Ronan Collet raised to 800 from early position, and the big blind defended to see a flop. After a quick check from the big blind, Collet bet 1,100, and his opponent called. The turn earned another check from the big blind. This time, Collet bet 2,875, and the other player thought for a minute before calling. The big blind checked a third time after the on the river. Collet debated a third barrel, but gave up instead, tapping the table and showing . His opponent's was good for the pot, and Collet slipped to 36,500.
2009 WSOP Main Event final tablist Antoine Saout has been eliminated here at the start of Level 5. While the bustout happened just after our return from the break -- and prior to our regaining access to the tables -- the real damage for Saout had been done in the final hand of Level 4. Here's the scoop on that one...
Saout had opened with a raise and gotten one caller in Toni Judet. The flop came . Judet checked, Saout continued, and Judet called. The turn brought a , and another check-call of Saout's bet from Judet. All of Judet's chips went in on the river card -- a "blank," as they say -- and Saout called, creating a pot of more than 60,000. Saout showed for aces, but Judet had pocket deuces for the five-high straight, and Saout went to the break with just 2,600.
As mentioned, Saout's return from break was brief, as he switfly lost the last of his short stack. Meanwhile, Judet has moved up over 80,000, the biggest stack around at the moment.
We've reached the end of Level 4, and players are now taking their second 15-minute break of the day. Registration closes at the end of this break, so we'll have a final total for Day 1a entrants on the other side.
Alex Gomes has had a quiet first four levels today, having slowly lost chips during the few hands in which he's played.
Just now he opened with a raise to 525 from the button and got one caller from the big blind. The flop came , and when checked to Gomes continued with a bet of 625. His opponent called. The turn brought the , and both players checked.
The river was the . Gomes' opponent quickly checked, and Gomes studied for a while before checking behind. The big blind turned over -- he'd rivered trip nines -- and a weary smile spread over Gomes' face as he pushed his cards to the dealer.
As we near the second break of the day, Gomes sits with about 18,000.
The player on the button raised to 675 and the player in the small blind called. Antoine Saout called out of the big blind as well and the flop came down .
It was checked around, landing the on fourth street. The player in the small blind checked to Saout and he bet 700. The button called and the small blind folded, leading to the on fifth street. Saout fired 2,250 and his lone remaining opponent quickly gave it up.
Looking around the room, we've noticed that in addition to the many Chilipoker banners and WPT signs, there are four photos blown up and mounted on poster board on the walls. One is a photo of people playing slot machines, and one is a guy in a hat and hoodie with his head down playing in the World Series. Our best guess is Theo Tran. And two are photos of players who won't be in attendance this week. Who is important enough to adorn the walls of the tournament room? In a nod to the young and the old, the male and the female, the American and the European - Doyle Brunson and Liv Boeree.
Marc Inizan and Jean-Paul Pasqualini have been sitting side-by-side all afternoon, with Inizan (on Pasqualini's left) having gotten the better of their mostly small skirmishes thus far today.
Just now Inizan opened with a raise from under the gun, and the table folded around to Pasqualini who checked his cards, then chuckled as he had to let go of his hand, showing a deuce as he did.
On the following hand, the table folded around to Pasqualini who completed from the small blind. Inizan checked his cards, then raised to 675. Pasqualini called the raise, and the flop came . Pasqualini bet 725, and Inizan quickly called. The turn was the . This time Pasqualini checked, prompting Inizan to gather some chips and bet 1,625. Pasqualini called.
The river was the . Pasqualini checked this time, and Inizan made a small bet of 1,275. Pasqualini took over a minute, then called, tabling for top pair of jacks. Inizan had jacks, too, but his meant Pasqualini had him out-kicked.
Pasqualini moves back around 22,000 with that one, while Inizan slips back just under the starting stack to 29,000.
The far corner table with Nicolas Levi and Tristan Clemençon was already one of the toughest in the room. Also sharing the felt with them are Lucille Cailly, Mario Cordero, and Damien Rony. To make matters worse, Surinder Sunar was just broken to that table as well.
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flop. After a quick check from the big blind, Collet bet 1,100, and his opponent called. The 
turn earned another check from the big blind. This time, Collet bet 2,875, and the other player thought for a minute before calling. The big blind checked a third time after the 
on the river. Collet debated a third barrel, but gave up instead, tapping the table and showing 
. His opponent's 
was good for the pot, and Collet slipped to 36,500.
. Judet checked, Saout continued, and Judet called. The turn brought a 
, and another check-call of Saout's bet from Judet. All of Judet's chips went in on the river card -- a "blank," as they say -- and Saout called, creating a pot of more than 60,000. Saout showed 
for aces, but Judet had pocket deuces for the five-high straight, and Saout went to the break with just 2,600.
, and when checked to Gomes continued with a bet of 625. His opponent called. The turn brought the 
, and both players checked.
. Gomes' opponent quickly checked, and Gomes studied for a while before checking behind. The big blind turned over 
-- he'd rivered trip nines -- and a weary smile spread over Gomes' face as he pushed his cards to the dealer.
.
on fourth street. The player in the small blind checked to Saout and he bet 700. The button called and the small blind folded, leading to the 
on fifth street. Saout fired 2,250 and his lone remaining opponent quickly gave it up.
. This time Pasqualini checked, prompting Inizan to gather some chips and bet 1,625. Pasqualini called.
. Pasqualini checked this time, and Inizan made a small bet of 1,275. Pasqualini took over a minute, then called, tabling 
for top pair of jacks. Inizan had jacks, too, but his 
meant Pasqualini had him out-kicked.