Day Five of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic
Thursday, 28 February 2008
While the stage for the WPT final table was literally being set up
behind them, 18 players returned to the Commerce Casino to navigate
their way to the televised final table of six.
While the stage for the WPT final table was literally being set up
behind them, 18 players returned to the Commerce Casino to navigate
their way to the televised final table of six. The two biggest
names in the field succeeded, and they will be joined by a former
WPT winner in the form of Nam Le.
The first elimination of the day was that of David Singer,
another previous WPT winner. After two hands, he decided to move
all in from the button – very reasonable considering his Ac-Qc. As
Phil Hellmuth squeezed his cards in the big blind, he said “This
might be aces, David…..It is. I call.' Hellmuth’s aces held up and
Singer exited in 18th place.
With the elimination of a couple more players, it was Hellmuth’s
moment to shine, knocking out two players just before the dinner
break. Mike Carson moved all in with pocket fives, but was chased
down by Hellmuth’s A-K.
Jennifer Tilly moved into the vacant seat, although she was soon
on her way too after her all in with Tc-7c was called by Hellmuth’s
Kc-Qs. The pair of eliminations put Hellmuth over 2.7 million
heading into the break.
Then came a quite sensational hand. Folded to Hellmuth in the
small blind, he completed only for the big blind to move all in for
410,000 more. Hellmuth paused, before this corker: “I think I might
have you beat. I know I should fold, but my gut is telling me I'm
right.” After a dwell, he called with Q-2 offsuit. He was indeed
ahead of the 9h-7h, and the board bricked out, sending Hinkle out
in eleventh.
Play down to the final table for the Ivey and Hellmuth was
smooth enough, although the Brat did lose on large pot to end the
day on around 2.4 million. Here’s the chip count for the final
table:
Seat 1. Quinn Do - 1,450,000
Seat 2. Nam Le - 1,180,000
Seat 3. Phil Hellmuth - 2,380,000
Seat 4. Phil Ivey - 4,100,000
Seat 5. Charles Moore - 1,510,000
Seat 6. Scott Montgomery - 2,680,000
OK, Bluff Europe need to pick a winner, and we’re going to go
for Phil Ivey to break his WPT duck and take the whole lot down.
Now, it’s time for us to get ready and watch the action unfold!