$5,150 Circuit Championship | 2009 WSOP Circuit - Caesars Atlantic City

03-14-2009 20:24 UTC-4

A Massive Confrontation

[user66118]

Frank Vizza opened with a raise to 100,000. Next door, Samuel Chartier re-popped it, making it 246,000 total. Vizza called, and we had our first flop in quite some time.

Heads up, the first three community cards came {8-Hearts}

. Chartier continued out with a bet of 200,000. Vizza sat rock still for a moment or two before announcing, "Seven," and sliding out seven tall stacks of gray chips. Chartier leaned back in his chair as he glanced back and forth between the board and his opponent. After about two minutes, he waved both hands forward in the universal all-in gesture.

Vizza would spend the next five or seven minutes deep in the think tank. He asked for a count of his opponent's stack. Then he counted his own stack. Then he re-counted his own stack. He stood up, kneeling on his chair, leaning over the table and staring down at the board. He was clearly pained by the decision, completely uncertain of what to do.

"I really think you got something," he said, adding, "This is so silly." Finally, after that long soak, Vizza reluctantly slipped his cards back to the dealer, choosing to fight his battle in another spot.

After taking down the biggest pot of the tournament, Samuel Chartier is now the overwhelming chip leader.

03-14-2009 19:58 UTC-4

Updated Chip Counts

donpeters

Frank Vizza - 2,144,000
Samuel Chartier - 1,526,000
John Nixon - 490,000

03-14-2009 19:55 UTC-4

Flopless

donpeters

Since Michael Michnik busted, we've only seen two flops. A simple raise or reraise is often enough to win the pot preflop.

The chip counts haven't changed much either, as the players seem to be taking turns winning the pots preflop. Sooner or later, there's bound to be some big hands running into each other.

03-14-2009 19:45 UTC-4

Vizza Stealing Preflop

donpeters

There hasn't been much action in the recent few hands, but Frank Vizza has taken down two or three pots preflop by putting in some three bets. His opponents have been folding to him every time and allowing him to increase his chip lead.

Tags: Frank Vizza

03-14-2009 19:32 UTC-4

A Little Blind-Versus-Blind Action

donpeters

John Nixon folded before Frank Vizza raised to 100,000 from the small blind. Samuel Chartier called from the big blind.

The flop came down {K-Diamonds}

and Vizza hesitated before checking. Chartier checked behind.

The turn brought the {8-Spades}

and Vizza checked again. Chartier fired out a bet of 110,000. Vizza took about 30 seconds and then mucked his hand, giving Chartier the pot.

Tags: Frank Vizza John Nixon Samuel Chartier

03-14-2009 19:29 UTC-4

Michael Michnik Eliminated in 4th Place ($70,644)

[user66118]

Under the gun, Michael Michnik opened the pot with a raise to 80,000. When the betting passed around to big blind Samuel Chartier, he peeked at his hole cards, capped them with an orange chip, and eyed up his opponent. After a moment, he slid out two big stacks of gray chips for a total re-raise to 232,000. Michnik removed his sunglasses, sunk back in his chair and announced, "All in." Chartier quickly called.

"Ace-jack," said Chartier. Michnik let out a big sigh of relief as he turned over the same hand. "I'm happy for a chop," came the response from the at-risk Michnik

Showdown:
Michnik: {A-Spades}

Chartier:

The flop brought {5-Spades}

, and Michnik reacted as if his fate was already sealed. "Freerollin'!" said one of Chartier's railbirds, referring to the fact that Chartier could not lose the hand.

Fourth street was lots of trouble as the {Q-Clubs}

gave Chartier the bigger flush draw. Sure enough, the {9-Clubs}

spiked on the river, drawing a big reaction from the now-thinning crowd of spectators. Michnik looked disgusted for a moment as he dropped his head into his hands. For the second time today, a player has been four-flushed to the exit, and this time hit a little too close to home for Michnik.

After taking just a second to gather himself, Michael Michnik wished the remaining three players the best and headed over to collect his payout.

Tags: Michael Michnik Samuel Chartier

03-14-2009 19:15 UTC-4

Quick Break

donpeters

The players have opted for a quick bathroom break.

03-14-2009 19:07 UTC-4

Hitting Another Wall

[user66118]

After that small flurry of action following the break, things have returned to the slow pace we are growing accustomed to. In the last ten or twelve hands, five have been walks to the big blind. We know it's only a matter of time before things pick up once again, but it's anybody's guess when that will be.

03-14-2009 18:50 UTC-4

Alex Bolotin Eliminated in 5th Place ($60,552)

[user66118]

In the second hand back from break, Alex Bolotin opened with an all-in shove for 306,000. The table folded around to big stack Frank Vizza, and he shrugged his shoulders and quickly announced, "I call."

Showdown:
Bolotin: {K-Hearts}

Vizza:

The flop was no fun for Bolotin. The {Q-Spades}

came right in the door, filling out a flop of {Q-Spades}

. The turn card was a bit of help as the {3-Diamonds}

fell, giving Bolotin a pair to work with.

From the rail right behind Bolotin, David Fox smirked and said, "Oh, that would be a dirty way to do it," hinting at the possibility of two running threes.

To Bolotin's dismay though, the {10-Hearts}

landed on the river, locking up the pot for Vizza and sending Alex Bolotin to the exit in 5th place. He stood from his chair, grabbed the last peanut butter cup from atop his chips, and made his way to the payout desk.

Tags: Alex Bolotin Frank Vizza

03-14-2009 18:43 UTC-4

Play Resumes

[user66118]

With Alex Bolotin running back to his seat, the cards are back in the air.