2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker
World Championship NL Texas Hold'em (Event 57)
Date:
Friday, July 03, 2009 to Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Buy-In:
$10,000
Prize Pool:
$61,043,600
Entrants:
6,494
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:16:10
Smith and Shulman Choppin' Broccoli
There are fourteen players left in the tournament now. Each successive elimination ratchets up the pressure another notch as the player contend for the final table. Even chopped pots have their share of drama.
Jeff Shulman opened the pot for 600,000 preflop from under the gun and was called only by big blind Jordan Smith. On a flop of 
, Smith check-called another 1 million chips from Shulman.
Both players checked the 
turn. At the 
river, Smith checked a third time, then called again when Shulman made what looked like a value bet of 750,000. Shulman showed down 
for two pair, jacks and queens. Smith had the same hand, , and so the pot was chopped.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:07:27
Saout Makes a Move on Begleiter
Antoine Saout raised to 550,000 from UTG and Steven Begleiter called from the small blind.
The flop was 
. Begleiter checked to Saout, who bet 650,000. Begleiter made a small raise to 1.5 million, and after tanking for several minutes, Saout moved all in for 5,175,000.
Begleiter folded and slapped the edge of the table in frustration as he did so.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:06:42
We'll Never Know
Kevin Schaffel opened the pot to 600,000 and was called by Jordan Smith from the big blind. They took a heads-up flop that was all diamonds -- 
. Schaffel had first action from the small blind. He bet 850,000 and was called by Smith from the big blind.
The turn 
brought another bet from Schaffel, 1.5 million chips this time. Again Smith called.
A fourth diamond hit the river, 
. Schaffel finally checked to the player in position. Smith obliged with a bet of 2 million.
"Maybe I'm bluffing with the best hand," said Smith.
"I don't even have a diamond," replied Schaffel. He folded his hand.
New counts:
Schaffel: 8.5 million
Smith: 16.5 million
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:55:28
Good to Be Buchman
James Akenhead made it 575,000 to go from the small blind and Eric Buchman called from the big blind.
The flop was 
. Akenhead checked to Buchman, who bet 800,000. Akenhead gave it up and Buchman took down yet another pot.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:52:22
Ivey, Ivey, Ivey!
Phil Ivey opened for 500,000 and Antoine Saout called from the small blind.
Saout checked the 
flop to Ivey, who bet 700,000. Saout folded and Ivey won the pot. He's up to 6,540,000.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:50:47
Calderaro Doubles Through Moon
Jeff Shulman opened with a raise from early position to 600,000, and Darvin Moon, sitting to Shulman's left, made the call. James Calderaro was next in line, and he shoved all in for 2.425 million.
The table folded back to Shulman, who also got out, then Moon made the call.
Moon showed 
, and Calderaro 
.
The flop came 
, and Calderaro was still good. The turn was the 
, giving Calderaro a pair but Moon a gutshot straight draw. The river brought the 
, and Calderaro survives.
Calderaro now has about 5.8 million, while Moon remains comfortably seated behind his mountain of 23.5 million chips.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:43:02
Nick Maimone Eliminated in 15th Place ($633,022)
Nick Maimone raised to 450,000 and Eric Buchman called from the small blind.
The flop was and Buchman checked to Maimone, who bet 900,000. Buchman moved all in and Maimone called all in for 4,505,000.
Maimone 
Buchman
"I'm 40% right now," said Maimone to the crowd.
The turn was the 
, making Buchman trips and taking away most of Maimone's outs. The river fell the 
, Buchman hitting a straight. Maimone exited in 15th place while Buchman chipped up to 25,280,000.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:42:40
The Silence of the Lamb Supporters
We don't hear very much coming from Ben Lamb's corner of the gallery after the last pot between Lamb and Darvin Moon. Moon opened for 425,000 preflop and was called by Lamb from the big blind.
On a flop of all babies, 
, Lamb check-called a bet of 600,000 made by Moon. The brought another check from Lamb and another bet by Moon, 1,000,000 chips total. Again Lamb called.
The river paired nines, 
. Lamb checked a third time, bringing a huge bet of 3.0 million chips from Moon. Lamb called one last time, then mucked in disappointment as Moon showed 
for trip nines.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:37:12
Two in a Row for Buchman
Steven Begleiter raised to 550,000 from the cutoff and Eric Buchman called from the big blind.
Both players checked the flop. The turn was the and they checked again. The river fell the and Buchman led out for 700,000. Begleiter folded and Buchman took down his second pot in a row.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:35:21
Steal, Re-Steal, Re-Re-Steal?
In a hand that is destined not to make the ESPN television production of this tournament, Billy Kopp opened from middle position with a raise to 450,000. Action moved next to Ben Lamb, who reraised to 1.375 million. That reraise drew folds from Kevin Schaffel and Jordan Smith. Small blind Jeff Shulman did the exact opposite -- he moved all in. Everyone else folded, allowing Schuman to add 2 million chips to his stack without taking a flop.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:33:46
Buchman Takes It on the Flop
Eric Buchman opened for 525,000 and Antoine Saout called from the big blind.
The flop was 
. Saout checked, Buchman bet 825,000, Saout mucked and Buchman won the pot.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:30:42
Lamb Gives Railbirds Reason to Cheer
Ben Lamb put his foot on the gas and never took it off. He opened preflop for 515,000 and was called by small blind Kevin Schaffel. Schaffel check-called 625,000 on a flop of 
. The turn was a third diamond, the , drawing a hush over the gallery.
Schaffel checked to Lamb a second time. Lamb announced a bet of 1.35 million and slid the matching chips into the mdidle of the table. His railbirds got rowdy with cheers and applause when Schaffel released his hand.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:28:54
Maimone Has Kicker Trouble
Eric Buchman raised to 525,000 from the cutoff and Nick Maimone called from the big blind.
The flop came down . Maimone checked, and Buchman checked behind. The turn was the and Maimone led out for 750,000. Buchman made the call. The river fell the 
. Maimone fired again for 1.25 million and Buchman called.
Maimone showed for two pair, kings and eights, but Buchman showed 
for kings and eights... with a higher kicker. Yes, Buchman's seven played to wrest the pot away from Maimone.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:25:46
Shulman Raise Gets It Done
Jordan Smith raised from middle position to 525,000, and Jeff Shulman made the call behind him.
The flop came all babies -- . Smith continued with a bet of 775,000. Then Shulman raised to 2,000,000. Smith tanked for a short while, then folded.
Smith has 16.95 million, and Shulman is up to 14.2 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:23:18
More for "Begs"
Joe Cada opened for 500,000 and the action was folded around to Steven Begleiter, who reraised to 1.25 million. Cada made the call.
Cada checked the flop over to Begleiter, who checked behind. The hit the turn and Cada checked again. Begleiter bet 2,250,000, Cada gave it up, and Begleiter raked in the pot, taking his stack up to 29 million.
"BEGS, BEGS, BEGS!" chanted Begleiter's raucous supporters in response.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:19:03
Nuts are Good
Joe Cada made it 500,000 to go and Nick Maimone called.
Cada led out for 850,000 on the flop and Maimone called. The turn came the and Cada checked to Maimone, who bet 1.2 million. Cada called and they went to the river, which fell the . Both players checked.
Cada showed 
for the nut flush and took it down. He's up to 16.8 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:12:26
Secondary Featured Table Chip Counts
Ben Lamb 6,715,000
Kevin Schaffel 13,485,000
Jordan Smith 18,350,000
EMPTY
Jeff Shulman 12,800,000
Darvin Moon 21,285,000
James Calderaro 2,940,000
Billy Kopp 16,520,000
EMPTY
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:05:55
Main Featured Table Chip Counts
Phil Ivey 7,840,000
OPEN
Steven Begleiter 27,890,000
Antoine Saout 8,625,000
James Akenhead 10,215,000
Eric Buchman 16,480,000
Joe Cada 14,340,000
Jamie Robbins 6,430,000
Nick Maimone 10,520,000
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:52:55
Break Time
A bust-out on each table sends the remaining 15 players off to their second break of the day. Back in 20 minutes.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:52:47
Ludovic Lacay Eliminated in 16th Place ($500,557)
While that all-in hand was playing out on the main feature table, we had one on the secondary feature table as well. The hand began with Jeff Shulman opening with a raise to 450,000 from the hijack seat. It folded around to Ludovic Lacay, who pushed all in for 3.09 million from the big blind. Shulman made the call.
Shulman 
Lacay
The flop came 
, and Shulman had taken the lead. The turn was the 
, and Lacay was looking for one of those two remaining sevens. The river brought the , and Lacay is out in 16th place. Shulman is now at about 12.8 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:50:22
Ian Tavelli Eliminated in 17th Place ($500,557)
Ian Tavelli raised to 450,000 from UTG and was met with a reraise to 1.35 million from Steven Begleiter. Tavelli made the call.
The flop came down 
. Tavelli checked to Begleiter, who bet 3.5 million. Tavelli moved all in for 7,705,000 and Begleiter called.
Tavelli
Begleiter
The turn was the , no help for Tavelli who needed one of the two remaining nines in the deck to keep his Main Event hopes alive. The river, however, was the 
and Tavelli was eliminated in 17th place while Begleiter took down the massive pot. He now holds the chip lead with 27,890,000.
