The second day of action at the LA Poker Classic has come to a close. There are about 153 players remaining on 17 tables. Stay tuned for official numbers and chip counts. Day 3 wil start at 3:30pm local time.
Be sure to take a look at our extensive photo gallery by clicking on the "Photo Gallery" link to the right. In addition, check out our various videos by clicking on the "Video Gallery" link to the right.
On a flop of , Anthony Mak bet 8000, and his opponent asked for a count of his remaining chips (23,000). After going into the tank for nearly five minutes, Steve Brecher and another player at the table called for a clock. After much hemming and hawing, Mak's opponent folded the face up and was crushed when Mak flashed the .
Action has slowed down substantially. Players are spending more time walking around and shooting the breeze, while others are taking their sweet time making decisions with ten minutes to go in the level.
"Can we play some poker here?" asked Steve Brecher.
Michael Binger is enjoying a tall cold beer near the snack stand and recounting his bad beat to various members of the media. He's been referring to Jason Strasser as "that internet guy."
Michael Binger and Jason Strasser got all-in preflop, Binger holding the , Strasser the . Strasser caught his miracle on the flop and the on the turn and the on the river were of no help to Binger.
Haralabos Voulgaris moved all-in pre-flop and after going into the tank, Chau Giang called. Voulgaris turned up K-K while Giang showed A-K. The flop was 2-5-3, putting Voulgaris in the lead. The T on the turn kept him there, but Giang rivered an Ace to take Voulgaris out of the tournament.
While in the middle of getting a massage, Isabelle Mercier busted out when she was all in with Q-Q. He opponent had K-Q and promptly flopped a King as she headed to the rail.
JC Tran and Joe Sebok butted heads in a huge pot, and when the dust settled Sebok headed to the rail. Sebok turned a Queen high flush with and Tran had two pair with . When the spiked on the river, Tran picked up a full house. All the money went in on the river as Tran scooped the monster pot worth over 500K. Tran became the first player to cross the half of a million mark.
JC Tran finished in 5th place at the 2006 LA Poker Classic. He began the final table as the chipleader, but got his pocket Aces cracked by eventual winner Aan Gohering's 5-5. Tran won over $246,000 that day, but he really wanted the victory. After the Sebok hand, Tran has put himself in a good spot to make another final table.
For more details on this hand, click on the "Hand in Depth" tab at right to see it play our before your very eyes.