Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz Day 1 | 2014 World Series of Poker

05-30-2014 21:48 UTC-7

Buying in President Johnston

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 300/600, 75 ante

Five years ago Richard Sklar offered President Barack Obama a free buy-in into the WSOP Main Event. He also booked some big bets on the president playing even a single hand. It was a crazy situation, but Sklar was serious when he said that if Obama did play he would personally donate $1 million to charity. It was a story that captured poker headlines, but unfortunately the president was a bit too busy to play.

Here in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz, Sklar just played a big pot against 1986 WSOP Main Event champ Berry Johnston. We missed the action, but we arrived in time to see Johnston sweat his last card, which he needed to hit to overcome Sklar's J-7-6-5-2 low. There was about 7,000 in the pot and Johnston was all in, meaning his tournament life depended on the next card. He had a Q-6-3-2-A low going in, and lady luck smiled upon him by delivering him a five to stay alive.

Sklar, who was crippled on the hand, fell a short time later, but we thought it'd still be worthwhile to share this throwback PokerNews video on the President Obama offer.

Player	Chips	Progress
Berry Johnston	7,000 2,500	2,500

Richard Sklar	Busted

Tags: Richard Sklar Berry Johnston

05-30-2014 22:00 UTC-7

They're No Longer With Us

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 300/600, 75 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Scott Clements	Busted

Owais Ahmed	Busted

Steve Diano	Busted
Mike Leah	Busted

Jesse Martin	Busted

Frank Kassela	Busted

Layne Flack	Busted

05-30-2014 22:16 UTC-7

Some Updated Chip Counts; Ivey Enters the Field

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 300/600, 75 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Rep Porter	16,000 11,500	11,500

Brandon Cantu	13,000 13,000	13,000

Bill Chen	12,000 7,500	7,500

Ashly Butler	11,000 1,700	1,700
Ali Eslami	11,000 6,500	6,500

Jean Gaspard	9,000 6,425	6,425

Todd Brunson	9,000 9,000	9,000

Randy Ohel	8,000 3,500	3,500

Eric Wasserson	7,500 7,500	7,500
Jeremy Ausmus	7,500 7,500	7,500

Adam Friedman	6,700 2,200	2,200

Mickey Appleman	6,500 6,500	6,500

Brandon Shack-Harris	5,000 400	400

Daniel Negreanu	5,000 925	925

Shaun Deeb	4,500 4,500	4,500

Max Pescatori	4,500 4,500	4,500

Phil Ivey	4,500 4,500	4,500

John Racener	4,300 4,300	4,300

Jeff Lisandro	3,000 -1,500	-1,500

Ed Brogdan	2,500 -2,000	-2,000
Brock Parker	2,000 -2,500	-2,500
Steve Zolotow	Busted

05-30-2014 22:30 UTC-7

Cousineau vs. Muhlocker Round II

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 300/600, 75 ante

We didn't pick up the action until the river when Tony Cousineau told Thomas Muhlocker two simple words: "Wheel good."

Cousineau: / /
Muhlocker: (x-x) / /

Cousineau was talking about his own hand, and of course it was good as the wheel is the nuts in razz.

"I play one hand every six hours," Cousineau joked. Meanwhile, Muhlocker took stock of his remaining chips, which have dwindled since the last time we checked in with him.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tony Cousineau	8,200 2,700	2,700
Thomas Muhlocker	5,000 -3,500	-3,500

Tags: Thomas Muhlocker Tony Cousineau

05-30-2014 22:31 UTC-7

Time for Another Break

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 300/600, 75 ante

Players are now on another 15-minute break. When they return they will play four more one-hour levels before bagging and tagging for the night. During this break the tournament staff will be racing off the green T25 chips.

Level: 7

Limits: 400/800

Ante: 100

05-30-2014 22:52 UTC-7

PokerNews Impromptu: Defending Champ Bryan Campanello on Lessons Learned

Chad Holloway

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Just prior to the 2014 WSOP, reigning razz champ Bryan Campanello took down the WSOP Circuit Harrah's New Orleans and then made a deep run in the National Championship. How does he feel about his momentum? Does he consider himself a razz expert now? Find out in the latest PokerNews Impromptu.

Tags: PokerNews Impromptu Bryan Campanello audio

05-30-2014 23:06 UTC-7

More Chippies

Chad Holloway

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
David Bach	19,000 6,800	6,800

Dan Kelly	13,000 8,500	8,500
Bryan Campanello	12,000 1,000	1,000

Ted Forrest	11,000 6,500	6,500

Frank Henderson	10,000 3,000	3,000

David Steicke	9,000 2,000	2,000
Blair Rodman	8,000

Matt Waxman	6,000 1,800	1,800

Mohsin Charania	5,000 500	500

Tom McEvoy	5,000 950	950

John Monnette	5,000 -4,000	-4,000

David Chiu	4,500

Don Zewin	2,500 -4,500	-4,500
Phil Ivey	2,300 -2,200	-2,200

Phil Laak	1,400 -11,900	-11,900

Calvin Anderson	Busted

05-30-2014 23:18 UTC-7

"It'll Turn Around for You Sometime."

Chad Holloway

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Phil Ivey jumped into this tournament last level, and things didn't get off to a good start for the nine-time bracelet winner as he lost nearly half his stack. Fortunately for him, he just got them back.

After a player brought it in, Ron "Schifty" Schiffman completed for 400 and a short-stacked Ivey raised to 800. Action folded back to Schiffman and he debated what to do.

"This is your chance," Ivey joked. Schiffman, with whom he was familiar, opted just to call and then bet when he took the lead on fourth. Ivey called and then bet 800, leaving himself just 200 behind, when he took the lead on fifth. Schiffman called, and then Ivey smiled and checked sixth. Schiffman chuckled and then bet the last 200. Ivey called.

Ivey: / /
Schiffman: / /

"Oh shit, I thought I had deuce-three," Schiffman proclaimed when the cards were turned up. Both players actually held two pair, but Ivey was ahead. Seventh street gave Ivey a ten-nine low, and it was good as Schiffman triple paired.

Ship the double to Ivey.