JC Tran and Brett Murray have both joined the Day 1 field, and are seated at the same table.
Dan Ross from Hold'em Radio told PokerNews that Murray and Tran are Nos. 1 and 2 in all-time winnings at the Thunder Valley Poker Room, and both are looking to add to those totals with a deep run in the $3,250 High Roller.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 |
In addition to Brett Murray, the following players have recently joined the tournament to bring the field size up to 25.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
||
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000 | |
In a battle of the blinds, Eric Wong bet from the small blind on a 
flop. JC Tran raised, and Wong called.
Wong checked on the 
turn, and Tran bet 5,800, which Wong called. The river came 
, Wong checked and Tran checked back. Wong showed 
, and Tran mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
57,000 | |
|
30,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
||
Level: 6
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 400
On the last hand of the previous level, there was around 3,000 in the pot with four way action on a flop of 
. Niv Decalo had checked from early position to put action on Ian Steinman, who was in middle position and bet 1,500. The next two players to act were Ray Villaman in the hijack and Adam Demersseman in the cutoff. Both players called. Decalo got out of their way and action proceeded with three players still in contention of the pot.
The turn came 
and Steinman, who was first to act, fired another 5,000. Villaman thought for a bit and called. Demersseman called behind.
The river fell 
. Steinman put out a final bet of 23,000. Villaman went into the tank, setting aside calling chips and seeming as if he were about to make the call. Better judgment won over for him and he sent his cards to the muck. Meanwhile, Demersseman, having had time to think over his decision during Villaman's turn to act, threw out chips to call shortly after action fell upon him.
Steinman tabled 
and the dealer announced a queen-high straight. Demersseman mucked.
Villaman remarked on the hand, though it was unclear what he said. It appeared as if he said he had made the right fold, as he was heard talking about how he knew Steinman had something after he had continued betting.
Steinman commented back, saying that he called for a red deuce on the river in his head after receiving two calls on the turn. The dealer had complied and despite not getting all in for a double up, Steinman quickly finds two starting stacks now in front of him with which to play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
79,800
39,800
|
39,800 |
|
|
||
|
60,000
12,400
|
12,400 |
|
29,800
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
8,300
34,000
|
34,000 |
Ryan Awwad just entered the tournament to bring the field size up to 26 with a full three tables-worth of 24 players remaining in the field. Awwad drew Table 42, Seat 4, which was the seat that was previously occupied by Noel Rodriguez. As a result, Rodriguez was moved to the last vacant seat in the tournament, which is Table 43, Seat 4.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 |
Brett Murray opened to 1,000 from the hijack, and JC Tran three-bet to 2,700 from the button.
The action folded back around to Murray, who put in a four-bet to 7,500. Tran looked at his cards, thought it over for a bit, then folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,000 | |
|
|
35,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
||
Abdulaziz Alaquil bet 1,000 from the cutoff on a 
flop, and William Haley called on the button.
Both players checked through the 
turn and river, and Haley showed 
, good enough to take down the pot with his ace kicker to the two pair on the board.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
56,500
16,500
|
16,500 |
|
41,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
Action was heads up on the turn with around 7,500 in the middle in a pot between Ian Steinman in the cutoff and Ray Villaman, who was on the button. The board read 
and Steinman checked. Villaman checked behind to bring the river 
.
Steinman picked up chips to bet, looking at the chips in his hand and picking up more before throwing out a bet of 4,500. Villaman threw in a chip to call, saying something to Steinman as the two tabled their hands.
Ian Steinman: 
Ray Villaman: 
Upon seeing that the two had chopped, Steinman quickly moved the four tabled cards around in order to give Villaman pocket aces and himself pocket queens. A passerby looked down at the exact moment Steinman finished, remarking about the sick hand that had just occurred.
Villaman quickly turned around with a smile on his face to let the man know that they had simply chopped and by that time, the dealer had finished splitting the pot and sent stacks to both players before preparing for the next hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
87,800
8,000
|
8,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
50,300
9,700
|
9,700 |
