Montreal Nationals vs. San Francisco Rush
Day 1 Started
2016 Global Poker League Finals
Montreal Nationals vs. San Francisco Rush
Day: 1
The First Match of the GPL Playoffs Start at Noon, Top Seeded Nationals Take on the San Francisco Rush
The Global Poker League Playoffs start today at noon from the GPL Arena in Las Vegas. The first match on the Americas side of the bracket pits the top seeded Montreal Nationals against the fourth place finishers, the San Francisco Rush.
Nationals Team Manager Marc-Andre Ladouceur will step in for his team mate Jason Lavallee, who will miss this round due to illness, but will be eligible for the finals if the Nationals can win both their matches today. Mike McDonald and Pascal Lefrancois will join him to take on Faraz Jaka's San Francisco Rush.
Jaka's lineup had a bit of a change as well. After announcing that Anton Wigg and Jonathan Jaffe would represent the Rush, Wigg has now been replaced by Phil Galfond.
This will be a best-of-seven heads up series. Each player must play once before a player can play twice. You can watch the action under the Live Stream tab or follow the live updates right here.
Montreal Nationals Lineup Change
Pascal Lefrancois has been delayed and teammate Mike McDonald will take his place in the first match against Jonathan Jaffe. Marc-Andre Ladouceur, who already subbed in for Jason Lavallee, will take on Phil Galfond in match #2, and Mike McDonald will play his regularly scheduled match versus Faraz Jaka in match #3.
The matches get underway in just a few minutes.
Something to note for match #1, the Nationals were going to start with a 130,000 stack against the 100,000 of the Rush, but because McDonald is filling in for Lefrancois, he will start with 100,000 as well.
Match #1: Mike McDonald v. Jonathan Jaffe
Match 1 is underway with Mike McDonald facing Jonathan Jaffe. The blinds are starting at 400/800.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 |
Jaffe Bets Big on the Turn
Jonathan Jaffe won the first significant pot in match #1 when he turned a seven-high straight.
Jaffe held 
and bet 11,000 into an 8,000 pot when he made his straight on the 
board. McDonald had a pair with a draw, holding 
and called. McDonald whiffed on the river and checked to Jaffe who bet 44,500 into a pot of a little more than 30,000. McDonald folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
112,000 | 12,000 |
|
|
81,000 | -19,000 |
Jaffe Jumps Ahead After a River Shove
Mike McDonald three-bet preflop with 
and Jonathan Jaffe called with 
.
The flop came 
and McDonald led for 10,000. Jaffe called. The turn was the 
and McDonald bet again, this time making it 16,000. Jaffe called again.
The river put Jaffe in the lead when the 
hit the river. McDonald checked and Jaffe shoved all in for 56,450, putting himself at risk. McDonald took a while to decide his next move, pacing around the cube. Meanwhile, Jaffe was sitting with his arms resting on his knees awaiting the decision. McDonald folded and Jaffe put himself in a strong position to take match #1.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
139,000 | 27,000 |
|
|
53,000 | -28,000 |
Jonathan Jaffe Takes Match #1, Rush Lead 1-0
The first match of the GPL Playoffs ended when Jonathan Jaffe and Mike McDonald got all in preflop. McDonald had 
against the of Jaffe.
Both players hit the flop, with a queen and two hearts. Jaffe held the better kicker and held on to win the hand and take match #1 for the San Francisco Rush.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
200,000 | 61,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Match #2: Marc Andre Ladouceur v. Phil Galfond
The players are entering the cube for match #2 of the GPL Playoffs. San Francisco has a one-game lead. In this match, Ladouceur will start with 130,000 thanks to his team's number one seeding.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000 | |
|
100,000 |
Not Much Movement, Galfond and Ladouceur Close to Starting Stacks
Marc Andre Ladouceur and Phil Galfond are about 18 hands into their heads up match and only 4,000 chips have changed hands. Ladouceur jumped ahead early, but Galfond got some back when he got pocket tens.
Ladouceur had and hit a seven on the 
flop. Both players checked and the board paired on the turn with the 
. Ladouceur checked and Galfond bet 5,000. Ladouceur called.
The river was the and both players checked. Galfond won the hand with 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
134,000 | 4,000 |
|
|
96,000 | -4,000 |
Ladouceur Takes a Big Lead After Galfond Folds to a Shove
Marc Andre Ladouceur took a big lead in match #2 of the GPL Playoffs. Ladouceur held and made a full house on the river and Galfond raised to 38,000 with ace-high. Ladouceur shoved all in and Galfond folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
186,000 | 52,000 |
|
|
44,000 | -52,000 |