2009 World Series of Poker Circuit - Tunica

$5,150 Circuit Championship Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker Circuit - Tunica

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qj
Prize
$183,974
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Entries
154
Level Info
Level
19
Blinds
12,000 / 24,000
Ante
3,000

Go Mike Go

Party in the Back
Party in the Back
Look out for Mike, eh?

Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah (sporting a fancy new haircut) is on a charge to the top, and we just found him mixed up in another big pot. We join it on the flop with three-way action. The board shows {K-Spades} {6-Diamonds} {10-Diamonds}. The man first to act checks, and Mike Leah bets out 2,200. The lady to his left calls, as does the other opponent.

The turn brings the {2-Spades}. Again, Leah takes the lead with a bet of 7,000. This time, the lady goes into the tank for a couple of minutes before moving all in for a total of 22,575. Action is now on the man in early position, and he opts to call. Not to be outdone, Leah moves all in with his big stack and is quickly called, putting two players at risk of elimination.

Showdown:
Leah: {6-Clubs} {6-Spades}
Man: {A-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds}
Lady: {K-Hearts} {10-Spades}

Leah is well ahead, but both all-in players have outs. The river is a blank though, the {7-Hearts}, and Leah collects the big pot. He has knocked out two more players, and he is sitting tall now on a stack of 137,000!

Tags: Mike Leah

Interesting Characters at this WSOP Circuit

As with most any tournament you play in, there are usually a few characters who stand out. This tournament is no exception for characters. We have the easygoing Bill Edler. "Captain" Tom Franklin is keeping players in stitches with his wit and humor. Gavin Smith is busting the chops of every player that he encounters at the table.

Then we have the man known as Speedy Gonzales. Yes, the man, and not the Warner Brothers mouse. First, this Speedy is from Cuba and not Mexico. (And before you ask, yes, he did come over here by boat. If you do not believe me, ask him about his "Dolphin" story.) Next, he is an extremely sharp dresser. A sombrero and serape is not his wardrobe.

Tags: Bill EdlerGavin SmithSpeedy GonzalesTom Franklin

Nut No Pair

Captain Tom Franklin was just involved in a hand against an unknown player. At the river, the board was uncoordinated, unpaired, and king high.

At showdown, action was checked around and Captain Tom said, "I've got nut no pair," and was about to throw his hand into the muck. His opponent was honest and said that nut no pair was good.

Franklin showed {A-?} {J-?} and his opponent mucked.

Tags: Captain Tom Franklin

Level: 8

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 75

Allen Kessler Doubles Up

Preflop, Allen Kessler pushed all in for 6,250 total. Action folded to Gavin Smith, who made the call. A player in the nine seat contemplated calling, but decided to fold.

Just before showdown, Kessler looked back at me and stated, "Gavin likes to try and bust me."

Kessler: {K-Spades} {K-Clubs}
Smith: {10-Hearts} {10-Diamonds}

The flop gave Kessler a dominating lead when it fell {K-Diamonds} {7-Hearts}{8-Hearts}. Kessler stated, "It's not over yet." Smith would need running straight cards, running hearts, or running tens to win the hand.

The turn fell the {A-Clubs}, sealing the hand for Kessler and making the river {2-Hearts} irrelevant.

After the hand, Kessler is sitting with around 16,300.

Tags: Allen KesslerGavin Smith

Back in the Lead

We join the action in a big pot involving one of the aforementioned pros, Gavin Smith. He was tangled up with an older gentleman who was new to the table, and one of them is now out of chips.

You may be able to guess which one.

On the flop, the board showed {7-?} {3-?} {3-?}, and the older gentleman led out with a bet. Smith put in a raise, and watched as his opponent moved all in for a substantial amount of chips. Smith snap-called him, having his man well covered.

Showdown:
Smith: {K-?} {3-?}
Opponent: {7-?} {5-?}

The turn and river failed to improve the at-risk player, and he was eliminated. As he stood from his chair, he quipped, "I didn't believe you had it, Kevin."

With that, Gavin has shot to the top of the leaderboard, sitting now on just less than 140,000.

Tags: Gavin Smith

Players Dropping Like GM Stock

In the short time since dinner, we have already lost ten players. The number of players lost is actually not indicative of the action we are seeing. A lot of short stacks are beginning to push and some other players are beginning to make moves.

We will continue until we are down to 27 players or 2 a.m., whichever comes first.

A Pro Showing

Well there aren't too many of them, but the ones who are here are here to play. With a few other big-time poker tournaments going on around the country, it is understandable that a lot of the professional poker players are not present here in Tunica.

That's good news for the ones who are here though. As we gaze around at stack sizes following the dinner break, a number of the big stacks in the room belong to full-time players. Kathy Liebert and Tom Franklin are both above the 50,000-chip mark, while both Jordan Morgan and Gavin Smith have topped 75,000!

Not to be overlooked, Allen Kessler is playing his own game. He has just 8,900 chips left, but that may well be plenty for the cagey Kessler.

Tags: Allen Kessler

Yet Another Chopped Pot

Kathy Liebert and a player in the seven seat limped in to see a flop of {A-Clubs} {7-Spades} {K-Diamonds}. Liebert bet out 1,600 and the seven seat raised to 3,400. Liebert made the call.

The turn fell the {6-Spades} and Liebert's opponent bet out 4,000. Liebert called.

The river fell the {6-Hearts} and Liebert's opponent fired a 7,800 bet. Liebert wasted no time in calling the bet. Seat seven showed {A-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds} for two pair, and Liebert showed {A-Hearts} {5-Clubs} for the same two pair and a chop of the pot.

Tags: Kathy Liebert

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 50