WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Championship Day 3 | 2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

09-09-2009 12:45 UTC+3

Presto! Winston Knocks One Out

[user66118]

More than half the table got to see a cheap flop over on the "TV Table" in the corner surrounded by cameras and microphones. The dealer spread out {A-Hearts}

, and the blinds checked. Hazem Muhieddin was next to act, and he led out with a bet of 6,000. Next door, Roy Winston bumped it up to 12,000, enough to fold the rest of the meddlers in the pot. Muhieddin was not so easily pacified though, three-betting it up to 32,000.

"All right, I'm all in," said Winston, moving his covering stack across the line. Muhieddin quickly called for his last ~35,000 chips additional.

Showdown
Winston: {5-Hearts}

Muhieddin: {A-Spades}

On that action flop, top two pair was no good to Winston's middle set. Looking for an ace but finding none, Muhieddin saw the last turn and river of his day come {9-Diamonds}

and

respectively. He's out, and Winston notches a big chip increase up over 300,000.

09-09-2009 12:42 UTC+3

Medic Plants a Seed in His Stack

[user75032]

Fortunes are changing in a hurry at our remaining six tables. Nenad Medic just relieved Huck Seed of about 80,000 chips. Medic was the pre-flop aggressor with a raise from early position that only Seed, sitting with the button, called. On a flop of {8-Hearts}

, Medic fired out 11,100. Seed quickly called.

It was the same kind of action on the {4-Hearts}

turn and

river, with Medic betting 21,200 and 40,200, respectively, and Seed calling each time. Seed's call on the river was instantaneous, prompting Medic to quickly show down {A-Clubs}

for three eights. Seed motioned like he was going to dramatically turn over a better hand, but it was all for show.

"I can't beat that," he said glumly.

Tags: Huck Seed Nenad Medic

09-09-2009 12:29 UTC+3

First Blood to Hanna

[user75032]

Here's an unexpected result from Table 5 -- Georges Hanna has dragged the first significant pot. It was limped five-ways preflop, with under-the-gun player Bruno Fitoussi firing first on a {j-Clubs}

flop for 6,300. Only Hanna called.

The turn was a card that filled just about every possible draw -- {10-Diamonds}

. Fitoussi checked, then insta-folded to a bet of 12,000 from Hanna. As Hanna was dragging the pot, Layne Flack pointed out that Hanna had a dirty stack of blue (T5,000) chips. Hanna reached down and removed a lavender (T500) chip from the stack.

"Oh, that's bad," he said.

Tags: Bruno Fitoussi Georges Hanna

09-09-2009 12:28 UTC+3

First Player Eliminated; First Table Breaks

[user38449]

Anthony Wright was the first player eliminated from the tournament this afternoon, leaving us with 54 runners and six tables of nine players.

According to Tournament Director Jack McClellan, we'll be playing five full levels, or down to 18 players -- whichever comes first.

09-09-2009 12:21 UTC+3

Table Draw

[user75032]

Unfortunately we have not yet received a full table draw that can be input into the updates. However, we can give you a quick scan of the room. Overall the players are fairly spread out, with two to three notables at each table, but two tables have caught our eye.

Seated at Table 7 are Allen Cunningham, Felix Osterland, Huck Seed, Kelly Kim and Rep Porter. Unfortunately for us, this will be the first table to break, as soon as one player has been eliminated from the field.

Even more interesting than Table 7 is Table 5. In order around the table are: Praz Bansi, Dan Harrington, Bruno Fitoussi, Layne Flack, Chris Ferguson, an unfortunate soul, Georges Hanna and Tommy Vedes. This line-up gives Table 5 the instant qualification of Table of Death.

Just as we were finishing this pot, the dealer at Table 2 called out "Seat open!" That means Table 7 should be breaking momentarily.

09-09-2009 12:14 UTC+3

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user75032]

Cards are in the air for Day 3.

Level: 11

Blinds: 1,200/2,400

Ante: 300

09-09-2009 11:53 UTC+3

Let's Get it On

[user66118]

In ten minutes or so, 55 players will file into their chairs for the resumption of the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic. The field that started with 181 runners on Sunday has been pared down quickly over the course of the past three calendar days, and by the time today's Day 3 is done, we should be looking at our final two tables. Eighteen players will advance to Day 4.

We're scheduled for a noon start time again, though there's still not a player in sight in the tournament room. Hang tight; we'll be back shortly with the shuffle up and deal.