Monday, April 8, 2013 2:31 AM Local Time
The 2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods Main Event continued on Sunday as the surviving players from two Day 1 starting flights returned to Mashantucket, Connecticut to play through the money bubble at the top 63 on their way toward the final table. After 13 levels of play, just 16 players remained with Ben Reason and his stack of 1.704 million in chips leading the way. Other still in contention include Paul Snead, Pete Campo and Kevin "BeL0WaB0Ve" Saul.
You can read about Reason's meteoric rise simply by scrolling down a bit in the blog. In the meantime, let's recap the day's action starting with Aryeh Cohen, who dominated the action on Saturday on his way to becoming the end-of-day chip leader with 180,000. Unfortunately for him, his luck turned around on Day 2, and he was eliminated within two hours.
It began in Level 15 (1,000/2,000/300) when Cohen got involved in a monster pot with Erek Gaines, who was a top-six stack. Kurt Jewell opened the action with a raise to 4,200, Cohen responded with a three-bet to 12,500 from the hijack, the cutoff called, and then Gaines four-bet to 30,000 from the small blind. Jewell folded, Cohen shipped, and the cutoff got out of the way. Gaines, who had 109,400 total, called off.
Gaines:
Cohen:
Cohen was crestfallen upon seeing the cards and with good reason. According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, he had just an 18.23% chance of winning the hand. That dropped to 8.38% on the flop, and the turn knocked it down even further to 4.55%. Cohen needed a ten on the river to eliminate Gaines and take down the monster pot, but it wasn't in the cards as the peeled off. Gaines vaulted to 240,000 while Cohen was left with approximately 45,000. He was eliminated less than ten minutes later.
Other players who failed to secure a payday were Micah Raskin, Chris Tryba, Aaron Massey, Will "The Thrill" Failla, Greg Raymer, Andy Frankenberger, Ronnie Bardah, John Dibella, Nancy Birnbaum, Victor Ramdin and the aforementioned Jewell.
With 64 players remaining, hand-for-hand play was initiated, though it didn't take long for the bubble to burst. In the first hand, Bob Ricciuti shipped all in for 90,500 from middle position and Eric Rando, who was the Day 1a chip leader, called from the button.
Action was halted until all other tables finished their hands, and then a crowd surrounded Table 4 to watch the action. "Of course I would be the bubble boy," a disgusted Ricciuti stated upon discovering his was dominated by the of Rando. As has happened to so many men in the past, the ladies proved to be the end of Ricciuti as the board ran out an uninspiring .
From there, the in-the-money eliminations began to mount including those of Aditya Prasetyo (58th — $3,051), Tim Reilly (56th — $3,051), Justin Pechie (53rd — $3,329) and Luke Vrabel (44th — $3,606), who was eliminated in Level 21 with the blinds at 4,000/8,000/1,000. It happened when a preflop raising war resulted in Vrabel being all in preflop for 248,000 holding the . Unfortunately for him, Lall Bharat held the and had 3,000 more in chips. Vrabel, known as "Bdbeatslayer" online, was no doubt hoping to deliver a bad beat of his own, but it wasn't in the cards as the board ran out .
The eliminations kept coming over the next four levels as Shawn Suller (37th — $3,606), Fabio D'Agata (32nd — $4,438), John Yale (29th — $5,178), John Pito (27th — $5,918), Z Stein (26ht — $5,918), Buck Ramsay (25th — $5,918), Ylon Schwartz (22nd — $6,935) and Greg Folchetti (19th — $8,229) all his the rail.
Here's a look at how the final 16 stack up:
Seat | Player | Count |
1 | Eric Rando | 458,000 |
2 | Pete Campo | 442,000 |
3 | Mike Massri | 585,000 |
4 | Paul Snead | 568,000 |
5 | Bobby Corcione | 862,000 |
6 | Ethan Foulkes | 916,000 |
7 | Lall Bharat | 680,000 |
8 | Alex Wilson | 693,000 |
9 | Chris Mintchev | 910,000 |
| | |
1 | Cory Waaland | 821,000 |
2 | --empty-- | N/A |
3 | Chris Schonbach | 663,000 |
4 | John McNabola | 1,468,000 |
5 | --empty-- | N/A |
6 | Stephen Dare | 1,704,000 |
7 | Kevin Saul | 484,000 |
8 | Eric Blair | 298,000 |
9 | Ben Reason | 769,000 |
The third and final day of the WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Main Event will kick off at noon EST as the final 16 will play down to a winner. Who'll take home the $194,178 first-place prize and earn a coveted spot in the National Championship? Join us then as we bring you all the latest and greatest poker action from the great state of Connecticut!
Monday, April 8, 2013 2:24 AM Local Time
On the very last hand of the night over on the feature table, Tony Mandia pushed his short stack of around 220,000 all in from middle position, then Chris Schonbach reraised all in for a bit more from a seat over. Everyone else got out of the way, Mandia showed , and Schonbach .
The flop came , pairing Mandia but giving Schonbach a set, then the turn and river brought a couple of nines and Mandia was eliminated in 17th place.
Chris Schonbach | 663,000 | 0 |
Tony Mandia | 0 | -350,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 2:18 AM Local Time
There may be no be rhyme in the the last 30 minute of play, but there has been plenty of reason... Ben Reason that is! Shortly after doubling into the chip lead through Kevin Saul, Reason has sent Brian Phelon home in 18th place.
We didn't catch the preflop action, but we do know that a raising war saw Phelon get his stack of approximately 300,000 all in with the against the of Reason. It was a classic flip, and Phelon was primed to double when he survived the flop. Unfortunately for him, the turned to pair Reason. The river improved him to two pair and an exhausted Phelon was escorted to the payout desk just shy of Day 3.
Ben Reason | 1,700,000 | 300,000 |
Brian Phelon | 0 | -420,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 2:12 AM Local Time
"All in and a call."
So said the dealer at the feature table just now. The all-in player was John McNabola, his entire stack of 672,000 at risk with . The call had come from Brian Phelon, sitting to McNabola's right, who had his opponent covered when he tabled his .
The flop came , and after that king arrived McNabola tapped the felt as though to acknowledge he'd accepted that the end of his Main Event run had arrived.
But the turn was the to provide McNabola a flush draw. Then came the river… the ! The table reacted audibly at the sight of all the diamonds on board, and McNabola suddenly appeared a lot more comfortable in his seat after having gone from near-elimination to a stack challenging that of leader Ben Reason.
John McNabola | 1,350,000 | 642,000 |
Brian Phelon | 420,000 | -580,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 2:05 AM Local Time
After bluffing Ben Reason not long ago, Kevin Saul claimed that he was going into his "nit cave" and only playing queens or better. While it wasn't quite queens, Saul found a hand he liked and ultimately paid the price.
With just 25 minute remaining in the night, Saul opened for 35,000 under the gun and was met by a three-bet to 86,000 by Reason in middle position. The rest of the field folded and Saul opted for a four-bet to 163,000. At this point he began a one-sided chat with Reason, what that could be construed by some as needling. Saul told Reason that he looked tired and should give up on the hand. "Live until tomorrow," Saul said.
Reason didn't seem to pay any attention and eventually came out with a five-bet to 351,000. "So you're telling me you are not going to fold," Saul stated. "I might be priced in to see a flop." Saul thought about it for a solid minute while talking aloud before he added, "There is another option." A few moments later he moved all in and Reason called off to create a monster 1.4-million pot, by far the largest of the tournament.
Reason:
Saul:
"That's not a good flop," Saul told his rail, which consisted of Ralph and Aaron Massey, of the . Indeed it wasn't, but the turn looked nice. Saul paired his ace and was a huge favorite in the hand.; in fact, if he could avoid one of two jacks on the river he would take a massive chip lead into Day 3. Just when it seemed that was going to happen, the dealer burned and laid out the ! Reason hit his two-outer to stay alive and take over the chip lead.
Ben Reason | 1,400,000 | 715,000 |
Kevin Saul | 715,000 | -465,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:49 AM Local Time
Kevin Saul opened from middle position with a raise to 38,000, then Ben Reason reraised to 76,000 from the cutoff. It folded back around to Saul who sat for a few moments, then reraised back to 149,000. Reason paused a few beats, then called.
The flop came . Saul led with a bet of 118,000, and Reason called. The turn was the . This time Saul bet 180,000, and after thinking for a half-minute Reason let his hand go.
Encouraged somewhat by Aaron and Ralph Massey who are here watching the action from the rail, Saul then showed his hand — !
The Massey brothers then jokingly chided with Saul for showing his hand. "Why did you show?" they asked. "Because there's a half-hour left and I'm about to go into my nit cave," Saul shot back with a grin.
As play winds down for the night, we'll see what exactly Saul decides to do next with his tourney-leading stack.
Kevin Saul | 1,180,000 | 325,000 |
Ben Reason | 685,000 | -265,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:37 AM Local Time
Bobby Corcione opened for 46,000 from under the gun, then it folded around to Pete Campo on the button who looked over at Corcione.
"Whaddya playing... five?" asked Campo, and Corcione nodded to affirm that he had about a half million chips behind.
Campo then reraised to 90,000, and after a short pause Corcione called.
The flop came and both players checked. The turn then brought the and a bet of 76,000 from Corcione. Campo responded with a raise to 176,000, and after sitting for about a half-minute Corcione declared he was reraising all in.
Campo leaned back and exhaled, and after sitting quietly for a few moments pushed his cards to the dealer.
Bobby Corcione | 840,000 | 290,000 |
Pete Campo | 605,000 | -175,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:27 AM Local Time
Seat | Player |
1 | Eric Rando |
2 | Pete Campos |
3 | Mike Massri |
4 | Paul Snead |
5 | Bobby Corcione |
6 | Ethan Foulkes |
7 | Lall Bharat |
9 | Alex Wilson |
9 | Chris Mintchev |
| |
1 | Cory Waaland |
2 | Tony Mandia |
3 | Chris Schonbach |
4 | John McNabola |
5 | Brian Phelon |
6 | Stephen Dare |
7 | Kevin Saul |
8 | Eric Blair |
9 | Ben Reason |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:26 AM Local Time
Action folded around to Greg Folchetti in the small blind and he shipped his short stack of 125,000 into the middle. Tony Mandia, who didn't have a whole lot more in the big, looked down at the and made a quick call. Folchetti then tabled the and seemed resigned to his fate. Sure enough, the board ran out a rather dull and Folchetti was sent packing in 19th place.
With that elimination, just 18 players remain. They will now redraw to the final two tables.
Tony Mandia | 350,000 | 50,000 |
Greg Folchetti | 0 | -95,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:15 AM Local Time
Kevin Saul | 855,000 | 110,000 |
Stephen Dare | 840,000 | 55,000 |
Chris Mintchev | 790,000 | 130,000 |
Alex Wilson | 790,000 | -126,000 |
Pete Campos | 725,000 | -265,000 |
John McNabola | 708,000 | 208,000 |
Cory Waaland | 640,000 | 355,000 |
Lall Bharat | 558,000 | 108,000 |
Eric Rando | 435,000 | -115,000 |
Tony Mandia | 300,000 | 0 |
Greg Folchetti | 95,000 | -80,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:14 AM Local Time
Down to just over 200,000, Jonathan Gray committed his remaining chips before the flop with and found himself at risk against the of Ethan Foulkes.
The flop came , giving Gray a flush draw, then the fell on the turn to give Foulkes a set. The river was the , and Gray is out in 20th place.
Ethan Foulkes | 965,000 | 390,000 |
Jonathan Gray | 0 | -480,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:08 AM Local Time
Ben Reason | 950,000 | 68,000 |
Mike Massri | 640,000 | 40,000 |
Bobby Corcione | 550,000 | -295,000 |
Eric Blair | 500,000 | 150,000 |
Chris Schonbach | 225,000 | -75,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 1:07 AM Local Time
We're not sure of the exact action, but we do know that Brian Phelon just doubled through Paul Snead when the money got all in on a flop. Phelon was in for 458,000 and was a huge favorite with the against the of Snead. The river left the latter drawing dead and Phelon vaulted to the top of the chip count.
Brian Phelon | 1,000,000 | 630,000 |
Paul Snead | 600,000 | -400,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:55 AM Local Time
Chris Schonbach opened for 33,000 under the gun and then called when Mike Massri three-bet to 83,000 from the button. The former then checked the flop and Massri took his time before betting 100,000, leaving himself just 117,000 behind. Those chips went in when Schonbach check-raised all in.
Schonbach:
Massri:
Both players held big pairs, but Massri's was best. Schonbach was unable to catch a nine as the peeled off on the turn followed by the on the river.
Mike Massri | 600,000 | 365,000 |
Chris Schonbach | 300,000 | -320,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:47 AM Local Time
Adam Bitker's WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Main Event run has ended in 21st place.
Bitker's final hand began with a Lall Bharat raise to 36,000 from middle position. Down to just 39,000, Bitker reraised all in, then Alex Wilson reraised again to 87,000 from the button.
The blinds both folded, then after a short think Bharat stepped aside as well. Bitker turned over , but he'd need help against Wilson's .
The flop was , then the fell on the turn. Bitker was down to two outs to survive, but the wasn't one of them and he was eliminated.
Just 20 players remain.
Alex Wilson | 916,000 | 71,000 |
Adam Bitker | 0 | -40,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:40 AM Local Time
We had a rematch of sorts here today at Foxwoods after the three-table redraw.
It stemmed from the final few tables of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event when Paul Snead and Ylon Schwartz were seated at the same table. The former player ended up busting while the latter went on to make the November Nine. The roles may be reversed here on the WSOP Circuit as Schwartz was felled by Snead, who is now primed to make a run at the final table.
It happened when Schwartz, who finished in fourth place for $3,794,974 in 2008, opened for 27,000 from early position and then shoved after Snead three-bet to 112,000 from the small blind. Snead snap-called with the , and he was well out in front of Schwartz's . The board ran out a dry and Schwartz's night came to an end.
Interestingly, Snead finished in 21st place in the 2008 WSOP Main Event while Schwartz was one off that here today, finishing in 22nd place for $6,935.
Paul Snead | 1,000,000 | 370,000 |
Ylon Schwartz | 0 | -425,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:33 AM Local Time
A short-stacked Tony Mandia got his last 138,000 all in preflop with and he was racing against the of Adam Bitker. Mandia was able to double after the board ran out .
Tony Mandia | 300,000 | 65,000 |
Adam Bitker | 40,000 | -90,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:23 AM Local Time
Domenick Cutola was just now all in with his short stack with versus Alex Wilson's . The board came , then , then , and Cutola has been knocked out in 23rd place.
Wilson meanwhile pushes up close to 850,000 on that hand.
Alex Wilson | 845,000 | 125,000 |
Domenick Cutola | 0 | -240,000 |
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:15 AM Local Time
Shortly after play resumed, Matthew Silberzweig opened with an all-in push from middle position for about 140,000, and when it folded back to Stephen Dare in the big blind he called the raise.
Dare:
Silberzweig:
The flop came , pairing both players but leaving Silberzweig still searching for help to survive. The turn was the and the river the , and they are down to 23.
Stephen Dare | 785,000 | 90,000 |
Matthew Silberzweig | 0 | -145,000 |
Sunday, April 7, 2013 11:59 PM Local Time
The break has arrived, so players are taking 10 minutes to gather themselves.
Since dinner, we've saw 18 eliminations the first hour, nine during the second, nine more during the third, and just three over the last 60 minutes. And just 24 will return for Level 24.