WPT Championship Main Event | WPT $25,000 Championship - Bellagio

04-27-2007 19:15 UTC-7

First Level Recap

[user22113]

Play started out slow and it appeared that Carlos Mortensen, the most experienced player at the final table, took control over the first 12 hands. Paul Lee's stack took a few hits, but the biggest damage was done by Tim Phan on Hand #18 when he doubled through Guy Laliberte. Mike Wattel slipped to last in chips after he lost 1M to Guy Laliberte. The WSOP bracelet winner in seven-card stud eventually busted out in 6th place. Tim Phan is now the shortstack. Stay tuned for an official chipcount.

Tags: Carlos Mortensen Kirk Morrison Mike Wattel Paul Lee Tim Phan

04-27-2007 19:09 UTC-7

Players Are on a 10 Minute Break; End of Level and a Race Off

[user22113]

The first level has come to a close. Players are coloring up the 1K chips and the crew is changing tapes in the cameras.

04-27-2007 19:08 UTC-7

Hand #24 - The Last Hand at This Blind Level

[user22113]

Hand #24 - Paul Lee has the button in seat 5, and Mortensen raises from the cutoff to 500,000, winning the blinds and antes.

Tags: Carlos Mortensen Paul Lee

04-27-2007 19:07 UTC-7

Hands #22-23

[user22113]

Hand #22 - Carlos Mortensen has the button in seat 3, and there is no small blind this hand. Phan raises under the gun to 360,000, winning the blinds and antes.

Hand #23 - There is a dead button in seat 4, Laliberte raises to 500,000, and Phan calls from the big blind. The flop comes {7-Spades}

, Phan bets 800,000, and Laliberte immediately says, "all in." Phan thinks for a minute before folding, and Laliberte takes the pot, showing one card -- the {A-Hearts}

.

Tags: Guy Laliberte Tim Phan

04-27-2007 19:03 UTC-7

Mike Wattel and Kirk Morrison: Battle of the Railbirds

[user22113]

When both players exposed their cards after moving all in, the players' respective railbirds shouted out random things.

"Queen. Ten. Eight!" one of Wattel's railbirds screamed as he tabled {J-Diamonds}

.

"King. King. Jack!" one of Morrison's friends yelled as he showed {K-Clubs}

.

"Diamonds are forever!" joked another, which got a chuckle from the audience.

When Wattel eventually busted out, he got a huge ovation from the crowd.

Tags: Kirk Morrison Mike Wattel

04-27-2007 19:01 UTC-7

Mike Wattel Eliminated in 6th Place ($309,405)

[user22113]

Hand #21 - Guy Laliberte has the button in seat 2, Morrison raises from the cutoff to 420,000, and Wattel thinks for about two minutes before moving all in for a total of 852,000. Morrison quickly calls with {K-Clubs}

, dominating Wattel's {J-Diamonds}

.

The flop comes {10-Diamonds}

, and Morrison retains his lead. The turn card is the {8-Clubs}

, and Wattel picks up an open-ended straight draw, needing a seven, nine, or a queen to survive.

The river card is the {A-Hearts}

, and Mike Wattel is eliminated in sixth place, earning $309,405.

Tags: Mike Wattel

04-27-2007 19:00 UTC-7

Hand #20

[user22113]

Hand #20 - Kirk Morrison has the button in seat 1, Laliberte limps for 120,000 from the small blind, and Mortensen checks his option from the big blind. The flop comes {A-Spades}

, and both players check. The turn card is the {A-Diamonds}

, Laliberte checks, Mortensen bets 120,000, and Laliberte folds. Mortensen takes the pot.

Tags: Carlos Mortensen Guy Laliberte

04-27-2007 18:59 UTC-7

Hand #19 - Guy Laliberte vs. Mike Wattel

[user22113]

Hand #19 - Tim Phan has the button in seat 6, Wattel raises to 360,000, and Laliberte calls from the big blind. The flop comes {A-Hearts}

, Laliberte checks, Wattel bets 500,000, Laliberte moves all in, and Wattel folds. Laliberte takes the 1.87 million pot, bouncing back a bit from his loss to Tim Phan.

Tags: Guy Laliberte Mike Wattel

04-27-2007 18:57 UTC-7

The Room Exploded

[user22113]

During the first heads-up all in hand of the day between Tim Phan and Guy Laliberte, the crowd jumped to its feet in anticipation of a possible elimination. Phan's fans exploded when the {K-Spades}

fell on the turn. Aside from a few smart aleck remarks from Mike Matusow, the room had been relatively quiet.

Tags: Guy Laliberte Mike Matusow Tim Phan

04-27-2007 18:52 UTC-7

Hand #18 - Tim Phan Doubles Through Guy Laliberte

[user22113]

Hand #18 - Paul Lee has the button in seat 5, Laliberte raises under the gun to 500,000, and Phan moves all in for 1,092,000 from the small blind. After about 30 seconds of thinking, Laliberte calls.

Phan shows {A-Spades}