2009 World Series of Poker

Event 55 - $2,500 Limit Deuce to Seven Triple Draw
Day: 1
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$165,521
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$593,400
Entries
257
Level Info
Level
24
Blinds
13,000 / 25,000
Ante
0

Opening More Tables

Dennis Phillips and John Phan have both taken a seat at Table 201, and they're waiting for another two players before they get going. The same is true at the adjacent Table 193 where Gioi Luong and Sam Grizzle are awaiting players before they can start playing.

The clock shows 225 players now registered.

Chino and Gavin Tangling

We pick up the action on the second draw at the Table of Fun. Gavin Smith drew one, and he was heads up against Chino Rheem who stood pat. Smith checked and called a bet from Rheem.

On the final draw, Rheem elected to take a card while Smith was the one who stood pat. Gavin led out this time, and Rheem flat-called. "Number two," Chino said, and he proved it by tabling 7-6-4-3-2. Smith flashed his eight low and mucked, and Rheem let on that he had caught his four on the final draw.

Tags: Chino RheemGavin Smith

Nothing Easy at 193

Table 193 is filling up, and they're finally playing poker. Realizing one of the drawbacks of joining late, Gioi Luong and Sam Grizzle have some formidable company over there now. They are five-handed, and the other three seats are occupied by Nam Le, Robert Williamson III, and C.K. Hua.

We can't wait to see who'll fill that final chair.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

They Came Ready to Play

Robert Williamson raised under the gun, and Sam Grizzle three-bet it from the cutoff seat. Nam Le called in the small blind, and Williamson put in the extra bet as well.

All three players drew two cards. With the action checked to him, Sam Grizzle bet and got called by both opponents. He and Le drew one while Williamson still wanted two. The action repeated with Le and Williamson check-calling a Grizzle bet.

On the final draw, Le and Williamson took one card while Grizzle stood pat. All three men checked. Williamson showed down 9-7-6-5-2, and it was good enough to win him a nice little pot here in the early going.

Tags: Nam LeRobert WilliamsonSam Grizzle

Latecomers

Jeffrey Lisandro is sitting all alone at a table in the red section reading a magazine and waiting for someone to play against. We're not sure if they're still waiting for players to register, or if nobody wants to take a seat next to the winner of the Stud Triple Crown this year.

Dan Heimiller is also mulling around his empty table waiting for players. We also found latecomers Chris Amaral, Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah, and Ralph Perry at adjacent tables. Shawn Sheikhan is here too, joining the table of Rob Hollink and Kelly Kim.

There are 239 players in with another hour left for registration.

Many Bets, No Showdown

Steve Wong limped into the pot first to act, and the player to his left made it two bets. Small blind Daniel Alaei, the unknown big blind, and Wong all called.

On the first draw, Alaei took one card while the other three players each took two. Alaei bet and was called in all three places. The second draw saw Alaei and the original raiser draw one as Wong and the big blind drew two again. And again, Alaei bet and was called three times.

Each player pulled a single card for their final draw. Alaei fired again, and the big blind folded. Wong put in a raise though, and that was enough to fold the remaining two opponents including Alaei. Without having to show it down, Steve Wong picked up a nice pot from his three table mates.

Tags: Daniel AlaeiSteve Wong

Hawrilenko Draws to the Win

We join the action just after the first draw on another tough table. Matt Hawrilenko was first to speak from the big blind, and he bet out. Billy Baxter raised, and both the button and Hawrilenko made the call.

On the second draw, each player asked for one card before checking it around. The last draw saw the button stand pat with Hawrilenko and Baxter still drawing one. It checked around again, and Hawrilenko tabled the winning 8-7-6-4-3.

Tags: Billy BaxterMatt Hawrilenko

Sexton Giving Lessons

In a blind battle, Mike Sexton raised it up from the small blind, and his opponent three-bet it from the big. Sexton called and drew two while his opponent stood pat. Sexton check-called a bet, and he would do the same after drawing one on his second chance.

On the last draw, Sexton stood pat, and that prompted his opponent to finally draw a card. Sexton again checked and called a bet from the big blind. Mike turned over 8-6-4-3-2, and his opponent sent his cards to the muck.

"You pat and pat and then take one," said Sexton as he pulled in the pot. "You played it perfectly."

Tags: Mike Sexton