WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Day 4 Recap
Level 21: 6,000-12,000, 2,000 ante
By BJ Nemeth
Royal Flush Girls Angelique Velez (left) and Jeannie Duffy (foreground, center) play as bounties in a tournament on ClubWPT.com while the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown plays out behind them in the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena.
Day 4 began with 32 players in the WPT event, but only 27 would finish in the money -- and it was a big bubble, as a min-cash was worth $25,056.
Three players busted in the first 15 minutes -- including last-woman-standing Joanne Dorin -- and it would take 2 1/2 hours to lose two more to bust the bubble.
Short stack Justin Zaki (left) doubled up early with A
K
against the 8
8
of Allie Prescott (right). All in preflop, Zaki flopped a king to win the pot.
Patrick Mahoney (left) was one of the shortest stacks in the field on the money bubble, and Fred Goldberg (right) was reluctant to give him any more chips than necessary. With about 75,000 already in the pot, Mahoney moved all in on the river for his last 25,000 with the board showing J
10
6
7
5
. Goldberg tanked for several minutes before folding, saying, "If that was a bluff, it was the best bluff of the year."
The big stacks didn't sit back and wait for the short stacks to bust. In this hand, big stacks Ravi Raghavan (right) and Fred Goldberg (foreground, left) were raising and reraising each other until Raghavan took down this pot.
With betting the entire way on a board of K
K
7
K
7
(full house on the board), Jess Yawitz (foreground, left) moved all in on the river to put Mark Rose (center) to a decision. Rose had 8
8
for a slightly higher full house on the river, and tanked for several minutes before he called -- a wrong decision here would make him the bubble boy.
But Yawitz said, "Nice call," and showed 6
5
to play the board. Rose got the double up, and would survive into the money.
John Dolan has been near the top of the leaderboard for most of this tournament, but he lost some momentum on Day 4 and fell back to the center of the pack. Here, he tanked a big decision on the money bubble before eventually folding.
Dolan would eventually bounce back, and once again end the day among the chipleaders.
The money bubble finally burst when two short stacks got it all in -- Allie Prescott (left) had 9
9
, but he was dominated by the J
J
of Jason Koon (foreground, right). The best hand held up, and Prescott was the unfortunate bubble boy in a tournament with a $25,056 min-cash.
Prescott didn't know it, but a hand was slowly developing at another table that could bust another player and earn Prescott a split of 27th place prize money.
With only four tables in action, everyone knew when Allie Prescott was eliminated in 28th place. Michael Green (pictured) was short-stacked and involved in a hand, and he knew he could just fold and guarantee himself at least $25,056. But if he kept playing and busted this hand, he'd have to split 27th place with Prescott, earning only $12,028.
The flop was K
3
2
, and Green decided to play the hand, all in with A
K
(top pair, top kicker). He was in excellent shape against the 9
7
of Daryl Jace, and another king on the turn clinched the double up for Green and guaranteed him a full share of the prize money. (Green eventually busted 24th, earning the min-cash of $25,056.)
Craig Bergeron (left) contemplates the all-in raise from ClubWPT.com qualifier Butch Valure (right) after a flop of 10
8
5
. Bergeron would fold, while the one the professional players called "The Qualifier" (Valure) was above average in chips.
Joe Serock began the day second in chips, and improved from there, taking a big lead as he was the first player to reach 1,000,000 in chips. Serock is looking to make back-to-back WPT Final Tables in the U.S., as he finished third at WPT Bay 101 last month.
Bill Brown (foreground, left) started the day as chipleader, but had a rough time on Day 4. Here, Jimmy Tran (right) moved all in on the river with the board showing 8
4
2
10
8
, and Brown tanked for a while before he called. Tran showed 4
4
to double up with a full house, fours full of eights.
A short while later, Bill Brown was one of the short stacks. Here, he moved all in preflop with A-K over a raise from chipleader Joe Serock. Serock would fold A-8 face up, and Brown showed A-K -- "I was hoping for a call."
With the board showing Q
10
8
A
on the turn, Ravi Raghavan (foreground, right) check-raised all in against ClubWPT.com qualifier Butch Valure (center). Valure called with A
Q
(top two pair), but Raghavan turned over K
J
for an ace-high straight.
The river was the 3
, and Valure was eliminated in 20th place. It was still an excellent finish for Valure, who took home $25,056 and some great memories of the event.
Even though WPT Champions Club member Tommy Vedes (right) was below average in chips, he had no problem tangling with chipleader Joe Serock (left). Serock would win this hand with K
10
on a board of K
5
3
8
8
, but Vedes would get the chips back a few hands later when he doubled up with 9
9
against Serock's 5
5
.
When the field was down to 18 players, they combined to the final two tables in the corner of the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena. Fans were able to look down on the action from the stadium seating above.
Sharon Levin (right) put himself in an interesting position when he committed himself to a preflop reraise over Ravi Raghavan and Craig Bergeron (left) -- before he declared an amount, he thought he got a read that Bergeron was strong.
Levin eventually made a large raise anyway, and after Raghavan folded, Bergeron moved all in. Levin was stuck, and tanked and talked for minutes before he eventually folded what he claimed was pocket jacks. Bergeron had promised to show his cards, and he revealed K
K
as he took the pot.
Zach Clark (right) had been treading water with a short stack for a long time, picking his spots well and staying ahead of the blinds. But he couldn't fade a bad beat.
Clark moved all in preflop with A
J
, and Jimmy Tran called from the big blind with a dominated Q
J
. Clark watches as the dealer puts out the fateful Q
on the river, pairing Tran's kicker to eliminate Clark in 16th place.
ClubWPT.com qualifier Butch Valure may be out of the tournament, but he still plans to check out the televised WPT Final Table on Monday to cap off a great trip.
Day 4 came to an end after five more levels with 15 players remaining, and an average chip count around 580,000. Here are the official chip counts for Day 5:
1. Joe Serock - 1,061,000 (88 BBs)
2. Robert Georato - 1,054,000 (87 BBs)
3. Kyle Bowker - 980,000 (81 BBs)
4. John Dolan - 900,000 (75 BBs)
5. Ravi Raghavan - 672,000 (56 BBs)
6. Craig Bergeron - 650,000 (54 BBs)
7. Fred Goldberg - 617,000 (51 BBs)
8. Jimmy Tran - 593,000 (49 BBs)
9. Jess Yawitz - 542,000 (45 BBs)
10. Tommy Vedes - 378,000 (31 BBs)
11. Eli Berg - 357,000 (29 BBs)
12. David Paredes - 307,000 (25 BBs)
13. Mark Rose - 224,000 (18 BBs)
14. Sharon Levin - 208,000 (17 BBs)
15. Justin Zaki - 204,000 (17 BBs)
Day 5 begins Sunday at 12:00 noon ET. Return to WPT.com for continuing live coverage of all the action.
Sorted In:
Featured Blog, Royal Flush Girls, Angelique Velez, Jeannie Duffy, Joe Serock, Robert Georato, Kyle Bowker, John Dolan, Ravi Raghavan, Craig Bergeron, Fred Goldberg, Jimmy Tran, Jess Yawitz, Tommy Vedes, Eli Berg, David Paredes, Mark Rose, Sharon Levin, Justin Zaki, Zach Clark, Bill Brown, ClubWPT, Butch Valure, Jason Koon, Michael Green, Patrick Mahoney, Allie Prescott, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
09:42 AM, 04/22/12
Allie Prescott Eliminated on the Money Bubble in 28th Place ($0)
Level 17: 2,500-5,000, 500 ante
Photo: Allie Prescott (left) shakes hands with Jason Koon after being eliminated on the money bubble.
Allie Prescott raises to 12,000 from late position and Jason Koon announces he is all-in from the small blind. Prescott quickly calls, and no one at the tables realizes that it is Prescott who is all-in for his last 80,000 or so, while Koon has around 140,000.
Koon has the best hand with J
J
and Prescott trails with 9
9
. The board runs ou 8
7
3
4
7
, giving Prescott no help.
It is only when Prescott taps the table and starts to wish everyone luck that his tablemates realize Prescott is the bubble boy and everyone else is now guaranteeed at least a $25,056 payday.
Jason Koon - 235,000 (47 BBs)
Allie Prescott - eliminated in 28th place ($0)
Sorted In:
Jason Koon, Allie Prescott, Featured Blog, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
02:45 PM, 04/21/12
ClubWPT.com's Butch Valure Keeps Chipping Up
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Allie Prescott and ClubWPT.com's Butch Valure see a flop of A
K
Q
and Prescott bets 23,000 from the cutoff. Valure is on the button and raises to 60,000. Prescott gives it some thought, then folds.
Mark Rose, who is also seated at the table, asks the two, "If I had moved in preflop, would either of you have called?"
"Probably," Valure tells him. He then turns over his hand--A
K
.
Butch Valure - 400,000 (100 BBs)
Allie Prescott - 150,000 (38 BBs)
Sorted In:
Butch Valure, Allie Prescott, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
01:24 PM, 04/21/12
Justin Zaki Doubles Thru Allie Prescott
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Justin Zaki (left) min-raises from the cutoff to 8,000, Allie Prescott (right) reraises from the button to 22,000, and Zaki moves all in for 112,500. Prescott calls with 8
8
, and Zaki turns over A
K
for a race situation.
The board comes K
9
3
Q
2
, and Zaki pairs his king on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips.
Justin Zaki - 235,000 (58 BBs)
Allie Prescott - 205,000 (51 BBs)
Sorted In:
Justin Zaki, Allie Prescott, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
12:46 PM, 04/21/12
Daryl Jace vs. Allie Prescott
Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante
Lee Markholt raises to 7,000 from middle position, Daryl Jace calls behind him, the player in the cutoff calls, and Allie Prescott calls from the big blind.
The flop comes 9
9
4
and Prescott bets 11,500. Markholt folds, then Jace raises to 31,500 total. The player in the cutoff folds, then Prescott reraises to 61,500. Jace decides to lay it down.
"Show it," Markholt implores Prescott. Prescott offers to show one and pushes his hand towards Markholt. Markholt flips over the 7
as Prescott rakes in the pot.
Allie Prescott - 320,000
Daryl Jace - 320,000
Sorted In:
Daryl Jace, Lee Markholt, Allie Prescott, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
07:28 PM, 04/20/12
Allie Prescott Doubles Thru Patrick Mahoney
Level 14: 1,200-2,400, 400 ante
Allie Prescott opens for a raise from middle position and Patrick Mahoney reraises to 13,500 behind him. Action folds back around to Prescott and he reraises to 30,000 total, leaving around 90,000 behind.
Mahoney announces he is all-in having PRescott covered and Prescott deliberates a bit before he tells Mahoney, "Alright, I call."
Prescott flips over A
Q
and he is racing with Mahoney's 5
5
. The J
7
4
gives Prescott a flush draw in addition to his overcards and he pairs his queen with the Q
on the turn. The river is the 9
and Prescott takes the pot to double up the second time in the same orbit.
Allie Prescott - 250,000 (104 BBs)
Patrick Mahoney - 105,000 (44 BBs)
Sorted In:
Allie Prescott, Patrick Mahoney, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
06:25 PM, 04/20/12
Allie Prescott Doubles Thru Lee Markholt
Level 14: 1,200-2,400, 400 ante
WPT Champions Club member Lee Markholt and Allie Prescott get it all-in on a flop of K
7
4
for Prescott's last 53,100 with Markholt holding A
8
for the nut flush draw and Prescott holding Q
6
for a flopped flush.
The turn brings the 10
and the river the 2
and Prescott's flush holds to give him the pot and the double up.
Allie Prescott - 120,000 (50 BBs)
Lee Markholt - 19,000 (8 BBs)
Sorted In:
Allie Prescott, Lee Markholt, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
06:15 PM, 04/20/12
John Dolan Vies For the Chip Lead Again
Level 14: 1,200-2,400, 400 ante
With around 60,000 already in the pot and the board reading A
K
6
8
, Allie Prescott bets 33,000 from the small blind and John Dolan calls on the button.
The river is the 2
and Prescott takes his time counting out a bet of 78,000. Dolan gives it some thought before calling. Prescot flips over A
7
for a pair of aces, but Dolan's A
Q
has the better kicker and he drags the pot, moving into the chip lead.
John Dolan - 620,000
Allie Prescott - 105,000
Sorted In:
John Dolan, Allie Prescott, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
05:32 PM, 04/20/12
Allie Prescott vs. Kenny Nguyen
Level 13: 1,000-2,000, 300 ante
Allie Prescott raises to 5,000 from early position and Kenny Nguyen calls from the big blind. The flop comes 10
6
4
and both players check. The turn brings the A
and Nguyen bets 6,500. Prescott eyes Nguyen's stack and sees he has around 50,000 behind before raising to 13,000. Nguyen fires back, making it an additional 23,000 to play.
"You the man," Prescott says as he folds. His cards accidentally flip over and Prescott's 7
8
for a double-gutter is exposed as Nguyen takes the pot.
Kenny Nguyen - 85,000
Allie Prescott - 180,000
Sorted In:
Kenny Nguyen, Allie Prescott, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
04:45 PM, 04/20/12
Allie Prescott Four-Bets Four Players Out of a Pot
Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante
Lee Markholt raises from early position to 2,700, Raj Vohra calls from middle position, another player calls from late position, and John Dolan reraises from the small bilnd to 11,000.
Allie Prescott cold four-bets it from the big blind to 26,000, and Markholt thinks for a while before he folds. Everyone else folds behind, and Prescott takes the pot.
Allie Prescott - 93,000
Sorted In:
Allie Prescott, Lee Markholt, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Season X
12:43 PM, 04/20/12