Event 23 - $10,000 World Championship No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 2009 World Series of Poker

Level: 22

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 5,000

06-12-2009 12:56 UTC-12

TV Timeout

[user75032]

The level has ended. We're on a three-minute tv break.

06-12-2009 12:50 UTC-12

John Juanda Eliminated in 4th Place ($75,964)

[user25067]

Nick Schulman opened for 50,000 and John Juanda moved all in.

"Count 'em" asked Schulman of the dealer, who cut out Juanda's remaining 219,000. Schulman made the call and each player drew one card.

Juanda drew a six to make 9-6-5-4-3, but Schulman pulled a seven to make 8-7-5-3-2, sending Juanda to the rail in fourth place.

06-12-2009 12:46 UTC-12

Sung Soul-Tanks to 1.2MM

[user75032]

Every pot carries significant weight now that we're down to the big jumps int he prize pool distribution. That may explain why Steve Sung tanked for five full minutes (we clocked him) after opening to 50,000 and then facing an all-in re-raise from big blind John Juanda, who eyeballed Sung's stack before making his move.

During Sung's time in the tank, Juanda looked around and said a few words (inaudible to us) to Sung. Nick Schulman and Ville Wahlbeck each got up from the table to stretch their legs. Wahlbeck could be seen tapping away at his phone.

Sung finally called all in. Both players stood pat. Juanda opened 9-8-6-5-4, a hand that was no good against Sung's 9-5-4-3-2. It was a sick read by Sung and an even sicker decision not to break his hand after Juanda stood pat. Sung doubled up to a total of 1.2 million chips.

Juanda is now the short stack at 250,000.

Tags: John Juanda Steve Sung

06-12-2009 12:32 UTC-12

Speaking of Final Tables...

[user75032]

This is John Juanda's second final table of the 2009 World Series. He finished 5th in the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud earlier this week.

Steve Sung has also had a spot of success already this summer. He took first place in Event 4, the $1,000 Stimulus Special, banking $771,000 and a gold bracelet.

06-12-2009 12:32 UTC-12

Wahlbeck Makes Number Two

[user25067]

Ville Walhbeck opened for 55,000 and Nick Schulman came in with a call. Wahlbeck drew one while Schulman drew two.

Wahlbeck led out for 80,000 after the draw and Schulman called, only to watch Wahlbeck turn up number two, 7-6-4-3-2. Schulman mucked and Wahlbeck raked in the pot.

06-12-2009 12:27 UTC-12

Like a Tennis Ball

[user75032]

Chips keep passing back and forth between Steve Sung and Nick Schulman. Sung opened with an under-the-gun re-raise to which Schulman added 112,000 from the small blind. Sung called.

Schulman rapped pat on the draw. It was one card for Sung and then a tank of more than a minute when Schulman led out for 180,000 after the draw. Sung finally opted to lay down his hand.

Tags: Nick Schulman Steve Sung

06-12-2009 12:24 UTC-12

Ville Wahlbeck Takes Lead in POY Race

[user25067]

Guaranteed at least 55 POY points for his finish today, Ville Wahlbeck has officially taken over the lead in the 2009 WSOP Player of the Year race from back-to-back bracelet winner Brock Parker. This is Wahlbeck's third final table of the series-- he won the $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event, finished third in the $10,000 World Championship Seven-Card Stud event, and is now at his third $10K final table.

06-12-2009 12:22 UTC-12

Sometimes, Queens are Good

[user75032]

Steve Sung opened the small blind to 48,000 and was called by Ville Wahlbeck. Each player discarded one card, then checked the action after the draw. Wahlbeck's Q-10-8-7-4 was the winner.

A note on the gallery: there ain't many people here. We spot about a dozen people in the seating around the table, and maybe another dozen up on the balcony floating between this final table and the $1,500 No-Limit Shootout final table on the secondary feature table. The only notable faces are Jean-Robert Bellande, the bubble boy from this tournament, and T.J. Cloutier.

06-12-2009 12:17 UTC-12

Juanda Forces Another Laydown

[user75032]

There's not much room left for multi-way pots now. Ville Wahlbeck opened for 45,000 from the button and was called only by big blind John Juanda. Juanda drew two cards; Wahlbeck took one and then bet 115,000 after Juanda checked.

There was a 30-second pause before Juanda announced he was all in. Wahlbeck didn't need nearly as long to fold his hand.

Juanda seems to be picking his spots well, using his stack as a weapon to induce folds.