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

07-26-2009 00:29 UTC+3

Double For Shorty

Nicolas Zakhem made it 155,000 to go from middle position, and the bet came to the short-stacked Omar Geadah in the small blind. Without any hesitation, he moved all in for a total of 229,000 and Zakhem made the call to put Geadah at risk of elimination.

Showdown
Zakhem: {3-Hearts}

Geadah:

The board would smile on the all-in Geadah, coming out {7-Spades}

to double him up to 520,000.

Tags: Nicolas Zakhem Omar Geadah

07-26-2009 00:17 UTC+3

Fold, Fold, Fold Your Boat

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From middle position, Henry B. came in raising to 120,000, and he got just one caller as the active Imad Saab came along from the big blind. The two men saw the flop come out {Q-Diamonds}

, and Saab checked. That gave Henry his cue to bet 100,000, and his opponent quickly put in the call.

On fourth street, the {2-Diamonds}

made things interesting. Saab checked again, and Henry fired out the same 100,000-chip bet. After a moment, Saab moved all in for a total of 504,000, sending Henry deep into the tank. Saab advised his opponent to fold several times before the staff told him to be careful with the table talk. Saab then called the clock on his opponent, and Henry open-mucked {Q-Spades}

! A good sport, Imad Saab turned up his {A-Hearts}

, complimenting a truly impressive fold from Henry.

What friendly poker.

Tags: Henry B.Imad Saab

07-26-2009 00:10 UTC+3

Saab Lets it Go

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Nabil Matta came in with a cutoff raise to 105,000, and Imad Saab put in the call from the button as both blinds quickly ducked out.

Heads up then, the flop came {4-Clubs}

, and Matta checked. When Saab fired 150,000 though, Matta check-raised the minimum. After some quick debate, Saab folded his {10-Hearts}

face-up. Matta kindly flashed the {K-Diamonds}

to ease Saab's suspicions, moving him up to 1,280,000. That little hit slips Saab back to 810,000.

Tags: Imad Saab Nabil Matta

07-26-2009 00:05 UTC+3

All Eyes On You

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It's hard to say enough about the general feeling of success and elation in the tournament room this week. Right from the starting gun, there has been a great crowd of supporters here to keep an eye on their friends and family, lining the rail elbow-to-elbow. As we played deep into the night last night, the rail began to thin out just a bit, but they're back in full force today.

And full throat, for that matter. On several occasions today, sections of the rail have erupted with massive celebrations at the sight of a big pot or a lucky river card. And now, we've moved up to the gorgeous main stage where our final nine players are grinding it out front and center under the bright lights. There are now well over 100 people packed into the spectators seats, including a host of dealers, cocktail servers, previously-eliminated players, and casino personnel who are just as thrilled about this tournament as the players are.

Speaking of the players, there's also a side event taking place down on the main floor of the auditorium, a $5,000-buy-in game that's drawn an impressive fifty runners. The only problem is that they're not really interested in playing poker anymore. There is a television screen down on the floor broadcasting our main final table, and it's really crippling the action as all in attendance are glued to the picture during and in between hands.

From what we can tell, it sure seems that this area is poised for major tournament poker.

07-26-2009 00:03 UTC+3

Million-Dollar Saab

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Fadi Kamar opened the betting with a raise to 95,000 first in from the cutoff seat. Imad Saab came along from the big blind, heads up the rest of the way.

The flop came down {6-Diamonds}

, and both players checked. The turn card brought the {7-Clubs}

and two more checks, and the {7-Diamonds}

paired the board to fill out the river. Saab fired 40,000 this time, and Kamar quickly called the small bet.

Saab turned over {Q-Spades}

, good enough to earn him that small pot and chip him up over 1,000,000 for the first time today.

Tags: Fadi Kamar Imad Saab

07-25-2009 23:57 UTC+3

Zakhem Finds No Takers

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Imad Saab limped into the pot under the gun, and Nicolas Zakhem raised it up to 160,000 from the cutoff seat. When it came back to Saab, he open-folded {K-Spades}

, and Zakhem readily showed up his {A-Hearts}

with a loud exclamation of success.

07-25-2009 23:55 UTC+3

Walkin' Walid

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Walid Rizkallah has gotten walks both times he's been in the big blind so far at this final table. Must be nice.

Level: 25

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 4,000

07-25-2009 23:25 UTC+3

Kamal Bejjani Eliminated in 9th Place ($38,500)

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Walid Rizkallah started the action with a raise to 90,000 under the gun, and the bet passed nearly all the way around the table. In the big blind though, Kamal Bejjani made the call, heads up to the flop.

It brought {K-Spades}

, and Bejjani moved all in for 208,000. Without too much delay, Rizkallah made the call to put his opponent's tournament life in his hands.

Showdown
Bejjani: {A-Clubs}

Rizkallah: {A-Spades}

Rizkallah had a hammer lock on the hand with top-top while Rizkallah was drawing to a chop or runner-runner win cards. The {10-Diamonds}

on the turn was no help, and the {2-Clubs}

that filled out the board was useless as well.

Failing to improve, Kamal Bejjani becomes the first man out of the final table, taking home 9th-place money worth $38,500.

Tags: Kamal Bejjani Walid Rizkallah

07-25-2009 23:18 UTC+3

The Wheel of Ojeil

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On the fourth hand of final-table action, Nicolas Zakhem opened with a raise to 110,000 from the hijack seat. Next door, Chadi Ojeil made the call, heads up to the flop.

It came out {3-Spades}