The Online Railbird Report: Blom Squares Off Against Sahamies & Berndsen

February 10, 2012

While many of us are stuck grinding the microstakes, which Nathan “BlackRain79” Williams will tell you how to beat in his new book, Crushing the Microstakes, there is an elite group of players regularly found playing the highest stakes available on PokerStars. These men and women are the subjects of this Online Railbird Report.

There were plenty of high-stakes games running this week and a number of top pros booked healthy wins. Team PokerStars Pro Ville Wahlbeck won $190,810 over 3,822 hands and became the week’s biggest winner. He was joined at the top by Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen, who won $170,792 in 9,115 hands, and Ben “Sauce123” Sulsky, who banked $166,661 in 918 hands.

Davin “mTw-DaviN” Georgi was the week’s biggest loser after dropping $235,698 in 11,584 hands. Others who didn't fare well were Ben “Ben86” Tollerene (-$129,543 in 5,295 hands) and Viktor “Isildur1” Blom (-$105,209 in 12,092 hands).

Here’s a look at some of the most interesting story lines and hands from the past week:

Georgi Sunday’s Biggest Winner

Davin “mTw-DaviN” Georgi was busy on Sunday and put together a respectable $160,000 in winnings, making him the day’s biggest winner. He did this by playing over 4,000 hands of pot-limit Omaha, mainly at the $50/$100 tables. It was there that Georgi took approximately $70,000 from Rafi “refaelamit” Amit.

In one of their hands, which ended up being Georgi’s second biggest of the day, Amit ($31,022.50) opened for $300 on the button and Georgi ($28,935.50) exercised his option in the big blind with a three-bet to $940. Amit made the call and then called a bet of $1,000 on the 4♦K♣5♣ flop.

When the Q♦ hit on the turn, Georgi checked, Amit bet $2,800, and Georgi check-raised to $12,319.50. Amit made the call, and then called Georgi’s $14,676 all-in shove on the 7♥ river. Georgi rolled over K♠K♦6♦7♣ for top set to win the $57,871 pot.

Georgi's biggest hand of the day came at a six-handed table. Sam “tr1cky7” Trickett ($50,250.95) opened for $400 from the cutoff. Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen ($10,000) then three-bet to $1,470 from the button, Georgi ($25,850.50) called from the big blind, and Trickett four-bet to $6,450. Both opponents called and it was three-handed to the 2♣Q♥7♥ flop.

Georgi checked, Trickett bet $4,200, Kyllönen folded, and Georgi moved all-in for $19,400.50. Trickett made the call and the cards were turned up.

Showdown

Georgi had flopped a set to crack Trickett’s aces, but the latter had picked up the nut-flush draw. The 4♦ on the turn changed nothing, and the 2♠ river paired the board, sending the $58,201 pot to Georgi.

While Georgi thrived on Sunday, he was unable to maintain momentum and finished as the week's biggest loser.

Berndsen vs. Blom ... Again

On Monday, Sander “Berndsen12” Berndsen and Viktor “Isildur1” Blom continued their rivalry at the $100/$200 PLO tables. The two began playing in the morning and continued into the late evening. Berndsen ultimately won approximately $300,000 from the Swede, though most of that came in the last half hour of the match.

Here are the three biggest hands from that match:

Hand #1: Blom ($77,091.11) opened for $600 on the button, Berndsen ($53,250.87) called from the big blind, and flop came down 6♠10♦2♦. Berndsen checked, Blom fired out $1,000, and Berndsen check-raised to $3,458.50. Blom didn’t stop there as he put in a three-bet to $10,600, and Berndsen called. The K♠ hit the turn and Berndsen led out for $22,478. Blom moved all-in and Berndsen called off his remaining $22,478.

Showdown

Blom had flopped top set, which was good against Berndsen’s two pair. The 3♥ river changed nothing, and the $106,500 pot was sent to Blom.

Hand #2: Once again, Blom ($81,494.50) opened for $600 on the button, but this time Berndsen ($50,699) three-bet to $1,880. Blom made the call and then watched Berndsen bet $2,878.50 on the Q♠J♣8♣ flop. Blom responded with a raise to $8,400, Berndsen called, and the 4♥ appeared on the turn. Berndsen check-called a bet of $15,400 before check-calling off his $25,019 stack on the 5♦ river. Blom rolled over 10♦10♥2♠8♥ for a pair of tens, which was no good against Berndsen’s A♦K♥Q♥J♦ for two pair.

Hand #3: Berndsen ($128,137.25) opened for $600 on the button and Blom ($49,068) called from the big blind, leading to the 7♣8♠Q♣ flop. Blom checked, Berndsen bet $958.50, and Blom check-raised to $3,200. From there, Berndsen three-bet to $8,958.50, Blom four-bet to $31,353.50, Berndsen five-bet, and Blom called off his remaining $17,114.50.

Showdown

Berndsen had flopped bottom set, but Blom held straight and flush draws. The K♣ turn completed the said flush draw, but the Q♥ spiked on the river to give Berndsen the win with a full house, giving him the $98,134 pot.

Blom, who had won in a match against Ilari “Ilari FIN” Sahamies earlier in the day, went on to lose $78,000 on Monday, a far cry from Davin “mTw-DaviN” Georgi’s $229,000 loss.

Blom Bounces Back

Viktor “Isildur1” Blom was back in action on Tuesday, playing into the early morning on Wednesday. He ended up banking $179,000 on Tuesday, but as the clock rolled over into Wednesday, he added even more. At his high point, he was up around $400K, but eventually quit a $350K winner.

Much of Blom’s action came in a heads-up match against Ilari “Ilari FIN” Sahamies at the $100/$200 PLO tables. In one hand, Sahamies ($75,980) opened for $680 on the button, Blom ($77,298) three-bet to $2,120, Sahamies four-bet $6,440, Blom five-bet $19,400, and Sahamies called before the 7♦5♥10♣ was put out on the flop. Blom wasted little time in firing out $38,878, Sahamies moved all-in for $56,580, and Blom made the call.

Showdown

Sahamies had flopped a straight draw but was behind the pocket aces of Blom. The K♦ turn changed nothing, while the 3♦ river improved Blom to the nut flush, giving him the $151,958 pot.

In another hand, Blom ($53,534) opened for $600, Sahamies ($50,000) reraised to $1,880, Blom called, and the flop fell 7♠5♠3♣. Sahamies checked, Blom bet $3,838, and Sahamies woke up with a check-raise to $15,352. Not to be outdone, Blom three-bet to $49,894, and Sahamies called off his remaining $32,768.

Showdown

Sahamies had flopped an open-ended straight-flush draw, while Blom had flopped the nut straight. Much to Sahamies’ dismay, neither the 5♥ turn nor Q♦ river provided the help he needed, and he saw the $99,998 pot sent to Blom.

It was also during this time that Ville Wahlbeck and Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen booked wins against Blom. Wahlbeck ended up winning $244,000, enough to make him the day’s biggest winner, while Kyllönen won a healthy $97,000.

Biggest weekly winners/losers all on PokerStars

Week’s biggest winners (2/3-2/9): Ville Wahlbeck (+$190,810), Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen (+$170,792), Ben “Sauce123” Sulsky (+$166,661)

Week’s biggest losers: Davin “mTw-DaviN” Georgi (-$235,698), doncarignano (-$140,704), Ben “Ben86” Tollerene (-$129,543), ocropTi (-$109,740), ChaiRen160 (-$109,614), Viktor “Isildur1” Blom (-$105,209)

Year-to-date winners: patpatman (+$973,130), Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen ($837,685), Ben “Sauce123” Sulsky (+$831,774), ), bernard-bb (+$705,085), Niklas “ragen70” Heineckerragen (+$608,480), Phil “takechip” D’Auteuil (+$438,423)

Year-to-date losers: Phil “MrSweets28” Galfond (-$663,653), GVOZDIKA55 (-$505,007), Viktor “Isildur1” Blom (-$455,746), VietRussian (-$422,811), long90110 (-$369,936),

_{Data and hands obtained from HighStakesDB.com}

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