WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Championship
Day 5 Completed
2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic
WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Championship
Day: 5
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
181
Level
25
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000
Day 5 Concludes; Final Table Set
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
The final ten players took their seats just less than five hours ago to battle down to the six-handed final table. Rep Porter began at the head of the class, but he'll start tomorrow in the middle of the pack after some shaky fortune. Looking at the list of those knocked out today provides even more surprise.
Former chip leader (and two-time WPT runner up) Layne Flack was the first one to depart after a rough day. WPT Champion Nenad Medic was next, though he managed to turn his tenth-place starting stack into ninth-place money. The hits kept coming as two-time WPT Champion Jonathan Little made his exit in eighth after falling short in a battle of the blinds with Thomas Bichon. Last to go was Huck Seed in seventh place, his elimination spelling the end of play for the night.
The remaining six players will return tomorrow to the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino to play for it all, the bracelet, the money, and the glory. When they return, here's how they'll stack up:
Rony Jazzar - 1,796,000
Uri Keidar - 1,753,000
Rep Porter - 1,115,000
Thomas Bichon - 1,079,000
Steven Fung - 732,000
Janar Kiivramees - 727,000
Though a million chips separate the top and bottom of the pack, it truly is anyone's game. We'll be back at 2:00 p.m. GMT+3 (or so) again tomorrow to crown our champion. Until then, goodnight from Cyprus!
Huck Seed Eliminated in 7th Place ($56,240); Final Table Set
Uri Keidar limped into the pot from under-the-gun and action folded around the table to Thomas Bichon on the button who raised to 100,000 holding
. Seed then moved all in over the top for a total of 214,000 holding 
, Keidar folded and Bichon made the call.The flop came
, giving Bichon top pair, but Huck still had six outs -- three kings for a straight, or three aces for a bigger pair. The 
peeled off on the turn, giving Huck four more outs, but the river paired the board (
), cementing the hand for Bichon.Seed will take home $56,240 in prize money for his 7th place finish.
Jonathan Little Eliminated in 8th Place ($38,940)
The action folded around to the blinds where Jonathan Little moved all in for somewhere around 400,000 with just one opponent to dodge. Big blind Thomas Bichon peeked at his cards, raised his eyebrows and confidently said, "I call," Little's tournament life now in immediate jeopardy.
Showdown
Little:
Bichon:
The flop would come
to pair up Bichon but add a gutshot straight draw for the at-risk Little. The turn was a useless 
though, and the 
that filled out the board did nothing to improve him either. Bichon takes the pot with his pair of queens, knocking off the dangerous American in 8th place. For his efforts over the past week, Little will pocket $38,940.
Bichon Snags a Double-up through Huck Seed
. Seated at Bichon's immediate left, Huck Seed moved all in over the top for about 520,000 holding 
, forcing everyone else out of the pot.Well behind preflop, Bichon took the lead after the flop came
. Seed did pick up a straight draw, but missed after the turn and river blanked 
, 
.Bichon stacked up just under 500,000 in chips with the win, while Seed fell to 300,000.
Little's Stack Gets Littler
. That was where Fung bet 125,000. Little tossed some chips into the pot for a matching call, then mucked when Fung showed 
for two pair, aces and tens.
Lebanese Pride
Of note, though, is the presence of Lebanese supporters in attendance. Rony Jazzar is the man they're rooting for today, and his fans are responsible for the vast majority of the rail. There was a strong group of Lebanese players who came to play this event, and a few of them are keeping an eye on Rony. In addition, several of the staff members from the recent Lebanese Poker Championship are in attendance, making the trip over from Beirut to show their support to their countryman.
LPC Tournament Director Danny Abi Rached is among them, particularly vocal in his support. Coming over to our table, he checked the chip counts to see that Jazzar had pulled into a slight lead. "Yeaaah!" he half-yelled across the room, motioning a few of the spectators over enthusiastically. "Chip leader Rony Jazzar! Chip leader!" he beamed.
Fung's Fold Befuddles Opponents
.Fung quickly checked and Jazzar fired a continuation bet of 130,000. Fung then dove into the tank, but eventually opted to fold his hand --
-- face up on the table, leaving onlookers shaking their heads.After the hand, Fung dropped to 580,000 in chips, while Jazzar improved to 1.5 million
Little Can't Beat the Nuts
Little opened preflop to 70,000 and was forced to play the hand out of position when Keidar called from the button. Little led out for 100,000 on a flop of
. Keidar called behind to the turn. Little showed no fear in firing out another 175,000. Again Keidar called.When the river came
Little opted to slow down. He checked, inducing Keiter to make a 175,000-chip bet of his own. After confirming the amount, Little tossed in a call. Keidar showed him the nuts, . Little mucked without showing.
Updated Chip Counts
Jonathan Little - 1,120,000
Uri Keidar - 1,050,000
Rep Porter - 940,000
Steven Fung - 747,000
Janar Kiivramees - 741,000
Huck Seed - 640,000
Thomas Bichon - 275,000