Earlier this year, PokerNews confirmed that Macau high-stakes player Chun Lei Zhou was the man behind the legendary “samrostan” online account, formerly known as “patpatpanda.” It was one of online poker's biggest mysteries, but now that he has stepped out from behind the computer screen, he's been venturing to some live events around the world.
While Zhou wasn't expected to make the trip to the World Series of Poker, he showed up in Vegas a couple weeks back. Now he is in the Event #46: $50,000 Poker Players' Championship field trying his luck against some of the game's best. But how will someone used to playing no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha do in an eight-game mix?
“It’s OK. Before I only played no-limit hold’em games. Sometimes no one played me, so I learned other ring games and I lose a lot of money. I love to play poker,” Zhou previously told PokerNews in regards to learning other games. “My favorite game? I like all games — Omaha, 8-game, mixed games. I don’t want to play no-limit hold’em.”
Zhou, who claims to have played for 40 hours straight one time, may be a lesser-skilled player in the eyes of many, but he has earned the respect of the game’s best, including Phil Ivey who he met while playing the Big Game in Macau.
“I like to play online because it’s fast and you can play more tables,” Zhou says when asked if he prefers playing online or in the Big Game. “Live game is boring, but the live game is easy — lots of bad players.”
As for whether or not Zhou sold action into this tournament, don't count on it. “I always play 100% of myself. I still lose a lot, always lose,” Zhou said previously of his tournament play. “When I lose a tournament, I always have nut-nut, but I always get bad beat (laughs).”
On the second draw it was Daniel Alaei who checked to John Racener and he bet, Steve Billirakis raised, Alaei called and Racener put in another raise. Billirakis reraised again and Alaei was caught in the middle, but called. Racener decided to call now as well and both him and Alaei took one card on the final draw,
The action was checked to Billirakis who bet and both his opponents folded.
Brian Rast continues to be a nemesis to Phil Ivey at Table 372.
In a recent pot, he opened from the cutoff and was called by Ivey in the big blind. Ivey threw away two, while Rast dumped three. Seeing he was ahead in the draw, Ivey bet but got raised. Ivey made the call, and the two each drew one. Ivey bet out again, but this time he three-bet after Rast raised. Rast called, drawing one after Ivey patted. Ivey checked the end, and Rast bet. Ivey gave a half-shrug, then seemed to count the pot before tossing in a call.
Rast showed for a seven-six, and he raked in the large pot.
Calvin Anderson completed with an eight and action folded around to Dan Heimiller who raised with a trey. Anderson called and the two received their fourth street cards. Heimiller continued out and Anderson quickly tossed out a call. Heimiller bet again on fifth street and Anderson waited a beat before moving out calling chips.
Heimiller received a king on sixth, giving Anderson first action. He checked and Heimiller fired out a bet. Anderson let it go and Heimiller received the pot. He's now sitting on about 205,000. Anderson, on the other hand, has dropped under 100K with about 98,000 in chips.
Shaun Deeb and Nick Schulman each checked a flop, and Deeb checked again on the turn. Schulman took the opportunity to bet 2,700, but Deeb came over the top with a big raise to 15,000. Schulman called after some thought, and Deeb fired 23,000 on the river. Schulman agonized a bit with a palm to his forehead before ultimately calling.
Matt Glantz raised to 1,700 from the hijack and Vanessa Selbst three-bet from the button to 4,800. The action folded back to Glantz who four-bet to 13,700 and Selbst tanked for a while before making the call.
The flop brought and Glantz bet 11,500, Selbst made the call.
On the turn the hit and Glantz seemed to have lost a little focus with the fourth spade appearing on the turn. Glantz ultimately checked and Selbst moved all in for about 55,000 chips.
Glantz immediately pushed a stack of chips forward and Selbst shook her head in frustration. Selbst showed against Glantz's and she had no outs left to improve her hand on the river.
The river was the and the realization kicked in for Selbst that she was eliminated out of one of the biggest tournaments of the summer. Selbst continuously shook her head as she gathered her belongings and exited the room, as we've lost the first player from this tournament.