2009 World Series of Poker

Event 15 - $5,000 No Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
$692,658
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$3,078,500
Entries
655
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000

Praz Bansi Loses a Small Pot

Praz Bansi raised to 400 in early position and the player on the button called.

Bansi led for 1,000 more on the flop of {4-Hearts}{A-Clubs}{J-Diamonds}, and for another 1,200 on the turn of {7-Diamonds}. When the {Q-Spades} hit the river, Bansi bet 2,000 and his opponent raised 6,000 more.

Bansi thought the hand through for a few seconds before releasing his cards into the muck.

Matt Graham Doubles Before the Break

Matt Graham
Matt Graham
Matt Graham has been nursing a short stack for much of the day, and managed to double up just before the break.

Graham raised to 475 from middle position and got called by the button along with both blinds. Action checked to Graham on the flop of {2-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{6-Spades} and he bet 825. The button raised to 2,000, the blinds folded, and Graham re-raised all in for his last 950.

When the hands were turned up, Graham showed {Q-?}{Q-?} vs. his opponent's {10-?}{10-?}. When the board ran out {5-Clubs}{A-Hearts}, Graham took the pot and now how has 6,700.

Jason Mercier Loses Chips

We caught this hand on the turn when bet 2,025 on a board of {5-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}. The {3-Hearts} fell on the river and Mercier bet 5,725 before his opponent shoved all in over the top. Mercier made the call and mucked when his opponent showed {7-Diamonds}{6-Spades} for the straight.

After the hand, Mercier was left with just 4,000.

Level: 5

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

Gavin Griffin Hits Quads

Gavin Griffin pushed his 5,100 chips into the pot from middle position preflop and got called by the small blind. The hands were turned over and we we're racing, with Griffin showing {9-Hearts}{9-Clubs} versus his opponent's {A-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}.

The race didn't last long though, with Griffin sealing the hand after a flop of {9-Spades}{3-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}. The {6-Spades} and {8-Spades} changed nothing, and Griffin now sits on 12,000 chips.

Will it Help?

Markus Lehmann
Markus Lehmann
Table 49 now has three big names occupying the 7, 8 and 9 seats, with Markus Lehmann sandwiched between Carlos Mortensen and Ted Forrest.

Lehmann is trying to ignore his playing partners by thumbing though Daniel Negreanu's Hold 'Em Strategy guide.

Praz Bansi Hits the Rail

We caught this hand on the river when Praz Bansi bet 4,000 on a board of {A-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{J-Spades}{4-Spades}{A-Diamonds} and got check-raised to 12,000 by the big blind.

Bansi tanked over calling for his last 11,500 and tried fishing for information from his opponent.

"You have ace-jack?" he asked.

Andy Black, sitting on Bansi's right, said "You know he can't tell you. He can only lie."

Bansi asked again, and the big blind said he did not in fact have ace-jack. Bansi finally made the call, and the player in the big blind tabled -- wait for it -- ace-jack for the full house.

Also recently eliminated from the field was John Juanda.

Thomas Keller Loses a Monster Pot

We caught this hand on the turn when Thomas Keller check-called a 4,100 chip bet on a board of {5-Spades}{2-Hearts}{4-Spades}{6-Clubs}.

When the river brought the {A-Clubs}, Keller tanked before finally check-calling an additional 5,000. When his opponent turned up {5-Hearts}{5-Clubs} for a set, Keller mucked.

At the end of the hand, he still has 26,000 in chips.