The hand started with Daniel Johnson opening to 4,200, before Nicolas Fierro bumped it up to 10,500. Maksim Illarionov then moved all in for his last 13,100 in chips.
“Alright, two questions. How much is that bet, and how much is his bet,” said Johnson, asking the dealer for the amount of each raise after him. “Can he raise if I call?” added Johnson, referring to Fierro beside him.
Being told there could be no raise, Johnson made the call, as did Fierro, before both of them checked down the board.
“Sixes,” said Johnson, tabling . Illarionov showed for ace-high, as he was eliminated in 26th place, as Fierro showed his for a missed draw.
Just over a year later, Massey’s passionate pursuit of poker glory paid dividends in a big way, as won the WinStar World Casino River Poker Series Main Event, scoring $651,559 and the validation he has been seeking since that final table appearance here in Las Vegas.
With his fourth cash of the 2013 WSOP secured here in the ante-only event, Massey has worked his way to the final three tables, and he will be looking to best his 8th place finish on the WSOP stage.
“I’ve just worked so hard for this, put everything I have into this poker thing,” Massey told us while bagging and tagging last night. “My dreams are finally starting to become reality, and it just feels very satisfying after all of the energy I’ve dedicated to the game.”
With just two dozen or so players standing between Massey and the goal he has focused on for years, there is no doubt he will be a force to be reckoned with as Day 2 of this event marches on.
We arrived at the table to see the flop showing , with Sam Panzica committing all his chips in a betting frenzy against Artur Koren.
Koren:
Panzica:
The fell on the turn, giving Koren the lead with a flush, as Panzica headed to the river with a few additional out to make a higher flush. The river dropped the , to give Panzica the full house, as he doubled his 71,500 stack.
Dan Johnson raised to 5,100 after a few limps. Everyone folded to David Williams who was the last to limp before the raise. Williams called and the two players saw the flop. It came the . There was no action on this card as both players checked. The turn came the . Williams checked and Johnson bet out 6,500. Williams who only had 36,000 in his stack raised about half of it to 15,000.
This did not bode well with Johnson. He knew that if he played this hand it would be for most or all of WIlliams stack. After tanking Johnson elected to fold but asked if he could see one of Williams cards.
Williams replied," Sure, which one?"
Johnson, "The one on the Left."
Williams proceeded to show the table the . Johnson interrogated further, "That was a bluff, or you had a queen. I also had a queen."
Williams told him and the table it was no bluff and took in the pot. With that WIlliams gained some much needed chips to move up to 60,000. Johnson lost a few to move down to 110,000.
We caught the action with Garth Arnason betting out 3,000 with the board showing . Tommy Vedes then raised it up to 11,000, and was called by David Williams on his left. With the decision back on Arnason, he opted to move all in for 34,500 in chips, sending Vedes into the tank.
A few minutes passed, before Vedes finally made the call, as Williams instantly open-mucked his .
Vedes:
Arnason:
Arnason was drawing dead against Vedes’ set of three’s, sending him home in 23rd place, as the meaningless completed the board.
Paul Lieu brought in, and three players called, before Chris Moorman raised it up to 5,500. Lieu was the only player to call, as the two saw the flop come down . Lieu checked, as Moorman threw out a continuation bet of 10,000. Lieu instantly min raised to 20,000, which was called moments later. Both players were happy to check when the turned, and again when the completed the board.
Lieu tabled his for a busted flush draw that made a pair of jacks on the river, which was good enough to take down the pot, as Moorman’s cards went into the muck.
board.
. Illarionov showed 
for ace-high, as he was eliminated in 26th place, as Fierro showed his 
for a missed draw.
, with Sam Panzica committing all his chips in a betting frenzy against Artur Koren.
, to give Panzica the full house, as he doubled his 71,500 stack.
. There was no action on this card as both players checked. The turn came the 
. Johnson interrogated further, "That was a bluff, or you had a queen. I also had a queen."
. Lieu checked, as Moorman threw out a continuation bet of 10,000. Lieu instantly min raised to 20,000, which was called moments later. Both players were happy to check when the 
turned, and again when the 
completed the board.