Mikko Hirvonen was calling what looked like a reraise to 15,900 from Lawrence Berg when we got to their table, and the two got the rest in for Berg's stack of about 30,000 on a flop.
Hirvonen:
Berg:
The board ran out and , and Berg pushed forward his aces. However, Hirvonen had flopped two pair and took the pot and Berg's stack.
From under the gun, Samuel Touil opened with a raise to 5,100 only to have Matt Glantz three-bet the cutoff to 11,000.
The action returned to Touil, and after a few moments he grabbed what remained of his chips - roughly 53,900 - in both hands and moved them towards the bet he had already placed.
Believing that Touil had moved all in, Glantz pushed his chips forward and tabled his .
"I never went all in" stated Touil.
"You might win the hand. You might hit your three-outer. Just don't take a shot at me!" stated Glantz.
Immediately the floor was called over to make a decision on what had just happened.
After hearing of the situation, another tournament floor was called and a more detailed explanation of the situation was given.
Glantz and the rest of the table that included John Monnette agreed that Touil did in fact not release his chips but did motion them forward like he was intending to move all in. Touil and Glantz both started to become a little agitated at the situation thinking they both had correct points of view. As the two tournament floors conversed, in the corner with their supervisor for nearly five minutes, eventually they returned to make a ruling.
Under WSOP rules and guidelines, the chips must be released and touch the felt in this situation and consequently, the all-in action would not be binding. Instead, Touil would be forced to only match the bet, and due to this, Glantz became more outspoken.
"You're allowing someone to take a shot!" stated Glantz.
"There was a clear motion to go all in. You have to rule in the interest of the game and protect the integrity of the game. You cannot reward shot-takers."
With Touil forced to call and the hand made to continue to the flop, Glantz believed that this kind of play wasn't fair and that Touil should have been forced to at least min-raise.
"Everyone can do it later on if this is the ruling." continued Glantz.
"You are still in position to protect your hand" stated the tournament floor supervisor.
Regardless, the hand continued and Touil called as the dealer fanned the flop and Touil moved all in for 38,000. Glantz called and the cards were tabled.
Glantz:
Touil:
The turn of the saw chop outs develop, but when the landed on the river, Touil would be awarded the double up.
Once the chips were pushed Touil added, "See it doesn't matter anyway!"
"It's not about the hand losing. It's about the shot you took. It's about them allowing it. I don't care about you. I care about the rules and the integrity of the game." continued Glantz.
"Same, same," added Touil.
"I don't care about your hand. I want people to be honest!" stated Glantz as the next hand began.
Schuyler Thornton and an opponent each had 9,000 in front of them after the first draw, and they both drew one. Thornton bet and got a check-call. The first player drew, but Thornton patted. Both checked the end and Thornton scooped with for a nine-nine.
Ben Yu was pat with Eric Crain drawing one heading to the last round of betting. Yu bet and Crain called, and Yu rolled over for a seven-low and six-badugi.
"That's a hell of a hand," Crain said simply, mucking as he did so.
After the hand, players went on break for 15 minutes.
"Hey Phil, are you going to play this tournament?" asked Mike Matusow.
Phil Hellmuth was heading to the exit, and he swiftly turned around and went back to Matusow and stated, "I played for 30 minutes Mikey and now I'm out!"