WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Championship Day 1b | 2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

Sep 07, 2009

Kim Can't Maximize Kings

Kelly Kim's stack hasn't made much progress today. That may be due in part to an inability for Kim to maximize his big hands. He recently was sitting in position when Lee Markholt raised preflop to 500. Kim called, then saw Yury Kerzhapkin re-raise (also in position) to 2,000. Only Kim called.

Both players checked the {9-Diamonds}

flop. Kim checked again when the turn fell {J-Hearts}

, then called a bet of 2,500 from Kerzhapkin. Both players quickly checked the {2-Spades}

river, with Kim's {K-Clubs}

being enough to collect the modest pot.

Tags: Kelly Kim Yury Kerzhapkin

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

Sep 07, 2009

Play Resumes

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Level 2 action has commenced. The big board shows 68 registrants today.

Sep 07, 2009

Hold the Clock

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We've played one full level, and it's time for the first 15-minute break of Day 1b. Back shortly.

Sep 07, 2009

Seven Tables in Play

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The late registrants continue to trickle into the tournament room. Recently joining the field are Melissa Hayden, Andy Bloch, Daniel Alaei and Suzie Lederer. We also see the names of Eli Elezra and Howard Lederer on the entrant list, although neither has yet taken his seat.

Sep 07, 2009

Small Pots for Markholt

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Lee Markholt is slowly chipping up on Table 3, a table which now includes Daniel Alaei. On back-to-back hands, Markholt took down pots that were contested by one opponent -- the same player in both cases. In the first hand, Markholt was the aggressor on the flop, the turn checked, and Markholt's river bet was uncalled. In the second hand, it was Markholt calling the flop, the turn checking, and then Markholt taking it down with an uncalled river bet.

In this first level, most of the pots that have gone past the flop have been averaging about 1,500 to 2,000 chips. We won't be seeing much stack movement for a while.

Tags: Lee Markholt

Sep 07, 2009

Man Down

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We're not sure exactly how long it took yesterday before a player was relieved of his entire 400-big-blind stack. Today it took fifty minutes. Over on Table 4, two players got all in on a flop of {10-Hearts}

. It was a cooler situation, of course; one player had a set of tens, {10-Diamonds}

, while the other had a set of aces {A-Hearts}

. The player with the set of tens uttered a disgusted "Jesus Christ", stood up and walked out of the tournament area before the turn and river were even on the board. His hand did not improve.

Sep 07, 2009

We Welcome...

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Allen Cunningham and David Levi are new arrivals to the tournament field. They're over on Table 7, which now includes Praz Bansi and Bryan Collin, each of whom was high-carded away from his original table to fill out the new table.

Sep 07, 2009

Torelli Off and Running

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Alec Torelli is one of the players who showed up on time this afternoon. His punctuality was rewarded with a pot that increased his stack by 50%. With the board already showing {K-Hearts}

, Torelli bet 5,200. He was called, in position, by Greek player Elias Brussianos.

The river came a third diamond, {4-Diamonds}

. Torelli calmly cut 12,000 chips off of his stack and threw them in the middle. Brussianos debated for about a minute before calling. Torelli showed him {J-Clubs}

for jacks full of kings. It was the winner.

After the hand, one of the other players at the table offered Torelli what can best be characterized as a "shot" of tea that's being served by the hotel staff.

"Why's it so little?" Torelli asked. He was told that the size was dictated by tradition.

"Tradition? Ok then, I'll have one," Torelli replied. "I want whatever's traditional. I could always get two, ya know?"

Tags: Alec Torelli

Sep 07, 2009

Don't All Talk at Once

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As opposed to yesterday, when players like Shaun Deeb and Jonathan Little provided a steady stream of dialogue, today the tournament room is library quiet. That's going to make it difficult to do one of my favorite segments, "Overheard at the Tables". Perhaps the players' tongues will loosen up after things here settle into more of a groove.