2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's New Orleans

Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's New Orleans

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
8k
Prize
$228,600
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,675
Prize Pool
$1,143,000
Entries
762
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

Hawkins Busts to Tilted Schwartz

Level 6 : 150/300, 25 ante
Maurice Hawkins - Eliminated
Maurice Hawkins - Eliminated

A self-proclaimed tilted Jake Schwartz just sat down in the Main Event after busting the $1,000 side event, and promptly got into a preflop raising war with Maurice Hawkins. It ended with the two all in, Schwartz having Hawkins covered, and the hands were opened.

Schwartz: {j-Spades}{j-Diamonds}
Hawkins: {a-Hearts}{k-Clubs}

The {a-Diamonds} was the window card of the flop, but it was followed bu the {j-Hearts} and the {8-Clubs}. For a brief moment, it appeared as if Hawkins took the lead, but Schwartz was well ahead with his set of jacks. The turn and river came {8-Diamonds}, {2-Hearts} respectively, and Hawkins hit the rail.

Schwartz now has around 37,000 chips.

Player Chips Progress
Jake Schwartz us
Jake Schwartz
37,000
17,000
17,000
Maurice Hawkins us
Maurice Hawkins
Busted

Tags: Maurice HawkinsJake Schwartz

Saul Looking for Second Main Event Title

Level 6 : 150/300, 25 ante

With around 8,000 in the pot and a board reading {q-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}, WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Main Event champ Kevin Saul bet 2,550 and received a call from his opponent on the button. Both players then checked the {3-Hearts} river and Saul, who looked disappointed his opponent checked, showed the {K-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds} for a flush. It was good as the button could only muster the {Q-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Kevin Saul us
Kevin Saul
35,000
5,000
5,000
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Kevin Saul

Level: 7

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

The Tribe Has Spoken

Level 7 : 200/400, 50 ante
"Boston" Rob Mariano
"Boston" Rob Mariano

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

In a poker tournament, these three abilities are paramount. In order to succeed, you must outwit your opponents, forcing them to fold when they have the best hand or call when they have the worst of it. You must outplay your opponents, avoiding the mistakes that amateurs make and know when to strike if opportunity rises. And finally, you must outlast your opponents - this one's obvious.

Among the grinders in the field today, there is one player in particular who knows a lot about outwitting, outlasting, and outplaying his competition, and that's "Boston" Rob Mariano.

Mariano, is a Survivor legend, competing on four seasons of the reality television show, including Redemption Island, where he was crowned the Sole Survivor by a jury of his peers. He has received coaching lessons from professional poker player, friend, and aspiring Survivor cast member Daniel Negreanu, and is also good friends with Josh Arieh, who is in the field today.

The 37-year old Boston native has over $60,000 in career tournament earnings, including an 82nd-place finish in a $1,500 bracelet event in 2007 and a 12th-place finish in a $500 circuit event here in New Orleans in the same year.

Mariano recently released a book titled The Boston Rob Rulebook, where he gives his rules to life and not just the game of Survivor.

Mariano is off to a bit of a slow start today, and fortunately doubled before the last break. He was all in for his last 5,000 or so holding {q-Diamonds}{q-Clubs} against an opponent's {a-Clubs}{a-Hearts}. The board ran out {3-Hearts}{j-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{9-Spades}{k-Hearts}, giving Boston Rob a straight, and he doubled to around 11,000 chips.

Player Chips Progress
"Boston" Rob Mariano
"Boston" Rob Mariano
12,000
12,000
12,000

Tags: Boston RobSurvivor

Kuether vs. Barlow

Level 7 : 200/400, 50 ante

Joe Kuether opened for 800 from the hijack and Jerry Barlow called from the button. The big blind also called and it was three-way action to the {q-Spades}{k-Clubs}{6-Spades} flop. The big blind checked, Kuether bet 800 and only Barlow called. Kuether slowed down with a check on the {2-Spades} turn and Barlow took the opportunity to bet 1,400. It was enough to get the job done as Kuether sent his cards to the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Jerry Barlow us
Jerry Barlow
65,000
Joe Kuether us
Joe Kuether
21,000
-3,000
-3,000

Tags: Jerry BarlowJoe Kuether

How Jivkov Got His Groove Back

Level 7 : 200/400, 50 ante

World Series of Poker bracelet and three time ring winner Nick Jivkov currently graced the top of our chip counts, and he was kind enough to tell us how he got them. Well, actually, he texted us the details. Here's what he wrote:

"At 100/200/25 I had about 42K. I opened middle position to 525 with {6-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}. The big guy in the cutoff reraised to 1,200 and button cold called. I also called. Flop was {6-Clubs}{7-Spades}{4-Hearts}. I got top two pair and check. Guy checks and button fires 1,000. I am expecting the big dude to raise here so I call. The dude also calls."

"Turn is {2-Hearts}. I decide to lead out for 2,500. The big guy raised me to 7,500. Button reluctantly folds. I thought the only hand that makes sense in this spot is {A-Hearts}{5-Hearts} or {A-Hearts}{3-Hearts}. Small chance he has {4-}{4-}, but was pretty confident he was semi-bluffing with straight flush draw and I was confident he fires a big bluff on the river if it bricks, so I opt to call."

"The {7-Hearts} hits the river and I check to him. He fires 7,000. I shipped in about 34,000 and after leveling himself over a previous hand where I made a huge river bet and made him fold a big hand, he made the call and showed {A-Hearts}{3-Hearts}."

Tags: Nick Jivkov

Over for Overton

Level 7 : 200/400, 50 ante
Aaron Overton - Eliminated
Aaron Overton - Eliminated

Faced with a bet on a flop of {5-Spades}{3-Clubs}{2-Spades}, Aaron Overton raised to 3,500. A player cold-called, the bettor called as well, and the turn was the {10-Clubs}. There was a check, Overton moved all in for 6,575, and only the bettor called.

Bettor: {9-Spades}{3-Spades}
Overton: {a-Diamonds}{4-Spades}

Overton had flopped the wheel, and only needed to avoid a spade, but the {k-Spades} spiked on the river, eliminating him.

The third player in the hand admitted to folding a queen-high flush draw.

Player Chips Progress
Aaron Overton us
Aaron Overton
Busted

Tags: Aaron Overton