2009 Lebanese Poker Championship

$10,000 Championship Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info

2009 Lebanese Poker Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
98
Prize
$606,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$1,925,100
Entries
207
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Salah Sets Up

On a board reading {A-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{7-Hearts} Carlos Keirouz pushed all in for over 42,000 to put Bakhos Salah to a decision for his tournament life.

Salah and Keirouz exchanged words for several minutes before Saleh pushed in his last 39,225.

Keirouz: {A-Spades}{2-Hearts}
Salah: {4-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}

The river landed the {K-Diamonds} to see Salah double through to 91,000 as Keirouz slipped to just over 13,000 in chips.

Tags: Bakhos SalahCarlos Keirouz

Medic Movin' Back Up

Nenad Medic working hard
Nenad Medic working hard
Nenad Medic limped into the pot from early position, and Elie Sokhn did the same, creating a three-way pot with the inclusion of the big blind.

The flop came out {K-Clubs} {A-Diamonds} {4-Spades}. and the first two men checked to Sokhn. He fired 700 at the pot, enough to fold the big blind. Medic made the call though, and the {6-Spades} hit the turn. This time, Nenad elected to lead out into the pot with a bet of 1,200. "I call," said Sokhn quickly, flicking the calling chips into the pot one by one.

The river card came the {5-Diamonds}, and Medic slid another 1,600 chips into the middle. Sokhn was not so quick this time, but he eventually made the call. Medic showed {A-Hearts} {9-Hearts}, and that was enough to pick up some more fightin' chips. After starting the day in the wrong direction, he's back on the upward swing. He has worked his short stack of about 6,000 back up close to his starting count of 30,000.

Tags: Elie SokhnNenad Medic

Chip Counts

Walid Bou Habib on the short stack
Walid Bou Habib on the short stack
Those players that are sitting with a healthy stack:
Nicolas Zakem - 148,000
Sherif Zacca - 128,300
Adham Homsi - 106,600
Riad Asmar - 97,000
Bakhos Salah - 91,000

Those that are struggling a little include:
Walid Bou Habib - 16,400
Rony Jazzar - 11,000

Level: 6

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

Nassar No More

Sara Nassar eliminated
Sara Nassar eliminated
We touched on it earlier, but last night there was an enormous launch party at a beachside health resort called Eddesands. Amidst the fireworks and fountains, there was a poker table set up where nine lucky names were drawn to play an "Aqua Poker" sit-n-go with Joe Hachem.

A few of those selected appeared to be familiar faces to the tournament staff, including that of Sara Nassar who drew a huge ovation as she took to the stage. The lone lady at the table would eventually run over her male competition, taking down the event and netting herself $2,000.

We mention that because Nassar has just been eliminated from our Championship Event today, leaving just two ladies remaining in the field.

Tags: Sara Nassar

Medic Grinding Away

On a flop of {3-Spades}{2-Hearts}{3-Diamonds} Nenad Medic led out for 600 and after a little deliberation, his opponent on the button made the call.

The turn landed the {8-Spades} and Medic pushed out a bet of 1,300 to again put his opponent in the tank.

Eventually however he folded and Medic began to rake in the pot.

"Did you fill up? Five-Eight?" asked one player on the table.

"Yep. Five-Eight" commented Medic as he chipped up to just over 18,000 in chips.

Tags: Nenad Medic

The Champ Hits the Mat

Joe Hachem - Outta Here
Joe Hachem - Outta Here
With just around 3,600 chips left, Joe Hachem looked down at {A-Clubs} {10-Clubs} in middle position and moved all in first into the pot. The bet folded around to the big blind where Adham Homsi instantly called with his big stack, turning over {K-Hearts} {K-Spades}.

Hachem found an ace on the flop, but it was not much help as the dealer spread {4-Diamonds} {K-Diamonds} {A-Hearts}. Hachem stood from his chair and said, "Good luck boys. Best of luck, I had a great time. Good luck to you all." The turn and river came {5-Diamonds} and {9-Diamonds} respectively, and the man affectionately referred to around here as simply "The Champ" has bowed out of Day 1.

Tags: Adham HomsiJoe Hachem

Hachem Run Down

We caught the action with the board of {A-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{5-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds} spread out and Joe Hachem's {5-Clubs}{4-Spades} sent to the muck at the sight of one opponent's {K-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} and another's {Q-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}.

Following the hand, Hachem was left crippled with only 3,600 in chips.

Tags: Joe Hachem

Hanna Halted

Georges Hanna eliminated
Georges Hanna eliminated
With a raise to 1,200 and a call before him Georges Hanna pushed all in for his last 4,125.

Both blinds made the call as the original raiser passed with one more player coming along for the ride.

The flop fell down {Q-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} and a bet of 7,000 from one of the players was enough to take the hand heads up.

Hanna: {K-Spades}{Q-Hearts}
Opponent: {A-Spades}{Q-Spades}

The turn and river fell the {5-Spades} and {3-Clubs} to see Hanna hit the rail.

Tags: Georges Hanna