Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:32:46 -0700
Congratulations to Frank Gary, Event #41 Champion! ($219,508)
Event # 41 began three long days ago with a field of 731 entrants. Over the course of 25 levels of play, that number was whittled down further and further until there was just one man left standing.
That man was Frank Gary. Gary outlasted the whole field and a tough final table of nine to capture his first gold bracelet and well over $200,000 in cash money. Gary was by far the tightest player at the final table for the first several hours, contrasting mightily with the loose and aggressive style of dominant chip leader Nick Binger. Gary waited patiently though, only opening up his game when the table got down to four and three-handed. His rocky style of play paid off, and he was able to come out on top of Jonathan Tamayo in a relatively quick, high-level heads-up skirmish.
Gary is soft-spoken and mild, coinciding nicely with his style of play. We finally got to see him smile though as he was awarded the gold hardware and crowned as the victor. Congratulations to Frank Gary, Event # 41 Champion!
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:15:47 -0700
Frank Gary Wins Event #41, $1,500 Mixed Hold'em, Jonathan Tamayo Eliminated in 2nd Place ($140,093)
No-Limit Hold'em:
After being crippled on the last hand of the limit portion of this level, Jonathan Tamayo decides he has to make a move and announces he is all in. Frank Gary takes some time before making the call.
Gary holds
and Tamayo has his tournament life on the line with
.
The dealer places the flop out on the felt and it comes
, pairing Gary's ace and pushing Tamayo closer to the end.
The turn is the
, which helps Tamayo to pick up some straight outs.
As Tamayo's crowd yells for the five of hearts to hit the board on the river, the dealer doesn't grant them their wish as he places the
on the end of the board.
Tamayo will go home in second place, earning $140,093 for his finish.
Frank Gary wins the event, $219,508, and the coveted gold bracelet!
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:07:55 -0700
A Crippling Pot
Limit Hold'em:
On the final hand of the limit level, we saw another big pot. Frank Gary comes limping in, and Jonathan Tamayo jacks it up one more bet. Gary calls the raise.
The flop brings
. Tamayo bets out, and Gary pauses for a moment before making the call, always deliberate with his actions.
The turn is the
. Tamayo checks and then calls a bet from Gary.
The river shows the
. Tamayo bets and Gary laboriously makes the call. The hands are turned up:
Tamayo -
Gary -
Tamayo nailed his ace on the river, but it was not the out he needed. Gary's two pair is enough to take down another big pot, crippling Tamayo all the way down to just 129,000 chips.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:00:17 -0700
Runner-Runner Glory for Gary
Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary raises on the button and Jonathan Tamayo three-bets it. Gary calls.
The flop comes
and Tamayo leads out. Gary calls.
The turn is the
and Tamayo bets again. Gary calls, this time after thinking for a minute or two.
The river is the
and Tamayo bets. A minute passes before Gary grabs two stacks of tall, pink chips and raises. Tamayo quickly calls and bounces out of his chair when Gary turns over
for a full house.
Tamayo can't believe it as he walks around the table holding his hole cards,
, for the flopped straight.
Tamayo has 429,000 left now.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:58:09 -0700
The Nut No
Limit Hold'em:
Tamayo comes in raising from the button, and Gary three-bets it. Tamayo calls. The flop brings
. Gary bets and Tamayo calls. The turn comes the
, and both players check. The river is the
. Gary leads out again, and Tamayo calls.
Gary looks disappointed with the call, and he shows
. Good news for him; the pot is split as Tamayo tables his own
.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:52:05 -0700
A Good Call by Tamayo
Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary limps in from the button and Jonathan Tamayo checks his option. The flop comes
and Tamayo leads out. Gary raises and Tamayo calls.
The turn is the
and both players check.
The river is the
and Tamayo checks. Gary bets and Tamayo calls. Gary shows
and Tamayo sees this and slaps
on the table for two pair.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:44:47 -0700
Gary Takes Another Little Pot
Limit Hold'em:
Tamayo raises from the button and Gary calls. The flop comes
. Gary checks, Tamayo bets, and Gary calls.
The turn is the
and both men check. The river is the
. Gary leads out, and Tamayo quickly folds.
Though there weren't many bets in the pot, it still contained 500,000 chips, a significant chunk with the high limits they're playing.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:42:43 -0700
Update
Since that last hand, both players have traded pots back and forth without going to a showdown.
Frank Gary - 1,564,000
Jonathan Tamayo - 629,000
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:38:17 -0700
Gary Strikes First
Limit Hold'em:
On the very first hand of play following break, the players find themselves in a big pot. Frank Gary raises from the button, and Jonathan Tamayo makes the call.
The flop comes
. Tamayo checks it over, and Gary bets and gets called.
The turn card is the
. Tamayo leads out this time, and Gary comes right back over the top with a raise. Tamayo flat calls.
The river is the
. Tamayo leads out again with another bullet, and Gary looks frustrated. After taking a moment, he does make the call, and the cards are revealed:
Tamayo -
Gary -
Gary's set of nines is plenty good enough to win him a big pot, and vault him well up into the chip lead. He has closed in on the one-and-a-half-million mark.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:30:22 -0700
Shuffle Up and Deal
Cards are in the air once more.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:07:14 -0700
Break Time
The tournament clock has been paused while the two remaining players take a 20-minute break.
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:06:08 -0700
King-high Good
No-Limit Hold'em:
Jonathan Tamayo raises to 65,000 on the button. Frank Gary makes the call.
The flop comes
and both players check. The turn is another queen, the
. Both players check again. The river is the
and Gary leads out for 70,000. Tamayo calls.
Gary shows
and Tamayo mucks.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:55:55 -0700
Tamayo Throwing in a Raise
No-Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary raises to 87,000. Jonathan Tamayo wastes little time in making the call.
The flop comes
and Tamayo checks. Gary fires out 125,000. Tamayo raises to 425,000 to put the pressure back on Gary. Gary studies and then decides that it's right to fold.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:51:23 -0700
Updated Chip Counts
Gary - 1,176,000
Tamayo - 1,017,000
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:48:19 -0700
Another One for Gary
No-Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary raises from the button to 77,000. Jonathan Tamayo peeks at his cards and then makes the call.
The dealer pulls the chips in and deals the flop...
. Tamayo checks and Gary bets 95,000. Tamayo folds.
It may not be much, but these small pots do add up.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:45:56 -0700
Check-raise for Gary
No-Limit Hold'em:
Jonathan Tamayo calls from the button. Frank Gary checks his option and we'll see a flop.
The flop comes
and Gary checks. Tamayo bets 35,000. Gary announces a raise and makes it 110,000 total. Tamayo doesn't flinch, instead he sits and ponders his next move.
After a moment, Tamayo folds.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:38:20 -0700
Gary With a Big Double
No-Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary raises to 112,000. Jonathan Tamayo reraises all in and has Gary covered. Gary makes the call for his last 430,000.
Tamayo:
Gary:
The flop is
, giving Gary two pair and Tamayo a gutter. The turn is the
and the river is the
. Gary has successfully doubled up and the players are just about dead even in chips.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:32:20 -0700
First Decent Pot Goes to Tamayo
Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary raises and Jonathan Tamayo calls. The flop is
. Both players check and the turn is the
. Tamayo bets and Gary calls.
The river is the
and Tamayo bets again. Gary pauses for some time to think before he makes the call.
Tamayo turns up
and Gary mucks.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:27:21 -0700
Heads-Up
After just a quick pause to prepare the table, the players are facing off across the table from each other.
Frank Gary gets a walk on the first hand of man-to-man play.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:23:05 -0700
Updated Chip Counts
Here are the chip counts as we begin heads-up play:
Tamayo - 1,399,000
Gary - 794,000
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:22:32 -0700
Nick Binger Eliminated in 3rd Place ($84,814)
Limit Hold'em:
Frank Gary has the button and folds. Nick Binger raises from the small blind and Jonathan Tamayo reraises out of the big blind. Binger reraises, making it four bets. Tamayo caps the action and Binger calls.
The flop is
and Binger and Tamayo get all in for Binger's last 69,000.
Binger:
Tamayo:
The turn is the
and Binger will need a three on the river to stay alive. As the railbirds cheer for a three to pop off, the river is the
and Binger is eliminated in third place. He'll earn almost $85,000 for his efforts.
As he exits, Binger makes his way over to his group of friends and mentions that he really wanted first place. His friends hand him a glass of freshly-poured champagne and congratulate him anyway. He smiles and moves on to his interview.
