2012 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic Day 3: Tuan Phan Leads, Ivey Bubbles

February 27, 2012

Donnie Peters

After a long Sunday on the felt, the 2012 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic has only 54 players remaining — all in the money. Leading the way into Day 4 as the only player in seven figures is Tuan Phan with 1.14 million in chips.

Scott Seiver, John Phan, Tony Hachem, William Reynolds, Phil Collins, Faraz Jaka and John Racener were among the 182 players returning for Day 3. Unfortunately, they all fell short of the money after being eliminated before making it to the top 54.

Another player eliminated on the day was Andrew Lichtenberger. He was sent to the rail by Jason Somerville who used Lichtenberger's chips to take the lead up to that point.

According to the WPT Live Updates Team, Lichtenberger opened with a raise to 6,000 from early position with blinds at 1,200/2,400/400. Shaun Deeb called in position and Somerville called from the small blind. Josh Arieh was in the big blind and also came along.

The flop came down A♦Q♣4♠ and action checked through to Lichtenberger. He bet 9,600 and Deeb folded. Somerville called and Arieh folded. The turn was the 6♠ and Somerville passed the action to Lichtenberger again. Lichtenberger fired 24,000 and Somerville called to see the 2♥ land on the river. Somerville checked and Lichtenberger bet 72,000. Somerville check-raised all in for around 166,000. After some thought, Lichtenberger called. Somerville showed the Q♦Q♥ for a set of queens and Lichtenberger mucked his hand. According to Deeb, Lichtenberger showed him that he had a set of fours.

With that pot, Somerville climbed over the 500,000-chip mark. From there, he went on to finish with 860,000, good enough for second place heading into Day 4.

The big hand that Phan won to take the chip lead came in Level 16 with the blinds at 2,000/4,000/500. After Dan O'Brien raised to 8,000 from middle position, Phan called on the button and took a J♣7♣2♥ flop. O'Brien checked and Phan bet 16,000. O'Brien check-raised all-in for 93,000. Phan called.

Phan held J♥9♦ for top pair and O'Brien had A♣9♣ for a flush draw. After the Q♠ fell on the turn and 7♦ landed on the river, O'Brien was left holding just ace high and lost to Phan's two pair. Phan scooped in the pot and moved to nearly one million in chips at the time.

Even though several big names were still in the field, all eyes were on Phil Ivey. The WPT Live Updates Team said they didn't have much to report about Ivey for most of the day, but that all changed as play approached the money bubble.

First, Ivey busted Brian Brubaker during Level 17 with the blinds at 2,500/5,000/500. Brubaker jammed on the button for around 100,000 and Ivey called from the small blind. Ivey held the A♦K♥ and was dominating the A♥J♣ for Brubaker. The board ran out 9♥7♥2♠6♦6♠ and Ivey won the pot to move himself up to 235,000 in chips.

A little while later, AJ Jejelowo found a double through Ivey with just 55 players remaining and the tournament on the money bubble. Jejelowo raised to 12,000 from the button and Ivey three-bet to 35,000 from the big blind. Jejelowo four-bet all in for 111,500 and Ivey made the call.

Ivey tabled the A♦10♠ to Jejelowo's 6♠6♦. The flop, turn and river came K♥9♠8♠4♠Q♥, and Jejelowo doubled up to over 200,000. Ivey was knocked back to 70,000 in chips.

Moments later, when action folded to Ivey in late position, he moved his last 65,000 into the middle. Dave Baker was in the next seat and made the call. When everyone else folded, Ivey was at risk of becoming the bubble boy of the first event he's played in the U.S. in a year.

Holding pocket sixes and in bad shape against Baker's pocket kings, Ivey just couldn't find any help from the board and was eliminated in 55th place — becoming the 2012 WPT L.A. Poker Classic bubble boy.

With Ivey's elimination, the day ended with 54 players left in the field. Phan and Somerville led the way; former WPT champion Joe Tehan rounded out the top three. Others still alive included Tom Marchese, David Sands, Dan Kelly, Nick Binger and Joe Hachem. Day 4 will begin on Monday at 1200 PST (2000 GMT).

2012 WPT L.A. Poker Classic Top 10 Chip Counts

Place	Player	Chip Counts
1	Tuan Phan	1,140,000
2	Jason Somerville	860,000
3	Joe Tehan	831,500
4	Casey Stewart	791,000
5	Lawrence Greenberg	707,000
6	Noah Schwartz	685,000
7	Larry Lipman	571,000
8	Tom Marchese	530,000
9	Badih Bounahra	469,500
10	David “Doc” Sands	463,500