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. 

WSOP 2014, Day 7 Action

Main Event Final Table is about to start in a few short hours. Just sorted through hundreds of photos. Here are some of my favorite images from Day 7 of the Main Event. Hope you enjoy. I’ll post a WSOP preview article in a couple hours. I’ll also put together an article about HOF induction of Daniel Negreanu at Binions, which I had the pleasure to attend last night. 

 Jorryt van Hoof - fearless.

Brian Devonshire felted as Pappaconstantinou & Jacobson go about their business.

Leif Force tries to get a read on Jacobson.

Heartbroken: Leif Force out in 21st and interviewed by Cara Scott. 

Dan Smith and November Nine bubble boy Luis Velador would face heartbreaks of their own.

Newhouse plays it cool. 

William Pappaconstantinou & Martin Jacobson. 

Newhouse stacks and Dan Smith chats with Iaron Lightbourne, as Brian Roberts is eliminated. 

Yorane Kerignard, who has received an almost fatal blow,  grimace-smiles at Andoni Larrabe.

 Jorryt van Hoof and Martin Jacobson.

 Politano marches on. 

 Andoni Larrabe awaits flop with Scott Mahin.

Larrabe victorious, Scott Mahin felted in 18th.

Brazilian Scooby and the drug sniffing German Shepard hang out at NJoy booth.  

Scooby whips the crowd into ecstasy. 

Maximilian Senft Eliminated in 11th Place. Newhouse & Politano happy. 

Newhouse, Jacobson, & Politano - almost there. 

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. 

Joe Cada Becomes First Main Event Champ Since 2001 to Take Home a WSOP Bracelet

Down to seven worthy $10,000 Six Handed NLHE bracelet contenders, WSOP action moved to the ESPN stage, with Max Silver in the lead with 2.3 million, followed by Jeremy Ausmus with nearly 1.8 million. Erick Lindgren sat on 1.5 million and Joe Cada had 900,000. Small stacks included Dario Sammartino and JC Tran at around 600,000. The Swede Martin Jacobson was in critical condition with 178,000, or less than 10 big blinds. 

Some of the toughest: Ausmus, Tran, Cada, Silver, Jacobson

Early action saw short stacks move toward stable footing, with Cada getting a huge double up to 1.9 million against Ausmus, A-A vs. J-J. This took Ausmus down to a medium stack of 800,000. Ironically, the action in this hand had started with Ausmus’ 45,000 bet under-the-gun, which was called by Max Silver’s pocket fours. Had Ausmus respected Cada’s big blind three-bet raise to 145,000 and smooth called––rather than four betting to 300,000––Silver would have been priced in and hit trips on the flop. Just like that, Cada would’ve been taken out and the tournament would have followed a very different path. These are the small decisions that have huge consequences in the often maddening game of poker. 

Next, Jacobson’s pocket queens held against Sammartino’s K-J, giving him a much needed double up. Sammartino was not down and out for long however––getting a full double up A-K vs. A-J, against Joe Cada. Finally, even Jacobson’s small-stack double ups were not enough and his A-5 came up against Sammartino’s pocket tens. Flopping an ace Jacobson was ahead until Sammartino hit trips on the turn and the Swede left with $66,382.

 Short stacks Jacobson and Sammartino get it on

Down to 675,000 in chips, high stakes cash game veteran Ausmus sorely needed a double up and he got his wish when Joe Cada raised 65,000 from the button and Ausmus pushed in the small blind with pocket nines. Cada made the call with A-9, where before he had folded A-J to Sammartino’s all-in shove with A-10, on a similar stack. The reason for the earlier fold was perhaps that Sammartino had been playing tight and come over the top of an early position raiser and caller in shoving his stack. In Ausmus’ case, not only was there minimal action prior to his late position shove, but Ausmus could easily be on tilt after losing a number of coin flips in the past half hour. In addition, Cada’s raising range would be perceived as wide on the button. For these reasons, two very different decisions––a fold to all-in pressure with A-J and a later call to similar pressure with A-9 make perfect sense. Despite both decisions turning out to be incorrect (given the actual holdings), Cada made defensible decisions in both situations. 

                           Ausmus (left) licks his chops, as he has his opponent dominated.

Dario Sammartino, supported by a boisterous Italian rail that included Mustapha Kanit (who has made a number of WSOP final tables the past two weeks), was the next to go. His pocket jacks were all-in against Ausmus’ queens preflop in a classic cooler situation. 

Sammartino waving to his boisterous Italia crew following a double up.

                                Sammartino congratulated for his nice finish in a very tough field.

A major confrontation took place between Max Silver and Jeremy Ausmus––with Silver raising 60,000 with A-J and Ausmus calling with 8-6, and Cada calling as well. The flop hit Silver hard, A-9-7 with two spades on board. Cada bet air 105,000 and both Silver and Ausmus called. A seven paired the board on the turn and Silver bet out 205,000, with Ausmus stationing him with a straight draw. When a 6 of spades come out on the river, a number of potential draws came home, including a flush, a straight, and the already present trips and full house. Ausmus, on complete air, bet 500,000 into a 1 million pot and Silver, looking a bit like Woody Allen at his most perplexed, tanked, smiled, scratched his head, and folded. With that well-timed bluff, Ausmus chipped up to 3 million and Silver dropped to 1.8 million. While some might argue that a fold with an ace and high kicker was too conservative––given that this was an excellent bluffing spot––I would dare anyone to make such a seemingly suicidal call in a real high stakes tournament situation. My only problem with Silver’s play is that he should have been much more active on the flop, pushing pretenders off of potential bluffing hands. 

On life support, Lindgren was the next to go, shoving his last 680,000 with 10-9 and losing to Silver’s K-4. With that, Silver was back up to a healthy 2.4 million stack and within striking distance of Ausmus again.

                               Lindgren on a mission to double up vs. Silver or go home

                               Lindgren takes the long walk to rail, for consolation from his wife.

When Cada raised the pot to 100,000 with A-K, Silver defended with Q-8 and he called a 150,000 continuation bet on a 2-Q-K flop. When a 6 peeled off, Cada put in a 275,000 bet that Silver should arguably have gotten away from, with middle pair and middling kicker. Instead, Silver stationed him and called down for 725,000 when Cada shoved on a 3 river. This seemingly poor read of a situation almost never to his advantage likely had to do to the fact that SIlver had been bluffed off a couple key hands and was determined to fight back. He simply picked the wrong time. 

With Silver the new short stack on 700,000 chips, it was JC Tran who went out next, staking his tournament life on A-Q and losing out to Ausmus’ pocket jacks. This solid performance gave Tran a fourth place finish for $273,000 and solidified his position as one of the contenders for the WSOP Player of the Year award. 

JC Tran out against Ausmus

With very few chips left and blinds rising, Silver went all-in with 10-6 in the small blind and was bested by Cada’s A-8. It was now time for an epic heads up confrontation, with Ausmus sitting on 4.8 million and Cada on just over 3 million chips. Cada had been steadily chipping up over the past hour when a major all-in virtually ended the competition. Cada’s pocket eights held up against Ausmus’ A-J, vaulting him to 7.3 million chips and bringing Ausmus down to half a million chips. Despite a critical double up to take him off life support, Ausmus was out when his pocket jacks went up against Cada’s pocket queens. The win was a landmark accomplishment, with Cada pocketing $670,000 and earning bragging rights as the first WSOP Main Event bracelet champion since 2001 to take home a bracelet following his Main Event victory. 

                                        The indomitable Joe Cada

JC Tran Gives Max Silver a New Nickname “The Machine” (Martin Jacobson does not have a nickname) as $10,000 Six Handed NLHE Moves Toward Final Table

As might be expected at a $10,000 Six Handed NLHE event attracting 264 runners, we have a star-studded final 13 that features UK high stakes crusher Max Silver comfortably in first with 1.3 million. Hiren “Sunny” Patel is in second with 1 million, while 2009 WSOP Main Event Winner Joe Cada sits on a healthy 800,000. In the middle of the pack are former November Niners JC Tran and Jeremy Ausmus, as well as two-time bracelet winner Erick Lindgren. Also at the table are the Italian Dario Sammartino and the Swedish Martin Jacobson and, not least, the feared German pro George Danzer. 

                    Danzer, Tran, Jacobson, Cada, and Max "the Machine" Silver on device

The tournament consolidates to two six-handed tables when last week’s $10,000 Razz Championship winner George Danzer, sporting a stylish long-haired mohawk, eliminates six-time WSOP bracelet winner Layne Flack in 13th. Short stacked, Flack moves all-in on a 6-5-10-6 board with K-J, only to run into Danzer’s near nut holding of 6-3. 

                                                          Danzer––feared in mohawk

With the two tables next to each other, an ultra-relaxed vibe predominates––despite the serious money up for grabs. Old friends JC Tran and Erick Lindgren talk it up from their respective tables, with Lindgren saying of JC Tran, “he’s been around forever––that’s when you have it made.” Reflecting a moment, Lindgren adds “when people can’t remember life in poker without you, means your old.” Taking the high road and not mentioning Lindgren's similarly advanced age, JC Tran responds “But you said I’m the coolest guy in poker.” 

 Danzer & "coolest guy in poker" transfixed by the USA-Ghana World Cup match

Mixed in with all this banter are some major leveling wars––Lindgren makes Ausmus fold with a well-timed river bet into a sizable pot and turns over one card, a middle-pair six. Patel comments––clearly not convinced of the strength of Lindgren’s holding, “you showed me that one yesterday.” In another hand Joe Cada raises preflop and then folds reluctantly to a three-bet by Danzer saying “I had a pretty hand. 8-9 suited––it’s like aces to me.” Next, Danzer is the aggressor on a flop of 10-Q-9, three hearts and JC Tran calls. An ace peels and Danzer bets, with JC Tran stationing him. After some serious tanking they finally check a river that puts out an obvious straight draw, and Danzer wins with a lone 10. JC gives a wry chuckle, commenting that he was thinking of bluffing the river “my mind was going do it, don’t do it, do it.” Cada comments that––had he played––he would have had the stone nut straight. “I didn’t river you George, I would have turned you. You didn’t think about that, did you.”

“my mind was going do it, don’t do it, do it.” 

Let's all watch soccer

Cada vs.Tran while Jacobson... watches soccer

Meanwhile, short stacks are being offed right and left. With only 117,000 left Lee Markholt shoves his 6-5 unsuited and runs up against Ausmus’ jacks. Probably not the best holding to run with under-the-gun, even six-handed. Next, Scott Clements, sitting on a dwindling stack of 345,000, loses a coin flip A-4 vs. JC Tran’s K-J. Meanwhile, Lingren is picking up chips from Kyle White to his right, shoving over the top of White’s substantial river bet on a board with four clubs and taking down a healthy 800,000 pot. Hiren Patel is out in 10th when he stakes his remaining 635,000 on A-J and runs up against Jeremy Ausmus’ Big Slick. 

 Patel taking the bad news as Ausmus’ Big Slick holds up.

It's never easy–– "Sunny" Patel out in 10th

Amidst this slew of short stack bust-outs, table banter continues apace. George Danzer bets 75,000 into a 3-7-10-5 board and Max Silver raises to 190,000. When a 3 comes on the river, Danzer checks and Silver reps the nut three––or complete air––with a nearly pot-sized bet of 295,000. Tanking for a few minutes, Danzer finally folds to the pressure, stretching and smiling, “That was good Max, that was good. Betting for value with a pair of nines there?” Danzer can’t let it go, muttering in his teutonic accent “He’s a machine” and commenting to Silver again "What can I do there with top pair––check jam the turn?"

                                   Danzinator, JC, no name, Chico, and the Machine

 With Silver accumulating chips seemingly without effort, JC Tran runs with this, riffing “Machine––did you get that? Danzinator folds to the Machine––heard that before?” He asks Lindgren across the way “Anyone named Machine?” To which  Lindgren comes up with the non sequitur “no, he’s the Shuffle Master.” Cada, getting in on the conversation, comments that he used to have the nickname Chico based on Street Fighter, which he dominated in. Which gets him and JC Tran discussing optimal video game moves “up-up-left-down” and shadow boxing. Max Silver cannot resist asking the only player left out of the fray, the Swedish Martin Jacobson, whether he has a nickname. “Umm no....”

"Chico" Cada, of Street Fighter fame

Next, it’s on to some more consolidation, with the crippled Danzer moving his last half a million chips into the pot with A-10 and getting felted by Max Silver’s A-K. 

No miracle for Danzer against the Machine

Kyle White, wearing a distinctive “Happy Father’s Day” shirt a day late falls just short of the unofficial final table, where he could show it off to the ESPN cameras, risking his last 210,000 chips with A-8 against Lindgren’s K-K. 

Lindgren felts White.. condolences

It's the thought that counts... White sent home in eighth.