2008 World Series of Poker Circuit - Atlantic City

$5,150 Championship Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker Circuit - Atlantic City

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
89
Prize
$280,940
Event Info
Buy-in
$4,900
Prize Pool
$877,100
Entries
179
Level Info
Level
18
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
4,000

Eugene Todd Eliminated

On a {Q-Clubs} {3-Spades} {A-Spades} {10-Hearts} board and several thousand in the middle already, Eugene Todd bet 5,000 and was raised to 11,000 by Adam Lippert. A third player in seat 8 then reraised all in and Todd went into the tank. Finally he put his remaining 8,000 in the pot and the decision was now Lippert's. He too decided that there was too much in the pot and called as well. The hands were:

Todd: {3-Diamonds} {3-Spades}
Lippert: {10-Spades} {8-Spades}
Unknown Player: {K-Clubs} {J-Clubs}

The {4-Spades} fell on the river and Lippert made a winning flush to eliminate Todd and take most of the unknown players stack. He now sits with 62,000 and appears to be the chip leader.

Tags: Adam LippertEugene Todd

Spades Aplenty

James Copher and an unknown player were involved in a big confrontation moments ago, resulting in one of them parting ways with their entire chip stack. Here's how it went down:

With about 1,000 chips already in the pot, the flop brought {10-Spades} {A-Clubs} {J-Spades}. Copher bet out 800, and his opponent quickly called. Fourth street came the {3-Spades}, and Copher flicked a single gray T5,000 chip into the middle, betting the full amount. His opponent moved all in for just a couple thousand more, and Copher instantly called, having his man covered.

"You got a flush?" asked the opponent.

Showdown:
Copher: {A-Spades} {J-Hearts}
Opponent: {K-Spades} {Q-Spades}

"Oh wow," said the all in player, preparing himself for the deciding river card.

Much to his chagrin, the {6-Spades} peeled off, giving Copher the top flush and sending one more player to the rail.

Tags: James Copher

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

Racener Gets Caught

With the board reading {K-Hearts} {5-Hearts} {5-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds} {10-Diamonds} and roughly 10,000 in the pot, John Racener put his opponent to the test with a bet of 6,000. After a short tank his opponent called and Racener told him, "Nice hand" as he mucked his cards when his opponent showed {Q-Clubs} {Q-Spades}.

The defending champ is down to about roughly 7,000.

Tags: John Racener

Too Much Testosterone

After a long scan through the field, there are just two ladies remaining.

Joanne Monteavero is over on table 15 with just less than 20,000. At an adjacent table, our other lady -- who says she goes simply by "Miss Kathleen" -- is sitting on about 14,000. Miss Kathleen runs a poker league in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

"I'm going to be the baby boomer later on," said Miss Kathleen, predicting a deep run for herself this week.

J...E...T...S JETS JETS JETS

Two of the many Favre fans in the room
Two of the many Favre fans in the room
A large portion of the field seems to be fans of the New York Jets. A critical forced fumble, recovery, and touchdown just drew a huge reaction from many players.

We'll Have a New Champion This Year

John Racener - Eliminated
John Racener - Eliminated
Take the "reserved" sticker off of Seat 1 at the final table; defending champion John Racener won't be filling that spot.

In his final hand of the day, Racener opened the betting with a raise to 500. Two players, including Akio Ishige, came along to the flop.

The dealer spread out the first three community cards: {Q-?} {6-?} {5-?}. Racener continued out with a bet, prompting one opponent to fold. Ishige wasn't so easily deterred though as he came along with a call.

Heads up then, fourth street brought a {2-?}. Both men checked.

The river came a {4-?}. Racener bet 3,800, nearly his full stack. Ishige moved all in, and Racener made the call.

Showdown:
Racener: {Q-?} {Q-?}
Ishige: {7-?} {8-?}

Having made his straight, Akio Ishige has done the deed, knocking off the defending champion and chipping his way up to 14,000.

Tags: Akio IshigeJohn Racener

Gazing Upward

Billy Gazes
Billy Gazes
On a flop of {A-Diamonds} {3-Diamonds} {9-Hearts}, Billy Gazes had the betting lead. He checked, and his opponent put out a bet. The amount was unclear, but when Gazes called, it put more than 6,000 chips in the pot.

Heads up, fourth street was the {7-Clubs}. Gazes again checked, and his opponent put out a bet of 4,100. Billy called once more.

The river brought the {Q-Diamonds}. Gazes sat pensively for a minute or two, alternating glances at the board and his opponent. Finally, he counted out 6,400 chips and tossed them forward. His opponent went into the tank for a couple minutes before finally surrendering his cards.

With that little chip-up pot, Gazes has climbed to 27,000 just before break.

Tags: Billy Gazes