Event 9: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry Day 2 | 2012 World Series of Poker

06-05-2012 03:19 UTC-6

Brian Rast Absolutely Destroys Day 2

[user162117]

Level 20 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

Wow, what a huge day of poker. It started off fairly exciting, but it only got more and more riveting as the night went on. Tonight can officially be known as the Brian Rast Show. But that’s the end of the night, so let’s go back to the beginning of the day.

It all started with 514 players hoping to make it through to Day 3. By the time it was all over, only 33 remained and will return to tomorrow to fight it out for a spot at the final table.

Of the returning players today, just 342 would finish up with any cash for their effort. Some of those who fell short of making it into the money include Chris Bjorin, Steve Zolotow and Eli Elezra.

A few of those who were able to scrape through with a min-cash were the likes of Terrence Chan, Isaac Haxton and Angel Guillen. For a full list of payouts, be sure to take to the Event 9 payout page.

As the players hit the rail one by one, it was becoming clear that the pro to amateur ration was getting quite skewed. At one point there was a table that featured enough pros to scare anyone. In fact, Table 433 had over $23 million worth of career tournament winnings at one point sitting at the felt. A rail of observers grew and grew as the field was stacked with as many familiar faces as a much larger buy-in event.

Late into the night less than ten tables remained and we recognized a large majority of those players as having had big results in the past. One of those players still in contention was Liv Boeree, however that wouldn’t last for long. The end of Boeree’s tournament was a very unlucky one and something, which we are sure she will be having bad dreams about tonight.

Another player who may not sleep well tonight is James Akenhead. Unfortunately, Akenhead felt the wrath of a man who simply could not be stopped. And here we are back to the man they call Brian Rast.

Rast held the chip lead for most of the evening, with Ryan Olisar and Scott Seiver the only players to get close to his gargantuan stack. Rast was relentless throughout the night, crushing players all over the felt to see himself in contention to take down his third World Series of Poker gold bracelet. Just scroll through our blog and you will find a dozen instances of Rast taking down big pots. It was truly amazing to watch and we look forward to seeing more of it tomorrow.

Of the 33 players who will join Rast, Olisar and Seiver at the tables tomorrow, Jonathan Duhamel, Greg Mueller and Ari Engel are just some of the notables with a great chance of going all the way. Don't rule out the likes of Paul Wasicka, Amanda Musumeci and Daniel Idema either though, as they have the skills and enough chips to scare.

Be sure to check in with us from 1:00 PM tomorrow as Event 9 plays down to a final table. PokerNews will be felt-side all day long, so don’t miss it.

Tags: Brian Rast

06-05-2012 01:21 UTC-6

Rast Smashes Akenhead; Continues to Bulldoze

donpeters

As if Brian Rast couldn't get any stronger, he just eliminated former World Series of Poker November Niner James Akenhead in another massive pot that went his way.

According to Rast, he opened to 16,000 from under the gun and action folded to Akenhead on the button. He reraised to 38,000 and Rast called.

The flop came down {10-} {7-} {2-} and Rast check-called a bet of 40,000. On an {8-} turn, Rast checked and Akenhead bet 55,000. Now according to Rast, he "made a bad play on the turn," and check-raised all in. Akenhead called off his 175,000 holding {A-} {A-} . Rast had {9-} {9-} .

The river nailed Rast with a straight when a {J-} fell and colossus grew even bigger. He's now up to around 1.1 million while Akenhead headed to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	1,100,000	270,000
James Akenhead	Busted

Tags: Brian Rast James Akenhead

06-04-2012 21:49 UTC-6

Hays Eliminated by Duhamel

donpeters

Speak of the devil, 2011 bracelet winner Foster Hays was just eliminated by 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel at the tough table we just talked about.

According to Duhamel, action folded to Hays in the small blind and he raised. Duhamel three-bet from the big blind with the {Q-} {Q-} and then Hays four-bet shoved. Duhamel called and was up against the suited {J-} {9-} for Hays. No help came for Hays and he was eliminated as Duhamel moved over 200,000 in chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jonathan Duhamel	218,000	123,000
Foster Hays	Busted

Tags: Jonathan Duhamel Foster Hays

06-04-2012 18:52 UTC-6

Arnett Eliminated; Locks Up First WSOP Cash

donpeters

PokerNews hostess Kristy Arnett has just been eliminated, but not without locking up her first-ever World Series of Poker cash worth $3,584.

Action folded to Scott Fischman in the cutof seat and he raised to 4,200. Arnett was next to act on the button and she reraised all in for 37,200. Two seats over sat John Juanda and the five-time WSOP gold bracelet winner requested a count when play got to him. The dealer gave him one and then he made the call after another 10-15 seconds of thought. Fischman folded and it was Arnett versus Juanda.

Arnett showed the {A-Diamonds} {Q-Spades} , but was in bad shape against the {A-Hearts} {K-Clubs} for Juanda as he had her dominated. Needing some help on the flop, turn or river, Arnett couldn't find it when the dealer ran out the {8-Diamonds} {6-Clubs} {4-Clubs} {9-Clubs} {3-Hearts} and she was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Juanda	133,000	17,000
Kristy Arnett	Busted

Tags: Kristy Arnett John Juanda Scott Fischman

06-04-2012 18:44 UTC-6

Liebert Eliminated by Glicksman

donpeters

From the cutoff seat, Kathy Liebert raied to 4,500. Ross Glicksman three-bet out of the big blind and made it 11,100 to go. Liebert came back with an all-in shove for 72,500. After some tanking, Glicksman made the call.

Liebert: {A-Hearts} {K-Clubs}
Glicksman: {9-Clubs} {9-Diamonds}

The flop, turn and river ran out {8-Spades} {3-Clubs} {3-Diamonds} {2-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds} and Liebert was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ross Glicksman	155,000
Kathy Liebert	Busted

Tags: Ross Glicksman Kathy Liebert

06-04-2012 17:30 UTC-6

Mercier Eliminated and Off to Stud

donpeters

From middle position, Jason Mercier raised all in for his last 4,500. Action folded to the player in the small blind and he reraised to 9,000. Everyone else folded and Mercier was at risk with the {Q-Spades} {8-Hearts} versus his opponent's {J-Spades} {J-Hearts} .

After a board of {A-Clubs} {9-Diamonds} {5-Hearts} {K-Diamonds} {K-Hearts} gave no help to Mercier, he was off and running over to Event 9: $5,000 Seven Card Stud. He didn't even collect his payout ticket, but will get his money later.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	Busted

Tags: Jason Mercier

06-04-2012 16:51 UTC-6

Rast Charging

donpeters

Last year, Brian Rast won two World Series of Poker gold bracelets. He's charging up the counts here in Event 9 and now has 134,000 in chips thanks to a recent pot where he flopped a set of deuces against Christopher Bolek.

We picked up the action on the {A-Diamonds} {4-Diamonds} {2-Clubs} {9-Clubs} board as Rast checked to Bolek. Bolek fired 4,200 and Rast put in a check-raise to 15,200. After a minute in the tank, Bolek called.

The river completed the board with the {8-Clubs} and brought in a backdoor flush draw. Rast led for 16,500. Bolek made the call and Rast tabled the {2-Spades} {2-Diamonds} for a set of twos. Bolek mucked and Rast won the pot.

Last year, Rast first one Event 15: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em for nearly $230,000. He then won the prestigious Event 55: $50,000 Poker Player's Championship for over $1.7 million after defeating Phil Hellmuth heads up. Needless to say, Rast has got some game and he's showing it here on Day 2 as he builds up a mountain of chips.

Also of note is that Rast is doing his moving on Day 2 with both Jonathan Duhamel and Jason Mercier at his table. Mercier has direct position on Rast and the table is one of the tougher ones in the room.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Rast	134,000	39,000
Christopher Bolek	21,500

Tags: Brian Rast Christopher Bolek Jonathan Duhamel Jason Mercier

06-04-2012 14:23 UTC-6

An Orbit from Kristy Arnett's Table

donpeters

Level 10 : 400/800, 100 ante

PokerNews hostess Kristy Arnett made Day 2 of this event with 22,000 in chips and we caught the first orbit at her table, which consists of 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jerry Yang, WSOP bracelet winner Brian Lemke and fellow bracelet winner Mike "Little Man" Sica.

On the first hand, Arnett was under the gun and raised to 1,800. Everyone folded and she won the pot.

On the second hand, Kenneth O'Donnell raised to 1,800 from middle position and action folded to Arnett in the big blind. She also folded and O'Donnell won the pot. O'Donnell then raised the next hand to 1,800 and won that one as well.

For the fourth hand, Robert Salaburu opened to 2,000 from the cutoff seat and Arnett folded her button. Sica made the call from the small blind and then checked in the dark before the dealer ran out the {3-Hearts} {3-Spades} {2-Clubs} flop. Salaburu bet 2,200 and Sica quickly folded.

On the next hand, action folded to Justin Shelton and he moved all in for 13,200. Lemke called from the next seat and then action folded to Sica on the button. He reraised all in for a little over 15,000. When action got back to Lemke, he called the extra little bit and the hands were tabled.

Sica: {A-Spades} {K-Hearts}
Lemke: {A-Clubs} {K-Diamonds}
Shelton: {7-Diamonds} {7-Spades}

The flop, turn and river ran out {9-Spades} {6-Clubs} {5-Hearts} {7-Hearts} {9-Clubs} and Shelton tripled up. Sica was left with 2,200 in chips and Lemke with about 24,000.

Following that hand, Salaburu raised to 1,700 from middle position and Sica reraised all in for 2,100 from the cutoff seat. O'Donnell reshoved from the big blind to put Salaburu at risk and Salaburu snapped.

Salaburu: {Q-Hearts} {Q-Clubs}
Sica: {A-Clubs} {3-Diamonds}
O'Donnell: {6-Hearts} {6-Spades}

The board ran out {K-Diamonds} {J-Spades} {2-Clubs} {9-Hearts} {10-Spades} and Salaburu doubled up. Sica was eliminated in the hand and O'Donnell was left with approximately 18,000 in chips.

After being eliminated, Sica stood up from the table, patted our reporter on the back and said, "Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you."

On the next hand, Lemke raised from early position to 1,800. He was called by Salaburu in the next seat and William Maguire in the cutoff seat. The flop produced the {J-Clubs} {8-Spades} {7-Hearts} and Lemke fired 2,100. William Maguire folded and Maguire called.

The turn was the {A-Hearts} and Lemke kept his foot on the gas. He bet 2,500 and Maguire quickly gave it up.

On the next hand, Filippos Stavrakis opened to 1,800 and everyone folded. After that, O'Donnell opened to 1,800 and Lemke moved all in from the big blind. O'Donnell folded and it was time for the last hand of the orbit.

Picking up right where she left off an orbit prior, Arnett raised from under the gun to 1,800. Action folded all the way to Salaburu in the big blind. He folded and showed the {A-Hearts} .

Tags: Brian Lemke Filippos Stavrakis Jerry Yang Kenneth O'Donnell Kristy Arnett Mike Sica Robert Salaburu

06-04-2012 13:18 UTC-6

Medici Leads the Way Into Day 2

donpeters

Another glorious day at the Rio for the 2012 WSOP

Welcome back to Day 2 of Event 9: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry. There are 514 returning players from the two starting days and action will be underway at 1:00 PM. This event is a huge one and today should be another exciting day as the players will be breaking the bubble and finish after 10 levels are in the books.

The top 342 players are set to cash in the event. Those that do will be guaranteed $2,895, but with over $780,000 up top, they'll surely have be gawking at glory.

Leading the way is Giorgio Medici from Day 1a. He bagged up 106,500 in chips. Behind him is David Miscikowski, who finished with 105,100 and is the only other player above 100,000. Notables Tristan Clemencon, John Juanda, Bryan Piccioli and Brian Rast are all in the top 25 with very healthy stacks. PokerNews' own Kristy Arnett also made it through to Day 2. She bagged up 22,000 and will be looking to score her first World Series of Poker cash.

Play kicks off shortly and we're hoping to have you here with us all day long. Stay tuned for the coverage and be ready for another great day of poker at the 2012 WSOP.