This report was entered live from the Taj Mahal by Mark Napolitano. Also available:
2.10AM-Mickey Appleman just moved in his last $12000 with KJ and Richard called with A,10. Rags on the flop and a Jack on the turn gave Mickey some hope but an Ace on the river gave us our final 6 for tomorrow. They are, with chip counts... Richard Tatolovich $386,000, Eric Panayiotou $166,000, John Juanda $89,000, Ken Goldstein $74,000, Steve Kaufman $47,000 and Hemish Shah $39,000. Play tomorrow will commence at 12.00 noon and it looks like a clash of the 2 main stacks is inevitable. Eric is completely fearless of Richards chips at this stage. See you tomorrow in the chat room at PokerPages.
2.00AM-Now playing $1,000 ante, $3,000 and $6000 blinds. 1st hand after the break and we have lost a player. Richard made it $26,000 to go and Tony Ma on the BB moved in for $105,000. Richard called immediately and turned over Aces. Tony had AK and was almost drawing dead. No miracle for Tony..... 7 left.
1.45AM- 10 minute break still 8 players. Chip count : Richard $200,000, Eric $190,000, Tony Ma $105,000, Ken $85,000, John $80,000, Steve $60,000, Hemish $45,000, Mickey $32,000. Richard and Eric seem to be squaring off at this stage. It would not surprise me to see them clash in the next round. Everyone else seems to be sitting by watching them hoping for a confrontation...
1.20AM-There was just a pot with Eric and Richard. Richard made it $16000 under the gun and Eric on the big lind raised it up $41,000. Richard had the clock put on him and eventually called. The flop came J,5,5 and Eric moved in for $52,000. The clock was put on him again and Richard eventually passed... Eric is now close to Richard with around $180,000. Richard has around $200,000.
1.00AM-We just had a "great escape" by Tony Ma. He re-raised Mickey Applemans raise before the flop all in with 8,8. Mickey applemans called with AA. There was about $100,000 in the pot and the flop came 6,7,9, giving Tony lots of outs. The turn was an 8, leaving Mickey just 2 outs on the river and it wasn't to be..... Current chip count: Richard $250,000, Tony Ma $130,000, Ken Goldstein $120,000, Eric $90,000, Steve Kaufman $60,000, Mickey Appleman $50,000, Hemish Shah $50,000, John Juanda $45,000.
12.30AM-We had our first casualty just minutes into the final table. Ian made it $8000 to go and Richard re-raised to $20,000. Ian called. The flop came 2,5,Q and Richard bet $20,000. Ian moved in for about another $23,000. Richard thought for a few moments and called for value with A,6. Ian turned over A,3 clubs. No improvement and Ian was out in 9th spot and $12,720.
Still 8 players left in. Antes now $1,000 with $2,000 and $4,000 blinds. Current chip counts... Richard $260,000, Eric Panayiotou $100k, Steve Kaufman $90k, Hemish Shah $80k, Mickey Appleman $70k, Tony Ma $60k, Kenny Goldstein $35k, John Juanda $27k.
11.50PM-The final player out before the final table was Allan Colon. He had AQ against Hamish Shah with KK. The final line up was decided and the chip count was as follows: seat 1 Tony Ma $91,500, seat 2 Steve Kaufman $96,500, seat 3 Ian Dobson $77,500, seat 4 Mickey Appleman $74,500, seat 5 Eric Panayiotou $52,500, seat 6 Richard Tatolovich $184,500, seat 7 John Juanda $81,000, seat 8 Hemish Shah $106,500, seat 9 Kenny Goldstein $35,000.
11.10PM-Gerry Craft who had been nursing a short stack for some time finally busted out when Mickey Appleman flopped the nut straight with AQ in his hand. Mickey bet $20k and Gerry called for his last $10k. We are now down to 10 players and we are playing down to 6 players tonight. It could be a late night again!!! I will give a chip count on the next update.
10.45PM-Mark Wilds brought it in for $8,000 in middle position and Richard Tatolovich raised it to $40,000 n the small blid. Mark thought for a good 4 minutes befor mucking his hand leaving him short stacked. Two hands later he was all in and lost to Richard and Mark Wilds becomes our 12th placed finisher. A nice pot for John Juanda just came up. With A,4 on the button John made it $8000. Richard with J,5 spades called. The flop came 3,4,6 rainbow. Richard was now favorite and moved in for over $150k. John thought with his pair fours for a few minutes and called for his remaining chips($30k) Turn 8 and river 10. John Juanda is now right in the hunt with $80k.
10.15PM-Back from the break, we are now playing $500 ante $1500 and $3000 blinds, Chip count: Richard Tatolovich $150k, Tony Ma $105k, Ian Dobson $80k, Hemish Shah $80k, Steve Kaufman $75k, Eric Panayiotou $70k, Mickey Appleman $65k, John Juanda $47k, Gerry Craft $40k, Ken Goldstein $38k, Mark Wilds $34k, Allan Colon $25k.
9.45PM-Cong Do just went out in 14th place. Eric Panayiotou made a move on the pot with 4,5 hearts and Cong called all in with his short stack. The board came with 3 hearts and Cong mucked his hand.Tom Franklin is out in 13th place. Hemish Shah raised it to $6000 under the gun with AK and Tony Ma raised it another $15,000 with 10,10. Tom Franklin called all in with A6 Diamonds. No ace and Tom was out. A 10 minute break now, will get chip count during break.
9.15PM-We just had a hand... Gerry Craft limped in and Cong made it $10,000 to go. Gerry called.Flop came K,5,6. Gerry checked, Cong bet $10,000 Gerry movede in for another $5000. Cong called. Turn 9, River 6 and Gerry showed AK. Gerry now has around $55k and Cong is very low stacked. Chip count now as follows: Richard Tatolovich $160k, Steve Kaufman $80k, Hemish Shah $80k, Tony Ma $70k, Ian Dobson $60k.
8.30PM-We just started back at 8.20 no players out yet and the game is going along quite slowly. Will post an update of chip count in 15 minutes or so.
7.20PM-A quick count at the dinner break and Richard Tatolovich now has the chip lead with $140,000
7.15PM-Just before the dinner break and Paul Darden becomes our 15th place finisher. Tom Franklin, made it $8,000 to go and Paul who was short stacked called all in. Tom had A6 and Paul did not show his hand. Tom won with Ace high. There will now be a 1 hour dinner break.We will resume with 14 players and antes will be $300 with $1,000 and $2,000 blinds.
6.55PM-Bruce Yamron just bcame our 16th place finisher. Latest chip counts with 15 minutes to go to the dinner break. Steve Kaufman $100k, Richard Tatolovich $100k, Mickey Appleman $80k, Hemish Shah $66k, Eric Panayiotou $65k, Tony Ma $60k, Mark Colon $50k, Ian Dobson $50k, Cong Do $50,000, Mark Wild $40k, John Juanda $40k, Ken Goldstein $25k, Captain Tom $16k, Paul Darden $16k, Gerry Craft $12k.
6.15PM-No one out yet but Alan Colon just entered a pot with KK, for $4500 in late position. Ken Goldstein in the small blind made it $11,000 to go. Alan mucked his hand and showed KK . Ken had the same hand.. KK. Wow!!! Alan Cunningham just becam our 17th place finisher. Hemish Shah just won a $55,000 pot with KK against Ken Goldstein's QQ. I told you it was a KK tournament.
5.45PM- We just moved to the final 2 tables. Two players were knocked out in the same hand. Erik Seidel and Hasan Habib. 17 players left.
5.25PM- Just reached the break and there are 19 players left. Only 18 will make the money. We are now hand for hand. Chip counts are: Mickey Appleman $100k, Richard Tatolovich $80k, Paul Colon $75k, Steve Kaufman $75k, Cong Do $60k, Ian Dobson $55k, Ken Goldstein $40k, Tony Ma $40k. 16th through 18th pays $7950. 13th through 15th $8745. 10th through 12th $9540.
Steve Kaufman
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4.55PM-A pot just developed between Steve Kaufman and Paul Darden. On the button Steve made it $3,000 to go. Paul made it $12,000 and Steve moved all in for another $22,500. Paul called after about 30 seconds and the board came 9,5,J,Q,9. Steve had 10,10 and Paul AK. Steve now has around $70,000 and Paul just $13,000. Scotty just got busted out of the tournament when Captain Tom called his all in bet of $8,000 with 3-6 spades.
4.25PM-An extraordinay pot just developed when Hemish made it $4000 under the gun with 8-8. John Bonetti moved all-in for $8200 with Ac-Qc, Tommy Franklin then moved all-in for $15000 with A-K. David Plastik, said lets go with Jh-Qh for his last $3600 or so. Hemish folds the 8-8, and here we go...4-6-10, then a K, and then...another K, take it A-K, bye-bye to my pal, John Bonetti and David Plastik. They say that to win these tournaments you have to win with AK right?
4.05PM-Sam Grizzle was just eliminated under the most brutal circumstances. Sam limped in with 7c-4c, and Alan Colon made it $3000 more with 10-10. Flop 7-5-2, Sam checked and Alan only bet $5,000, Sam called. Next card was a 7, for 2-5-7-7, Sam with trips. Sam checked and Alan bet $5,000, now Sam moved in for $19,500 ($14500 more), Alan called and hit the miracle ten! Ouch, then Alan unintentionally 'slow rolled' poor Sam, double ouch! So far it is the beat of the tournament! Alan now has $80,000...Washington DC based Cong Do now has $50,000 in chips...
3.45PM-1st break, Mickey Applemans $100,000, Richard Tatalovich $75,000, Paul Darden $55,000, Tony Ma $40,000, Hemish Shah $35,000, Ian Dobson $35,000 (last 2 remaining Europeans), at least that's what Phil Hellmuth and I think!! Some players to note: Erik Seidel $26,000, Scotty Nguyen $22,000 and Allen Cunningham $14,000. Right before the break, Alan Colon beat Sam Grizzle for about $7,000 of Sams chips...Erik Seidel opened for $2600 in the small blind, and Richard Tattalovich moved him in, in the big blind...fold...Phils pal, John Bonetti is crippled, but seems in OK spirits considering that he is down to $8,000 27 players remaining, the next level after this break will be $100 ante and $500 and $1000 blinds.
3.05PM-Chips are beginning to move back and forth right now but I get a very ominous feeling about the way 2 players in particular are moving up the chip ladder. We are playing $75 ante and $300 and $600 blinds. around $1500 a round. Erik Seidel just spiked a 4 spades on the river when all in to make a flush. He had AQ spades in his hand. He is now up to $20,000. Scotty is raising pot after pot and nobody is challenging him. He is now up to around $30,000.
2.40PM-There was just a huge 3 way clash and Gerry Craft came out on top. The other two players were Josh Arieh and Jack Brewer. They all put in $8500 pre flop. Gerry had AK and the other 2 had JJ. Before the flop Jack was all in. The flop came QQ4 two spades. Gerry Checked and Josh moved him in for his last $2400. Gerry had no option other than to call. The turn was another Queen and the river was an Ace. Jack was out in 34th Place and Josh has a very crippled stack. Scotty has worked his stack up to $24,000, Erik Seidel still has around $10,000 as does Surinder Sunar.
Mickey Appleman
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2.30PM-2nd day chip leader Mickey Appleman, as the tournament starts. 5 minutes into day 2 and we have lost one player all ready, James Goodwin lost his stack to Hasan Habib who has now moved up into second spot. It happened so fast that I did not see the play. I will get back to the action and log the hand plays.
12.00PM- Good morning poker players from around the world. This is Mark now fully refreshed and looking forward to the start of todays action which will happen in about 2 hours. Sheduled start time 2.00pm EST. I have received many compliments on yesterdays coverage and I thank you all for that. I must say it was not as easy as I first thought it would be. It was almost impossible to keep track of the play until near to the end of the day, and to tell you the truth, at that stage (1.00am) I was "shattered". So I am looking forward to bringing you a much more detailed hand play coverage today. By the way, if anyone wants to know anything in particular or would like a message passed to any of the players, please feel free to email me.. mark@pokerpages.com and I will deal with it for you.
After the days play was over last night I had a chat with some of the players. Scotty and I discussed his first day finish in 98 when he won the WSOP. He ended day 1 in 109th spot on that occasion with a similar chip count to his $10,650 he is currently holding. He is playing very solid. Just before the end of yesterdays play he had an opportunity to almost treble up when a player (Unknown to me)who had been consistently moving in when Scotty was one off the button, did it again for around $4,000. Scotty had around $9,000. He announced that he could not believe that this guy had done this again and he held the exact same hand as the last time. He thought for a good 5 minutes before reluctantly laying it down. Josh Arieh who had been playing extremely carefully all day called the bet with KK. Scotty had layed down A,J spades and for a moment felt comfortable with his lay down. The board produced an ace and the unknown player never showed his hand. Scotty would have been right about the unknown player and would have sucked out on Josh had he moved in before the flop as he almost did. I said yesterday early on in my report that this would be the tournament of KK. It is unbelievable how many times this hand was involved in key pots and won,even several times from behind. I think I will not make any predictions this morning as there are at least 8 players that I both feel could win and I would like to see win this event. Tony Ma has to be the coolest poker player I have ever had the priviledge of watching play. My position set up for yesterday was right behind him and I saw almost every pot he played. He never faltered once and he just goes from strength to strength as he accumulates chips. Well thats all for now, and I look forward to reporting for you all today
I would also like to point out that this years event has shown a participation increase of some 25-30% in all events. This should be considered good news for the poker industry.
Be Lucky Mark Napolitano |
