Friday, November 4, 2016 12:34 AM Local Time
Event #8
No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack
Buy-in: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 322
Prizepool: $96,600
Matt Betti scores redemption in the Monster Stack at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, with a special tribute on top.
Stateline, Nevada (November 3, 2016) – Matt Betti captured his first WSOP gold ring Thursday evening at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. The local card player grabbed gold by vanquishing a field of 322 in Event #8: $365 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack. Every Circuit title is momentous in a way, but this victory had an extra significance for Betti.
“Even more special is this one’s dedicated to my dad. He just passed away a few months ago and he was my biggest poker supporter,” Betti explained.
Although it is with a heavy heart, the triumph is a wonderful honor to his late father. The win, which took two days and two nights, marked Betti’s third WSOP cash and by far his biggest to date. It was somewhat déjà vu for Betti, as he made the exact same final table nearly a year ago. The deep stack tournament at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe is undoubtedly in his favor.
“I would have to say the Monster Stack, and the way you guys put on this tournament is as good as it gets,” exclaimed Betti. “I get excited about.”
After making back to back final tables in the event, enthusiasm is rightfully warranted for Betti. This time around he walked away with the top-prize of $22,705, but it was no easy task. There was plenty of experience in the field. The final table itself involved a pair of gold ring owners, including local legend Cary Marshall who came in third place.
“You know, the final table, there was a couple tough customers. Obviously, there were some guys that were recognized,” said Betti.
The competition could not stop Betti on his path to the top though. All in all, Betti embodied a humble disposition, but this characteristic also came with a noticeable ambition to push forward with his poker career. Betti will look to continue his success in the Main Event, starting tomorrow, and even move on to play in future Circuit series around the U.S.
Here is a rundown of the final table results:
1st: Matt Betti - $22,705
2nd: Paul Reyes - $14,036
3rd: Cary Marshall - $10,194
4th: Cyril Kalbach - $7,530
5th: Farzad Abbaszadeh - $5,653
6th: Woody Kaawar - $4,311
7th: Charisse Case - $3,339
8th: Jose Esparza - $2,626
9th: Wes Nally - $2,095
Complete results can be found above, under the "Results" tab.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 9:53 PM Local Time
Matt Betti (pictured) has just won the Monster Stack tournament here at the Harvey's Lake Tahoe series. Betti made the exact same final table last year, during the 2015/16 Circuit tour, coming in 8th place back then. The humble, yet ambitious poker player greatly improved his finish this time around, outlasting a large, 322 player field in Event #8: $365 No-Limit Monster Stack. His triumph granted him a nice payday of $22,705 and more importantly a WSOP gold ring.
A full report on Betti's win will be published later tonight. In the meantime, here's a look at the final table results:
1st: Matt Betti - $22,705
2nd: Paul Reyes - $14,036
3rd: Cary Marshall - $10,194
4th: Cyril Kalbach - $7,530
5th: Farzad Abbaszadeh - $5,653
6th: Woody Kaawar - $4,311
7th: Charisse Case - $3,339
8th: Jose Esparza - $2,626
9th: Wes Nally - $2,095
Complete results can be found above, under the "Results" tab.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 9:33 PM Local Time
Paul Reyes has gone out in second place after a valiant heads-up effort. Reyes narrowly misses out on a gold ring, but does take home $14,036 and 37.5 Casino Championship points.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 9:08 PM Local Time
It only took a handful of action, following the exit of fourth place, to conjure another knockout. Cary Marshall was the unfortunate victim for the second year in a row in the same event. Marshall is a bit of a legend at Harvey's Lake Tahoe. He has two gold rings to his name and they both were won at this location in 2012 and 2013. He narrowly missed the ring in this same event last year, having also finished in third place.
Marshall fails to claim a gold ring this time around, but banks $10,194 and boosts his WSOP earnings to almost $380,000.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 8:57 PM Local Time
Shortly after the dinner break, Cyril Kalbach was defeated in fourth place. Kalbach fought hard, but will have to settle for $7,530 and 27.5 Casino Championship points.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 7:24 PM Local Time
The Monster Stack has been grinding it out since 2:00 pm this afternoon. A much needed dinner break has been reached for the remaining five players. Level 28 begins upon return.
Here is a look at how the chips are dispersed:
Matt Betti - 2,800,000
Paul Reyes - 1,400,000
Cary Marshall - 1,300,000
Cyril Kalbach - 1,100,000
Thursday, November 3, 2016 7:20 PM Local Time
Shortly after the sixth place exit, Farzad Abbaszadeh was sent home in fifth place. Abbaszadeh takes away $5,653 and 25 Casino Championship points.
The Monster Stack is down to the final four.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 7:00 PM Local Time
Woody Kaawar has gone bust in sixth place. Kaawar receives $4,311 and 22.5 Casino Championship points.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 6:20 PM Local Time
After having a friendly chat during the last break, Cyril Kalbach and Charisse Case found themselves head to head with Case's tournament life at stack.
In the end, Kalbah's hand took the pot, eliminating Case in seventh place. Case banks a cash of $3,339 for her deep run in the Monster Stack.
Cyril Kalbach - 1,750,000
Charisse Case - Eliminated
Thursday, November 3, 2016 6:01 PM Local Time
Final table players return from a 15-minute break at 15,000/30,000 blinds with a 5,000 ante.
Three players have already hit the rails, leaving seven still with hopes of claiming a Circuit title.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 5:50 PM Local Time
The tournament is down to the final 10 players and the unofficial
final table has been reached. It will be the official WSOP final table
once nine players remain. The remaining field is guaranteed at least $1,697 and 10 Casino Championship Points. Woody Kaawar is currently the chip leader, but all the players are fairly deep and relatively close in chips. First place will be walking away with $22,705, 50 points, and a shiny gold ring.
Here is a look at the final ten players, their chip counts, and their seating assignments:
Seat 1: Scott Shawver - 333,000 (27 bbs)
Seat 2: Cary Marshall - 890,000 (74 bbs)
Seat 3: Woody Kaawar - 1,079,000 (89 bbs)
Seat 4: Jose Esparza - 561,000 (46 bbs)
Seat 5: Wes Nally - 370,000 (30 bbs)
Seat 6: Matt Betti - 965,000 (80 bbs)
Seat 7: Farzad Abbaszadeh - 361,000 (30 bbs)
Seat 8: Cyril Kalbach - 360,000 (30 bbs)
Seat 9: Charisse Case - 517,000 (43 bbs)
Seat 10: Paul Reyes - 960,000 (80 bbs)
- 46 minutes remain in Level 25: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Thursday, November 3, 2016 3:41 PM Local Time
The Day 2 restart has reached its first 15-minute break.
There are 14 players remaining, who will come back to Level 24. Levels are 50 minutes long.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 2:22 PM Local Time
A little over 10 minutes gone in Day 2 and the fateful knockout happened. The tournament has moved from a field of 19 at three tables to a field of 18 taking up two tables.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 1:24 AM Local Time
END OF DAY 1
The first day of the No-Limit Hold'em Monster stack has reached its stopping point. There are 19 players, out of the whopping 322 that entered, advancing to Day 2. Leading the pack at the end of Day 1 is Jose Esparza from Lodi, California. Esparza won his first gold ring back in 2013 at this very location, in Event #6: No-Limit Hold'em. The tournament is only one knockout away from enacting a two table redraw. Play will resume Thursday at 2:00 pm with blinds at 6,000/12,000 and a 2,000 ante.
Here is a look at the top five chip counts after Day 1:
1st: Jose Esparza - 566,000 (47 bbs)
2nd: Cyril Kalbach - 546,000 (45 bbs)
3rd: Vince Lacariere - 546,000 (45 bbs)
4th: Farzad Abbaszadeh - 499,000 (41 bbs)
5th: Wes Nally - 431,000 (35 bbs)
Complete chip counts can be found above under the "Reports" tab.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 12:41 AM Local Time
Level 21, the last level of the night, has just begun. The average chip stack is around 250,000 and 26 competitors remain. Blinds are at 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante.
Players who have not seen a great hand in a while may tighten up in an effort to make Day 2 and hope their luck changes after a long nights rest.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 11:00 PM Local Time
It is nearly 11 o'clock in Stateline and the remaining Monster Stack players are on their last 15-minute break of the night. There are 39 players still left in the hunt.
The money bubble is on the horizon, as only the top 33 finishers will register a WSOP cash.
After the break there will be three more levels of play, each 40 minutes long. Day 1 will end around 1:00 am.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 5:53 PM Local Time
Players have just began their 60-minute dinner break. It is time to refuel and get ready for a long night of poker.
Level 13 begins after the dinner break is over. The end of Day 1 hit after the conclusion of Level 21.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 5:28 PM Local Time
A full prizepool for the Monster Stack has been finalized. The popular tournament has provided the second largest field so far at Harvey's Lake Tahoe with 322 entrants. This hefty sum produced a prizepool of $96,600, which boasts a top-prize of $22,705. The event will pay out the top 33 finishers. There are currently 130 players remaining. Here is a breakdown at the final table cashes:
A complete prizepool can be found above, under the "Prizepool" tab.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 2:37 PM Local Time
With 20 minutes left in Level 7, the registration window continues to narrow. The Monster Stack has already attracted over 300 players, a big field that will bring about some big payouts.
Registration will close right before the start of Level 9. There is no re-entry allowed.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 11:00 AM Local Time
Players have took to the felt and claimed their inflated starting stacks.
Eight levels of open registration starts now.