ClubWPT Player of the Day Amir Babakhani

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Day 4 Table and Seat Draw

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

 TABLE 32
Seat 1.  Steven Silverman  -  749,000  (74 bb)
Seat 2.  Sam Goldman  -  470,000 (47 bb)
Seat 3.  
Seat 4.  Zach Hyman  -  130,000  (13 bb)
Seat 5.  Hyon Kim  -  891,000  (89 bb)
Seat 6.  Brandon Steven  -  1,091,000 (109 bb)
Seat 7.  Rocco Palumbo  -  666,000  (66 bb)
Seat 8.  David Peters  -  369,000  (36 bb)
Seat 9.  Alex Phahurat  -  878,000  (87 bb)

TABLE 33
Seat 1.  Andrew Mackenzie  -  483,000  (48 bb)
Seat 2.  Richard Harroch  -  193,000  (19 bb)
Seat 3.  Jonathan Roy  -  824,000  (82 bb)
Seat 4.  Andrew Lichtenberger  -  137,000  (13 bb)
Seat 5.  Dan Shak  -  698,000  (69 bb)
Seat 6.  Chino Rheem  -  270,000  (27 bb)
Seat 7.  Jake Cody  -  365,000  (36 bb)
Seat 8.  
Seat 9.  Andy Frankenberger  -  811,000  (81 bb)

TABLE 34
Seat 1.  Jason Mercier  -  583,000 (58 bb)
Seat 2.  Amir Babakhani  -  1,220,000  (122 bb)
Seat 3.  Byron Kaverman  -  656,000  (65 bb)
Seat 4.  Matt Hyman  -  1,042,000  (104 bb)
Seat 5.    
Seat 6.  Daniel Negreanu  -  329,000  (32 bb)
Seat 7.  Erick Lindgren  -  467,000  (46 bb)
Seat 8.  Emil Olsson  -  573,000  (57 bb)
Seat 9.  Jeffrey Ishbia  -  705,000 (70 bb)

Day 3 Ends with Final 24 and Amir Babakhani Leads with 1,220,000

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Day 3 at the World Poker Tour World Championship welcomed back a field of 67 players on Monday at the Bellagio Poker Room in Las Vegas, and by the end of the night just 24 remained. Play was especially fast to start the day but things started to slow down as the field approached the final three tables in the tournament.

The chip leader at the end of play is Amir Babakhani with 1,220,000. Other top stacks include Brandon Steven (1,091,000), Matt Hyman (1,042,000), Hyon Kim (891,000), and Alex Phahurat (878,000).

Notable eliminations today included: Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, John Hennigan, Jonathan Aguiar, David Sands, John Hennigan, Noah Schwartz, Paul Klann, Ravi Raghavan, Matt Giannetti, Faraz Jaka, Mike Linster, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Dan O’Brien, Justin Young, Marvin Rettenmaier, and Season XI WPT Player of the Year leader Matt Salsberg.

Salsberg still holds the lead in the POY race despite busting out of the tournament. The only players that can still pass him are Jonathan Roy and Amir Babakhani, but they would have to win this tournament to take the POY lead away from Salsberg.

Tune back in tomorrow when the field should play five more levels of poker on Day 4 here at Bellagio. The money bubble will burst when just 15 remain and a min-cash is worth $49,120. Cards will get into the air at noon PT on Tuesday.

Sam Goldman and Brandon Steven Preflop Showdown

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Sam Goldman has a reraise of 50,000 in front of him from the hi-jack and Brandon Steven reraises to 125,000 from the button. The dealer pulls the 50,000 from each player into the pot and Goldman goes into the tank for multiple minutes past the end of the level before deciding to reraise all in for 178,000 more. Steven now tanks with A-Q and he eventually decides to fold. Goldman flips over A-K as he collects the pot to end Day 3.

Sam Goldman - 470,000 (58 bb)
Brandon Steven - 1,091,000 (136 bb)

Jake Cody Doubles Thru Jonathan Roy

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Jake Cody is all in preflop for 119,000 with AJ against the KQ of Jonathan Roy. Cody will need his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board comes J8328, and Cody wins the pot with two pair, jacks and eights, to double up in chips.

Jake Cody  -  260,000  (32 bb)

Hyon Kim Doubles Thru Zach Hyman

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Hyon Kim is all in preflop from the big blind with QQ, up against Zach Hyman in the small blind with AK.

The board comes 854210, and the pocket queens hold up for Kim to win the pot and double up in chips, nearly crippling Hyman in the process.

Hyon Kim  -  848,000  (106 bb)
Zach Hyman  -  90,000  (11 bb)

Larry Ormson Eliminated by Amir Babakhani

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Larry Ormson is all in preflop for 38,000 with 87 against the 109 of Amir Babakhani. Ormson will need to improve to stay alive.

The board comes Q10453, and Babakhani wins the pot with a pair of tens to eliminate Larry Ormson from the tournament.

Amir Babakhani  -  1,250,000  (156 bb)
Larry Ormson  -  Eliminated

Will Failla Eliminated by Matt Hyman

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

After a flop of 1072, WPT Champions Club member Will Failla is all in from the hijack for about 260,000 with 1010 (set of tens) against Matt Hyman in the small blind with KJ (king-high flush). Failla will need to improve to stay alive.

The turn is the 8, the river is the 9, and Hyman wins the pot with his flush to eliminate Will Failla.

Matt Hyman  -  1,050,000  (131 bb)
Will Failla  -  Eliminated

David Peters Doubles Thru Brandon Steven

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Steven Silverman raises to 17,000 preflop from middle position and Brandon Steven calls on the cutoff. David Peters reraises all in for 161,000 and Silverman folds.

Steven calls with pocket nines but Peters holds AK and he spikes a king on the board to win the hand and double up. Peters survive with 385,000 and Steven is still cruising with 1,150,000.

David Peters - 385,000 (48 bb)
Brandon Steven - 1,150,000 (143 bb)

Jason Mercier vs. Chino Rheem

Level 15: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Chino Rheem raises from the button to 18,000, and Jason Mercier calls from the big blind. The flop comes Q102, Mercier checks, Rheem bets 23,000, and Mercier calls.

The turn is the 7, Mercier checks, Rheem bets 42,000, and Mercier calls.

The river is the K, Mercier checks, Rheem bets 75,000, and Mercier tanks for a while before he calls with J10 for a pair of tens. Rheem mucks, and Mercier wins the pot.

Jason Mercier  -  570,000  (71 bb)
Chino Rheem  -  120,000  (15 bb)