Event 42: $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or-Better | 2012 World Series of Poker

06-24-2012 21:45 UTC-6

Gregorich Grabs Chips from Chad

Stud-8

Mark Gregorich brought it in with the {5-Clubs} up, Norman Chad completed with the {6-Clubs} , and Gregorich called. Gregorich caught the {5-Spades} on fourth street to make an open pair, but check-called Chad's bets on fourth, fifth, and sixth. Gregorich then led with a bet on seventh, and Chad called.

Gregorich: {x-} {x-} / {5-Clubs} {5-Spades} {9-Diamonds} {10-Hearts} / {x-}
Chad: {x-} {x-} / {6-Clubs} {4-Diamonds} {K-Hearts} {J-Hearts} / {x-}

"Trips," said Gregorich as he showed his down cards — {Q-Clubs} {5-Diamonds} {J-Clubs} . Chad looked over at his opponent's hand, then turned over {A-Hearts} {A-Clubs} {6-Hearts} to show he'd made aces and sixes. Gregorich scooped the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Gregorich	845,000 168,000	168,000
Norman Chad	260,000 205,000	205,000

Tags: Mark Gregorich Norman Chad

06-24-2012 22:06 UTC-6

Gregorich Looking Good at Present, Chad's Future in Doubt

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Mark Gregorich completed with the {7-Clubs} showing, and Yuval Bronshtein called with the {9-Hearts} up. The action on Norman Chad, he checked his cards and looked down for a moment at the {4-Clubs} he had up, then at the small stack of 85,000 he had remaining.

Chad then fished a fortune cookie from his pocket, unwrapped it, and while chewing read the rectangular slip of paper to himself. With a wrinkled brow, he shared it with the table.

"Within the week you will receive an unexpected gift," he said, a note of incredulity in his voice. "That's kind of vague," he complained. "Mmm... good cookie, though," he added as he folded.

Bronshtein then check-called bets from Gregorich on the next two streets before both players checked down sixth and seventh.

Gregorich: {x-} {x-} / {7-Clubs} {2-Hearts} {8-Spades} {5-Diamonds} / {x-}
Bronshtein: {x-} {x-} / {9-Hearts} {5-Clubs} {A-Diamonds} {6-Spades} / {x-}
Chad: {x-} {x-} / {4-Clubs} , a crumpled piece of paper, and some crumbs

Gregorich tabled {K-Spades} {J-Clubs} {7-Diamonds} , and his sevens were enough as Bronshtein mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Gregorich	835,000 50,000	50,000
Yuval Bronshtein	225,000 50,000	50,000

Norman Chad	85,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Mark Gregorich Norman Chad Yuval Bronshtein

06-24-2012 23:32 UTC-6

Norman Chad Eliminated in 6th Place ($36,093)

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You have to give 6th-place finisher Norman Chad some credit

Omaha-8

Norman Chad returned from the dinner break with but 53,000, and after giving up the big and small blinds, was down to just 30,000.

Then came a hand in which chip leader Mark Gregorich raised from under the gun, and it folded to Chad. He checked his cards, then glanced at the few orange and pink chips he had left. Then one by one Chad set out a Visa credit card and his AAA card (see photo).

"This one has a $50,000 limit," he noted, pointing at the credit card. He then pushed his chips forward. "I'm betting these, plus another $15,800," he explained.

All laughed, the blinds folded, and the players tabled their cards. "I like your hand," Chad said as he saw Gregorich's {A-Hearts} {3-Spades} {2-Hearts} {2-Diamonds} . Meanwhile Chad pulled back his Visa and AAA cards and tabled his {A-Clubs} {10-Spades} {7-Clubs} {5-Spades} .

The board ran out {4-Hearts} {4-Clubs} {3-Diamonds} {J-Hearts} {6-Hearts} , giving Gregorich a flush and the nut low, and the crowd cheered as Chad shook hands with his opponents before departing in sixth. Not quite a "beyond fairy tale" finish for the commentator, but highly impressive nonetheless.

Player	Chips	Progress
Norman Chad	Busted

Tags: Danny Ratigan Norman Chad

06-25-2012 00:09 UTC-6

Yuval Bronshtein Eliminated in 5th Place ($48,387)

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Stud-8

After losing a sizable pot to George Danzer, Yuval Bronshtein completed with a {q-Diamonds} . Danny Ratigan, who brought it in, called.

Ratigan: {x-} {x-} / {2-Hearts} {3-Clubs} {2-Spades} {4-Clubs} / {x-}
Bronshtein: {x-} {x-} / {q-Diamonds} {2-Clubs} {2-Diamonds} {9-Clubs} / {x-}

The money went in on fourth street, and Bronshtein opened up {q-Hearts} {5-Diamonds} for a pair of queens. Ratigan had a monster draw with {6-Spades} {5-Spades} .

"Want to trade hands?" Bronshtein joked.

Bronshtein picked up two pair on fifth, while Ratigan was dealt a meaningless pair of deuces. The {4-Clubs} was pretty much gin for Ratigan on sixth however, and Bronshtein failed to fill up on sixth. His downcard was a meaningless {7-Hearts} , eliminating him from the tournament.

Bronshtein's rail gave him a rousing round of applause, and he was all smiles as he exited.

Player	Chips	Progress
Danny Ratigan	785,000 140,000	140,000
Yuval Bronshtein	Busted

Tags: Yuval Bronshtein Danny Ratigan George Danzer

06-25-2012 01:00 UTC-6

Danny Ratigan Eliminated in 4th Place ($65,812)

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Stud-8

Oleksii Kovalchuk: {x-} {x-} / {3-Hearts} {2-Diamonds} {a-Hearts} {4-Hearts} / {x-}
Danny Ratigan: {x-} {x-} / {5-Hearts} {6-Spades} {7-Clubs} / {x-}

Kovalchuk brought it in, Ratigan completed, and Kovalchuk called. Ratigan check-called a bet on fourth street, and when Kovalchuk made a better board on fifth, he led out. Ratigan tanked for quite some time before he raised, committing all but 1,000 chips. Kovalchuk re-raised, putting Ratigan all in. He called.

Kovalchuk: {7-Diamonds} {5-Clubs}
Ratigan: {a-Spades} {q-Clubs}

Kovalchuk was dealt the {4-Hearts} on sixth street, giving him the wheel, and ending the hand. Ratigan's last two cards - the {7-Clubs} and {a-Clubs} - were meaningless, and he was eliminated in fourth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oleksii Kovalchuk	1,522,000 372,000	372,000

Mark Gregorich	895,000 305,000	305,000
George Danzer	530,000 105,000	105,000

Danny Ratigan	Busted

Tags: Danny Ratigan Oleksii Kovalchuk

06-25-2012 01:52 UTC-6

Kovalchuk Quarters Gregorich, Increases Lead

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Omaha-8

Mark Gregorich raised from the small blind, Oleksii Kovalchuk reraised from the big blind, and Gregorich called. The flop came {Q-Diamonds} {7-Spades} {5-Diamonds} . Gregorich checked, Kovalchuk bet, Gregorich raised, and Kovalchuk called. The turn was the {6-Clubs} , Gregorich bet, and Kovalchuk called. The river was the {8-Spades} , and again Gregorich bet and Kovalchuk called.

"Ace-deuce," said Gregorich, tabling {A-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds} {3-Diamonds} {2-Hearts} . Kovalchuk also had the nut low with {A-Clubs} {8-Diamonds} {6-Hearts} {2-Clubs} , plus two pair for the high as well. Gregorich had been quartered, and Kovalchuk increased his lead.

A small rail of supporters cheered in support of the Ukrainian, with 2011 WSOP Main Event November Niner Anton Makiievskyi among them.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oleksii Kovalchuk	1,615,000 160,000	160,000

Mark Gregorich	325,000 262,000	262,000

Tags: Mark Gregorich Oleksii Kovalchuk

06-25-2012 01:59 UTC-6

Danzer Takes Two from Kovalchuk, Assumes Lead

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Omaha-8

Oleksii Kovalchuk raised on the button, George Danzer three-bet, and Kovalchuk four-bet. Danzer called. The flop was {9-Clubs} {q-Spades} {10-Clubs} , and Danzer check-called a bet. The turn was the {7-Spades} , and Danzer checked again. Kovalchuk bet, and Danzer check-raised. Kovalchuk called.

The river was the {10-Diamonds} , and Danzer led out. Kovalchuk thought for a second, then raised.

"Call," Danzer said immediately.

Kovalchuk mucked his hand in disgust, and Danzer showed {a-Spades} {k-Spades} {k-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} for kings and tens.

The very next hand, Danzer had the button and raised. Kovalchuk defended, and the flop came {j-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {k-Hearts} . Kovalchuk check-raised Danzer, who called. The turn was the {5-Clubs} , and Kovalchuk led out. Danzer called.

The river was the {8-Hearts} , and Kovalchuk slowed down, checking the Danzer who bet. Kovalchuk folded, and Danzer scooped the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Danzer	1,520,000 615,000	615,000

Oleksii Kovalchuk	950,000 665,000	665,000

Tags: George Danzer Oleskii Kovalchuk

06-25-2012 02:12 UTC-6

Mark Gregorich Eliminated in 3rd Place ($90,829)

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Omaha-8

George Danzer had the button, and raised. Mark Gregorich called from the small blind, and Oleksii Kovalchuk made it three bets from the big. Both players called. The flop came {k-Hearts} {9-Spades} {8-Spades} , and Gregorich led out. Kovalchuk raised, Danzer folded, and Gregorich moved all in for less than three bets. Kovalchuk called.

Gregorich: {a-Clubs} {8-Clubs} {3-Hearts} {2-Spades}
Kovalchuk: {a-Spades} {a-Hearts} {j-Hearts} {5-Diamonds}

The turn ( {9-Diamonds} ) and river ( {7-Hearts} ) were both bricks, and Kovalchuk scooped the pot, eliminating Gregorich in third place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Gregorich	Busted

Tags: Mark Gregorich George Danzer Oleksii Kovalchuk

06-25-2012 02:46 UTC-6

Danzer Pushes Out to 2-to-1 Lead

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Oleksii Kovalchuk and George Danzer battle for the Event 42 bracelet

Omaha-8

It appeared at first that once they switched back to Omaha-8, the momentum was going to switch back to Oleksii Kovalchuk, as the Ukrainian grabbed the first three hands — all relatively small pots. But then came a big one that resulted in George Danzer extending his advantage.

The hand began with Kovalchuk raising from the button, Danzer three-betting, and Kovalchuk calling. The flop came {6-Hearts} {4-Clubs} {Q-Clubs} . Danzer bet, and Kovalchuk called. The turn was the {9-Diamonds} , and Danzer fired again. Kovalchuk responded with a raise this time, and Danzer shot right back with a three-bet which Kovalchuk called.

The river was the {3-Clubs} . Danzer bet one more time, and when Kovalchuk called, Danzer quickly tabled his {A-Clubs} {A-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {7-Clubs} — the nut flush and a 7-low. Kovalchuk looked back and forth between his hand and Danzer's for a few moments, then mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Danzer	2,022,000 355,000	355,000

Oleksii Kovalchuk	925,000 355,000	355,000

Tags: George Danzer Oleksii Kovalchuk

06-25-2012 03:10 UTC-6

River Flush for Kovalchuk

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Omaha-8

George Danzer had won a couple of pots to push back in front, then came a hand in which Oleksii Kovalchuk raised from the button, Danzer called, and the flop came {3-Hearts} {9-Diamonds} {5-Diamonds} . Danzer checked, Kovalchuk bet, Danzer raised, and Kovalchuk called. The turn was the {Q-Clubs} , and once more Danzer check-raised Kovalchuk, with the Ukrainian calling again.

The river brought the {J-Diamonds} and a bet from Kovalchuk, and with a bit of a wary look Danzer called. Kovalchuk quickly turned over {A-Diamonds} {7-Clubs} {6-Diamonds} {4-Hearts} , separating out those two diamonds to show he'd made the nut flush, and Danzer folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oleksii Kovalchuk	1,800,000 283,000	283,000

George Danzer	1,140,000 290,000	290,000

Tags: George Danzer Oleksii Kovalchuk