2011 World Series of Poker

Event #18: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j9
Prize
$735,400
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$4,261,950
Entries
3,157
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000

Not Much of a Grind for Grinder

The tables are breaking down at an alarming rate, and the last we saw of Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, he was at the back of the Yellow section of the Pavillion, but when we were alerted that the 2010 WSOP Player's Championship winner was holding a monster stack, we scoured the room to find him.

And find him we did - Mizrachi is over on table 94 and is not going anywhere, because he's now got more than - wait for it - 40,000 in chips!

Player Chips Progress
Michael Mizrachi us
Michael Mizrachi
41,000
36,500
36,500
WSOP 5X Winner

Feldman and Fricke Tangle

The action folded around to Andrew Feldman who min-raised to 400 from middle position and found one caller in Jimmy Fricke from the big blind to go heads up to a flop of {9-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{3-Spades}.

Both players checked their option, but Fricke check-folded after Feldman shipped the rest of his stack into the middle after the {8-Diamonds} turn.

Player Chips Progress
Jimmy Fricke us
Jimmy Fricke
4,100
-400
-400
3,300

What They're Playing For

Level 5 : 100/200, 0 ante

The official numbers are in and the prizepool has been counted. The field had a total of 3,157 entrants and will pay out the top 324 finishers. First place is worth $735,400 and just making the final table is worth at least $54,936. The minimum cash amount is $2,855.

Level: 6

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

Forrest Holds Up

We caught up to the action to find Ted Forrest heads up with another player on a flop of {8-Hearts}{J-Clubs}{6-Hearts}. Forrest's opponent put out a bet and Forrest reraised him all in.

Forrest held {K-}{J-} while his opponent had {Q-Hearts}{J-Hearts} for a weaker pair of jacks and a flush draw.

The turn came a {4-Spades} and the river was a {8-Clubs} giving Forrest another knock out in this tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Ted Forrest us
Ted Forrest
10,000
5,500
5,500
WSOP 6X Winner

Tags: Ted Forrest

Kling's Cleaning Up

Lauren Kling
Lauren Kling

We picked up the action on a flop that read {7-Clubs}{4-Spades}{A-Diamonds} heads up between a player in middle position and Lauren Kling, who was on the button.

Both players checked, but on the turn of the {9-Hearts}, the middle position player check-folded to Kling's bet, letting her scoop the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Lauren Kling us
Lauren Kling
20,000
15,500
15,500

Tags: Lauren Kling

A Pair of Queens Beats a Pair of Jacks

We found Eddie Sabat mixing it up reraising his opponent preflop for 1,500. The under-the-gun player called and both were awarded a flop of {Q-Spades}{4-Spades}{4-Hearts}. The guy under the gun moved all in and Sabat made the call.

Sabat: {J-Spades}{J-Clubs}
Opponent: {K-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}

We then saw a turn of a {2-Spades} and a river of {4-Diamonds}. neither of which helped Sabat's losing pair of jacks.

Player Chips Progress
Eddie Sabat
Eddie Sabat
10,300
5,800
5,800

Tags: Eddie Sabat

Seiver Soars

After three players limped Justin Smith moved all in from the big blind. The table folded around to Scott Seiver who made the call.

Smith {J-Hearts}{10-Hearts}
Seiver {4-Clubs}{4-Spades}

The cards came out {J-Diamonds}{5-Spades}{A-Spades}{3-Spades}{4-Hearts}, giving Seiver a rivered set of fours and the winning hand.

Player Chips Progress
Scott Seiver
Scott Seiver
10,500
6,000
6,000

Tags: Justin SmithScott Seiver

Floor & Supervisor Ruling Goes against Bellande

Level 6 : 100/200, 25 ante

Jean-Robert Bellande was sitting UTG+1 and put out 600 for an open raise. The player seated UTG had not yet acted on his hand. When the UTG said he hadn't acted yet, he proceeded to limp. Bellande had already taken his 600 back and put out 200 just to call. The UTG player said that Bellande's action must stand.

The floor was called and his ruling was that Bellande's action must stand. Bellande did not believe it should because the action had changed. Bellande asked for a floor supervisor to come over and hear his case.

The supervisor gave the same ruling as the first tournament official, specifically saying that a player's call doesn't change the action, only a fold or raise would change the action.

Then Bellande was stuck with his 600 in the pot and action folded back around to the UTG player. That player then reraised to 1,800. Bellande went into the tank with a very pained look, obviously upset that the player next to him essentially was able to check-raise for free.

Bellande folded his hand and appears to be below starting stack.

Tags: Jean-Robert Bellande