2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Event 3 - £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha
Day: 1
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k3ak
Prize
£218,626
Event Info
Buy-in
£5,000
Prize Pool
£825,000
Entries
165
Level Info
Level
21
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
0

"The rich get richer!"

John Phan is chipping up quick after winning a recent pot against an unknown opponent, and leaving said opponent asking the dealer for his 10k in second chance chips.

On a flop of {2-Spades} {10-Spades} {7-Diamonds}, Phan and his opponent traded raises until eventually agreeing that it was best to get it all in right then and there.

"Do you want this too?" Phan's opponent asked, referring to his yellow second chance chip.

"Yeah, whatever you want," Phan complied, though tournament rules would never allow the yellow chip to enter the pot as well.

When the cards were turned over, Phan revealed straight and flush draws, showing the {A-Spades} {8-Hearts} {6-Spades} {3-Spades} and his opponent tabled top two pair: {10-Clubs} {7-Clubs} {K-Diamonds} {6-Diamonds}.

Phan spiked his flush when the {5-Spades} came on the turn and a blank on the river locked things up for 'The Razor,' who now has -- according to his calculations -- almost 40,000 in chips.

Isaia's Ladies Bust Up Opposition

Alessio Isaia just got it all in preflop (the beauty of the Rebuy Chip is that you can be all in, bust, and start again) holding {Q-Diamonds} {Q-Clubs} {9-Hearts} {4-Clubs} against an all-in short stack holding {A-Hearts} {A-Diamonds} {2-Diamonds} {9-Spades} who was down to the felt for real, i.e,. no token, covered by a third player with {A-Clubs} {7-Hearts} {5-Hearts} {6-Clubs} .

The flop, turn and river all emerged in one smooth line, with all the cards on their backs and players' eyes darting like chip-hungry minnows between their opponents' hands, their own, and the board.

At the end, the {Q-Spades} {J-Diamonds} {3-Hearts} {K-Spades} {8-Hearts} helped only Isaia who eliminated one player - Aki Metsa - and regained a cushion of chips.

Tags: Aki MetsaAlessio Isaia

Jukk-ing The Chips Around

Mark Dickstein moves in for his last couple of thousand and Jukka Perala raises behind him. Ian Frazer makes the call before setting his opponent in on the {J-Spades} {Q-Spades} {7-Clubs} flop. Perala makes the call and the cards look as follows:

Dickstein: {K-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds} {9-Hearts}
Perala: {A-Spades} {A-Diamonds} {2-Diamonds} {4-Diamonds}
Frazer: {K-Hearts} {Q-Clubs} {10-Hearts} {6-Clubs}

The turn is the {2-Hearts} and the river the {J-Clubs} and Perala's aces hold for a 18,000 chip pot.

Tags: Jukka Perala

Level: 4

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 0

Trips Hold

David Williams leads out into a multiway raised pot on a {9-Clubs} {3-Diamonds} {2-Clubs} flop, Brandon Adams and Karl Mahrenholz both fold before Piergiorgio D'Ancona moves all in. Williams quickly calls flipping {J-Clubs} {9-Hearts} {9-Spades} {4-Spades} and D'Ancona shows {A-Clubs} {5-Clubs} {5-Spades} {Q-Diamonds}. The turn is the {6-Spades} and the river the {A-Hearts}.

Williams helpfully counts his stack for me, he's on 75,000.

Tags: David Williams

Lellouche Busted by Binger

Bing-o
Bing-o
Michael Binger was the assassin of French player Antony Lellouche, whose stack wasn't looking too healthy at the beginning of the hand, and was deceased by the end.

Binger bet out on a flop of {7-Diamonds} {2-Clubs} {5-Hearts} , and Lellouche raised all in, for what looked to be around 5,000. Call.

Lellouche: {10-Spades} {J-Clubs} {Q-Hearts} {2-Hearts}
Binger: {K-Spades} {A-Diamonds} {5-Spades} {K-Hearts}

Turn...{A-Spades} River... {8-Diamonds} And a table tap later we're down another player.

Tags: Antony LelloucheMichael Binger

Back Room Update

Two of the six original back room tables have broken and moved to the main tournament floor. On two of the four remaining tables, Doyle Brunson and John Phan are cleaning up as each has over 43,000 in chips early on. Brandon Cantu has managed to chip up to 32,800 and Surinder Sunar is finding some early success as well, with 33,400 in chips.

Great Dane Gone

Gus Hansen has been eliminated from the event by early chip leader Jason Mercier. The hands were being mucked by the dealer but I glimpsed the board of {A-Diamonds} {8-?} {6-Diamonds} {Q-?} {J-?} where Mercier's {8-?} {7-Diamonds} {6-?} {4-Diamonds} had obviously held against Hansen's drawtastic {9-Diamonds} {7-?} {5-Diamonds} {3-?}.

Tags: Gus Hansen

It Might Look Like Everyone Doing Better, But Actually...

Since all players were made to cash in their Rebuy token, the average stack instantly rose as hitherto safe-from-harm (and also useless for ammunition) chips entered the contest. This, combined with the expected swings in an Omaha tournament, make the stacks rise and fall in unpredictable ways, with some tables having a monster leader and others staying level.

Example Table (12)

Ilkka Koskinen - 22,800
Kristian Eriksson - 43,000
Erik Friberg - 20,000
Alexander Kravchenko - 27,500
Mike Matusow - 5,350
Sargon Ruya - 15,000
Darren Howarth - 19,200
Josh Gould - 26,200
Shaun Deeb - 22,000

Tags: chip count