Event #19: $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship
Day 3 Started
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #19: $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship
Day: 3
Ten Return as Tourney Draws to Close
It was a late, late one last night as play continued until after 4 a.m. in Day 2 of the $10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw Lowball Championship (No-Limit). When the last level of the evening had finally completed, just ten remained from our starting field of 101, with David "Bakes" Baker our chip leader.
Following our first three eliminations today, we will have arrived at the final seven-handed table. And quite the final table it is shaping up to be!
Baker looks primed to be there, following up nicely the impressive feat of having final tabled Event No. 2, the $50,000 Player's Championship, where he finished sixth. But others are lurking not too far behind, including German pro George Danzer and Eric Cloutier, an early chip leader at last year's Main Event. And down the leaderboard a little further sit multiple bracelet winners Erik Seidel, John Juanda, and Daniel Negreanu, with a couple of players who've come close before -- John Monnette and Andy Bloch -- hoping to be there at the end as well.
Due to the lateness of play last night, we aren't scheduled to get going today until 4 p.m. Vegas time. Come back then to find out who ultimately comes out on top in the star-studded Event No. 19.
The Deuce-to-Seven Draws Near
We are just moments away from the restart of Event No. 19, the $10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw Lowball Championship (No-Limit). Our ten remaining players are gathering around two five-handed tables at the moment. With three more eliminations, we'll move over to one of the feature tables here in the Amazon Room to play out the final seven-handed table.
Back in a few!
Level: 19
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 2,000
Shuffle Up and Deal
We're underway! Here's how our top ten are seated at the start of play on Day 3:
Table 341
Seat 1 - George Danzer
Seat 2 - Doug Booth
Seat 3 - John Juanda
Seat 4 - Daniel Negreanu
Seat 5 - Erik Seidel
Table 342
Seat 1 - Eric Cloutier
Seat 2 - Eric Kesselman
Seat 3 - John Monnette
Seat 4 - Andy Bloch
Seat 5 - David Baker
Early Battle of Bracelet Holders
An early confrontation between John Juanda (four-time WSOP bracelet winner) and Erik Seidel (eight-time WSOP bracelet winner) to share with you.
Juanda opened for 23,000 from the cutoff, and only Seidel in the SB called him. Seidel took one, and Juanda stood pat. Seidel then bet 30,000, and Juanda tanked for some time before making the call.
Seidel tabled 
, while Juanda showed his 
-X-X-X. Seidel grabs a few to move up to 350,000, while Juanda drops to 155,000.
Final Table Plans
Players were just informed that following our first two eliminations today, the remaining eight will be redrawing for seats around a single table.
This was news to some, and a couple -- including John Monnette -- objected to the decision. Andy Bloch noted how he, too, under normal circumstances would prefer they play two four-handed tables when the time comes. However, given his relatively short-stacked status, he admitted he doesn't mind going with an eight-handed table today so as to be able to deal with the blinds less frequently.
Blind Defense Not Working Out for Cloutier
Eric Cloutier was just now tangling with opponents in a couple of hands, losing small pots in each.
In the first, John Monnette opened for 16,000 from middle position and Cloutier called from the BB. Both took one, and both checked. Monnette showed 
, which just barely beat Cloutier's .
In the second, Andy Bloch raised to 20,000 from middle position, and Cloutier called from the small blind. Again both players drew one card and both checked afterwards. Bloch showed 
, which bested Cloutier's pair of eights.
Cloutier is at 320,000 now, while Bloch has 175,000 and Monnette 254,000.
Ninety-Five for Monnette
The table folded around to John Monnette who raised to 220,000 from the small blind, and Eric Kesselman called from the big blind. Both stood pat. Monnette checked, Kesselman bet 60,000, and Monnette called the bet.
Monnette tabled 
. Kesselman showed two of his cards -- -- before tossing his hand into the muck. Monnette moves up to 275,000 and Kesselman down to 235,000.
It's the First Draw, All Right... And the Last
The table folded around to Erik Seidel in the small blind, so he took the invitation to raise to 24,000. George Danzer called from the big blind. Seidel did something unexpected -- he drew three cards.
Danzer looked at Seidel with a grin of surprise. John Juanda piped up. "This is only the first draw," he said.
First and last, of course, as this is single draw, not triple draw. As the table laughed, Danzer took one card, then both players checked.
"A pair," said Seidel. "Which pair?" answered Danzer. Seidel showed , and Danzer tabled his 
. Danzer took the small pot.
The German pro continues to remain in second place behind David Baker with 430,000. Seidel has 335,000.