Event #54: $500 SALUTE to Warriors - No-Limit Hold’em

On the last hand before the break, Todd Saffron had three-bet jammed all in for 4,675,000 from the button versus an early position open from Brett Coltman. Coltman called and cards were on their backs.

Todd Saffron:   
Brett Coltman:   

The board was       to give Saffron the full double up.

Brett Coltman

40,000,000

-5,000,000

After an open under the gun from James Todd to 1,500,000, it folded around to Zyad Qasem who moved all in for 6,700,000. Todd made the call and cards were tabled.

Zyad Qasem:   
James Todd:   

The board was looking okay for a chop when it ran out      but the   peeled over on the river secured the win for Todd and eliminated Qasem in 10th for $13,059.

James Todd	51,000,000	7,000,000
Zyad Qasem	0	-10,000,000

Richard Alati open-shoved for around 8,500,000 and James Todd called quickly to put him at risk.

Richard Alati:   
James Todd:   

The board ran out       and Todd's pocket queens held on to eliminate Alati from the tournament in 11th place for $13,059.

James Todd	46,500,000	23,500,000
Richard Alati	0	-6,600,000

Just before blinds went up, a massive three way pot took place, changing the landscape of the final two tables. After a raise from the button, Brett Coltman, to 1,100,000, Zyad Qasem called and so did Gerardo Amezola in the big blind.

The flop came down     and it was checked to Brett Coltman who bet 2,200,000. Qasem (small blind) called before Amezola moved all in for 5,275,000 chips. Coltman then moved all in himself for 18,850,000. Qasem went into the tank for at least 90 seconds before calling and cards were tabled.

Gerardo Amezola:   
Brett Coltman:   
Zyad Qasem:   

Coltman was well ahead with his king kicker and the   turn card and   river sealed his double up through Qasem while also knocking Amezola out in 12th place for $10,451.

Qasem said to Coltman ''If you didn't ask for a count, I fold'', referring to what Coltman asked Qasem before he moved all in over the Amezola jam.

Brett Coltman	43,000,000	29,175,000
Zyad Qasem	6,500,000	-30,000,000
Gerardo Amezola	0	-4,600,000

After a raise from James Todd in the cutoff to 1,200,000 Zyad Qasem called from the big blind.

The flop fell    . Todd bet 1,200,000 and Qasem raised to 3,000,000. Todd called.

A   turn slowed action down, they both checked.

On the   river, Todd bet 4,000,000 when checked to and Qasem counted his stack before calling and tabling    for the winner. Todd sighed as he mucked his hand.

Zyad Qasem	36,500,000	8,500,000
James Todd	19,500,000	-8,500,000

After an open from Todd Saffron under the gun to 1,300,000, Zyad Qasem three bet to 4,000,000 from the hijack. It folded to Andrew Grombacher in the small blind who moved all in for his last 4,200,000 chips. Saffron folded and Qasem called.

Andrew Grombacher:   
Zyad Qasem:   

Grombacher flopped a set of sevens on the     flop but the   turn gave Qasem the straight and the   river didn't improve Grombacher, sending him out in 15th, good for $8,424.

Zyad Qasem	28,000,000	4,300,000
Andrew Grombacher	0	-2,900,000

After an open from James Todd in early position to 950,000, Caleb McGinn moved all in from the small blind for around 3,000,000 chips and was called by Todd.

Caleb McGinn:   
James Todd:   

The       board gave Todd two pair and knocked McGinn out in 17th, good for $8,424.

James Todd	28,000,000	-3,000,000
Caleb Mcginn	0	-3,000,000

While the other tables were already waiting on the redraw to two tables, the first and only hand played on the outer table took the better part of ten minutes and ultimately resulted in the bustout of Matthew Vaughan.

It was Rigoberto Rodriguez who opened with a raise to 950,000 in the cutoff, Matthew Vaughan called on the button, and Zyad Qasem called from the big blind. The flop was     and Qasem and Rodriguez checked to Vaughan, who bet 950,000. Qasem check-raised to 2,500,000, Rodriguez folded, and Vaughan called after some thought.

On the   turn, Qasem shoved all in, putting Vaughan to the test for his final 4 million in chips. Vaughan spent minutes in the tank before the clock was called on him. The seconds were ticking away as Vaughan was mulling over his decision.

With one second left on the clock, he decided to call it all off but instantly received the bad news.

Matthew Vaughan:   
Zyad Qasem:   

Vaughan did have some outs but the   river wasn't one of them, ending his deep run early on Day 3.

Zyad Qasem	18,000,000	8,000,000
Rigoberto Rodriguez	14,000,000	-950,000
Matthew Vaughan	0	-7,750,000

Marco Petrusch got his last 5,000,000 into the middle and James Todd was the one to go for the knockout.

Marco Petrusch:   
James Todd:   

The board ran out       and Todd held on with a pair of nines to eliminate Petrusch in 20th place for $6,839.

James Todd	25,000,000	5,000,000
Marco Petrusch	0	-4,925,000

Cards are now in the air for Day 3 of Event #54: Salute to Warriors!