Event 15 - $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-06-2009 09:51 UTC-12

Jeff Madsen Eliminated

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Madsen, who doubled up to 5,000 chips just before the break, has now been eliminated from the tournament.

06-06-2009 09:59 UTC-12

Matt Graham Trying to Rebuild

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A short stacked Matt Graham raised to 350 from under the gun and got called by the button.

Graham bet another 350 on the flop of {2-Spades}

and both players checked the {A-Hearts}

on the turn. Graham led for 850 more when the {2-Hearts}

hit the river and his opponent said "You're a nice guy, I'll give you 850," before making the call.

Graham turned over {K-Hearts}

for second pair and took the pot. He's now got just over 5,000 chips.

06-06-2009 10:04 UTC-12

Official Numbers

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655 players registered for today's tournament, creating a total prize pool 3,078,500. 63 players will get paid, with first place worth $692,658.

06-06-2009 10:19 UTC-12

Antonio Esfandiari is Barely Alive

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Antonio Esfandiari had his last 25 chips in the middle versus David Inselberg in middle position. On an ace high flop, Inselberg was holding ace-king off and lost to Esfandiari, who went runner-runner for a straight.

In the next hand, Esfandiari got all against Jesse Chinni and was hoping not to bust because the two have a $5,000 bet on busting one another.

Chinni raised to raised to 1,000 to isolate Esfandiari and showed {9-Clubs}

versus Esfandiari's {J-Spades}

When the board ran out {9-Hearts}

, Esfandiari doubled again to stay in alive.

The table now has a crowd of players gathered around watching the action.

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

06-06-2009 10:35 UTC-12

Esfandiari Goes Bust in a Wild Hand - Saves $5,000

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Antonio Esfandiari passed on the details of his final hand in today's tournament. According to Esfandiari, with additional commentary from Mike Gracz, Jesse Chinni raised to 400 from early position.

The player in the 1 seat then re-raised all in for 3,000 and the player in the 2 seat called all in for 2,000. Esfandiari put his last 275 in the pot, and Chinni called. The hands were:

Chinni - {K-?}

1 seat -

2 seat -

Esfandiari - {5-?}

When the board ran out 6-3-5-A-7, Esfandiari had flopped two pair and the player in the one seat rivered a straight and took the entire pot.

When the hand was over, Gracz looked at Esfandiari who was packing up and said "They may find another chip under your bag. You'd better pack up and go away."

06-06-2009 10:36 UTC-12

David Singer Eliminated

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While mayhem was happening at Antonio Esfandiari's table, David Singer quietly walked past on his way out of the tournament.

06-06-2009 10:54 UTC-12

Ted Forrest Builds a Big Stack

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We caught this hand in progress when Ted Forrest bet 6,000 into a board of {2-Diamonds}

. His opponent raised to 21,000 and Forrest tanked, trying to determine what he was up against.

"You have two Aces? Three 8s?" Forrest asked before finally making the call and then shoving his last 950 into the middle when the {2-Spades}

hit the river.

His opponent called, showing {A-Clubs}

, which couldn't beat Forrest's {K-Spades}

.

The pot put Forrest near the chip lead with 55,000.

06-06-2009 10:58 UTC-12

Howard Lederer Goes Bust

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While we were counting up Ted Forrest's chips, Howard Lederer and Carlos Mortensen went to battle on the same table when Mortensen raised to 600 from the cutoff and Lederer re-raised to 2,200 from the big blind.

After a flop of {6-Clubs}

, Lederer pushed his last 2,500 into the middle and Mortensen quickly called. Lederer showed {A-Diamonds}

for top pair while Mortensen showed {6-Hearts}

for a set.

The {4-Diamonds}

on the turn and {8-Spades}

provided no help for Lederer, who was sent to the rail.

06-06-2009 11:13 UTC-12

Gaffin Griffin Takes a Pot

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We picked this hand up on the flop after Gavin Griffin's opponent check-called for 700 on a flop of {9-Spades}

.

Both players checked the {J-Spades}

on the turn, and Griffin's opponent led for 1,600 on the river, which brought the {3-Clubs}

. Griffin thought for a few seconds before making the call and showing {K-Spades}

for just king high.

The other player flashed {10-?}

for a busted straight draw before tossing his cards in the middle. When the table complimented Griffin on the call, the losing player in the hand piped up, "Yeah, but how much are you down?"

For the record, Griffin has lost nearly half his stack and is sitting with 8,500.