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In one of the most candid interviews you'll read from the PCA, PokerStars Blog talks to the Team PokerStars Pro Ville Wahlbeck, who reveals what it's really like as a high stakes cash game player, battling exhaustion, downswings and variance.
Mike McDonald raised to 160,000 from early position with 
, Madis Muur called in the hijack seat with 
, Dominik Panka called in the small blind with 
, and Shyman Srinivasan woke up with 
in the big blind. He three-bet to 600,000, and McDonald tanked a bit before four-betting to 1.1 million.
The action folded back to Srinivasan, who moved all in for 2.6 million, and McDonald asked for a count before eventually folding.
The players are now on a 60-minute dinner break.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
7,805,000
-1,300,000
|
-1,300,000 |
|
||
|
4,920,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
4,260,000
-280,000
|
-280,000 |
|
|
||
|
4,200,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
4,120,000
1,450,000
|
1,450,000 |
|
2,830,000
85,000
|
85,000 |
|
2,385,000
-160,000
|
-160,000 |
Pascal Lefrancois was in the hijack with 
. He raised the action to 200,000 and it folded over to Isaac Baron in the small blind with 
. Baron cut out a three-bet to 490,000 and it folded back to the original raiser. Lefrancois shoved all in for 2.465 million and Baron snapped him off.
The flop came down 
, keeping Lefrancois in the lead but giving Baron's ace-king more outs. The 
drilled the turn and Baron was suddenly in a commanding lead with a pair of aces.
The 
on the river sealed the deal and Lefrancois was sent packing in seventh place. He collected $242,020 for his efforts. Baron dragged in the pot and now has 7.635 million in chips. He's now sitting as the table chip lead with just one more big blind than Mike McDonald.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,635,000
3,435,000
|
3,435,000 |
|
|
7,480,000
-325,000
|
-325,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,970,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
|
4,020,000
-240,000
|
-240,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,605,000
-515,000
|
-515,000 |
|
|
2,810,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
Mike McDonald raised to 200,000 on the button with , Daniel Gamez defended his big blind with 
, and the flop fell 
. With a flush draw, Gamez led out for 400,000, McDonald tank-called, and the turn was the .
Gamez checked his cards once more, perhaps to make sure he had just picked up additional outs to make a straight, and reached for chips. The Guatemalan fired out 700,000, McDonald called once more, and the 
completed the board.
Gamez immediately moved all in for 1.99 million, and McDonald sighed before asking for a count. After he received it, the Canadian sat quietly, riffling chips with his left hand. He started at his neighbor, who was staring at the board, and then started to shake his head.
Finally, after four and a half minutes, McDonald folded. Thinking he was bluffing, Gamez clapped with his rail before raking in the pot.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,325,000 | |
|
|
6,110,000
-1,370,000
|
-1,370,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,800,000
-170,000
|
-170,000 |
|
|
4,700,000
1,540,000
|
1,540,000 |
|
|
4,000,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,585,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
...that's what it's all about!
In a recent hand, Dominik Panka limped from the small blind with 
and Shyam Srinivasan raised to 250,000 from the big blind with 
. Panka called and the flop came 
.
Panka checked the flop and Srinivasan continued out for 275,000. Panka called and the two saw the 
drop down on the turn. Panka tapped the table once again and Srinivasan kept up his aggression with a bet of 475,000. Panka stayed the course and the river was the 
. Panka checked for a third time and Srinivasan checked behind.
Panka rolled over his ace-ten and dragged in the pot. Panka is now up to 5.325 million in chips while Srinivasan has fallen to 2.775 million.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,085,000
-240,000
|
-240,000 |
|
|
6,090,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,325,000
1,325,000
|
1,325,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,630,000
-70,000
|
-70,000 |
|
|
4,615,000
-185,000
|
-185,000 |
|
|
2,775,000
-810,000
|
-810,000 |
Daniel Gamez raised to 250,000 from the button with 
and Dominik Panka called from the small blind. Shyam Srinivasan moved all in for 2.665 million from the big blind and Gamez quickly got out of the way. Panka called and the hands were tabled.
Srinivasan: 
Panka: 
Srinivasan was out in the lead and looked prime to double up heading to the flop. The flop spelled heartbreak for Srinivasan, however, as the flop came 
, giving Panka a set and thrusting him into a strong lead. Srinivasan found no improvement on the turn () or the river (
) and he was sent to the rail as the sixth place finisher.
Panka, on the other hand, scooped up the massive pot and is now the chip leader with 8.815 million.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,815,000
3,225,000
|
3,225,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
7,885,000
230,000
|
230,000 |
|
|
5,880,000
-220,000
|
-220,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,480,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
|
3,460,000
-620,000
|
-620,000 |
Isaac Baron raised to 220,000 from under the gun with , Daniel Gamez called in the small blind with , and the dealer spread 
. Gamez rechecked his hand before checking, Baron checked behind, and the turn was the . Gamez led out for 400,000, Baron quickly called, and the river was the .
Gamez instantly splashed out 200,000, Baron neatly raised to 450,000, and Gamez quickly called. Baron showed his hand, and raked in the pot.
The players are now on a 15-minute break.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,105,000
1,220,000
|
1,220,000 |
|
|
9,015,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,680,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,280,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
|
2,440,000
-1,020,000
|
-1,020,000 |
Isaac Baron raised to 240,000 on the button with 
, Madis Muur defended his big blind with 
, and the flop came 
. Both players checked.
The turn was the , Baron called a bet of 215,000 from Muur, and both players checked when a completed the board.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,065,000
1,505,000
|
1,505,000 |
|
|
4,345,000
-495,000
|
-495,000 |
Daniel Gamez raised to 300,000 in the cutoff with , Dominik Panka called on the button, Mike McDonald three-bet to 900,000 out of the small blind with , and Gamez moved all in for 2.89 million. Panka immediately folded, and McDonald called.
The 
flop changed very little, but the on the turn gave Gamez a heart flush draw. It was no to be for the future father as the 
completed the board, and Gomez hit the rail in fifth place.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,400,000
2,720,000
|
2,720,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Eliminado | |
It’s that time again. Everything must go as the PCA closes down for another year. Players, don’t miss your chance to take advantage of these great deals, as the PokerStars Blog reports.
