Just after three-time bracelet winner Frank Kassela took his seat in the event, friendly chatting ensued. Kassela called it "the old-school table," and he had Jean-Robert Bellande to his immediate left and Australian pro and 2005 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Hachem in the next seat.
In Kassela's very first hand, Curt Kohlberg raised to 400 under the gun, Kassela three-bet to 1,000 in the next position, and Bellande cold-called in the cutoff. The button and blinds folded, and Kohlberg four-bet to 4,200. Kassela called and so did Bellande.
The flop came and it checked to Bellande. He quickly put his remaining 15,350 into the middle. After thinking for a few minutes, Kohlberg folded. Kassela looked at Bellande and smiled.
"You can do that with anything... This is my first hand," Kassela laughed. He called, and they showed down.
Bellande:
Kassela:
Bellande was ahead with a pair of threes and a gutshot straight draw, but Kassela had overcards. Kassela couldn't find an ace or a nine on the turn or river though, and Bellande doubled through.
Bellande said after the hand, "Nevermind that I put 29 percent of my stack in preflop with five-high. Let's skip that part."
Kassela said he thought Bellande had ace-seven of diamonds and added that he was okay with his call.
Kassela took a big hit to his stack that hand and was seen exiting the tournament area shortly before the end of the level.
Tags:
Frank KasselaJean-Robert Bellande