Event #85: $1,500 The Closer
Day 1a Completed
Event #85: $1,500 The Closer
Day 1a Completed
Day 1a of Event #85 $1,500 The Closer is in the books with Ahmed Karrim in the lead with 1,695,000. The South African, who has secured five WSOP cashes this summer, is narrowly ahead of Raghav Bansal of India with 1,600,000.
A total of 929 players entered the fray, with only 75 making it to Day 2, which will be played on Sunday, July 17th at 1 p.m. local time.
The bubble burst shortly after the final break of the night when Ukrainian Vadim Shelz knocked out the button player after rivering a flush against their opponent's flopped wheel, guaranteeing the remaining players a minimum payday of $2,405.
Place | Name | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
1 | Ahmed Karrim | South Africa | 1,695,000 | 57 |
2 | Raghav Bansal | India | 1,600,000 | 53 |
3 | Sean Ragozzini | Australia | 1,550,000 | 52 |
4 | Garrett Johnstone | United States | 1,450,000 | 48 |
5 | Tony Nieman | United States | 1,285,000 | 43 |
6 | Kazuhiro Shirasawa | Japan | 1,235,000 | 41 |
7 | Teddy Cablay | United States | 1,200,030 | 40 |
8 | Neil Rauschhuber | United States | 1,100,000 | 37 |
9 | Jessie Bryant | United States | 1,000,020 | 33 |
10 | Rhonda Shepek | Canada | 955,000 | 32 |
Day 1a Action
Several big names played one of the last events of the series. Still, they failed to make the money, including Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, Phil Hellmuth, Maria Konnikova and Justin Bonomo.
Some big names did manage to bag and tag. Jen Shahade will be back on Sunday with 920,000, David "ODB" Baker bagged 735,000 and Roland Israelashvili finished with 500,000.
It was the tale of two Nguyens today as Mingh Nguyen and Men Nguyen both troubled the top of the leaderboard. Men "The Master" Nguyen ran up a stack to over 1,000,000 at one point but was eventually eliminated in 130th place to cash for $2,405.
Mingh Nguyen bagged 925,000, but it could have been very different. At the peak of his powers, his stack was 2,100,000 and would have been an overwhelming chipleader.
Among the names to have bust out but have cashed are Liina Vark ($2,631), Steven Zolotow ($2,631), Farah Galfond ($2,631) and Christina Gollins ($3,006).
One of the hands of the day was when Korean Eunyoung Choi defeated their opponent with quad kings against quad eights. Choi bagged 250,000, which is around eight big blinds.
Day 1b will begin at noon local time in Paris with 22 30-minute levels with a 75-minute dinner break after level 12. As always, Poker News will be first with all of the latest news from the World Series of Poker at its new home of Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Ahmed Karrim | 1,695,000 | |
|
||
Raghav Bansal |
1,600,000
390,000
|
390,000 |
Sean Ragozzini |
1,550,000
940,000
|
940,000 |
Garrett Johnstone |
1,450,000
1,450,000
|
1,450,000 |
Tony Nieman |
1,285,000
105,000
|
105,000 |
Kazuhiro Shirasawa |
1,235,000
1,235,000
|
1,235,000 |
Teddy Cablay |
1,230,000
1,230,000
|
1,230,000 |
Neil Rauschhuber |
1,145,000
1,145,000
|
1,145,000 |
Jessie Bryant |
1,020,000
1,020,000
|
1,020,000 |
Rhonda Shepek |
955,000
955,000
|
955,000 |
Ronald Anderson |
935,000
410,000
|
410,000 |
Dmitry Shindyalov |
930,000
930,000
|
930,000 |
Duy Ho |
925,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
Minh Nguyen (NJ) |
925,000
-775,000
|
-775,000 |
Jen Shahade |
920,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
Brett Shaffer |
920,000
920,000
|
920,000 |
|
||
Jonathan Dokler |
880,000
880,000
|
880,000 |
Marc-Andre Yelle |
845,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
Jon Smith |
840,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
Jose Aguirre |
840,000
840,000
|
840,000 |
Jeff Gross | 805,000 | |
James Whittet |
790,000
790,000
|
790,000 |
Vadim Shlez |
765,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
||
Jiawei Mao |
760,000
760,000
|
760,000 |
David "ODB" Baker |
735,000
735,000
|
735,000 |
|
With 10 minutes remaining on the final level of the day, the Tournament Director has stopped the clock and instructed dealers to deal three more hands before play will conclude for the day.
After the under-the-gun player moved all in for 265,000, Ronnie Anderson rejammed from late position for a bit north of 500,000. Action folded around to the big blind, who moved all in as well, for around 300,000.
Player 1:
Player 2:
Ronnie Anderson:
Anderson was behind but quickly moved ahead as the flop gave him top pair. The turn improved him to two pair but did give the big blind a gut shot as well. The on the river improved Anderson to a full boat. He scooped the pot, knocking out both of his opponents.
Elsewhere in the room, Christina Gollins was seen heading to the payout desk following her own elimination.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Ronnie Anderson |
1,150,000
1,150,000
|
1,150,000 |
Christina Gollins | Busted |
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Minh Nguyen (NJ) |
1,700,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
Ahmed Karrim | 1,695,000 | |
|
||
Raghav Bansal |
1,210,000
1,210,000
|
1,210,000 |
Tony Nieman |
1,180,000
1,180,000
|
1,180,000 |
Jon Smith |
870,000
870,000
|
870,000 |
Eunyoung Choi |
240,000
136,000
|
136,000 |
Steve Zolotow and Marc-Andre Yelle got it all in preflop with Zolotow at risk for around 300,000.
Steve Zolotow:
Marc-Andre Yelle:
Zolotow was in poor condition and received no help on the flop, after which he was worse than a 9:1 dog to survive. The turn cut those already low odds in half, and the on the river sealed his elimination. Yelle scooped the pot to move above the average stack, while Zolotow headed to the payout desk.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Marc-Andre Yelle |
720,000
720,000
|
720,000 |
Steve Zolotow | Busted | |
|
Level: 22
Blinds: 10,000/25,000
Ante: 25,000
The big blind had just 25,000, and was forced all in, posting the 20,000 big blind and his final 5,000 going towards his ante. Action folded around to Everett Carlton in middle position, who called. The cutoff called as well, creating side action.
The trio watched the flop hit the table. Carlton fired for 40,000. The cutoff called. Carlton continued for 135,000 on the turn, which was too much for the cutoff, who got out of the way, meaning it was a showdown between Carlton and the big blind.
Big Blind Player:
Everett Carlton:
Carlton had the best of it, but did need to fade a few outs of his opponent. He did so successfully, as the river was a brick. He scooped the main and side pots, and eliminated his opponent.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Everett Carlton |
525,000
290,000
|
290,000 |
Minh Nguyen limped from the small blind before the big blind player moved all in for around 200,000. Nguyen snap called to put the big blind at risk.
Opponent:
Minh Nguyen:
Nguyen quickly took a commanding lead in a classic race when the flop gave him a set. The gave him a full house and the river completed the board. The big blind had failed to improve, and was eliminated. Nguyen scooped the pot to add to his stack, which is now over the 2,000,000 mark.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Minh Nguyen (NJ) |
2,200,000
680,000
|
680,000 |