Event #62: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event Dia 7 | 2013 World Series of Poker

2013-07-16 01:43 UTC-8

The 2013 WSOP November Nine Is Set; Carlos Mortensen Finishes 10th

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The 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event has reached this year's November Nine. At noon on Friday, 27 players remained for Day 7, but that has since been whittled down to just one third of that field. The man who bagged up the chip lead for the four-month hiatus was two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner JC Tran.

Joining Tran to play for poker's greatest prize are Amir Lehavot, Marc McLaughlin, Jay Farber, Ryan Riess, Sylvain Loosli, Michiel Brummelhuis, Mark Newhouse and David Benefield.

Benjamin Pollak was the first player eliminated on the day, falling in 27th place. From there, Jorn Walthaus and Jason Mann headed out the door, then it was time for Steve Gee's amazing back-to-back run to come to an end. After making last year's WSOP Main Event final table and placing ninth, Gee took 24th this year.

After Gee, Clement Tripodi, Yevgeniy Timoshenko and Maxx Coleman fell, a huge shocker occurred with the elimination of start-of-the-day chip leader Anton Morgenstern. Despite beginning the day with a big lead and nearly 22 million in chips, Morgenstern busted in 20th place. Not much seemed to go his way throughout Day 7, including a big clash with Newhouse when he flopped trip aces to Newhouse's full house.

Then, James Alexander then finished in 20th place, James Alexander in 19th, Jan Nakladal in 18th, Fabian Ortiz in 17th, Chris Lindh in 16th, Bruno Kawauti in 15th, Sergio Castelluccio in 14th and Alexander Livingston in 13th. At this point, two tables of six remained. Then, two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Rep Porter was sent off in 12th place by Riess.

Following Matthew Reed's elimination in 11th place, the final 10 players redrew to one table on the ESPN main stage where the plan was to lose one more. JC Tran had a big chip lead, and Newhouse took his seat at a severe short stack with just six big blinds. Luckily for the latter, he was able to find an early double up through Loosli. Newhouse then three-bet shoved a couple of times to pick up some more chips and get himself out of the basement.

The biggest story remaining when the unofficial final table was reached was that of Carlos Mortensen, who was looking to become a two-time champion of this event after having won it back in 2001. As it turns out, Mortensen would finish as the 10th-place finish and bubble the famed November Nine.

Mortensen was knocked back a couple of times as opponents shoved on him. With the additional beatings taken from the blinds and antes, Mortensen slipped to the shortest stack remaining. Then, he was eliminated by Tran.

On the final hand, Mortensen raised to 800,000 from the cutoff seat, and Tran called out of the big blind. The flop came down , and Tran check-called a bet of 800,000 from Mortensen. The turn was the , and Tran moved all in, having Mortensen covered. With a little over 3.5 million left in his stack, Mortensen called.

Mortensen tabled the for a pair and a flush draw. Tran held the for a straight to the ten. Needing any club but the on the river, Mortensen was looking to hit a flush and double up. If not, the night would be over.

In the end, it was the that hit the felt and that was that. Mortensen was eliminated in 10th place, taking home $573,204, while the other nine players rejoiced as they have reached the greatest final table in the world.

On behalf of PokerNews and the WSOP, we would like to thank everyone for following along all summer long. Plenty of history was made once again, and the 2013 WSOP will surely be one to remember. For now, this is our final good night from Las Vegas for the summer, but we'll see you right back here in early November for the conclusion of this spectacular event. Thanks for following along!

2013-07-16 01:34 UTC-8

Carlos Mortensen Eliminated in 10th Place ($573,204)

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Carlos Mortensen eliminated on the November Nine bubble

Hand #280: Marc McLaughlin received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #281: Carlos Mortensen raised to 800,000 in the cutoff and JC Tran called from the big blind. The flop came down and Tran check-called 800,000 from Mortensen to see the turn. Tran shoved for about 3.625 million effective and after a few seconds, Mortensen called for his tournament life.

Tran:
Mortensen:

Tran pulled ahead on the turn with a straight, while Mortensen needed a club to survive.

River:

Mortensen was unable to hit the club, ending the 2001 Main Event champion's bid for another Main Event final table in 10th place.

Jogador	Fichas	Oscilação
JC Tran	38,000,000 6,150,000	6,150,000

Carlos Mortensen	Eliminado

Tags: Carlos Mortensen JC Tran

2013-07-16 00:56 UTC-8

Meet the Final 10

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2013 WSOP Main Event Unofficial Final Table

Here are a few notes about each of the last 10 players still in the hunt for the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet:

David Benefield is a 27-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas who currently lives in New York where he's studying Political Science and Chinese at Columbia University. Known as "Raptor" online where he's achieved significant success, Benefield also has 12 WSOP cashes and more than $600,000 in live career winnings.

Michiel Brummelhuis is a 32-year-old poker pro from Amsterdam, Netherlands who has collected seven previous WSOP cashes including two final tables, all back in 2008 and 2009. He lists tennis and hockey among his hobbies.

Jay Farber is a 28-year-old from Pennsylvania who now lives in Las Vegas and works as a nightclub host.

Amir Levahot is a 38-year-old poker pro from Israel who now lives in Florida. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and has a dozen career WSOP cashes including having won a WSOP bracelet in 2011 in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em event.

Sylvain Loosli is a 26-year-old poker pro from Toulon, France who went to business school and who has amassed more than $1 million in earnings online.

Marc McLaughlin is a 25-year-old from Montreal, Canada who has six WSOP cashes, including two in previous Main Events, both of which were top 100 finishes. He took 30th in the WSOP ME in 2009, and finished 86th in the WSOP ME in 2011. Interestingly, he's a tattoo artist who doesn't himself have any tattoos.

Carlos Mortensen is a 41-year-old born in Ambato, Ecuador who resides in Madrid, Spain. "The Matador" won the WSOP Main Event in 2001 after topping a field of 613 entrants to win the title and $1.5 million first prize. Mortensen won a second bracelet in 2003 in the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event, has won three World Poker Tour titles, and has well over $10 million in career tourney earnings.

Mark Newhouse is a 28-year-old poker pro from Chapel Hill, North Carolina who now lives in Los Angeles. He won the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City in 2006 where he collected a $1,519,020 first prize.

Ryan Riess is the youngest player among the final 10 players at age 23, and in fact would be the first ever WSOP Main Event winner to be born in the 1990s. After studying business at Michigan State University, Riess now lives in Las Vegas, although spent much of the last year on the road traveling the 2012-13 WSOP Circuit where he collected 10 cashes including a runner-up finish in the WSOP-C Horseshoe Hammond Main Event last October.

JC Tran is a 36-year-old poker pro who was born in Vietnam and who currently resides in Sacramento, California. Tran has two career WSOP bracelets and a World Poker Tour title to his credit as part of a storied career that includes more than $8 million in tourney winnings.

Tags: Amir Levahot Carlos Mortensen David Benefield Jay Farber JC Tran Marc McLaughlin Mark Newhouse Michiel Brummelhuis Ryan Riess Sylvain Loosli

2013-07-16 00:31 UTC-8

Interview with David Benefield: "It's Every Poker Player’s Dream to Make the Final Table of the WSOP Main Event"

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David “Raptor” Benefield has not the easiest run to the "unofficial" final table of the WSOP Main Event. He finished Day 6 at the bottom of the chips counts in 27th with only 1.84 million. He now currently sits in ninth with 8.6 million, while still attempting to make to the November Nine.

We caught up with Benefield during the recent break to discuss his “bad call” in the last level, his evolution in poker, and his sentiments toward making the November Nine.

PokerNews: In the last hand before break you tweeted how you “made a bad call with 11 left” in a hand against Brummelhuis. Can you discuss that hand?

It was a bluff catcher. I didn’t really think he had a strong hand. There were two flush draws on the turn and they both missed. He was an aggressive player who I thought was capable of bluffing in that spot. He may still be capable but he happened to have top pair. It just didn’t turn out to be a good call. It was a wrong spot for me to pick and I realize that now.

You finished 73rd in the 2008 Main Event. How has your game evolved since then?

I was arguably better relative to the field back then. I played a lot more no-limit hold’em cash games and no-limit hold’em tournaments during that point in my life. I don’t really play that much poker anymore, in general. Even so, I primarily play pot-limit Omaha now. I think in a tournament like this it takes a lot of luck in addition to skill. I’m just running insanely well and trying to make good decisions.

Last night you finished Day 6 in 27th place, last in the chip counts. What was your mentality going into the start of Day 7?

There was absolutely no pressure. I was in last place. I didn’t feel I had to prove anything. I just wanted to get my money in good and get lucky a few times. So far so good, and hopefully that continues.

You mentioned there was no pressure. How important is it to you then to make the final table?

I think it is every poker player’s dream to make the final table of the WSOP Main Event. I really hope I do. It’s not the end of the world if I don’t. I think it’s still a pretty good payday at the end of the day either way. But it is something I want and it’s something I’m trying really hard to do.

Tags: David Benefield interview Main Event

2013-07-16 00:17 UTC-8

Matthew Reed Eliminated in 11th Place ($573,204)

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Secondary Table

Hand #199: Jay Farber had the button. From under the gun, Matthew Reed raised to 800,000. Farber reraised to 2.1 million before the blinds got out of the way and play fell back on Reed. Reed folded, and the chants of "Oh Jay! Oh Jay! Oh Jay! Oh Jay!" rang loud throughout the Amazon Room.

Hand #200: Gold bracelet winner Amir Lehavot had the button to start this hand. JC Tran was in the hijack seat and opened to 850,000. Everyone folded, and he won the pot.

Hand #201: Marc McLaughlin had the button. In the cutoff seat, Amir Lehavot raised to 800,000. McLaughlin paused as the next player to act, then reraised to 1.6 million. Lehavot folded, and McLaughlin won the pot.

Hand #202: The button was on Matthew Reed. He moved all in for 5.35 million. In the big blind, JC Tran called with the . Reed was at risk with the .

The flop came out to give Reed a pair of fours, but it was Tran's queens still in front. The turn was the , then the river completed the board with the . That was the end of the line for Reed, as he finished in 11th place for $573,204. Tran moved to nearly 40 million.

Jogador	Fichas	Oscilação
JC Tran	39,600,000 6,550,000	6,550,000

Matthew Reed	Eliminado

Tags: Amir Lehavot Jay Farber JC Tran Marc McLaughlin Matthew Reed

2013-07-15 23:43 UTC-8

Break #5 of Day 7: JC Tran Takes Lead with 11 Remaining

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We're now two spots away from determining the 2013 World Series of Poker November Nine. Only 11 players remain in the most prestigious tournament in poker, and we'll soon know who will be returning to Las Vegas in November to play for the world championship.

JC Tran is leading the way with 35 million in chips heading into the 20-minute break. Tran told PokerNews today that he's planning on taking a "big, big, long break" from poker after this tournament is over. He'll be able to go out on top if he goes on to win.

Amit Lehavot is within striking distance after sending Sergio Casteluccio to the rail during the past level. The Italian shoved his last 4.35 million from the button with ace-five and Lehvot called from the big blind with pocket kings. The board came up empty for Casteluccio, and he was sent to the payout desk in 14th place.

Sylvain Loosli began the level with the lead but slipped some despite eliminating Alexander Livingston in 13th place. Loosli's pocket aces held up against Livingston's ace-queen.

Rep Porter used some luck to knock out Bruno Kawauti in 15th place. Porter called Kawauti's three-bet shove with pocket sevens and was trailing Kawauti's tens, but a seven on the flop spelled the end of the Brazilian's run.

Unfortunately for Porter, he was unable to put those chips to good use. Shortly before the break, Porter lost a flip to Ryan Riess with king-jack to pocket nines, sending him out the door in 12th place for $573,204.

We'll be back in 20 minutes to bring you the exciting conclusion to Day 7!

Tags: Amir Lehavot Bruno Kawauti JC Tran Sylvain Loosli

2013-07-15 23:41 UTC-8

Secondary Table: Tran Seizes Lead

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Hand #192: JC Tran — who after moving up to around 30 million the previous hand — raised to 650,000 from the button and won the blinds and antes.

Hand #193: Matthew Reed raised to 600,000 from under the gun, and Tran reraised to 1.5 million from the cutoff. It folded back to Reed who thought just a beat and folded.

Hand #194: Amir Lehavot raised to 600,000 from the button and got one caller in Marc McLaughlin playing from the small blind. The flop came and after McLaughlin quickly checked, Lehavot set out a bet of 750,000 and McLaughlin called.

The turn brought the and another check from McLaughlin, and this time Lehavot checked behind. The river brought the . McLaughlin checked one more time, and Lehavot sat in thought for a while before checking as well. McLaughlin showed for a pair of tens, and Lehavot mucked.

Hand #195: Tran raised to 650,000 from under the gun, then Jay Farber reraised to 1.4 million from the hijack seat. It folded back to Tran who called, and the flop came . Both players checked, then the turn brought the . Tran led this time for 1.55 million and Farber called.

The river brought the . Tran carved out a bet of 2.25 million and Farber instantly folded.

Tran goes to break with a stack of around 35 million now, currently leading the final 11.

Tags: Jay Farber JC Tran

2013-07-15 23:30 UTC-8

Rep Porter Eliminated in 12th Place ($573,204)

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Feature Table

Hand #246: Ryan Riess opened to 600,000 from under the gun and Michiel Brummelhuis three-bet to 1.6 million from the cutoff. Sylvain Loosli four-bet all in from the big blind with the big stack. Both Riess and Brummelhuis folded.

Hand #247: Carlos Mortensen raised to 600,000 in the cutoff and took down the pot.

Hand #248: David Benefield raised to 600,000 in the cutoff and Ryan Riess three-bet to 1.925 million from the small blind. Benefield mulled it for about 60 seconds before he folded.

Hand #249: David Benefield raised to 600,000 in the hijack, Sylvain Loosli called from the cutoff, and Ryan Riess three-bet to 2.225 million from the button. The blinds folded, Benefield folded, and so did Loosli after about 30 seconds in the tank.

Hand #250: Ryan Riess raised to 600,000 in the cutoff and Rep Porter three-bet shoved for 6.45 million from the button. Action folded back to Riess who after about 45 seconds opted to call.

Riess:
Porter:

The window card was paint, but the flop came down bringing no help to Porter. The turn left him only six outs to survive, and the river was not one of them. Porter finished in 12th place, earning $573,204.

Riess, meanwhile, is up to 17.65 million.

Jogador	Fichas	Oscilação
Ryan Riess	17,650,000 9,150,000	9,150,000

Rep Porter	Eliminado

Tags: Carlos Mortensen David Benefield Michiel Brummelhuis Rep Porter Ryan Riess Sylvain Loosli

2013-07-15 22:07 UTC-8

Alexander Livingston Eliminated in 13th Place ($451,398)

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Hand #212: Carlos Mortensen raised to 600,000 from middle position, winning the blinds and antes.

Hand #213: Sylvain Loosli raised to 600,000 from the hijack seat, Alexander Livingston moved all in for 3.25 million from the cutoff, and the action folded back to Loosli, who snap-called.

Loosli:
Livingston:

Livingston was drawing slim, and when the flop fell , he was drawing dead. A meaningless and completed the board, and Livingston hit the rail in 13th place.

Jogador	Fichas	Oscilação
Sylvain Loosli	33,975,000 5,300,000	5,300,000

Alexander Livingston	Eliminado

Tags: Alexander Livingston Carlos Mortensen Sylvain Loosli

2013-07-15 22:06 UTC-8

Interview with JC Tran: "It’s All About Image"

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JC Tran may have one of the greatest comeback stories of this summer’s WSOP. On Day 3, he dropped down to a mere 13,000 in chips — less than six big blinds — with little hope of advancing to the next day, much less making it to the final table.

Then, just one level later, he ran up his stack to around 162,000 and now sits second in chips on Day 7, well on his way to making the final table if his run continues.

We spoke to Tran about taking a break from the poker grind and focusing on fatherhood, his hero call against Fabian Ortiz, and his near bustout on Day 3.

PokerNews: How have you been able to balance poker with family life?

Tran: It’s been really, really tough. My wife has been absolutely amazing. She’s pregnant at the moment so her body is exhausted. Plus we have a two year old so things can get pretty hectic. She even wakes up to make me breakfast, prepare my coffee, drop me off, and meet me on dinner break. Right now she’s not feeling well but still trying to do things for me. I told her right now just rest and relax. Once this is over, it will be all family time for a long time. I might make one stop for that big $10 million guarantee (in Florida) but other than that I’m not going to Asia, not going to Europe, nothing. That will be it.

So are you calling your retirement from poker?

I’m not quite saying retirement but I am calling it a big, big, long break. My family and I deserve it. We’ve been working so hard.

You made a great river call against Ortiz with only second pair against his ace-high bluff. What was your thought process on that hand?

I played with him quite a bit today. I wasn’t too sure at first but when I got a good look at him, there was something about it. Something told me I had the best hand. I’m not going to say what but I picked up on something and I had to trust it. This is the WSOP. If I don’t trust it then why even be here. I recognized it, I trusted it, and went with it. Good thing it was correct. That was probably one of the biggest calls I’ve made in this tournament.

On Day 3, you dropped down to 14,000 — less than six big blinds. What were you feeling at that point?

I was down to 12,500 to be exact at 1,000/2,000 blinds. I felt like, "Wow, is this how my World Series is going to end?" I told myself just don’t give up. Fight. You can get your money in. there is a decent chance to double up and from there get a couple of double ups and be back to a good stack. What brought me back was king-jack and I told myself, "look it happened and it could happen again; so be ready." And you know what, it sure did.

Then one level later you jumped back up to 162,000. What helped you get through that rough patch mentally?

When I was losing pots and folding, people saw defeat. It’s natural. But I figured if they see me not giving up then there will be some kind of concern for them. When I started to rebuild my stack, it was reflecting confidence. That got some respect. Obviously picking up a few hands here and there helped too. When I got back up to over 100,000 then I started playing more hands. At that point people started folding to me. It’s all about image.

Tags: JC Tran