Saturday 16 July 2011

Day 4: Last Man Standing



At the start of day 4, Greg Moore was one of three Black Belt Poker survivors from the 6,865 field, and one of 852 players looking to eek into the money and take away a minimum of $19,359. For Greg, that money jump was worth even more, as he would also secure his entry into next year's Main Event courtesy of Black Belt Poker.

Coming into the day with an above average 286,500 and just 159 away from the money, Greg comfortably made it into the money. With hand-for-hand in operation, we entered that bizarre bubble period that is unique to the World Series of Poker: a room full of super tight exit holes, Jack Effel threatening players with penalties as they continue to leave their seats like overexcited children on Christmas Eve, and the surreal sight of seeing a domino of dealers stand from their seats.

Immediately following six hands of squeaky bum time, the words "all-in and a call" rattled through the Amazon Room and a lengthy queue for the cashier desk began snaking its way down the corridor. One man joining the line was Jamie Burland. Having finished Day 1 with less than his starting stack, ended Day 2 with precisely his starting stack, and concluded Day 3 with a modest 103,500, he performed remarkably well to come away with some bacon, showing the patience of a chess master and a never-say-die attitude that would have made Rocky look like a wimp.

Unfortunately, it couldn't quite last, and after dwindling down to just one 25,000 chip, he found T-7 unable to topple A-Q despite improving to two pair on a 7-A-Q-J-T board. It was a bizarre hand, Jamie failing to announce raise and later calling the clock in the side pot. Nevertheless, the end result would have been the same, and he took home $23,876 for his troubles.

David Docherty soon followed. He'd been up and down like a seesaw on forward wind, but was ultimately desaddled by a couple of cowboys. With his open to 17,000 three-bet to 31,000 and shoved on for 200,000, David decided to make the call with A-K of diamonds, but was unlucky to run into kings and queens. The good news is that he spiked his bullet on the turn; the bad news is that a king had already hit the flop. $27,103 for 424th place was his consolatory prize.

This, of course, meant that Greg was the last man standing, guaranteed $30,974 and the opportunity of becoming a member of the November Nine. His journey wasn't easy, however; along the way, he doubled through with K-J versus A-Q, and A-9 versus T-T. The bottom line, however, is that he's survived to Day 5 and will be returning with 305,000.

Greg's already sorted out his summer hols for next year; can he add a six-figure sum to the spending balance? Find out tomorrow, only on Black Belt Poker. 378 remain including JP Kelly, Ben Lamb, Allen Cunningham, Sorel Mizzi and Daniel Negreanu. Manoj Viswanathan is the chip leader with 2,115,000.

Follow the updates here from 12pm Vegas time...

Alex Rousso -- eliminated on Day 2A
Ben Meredith -- eliminated on Day 3
David Docherty -- eliminated on Day 4
Gareth Alder -- eliminated on Day 2A
Greg Moore -- 305,0500
Hasmukh Khodiyara -- eliminated on Day 3
Jamie Burland -- eliminated on Day 4
Jeremy Rickard -- eliminated on Day 3
Jerome Bradpiece -- eliminated on Day 2A
Kevin Williams -- eliminated on Day 2A
Neil Channing -- eliminated on Day 3
Nik Persaud -- eliminated on Day 3
Owen Robinson - eliminated on Day 1D
Sam Razavi -- eliminated on Day 3
Sean Fennessey -- eliminated on Day 3
Tristan McDonald -- eliminated on Day 2A


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