From under the gun, Matthew Chang limped in. Phil Hellmuth limped from the next seat and then Matthew Davidson limped from middle position. Derwin Ward raised to 1,650 from the hijack and everyone folded back around to Hellmuth. He called and Davidson called.
The flop came down and Hellmuth led for 1,400. Davidson folded and Ward made the call.
The turn card was the and both players checked to see the fall on the river. Hellmuth bet 700 and Ward raised to 2,700. Hellmuth quickly called.
"I got nothing," said Ward before Hellmuth tabled the . Ward then mucked and Hellmuth won the pot to move to 25,000 in chips.
"Now we're playing the game, baby!" said an excited Hellmuth after the hand.
Fashionably late as always, Phil Hellmuth has just taken his seat in the tournament. It's not often players in these Circuit events get to play with someone as decorated as Hellmuth, but today is their lucky day.
Brian Kim checked the flop of to Chris Farmer. He bet 1,150 and the third player in the hand made the call. Kim check-raised to 3,200 and that knocked Farmer out of the way. The other player called.
The fell on the turn and with 16,650 behind, Kim bet 5,350. His opponent took a minute and then moved all in for 15,350. Kim thought for a tiny bit and then asked, "Will you show me if I fold?"
His opponent quickly responded, "Yes."
Kim just as quickly said, "I fold," and gave it up. His opponent showed the .
Tom Masinter checked the board of and the next player bet 825. Alex Maturi called and then Masinter folded. The river completed the board with the and Maturi folded to his opponent's bet of 1,600.
David Baker opened to 475 from early position, and Gregory Sessler reraised to 1,200 two seats over. Devin Jackson and Blake [Removed:292] both called, and Baker splashed in the extra 725 to see a flop.
It came , and the first three players checked to Jackson. With just 5,325 chips left in front of him, Jackson moved all in minus the one green T25 chip he still had covering his cards. That folded [Removed:292] and Baker, but Sessler made the call with the covering stack, putting Jackson at risk and in bad shape as the cards were turned up:
Sessler:
Jackson:
Jackson's bottom pair had him in a bad way, but the dealer saved his tournament life as the turn gave him two pair. One card from the double up, Jackson faded the river as the was safe and sound.
In a raised pot, three players including David Baker saw a flop of . Baker was in the middle, but he led the betting with 1,125 chips. The player behind him called while the out-of-position player checked and folded.
That got them heads up to the turn, and Baker check-called 2,000 this time. The river came the , and Baker checked again. His opponent made one last stab, flicking out 3,300 chips, and Baker looked him up with the call.
The unknown player showed for the miss, and Baker's was good enough to take down the pot and push him up to about 29,000.
Action was checked to Brian Kim on the flop of . Kim bet 725 and his opponent made the call.
The turn brought the and the player checked to Kim once again. Kim bet 1,700 and his opponent check-raised to 3,650. Kim thought about it long and hard, but eventually gave it up. His opponent tabled the .
Two World Series of Poker Circuit gold ring winners battled in this pot with the flop of in the middle of the table. Alex Maturi won the $555 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event here in Rincon for $10,790 a few days ago and checked to Tom Masinter. Masinter's ring came back in November when he won a $345 No-Limit Hold'em event at Harvey's Lake Tahoe for $21,147. Masinter bet 1,625 and Maturi made the call.
The turn brought the and both players checked to see the fall on the river. Maturi bet 3,150 and Masinter made the call.
Maturi tabled the announcing, "Two pair." Masinter tabled the for a straight on the river, although he was good the entire way.
and Hellmuth led for 1,400. Davidson folded and Ward made the call.
and both players checked to see the 
fall on the river. Hellmuth bet 700 and Ward raised to 2,700. Hellmuth quickly called.
. Ward then mucked and Hellmuth won the pot to move to 25,000 in chips.
to Chris Farmer. He bet 1,150 and the third player in the hand made the call. Kim check-raised to 3,200 and that knocked Farmer out of the way. The other player called.
fell on the turn and with 16,650 behind, Kim bet 5,350. His opponent took a minute and then moved all in for 15,350. Kim thought for a tiny bit and then asked, "Will you show me if I fold?"
.
and the next player bet 825. Alex Maturi called and then Masinter folded. The river completed the board with the ![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
gave him two pair. One card from the double up, Jackson faded the river as the 
turn, and Baker check-called 2,000 this time. The river came the 
was good enough to take down the pot and push him up to about 29,000.
. Kim bet 725 and his opponent made the call.
and the player checked to Kim once again. Kim bet 1,700 and his opponent check-raised to 3,650. Kim thought about it long and hard, but eventually gave it up. His opponent tabled the 
.
announcing, "Two pair." Masinter tabled the 
