The Online Railbird Report: Blom Week's Biggest Winner Despite Losing Sponsorship

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

Oct 24, 2014 5 min read Last updated Oct 27, 2014

The online high-stakes action seems to be in a lull on both Full Tilt and PokerStars. Usually there are numerous six-figure winners and losers, but in the last few weeks only a few players are crossing that mark. Even so, there was action to be had both on and off the virtual felt.

Regarding the latter, some big online news broke this week as it was revealed that the Full Tilt Professionals are no more. Tom “durrrr” Dwan departed several months ago, and then earlier this week Full Tilt confirmed to PokerNews that the sponsorship contracts of both Viktor “Isildur1” Blom and Gus Hansen had not been renewed. This was a story that was also discussed by Donnie Peters and Rich Ryan on the most recent edition of the PokerNews Podcast, which you can listen to by clicking here.

Another story worth mentioning involves online regular Isaac “luvtheWNBA” Haxton, who is up $1,229,576 so far in 2014. Haxton’s life was the subject of the new poker book Fading Hearts on the River, which was penned by his father, Brooks Haxton. PokerNews recently reviewed the book and chatted with the elder Haxton, which you can read by clicking here.

Now, let’s get to what little online high-stakes action there was.

In last week’s Online Railbird Report, we reported on how Blom was busy driving the action, much like he’d done the week before that. The Swede won $121,105 last week, and he topped it this week by finishing as the biggest winner with $202,716 in profit. That came from just 1,419 hands over nine sessions on Full Tilt.

The week’s second-biggest winner came from PokerStars, and that was Rui “PepperoniF” Cao, who won $157,331 in 1,754 hands over seven sessions. However, Cao lost $36,014 on Full Tilt, so his he actually only profited $121,317 on the week. Other winners on PokerStars included Daniel “w00ki3z.” Cates (+$64,061 in 5 sessions/491 hands) and “terryhsu” (+$59,432 in 14 sessions/1,677 hands).

On the flip side, German pro “Sanlker,” who has been the biggest losers the last two weeks with losses of $576,753 and $429,774, respectively, was the biggest loser for a third consecutive week after losing $400,854 in 853 hands over six sessions. Other losers on Full Tilt included Elior “Crazy Elior” Sion (-$64,798 in 15 sessions/3,196 hands) and “bbvisbadforme” (-$51,903 in 6 sessions/379 hands).

“HoldemJill9” Comes Out On Top in 8-Game Action; “WRUUUUM” Wins at PLO

At the start of the week, “HoldemJill9,” Sion, and Alexander “PostflopAction” Kostritsyn sat down at the $500/$1,000 8-game tables, albeit not at the same time. Instead, the day started off with the latter two engaging in a five-hour heads-up match, and during that time Kostritsyn dropped nearly $80,000.

Sion then sat down at a table with “HoldemJill9,” which seemed like a good idea at first as he jumped out to an early $100,000 lead. That’s when things swung in “HoldemJill9’s” favor, and he won it all back plus $53,000. The pair then dropped down in stakes to $200/$400 and Sion lost another $49,800. Sion went on to lose $24,000 on the day, while “HoldemJill9” was the day’s biggest winner with $104,500 in profit.

The Online Railbird Report: Blom Week's Biggest Winner Despite Losing Sponsorship 101 — Elior "Crazy Elior" Sion

In other news, “WRUUUUM” was the day’s second-biggest winner after profiting $60,400 from 135 hands of $50/$100 pot-limit Omaha on PokerStars.

Here’s a look at the three biggest pots from that match.

Hand #1: Action was four-handed when “supernova9” ($16,588.05) opened for 350 under the gun, and “WRUUUUM” ($10,598.90) three-bet to $1,150 from the small blind. The big folded, “supernova9” called, and the two saw a flop of Q♣5♠9♦. “WRUUUUM” bet $1,477.90, “supernova9” called, and the Q♠ appeared on the turn.

“WRUUUUM” bet again, this time $2,355.23, and again “supernova9” called. Then, the 8♣ completed the board on the river. “WRUUUUM” slowed down with a check, but he still called off his last $5,615.77 when “supernova9” put out a big bet. “WRUUUUM” tabled the A♥A♣4♣8♠ for aces and queens, and it was good enough to win the $21,297.80 pot as “supernova9” held an inferior two pair with the K♥K♦10♠2♦.

Hand #2: “BERRI SWEET” ($10,195) raised to $200 from the button, and “WRUUUUM” ($10,040) called from the big blind to see a flop of 6♠2♦3♠. “WRUUUUM” bet $350, “BERRI SWEET” called, and the 10♦ was put out on the turn. “WRUUUUM” bet $1,147, “BERRI SWEET” called again, and the A♠ completed the board on the river.

“WRUUUUM” checked, “BERRI SWEET” bet $2,596.34, and “WRUUUUM” check-raised all in for $8,343. “BERRI SWEET” called with the J♠4♠4♦6♣ for a flush, but it was no good as “WRUUUUM” held a better flush with the K♠Q♠9♠2♥. Ship the $20,130 pot to “WRUUUUM.”

Hand #3:

“HoldemJill9” and “Crazy Elior” Meet Again; Kostritsyn’s Turn for PLO Success

On Wednesday, October 22, “HoldemJill9” and Elior “Crazy Elior” Sion were back at the Full Tilt 8-game tables and played stakes ranging from $100/$200 to $300/$600. The duo went at it for two and a half hours, with “HoldemJill9” walking away a $118,100 winner, most of which came from 190 hands at the $200/$400 tables.

The day’s second-biggest winner ended up being Kostritsyn, who profited $65,800 playing on $50/$100 pot-limit Omaha on PokerStars playing as “joiso” and an additional $29,500 playing $500/$1,000 2-7 triple draw against “Lottenice” on Full Tilt.

Here’s a look at two of Kostritsyn’s more notable hands from the PLO match:

Hand #1: Kostritsyn ($25,899.96) raised to $300 from the button, and “Lottenice” ($14,103.84) called from the big blind to see a flop of 6♠K♠4♥. “Lottenice” check-called a bet of $418.60 and then check-called one of $1,004.64 on the 2♣ turn. When the 6♣ completed the board on the river, “Lottenice” checked for a third time and Kostritsyn bet $2,411.13. “Lottenice” woke up with a check-raise to $9,437.85, and Kostritsyn called to create a pot of $22,322.18. “Lottenice” tabled the K♦Q♦8♦4♣ for two pair, but it was no good as Kostritsyn held a full house with the 6♥4♦5♠J♦.

Hand #2: Kostritsyn ($44,567.70) raised to $300 and then called when “Lottenice” ($10,597) three-bet to $900, which brought about a flop of 6♥Q♥4♦. Two checks brought about the 8♠ on the turn, and “Lottenice” led out for $1,348.50. Kostritsyn raised to $3,596, “Lottenice” called, and the 2♦ completed the board on the river. “Lottenice” checked and then called off his last $6,101 when Kostritsyn bet. Kostritsyn tabled the 5♥7♣9♥K♠ for the nuts, and “Lottenice” mucked before watching the $21,194 pot slide over to his opponent.

Blom Heads Over to PokerStars

On Thursday, October 23, HighStakesDB reported that Blom was on PokerStars playing $1,000/$2,000 2-7 triple draw against “donthnrmepls,” who is “bbvisbadforme” on Full Tilt. In three separate sessions throughout the evening — which totaled a mere 46 minutes — “donthnrmepls” took Blom for $114,300.

Here are some other notes from Thursday’s action:

Blom lost another $20,000 to “RaulGonzales” (AKA “Sanlker” on Full Tilt) playing 2-7 triple draw.
Cao was the day’s second-biggest winner having profited $58,900 playing $50/$100 pot-limit Omaha against “supernova9.”
Kostritsyn won $32,800 playing both $300/$600 and $500/$1,000 2-7 triple draw on Full Tilt Poker, where he is known as “PostflopAction.”

Biggest Winners/Losers from Oct. 16-22

Winners	Profit	Losers	Loss
Viktor “Isildur1” Blom	$202,716	“Sanlker”	$400,854
Rui “PepperoniF” Cao	$157,331	Elior “Crazy Elior” Sion	$64,798
Daniel “w00ki3z.” Cates	$64,061	“bbvisbadforme”	$51,903
“terryhsu”	$59,432	Rui Cao	$36,014

Year's Biggest Winners/Losers

Winners	Profit	Losers	Loss
Dan “jungleman12” Cates	$2,820,011	Gus Hansen	$5,522,853
Mikael “punting-peddler” Thuritz	$2,562,379	Phil “Polarizing” Ivey	$2,469,753
Patrik “FinddaGrind” Antonius	$1,754449	Viktor “Isildur1” Blom	$1,395,340
Isaac “luvtheWNBA” Haxton	$1,229,576	Elior “Crazy Elior” Sion	$1,163,725
Doug “WCGRider” Polk	$1,110,009	Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond	$1,082,089
Alex “joiso” Kostritsyn	$791,506	“Sanlker”	$1,017,106
Christoph “Tight-Man1” Vogelsang	$663,177	Paul “MalACEsia” Phua	$823,325