$10,000 Championship Main Event | 2009 Lebanese Poker Championship

07-26-2009 03:59 UTC+3

No Action for Saab

[user66118]

Nabil Matta limped in from the small blind, and big blind Imad Saab raised it up to 450,000. Matta folded showing pocket deuces, and Saab flashed his ace-queen before stacking the blinds and antes.

The next time around the table, Matta decided to just let Saab have a walk in the big blind. "Ugh, are you kidding me?" asked Saab, turning over {A-Hearts}

and again stacking up just the blinds and antes.

07-26-2009 04:11 UTC+3

Business Meeting

[user66118]

The three remaining players have just stepped away from the table for a minute or two to have a friendly chat. After an exchange of handshakes and pats on the back, the men returned to the table all smiles. We're just two eliminations away from crowning our first ever Lebanese National Champion of poker!

07-26-2009 04:19 UTC+3

Imad Saab Eliminated in 3rd Place (US$211,800)

[user66118]

From the small blind, Imad Saab got the rest of his chips into the middle with {K-Hearts}

. The towering chip stack and the {Q-Hearts}

of Nabil Matta would put him at risk for his tournament life.

Matta would find a pair on the flop, and in the end, the board ran {K-Diamonds}

. Two pair takes it down for the big stack, eliminating Imad Saab in 3rd place. For his work, he'll pocket $211,800, bigger than any poker payout ever awarded in Lebanon. And there's still two more payouts to go!

Tags: Imad Saab Nabil Matta

07-26-2009 04:26 UTC+3

Show Me the Money

[user66118]

The action is on hold while the prize money and trophy are retrieved from the cage down the hall. We should be back underway very shortly.

Also, it appears that Joe Hachem has taken over the emcee duties for the remainder of the night.

07-26-2009 04:28 UTC+3

One On One

[user66118]

The players are back in their chairs, and we're heads up for the title!

07-26-2009 04:30 UTC+3

First Blood To Matta

[user80015]

Finally the cards are in the air for the first hand of heads up play . . . and Omar Gaedah folded from the button to give Nabil Matta a walk.

Luckily for Gaedah, but unfortunately for Matta he held {10-Spades}

and received no action.

Tags: Nabil Matta Omar Gaedah

07-26-2009 04:31 UTC+3

Omar Walked Back

[user80015]

It was now Omar Gaedah's turn to be walked in the big blind as Nabil Matta threw away his hand to see Gaedah open-muck his {K-Clubs}

Tags: Nabil Matta Omar Gaedah

07-26-2009 04:33 UTC+3

Gaedah Flushed Out

[user80015]

Omar Gaedah opened from the button to 350,000 and Nabil Matta made the call to see our first flop of heads-up play.

"I check dark" stated Matta as he tapped the table to see the {Q-Clubs}

flop fall.

Gaedah checked back before folding for a 250,000-chip bet when the {5-Clubs}

landed on the turn.

Continuing the politeness of nearly every Lebanese poker player, Gaedah kindly flashed his {10-Diamonds}

, and in turn Matta showed the {J-Clubs}

for a made flush.

Tags: Nabil Matta Omar Gaedah

07-26-2009 04:34 UTC+3

Matta Takes Another

[user80015]

Nabil Matta opened on the button to 250,000 and Omar Gaedah insta-mucked.

The crowd went wild . . . and we're only four hands into this!

Tags: Nabil Matta Omar Gaedah

07-26-2009 04:37 UTC+3

Omar Gaedah Eliminated In 2nd Place (US$308,000); Nabil Matta Wins!

[user80015]

With the action on Omar Geadah on the button, he pushed all in for just over 900,000 in chips.

Nabil Matta asked for a count, and after a minute of looking up Geadah's stack he made the call.

Matta: {9-Hearts}

Gaedah:

With the crowd pressed right up to the stage and everyone cheering loudly, they would see a flop of {9-Spades}

fall to push Gaedah squarely in the lead.

Matta walked round to Gaedah to shake his hand, but Gaedah quickly pulled his hand away and stated, "I need a ten" as everyone looked on to see the turn drop the {J-Hearts}