The war between Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Ivey continues, and it's clear after a recent pot that the former isn't afraid to go after the man some consider the world's best all-around player.
Ivey opened to $3,000, and Esfandiari made it $8,300 from the cutoff. Ivey called, and both checked the flop. Ivey check-called $10,000 on the , and it went check-check on the river.
"King-high," Ivey announced, showing two paint cards.
Perhaps feeling emboldened by his monster stack (now at $1.3 million), Esfandiari put the double straddle to $3,200 on. Action folded to Matthew Kirk, who raised to $10,000. Esfandiari defended, and they checked down an ace-king high board. Esfandiari won with .
Every pot is seemingly straddled or double straddled right now. Jean-Robert Bellande just turned the preflop aggression up big time and reaped a pair of pots.
First, Antonio Esfandiari made it $4,000 in middle position and Jennifer Tilly three-bet to $12,000 from the small blind. Bellande cold four-bet to $30,000 from the straddle, and only Tilly called. She check-folded the flop.
The next hand, Ivey straddled, Matthew Kirk made it $4,000 and got a couple of calls, and Bellande again popped to $30,000. This time, nobody tested him.
Doyle Brunson opened for $3,500 under the gun, and Phil Ivey called on the button. Brunson bet $7,000 on the flop, and Ivey raised to $20,000. Brunson called, and the turn brought the . Brunson check-called $30,000, and he check-called another $80,000 on the river.
Ivey showed for a king-high flush. He took a pot of about $270,000.
The players have agreed to have the big blind throw in the antes for everyone. So, the big blind is now putting in $1,600 total, according to the commentary.
We picked up the action with $103,600 in the pot and a board reading . Jean-Robert Bellande led out for a modest $35,000 from the small blind and Jennifer Tilly responded with a quick raise to $80,000 from the cutoff. Bellande didn't seem to like it and ended up sending his hand to the muck.
Bob Bright opened to $4,500 in the cutoff. Jean-Robert Bellande fired out $13,000 from the button. Phil Ivey cold-called, and Antonio Esfandiari made it $50,000 in the straddle. Bright mucked, and Bellande came back with $130,000 almost immediately. Ivey folded, as did Esfandiari.
Bellande said they could turn one card over, and the was revealed.
"Antonio can't have that many frickin' hands," Bellande said.
On Hand #107, after Doyle Brunson straddled for $1,600, Johnny Chan and Jennifer Tilly both called. Bob Bright did the same, and then Phil Ivey raised to $9,000 from the button. The blinds both folded, as did Brunson, and then both Chan and Tilly called. Bright got out of the way and it was three-way action to the flop.
Two checks saw Ivey bet $19,000, Chan folded, and Tilly called before leading out for $35,000 on the turn. Ivey eyed her suspiciously but still called. Both players then checked the river.
"Ace high," Tilly announced, which prompted Ivey to table his winning .