Event 26 - $1,500 Limit Hold'em | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-14-2009 10:16 UTC-12

Rep Porter Eliminated in 7th Place ($25,313)

Rep Porter raised from under the gun, and the table folded back around to Demetrios Arvanetes who called from the big blind. The flop came {2-Spades}

. Arvanetes bet, Porter raised, and Arvanetes called. The turn was the {4-Spades}

. Arvanetes checked, Porter bet, Arvanetes check-raised, and Porter thought a bit before putting in almost the last of his chips. They got the last few in on the {7-Hearts}

river.

Arvanetes showed {J-Spades}

for the flush, and Porter mucked, out in 7th place. Arvanetes moves up to about 375,000 on that one.

Tags: Rep Porter

06-14-2009 10:09 UTC-12

Kim-Phong Duong Eliminated in 8th Place ($21,416)

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On the very next hand after Cole Miller's elimination, Glenn Engelbert raised from UTG, Kim-Phong Duong called all in for his remaining 22,000 and Jason Tam called as well from the small blind. Tam and Engelbert checked down the {6-Hearts}

board.

Engelbert showed {A-Clubs}

, Tam flipped up {9-Hearts}

and Duong showed {A-Hearts}

. Engelbert's A-K unimproved was good enough to scoop the entire pot and send Duong to the rail in 8th place.

06-14-2009 10:05 UTC-12

Cole Miller Eliminated in 9th Place ($18,932)

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With the action folded to him in the small blind, Cole Miller raised and Al Barbieri made the call from the big blind.

The flop came down {Q-Hearts}

and Miller led out. Before his chips could even hit the table, Barbieri put in a raise. With only 32,000 behind, Miller had a decision for all his chips and after a few minutes in the tank, he made it three bets to go. Barbieri set him all in for his last 2,000 and Miller called.

Miller {A-Hearts}

Barbieri

The turn was the {10-Clubs}

, the river was the {Q-Spades}

and Miller's tournament was at an end.

With that hand, Barbieri's stack was up to 1.1 million and he's approaching runaway chip leader status.

06-14-2009 09:55 UTC-12

"Nice Flop"

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Jason Tam raised from under the gun, and it folded back around to chip leader Al Barbieri who called in the big blind.

The flop came {5-Hearts}

. Barbieri checked, Tam bet, Barbieri raised, and Tam called. The turn was the {Q-Spades}

, and this time Barbieri led out with a bet. Tam called.

The river was the {Q-Hearts}

. Barbieri bet again, and Tam called once more. Barbieri turned over {9-Hearts}

for the straight, and Tam tabled his {K-Diamonds}

.

"Nice flop," said Tam good-naturedly. He's at 340,000 now, while Barbieri is up over the 800,000-chip mark.

Tags: Al Barbieri Jason Tam

06-14-2009 09:43 UTC-12

Cowboys Put Tam at a Half Million

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Jason Tam raised from early position and Dominik Kulicki called from the big blind.

Kulicki checked the {10-Clubs}

flop over to Tam, who bet. Kulicki called and they went to the turn, the {9-Hearts}

, where he check-called another bet from Tam. The river was the {Q-Clubs}

and both players checked.

Tam revealed {K-Clubs}

in the hole and Kulicki mucked, his stack down to 168,000 while Tam's swelled to 500,000.

06-14-2009 09:37 UTC-12

Pomp & Poker

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Action has stopped at our final table as all nine players are standing and watching the presentation of bracelets to yesterday's winners -- Panayote "Pete" Vilandos, winner of Event No. 24 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold'em), and Phil Ivey, winner of Event No. 25 ($2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo) -- and the playing of the national anthems of Greece (for Vilandos) and the United States (for Ivey).

The stage for the bracelet ceremony is located just a few feet from where our final table is being played. Each of the nine players remaining hopes he will be the one on that stage tomorrow afternoon.

Level: 22

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0

06-14-2009 09:17 UTC-12

After Break, Kulicki Catches a Break

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After that break to fill out the bios, the table's short stack, Dominik Kulicki got a much-appreciated walk in his big blind.

Then on the next hand, Demetrios Arvanetes raised from middle position, Kulicki reraised from the SB, Arvanetes four-bet, and Kulicki called with his last chips.

Kulicki turned over {A-Hearts}

, and Arvanetes {A-Spades}

. The first card to appear on the flop was a queen -- {Q-Spades}

-- and Kulicki was suddenly ahead. The turn was the {7-Clubs}

and the river the {3-Clubs}

, and Kulicki doubles back up to 190,000. Arvanetes has 295,000.

Tags: Dominik Kulicki

06-14-2009 08:58 UTC-12

The Final Table Awaits

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"Guys, guys... slide over," said Al "Sugar Bear" Barbieri from Seat 8 with a smile. He's got reason to be smiling -- he's leading the final table. With Richard Brodie's elimination, there's a little more elbow room around the table. Responding to Barbieri's request, the other players duly shuffled their seats to the right.

The remaining nine players are taking a few minutes to fill out bio sheets for WSOP officials. It appears we will be playing this one out here in the Green section of the Amazon Room -- i.e., not on one of the feature tables.

With the stakes where they are, we may be losing a few more here before too long, creating even more elbow room.

Back in action in a moment.

06-14-2009 08:57 UTC-12

Richard Brodie Eliminated in 10th Place ($13,543)

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Jason Tam raised from middle position and Richard Brodie flat-called from the button.

The flop came down {Q-Spades}

. Tam checked, Brodie bet and Tam called. The turn was the {Q-Clubs}

and this time Tam bet out. Brodie raised all in and Tam made the call.

Brodie {A-Diamonds}

Tam

Brodie had two pair, queens and jacks but Tam had both straight and flush draws. He got there on the river, making a king-high flush when the {3-Spades}

hit, sending Brodie to the rail in 10th place.