2010 PokerStars.net NAPT Mohegan Sun

2010 PokerStars.net NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2010 PokerStars.net NAPT Mohegan Sun

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
108
Prize
$750,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$4,700
Entries
716
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
20,000

Selbst Doubles Up Maruf

Taha Maruf raised to 32,000 from middle position and had about 150,000 behind in his stack as action folded over to Vanessa Selbst in the small blind. She made a three-bet to 90,000 and after the big blind folded, Maruf moved all in. The total bet was 183,000 and Selbst made the call.

She held two nines and was racing against the {A-Spades}{Q-Spades} of Maruf. After a board of {10-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{2-Clubs}{A-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}, Maruf doubled up and now has about 375,000 chips.

Tags: Taha MarufVanessa Selbst

Sternberg "Squeezes" Out Keating and Akenhead

Keating's always cheerful, even in defeat.
Keating's always cheerful, even in defeat.
Two of the tournament's toughest players were axed in one fell-swoop by Alan Sternberg. Firas Massouh opened under-the-gun to 24k. Alex Keating was extremely short and has shoved the hand before with {A-Clubs} {A-Spades} only to be given a pass. This time Keating reraised to 82k, leaving himself 6k behind. James Akenhead cold four-bet (almost) all in, sticking around 300k in the middle but also leaving himself 6k. By the time Alan Sternberg moved all in over top of them, there was barely any room left in the middle of the felt. Sick squeeze play. Maybe they'll fold and keep their 6k. Massouh folded, and Keating and Akenhead decided they were priced in. Time for showdown.

Keating: {6-Hearts} {6-Diamonds}
Akenhead: {A-Clubs} {K-Clubs}
Sternberg: {Q-Hearts} {Q-Diamonds}

The {Q-Spades} {8-Clubs} {3-Spades} flop made things a lot more comfortable for Sternberg. The {J-Diamonds} on the turn gave Akenhead a straight draw and meant things were over for Keating. The river was the {8-Hearts}, shipping the giant pot to Sternberg. He's now over the 1 million mark. Keating was still smiling when he made his exit, Akenhead not so much.

Tags: Alan SternbergAlex KeatingJames Akenhead

Terry Doubles through Seiver

Todd Terry
Todd Terry
Steven Bordonaro and Scott Seiver (on the button) limped into a pot in front of small blind Todd Terry. Terry chose to move his whole stack of 155,000 into the middle, putting Bordonaro to a decision.

"Well, I know you're going to call," Bordonaro remarked with a trace of sarcasm as he looked at Seiver. Bordonaro then folded. He was right about Seiver, who quickly called with {A-Hearts} {6-Diamonds}. He was ahead of Terry's {Q-Spades} {J-Diamonds}.

"Shit!" moaned Bordonaro. "I folded ace jack!" But Bordonaro changed his tune as the board rolled out {Q-Hearts} {4-Diamonds} {6-Clubs} {Q-Clubs} {2-Diamonds} to give Terry three queens and the best hand.

Terry is up to about 320,000. The loss of 155,000 chips is barely a dent in the armor for Seiver.

Tags: Scott SeiverTodd Terry

Ivey Gets There On The River

Catching up to the action on a {K-Hearts}{J-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} flop, Andrew Ferguson bet 35,000. Phil Ivey made the call and the {4-Clubs} hit the turn.

Ferguson checked and Ivey bet 50,000, instantly called by Ferguson. The {10-Clubs} landed on the river and Ferguson checked. Ivey took a few moments before betting 100,000, getting called immediately once again.

Ferguson turned up {J-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}, but Ivey tabled {A-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs} for broadway to win the pot. He is up to 420,000 while Ferguson drops to 185,000.

Tags: Phil Ivey

Two More Pay Jumps Down

The following players cashed for $11,500:

41 - Bahador Ahmadi, Canada
42 - Ryan D'Angelo, USA
43 - Luis Nargentino, USA
44 - Steven Goosen, Canada
45 - Elijah Berg, USA
46 - Bryan Bindert, USA
47 - Vinny Pahuja, USA
48 - Bill Kontaratos, Canada

These players earned $10,500:

49 - David Tepperberg
50 - Anton Talle, USA
51 - George Kalaittzis, unknown
52 - Patti Reade, Canada
53 - Taylor Shpur, USA
54 - Vincent Napolitano, USA
55 - Maxwell Greenwood, Canada
56 - Daryl Jace, USA
57 - Dustin Hayes, USA

The Slackening

We've been waiting all day for a slowdown that we felt was inevitable. With players busting as quickly as they have been, the size of the average stack is surprisingly big for this point in the tournament at 63 big blinds. That means the players are deeper than they might otherwise be, allowing more room for post-flop poker and creative play.

That also means that the pace of eliminations should taper. We're playing until 24 remain. Now that the slowdown is here, it may take a while to get the last ten eliminations that we need.

Seiver Gets the Best of Terry

Scott Seiver busts Todd Terry.
Scott Seiver busts Todd Terry.
Perhaps we spoke too soon. No sooner had we finished our last post then Todd Terry took the walk to the payout desk. Scott Seiver opened his button, and Terry shoved for around 200,000 with {A-?} {8-?}. Seiver snap called with pocket fours, and the pair held up to take Terry out of the fight. Seiver moved even further into the chip lead.

Tags: Scott SeiverTodd Terry

Bax Movin' Up, Rousso Slidin' Down

JohnnyBax
JohnnyBax
On a board of {10-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{8-Spades}, Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy checked to Vanessa Rousso. She fired 20,000 before Bax check-raised to 50,000. After a minute, Rousso made the call.

The river card was the {A-Clubs} and Bax fired four pink and white T25,000 chips for a bet of 100,000. After a couple minutes in the tank, Rousso made the call.

"Nuts," announced Bax, tabling the {J-Clubs}{9-Clubs} for the nut straight. Rousso mucked her hand and the chips were passed to Bax. He now has 850,000 and Rousso dropped to 940,000.

Tags: "JohnnyBax"Cliff JosephyTeam PokerStars ProVanessa Rousso

[Removed:115] Doubles

As we approach the dinner break, Vanessa Selbst tried and failed to take out [Removed:113]. Selbst opened with a standard raise, then called [Removed:115]'s all in of 168,000 more. [Removed:115] showed {A-Diamonds} {Q-Clubs}, having a dominating position over Selbst's {A-Hearts} {J-Clubs}. Nobody improved, so [Removed:115] will go to dinner with a slightly healthier stack.