Hands #160-161: David Benyamine shoved from the button and took down the blinds. On the very next hand, Benyamine did the same thing from the cutoff and the results was the same.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,300,000 | 40,000 |
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
No-Limit Hold'em
Hand #156: Matthew Ashton completed the small blind, Don Nguyen checked, and the flop fell 
. Ashton led out for 120,000, Nguyen called, and the turn was the 
. Ashton led out again - this time for 320,000 - and again, Nguyen called.
Ashton fired a third and final bullet worth 750,000 when the 
completed the board, and Nguyen called with 
for nines and fours. Ashton unhappily mucked his hand.
Hand #157: David Benyamine raised to 150,000 in the cutoff, Ashton three-bet to 365,000 on the button, and Benyamine called. Benyamine check-called a bet of 270,000 on a flop of 
, then check-folded to another bet of 420,000 when the 
turned.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,750,000 | 1,350,000 |
|
3,800,000 | -700,000 |
|
|
1,260,000 | -840,000 |
No-Limit Hold'em
Hand #155:
John Hennigan raised to 135,000 on the button, Matthew Ashton defended his big blind, and the dealer fanned 
. Both players checked. The turn was the man with the ax (
), the two knuckled again, and the completed the board. Ashton led out for 260,000, Hennigan called, and Ashton showed 
for Broadway.
Hennigan mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,500,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
4,500,000 | 500,000 |
2-7 Triple Draw
Hand #151: Matthew Ashton raised from the cutoff and then called when John Hennigan three-bet from the small blind. The former drew two and then called after the latter drew one. Both players then drew one apiece and Ashton called a bet from Hennigan, who stood pat on the final draw. Ashton drew one and then both players checked. Hennigan showed 
and it was good as Ashton folded.
Hand #152: Ashton raised from the small blind and Don Nguyen called from the big. The former drew two and the latter three. Ashton bet, Nguyen called and then both players drew one. Ashton check-called a bet, both players drew one again and then Ashton led out. Nguyen raised and Ashton called. Nguyen showed 
and it was good as Ashton folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,400,000 | -600,000 |
|
|
6,400,000 | 1,200,000 |
|
|
4,000,000 | -500,000 |
2-7 Triple Draw
Hand #150:
David Benyamine raised on the button, Don Nguyen called in the big blind, and Nguyen drew two. Benyamine drew three, and called a bet from Nguyen.
Nguyen tossed one away on the second draw, Benyamine needed three more, and the Frenchman called another bet.
On the final draw, Nguyen took one, Benyamine two, and Benyamine called one final bet. Nguyen fanned 
, winning the pot with a queen low.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,200,000 | 500,000 |
|
|
2,100,000 | -900,000 |
Stud-8
Matthew Ashton: 
/ 
Fold
Don Nguyen: / 
/
John Hennigan: / 
/
David Benyamine: / Fold
Hand #148: Don Nguyen brought it in and was called by all three of his opponents. John Hennigan then bet fourth, the other three players called and then two checks on fifth saw Nguyen bet. Hennigan raise, David Benyamine and Matthew Ashton folded and Nguyen three-bet. Hennigan called and then both players checked sixth and seventh.
Hennigan tabled the 
for aces and queens and it was good enough to win the pot as Nguyen folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,000,000 | 1,100,000 |
|
|
4,700,000 | -1,000,000 |
Stud-8
Hand #146:
Don Nguyen: / 
/
John Hennigan: / 
/
Nguyen brought it in, then called when Hennigan completed. Making a pair of fives on fourth street, Nguyen proceeded to bet out on fourth, fifth, and sixth. Hennigan called on the first two streets, then raised on sixth. Nguyen called.
Both players checked on seventh, and Hennigan scooped with 
for nines and sevens.
Hand #147:
Don Nguyen: / /
Benyamine: / 
/
Matthew Ashton brought it in with the , Nguyen completed, and Benyamine raised. Only Nguyen called.
Benyamine bet out on fourth and fifth, Nguyen called both bets, and when Nguyen made a better board on sixth, he bet. Benyamine called.
The two checked on seventh, and Nguyen showed a pair of eights. They were no good against Benyamine's for a pair of jacks.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,900,000 | 1,600,000 |
|
|
5,700,000 | -2,200,000 |
|
|
3,000,000 | 1,800,000 |
Limit Hold'em
Hand #138: John Hennigan raised from the cutoff and Don Nguyen called from the big blind. Both players checked the 
flop and then Nguyen bet the turn. Hennigan raised, Nguyen called and the 
completed the board on the river. Nguyen check-called a bet only to muck when Hennigan rolled over the 
for a flush.
Hand #139: Matthew Ashton raised from the button and then called when Hennigan three-bet from the big blind. The latter then bet the flop, the former called and the dealer burned and turned the . Hennigan fired again and Nguyen folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,900,000 | -900,000 |
|
|
5,300,000 | 1,130,000 |
|
|
4,500,000 | -1,700,000 |
Limit Hold'em
Hand #134: David Benyamine raised on the button, Matthew Ashton made it three bets from the small blind, and Benyamine called. Ashton led out on a flop of 
, Benyamine raised, and Ashton called. The Brit check-called a bet on the turn () and then check-folded on the river ().
Hand #136: Ashton raised in the cutoff, Benyamine defended his big blind, and the flop came . Benyamine check-called a bet, then led out when the turned. Ashton called. Benyamine checked once again when the completed the board, and Ashton fired out a bet. Benyamine tank-called, and Ashton won the pot with 
for a queen-high flush.
Hand #137: Benyamine raised out of the small blind, Ashton called in the big blind, and the dealer spread 
. Benyamine led out, Ashton raised, and Benyamine called. Benyamine check-called a bet when the completed the board, and both players knuckled when the 
completed the board.
Ashton showed 
for a pair of sixes, winning another pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,200,000 | 580,000 |
|
|
1,200,000 | -180,000 |
England’s Matthew “MUSTAFABET” Ashton is representing his country well here at 2013 World Series of Poker. Primarily an online cash-game player, Ashton has had his share of success in live tournaments this summer.
Including the Poker Players' Championship, Ashton has made four final tables. His first final table of the summer came in Event #5: $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo where he placed third behind Mike Gorodinsky and Kristopher Tong. A few days later, he finished runner-up to seasoned pro Mike “The Mouth” Matusow in Event #13: $5,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo. And less than a week later, he found himself at another final table. This time it was Event #23: $2,500 Seven-Card Stud where he took seventh behind Scott Seiver, Michael Mizrachi, and eventual winner David Chiu. After coming close a few times, Ashton seems more than ready to snag his first gold bracelet.
During the dinner break we had an opportunity to talk to Ashton about his experience with mixed-games, his toughest competitor at the final table, and what he does off the poker tables to stay equipped for the game.
You have three final tables, four including this event. At this point what is motivating you?
I just really want to win a bracelet. After coming so close before it would be really nice to go all the way and take one down. I don’t think it is ever fair to say that anyone deserves a bracelet but it would be nice to be awarded with something to show for your hard work over the years.
With two weeks left of the WSOP, what are your plans for the rest of the series and after?
If I win this tournament it would be the best thing because it’s a reflection of your skills in all poker disciplines and not just one. After this tournament I plan on just relaxing a little bit because I’ve been playing so much. I will play the Main Event and do my best to run deep and make a big score. After that I will go back to playing online and focus on improving my game and getting better as a player.
What work do you put in off the tables?
I do quite a bit of game theory stuff, which is more on the math side of things. I work on different simulations and working out what is exploitable and what isn’t. I would say I put in as much time studying off the tables as I do actually playing. It’s important to be it the work because the games are always changing and there’s always players who are becoming better than you. You have to evolve, adjust, and stay ahead of everyone.
You’re up against some of the best pros in the industry. What is your confidence/comfort level at the table?
I’m really comfortable. I play mixed games probably as much as any of them, with the exception of maybe John Hennigan. I’m probably more comfortable or at least as comfortable as they are. You can’t be intimated by any of the players you go up against. You have to see them all the same and think they are just your competitors, the same as anyone else. That helps to keep you focused.
Of the eight games in play, which are your strongest and which is your weakest?
The split-pot games are my strongest. So Omaha 8-or-Better and Stud 8-or-Better are the best games for me. I definitely feel most comfortable with those. Those are two games I think people fold too much so you can take advantage of a lot of spots.
My weakest game was Stud but now I am more comfortable and more knowledgeable of the game than I used to be. Now, I would consider no limit Hold’em my weakest because the rest of the poker population has gotten really good at the game so it’s a lot tougher than it used to be. It will probably only get harder in the future, I believe.
Since it’s a five-day event, which day elevated you to the final table?
Each day I ended up pretty strong. In tournaments you have to try to avoid trouble to build your stack and I think I accomplished just that. There was one really big pot limit Omaha hand actually, where I got it all in in a multi-way pot. I had top set, one player had a really big straight draw and the other had the nut-flush draw. I was the favorite to win but in that situation you can expect to get knocked out of the tournament half the time. That was a really important hand because I not only stayed but built my stack from that hand.
What cash games/tournaments do you play to prepare for events like these?
Most of the games online on PokerStars are eight-game so it’s just like this tournament. There aren’t many live cash games in England so I stick to playing online.
Which players do you hope to not play heads up against?
John Hennigan is scary in these games. He has vast knowledgeable in all variants and is probably the strongest player on the table right now. He’s definitely the one I would rather not be up against heads up but other than that I am comfortable with any of the remaining players.
