Event 2 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-03-2008 16:53 UTC-7

Ferguson Refuses to Die

[user75032]

The Cinderella story continues for Chris Ferguson, who was down to just 7,500 chips when we were at blinds of 4,000 / 8,000 / 1,000 and had to post a small blind of 4,000 and an ante of 1,000.

On this hand, Theo Tran opened the pot for 90,000. Ferguson, slow and deliberate as always, took approximately twenty seconds before moving his whole stack of 539,000 chips into the middle. Action folded to Aaron Coulthard on the button, who tanked for at least a minute before raising all in for over 1.5 million. A gasp went up from the crowd as the blinds and Tran folded and got out of the way.

Ferguson was in the lead with {9-Spades}

but had to dodge the {A-Spades}

of Coulthard. He did so when the board came {7-Clubs}

. After the end, Theo Tran pounded the table in anger, suggesting that he may have folded ace-jack.

Tags: Aaron Coulthard Chris Ferguson Theo Tran

06-03-2008 16:51 UTC-7

Play Slows Down

[user40108]

With just one table remaining, and one more elimination before moving to the ESPN feature table, players are taking their time. Whether it's making decisions, moving chips, or looking at their cards, the actions of these players would be best described as "slow and deliberate."

06-03-2008 16:43 UTC-7

Nines Are Good for Akenhead

[user75032]

With one table remaining, we have our first big pot in a while. Theo Tran opened in late position for 80,000 and was called by James Akenhead from the big blind. Both players checked the flop of {J-Diamonds}

. Akenhead bet 200,000 on the turn {8-Diamonds}

, which Tran called. When the river came {J-Spades}

, Akenhead fired again for 280,000.

Tran went into the tank for several minutes. "Jack or nothing," he pondered aloud. He tried to stare down Akenhead, but Akenhead remained motionless, his gaze fixated on the felt. Tran finally threw 280,000 chips in the pot. Akenhead opened {6-Hearts}

for a pair of nines, which was enough to take the pot after Tran mucked.

06-03-2008 16:29 UTC-7

Play Becomes Ten-Handed

[user75032]

With Perry Friedman's elimination, the tournament staff have decided to collapse the two remaining tables into one ten-handed table and have redrawn for seats. We will play for another 17 minutes before racing off the yellow (1,000) chips. Seat assignments are as follows:

1 - Jeff Wiedenhoeft
2 - David Bach
3 - Aaron Coulthard
4 - Mike Ngo
5 - Joe Rutledge
6 - Melvin Jones
7 - Theo Tran
8 - Chris Ferguson
9 - James Akenhead
10 - Grant Hinkle

06-03-2008 16:28 UTC-7

Perry Friedman Eliminated in 11th Place ($52,021)

[user40108]

Action folded around to Theo Tran in the cutoff seat. He raised to 90,000. When it got to Perry Friedman, he postured momentarily, then declared "all in." Tran instantly said "Call," and rolled over {K-Diamonds}

. Friedman grimaced and flipped up {Q-Diamonds}

. Tran had Friedman well covered so it was the latter who was at risk. The flop came {J-Hearts}

and Friedman shouted "Jack! Jack!" It was not to be, however, as the turn and river bricked for the Full Tilt pro, and he finished in 10th place and will leave with a cool $52,021 to show for it.

06-03-2008 16:25 UTC-7

Rutledge Takes a Hit

[user75032]

Players continue to play every hand extremely slowly after the flop. This time, it was Joe Rutledge and Theo Tran involved in a 200,000 pot out of the blinds. The flop was all babies: {2-Spades}

. Rutledge bet 150,000 and Tran thought, then called. Both players checked the rest of the way {7-Hearts}

. Rutledge said, "You got me," as he turned over {10-Clubs}

. Tran opened {6-Diamonds}

to take a 250,000-chip bite out of Rutledge.

06-03-2008 16:21 UTC-7

Perry Friedman Gets Caught Bluffing

[user40108]

Theo Tran raised to 80,000 from the cutoff and Perry Friedman made the call from the big blind. The flop came down {A-Diamonds}

and both players checked. The {4-Hearts}

on the turn had both men checking again. When the {K-Spades}

hit the river, Friedman pushed out 100,000. Tran made a quick call and Friedman showed {9-Diamonds}

. Tran then flipped up the {K-Clubs}

. Friedman smiled and said "I guess that was not a good card to bluff at."

06-03-2008 16:10 UTC-7

Caution is the Rule

[user75032]

As we approach the final table bubble, play has tightened considerably, with a raise usually taking the blinds. James Akenhead tried to take a different tack by limping in on the button. Perry Friedman quickly completed his small blind, and Joe Rutledge checked his option from the big blind.

Friedman, with a glance at Akenhead, said, "I check dark -- just in case you're slowplaying." The flop came {K-Spades}

with action checking to Akenhead, who fired a bet of 85,000. Only Rutledge called. Both players checked the turn {4-Hearts}

and the river {Q-Spades}

.

"King," declared Rutledge, opening {K-Diamonds}

. Akenhead rapped the table and mucked his hand.

06-03-2008 16:03 UTC-7

Grant Hinkle Doubles through Melvin Jones

[user40108]

Action folded around to Melvin Jones on the button and he raised to 100,000. Grant Hinkle called from the big blind and they went heads up to a flop of {A-Spades}

. Hinkle checked and Jones asked how much Hinkle had behind. Hinkle counted it out and it was roughly 230,000. Jones counted out 230,000 and slid it out. Hinkle declared "all in." After a count, it was determined it was a total of 239,000. Jones insta-called the additional 9,000 and said "You got me, man. You got me with that ace." Hinkle flipped up {A-Clubs}