06/25/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 - Gary Wins!
Winnar!
Frank Gary took control of the match in the Limit Hold'em half
of the last level taking pot after pot off young Jonathan Tamayo until
he had built a 2-1 chip lead.
The two traded jabs for a little while after that until Tamayo fought back a little calling a series of ill conceived river bluffs by Gary until the lead was cut down to just $300k with Gary holding $1.2 million to Tamayo's 900k.
That's when the match really took a turn. Tamayo bet into a Q♠ J♣ 10♥ flop and Gary called. The turn came the 10♠ and Tamayo led out again. Gary tanked before making the $100k call and when the 9♦ river brought another bet from Tamayo it was another deep tank session for Gary.
This time he emerged raising and when Tamayo called showing he'd flopped the nut straight with A-K he could only curse his luck as Gary's pocket nines made a boat on the river.
By this point Gary had $1.7 million to Tamayo's $400k and look like a lock to win his first bracelet.
Tamayo was down to the lint on the felt and not much else after rivering an ace against Gary, but finding out after marked cards a Gary call that the man had made two pair.
With just $175k left he was all in the very next hand with Q♥ 7♠. Gary made the call with A♠ 3♥ and after the board ran out A♣ 6♠ 4♣ 8♠ 2♠ Gary had won the bracelet and the $219,508 first place prize. The 22-year-old Tamayo gets $140,093 for second.
The two traded jabs for a little while after that until Tamayo fought back a little calling a series of ill conceived river bluffs by Gary until the lead was cut down to just $300k with Gary holding $1.2 million to Tamayo's 900k.
That's when the match really took a turn. Tamayo bet into a Q♠ J♣ 10♥ flop and Gary called. The turn came the 10♠ and Tamayo led out again. Gary tanked before making the $100k call and when the 9♦ river brought another bet from Tamayo it was another deep tank session for Gary.
This time he emerged raising and when Tamayo called showing he'd flopped the nut straight with A-K he could only curse his luck as Gary's pocket nines made a boat on the river.
By this point Gary had $1.7 million to Tamayo's $400k and look like a lock to win his first bracelet.
Tamayo was down to the lint on the felt and not much else after rivering an ace against Gary, but finding out after marked cards a Gary call that the man had made two pair.
With just $175k left he was all in the very next hand with Q♥ 7♠. Gary made the call with A♠ 3♥ and after the board ran out A♣ 6♠ 4♣ 8♠ 2♠ Gary had won the bracelet and the $219,508 first place prize. The 22-year-old Tamayo gets $140,093 for second.
06/25/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 - Heed The Heads-Up Warning
In the first few hands of heads up Frank Gary doubled up to get even with Jonathan Tamayo.
Gary raised Tamayo pushed and Gary called showing A♣ 8♥. Tamayo had J♠ 10♠ and when the board ran out A♥ 8♦ 7♠ 6♦ 7♣ the two heads-up combatants had pulled even.
Once he doubled Gary then check raised his way to one pot and continued to put pressure on Tamayo grabbing a slight chip lead. Tamayo grabbed it back with a slick check-raise of his own on a 9♠ 5♣ 3♥ flop fleecing Gary out of $200k.
Tamayo put his foot on the gas after that building a lead, but Gary would not go away, winning a number of small pots to stay within striking distance.
By the end of the first forty minutes of heads up Tamayo had $1.2 million to Gary's $980k and the players took a twenty minute break.
Gary raised Tamayo pushed and Gary called showing A♣ 8♥. Tamayo had J♠ 10♠ and when the board ran out A♥ 8♦ 7♠ 6♦ 7♣ the two heads-up combatants had pulled even.
Once he doubled Gary then check raised his way to one pot and continued to put pressure on Tamayo grabbing a slight chip lead. Tamayo grabbed it back with a slick check-raise of his own on a 9♠ 5♣ 3♥ flop fleecing Gary out of $200k.
Tamayo put his foot on the gas after that building a lead, but Gary would not go away, winning a number of small pots to stay within striking distance.
By the end of the first forty minutes of heads up Tamayo had $1.2 million to Gary's $980k and the players took a twenty minute break.
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 - Not Three Handed Anymore!
This last hour hadn't been much different from the other two
since three-handed play began. It was an up and down affair with the
lead continuing to change hands between hands.
Truth be known it looked very little like anyone wanted to win. But we were positive none of these three wanted to lose.
At last check Jonathan Tamayo had once again climbed out of the cellar into the chip lead with over $1 million in chips.
Frank Gary had close to $700k and Nick Binger was behind sitting on near $500,000.
We would have yawned at that point, but we were not sure it was appropriate.
And then....
Binger Banged (3rd)
Nick Binger controlled this table until it went three handed. Now we're heads-up and somehow he's not part of it.
Binger will cash $84,814 after getting chipped away at and finally playing his last hand of the night in Limit Hold'em.
He raised from the small blind, Tamayo reraised, Binger popped him back, Tamayo capped it and Binger called. The 10♦ 7♥ 2♥ flop saw Binger get it all in and Tamayo call with Q♠ Q♣. Binger could only show 3♠ 3♦ and when the 10♣ turn and J♠ river fell he was done.
Going into heads up Tamayo has $1.5 million to Frank Gary's $750k.
Truth be known it looked very little like anyone wanted to win. But we were positive none of these three wanted to lose.
At last check Jonathan Tamayo had once again climbed out of the cellar into the chip lead with over $1 million in chips.
Frank Gary had close to $700k and Nick Binger was behind sitting on near $500,000.
We would have yawned at that point, but we were not sure it was appropriate.
And then....
Binger Banged (3rd)
Nick Binger controlled this table until it went three handed. Now we're heads-up and somehow he's not part of it.
Binger will cash $84,814 after getting chipped away at and finally playing his last hand of the night in Limit Hold'em.
He raised from the small blind, Tamayo reraised, Binger popped him back, Tamayo capped it and Binger called. The 10♦ 7♥ 2♥ flop saw Binger get it all in and Tamayo call with Q♠ Q♣. Binger could only show 3♠ 3♦ and when the 10♣ turn and J♠ river fell he was done.
Going into heads up Tamayo has $1.5 million to Frank Gary's $750k.
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 - Trading The Lead
Thanks to a couple of strongly played Limit hands by Nick
Binger and Frank Gary all three players pulled even after the first half
of the first hour following the dinner break.
First Binger flopped two pair against the aggressive Jonathan Tamayo. He bet it the whole way but Tamayo could not get away from whatever he was holding.
Gary then picked up a few smaller pots before Binger struck again flopping top pair holding Q♦ J♥ on a J♣ 8♣ 2♦ board and once again coercing Tamayo to call him down all the way.
By the time it was all said and done each competitor was hovering around the $700k mark.
Tamayo's losing streak continued on with Gary putting tremendous pressure on him hand after hand until he was forced to start infrared contactlenses folding on several flops and turns. Suddenly Gary had taken the chip lead while Binger was second and Tamayo had dipped to third.
Tamayo fought back in the No-Limit half of the hour though. One of the bigger hands played out with Gary making it $65k to see a flop and Tamayo making the call. The flop came down K♦ Q♥ 3♦ and Tamayo check-raised a $60k continuation bet from Gary making it $210,000 total. It was enough to win the pot and get him headed in the right direction again.
A few hands later he pushed Binger off a limped hand with a $120k raise from the Big Blind.
By the time the hour had ended Frank Gary held the lead with almost $900k. Jonathan Tamayo was hot on his heels holding $726k and Nick Binger was once again holding down third sitting on $579k.
First Binger flopped two pair against the aggressive Jonathan Tamayo. He bet it the whole way but Tamayo could not get away from whatever he was holding.
Gary then picked up a few smaller pots before Binger struck again flopping top pair holding Q♦ J♥ on a J♣ 8♣ 2♦ board and once again coercing Tamayo to call him down all the way.
By the time it was all said and done each competitor was hovering around the $700k mark.
Tamayo's losing streak continued on with Gary putting tremendous pressure on him hand after hand until he was forced to start infrared contactlenses folding on several flops and turns. Suddenly Gary had taken the chip lead while Binger was second and Tamayo had dipped to third.
Tamayo fought back in the No-Limit half of the hour though. One of the bigger hands played out with Gary making it $65k to see a flop and Tamayo making the call. The flop came down K♦ Q♥ 3♦ and Tamayo check-raised a $60k continuation bet from Gary making it $210,000 total. It was enough to win the pot and get him headed in the right direction again.
A few hands later he pushed Binger off a limped hand with a $120k raise from the Big Blind.
By the time the hour had ended Frank Gary held the lead with almost $900k. Jonathan Tamayo was hot on his heels holding $726k and Nick Binger was once again holding down third sitting on $579k.
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 - They're Back!
The players took a 45-minute dinner break over the past hour
but return now with Jonathan Tamayo holding $1,173,000, Frank Gary
$649,000 and Nick Binger $371,000.
The bracelet is within reach for all three as the blinds are now at the astronomical Level 23 and they're going to have to get it in one way or another. Enjoy the ride kids!
The bracelet is within reach for all three as the blinds are now at the astronomical Level 23 and they're going to have to get it in one way or another. Enjoy the ride kids!
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 - Binger Dinged
Nick Binger started the past hour by giving away his chip lead.
He played a monster pot with Frank Gary in Limit and after betting on every street, Binger was forced to fold after the A♠ river completed a flush draw and Gary led out. The loss put Jonathan Tamayo into the lead but that didn't last.
Binger got into it with Tamayo a few hands later after Tamayo called his $50k pre flop raise.
Binger continued betting after the 9♣ 7♣ 3♦ and Tamayo flatted. The 9♠ turn slowed down Binger slightly. He checked, Tamayo bet and he called. The same scenario played out on the 10♥ river, but when the cards were revealed Binger's 10-8 was enough to drag the pot from Tamayo and his 10-6. It was also enough to give Binger back the chip lead.
Binger went on to win about five hands in a row before Tamayo struck back getting Binger to pay him off when he hit a flush on the river with four hearts on the board.
Tamayo then took the lead before the biggest hand of the three-handed affair played out.
This time Binger clashed with the relatively quiet Frank Gary getting into a pre flop raising war with Gary until his last $300k was in the middle.
It was kings for Gary against the unthinkable 9♣ 2♣ for Binger and when the inevitable happened and Gary dragged the pot, Binger was left staring up at both his opponents.
Tamayo had over $1 million in chips, Gary $600k and Binger was down to around $500,000.
Gary and Binger got into it again in the very next hand when Gary pushed all in on a J♦ 10♦ 3♦ 2♦ board leaving Binger suddenly in the unenviable position of making a decision for his tournament life.
He laid it down and dipped to $435,000 in chips. Gary now has $717,000 and Tamayo $1,041,000.
He played a monster pot with Frank Gary in Limit and after betting on every street, Binger was forced to fold after the A♠ river completed a flush draw and Gary led out. The loss put Jonathan Tamayo into the lead but that didn't last.
Binger got into it with Tamayo a few hands later after Tamayo called his $50k pre flop raise.
Binger continued betting after the 9♣ 7♣ 3♦ and Tamayo flatted. The 9♠ turn slowed down Binger slightly. He checked, Tamayo bet and he called. The same scenario played out on the 10♥ river, but when the cards were revealed Binger's 10-8 was enough to drag the pot from Tamayo and his 10-6. It was also enough to give Binger back the chip lead.
Binger went on to win about five hands in a row before Tamayo struck back getting Binger to pay him off when he hit a flush on the river with four hearts on the board.
Tamayo then took the lead before the biggest hand of the three-handed affair played out.
This time Binger clashed with the relatively quiet Frank Gary getting into a pre flop raising war with Gary until his last $300k was in the middle.
It was kings for Gary against the unthinkable 9♣ 2♣ for Binger and when the inevitable happened and Gary dragged the pot, Binger was left staring up at both his opponents.
Tamayo had over $1 million in chips, Gary $600k and Binger was down to around $500,000.
Gary and Binger got into it again in the very next hand when Gary pushed all in on a J♦ 10♦ 3♦ 2♦ board leaving Binger suddenly in the unenviable position of making a decision for his tournament life.
He laid it down and dipped to $435,000 in chips. Gary now has $717,000 and Tamayo $1,041,000.
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 – Final Table – Binger Stinging
We’re finally starting to see some cracks in Nick Binger’s
seemingly impenetrable armor. For the first time of the night it seems
like victory is not assured for brother Binger. Jonathan Tamayo, in
particular, has been winning important pots left and right and suddenly
is in great shape to potentially win this tournament.
Great Call from Frank Gary
Frank Gary played one of the most important hands of his tournament during a Limit portion. In the hand Nick Binger three-barreled a board of 7♣ 7♥ 3♠ T♦ 6♥ and sent Gary deep into the tank when he bet the river. There was approximately $280,000 in the pot and Gary had considerably less than that behind.
Gary thought for several minutes before finally announcing a call and flipping over K-X. Apparently King-high was enough to take the pot as Binger threw his hand into the muck.
Tricky Tamayo
Limit poker seems to be Nick Binger’s weaker game, at least at this final table. During the most recent Limit portion all three remaining players saw a flop of A♠ T♠ 9♥. Tamayo bet, Gary called but Binger re-raised. Both players called and the turn came 2♦ and once again Binger bet. Tamayo called but Gary folded. The river fell 2♣ and both Binger and Tamayo checked.
Tamayo flipped over T♣ 7♣ and Binger mucked. Tamayo was up to approximately $700,000 after the hand while Binger is now hovering around the $1 million mark. It seems that Binger’s overpowering aggression is starting to get the best of him.
Great Call from Frank Gary
Frank Gary played one of the most important hands of his tournament during a Limit portion. In the hand Nick Binger three-barreled a board of 7♣ 7♥ 3♠ T♦ 6♥ and sent Gary deep into the tank when he bet the river. There was approximately $280,000 in the pot and Gary had considerably less than that behind.
Gary thought for several minutes before finally announcing a call and flipping over K-X. Apparently King-high was enough to take the pot as Binger threw his hand into the muck.
Tricky Tamayo
Limit poker seems to be Nick Binger’s weaker game, at least at this final table. During the most recent Limit portion all three remaining players saw a flop of A♠ T♠ 9♥. Tamayo bet, Gary called but Binger re-raised. Both players called and the turn came 2♦ and once again Binger bet. Tamayo called but Gary folded. The river fell 2♣ and both Binger and Tamayo checked.
Tamayo flipped over T♣ 7♣ and Binger mucked. Tamayo was up to approximately $700,000 after the hand while Binger is now hovering around the $1 million mark. It seems that Binger’s overpowering aggression is starting to get the best of him.
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 – Final Table – Bracelet within Sight, Binger Still Leading
We’re down to three-handed play at the final table of Event 41
and it would be a huge surprise if Nick Binger doesn’t walk away with
some wrist-candy before the day is done.
Here’s a look at the other happenings in the last hour of Event 41:
Nick Binger wrecks Chris Rentes (Fourth)
And so the Nick Binger swath of destruction continues. In the latest bustification Chris Rentes moved all-in for $50,000. Binger flipped over 7♦ 2♠ (!) to Rentes’ 6♦ 5♦. The board came K♠ J♦ 4♣ T♣ Q♠ to give Binger his fifth elimination of this final table.
Binger Falters?
Jonathan Tamayo is proving to be the biggest thorn for Nick Binger at this final table. Tamayo is the only player that seems to be willing to trade blows with Binger. Considering Binger’s chip stack Tamayo is walking a very fine line right now but has won several pots off Binger to balance the chips stacks. Frank Gary, on the other hand, is holding steady and playing a conservative game thus far.
There’s Something About Chip Counts
Nick Binger is still dominating the final table but his chip-lead has diminished somewhat over the last hour of play. Here are the chip counts (courtesy of www.worldseriesofpoker):
Here’s a look at the other happenings in the last hour of Event 41:
Nick Binger wrecks Chris Rentes (Fourth)
And so the Nick Binger swath of destruction continues. In the latest bustification Chris Rentes moved all-in for $50,000. Binger flipped over 7♦ 2♠ (!) to Rentes’ 6♦ 5♦. The board came K♠ J♦ 4♣ T♣ Q♠ to give Binger his fifth elimination of this final table.
Binger Falters?
Jonathan Tamayo is proving to be the biggest thorn for Nick Binger at this final table. Tamayo is the only player that seems to be willing to trade blows with Binger. Considering Binger’s chip stack Tamayo is walking a very fine line right now but has won several pots off Binger to balance the chips stacks. Frank Gary, on the other hand, is holding steady and playing a conservative game thus far.
There’s Something About Chip Counts
Nick Binger is still dominating the final table but his chip-lead has diminished somewhat over the last hour of play. Here are the chip counts (courtesy of www.worldseriesofpoker):
| 1. Nick Binger | $1.3 million |
| 2. Jonathan Tamayo | $474,000 |
| 3. Frank Gary | $420,000 |
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 – Final Table – Action Slows, Binger Still Flying
In the last hour we’ve seen the game switch to Limit and, as is
usually the case, the action slowed considerably. Binger, in
particular, was suddenly not busting a player every five minutes and
actually lost a few pots, one of which to Frank Gary, was for several
thousand chips.
The game has since switched to No-Limit and Binger seemed to react positively by busting a player several minutes into the game.
Nick Binger jacks Alex Jalali (Fifth)
In his last hand Alex Jalali open-shoved for his last $140,000 after doubling up Jonathan Tamayo. Action folded to Nick Binger who re-shoved and everyone else got out of the way. The players revealed their hands:
Binger: J♠ J♦
Jalali: A♦ Q♣
The board came 7♥ 7♠ 6♣ K♥ 2♣ which gave Jalali his one-way ticket to the rail. He will receive $56,875 for coming in fifth.
Chips, Ahoy!
Nick Binger is still lord of the chip counts after the Jalali bustout. Here's how it all stacks up (courtesy of www.worldseriesofpoker.com):
The game has since switched to No-Limit and Binger seemed to react positively by busting a player several minutes into the game.
Nick Binger jacks Alex Jalali (Fifth)
In his last hand Alex Jalali open-shoved for his last $140,000 after doubling up Jonathan Tamayo. Action folded to Nick Binger who re-shoved and everyone else got out of the way. The players revealed their hands:
Binger: J♠ J♦
Jalali: A♦ Q♣
The board came 7♥ 7♠ 6♣ K♥ 2♣ which gave Jalali his one-way ticket to the rail. He will receive $56,875 for coming in fifth.
Chips, Ahoy!
Nick Binger is still lord of the chip counts after the Jalali bustout. Here's how it all stacks up (courtesy of www.worldseriesofpoker.com):
| 1. Nick Binger | $1.35 million |
| 2. Chris Rentes | $317,000 |
| 3. Frank Gary | $310,000 |
| 4. Jonathan Tamayo | $208,000 |
06/24/2008 (6 years ago)
Event 41 – Final Table – Nick Binger = Unstoppable!
We’re little more than an hour into the Event 42 final table
and Nick Binger is absolutely crushing his opposition. The brother of
2006 Final Table finisher Michael Binger seems destined for a bracelet
and has already knocked out three of his opponents single-handedly.
Read on to hear more about Binger’s unbelievable domination of the final table:
Nick Binger smokes David Sorger (Ninth)
In No-Limit Hold’em short-stack David Sorger moved in for his last $40,500 and Binger re-raised to $100,000 which caused everyone else to get out of the way. Binger flipped over A♦ K♦ and Sorger would need some help with his A♥ J♥.
No help came as the board went 5♥ 5♣ 4♦ 3♠ 9♣ and Binger raked the pot. Sorger was eliminated ninth and will receive $19,956 for his poker playing efforts.
Nick Binger chucks Michael Chu (Eighth)
Action is folded to Nick Binger who pops it up to $17,000. Michael Chu is the only player that opts to call and the flop came T♦ 4♣ 2♠. Chu checked but Binger threw $32,000 into the pot. Chu thought for a couple minutes and then decided to shove for his entire stack of $145,000. Binger called and the players revealed their cards:
Chu: 8♠ 8♦
Binger: T♥ 5♦
Once again Binger had a massive edge over his opponent. The dealer turned the Q♣ and the river fell A♦ to eliminate Chu in eighth place. Chu gets $27,439 for playing poker for a few days.
Nick Binger ganks Mats Gavatin (Seventh)
Nick Binger is approaching critical mass here at the final table of Event 41. In a recent hand Mats Gavatin bet $15,000 and Binger called. The flop came Q♦ 7♦ 7♣ and Binger fired a bet of $30,000. Gavatin re-raised 95,000.
Binger thought for a few minutes and then moved all-in. Gavatin made the call and flipped over A♦ 5♦ for a massive draw but Binger had edge with 7♠ 6♠ for trip-sevens.
The board finished 4♥ and then Q♣ to give Binger an irrelevant full house. Binger takes the pot and Gavatin takes the $34,923 for coming in seventh place.
Nick Binger mauls David MacHowsky (Sixth)
Can anybody stop Nick Binger? It’s starting to seem unlikely.
In the most recent hand Binger bet $17,000 and short-stack David MacHowsky moved all-in for a minimal amount. Binger made the easy call and flipped over A♠ A♣ which had MacHowsky’s 3♦ 3♣ dominated.
To make matters worse the flop came A♥ K♥ K♣ to practically guarantee MacHowsky’s elimination. The turn came 5♥ and that was it for MacHowsky. He will receive $44,902 for coming in sixth and probably some nightmares about playing Binger for rolls.
Bingerrefic Chip Counts:
Here’s a look at the current chip counts (courtesy of the good folks at www.worldseriesofpoker .com). It’s all about Nick Binger, obviously.
Read on to hear more about Binger’s unbelievable domination of the final table:
Nick Binger smokes David Sorger (Ninth)
In No-Limit Hold’em short-stack David Sorger moved in for his last $40,500 and Binger re-raised to $100,000 which caused everyone else to get out of the way. Binger flipped over A♦ K♦ and Sorger would need some help with his A♥ J♥.
No help came as the board went 5♥ 5♣ 4♦ 3♠ 9♣ and Binger raked the pot. Sorger was eliminated ninth and will receive $19,956 for his poker playing efforts.
Nick Binger chucks Michael Chu (Eighth)
Action is folded to Nick Binger who pops it up to $17,000. Michael Chu is the only player that opts to call and the flop came T♦ 4♣ 2♠. Chu checked but Binger threw $32,000 into the pot. Chu thought for a couple minutes and then decided to shove for his entire stack of $145,000. Binger called and the players revealed their cards:
Chu: 8♠ 8♦
Binger: T♥ 5♦
Once again Binger had a massive edge over his opponent. The dealer turned the Q♣ and the river fell A♦ to eliminate Chu in eighth place. Chu gets $27,439 for playing poker for a few days.
Nick Binger ganks Mats Gavatin (Seventh)
Nick Binger is approaching critical mass here at the final table of Event 41. In a recent hand Mats Gavatin bet $15,000 and Binger called. The flop came Q♦ 7♦ 7♣ and Binger fired a bet of $30,000. Gavatin re-raised 95,000.
Binger thought for a few minutes and then moved all-in. Gavatin made the call and flipped over A♦ 5♦ for a massive draw but Binger had edge with 7♠ 6♠ for trip-sevens.
The board finished 4♥ and then Q♣ to give Binger an irrelevant full house. Binger takes the pot and Gavatin takes the $34,923 for coming in seventh place.
Nick Binger mauls David MacHowsky (Sixth)
Can anybody stop Nick Binger? It’s starting to seem unlikely.
In the most recent hand Binger bet $17,000 and short-stack David MacHowsky moved all-in for a minimal amount. Binger made the easy call and flipped over A♠ A♣ which had MacHowsky’s 3♦ 3♣ dominated.
To make matters worse the flop came A♥ K♥ K♣ to practically guarantee MacHowsky’s elimination. The turn came 5♥ and that was it for MacHowsky. He will receive $44,902 for coming in sixth and probably some nightmares about playing Binger for rolls.
Bingerrefic Chip Counts:
Here’s a look at the current chip counts (courtesy of the good folks at www.worldseriesofpoker .com). It’s all about Nick Binger, obviously.
| 1. Nick Binger | $1.37 million |
| 2. Jonathan Tamayo | $316,000 |
| 3. Frank Gary | $183,000 |
| 4. Alex Jalali | $172,000 |
| 5. Chris Rentes | $141,000 |
