WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Championship Day 2 | 2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

09-08-2009 18:47 UTC+3

Mike Matusow Eliminated

[user75032]

We noticed that things in the back corner of the room seemed to be quiet. A pass by the table showed that Mike Matusow's former seat was empty with no chips in front of it. About twenty minutes prior, someone asked Matusow if he wanted something to drink. Matusow replied that he wanted to punch something because he was really pissed. It seems that he has something else to be pissed about, as he's now out.

A quick perusal of the property located Matusow upstairs playing Chinese poker.

09-08-2009 18:43 UTC+3

Mizzi Drops, and then Drops and Gives Fifteen

[user75032]

Sorel Mizzi led out for 5,600 on a flop of {Q-Diamonds}

. His opponent raised to 15,000. Mizzi called after a few moments' thought. Both players checked the {J-Diamonds}

turn and the {4-Clubs}

river.

"Queen," said Mizzi. It wasn't enough; his opponent showed {Q-Spades}

for two pair, queens and jacks. It was at that point that Nenad Medic and Mizzi both hit the floor to pound out fifteen push-ups, as per the terms of their standing side bet with Layne Flack.

"Give him one second, he's gotta do some push-ups," Flack told a massage therapist waiting to get to work on Mizzi.

"Always salt in the wound," Mizzi rued. He got down on the floor and began his punishment.

"Get that butt down!" barked Flack.

Tags: Layne Flack Sorel Mizzi

09-08-2009 18:35 UTC+3

67 and Counting

[user38449]

With just 67 players remaining midway through the fourth level of play, we've lost 46% of those we started the day with. The pace of play is flying, but Tournament Director Jack McClellan tells us we're definitely playing five levels of poker today.

09-08-2009 18:26 UTC+3

Lestina Up, Up and Up

[user75032]

John Lestina's been busy building a big stack all day. He just added another 50,000 chips to his stack. Martin Kabrhel started the action by raising to 3,400 preflop. Lestina called before small blind Georges Hanna re-raised to 18,200. Only Lestina called that re-raise.

The flop was ace-high, {2-Spades}

. Hanna made a 25,000-chip bet that Lestina didn't hesitate to call. When the turn fell {8-Diamonds}

, Hanna checked and then silently folded to Lestina's own 25,000-chip bet.

"You had an ace?" Kabrhel asked. "I had an ace also. I think your kicker was better." Lestina claimed ace-king.

Tags: Georges Hanna John Lestina

09-08-2009 18:25 UTC+3

Hagen Doubles Through Bloch

[user38449]

"I'm so excited... and I just can't hide it.... (No, no, no, no...)"

A short-stacked Andreas Hagen moved all in for his last 19,300 from late position and action folded around the table to Andy Bloch in the big blind. After a minute or so in the tank, Bloch tossed in the required chips to make the call and found himself racing -- his {Q-Diamonds}

against Hagen's {4-Clubs}

.

The

flop was huge for Bloch, giving him both straight and flush draws, but Hagen managed to dodge all of Bloch's 20 outs twice as the board bricked out {5-Hearts}

,

.

Hagen improved to just over 40,000 in chips after the hand.

Tags: Andreas Hagen Andy Bloch

09-08-2009 18:18 UTC+3

Big Stacks Colliding

[user75032]

A table to watch going forward for the rest of the day is Table 6. That table is loaded with chips, as Sorel Mizzi, Layne Flack, Nenad Medic, Wahab Shlomo and Rep Porter all have stacks that are well above the 103,000-chip average. Mizzi and Flack tangled in a recent pot, with Mizzi taking down the pot on the {6-Hearts}

turn by betting 7,700.

Tags: Layne Flack Sorel Mizzi

09-08-2009 18:05 UTC+3

Leaderboard Update

[user38449]

Here are your top five chip stacks after three levels of play:

Steven Fung - 242,000
Layne Flack - 240,000
Rony Jazzar - 228,600
Tommy Vedes - 215,000
Sorel Mizzi - 210,000

09-08-2009 17:53 UTC+3

Lederer Busto

[user75032]

We've been busy updating all of the chip counts since we came back from break -- but not too busy to notice Howard Lederer stand up from his table and walk out of the tournament room. "Seat open," called out the dealer. Lederer surrendered his badge and was on his way.

Tags: Howard Lederer

Level: 9

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 200

09-08-2009 17:43 UTC+3

Play Resumes

[user75032]

Cards are back in the air. This is the fourth of five levels today.