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 15:30:25
Cada Takes a Huge Pot from Shulman
Jeff Shulman opened for 420,000, Joe Cada raised to 1,200,000 and Shulman called.
The flop was 
. Cada checked, Shulman bet 1.4 million and Cada called. The turn was the 
and Cada checked again. Shulman checked behind. The river fell the 
and Cada led out for 2 million. Shulman tanked for about two minutes before laying his hand down. Cada dragged the massive pot and is up to 9.3 million. Shulman fell to 7.4 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:29:25
Tommy Vedes Eliminated in 19th Place ($352,832)
Last night we had an interminably long bubble from four tables to three tables, with a $99,000 pay jump on the line. Today the pay jump from three tables to two tables is $150,000 but our bubble didn't last long at all. Tommy Vedes moved in for 1.9 million after Eric Buchman opend from the button for 425,000. Buchman called with 
; Vedes showed down a small pair, 
.
The crowd momentarily went crazy on a flop of 
, seeing that Vedes had flopped a set and not realizing that Buchman also flopped a set. The turn 
and river 
were no help for Vedes. He finishes in 19th place, guaranteeing everyone else still left in the tournament a half-million dollars in prize money.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:28:23
Big One for Begs, Lamb Loses
Steven Begleiter opened with a raise to 425,000 from the hijack seat, and Ben Lamb reraised to 1.1 million from the cutoff. It folded around and Begleiter called.
The flop came 
. Begleiter checked, Lamb bet, Begleiter announced he was check-raising all in for his stack of 7.125 million, and after a bit of thought Lamb made the call.
Begleiter tabled 
for two pair, and Lamb showed his 
.
"C'mon hold!" said Begleiter as he began to pace. Lamb stood up with his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the spot where the dealer would be placing the remaining community cards.
They came 
and 
, and Begleiter survives. He bounces up to 16.6 million, while Lamb has a huge tumble down to 4.37 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:24:14
Vedes Getting Short
Time is running out for Tommy Vedes. He was in the big blind and called an open-raise to 450,000 by small blind Eric Buchman. Both players checked the 
flop. Buchman checked again when the turn fell , drawing a bet of 750,000 from Vedes. Buchman then check-raised all in, a raise Vedes didn't want to call. He folded and is left with just 2.15 million chips.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:19:34
George Caragiorgas Eliminated in 20th Place ($352,832)
George Caragiorgas opened for 420,000 from UTG, Nick Maimone called from early position, and Jordan Smith called from the button.
The flop was 
. Caragiorgas moved all in for 2,340,000, Maimone snap-called and Smith folded.
Caragiorgas 
Maimone 
Caragiorgas was looking for another heart, but the hit the turn, making Maimone quad kings, leaving Caragiorgas drawing dead. The river was the 
and Caragiorgas exited the stage in 20th place, while Maimone increased his stack to 11,800,000.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:17:37
Lamb Anything but Meek
Ben Lamb raised to 405,000 from middle position, and Jamie Robbins called from the button.
The flop came 
. Lamb bet 570,000, then Robbins minimum-raised to 1.14 million. Lamb thought a moment, then pushed out two tall stacks of green chips -- a reraise to 3.2 million. Robbins didn't take long to step aside.
Lamb is up to 17.5 million, while Robbins slips back under 8 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:14:47
Robbins Defends Blind
The table folded to Kevin Schaffel, who raised to 425,000 from the cutoff. It folded to Jamie Robbins, who reraised to 1.355 million from the small blind. Ludovic Lacay folded from the big blind, and the action was back on Schaffel.
Schaffel stood up and leaned over the table to get a better view of Robbins' chips. He sat back down, and after thirty seconds pushed his cards to the dealer.
Schaffel has about 12.5 million still, and Robbins about 10 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:13:52
Buchman Flops a Straight and Gets Paid
Life's good for Eric Buchman right now. He hasn't had to make many tough decision today. After opening a pot for 425,000 and being called by James Akenhead, Buchman's hand practically played itself.
Buchman bet 525,000 on the flop, 725,000 on the turn, and 1.2 million on the river. Akenhead called each time as the board developed 
. Buchman showed down nothing but the second nuts -- , a king-high straight. Akenhead couldn't beat that hand and mucked.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:05:13
Jonathan Tamayo Eliminated in 21st Place ($352,832)
For the short stacks, the decisions are simple now: shove or fold. After James Calderaro opened for 400,000, Jonathan Tamayo moved all in for about 3 million. Action passed to Eric Buchman, who reraised all in for 11 million. Calderaro got the message and folded.
Tamayo:
Buchman:
Tamayo paired on the flop, but it wasn't an ace. He paired queens, 
. That gave him five outs going to the turn, which he missed with the . The river was paint, giving everyone a momentary charge, but it was the , making a set of kings for Buchman.
Tamayo was eliminated while Buchman moved to 14.5 million chips.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:59
Lamb Doubles Through Begleiter
Steven Begleiter raised to 425,000 from under the gun, and Ben Lamb, sitting to Begleiter's left, reraised to 1.115 million. It folded around and Begleiter announced he was all in. Lamb called with his remaining 5.345 million.
Begleiter showed and Lamb . The flop came 
, and Lamb responded with a pump of the fist as he took the lead. Meanwhile, Begleiter paced quickly away from the table, returning in time to see the on the turn.
The river came the 
, causing a ripple of reaction among the crowd who thought the card resembled a nine.
After that hand Lamb and Begleiter essentially trade their former chip positions. Now Lamb has about 13 million, and Begleiter is at 6.9 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:57:40
Warren Zackey Eliminated in 22nd Place ($352,832)
Ian Tavelli has been making very large opening raises all day. He did it again just now on the outer table, open-raising to 1 million with blinds at 80,000 and 160,000. Warren Zackey was in the small blind and reraised all in for a total of 3.525 million. When action folded back to Tavelli, he called.
Zackey:
Tavelli: 
There was some mrmuring around the rail upon seeing both Zackey's and Tavelli's hands, but Tavelli's call worked out on a flop of 
, where he paired queens. Zackey was out in 22nd place after the turn and river.
Tavelli now has 11.2 million chips.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:56:02
Cada With the Four-Bet Shove
Joe Cada opened for 400,000, Jeff Shulman three-bet to 1.2 million from the big blind, Cada moved all in, Shulman folded, and Cada won the pot.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:50:42
Akenhead Keeps Climbing
James Akenhead was brutalized deep in Event #2 at the 2008 World Series, finishing in second place to Grant Hinkle in ugly fashion. Akenhead is looking for redemption in this tournament and, after an early hit, is looking strong.
Akenhead opened the pot to 390,000 preflop and was called by small blind James Calderaro. Both plyaers checked the flop. Calderaro checked again when the turn fell 
, prompting Akenhead to bet 460,000. Calderaro called.
Both players checked the 
river. Akenhead showed 
at showdown. Calderaro said one simple word -- "Nines" -- then mucked his hand.
Akenhead now has 12 million chips.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:49:44
Saout Bets Begs Out of Pot
Antoine Saout raised to 425,000 from UTG+1, and it folded around to Steven Begleiter who called in the big blind.
The flop came , and both players checked. The turn was the 
. Begleiter bet 450,000, and Saout called.
The river was the . Begleiter bet 1.15 million this time, then Saout responded with a raise to 3.25 million. Begleiter let it go.
Saout is at 9.9 million, while Begleiter has 13.4 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:48:06
Marco Mattes Eliminated in 23rd Place ($352,832)
Marco Mattes open-shoved for 1,380,000 and Joe Cada made the call.
Mattes 
Cada
Cada hit top set on the 
flop. The turn was the , giving Mattes a straight draw, but the river fell the 
, eliminating Mattes from the Main Event in 23rd place.
After the hand, Cada was up to 3,720,000.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:45:15
Zackey Still Bleeding
Another one million chips have evaporated from Warren Zackey's stack. After James Calderaro opened for 400,000, Zackey reraised from middle position to 1 million. That folded all other players back to Calderaro. He moved all in, forcing Zackey to give up his hand.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:43:54
George Caragiorgas Doubles Through Phil Ivey
George Caragiorgas opened for 400,000 from UTG, Phil Ivey reraised to 1,150,000 from the small blind, Caragiorgas moved all in for just a bit more and Ivey called.
Cargiorgas
Ivey 
Though it typically gets quite noisy in here at the feature table during an all-in, it was unusually quiet during this confrontation as the Ivey fans braced themselves.
The flop was , the deuces holding. The turn was the 
, the river was the 
and Caragiorgas doubled up to 2.64 million. Ivey was left with 5,435,000.
"Taking chips off Phil is not the way to make friends with this crowd," quipped Tournament Director Brooks Turk.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:41:11
Straight on River for Robbins
The seven-handed table folded around to Billy Kopp who raised to 400,000 in the small blind, and Jamie Robbins called from the big blind. The flop came , and both checked. The turn was the , and both checked again.
The river brought the . Kopp checked, Robbins bet 630,000, and Kopp called. Robbins showed for the ten-high straight, and Kopp folded.
Kopp still just under 27 million, and Robbins at 9.2 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:35:28
Marco Mattes Doubles Through Joe Cada
With the action folded around to him in the small blind, Marco Mattes moved all in for 640,000 and Joe Cada called from the big blind.
Mattes
Cada
The flop was , giving Cada a pair of fives and Mattes a gutshot straight draw. Mattes took the lead on the turn when the fell and with the on the river, he doubled up to 1.44 million.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:31:25
Top 5 in Chips
All chip counts were updated at the break. Here's a look at the top of the pack:
Billy Kopp 27,800,000
Darvin Moon 16,800,000
Steven Begleiter 14,920,000
Kevin Schaffel 13,130,000
Jeff Shulman 12,030,000
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:11:36
Players Take a 20-Minute Break
