Event #46: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em

The day started with 26 players all with the same subtly strong thought of "I could win a bracelet today". Only one of those players didn't get their hopes up, and that player was Joey Weissman.

It only took 2.5 levels of play to reach the final table with Vanessa Selbst, Adria Balaguer, Larry Duplantis, and Jimmy Fradettedufour all making early exits.

We reached our ten-handed unofficial final table with the elimination of Stephen Reynolds. Ten-handed play didn't last long with William Reynolds being crippled early on and eliminated shortly after. Once the eight players were reached play slowed down considerable, with most hands consisting of stealing the blinds and antes. Soon though the blinds rose up and players started to fall to the wayside. Konstantin Puchkov, Joshua Pedraza, Michael Gagliano, and Joe Gualtieri all took their exits and we found ourselves five handed.

Five handed play consisted of Weissman playing almost every hand and short stacks doubling up every so often. Five handed play couldn't last forever though and we finally had an elimination when Bradley Lipsey's queens ran into Weissman's aces, causing Lipsey to be our fifth place finisher. A few hands later after Lipsey left, Philip Meulyzer was knocked-out. Twenty minutes after that saw the fall of Fernando Brito.

Joey Weissman came into the day with the chip lead and never looked back. Weissman's day started off in the right direction, delivering the knock-out blow to the most feared player left in the tournament Vanessa Selbst. Weissman continued his rush, single handily knocking out Joshua Hillock and Mark Schmid. Weissman was involved in many pots early on, and had a reason to do so; he was winning almost every hand. A crowd of Weissman fans began to shuffle in little by little, and by the time the final table was reached Weissman couldn't steal the blinds and antes without thunderous approval from the crowd. Weissman continued to put pressure on every single player throughout the day. Almost every hand came with a raise from Weissman, and players consistently folded to stay out of his way. If Weissman were to raise and get rebuffed by a three-bet he would fold, and come out of the gates raising again the next hand.

Once Weissman reached heads up play it looked as though he would be able to over power Jeremy Quehen like he had everyone else who played. Quehen was resistant though hovering around 3,000,000 for most of heads up play. Near the end of the last level of play though Quehen won a double up to put himself in better position. A few hands after that he exploited a flush and overtook the lead.

Then when it looked like Weissman was going to come up second best, he doubled up. Players were then basically even for the first time of the night. They wouldn't be even for long, as Weissman managed to get all his opponents chips in while holding the best hand.

Jeremy Quehen raised it up from the button and made it 240,000 to see the flop. Joey Weisseman made the call and both players were witness to a     flop. It was here that Weissman check-called a bet of 300,000.

The   on the turn saw a repeat of action with another check-call from Weissman, this time for 420,000.

A   river brought two checks and cards were tabled. Both of them had    and the pot was chopped up. Both players are now basically even in chips.

Apparently the players are going to play another level, making this one the last level of the night.

Oh, how quick things can change in poker. The atmosphere has changed from a super charged American sing-song to a French revolution. The once super-confident Joey Weissman looks nervous and down beaten, and his once charming rail are now throwing insults at the young Frenchman, who is soaking in every word and growing in stature and confidence. The red, white and blue is now bleu, bleu, bleu!

Quehen raised to 200,000, Weissman three-bet to 500,000, Qehen made it 1,000,000 and Weissman folded. Quehen showed the room the lone   which resulted in a few comments from the rail.

Then Weissman raised to 200,00 and Quehen made the call. The flop contained more clubs than the streets of Ibiza Town -      . Quehen checked, Weissman bet 250, Quehen check-raised to 650,000 and Weissman called. The turn was the   and Quehen made a bet of 750,000; Weissman called. The final card was the   and this time Quehen made it 1,750,000 (the biggest bet we have seen bar an all-in) and Weissman made the call.

Quehen leapt to his feet and threw the     triumphantly onto the table. The French rail rose in unison and French chants filled the air. Quehen is the new chip leader with 9.2 million and it is the first time for a very long time that Weissman has had to play with the inferior stack.

Jeremy Quehen	9,800,000	4,600,000
Joey Weissman	2,800,000	-5,200,000

Jeremy Quehen raised to 200,000 and Joey Weissman made the call. The flop was       and Weissman check-raised to 500,000. Quehen made a very quick call and both players checked the   turn. The final card was the  , Weissman put out a 600,000 bet and Quehen made the call. Weissman flipped over     and Quehen mucked his hand. Cue the celebrations from the rail.

Joey Weissman	8,900,000	-600,000
Jeremy Quehen	3,100,000	-400,000

Somebody must have put something in the water during the break because the pair have gone three-bet crazy. In the past four pots the outcome has been finalised by a pre flop three-bet. Two have gone the way of Weissman (who has been raising to 500,000) and two to Quehen (who has been raising to the slightly higher price of 550,000).

Jeremy Quehen opened for 160,000 and Joey Weissman three-bet to 380,000. Quehen made the call and both players saw a     flop. It was here that Weissman bet out 280,000 and was called.

The   on the turn saw the same thing with Weissman betting out 625,000 and Quehen calling.

The   on the river though saw a bet of 1,400,000 from Weissman. Queher took his time draining 3-4 minutes off the clock before eventually folding.

Joey Weissman	9,500,000	2,500,000
Jeremy Quehen	3,500,000	-1,500,000

Jeremy Quehen made the now standard raise of 160,00 from the button, and Joey Weissman three-bet to 380,000. The flop came     and Weissman bet out 380,000. Quehen quickly went all in and Weissman went into the tank. While Weissman pondered the room became silent, no small feat for this rail. In the end Weissman folded and Quehen was awarded the pot.

Joey Weissman	7,500,000	-1,500,000
Jeremy Quehen	4,500,000	1,500,000

Joey Weissman raised it up to 160,000 from the button and Jeremy Quehen in the big blind made the call.

The flop came     and Quehen checked-raised to 380,000 after Weissman bet out 160,000. Weissman made the call and both players were witness to the   on the turn. It was here that both players checked.

The   on the river saw a bet of 775,000 from Quehen and a snap call from Weissman. Quehen flipped over    for the nut straight and Weissman mucked his cards.

Joey Weissman	7,600,000	-2,000,000
Jeremy Quehen	5,000,000	2,550,000