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WPT Jacksonville, Day 3 Recap
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Photo Recap by BJ Nemeth
Day 3 of WPT Jacksonville began with 42 players, but only 40 of them would finish in the money. The bubble burst rather quickly, and at that point, it was a battle to see who would make the six-handed WPT Final Table.
Here's a photographic recap of the Day 3 action:
By the end of the night, one player had built a huge chip lead -- nearly twice as many as any of the other final tablists. Who was it? You'll have to keep reading.
Vitor Coelho (right) came into the day with a big chip lead, but he ran into some trouble in the first level and lost nearly half his stack. Here, he faces a big bet on the turn from Lisa Hamilton (left).
Hamilton, who started the day near the bottom of the chip counts, had a great first level, passing Coelho as she built up an above-average stack early.
Allan Deguino uses a small Buddha statue as his chip protector, and as his stack dwindled, he would need all the luck he could get. It's a bad sign that his mini-Buddha could hold his entire stack of 74,000.
When action folded to short stack Allan Deguino (left) in the small blind, Dwyte Pilgrim (center) warned the entire table against shoving against him in a blind-vs.-blind situation. Deguino moved all in with A
J
anyway, and Pilgrim called him with Q10.
Deguino placed his lucky Buddha on his chips, and it seemed to help as the flop came A4
3, giving him a big lead with a pair of aces. But the turn was the Q, the river was the 10, and Deguino shouted "No!" as his luck ran out -- Dwyte Pilgrim caught a running two pair to eliminate Deguino in 30th place.
Artie Rodriguez (left) earned his entry into this tournament in a freeroll on ClubWPT.com, and on Day 1, he was just happy to be here. But as each day passed, Rodriguez proved he could hang with the professional players. Once the field reached the money early on Day 3, Rodriguez could focus on trying to become the third ClubWPT qualifier to reach a WPT Final Table.
Dwyte Pilgrim (center) was the last remaining WPT winner in the field, and the only one to finish in the money. Here, Barry Wiedemann (right) bets into him on the river, forcing Pilgrim to fold.
Brian Hawkins stands up, expecting to be eliminated after running his AK into Michael Messick's Q
Q after a flop of Q87. When the chip stacks were counted down, Hawkins survived with a single big blind, but he was soon after eliminated in 23rd place.
After winning a big pot, Micah Raskin proudly displays his single 25,000 chip in the center of his chip stack. Raskin would make his way to the final two tables, but was eventually eliminated in 15th place.
When the final 18 players redrew for seats at the final two tables, ClubWPT.com qualifier Artie Rodriguez (left) was still hanging with the big dogs. Rodriguez was still smiling even though he found himself out of position to poker pros Dwyte Pilgrim (center) and Darryll Fish (right), both of whom had bigger stacks than he did.
It wasn't obvious at the time, but this photo represents a key moment in the tournament. Benjamin Zamani (left) moved all in preflop with 66, and Anthony Ruberto (right) called from the small blind with AK. It was a race situation which could clearly go either way.
The board came K73Q2, and Ruberto paired his king on the flop to win the pot. Zamani was crippled down to a single big blind, and had to watch Zamani stack the pot as he was effectively forced all in on the next hand -- which would be his last.
As for Anthony Ruberto, this hand would begin a big rush for him, as you'll soon see.
The mysterious John Liu disappeared again on Day 3, this time leaving for the dinner break about an hour early. Like he did the day before, he didn't tell anyone where he was going, he just got up from his seat and didn't return. (On Day 2, he disappeared for about four hours late in the day.)
Liu's chip stack weathered his disappearances, but when he returned after the dinner break, he was eventually eliminated in 13th place, earning $21,280. John Liu used to be a dealer here in the Poker Room at Orange Park Kennel Club.
At the final two tables, Darryll Fish (left) bets big on the turn against Sam Soverel (right). Fish was battling for the chip lead at this point.
Vitor Coelho started Day 3 as the big chipleader with 42 players left, but a rough first level dropped him back to the back. But he built his way back up, and when this photo was taken, he had retaken the lead with 1.9 million in chips.
Darryll Fish can be seen in the background (top right). Even though Fish's stack is considerably smaller in physical size, Fish wasn't far behind Coelho with 1.75 million in chips of his own.
After winning the race with A-K against Benjamin Zamani's pocket sixes, Anthony Ruberto (pictured) just kept steamrolling, winning pot after pot until he took the chip lead.
ClubWPT.com qualifier Artie Rodriguez (standing, right) continued to roll, doubling up thru Michael Messick with 14 players remaining. With the board showing 1054QJ, Rodriguez moved all in on the river with J10 for two pair. Messick called, but didn't show his cards.
When the field was down to 10 players, they redrew for seats at a single table. In seat order: (1) Darryll Fish, (2) Chris Tryba, (3) Anthony Ruberto, (4) Michael Messick, (5) Sam Soverel, (6) Matt Ezrol, (7) Vitor Coelho, (8) Artie Rodriguez, (9) Lisa Hamilton, (10) Alexander Venovski.
While other players were pushing big pots back and forth, Lisa Hamilton was picking her spots and calmly and quietly making her way to the WPT Final Table.
After running AQ into the KK of Darryll Fish, Chris Tryba (left) was crippled down to just three big blinds. A few hands later, Tryba could barely watch as he was all in with J9 against the K10 of chipleader Anthony Ruberto (right).
The board would come KJ4610, and Chris Tryba would be eliminated in 10th place.
Vitor Coelho (left) plays a pot against Darryll Fish (foreground right) with eight players remaining.
The final seven players battle for the six seats at Tuesday's WPT Final Table. In seat order: (1) Darryll Fish, (2) Anthony Ruberto, (3) Sam Soverel, (4) Matt Ezrol, (5) Vitor Coelho, (6) Artie Rodriguez, (7) Lisa Hamilton.
In the final hand of the night, Matt Ezrol (left) moved all in from the button with 66, and Vitor Coelho (standing, right) called from the small blind with KJ. Coelho took the lead when he paired his king on the flop, and Artie Rodriguez (far right) seemed more excited than Coelho as they waited for the river card.
The board came K538A, and Ezrol was the unfortunate WPT bubble boy, finishing in seventh place.
Artie Rodriguez becomes just the third ClubWPT.com qualifier to reach a WPT Final Table, and he hopes to be the first to win an open WPT title. Rodriguez came into this event looking forward to a great experience, and now he's guaranteed at least $46,315, with a shot at $325,928.
Here are the official chip counts for Tuesday's WPT Final Table:
Seat 1. Darryll Fish - 641,000 (26 BBs)
Seat 2. Anthony Ruberto - 4,512,000 (187 BBs)
Seat 3. Sam Soverel - 1,432,000 (59 BBs)
Seat 4. Vitor Coelho - 2,570,000 (107 BBs)
Seat 5. Artie Rodriguez - 797,000 (32 BBs)
Seat 6. Lisa Hamilton - 1,901,000 (79 BBs)
And here's the prizepool that they'll be playing for:
1st place: $325,928
2nd place: $287,762
3rd place: $112,657
4th place: $75,105
5th place: $55,077
6th place: $46,315
The WPT Final Table begins on Tuesday at 12:00 noon ET, with the WPT Live Stream starting at 12:30 pm ET / 9:30 am PT (due to the 30-minute delay).
And yes, the WPT Live Stream will be showing hole cards, along with analysis and commentary from the WPT's Raw Deal analyst Tony Dunst and Jonathan Little, the WPT's Season VI Player of the Year.
10:19 AM, 11/22/11
Final Table Set
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
With the elimination of Matt Ezrol in 7th place ($40,056), the official six-handed final table is now set.
Seat 1: Darryll Fish - 641,000
Seat 2: Anthony Roberto - 4,512,000
Seat 3: Sam Soverel - 1,432,000
Seat 4: Vitor Coelho - 2,570,000
Seat 5: Artie Rodriguez - 797,000
Seat 6: Lisa Hamilton - 1,901,000
Action kicks off tomorrow at 12:00pm local time and Live Streaming begins at 12:30pm with a half-hour delay, so be sure to check back at WPT.com for all of the action.
02:11 AM, 11/22/11
Hand #53: Matt Ezrol Eliminated in 7th Place ($40,056)
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #53 - Matt Ezrol moves all in from the button for 277,000, and Vitor Coelho calls from the small blind with KJ. Ezrol turns over 66, and he'll need it to hold up to stay alive.
The board comes K538A, and Vitor Coelho pairs his king on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Matt Ezrol in seventh place.
Matt Ezrol - Out in 7th Place ($40,056)
Stay tuned for official chip counts for tomorrow's WPT Final Table.
02:05 AM, 11/22/11
Hands #48-52: Final Seven Players
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #48 - Artie Rodriguez raises from the small blind to 62,000, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #49 - Everyone folds to Darryll Fish, giving him a walk in the big blind.
Hand #50 - Sam Soverel min-raises under the gun to 48,000, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #51 - Darryll Fish raises from the button to 55,000, and Sam Soverel calls from the big blind. Soverel checks in the dark before the flop comes AJ3, and Fish checks behind. The turn pairs the board with the 3, and both players check.
The river card is the 10, and they both check again. Sam Soverel shows 22 to win the pot with two pair, threes and twos, and Fish mucks.
Hand #52 - Vitor Coelho raises under the gun to 58,000, Darryll Fish calls from the cutoff, and Anthony Ruberto calls from the button. The flop comes AKJ, Coelho and Fish both check, and Ruberto bets 50,000. Coelho calls, and Fish folds.
The turn card is the 3, Coelho checks, Ruberto bets 305,000, and Coelho immediately folds. Anthony Ruberto takes the pot.
02:00 AM, 11/22/11
Hands #44-47: Final Seven Players
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #44 - Sam Soverel gets a walk in the big blind.
Hand #45 - Vitor Coelho raises to 58,000 from under the gun, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #46 - Darryll Fish raises to 55,000 from middle position and Sam Soverel calls on the button. The flop comes 1072 and Fish checks. Soverel bets 65,000, Fish folds, and Soverel takes the pot.
Hand #47 - Anthony Ruberto raises to 60,000 from middle position, winning the blinds and antes.
01:53 AM, 11/22/11
Hand #43: Final Seven Players
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #43 - Vitor Coelho raises to 58,000 from middle position and action folds to Anthony Ruberto in the big blind.
He asks, "How much?" He calls and adds, "Let me try to bust this guy."
Coelho would like to know exactly who he is up against. He asks the table, "What is his name?"
"You can call me mud," Ruberto tells him.
"Okay Mud," Coelho replies.
The flop comes 443 and both players check. The turn brings the 5 and Ruberto bets 114,000. Coelho calls. The river is the 3 and Ruberto bets 401,000. Coelho quickly announces, "call."
"Straight," Ruberto says as he flips over 67. Coelho shows pocket eights.
"Wow," Coelho says with a smile as he counts out the bet. "Very nice hand sir."
Anthony Ruberto - 4,400,000 (183 BBs)
Vitor Coelho - 2,490,000 (104 BBs)
01:51 AM, 11/22/11
Hand #42: Alex Venovski Eliminated in 8th Place ($33,797)
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #42 - Sam Soverel raises to 48,000 from middle position and Alex Venovski moves all-in from the small blind for 519,000 total. Soverel calls with AQ and he is racing with Venovski's 88.
The K95 flop is a good one for Venovski, but the Q on the turn puts Soverel out front. The river brings the 10 and Soverel takes the pot, while Venovski wishes everyone luck and heads for the payout desk.
Sam Soverel - 1,200,000 (50 BBs)
Alex Venovski - eliminated in 8th place ($33,797)
01:46 AM, 11/22/11
Hands #39-41: Final Eight Players
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #39 - Anthony Ruberto raises to 59,000 from the hijack and Sam Soverel calls in the cutoff. The flop comes A74 and Ruberto bets 87,000. Soverel folds and Ruberto takes the pot.
Hand #40 - Sam Soverel raises to 48,000 from middle position and Lisa Hamilton defends the bigblind. The flop comes 653 and Hamilton checks. Soverel bets 56,000 and Hamilton check-raises, making it 150,000 to play. Soverel folds and Hamilton takes the pot.
Hand #41 - Matt Ezrol raises to 55,000 from the cutoff, Vitor Coelho calls on the butotn, Lisa Hamilton calls out of the small blind, and Alex Venovski calls out of the big blind.
The flop comes Jj10 and action checks to Ezrol, who bets 75,000. Coelho calls. Hamilton and Venovski both fold. The turn brings the 10 and both players check.
The river brings the 8 and Ezrol checks again. Coelho bets 133,000 and Ezrol thinks a minute and gives a wince before folding.
"Show your first bluff of the day," Anthony Ruberto implores.
"If you give me $100, I will," Coelho retorts.
"I ain't giving you shit," Ruberto responds with a laugh. Even though he won't pay up, Coelho still slides his cards over to Ruberto to look. Turns out Coelho has J6 for a full house, jacks ful of tens.
01:43 AM, 11/22/11
Hands #37-38: Final Eight Players
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #37 - Vitor Coelho raises under the gun to 55,000, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #38 - Anthony Ruberto raises from the cutoff to 65,000, and Vitor Coelho calls from the big blind. The flop comes A85, Coelho checks, Ruberto bets 88,000, and Coelho calls. The turn card is the J, and both players check.
The river card is the 6, Coelho bets 350,000, and Ruberto folds. Vitor Coelho takes the pot.
Ruberto says, "I had an ace," which would have given him top pair. Coelho does him one better, and says, "I had ace-jack of spades," which would have given him top two pair.
01:31 AM, 11/22/11
Hands #34-36: Final Eight Players
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #34 - Sam Soverel raises to 58,000 from middle position, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #35 - Alex Venovski moves all-in from the button for around 535,000, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #36 - Vitor Coelho raises to 58,000 from early position and Darryll Fish reraises to 126,000 on the button. Coelho calls and they go heads-up to a flop of Q104. Coelho checks, Fish bets 135,000, and Coelho calls. Both players check the 5 on the turn and check again when the river comes J.
Coelho shows 910 for a pair of nines to take the pot.
01:15 AM, 11/22/11
