02-12-2010 08:53 UTC-12

Champ Starting Off Right

donpeters

JC Tran

The defending champion of this event is JC Tran. After Phil Laak raised to 6,000 from the cutoff with {K-Diamonds}

{K-Diamonds}

{10-Hearts}

, Tran called on the button with {A-Clubs}

{A-Clubs}

{J-Diamonds}

and Yevgeniy Timoshenko called from the big blind with {6-Spades}

{6-Spades}

{5-Spades}

.

The flop came down {J-Hearts}

{J-Hearts}

{10-Clubs}

{8-Spades}

and Laak and Tran picked up a pair apiece. Action checked to Tran and he bet 8,000. Timoshenko folded and Laak called with his second pair.

After the turn fell the {4-Spades}

{4-Spades}

, Laak check-folded to a bet of 19,000 from Tran and the defending champ picked up an early pot.

Tags: JC Tran Phil Laak Yevgeniy Timoshenko