2011 World Series of Poker

Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q6
Prize
$82,292
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$382,500
Entries
850
Level Info
Level
23
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000

Brian Means Means Business After Rivering a Flush

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

After the under-the-gun player raised to 500, Brian Means called and the two saw a flop of {5-Clubs}{A-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}. When his opponent checked the flop Means bet 1,200 chips, which prompted an all-in raise. Means deliberated before calling with the {Q-Clubs}{J-Clubs} and a flush draw. His opponent showed the {A-Clubs}{Q-Hearts} for top pair and Means needed help to survive. The {4-Hearts} on the turn was no help, but the {7-Clubs} on the river gave Means the winning flush and propelled him to nearly 12,000 chips.

Chris Harris' Treys Hold Up

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

From middle positition, Chris Harris from Seattle raised to 700 and the button flatted. The small blind squeezed all in for 1,825. Harris re-popped it approximately 3,000, prompting a fold from the button. Revealed hands showed both players were off to the races.

Harris: {3-Clubs}{3-Spades}
Opponent: {A-Spades}{K-Hearts}

The board ran out {7-Clubs}{6-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}{Q-Spades}, chipping Harris up and eliminating his opponent.

Tags: Chris Harris

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

LaVallie Steamrolling His Table

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

Martin LaVallie has quickly amassed one of the biggest stacks in the tournament, and it looks like he has no intention of slowing down, taking back to back hands with pure aggression. In the first hand, with 1,300 in the pot, LaVallie and his opponent took a flop of {9-Spades}{k-Spades}{8-Hearts}. When his opponent bet 1,050, LaVallie raises to 3,550, inducing a fold. On the next hand, LaVallie three bet his opponent to 2,400 after a 600 raise inducing another fold. Lavallie is now sitting on around 29,000.

Tags: Martin LaVallie

Ty Stewart Eliminated

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

After calling a raise of 500 preflop, Ty Stewart moved all in for 2,350 on a flop of {A-Clubs}{2-Spades}{6-Clubs}. His opponent instantly called and the hands were exposed.

Stewart: {10-Clubs}{10-Hearts}
Opponent: {A-Hearts}{K-Spades}

“That’s not good for me”, remarked Stewart. His situation worsened as the turn and river fell {J-Spades} and {4-Spades} and Stewart was eliminated.

Tags: Ty Stewart

Billy Johnson Flops a Straight and Chips Up to Over 22K

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

With the board reading {K-Hearts}{9-Hearts}{Q-Spades}{5-Spades}, Billy Johnson made a small bet and his opponent check raised for his entire stack. Johnson insta-called and tabled the {J-Spades}{10-Diamonds} for a flopped nut straight. The other player dejectedly showed his {K-Spades}{Q-Clubs} and wrapped the table, saying "nice hand sir." The {2-Spades} on the river brought no help and Johnson chipped up to over 22,000 in chips.

Tags: Billy Johnson

Savage Loses Half His Stack

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

Matt Savage raised to 600 preflop and an opponent moved all in for 2,925 total. It folded around to Savage who took about 15 seconds before calling. The cards were flipped and it was a race situation.

Savage: {a-Clubs}{q-Hearts}
Opponent: {6-Hearts}{6-Clubs}

The flop left Savage nearly drawing dead as it came {6-Spades}{k-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}. Savage would need runner runner for a straight, but he didn't get it as it came {2-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}. The hit drop Savage's stack to around 3,800.

Tags: Matt Savage

Michael "Squirrely" Anderson Chips Up

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

Michael Anderson raised from the cutoff to 800 and the big blind defended. Anderson's opponent checked-raised all in for approximately 2,000 after Anderson bet 1,500 on the {10-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{K-Hearts} flop. Anderson made the call and needed to dodge hearts to eliminate his opponents.

Anderson: {Q-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}
Opponent: {J-Hearts}{5-Hearts}

The {K-Diamonds} turn and {3-Clubs} river sealed the deal, chipping Anderson up to 7,300.

Tags: Michael "Squirrely" Anderson

Hoai Pham Helps to Triple Up Opponent

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

We caught up with the action when Hoai Pham called 975 more to cover two other players' all-ins.

Pham: {K-Spades}{10-Diamonds}
Opponent 1: {K-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}
Opponent 2: {10-Hearts}{2-Hearts}

The board ran out {J-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{3-Spades}{9-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}, eliminating one opponent and tripling up another, tapping into the historic power of the ten-deuce at the WSOP.

Tags: Hoai Pham