WSOP 14 Final Table - Back in the Day

I got a Stephenson t-shirt from the WSOP Main Event, would have had him sign it if he won. Skipped the Nordic antler hat. It was very interesting covering the World Series of Poker main event. I was able to observe a lot.. it felt like the read deal. The competitors were top class and they gave it their all. I remembered meeting Martin Jacobson back in the day and that is why I favored him in my 2014 November Nine preview.

The evening before the ME there was the HOF induction of Jack McClelland (a legendary tournament director) and "Kid Poker" himself Daniel Negreanu.

Entering the HOF room, a formidable pair. Stu Unger and Doyle Brunson. Recycled of course from use in the Rio's Amazon room in May and June.  I chatted with an older gent who used to play gin and poker with Stuey in Brooklyn.

Ships in the night. Politano passes Negreanu after a staged meeting of the presumed poker minds.

Jack McLelland gave a heartfelt speech about the poker life. Brunson (apparently doing well post-surgery) was there to cheer on his friend. Did not get out of his seat, however.

Negreanu gives Lederer the bird during his induction speech and then spins a Spidey web. Good thespian.

Hellmuth and his "wannabe me" Politano. Smile for the cameras. Hello again Las Vegas, my old friend!  I'm here to play #myBESTpoker

This is the requested close-up of alligator, snake, and frogs legs. No Phil bomb in sight. Not sure what Mr. Vegan DNegs thought of the entrees. Alligator, sittin' in the noonday sun...

The HOF event was held at Binion's Horseshoe Casino in honor of inductee Jack McClelland and featured this food, indicative of '70s high rollers who came largely from Texas and Cajun Country. Think American Hustle meets California Split; poker and backgammon. Big belts and cowboy hats. Oakland Raiders. Dallas Cowboys (cheerleaders).  Know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em. This was back before Cirque, when  Evel Knieval was the acrobatic fallboy.

This is a photo I took that summed up Newhouse's emotions after busting 9th, two years in a row. "I'm an idiot." The knowledgable Kara Scott consoles.

I think the decider in Tonking's call was that aces or kings was not likely, given Newhouse's turn bet. Overpairs would check down the river presumably, once the board double paired. And Newhouse would not have raised the turn with A-J and a single jack on the board (which would also be a pretty thin call preflop). With the Jack pairing, pocket fours was no longer possible. I guess the odds were pretty high that Newhouse was bluffing on a 2-4-J-4-J board.

Plus, Tonking had a really good read.

This was Scooby, who we last saw marking his spot in front of a uniformed K-9. Dejected that his boy Politano lost. 

This is Politano, no false tears or pretense. He is actually very happy he laddered up. He has a Big Heart. You can follow him on Facebook. 

This is my man Pappas, he is looking for a place to rent in some New England town I've never heard of.  Foosball master! And oh yeah, this is Stephenson slinking past him, knowing that he is almost certain to get to day two. Visions of three-way chops dancing in his head. 

This the look of a serious grinder, getting what he earned. Martin Jacobson triumphant. I posted a funny Jacobson story from a 2014 WSOP Side Event here. 

This is the all-time favorite poker action shot I have taken. From a distance, with a $150 camera. But what a $150 well spent. This is the exact moment Jacobson begins to celebrate with friends, in an avalanche of joy. 

This was the one pic I thought captured Stephenson's true emotion, through his sunglasses, as he came to terms with his "near glory" accomplishment––second place. I have Swedish and Norwegian ancestors, I know how deep the rivalry is. 

Jacobson unabashedly proud. 2013 winner Ryan "Beast" Reiss looks on (he has a vintage Topps card that looks better than his 2014 WSOP results.) 

Jacobson.

Stephensen and an Old World supporter, coming to terms defeat. "A hundred Swedes ran through the weeds, pursued by one Norwegian." Not to be.

After his banal interview with the "Politano fanboy" press, I asked Negreanu what his favorite flavor of ice-cream was. Mr. Vegan gave me the inside tip that he doesn't eat ice-cream. Favorite Tofutti? No comment. 

Thanks for taking the time and don't forget to check my latest joint, AVDG. Peace.

Poker enthusiast Damon Shulenberger covered the WSOP series in 2014. He has recently secured an agent for the mystery-thriller Arisugawa Park and plans to release “A Very Dark Game - Inside Poker’s Million Dollar Tournament” in December. The latter book provides a ringside look at the 2014 One Drop tournament and includes stories on participants such as Dan Colman, Guy Laliberte, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Ivey, Dan “Jungleman” Cates, and the Macau Boys. 

Las Vegas Mixed-game Master John Hennigan Wins Poker Players Championship

The prestigious $25,000 Poker Players Championship––hell to cover, due to the various games played, from 2-7 triple draw to razz––has been won by none other than Las Vegas grinder John Hennigan. He beat out a field of 102 of poker’s greatest minds, ultimately prevailing against Brandon Shack-Harris heads up. I last covered Hennigan a couple weeks ago in the $1,500 WSOP Event #19 NLHE tournament, when he was vanquished heads up by retired marine sergeant Ted Gillis. 

Ultimate glory on the line––Hennigan against Shack-Harris and Jesse Martin

Nicknamed "Johnny World," the former billiards professional now has three WSOP bracelets to his credit, as well as a third place finish in last year’s Poker Players Championship. With this convincing win in the most demanding of WSOP small field events, Hennigan has vaulted into status as one of the game’s true elite. He commented to Poker News after earning his bracelet that it was “very fulfilling to win the event,” as he had been playing mixed games for many years. He noted that this game was played by many top-tier professionals, from Phil Ivey to Doyle Brunson, for the honor of winning more than high ROI expectations. Unlike in cash games, players were “emotionally involved” and every pot hotly contested down the stretch.

 Hennigan taking on Gillis heads up two weeks earlier

Wearing a t-shirt fittingly emblazoned with the Superman symbol on it, Hennigan found himself in a downward spiral late in Day Three, but pulled out a win when the game shifted to PLO and he “bet it all on one hand.” After that critical double up, things turned around and Hennigan seemed to win every hand, “that’s kind of how poker goes sometimes.” I expect to see more from Hennigan in the days to come––hopefully he will decide to put some of his hard-earned money to work in the $25,000 One Drop satellite that is taking place Saturday night, giving himself a shot at the biggest money. 

I want to apologize to loyal blog readers for going AWOL the past couple days. I entered the $1,500 Monster Stack yesterday, which exceeded all expectations by attracting nearly 8,000 runners. As mentioned earlier, I am of the opinion that the Monster Stack will quickly gain the reputation as the “everyman’s Main Event,” as it offers deep stack play at an eminently affordable price. Both me and On Tilt Radio colleague Nathan Dowland decided to temporarily forego our media duties and register, pursuing ultimate  bragging rights and a $10.6 million prize pool that includes a $1.37 million first prize. 

On Tilt Radio colleague Nathan Dowland––Monster starting stack and Blue Shark Optics cap

I am doing pretty good about five hours into the tournament, up to about 20,000 chips through careful, steady play that has included slow playing aces from the small blind and extracting maximum value. Unfortunately, I run into a cooler that I probably could have gotten away from (just) pre-flop. Under the gun with A-Q, I put in a small raise of 500 and get min reraised to 1,000 by a player in middle position. She has been playing snug so I call reluctantly, feeling priced in––I am ready to muck my hand if anything less than the perfect flop peels out. Lo and behold, an A-Q-4 board comes and I have two pair. Call it sixth sense, I check the flop and my opponent checks behind. The turn is inconsequential and we also check this. When a seemingly harmless river card comes out that does not complete any draws, I fire 3,000, hoping to extract a little value. Instead of calling or folding as expected, my opponent raises it up to 6,000.  As suspicious as this min-raise is, I am priced in with my top two pair and call. Naturally, she turns over pocket aces, not the A-K or A-J I was hoping to see. 

No media pass––only allowed to take pics of myself grinding it out

A player at the table who considers himself a bit of an expert (read: know-it-all) tells me I should have mucked preflop when my opponent raised even a little, considering how snug she had been playing. I shrug––I did after all lose the minimum, all things considered. If I had played it any other way (or if she had shoved on me, like most players would) I would likely have lost my entire stack. Instead I have a respectable 10,000 stack that represents about 50 big blinds. Moving to another table I get whittled down to 7,000 before starting to make some reads and moves, and chipping back to 15,000. Unfortunately, the blinds are increasing and I ultimately have to make my stand with 8,000 behind and a pocket pair. I lose the coin flip against my new least favorite hand A-Q and nine hours of hard work goes down the drain. Ah, the joys of poker. Meanwhile, Nathan has been battling a dearth of quality cards but still has 7,000 chips going into Day Two––the perfect stack for doubling up or going home.

Turnout larger than anticipated (photo Nathan Dowland)

Now, it’s time to head to the Rio and watch the action in the $1,5000 Eight Game Mix, which features Stephen Chidwick and Phil Ivey as chip leaders among a final 13 that also includes Daniel Negreanu. Needless to say, if either Ivey or Negreanu achieves the bracelet, they will win a prop bet that reportedly well exceeds $1 million. This is definitely a “last hurrah” chance for the tournament veterans, as we move into the final leg of the WSOP. Also starting today is the anticipated Ladies NLHE Championship, which features the likes of Kathy Liebert, Jackie Glazier, and PokerNews host Kristy Arnett. 

To Have and Have Not: Grinding the $185 WSOP Deepstack, Dreaming of Monster Stacks, & Railing the Stars

Today offers a relative lull in the action, with only a $1,500 NLHE event filled with lesser known players moving to final table action. Actually, these are often my favorite events, with players vying for glory in its purest sense––for the chance to become part of WSOP lore and earn some serious cash. I was seriously rooting for unknown Darius Studdard, who does not Twitter, to take home the PLO Six-handed bracelet yesterday. 

For me it is a welcome respite, as I begin to get in shape for the four-day $1,500 Monster Stack NLHE starting on Thursday. With about one more $1,500 bullet to spare in my bank account, I have decided that this represents the best chance of leveraging my buy-in into cold hard cash. Same structure as the $1,500 side events we see every day, which offer one hour levels, starting at 25-25. Only difference is, you get 15,000 chips instead of 4,500 chips––essentially it’s a mini-Main Event for the value conscious and the minnow hunters. My hopes, like many others’ are riding on this particular event––if I do somehow reach the final couple tables in a tourney likely attract 4,000 or more runners, I will parlay a percentage of the winnings into taking a shot at the ultimate glory of the $10,000 Main Event. 

To be honest, I think that those who reach the final table of the Monster Stack will be deserving of a larger degree of recognition than of the other side event tournaments. Say what you will about too much play (read work) relative to the buy in (I've heard a few snide comments from high rollers), the deep structure means that this is the equivalent of the Main Event for many players who simply do not have $10,000 to risk on a single event. It is the everyman's version of the Main Event and why the hell Monster Energy Drinks is not sponsoring it is beyond me. 

I am going into my last shot at WSOP glory fairly confident, realizing that any given deep run involves a combination of sick reads, critical lay downs, huge bluffs, and calm, collected play. My first and only WSOP event so far was Event #12: Pot-Limit Hold'em, earlier this month. I cashed 48th of 550, basically doubling my buy-in. I found the event to have more play than expected in a tournament with so few starting chips. This was partly due to the pot limit nature of the game, which made it easier to get away from train wreck flops. I did play fairly tight to the vest, which benefitted me when I needed to make big all-in or “pot” bluff moves––I find it happens 4 to 5 times, on average, in the first 10 rounds of longer tourneys. Despite this forward momentum, I lost a big coin flip toward the end of Day One and came into Day Two six spots from the money (63 players were paid), sitting on about 10 big blinds. 

The Day Two table included Marvin Rettenmeier, Joseph Cheong, and two of the largest stacks in the tournament (who ultimately placed second and fourth). Fortunately Cheong was two to my right, which allowed me to come over the top of his inevitable button raises with far from premium holdings and get him to fold. Unfortunately, the final time this button raise move happened (comfortably inside the money) he woke up with A-J and I had A-5. I think my shove was standard, being significantly ahead of Cheong’s raising range, although I should have been wary the second time he tried the move. Having the experience of playing a WSOP side event and getting relatively deep definitely gives me a boost of confidence going into in a Monster Stack tournament that will require mucho patience and resilience.

To prepare mentally and get into the rhythm, I play in the daily 6pm Deepstack this evening, finishing 65th of 350 runners and tantalizingly outside the money. I make some inexcusably careless moves––it has been a while since I’ve played a tourney, being immersed in this volunteer media gig. Still, with the structure escalating as if on steroids, I get my last 30,000 in good A-10 against 8-8. Unfortunately, the cards do not go my way in this classic race and I am out. 

I wander over to the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, which cycles between a daunting array of games, and am suddenly in poker heaven––surrounded by the likes of Jason Mercier, Doyle Brunson, John Juanda, Stephen Chidwick, Jonathan Duhamel, and Phil Ivey. I snap pictures like a kid in a candy shop, all regrets about busting out in the daily tournament completely vanished. To have this opportunity to witness the best––those whose styles I've studied and books I've read––my first time in Vegas––is truly a privilege. As tournament chip leader Jason Mercier takes out his good friend Rast, Doyle Brunson comments  "Brian Rast plays PLO like he sees your cards." Mercier has a slightly different take, "he might have raised a little smaller––I don't think he wanted to put in 48K."

Jason Mercier & Brian Rast-–buddying it up

Mercier about to eliminate Rast––"I don't think he wanted to put in 48K."

Brunson in fine fettle

Stephen Chidwick and dealer––mutual admiration society

Jason Mercier & Robert Mizrachi

Chidwick takes on Ofir Mor

Juanda eliminates Mor

Ivey––grinding toward his first 2014 WSOP final table with Macau friend Rono Lo.

Michael Drummond Victorious in $5,000 Six-handed PLO Against Darius Studdard

For Unabomber fans, the WSOP $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six Handed tournament finishes in anticlimactic fashion––the always exciting-to-watch Phil Laak goes out in sixth, leaving five relatively tight players to duke it out. Surprisingly, action continues apace, with the short stacked Kory Kilpatrick driving most of the creative post flop play. 

Laak in happier times, vs. Studdard

Eliminated in fifth is Brant Hale, who picks a hell of a way to go. Holding A-Q-9-8, he raises 115,000 and is called by Darius Studdard. The flop comes down with a nut diamond draw for Hale 6-5-3, but he holds three diamonds  ––significantly weakening his chances of hitting pay dirt. Studdard, holding 10-9-7-5 has a baby flush draw to go with his made straight. Both players check the flop and when Steddard bets out 250,000 on a four of spades turn, Hale comes over the top all-in for his last million chips. I am completely flabbergasted at this move––Hale not only has three of the suit he is after, but he is up against a large raise by a tight and steady player clearly repping a made straight. Hale has to know that he is getting his still healthy stack in as a 4-1 dog against an almost certain call. Studdard, surprisingly, tanks on his decision––perhaps trying to figure out how a gift horse could hit him so squarely in the mouth––before making the inevitable call and climbing to nearly 3 million chips. 

Hale makes an ill-timed "semi something" shove against Studdard on a wing and a prayer

...and reads the bad news.

The uber-cautious Ryan Schmidt is the next to go, risking his last half million chips against Studdard with A-K-9-2 on a K-10-7 flop. Unfortunately, Studdard has a ton of draws with A-Q-J-7 and completes the straight with a nine on the river. 

Schmidt (hand to chin) –– uber-cautious

Despite his considerable stack and sudden chip lead, Studdard does not quite dominate three-handed play. His inexperience in late-stage PLO tournament play is demonstrated in a hand where Studdard raises preflop with A-A-7-4 preflop and is called by PLO tournament specialist Kory Kilpatrick, who sits on a short stack of 600,000. When the flop comes Q-7-5, Kilpatrick shoves his last 410,000 chips and Studdard inexplicably folds his overpair. This is a situation in which Kilpatrick could easily have a lone queen, a second pair, or a draw. (As it turns out, he had the same second pair seven as Studdard, without the aces to go with it). What Kilpatrick does apparently have is fold equity––although the fold is inexplicable given Kilpatrick’s wide range. Studdard should  have been doing what Kilpatrick did––bombing away with his second pair in a heads-up situation where only a small percentage of his chips would be at risk.

Kilpatrick––bombing away with second pair

There is another key hand in which Studdard correctly folds on the river when a flush hits for Michael Drummond. Despite the correct river read, the fact that he lost a big pot was avoidable––he held the near nuts on the turn and  could have gotten his opponent off the flush draw with a larger turn raise that put Drummond’s tournament life at stake. Failure to execute in these two critical situations probably lost Studdard the tournament. That said, this cautious approach was optimal earlier, in that it got him to the final table when more active players were falling right and left.

Drummond and Kilpatrick ––sizing each other up

Interestingly, I am watching the WSOP.com hole cards coverage on a 30-minute delay in the stands when Studdard and his friends actually requisition my computer to examine the hand described above in between action at the table. I mentioned to Studdard what I think of his earlier nit fold with pocket aces and he takes that into consideration as well, clearly now aware of his opponents wider-than-expected calling and shoving ranges. 

Studdard (left) sprinting back to the felt after checking WSOP.com coverage on my laptop. Glad to be of service.

Kory Kilpatrick is next to go when his A-K-Q-4 runs up against Michael Drummond’s K-K-J-4. With Kilpatrick hitting his  ace on the flop, Drummond somehow back doors his way into a straight and sends the impressive Kilpatrick to the rail with $217,000. Studdard now has 1.5 million chips against Drummond’s monster 5 million chip stack and is quickly dispatched when his dominating Q-10-3-3 goes up against Drummond’s 8-7-4-4. The 8-3-4 flop hits both players hard, with trip fours prevailing against trip threes––as they usually do. Taking first place in his first WSOP event of the season, the steady Michael Drummond earns a whopping $541,000. This historic heads-up match is also notable as the first to feature two contenders wearing jerseys of my hometown Golden State Warriors. 

Steady, low-key Drummond ––ultimately victorious 

Talking With Sam Trickett and Plugging the Ironman Tournament Concept

On my way cover the final two $10,000 Six Handed NLHE tables at the Rio this afternoon, I happen upon former soccer pro and One Drop second-place finisher Sam Trickett, who is finishing up an interview with the Global Poker Index. He recounts the story of a sick pot in the high stakes Macao games he sometimes plays in––a leveling war in which a pro bet roughly $10 million into a $10 million pot on a paired board, in which a potential straight and flush were also on the board. The pro was called down––with complete air––by a businessman who had only a bluff catcher A-K. Sick doesn’t even begin to describe this type of action––call it the Dwan effect? 

Trickett also mentions that he is excited to play in the $1 million buy-in One Drop again––he finished in second against Antonio Esfandiari in the 2012, taking home more than $10 million. He considers Phillip “Philbort” Gruissem his worthiest opponent––based on experience playing the German at the high stakes cash tables. Speaking to Trickett after the interview, he confides to me that he has not been running particularly well in the WSOP tournaments so far but is far from fazed––he is off to late reg in the $5,000 eight max NLHE. UPDATE: Trickett leads the field as we head into Day 2.

I mention to Trickett that I am interested in organizing a world breaking Ironman event while the WSOP is going on and he seems quite interested––as any competition driven sportsman should be. I have come up with a hypothetical name for the tournament––SICKO (Shulenberger Ironman Poker Classic K.O.) Naturally, if this epic “true glory” event ever gets off the ground, it should have a charitable component. Given its name, a health care nonprofit would be the logical partner. 

So far, we have interest from sponsors at NEON energy drink and event organizers par excellence Kwan International, who are organizing the Project All In Poker worldwide live poker broadcast at the Las Vegas Speedway this Saturday. Timed to coincide with the mega popular Electric Daisy Carnival event right next door, a $50 cover gets partygoers into an event featuring full buffet, DJ GoldenChild from the Mandalay Bay, laser lights show, and a poker tournament. All of this Vegas-style excitement will be live streamed across the globe. 

Moving back to the Ironman concept, I think that this is an idea whose time has come––hundreds of players going out of their minds and babbling in tongues as the day and night progresses; players cursing the poker gods after they wind up with no money after 30-odd hours on the felt. Ultimate poker toughness bragging rights. What is not to like about this scenario?

Below, a few glimpses of the madness that is the Ironman tournament. This is something that we need to turn into an annual Vegas charity event like the One Drop. True deep-stacked endurance poker at its best!