Justin Bonomo led the betting on fourth street, before John Hennigan led fifth. Bonomo assumed control again on sixth before getting one more bet in on the river.
Bonomo tabled () for aces up to collect the pot. After struggling in the early stages today, Bonomo gets himself back to 145,000 with Hennigan at 151,000.
The official prize pool and payout information for the 2009 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship has been announced.
With 95 entrants today, the top 16 players will finish in the money. The winner will collect over $1.2 million, while the biggest bubble at the WSOP will sting for someone as they miss out on the $72,914 for 16th.
It's been a rough day so far for 2008 Aussie Millions champ Alexander Kostritsyn. However, he just recovered some chips in a hand of Hold'em. Kostritsyn raised preflop and fired three streets of value on a board of .
His opponent was Eli Elezra, who called him down but mucked when Kostritsyn tabled for two pair.
On a flop of , Andy Bloch checked from the big blind, David Bach bet from the button, Bloch raised, Bach reraised and Bloch called. Bloch check-called two more bets from Bach on the turn and the river.
Bach turned up for a flush. Bloch mucked and Bach took down the pot.
Bach is up to 210,000 while Bloch is down to 108,000.
Fabrice Souiler led the betting on fourth before David Singer took over on fifth. It was Nikolay Evdakov's turn on sixth, as Souiler gave it up, with Singer calling the bet on sixth and again on the river.
Evdakov tabled () for trip queens to take it down. He's up to 174,000 with Singer the first player to drop below the 100,000-chip mark.
With Negreanu completing, Antonius and Fellows called, Guoga raised. All three opponents made the call.
On fourth, Negreanu led out and Antonius raised. Zac Fellows folded and Guoga raised once again. Negreanu and Antonius both called.
On fifth, Negreanu bet and again Antonius raised. Guoga flat called but Negreanu popped it once more. Antonius and Guoga both made the call.
When sixth street was dealt, Negreanu led and Antonius again raised. Guoga was sick at the boards of his opponents and decided to fold what he later said was rolled up fives.
On the river, Negreanu checked, Antonius bet and Negreanu called for a likely chop.
Negreanu: ()
Antonius: ()
Negreanu took the high with a full house and Antonius collected the low.
Joe Cassidy raised from UTG, and Chau Giang made the call from the small blind. The flop came down and Giang check-called a bet from Cassidy. The turn was the and Giang check-called another bet. Both players checked the on the river.
Giang showed and Cassidy mucked. Giang is just over his starting stack with 150,400 while Cassidy is down to 138,000.
Ray Dehkharghani completed on third street with the , Mike Matusow raised, Jeff Lisandro reraised, Dehkharghani folded and Matusow called. Lisandro led out on every subsequent street and Matusow called him down.
Lisandro turned up for two pair, kings and sixes. Matusow mucked and Lisandro won the pot.
Stud-8 can sometimes be a nightmare for the humble reporter. We arrive at the table, write down a minimum of fourteen cards over five streets of betting only to discover the pot is chopped!
Well, we recently observed a massive hand between Greg Raymer, Steve Billirakis and Jerry Buss that we assumed was going to be chopped but it was scoopage time with Billirakis taking it down to storm out to the tournament chip lead.
The action was capped on third street, before Buss fired on fourth. Raymer called and Billirakis raised. Both Buss and Billirakis called.
On fifth, Billirakis took the lead, but Buss led again on sixth. Billirakis raised as Raymer had had enough, but once again Buss and Billirakis got into a raising war with each putting in five bets.
On the river, Buss led out once more with Billirakis making the call.
Billirakis: () ()
Buss: () ()
Buss had two pair with a low draw but bricked the river as Billirakis scooped with a full house to assume the chip lead with 240,000 chips.
2008 H.O.R.S.E. Champion Scotty Nguyen
Last year the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E event caught the attention of the mainstream media, perhaps not all for the right reasons. Scotty Nguyen’s rather “entertaining” performance on the final table was not well received by many, as a combination of his beverage consumption and sharp tongue got him into a little hot water.
However, let’s not let that detract from his wonderful performance this time last year.
Nguyen’s victory in the 2008 H.O.R.S.E. year saw him collect his 5th WSOP bracelet and elevated him into a newly-formed elite group that has won the WSOP Main Event and $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. titles. At the moment, Nguyen is the lone member. Nguyen overcame a field of 148 of the best in the world, and Michael DeMichele heads-up battle to net $1,989,120 in prize money. That final table also featured the likes of Erick Lindgren, Barry Greenstein and Huck Seed.
In a career spanning more than two decades, Nguyen has come from humble beginnings to now be one of most recognizable faces of the poker industry. The bling and infamous call of “Hey baby” are part of the Nguyen persona on the felt, attracting thousands of new fans to poker from all around the world.
Since last year’s victory, Nguyen has continued his fine form with results in France, England, Australia as well as the United States, highlighted by a final table at the WPT Championships, and a win in the H.O.R.S.E. Championship at the L.A. Poker Classic.
Nguyen famously declared that he would win $4 million by this year’s WSOP. At the moment, he’s a tick under $4 million short of that figure, so expect a big couple of weeks ahead for the “Prince of Poker”.
(X)
(X)
) for aces up to collect the pot. After struggling in the early stages today, Bonomo gets himself back to 145,000 with Hennigan at 151,000.
.
for two pair.
, Andy Bloch checked from the big blind, David Bach bet from the button, Bloch raised, Bach reraised and Bloch called. Bloch check-called two more bets from Bach on the 
river. 
for a flush. Bloch mucked and Bach took down the pot. 
(X)
(X)
) for trip queens to take it down. He's up to 174,000 with Singer the first player to drop below the 100,000-chip mark.
(X)
(X)
and Giang check-called a bet from Cassidy. The turn was the 
on the river. 
