Event 29 - $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-17-2008 22:18 UTC-7

Play Settles

[user67765]

After a few minutes of fury that saw Johnny Neckar stumble before doubling up twice through John Phan, the play has settled down again with a lot of folding preflop and very few flops being seen.

During this time, Phan has chipped up slightly but is still at a 2:1 chip disadvantage.

06-17-2008 22:06 UTC-7

Johnny Neckar Doubles Up Through John Phan Again!!

[user42991]

On a flop of {4-Diamonds}

, John Phan checked to Johnny Neckar and Neckar bet 225,000 into a 300,000 pot. Phan then check raised to 450,000. Neckar moved all in before Phan could get his chips out and Phan called.

Neckar: {A-Hearts}

Phan:

Phan needed a 9 in order to win the hand. When the turn fell the {A-Diamonds}

, Phan was drawing dead. The river card of the {7-Diamonds}

was meaningless and Johnny Neckar doubled up to 3,100,000 in chips. John Phan is down to 1,200,000

Tags: John Phan Johnny Neckar

06-17-2008 21:56 UTC-7

Neckar Doubles Up!

[user67765]

With all the money in preflop, John Phan was going to need some help with his {A-Spades}

against the dominant {A-Clubs}

of Johnny Neckar.

The board ran out {10-Diamonds}

and Neckar finds a much needed double up to about 1,600,000, but still trails Phan who has 2,700,000.

06-17-2008 21:54 UTC-7

Phan Takes Down Monster

[user67765]

Johnny Neckar raised to 150,000 preflop and John Phan made the call.

The flop came {8-Hearts}

and Phan led for 150,000. Neckar made the call.

The turn was the {K-Spades}

and Phan checked to Neckar who fired 225,000. Phan made the call.

The river brought the {10-Diamonds}

and Phan checked to Neckar who announced a bet of 600,000. Phan snapped-called in his fastest action of the day, as Neckar instantly mucked his cards.

Phan also didn't expose his cards, as he takes down a monster pot to jump to about 3,400,000 to Neckar's 900,000.

Tags: John Phan Johnny Neckar

06-17-2008 21:49 UTC-7

Thanks But No Thanks!

[user67765]

A friend of John Phan came up to the rail to wish Phan some luck saying "Let's go John, hurry up and win this thing!"

Phan replied, "I can't win if he won't go all in...this guy is so tight!"

Phan then turned to Neckar and said, "Wanna put it all in, in the dark?"

"No thanks," came the brick wall reply from Neckar.

The war continues!

06-17-2008 21:42 UTC-7

Action Time?

[user42991]

Dutch Boyd stopped by for a few minutes to check out the action at this final table. He took a picture of Phan from the crowd and told him to "take this s**t down." Michael Mizrachi also stopped by. When "The Grinder" said hello, Phan told him, "come in here and play my chips for me."

Right now, Jeff Madsen is sitting at table 13 flirting with the ESPN updates girl.

The mood around this final table is somewhat relaxed considering all that's at stake. In fact, one of Phan's supporters yelled out, "give us some action!" Phan replied, "Action coming. On the way."

Tags: Dutch Boyd Jeff Madsen John Phan Michael Mizrachi

06-17-2008 21:38 UTC-7

Give and Take

[user42991]

Play is going back and forth right now. In one hand, Phan raised to 75,000 only to have Neckar raise him back for 305,000 more. Phan released after some posturing.

The next two hand saw a pair of "raise and take it" hands. Phan took one and Neckar the other.

We finally got another showdown just a moment ago. Well, we sort of got a showdown. Johnny Neckar raised preflop to 150,000 and Phan made the call. Both the flop and turn were checked. On the river, with a board showing {7-Hearts}

, Phan made a bet of 275,000 chips. Neckar apparently said call and started cutting out his chips. Before he could do so, Phan tabled {A-Clubs}

for sevens up. Neckar mucked his hand and finished cutting his chips.

Tags: John Phan Johnny Neckar

Level: 24

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 5,000

06-17-2008 21:28 UTC-7

Phan Chipping Away

[user67765]

Over the last few minutes, John Phan has slowly chipped away at the big stack of Johnny Neckar. He has taken down a few pots preflop and a couple with continuation bets on the flop to narrow the lead slightly.

Neckar has just under 2.4 million to Phan's 1.9 million.

The play is now very slow and deliberate. Earlier on today, Phan was lighting up the room with his unpredictably loose play, however this heads up battle is becoming a real war of attrition. Phan is taking a long time over every decision, even when it's his option in the big blind, while Neckar is yet to put a foot wrong all tournament.

06-17-2008 21:19 UTC-7

Play Since Dinner

[user42991]

The first five hands were pretty standard "raise and take it" with Phan winning three hands and Neckar winning two. Then we enter the sixth hand between the two.

Phan limped in and Neckar checked his option. On a flop of {8-Clubs}

, Phan bet out 45,000 and Neckar made the call. On the turn card of the {4-Spades}

, Phan bet out 100,000 chips and Neckar made the call. When the river card of the {5-Clubs}

fell, Phan checked and Neckar bet out 400,000. As he typically tends to do, Phan took a very long time to make his decision. Neckar was very patient and let Phan take all the time he needed. About 5 minutes later, Phan finally folds.

Right now, Neckar is on top with around 2,700,000 in chips.

Tags: John Phan Johnny Neckar