made the call and turned over KhQh, nicely in front of the lowly 9d2s of Matusow. A Qd-Tc-6d-4d-2h board was enough to bust Matusow in third place which netted him $369,800.

Going into heads-up there was only 50,000 chips difference between the two players but Sternberg quickly put some distance between them. On hand #182 he raised to 200,000 preflop, Kellyt made it 560,000 to play and Sternberg made the call. The flop came down Ts-8s-5d, Kelly bet 470,000 and Sternberg smooth called. The turn saw the 5h make an appearance and Kelly upped the ante by betting 1,100,000 and again Sternberg just called. The river was the Td and both players checked, Kelly turning over 9h7h, losing out to the 9c8c of Sternberg, who now lead 8,300,000 to 4,160,000.

Seven hands later and he won another 2,300,000 chips when he forced Kelly to fold on a Td-4h-3h-5c-Kh board to give himself a five-to-one chip lead. Despite the massive advantage it took 46 hands for Sternberg to dispatch of his opponent. Kelly min-raised to 240,000 which prompted Sternberg to move all in. Kelly made the call and looked set for a double up as his AhQh was much stronger than the Ts8c of his opponent. Both players made a pair on the Qd-8h-7h flop and when the turn was the 7s it looked like Kelly was back in business. However the dealer put out the 8c on the river to give Sternberg a full house and the win! $1,039,000 from a small satellite win will be one of the best ROIs ever seen!

Final table payouts

1: Alan Sternberg: $1,039,000
2: Steven Kelly: $595,300
3: Mike Matusow: $369,800
4: Vivek Rajkumar: $295,800
5: Casey McCarrel: $221,800
6: Mike Sexton: $148,000

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Keys Fails To Lock Up Win In Aussie Millions Main Event

Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 31 January 2011 / Leave a comment

The 2011 Aussie Millions Main Event came to an exciting conclusion over the weekend with 71-year old Australian, David Gorr emerging victorious, defeating popular British poker pro James Keys in an intense heads-up battle that lasted more than 200 hands!

In total 721 players entered the $10,000 Main Event but all eyes were on the final eight remaining players who each had a realistic chance of walking away with the $2,000,000 first place prize money. There were new fewer than three British players at the final table, Chris Moorman and Sam Razavi joining Keys in their quest for their first major live title but all would ultimately fall short.

Twenty-six hands into the proceedings and the tournament lost a player in the shape of Finnish superstar, Patrik Antonius who paid the price for slowplaying a premium holding preflop. He looked down and saw KhKc staring back at him and opted to limp in, Randy Dorfman also limped, Gorr followed suit and Moorman checked in the big blind. A flop reading Qs-Th-7s saw Moorman check, Antonius bet 125,000, Dorfman lay down his hand and Gorr pop it to 500,000. Moorman got out of the way and Antonius said, "I guess it's time to go all in" and did just that. Gorr snap-called him and turned over QhTs for top two pair and when the turn and river were the Ac and 5c respectively Antonius was eliminated in eighth place, worth $130,000 though probably not the finish he was looking for.

Not long after, Moorman joined him on the rail after himself tangling with Gorr. With blinds at 15,000/30,000/5,000a, Gorr raised to 70,000 from the cutoff seat and then called when Moorman made it 190,000 to play from the big blind. The dealer put out the Td-Th-7d flop, which prompted a shove from Moorman and a quick call from Gorr, the latter being in front holding KsTs for trip tens and Moorman holding 8d4d for a flush draw. The 5h on the turn gave Moorman additional outs to a straight but none of them arrived as the 2s made an appearance on the river to knock out the young British hopeful, though his did pick up a career best $175,000 for his efforts.

Hand 92 of the final table was the last hand Razavi would take part in as he was caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar by fellow Brit, Keys. Finding himself short stacked and in the need of a double up, Razavi had become very active and for the second time in a row he open-shoved, this time holding Ad7d. Unlike the previous move that saw him pick up the blinds and antes, this time he found a caller in Keys holding 7h7s. A Qs-Js-Jh flop kept the pocket sevens of Keys in front and they stayed in the lead as the 5c fell on the turn and the 9s peeled off on the river.

Just six hands later and five players became four as Dorfman headed for the cashier's cage to pick up $325,000. The action folded to him in the small blind and despite having more than 32 big blinds in his stack, he moved all in for 1,300,000! Gorr, in the big blind, deliberated for a couple of minutes before making the call, turning over Ac9c, which would need some help to best the pocket tens of Dorfman. No help arrived in the 8c-Qh-8d-4s board but the Ad spiked on the river to bust Dorfman and give Gorr almost half of the chips in play!

Michael Ryan was the next to fall in one of poker's classic coin flip situations. From under the gun he made it 155,000 to play, with blinds now at 30,000/60,000/5,000 only to see Jeff Rossiter re-raise the action to 430,000 from the small blind. With the action back on Ryan he made it 850,000 to play, which prompted an insta-shove from Rossiter and n even quicker call from his opponent. The hands? Ryan held 9h9c against AdKh. It looked as if Ryan was going to double up as by the turn the board read Qd-2h-3d-2s but he was cruelling "Greensteined" as there was an ace on the river, this one in spades, to eliminate Ryan in fourth place, a finish worth a cool $450,000.

An hour later and Rossiter called off all of his stack with an unknown hand as he mucked as soon as he found he had run into the nuts, you decide for yourself what his holding was. He got the action started with a raise to 180,000 from the button and then called when Gorr re-raised to 550,000 from the small blind. Both players checked the Qc-Jh-5h flop, and Gorr checked again as the turn brought the 3h into play. Rossiter was in no mood for checking it back again and fired a bet of 720,000, which was check-raised by Gorr to 1,720,000, a bet Rossiter called. The seemingly blank 5d on the river saw Gorr move all in and a minute or so later Rossiter called for his tournament life, but quickly mucked face down as Gorr turned over AhQh for the nut flush.

Going into heads up the Australian Gorr held a massive 12,025,000 to 2,445,000 chip advantage but that did not deter the Brit who was quite obviously the better player of the two, something that became apparent as he fought his way back into contention over the next 150 or so hands. On the 153rd hand of heads-up play Keys actually completely turned the tie around and took more than a 10-to-1 lead over his opponent. He managed to get Gorr to commit his stack holing AcKs against his Kc5c on a board reading 5s-3h-Kd-2s. The Jd on the river saw Keys move to 13,310,000 chips and left Gorr hanging onto 1,160,000.

But Gorr was not dead and buried yet and was running insanely hot throughout the final table so it was unsurprising that he clawed his way back level. Then on hand 415 of the final table, the 212th of heads up play, the final hand took place. Keys opened with a raise to 225,000, Gorr called and they both saw a flop that read 7s-6c-3h. Gorr checked then called Keys' 275,000 continuation bet. The dealer burned a card and put the Kh out on the turn and again Gorr checked, Keys bet again, this time 650,000 but then Gorr check-raised to 1,650,000. Keys did not look comfortable but he moved all in and was snap-called by Gorr. Keys was actually in front, his 7c3c making two pair to be beating the Kc4c of his opponent. But once again Lady Luck was shining down on the Australian as the dealer put the 4s on the river, giving Gorr a higher two pair and the title! So unlucky from Keys, who fought back valiantly only to be crushed by a disgusting river card.

The $1,035,000 Keys picked up for his splendid efforts over the past week represent his biggest cash to date and there is no doubt in my mind that we will see him on many more final tables in years to come. Congratulations to David Gorr, who now finds himself $2,000,000 richer and the oldest winner of any Aussie Millions event ever.

The final table payouts were as follows:

1.) David Gorr: $2,000,000
2.) James Keys: $1,035,000
3.) Jeff Rossiter: $700,000
4.) Michael Ryan: $450,000
5.) Randy Dorfman: $325,000
6.) Sam Razavi: $225,000
7.) Chris Moorman: $175,000
8.) Patrik Antonius: $130,000

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