The preliminary events of the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe are nearing an end, but there’s still a couple of things to finish up before the €10,000 Main Event including Day 2 of Event #6: €1,650 Six-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha. Today’s action will pick up the final 26 players of a 206-player field, 21 of which will earn a payday on their way to the final table.
The man best position to make a deep run is Jacob Dahl, who finished Day 1 as the chip leader with 74,200. Standing in his way is some stiff competition including David Benyamine, Aku Joentausta, Andrew Lichtenberger, Ana Marquez, Dan Smith, John Eames, Micah Smith, John Monnette, Mike “Timex” McDonald, Daniel Negreanu, Dan Shak Andy Frankenberger and Greg Merson. Needless to say, this is a stacked field.
Which of these men will join the list of WSOP Europe PLO winners?
Former WSOP Europe PLO Winners
Year
Event
Winner
2007
€5,000 PLO
Dario Alioto
2008
€5,000 PLO
Theo Jorgensen
2009
€5,000 PLO
Jani Vilmunen
2010
€5,000 PLO
Jeffrey Lisandro
2011
€5,300 PLO
Steve Billirakis
2011
€1,620 Six-Handed PLO
Philippe Boucher
2012
€1,620 Six-Handed PLO
???
The plan for the day is to either play down to the final table or ten levels, whichever may come first. If the pace established yesterday keeps up, chances are the former will happen first. Cards will be in the air in about 40 minutes, so join us then as we bring you all the action and eliminations the Majestic Barrière in Cannes, France!
Today is a rather easy day at the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe, which means it's a great night to have the WSOP Europe party.
Kicking off at 10:00 PM local time, and located across the street from the Majestic Barrière Hotel, the venue will be the Majestic Beach Club. It's the same place the party was hosted last year, but this year things are planned to be bigger and better.
Representatives at the WSOP have informed us that the end of the dock will be converted into a huge stage for a DJ. There will also be an increased number of champagne bottles on hand for everyone to get their drink on. Entry will be free to Main Event entrants, but everyone is welcome. One thing is for sure, you won't want to miss it if you're in the area, so come on down!
David Benyamine was the second shortest stack in the room behind Daniel Negreanu when he raised under the gun to 3,500. The action was folded all the way around to Antoine Pacaud who called from the big blind.
The flop brought out and Pacaud checked. Benyamine moved all in for 6,500 and Pacaud called immediately.
Showdown:
David Benyamine:
Antoine Pacaud:
On the turn the hit, and the river was the . Benyamine was eliminated after starting the day second in chips. Just 21 players remain right now, and we expect to see heavy all in action in the next couple of orbits.
Three players each put in 4,000 preflop and watched the flop fall . Raul Paez bet 9,000 from the small blind, Dan Smith folded, and Jamie Pickering moved all in for right around 17,000. Paez made the call and rolled over for top set, which was ahead of Pickering's . The turn and river failed to complete Pickering's straight draw, and he became the 21st-place finisher.
From under the gun, Daniel Negreanu raised the pot to 3,500. On the button, Mike McDonald made the call.
The flop came down , and Negreanu bet the last 2,500 of his stack. McDonald called to put him at risk of elimination. Negreanu showed the , and McDonald showed the .
The turn was the and river the , eliminating Negreanu in 19th place. The remaining 18 players will now be redrawing to three tables.
From the button, Dan Shak raised to 3,000. Dan Smith potted the action from the small blind to 10,200, and action then folded back to Shak. He reraised to put Smith all in, and Smith called off for a total of about 27,000.
Shak:
Smith:
The flop came down and Smith took the lead with two pair, kings and fours. Shak held a flush draw that was very much live.
On the turn, Shak nailed his flush when the hit. Now Smith needed to make a full house in order to stay alive and double up.
The landed on the river, and it wasn't the card Smith needed. Shak had him well covered, which spelled the end of Smith's tournament in 17th place. He earned €3,752 for his finish.
Shak improved his stack to 116,000 in chips and will be looking to make his second World Series of Poker final table. It would be his first on European soil, but come in a form of the game where he's made his other two final tables: Omaha.
In 2005, Shak took ninth in the $5,000 Omaha Hi/Lo event for $21,055. In 2010, he nearly snatched his first gold bracelet, but fell just short when he placed second in the $5,000 Pot-Limit Hi/Lo event for $202,142.
A short-stacked John Monnette got his last 18,000 all in preflop and was at risk against Aku Joentausta.
Showdown
Joentausta:
Monnette:
Monnette got it in good with kings, but the flop gave him pause for concern as Joentausta picked up a flush draw. The turn was not a diamond, but it was just as bad as the gave Joentausta a pair of aces and the lead. Monnette stood from his seat in preparation for his exit, which he made when the blanked on the river.
It was yet another cash in Monnette's already impressive 2012 World Series of Poker.
We caught the action on a flop when Mike McDonald bet 12,000 from the small blind. Andy Frankenberger called from the big blind, and the action was on Ana Marquez. She tanked for a bit, but eventually folded.
"Good luck," McDonald said before the turn came out.
The turn was the and the Canadian pro moved all in for around 3,800 chips. Frankenberger called right away.
Showdown:
Andy Frankenberger:
Mike McDonald:
The river was the "beautiful" , as Frankenberger said it, and McDonald was knocked out. We are down to 10 players.
Aku Joentausta raised under the gun and the action was folded to Micah Smith. Smith was in the big blind and he put his final chips at risk. Joentausta called.
Showdown:
Aku Joentausta:
Micah Smith:
The board ran out , and Smith was knocked out. Just 7 players remain, all of which will be seated at the same table. The redraw will follow shortly.
With a board reading , Aku Joentausta fired out 22,500 only to have Andy Frankenberger move all in for 33,500 more. Joentausta didn't seem too excited, but he opted to make the call nonetheless.
Showdown
Joentausta:
Frankenberger:
The two-time bracelet winner held a wheel and had Joentausta in dire straits. Speaking of straights, the spiked on the river to give Joentausta a six-high straight and the improbable win, sending Frankenberger to the rail as the final-table bubble boy.