The Online Railbird: Antonius & Ziigmund Back on Track, Cates Flounders

Patrik Antonius

The high-stakes tables over at Full Tilt Poker saw some of online poker’s biggest names in action over the past four days. Yesterday, Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies finally booked a win after profiting $119k playing 237 hands of $300/$600 pot-limit Omaha. Likewise, Patrik Antonius played seven sessions (923 hands) and won $332,633, enough to make him the biggest winner since Friday. Phil Ivey played only one session but managed to win $83,981 in 94 hands. On the loser’s side, Daniel “jungleman12” Cates put in nine sessions, many against Antonius, but couldn’t get things going. After 927 hands he was down $249,376, which made him the biggest loser between December 17 and December 20.

Cates Flops a Set

One of the larger hands between Antonius and Cates occurred at the $300/$600 PLO tables. In the hand, Antonius was on-the-button and raised to $1,800 only to have Cates make it $5,400. Antonius made the call as the flop fell 5JQ. Cates bet $7,200 and Antonius called to see the 2 hit the turn.

Cates led out with a bet of $21,600 only to have Antonius raise to $90,000. Cates refused to back down and moved all-in for $261,478.50. Antonius only had $7,789.50 behind and called off his stack.

Antonius: 10Q92
Cates: QA2Q

Cates was way ahead with his set of queens, but Antonius had an open-ended straight draw. He would need an eight or king to stay alive and the duo agreed to run it twice. Unfortunately for Antonius, the 4 on the first run and 5 on the second were no help. Cates managed to hold on and scoop the massive $220,778 pot. Little good it did though, as Cates went on to become the weekend’s biggest loser.

Ziigmund Gets Back on Track

It has been awhile since the cards ran well for Sahamies, but things were looking up on Monday. In one hand, he was playing six-handed $300/$600 PLO and found himself in the big blind. Three players had limped and Sahamies decided to exercise his option with a raise to $3,600. All three players called the raise and it was four-handed to the AQ8 flop.

Di “Urindanger” Dang was first to act and checked to Sahamies who bet $13,800. "Rumprammer" then moved all-in for $26,195, Dang reraised to $107,085, and Sahamies called all-in for a total of $47,891.

Dang: 8857
rumprammer: QQ10J
Sahamies: AA92

Amazingly the flop had given each player a set, with Sahamies’ set of aces being the best. Both Dang and rumprammer were drawing thin as the J hit the turn. Heading to the river, Dang needed to catch the last eight in the deck to scoop the pot while rumprammer needed a queen or nine. Unfortunately for them both, the river was the J. Sahamies had made a full house and took down the $136,674 pot.

Trip Deuces for Antonius

Over at the $300/$600 pot-limit hold’em tables, Antonius ($150,299.50) was on-the-button and raised to $1,800. Cates ($331,471.25) then reraised to $5,400 from the big blind as the flop came down Q24. Cates led out with a bet of $7,200 and his opponent smooth-called behind.

When the 2 hit the turn, Cates check-called a bet of $25,200 and watched as the J appeared on the river. Once again Cates check-called an Antonius bet — this time to the tune of $75,600 — and the pot swelled to $226,800. Antonius flipped over 27 for trip deuces and Cates simply mucked. It wasn’t much of a hand to begin with, but it was good enough in the end.

Antonius Picks Up Pocket Rockets

Antonius’ good fortune continued over at the $1,500/$3,000 fixed-limit hold’em tables where he was squaring off against "IHateJuice." In one hand, IHateJuice ($143,994) raised to $6,000 on the button, Antonius ($194,936) made it $9,000 to go from the big blind, and IHateJuice called. The flop fell 865 and Antonius bet $3,000. After a call, the 3 was turned.

It went check, bet $6,000, raise to $12,000, and call on the turn, which was followed by the A on the river. Antonius bet $6,000, IHateJuice raised to $12,000, Antonius reraised to $24,000, and IHateJuice just called. Antonius revealed AA for a rivered set and all IHateJuice could do was muck. Antonius’ rockets held as he took down the $96,000 pot.

Who’s up? Who’s down?

This week’s biggest winners (12/17-12/20): Patrik Antonius (+$332,633), “luckexpress10” (+$143,992), Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies (+$119,000), Phil Ivey (+$83,981),

In the red: Daniel “jungleman12” Cates (-$249,376), “IHateJuice” (-$193,535), “DIN_FRU” (-$144,004),

Year to Date Winners: Daniel "jungleman12" Cates (+$4.76 million), Andreas “skjervoy” Torbergsen (+$3.77 million), Tom "durrrr" Dwan (+$3.66 million), Phil Ivey (+$3 million)

Year to Date Losers: Brian Townsend (-$2.53 million), Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies (-$1.9 million), “cadillac1944” (-$1.83 million), “Matatuk” (-$1.53 million)

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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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