PartyPoker Premier League IV

Day 1 completed

Posted 02-12-2010 16:17 GMT-12

Phil Laak Wins Heat #1 ($32,000)!

The first heat of the PartyPoker Premier League IV wrapped up after about eight hours of play with Phil Laak emerging victorious over a tough field of competitors. Daniel Negreanu, Ian Frazer, Luke Schwartz, Roland De Wolfe, Vanessa Rousso, JC Tran and Yevgeniy Timoshenko all came prepared for a battle and gave it their best shot. None of them could see to match the run good that Laak brought to the table.

Laak flopped numerous sets and came from behind in key pots to amass a very large stack early on. It seemed like he could do no wrong and even had to come from behind on the final hand of the night to send Tran packing in second place.

For winning the first heat, Laak will take home $32,000 and lock up 16 points. The win and those points should go a very long way in helping Laak secure a place at the final table.

Here's the standings after Heat #1.

1. Phil Laak – 16 points
2. JC Tran – 11 points
3. Yevgeniy Timoshenko – 8 points
4. Vanessa Rousso – 6 points
5. Luke Schwartz – 4 points
6. Roland De Wolfe – 3 points
7. Ian Frazer – 2 points
8. Daniel Negreanu – 0 points

The next heat will begin tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. Las Vegas time and another group of eight players will be back to battle on the felt. Thanks for following the coverage from the first day of action and we'll see you all tomorrow right here at PokerNews!

JC Tran Eliminated in 2nd Place ($22,000)

JC Tran raised on the button with the and then Phil Laak reraised all in with the . Tran couldn't pass up his ace and made the call.

The flop came down and Laak improved to a pair of sevens and took the lead. The turn was the and Tran needed an ace on the river.

The river was the and that was it. The defending champion had a great showing in his first heat back, earning 11 points and $22,000 for his finish. Laak took the very important win and locked up 16 points.

Tags: JC Tran, Phil Laak.

Laak Strikes First

JC Tran limped on the button with and Phil Laak checked in the big blind with the . After a flop of , Laak fired 50,000 and Tran folded.

Tags: JC Tran, Phil Laak.

Back in Action

The final two are back in action.

Stacks for the Last Two

Phil Laak - 1,880,000
JC Tran - 520,000

Break Before Heads Up

The last two players are on a 10-minute break before heads-up play begins.

Yevgeniy Timoshenko Eliminated in 3rd Place ($16,000)

Yevgeniy Timoshenko moved all in from the small blind for 375,000 with the and Phil Laak snap-called from the big blind with the .

The board ran out and that was it for Timoshenko. He battled for as long as he could, but was eliminated in third place and took home eight points and $16,000.

Tags: Phil Laak, Yevgeniy Timoshenko.

Counts After Level 7

Phil Laak - 1,525,000
JC Tran - 520,000
Yevgeniy Timoshenko - 355,000

Level 8 started

Posted 02-12-2010 15:39 GMT-12