Online Poker Weekend – 'Safeel' Takes Down The Sunday Million

November 12, 2007

Steve Horton

Online Poker Weekend – 'Safeel' Takes Down The Sunday Million 0001

Both PartyPoker and PokerStars saw some nice traffic this weekend for their biggest tournaments, this despite the Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS VI) being in full swing (You can find the recap of the FTOPS event here). Only Bodog did not make its guarantee, but as the site announces large overlays as a selling point, it remains to be seen if that particular event will ever get up to 1,000 players.

One note is that there was a dearth of big online players at the final tables, though many entered the events. This was the week for talented newcomers to shine.

PokerStars Sunday Million

Seemingly immune to any events happening anywhere, online or brick-and-mortar, the Poker Stars Sunday Million rolled on, attracting 6,634 players and a $1,326,800 prize pool. This meant that first would normally receive nearly two hundred grand - $190,793.84.

PokerStars paid out 900 places for this tournament, and one cash in particular – the final table bubble – is notable. The 10th place finisher in the event was none other than John Duthie, the founder of the PokerStars European Poker Tour.

First out of the final nine was DrEskilsTuna. ducesarewild made a 2x raise and DrEskilstuna re-raised to 1,500,000. ducesarewild called and the flop was 7♦2♣K♣. Ducesarewild bet 1,500,000 and DrEskilsTuna called 1,347,040 all in, showing Q♦Q♠ to ducesarewild's K♠10♠. The board finished out A♥K♥ and DrEskilsTuna left in ninth for $8,226.16.

Almost immediately after, safeel raised to 1,100,000 and icallseat3, actually in seat 6, re-raised to 6,866,240 all in. safeel called and showed A♦J♥ to icallseat3's 9♥9♣. The board came 6♥K♣A♠4♠Q♦ and icallseat3 left in eighth, earning $13,268.

A few minutes later, bottomset, in the small blind, shoved, and safeel called, having him covered 8 to 1. safeel had A♠10♦ and bottomset had 10♠9♠. The board was K♥8♥2♦4♣A♣ and bottomset left in seventh for $21,892.20.

Discussions about a chip count split ensued, but last-place Jensen preferred to play for it, so the game continued. Jensen indeed would go out next, as mbeezy02 put him all in and he called. Jensen flipped over A♠7♠ to mbeezy02's A♥K♦ and the board was 6♦K♠5♥10♣8♦. Jensen collected $30,516.40 for sixth.

The remaining players quickly agreed on a chop. Here's how the split by chip counts looked, with $30,000 going to the eventual winner:

Zefa: $81,135

rickL-UNIT: $77,540

safeel: $137,612

mbeezy02: $64,932

ducesarewild: $68,781

Play continued, and ducesarewild was next out. In the cutoff, safeel raised 3x and ducesarewild re-raised to 3,500,000, half his stack. safeel called and the flop was 3♣K♦6♠. ducesarewild was all in with J♠J♣ and safeel called with A♦7♦. It finished out 7♠7♥ and the runner-runner trips tripped up ducesarewild in fifth place, the deal made still netting him $68,781.

Then, mbeezy02 shoved in the small blind with 6♦3♦ and Zefa called with A♣7♦. The board was 4♠4♦8♦9♠8♥ and mbeezy02 won $64,932 per the agreed chop.

Despite busting a player and being second in chips at that point, Zefa was the next to go. safeel raised 5x in the small blind and Zefa re-raised all in. safeel called and showed A♠10♦ to Zefa's A♣4♠. Badly behind, Zefa would get no help from a board of 8♠10♣A♥K♠5♦ and finished third, collecting $81,135.

safeel entered heads-up with a 5 to 1 lead over rickL-UNIT, and heads-up would only last a minute or so. safeel opened for a standard raise and rickL-UNIT re-raised all in. safeel called with K♠8♣ to rickL-UNIT's K♣6♦. safeel was way ahead and kept the lead with a board of A♣J♦5♣3♠A♠. rickL-UNIT took home $77,540, and safeel won $137,612 plus the $30,000 for first, for a total of $167,612.

Final standings:

*1st (safeel): $167,612

*2nd (rickL-UNIT): $77,540

*3rd (Zefa): $81,135

*4th (mbeezy02): $64,932

*5th (ducesarewild): $68,781

6th (Jensen): $30,516.40

7th (bottomset): $21,892.20

8th (icallseat3): $13,268.00

9th (DrEskilstuna): $8,226.16

* Reflects the results of a five-way split; $30,000 was left for eventual winner

PartyPoker $300,000 Guaranteed

Party Poker managed an impressive turnout for their $300,000 Guaranteed – the best in recent memory. With 1,645 players, the prize pool went up to $329,000. First paid $65,800 and 200 places were paid.

Only two minutes into the event, Patenny open-shoved from early position with A♣K♥ and new0107 called with J♠J♥. The board came 9 high, and Patenny got $3,125.50 for tenth.

Then, sky86 raised 2x and Sjakk_Matt re-raised all in. sky86 called, showing A♥J♠ to Sjakk_Matt's K♥K♠. The board was 2♠3♥9♥A♠5♦ and the cracked kings sent Sjakk_Matt out in ninth for $4,441.50.

Under the gun, WOW___LOL shoved for 113,676 and lucol re-raised to 187,352 in the small blind. sky86 called anyway, creating a side pot. The flop was 4♥6♠8♠ and lucol checked. sky86 bet a tiny 80,000 and lucol laid it down. sky86 showed A♠K♣ to WOW___LOL's Q♦10♠. The board finished out 2♠J♦ and WOW___LOL was out in eighth for $5,757.50.

All of this action occurred in the first four minutes of the final table, and it would take only another five minutes for another player to bust. In a battle of the blinds, Lenny_1964 limped and Egyptian1 checked. The flop was 9♠6♣Q♣. Lenny_1964 bet 180,000 – more than the pot size. Egyptian1 raised to 420,000, almost putting Lenny_1964 all in. Lenny_1964 went ahead and put 428,484 in total, and Egyptian1 called, showing A♥6♥ to Lenny_1964's J♦9♣. The board finished K♦A♠ and Lenny_1964 left in seventh for $8,718.50.

Continuing the trend of fast bustouts, four minutes passed, and then Egyptian1 made a 3x raise. lucol re-popped all in and Egyptian1 called, showing A♠10♠ to lucol's 7♠7♥. The board came 5♥A♥2♣10♥9♠ and lucol won $11,350.50 for sixth.

Play settled down after that, and 20 minutes later, new0107 shoved under the gun. Ladmigvaere called and flipped over 8♥8♣ to new0107's A♥2♠. The board was K♣K♥6♦J♣7♠ and new0107 got $15,134 for fifth.

Then, sky86 made a 2x raise with only three big bets behind. Egyptian1 called, and the flop was 5♥J♠8♦. Egyptian1 checked and sky86 shoved. Egyptian1 called with Q♠J♣ to sky86's A♦10♠. The turn and river were 9♥5♣ and sky86 got $17,930.50 for fourth.

Throughout the rest of this event, the players would argue over a deal, with Egyptian1 consistently asking for more money than the chip counts, to no avail.

After many failed deals, Aashutosh limped in and Ladmigvaere checked. The flop was 2♠10♦8♦. Aashutosh bet the pot and Ladmigvaere called. The turn was A♠. Aashutosh shoved with J♣J♥ and Ladmigvaere called with A♥2♦. The river was 2♥ and Aashutosh had to settle for $22,701 for third.

Ladmigvaere held a 3.5 to 1 lead, and the top two players would play a bit of heads up before finally agreeing on a deal. The chip counts warranted a deal of $58,241.37 and $43,748.64, respectively, but Egyptian1 wouldn't take less than $44,500. Ladmigvaere finally relented, and the tournament ended with Ladmigvaere taking $57,490 for first.

Final standings:

* 1st (Ladmigvaere): $57,490

* 2nd (Egyptian1): $44,500

3rd (Aashutosh): $22,701

4th (sky86): $17,930.50

5th (new0107): $15,134

6th (lucol): $11,350.50

7th (Lenny_1964): $8,718.50

8th (WOW___LOL): $5,757.50

9th (Sjakk_Matt): $4,441.50

10th (Patenny): $3,125.50

* Reflects the results of a two-way split

Bodog $100,000 Guaranteed

As usual on Bodog, a healthy overlay was paid out to reach the guarantee. With 790 players creating a $79,000 prize pool, an overlay of $21,000 brought it up to $100,000. First received $25,000 with 63 places paid.

First out was mdfarley, who open shoved 30 seconds in. Heinz57 called and showed K♦Q♥ to mdfarley's J♠9♠. No need to "ketchup" for Heinz57, as the board was 7♥3♣2♣5♣5♥ and mdfarley1 got $1,600 for ninth.

Then, RiverRatMat standard-raised and PC12Pilot re-raised all in. RiverRatMat called and flipped over 7♠7♣ to PC12Pilot's A♥J♥. The board came 8♦8♥4♠Q♠9♥ and PC12Pilot won $2,500 in eighth.

Next, Heinz57 standard-raised on the button and timosy called in the big blind. The flop was 3♥K♦9♦ and both players checked. The turn was 2♣. timosy shoved with K♥10♦ and Heinz57 called with A♦K♠. The river was J♠ and timosy was out in seventh, earning $3,500.

BeaverFever then pushed from the button and BananaHammock called. BananaHammock showed A♦K♦ and BeaverFever had J♥5♦. The board was Q♥3♣6♦A♠A♥ and BeaverFever left with $4,500, perhaps to find a prescription for that case of BeaverFever.

Next, thatsNice shoved in the small blind and RiverRatMat called in the big blind. thatsNice held 5♣5♥ and RiverRatMat 3♦3♣. The cards offered no help with 10♣6♦K♦9♦10♥ and RiverRatMat got $5,500 for fifth.

After that, Heinz57 made a 2x raise from the button with the blinds behind. thatsNice in the big blind called. The flop was 10♥K♥J♣ and thatsNice checked. Heinz57 bet a minimum 30,000 and thatsNice shoved. Heinz57 called and showed Q♠Q♥ to thatsNice's K♣8♦. It finished 8♠3♦ and Heinz57 got $6,900 for fourth.

It was then thatsNice's turn, when he made a standard raise on the button and Pasdasuga called. The flop was 4♦A♥9♣. Pasdasuga checked and thatsNice bet a third of the pot. Pasdasuga doubled it to 160,000 and thatsNice three-betted it all in for 536,427.64. Pasdasuga called, showing A♠9♠ to thatsNice's A♦K♠. The turn and river were 4♥8♦ and thatsNice got $9,200 for third.

Pasdasuga came into heads-up with a big 5 to 1 lead, but he would relinquish it over the course of the next 20 minutes. In the last hand, with BananaHammock holding a slim 1.3 to 1 lead, Pasdasuga raises to 192,000 and BananaHammock called. The flop was 3♥5♠7♣. BananaHammock went all in with 4♥4♠ and Pasdasuga called with 9♥9♦. The turn and river were J♦6♣ and Pasdasuga collected $14,300 for second, meaning BananaHammock won $25,000 for first.