When we arrived over at Dan Smith and Andrew Lichtenberger's table, Lichtenberger had just finished three-betting and Smith had four-bet all in. It wasn't too much more for Lichtenber as he tumbled in the call.
Smith:
Lichtenberger:
Smith was in front by a small margin and then increased that margin when the flop was dealt. Lichtenberger picked up some outs on the turn, but it was a double up for Smith once the completed the board on the river.
These two players have some set over set problems. David "Doc" Sands managed to survive his problem, but Eric Froehlich wasn't as lucky.
efropoker eric froehlichSet over set. Complete f**king joke as usual. Out.June 28 2012
Doc_Sands David Doc SandsFun times. Was up to 26k in 5k and absolutely crushing my table then get set over set 33 < TT on 23T. Down to 10k. #sighJune 28 2012
Facing a preflop raise and two calls in front, Andrey Pateychuk three-bet to 1,600 from the small blind. Action folded back to the original raiser, who four-bet shoved for around 7,000. The two flatters folded and Pateychuk instantly made the call.
Seat 5:
Pateychuk:
The dealer rolled out a flop, giving Pateychuk's opponent the lead. As Andrey began cutting out chips to send across the table, the fell on the turn to give the Russian pro a set. The meaningless landed on the river and Pateychuk increased his stack to around 17,000. The other player quietly made his way out of the Brasilia room.
A board was already showing by the time we arrived Jennifer Tilly's table and it was Tilly going up against JC Tran with Tilly to act first. Tilly took her time, eventually betting 1,200. Tran then took his time as well, opting to make the call.
When the completed the board on the river, Tilly led for 2,500 and Tran folded pretty quickly as Tilly raked in the pot.
Jason Mercier got his chips in good, but it wasn't meant to be today.
After a preflop raise from the player in the hijack seat, Mercier three-bet to 1,675 from the button. Action made its way back to the original raiser, who put in a fourth bet to 3,175. Mercier shoved for 13,900, and the other player called.
Mercier's was out in front of , but the board gave his opponent a set and a pot worth around 28,000 chips. Mercier's stack was barely covered and he made his way to the rail.
Brian Lemke looks like any other poker player in the room today but he has a special reason for playing this event. Lemke won this tournament in 2009 and dedicated his win to his cousin Justin Shronk.
Known widely just as "Shronk," he was an integral part of the poker community. He got is start working with PokerRoad as in intern and worked his way up the ladder with hard work and an infectious sense of humor. He also contributed to CardPlayer, BLUFF and even PokerNews.
Shronk suddenly passed away in April 2009 at the age of 27 of natural causes and left a large hole in the heart of the poker media community.
Lemke returns each year to play this event and when asked if the event has any special meaning to him he said, "I don't really know what to say." On the verge of emotion he said, "I want to play well and make the final table."
"It'd be nice to join the elite community of players with two bracelets," Lemke continued. "Especially with the field in this event."
The field in the 2009 affair was just as good at todays. Thomas Keller, Mike Sowers and Isaac Baron all made the final table. Biily Kopp, David Pham, Olivier Busquet, David Benefield, Lars Bonding, Nick Grippo, Faraz Jaka, Kathy Liebert, Erik Seidel and Darryll Fish all finished in the final three tables.
The action started with an open to 400 from the under the gun player. The player directly on his left called, as did Jarred Solomon. Brenes then three-bet to 1,400 from late position. The blinds got out of the way, the original aggressor folded as well, while the other player and Solomon made the call.
On the flop, the action was quickly checked to Brenes and without missing a beat, he tossed out 2,750. It was too much for his opponents and Brenes scooped up the pot.