Somsanouk 'Mike X' Sitthammavong is the winner of the seniors game after a crazy final table that saw its share of players getting there or getting coolered. In the final hand, Mike had to "get there" to win it as he was dominated with king-ten against king-jack for runner-up Robert Seney.
It was Mike's day, however, as he flopped a ten and rivered trips to flip the domination on its head and take down the title. The final three players all agreed to an even chop of the money worth $6,895, but Mike also got the extra trophy value as well as the official win for Hendon Mob.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Robert Seney | 0 | 0 |
The Seniors game is over and Somsanouk "Mike X" Sitthammavong was the winner after he got there with the dominated king-ten against king-jack for Seney. Mike was running pure tonight however as he flopped a ten and rivered another one for trips and the win. Seney got his $6,895 share of the chop for second place.
They are down to heads up now after Brian Wells got the money in with ace-queen on a flop of but Mike X flopped a jack with king-jack and held for the win.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Brian Wells | 0 | 0 |
The final three players have decided to chop the remaining money. That means they all make $6,895 tonight, and the rest of the action is only for the trophy and the Player of the Year points.
Brian Wells shoved the button, but was unhappy when Robert Seney reshoved the small blind. Mike X got out of the way from the big blind and Wells was in rough shape with against pocket queens for Seney. Wells hit his ten on the flop and rivered his six for two pair, while Seney missed the board completely and had to double Wells up.
They are down to 3 now after Malcolm Bolger suffered another cooler against Brian Wells. In this case, Wells flopped a set of sevens against two pair for Bolger with king-queen. The money went in and Bolgewr couldn't boat up.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 0 | 0 |
They are down to 4 now after Francis Fan ended his day in 5th place. I missed the action as I was over in the other room getting a winners photo for the Turbo.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Francis Fan | 0 | 0 |
They are down to five now after Kelly Dalke shoved his big blind over a raise from Robert Seney in the cutoff and a call from Mike X in the small. On the flop of Mike X check-folded to a shove from Seney, and Seney held to send Dalke to the rail in 6th place.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Kelly Dalke | 0 | 0 |
Malcolm Bolger was left short just now after he ran into a massive cooler against Brian Wells. The money went in preflop with Bolger on queens but Wells playing aces. The board ran clean for the aces and Wells doubled up to leave Bolger on less than 100k now.
They are down to 6 left now at the start of Level 22 after Bill Lubyk got his short stack in and couldn't survive.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Bill Lubyk | 0 | 0 |
Mike X opened to 40k from the cutoff and both Francis Fan and Brian Wells made the call from the blinds. They both checked the flop before Mike X put out 125k. Fan tank-called while Wells got out of the way.
The turn was and Fan shoved for 190k, about 10k less than Mike had behind. He hit the tank for a while before mucking, after which Malcolm Bolger announced he folded which would have flopped the flush with open-ended straight flush redraws.
It was a big hand when Francis Fan raised the cutoff to 50k and Brian Wells snap-shoved for 235k. The blinds got out of the way and Fan made the call, setting up a race between his pocket threes and the big slick for Wells.
It looked like they were down to 6 when Fan flopped a set of threes on but Wells went runner-runner with to get to Broadway for the win.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Brian Wells | 500,000 | 180,000 | |
Francis Fan | 445,000 | 55,000 |
After a quick count of chips on the break it looks like Malcolm Bolger and Francis Fan are the leaders with about 500k each while Mike X (aka Somsanouk Sitthammavong) has about 475k.
They'll be back at the felt for Level 21 in about 2 minutes.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 510,000 | 50,000 | |
Francis Fan | 500,000 | 120,000 | |
Somsanouk Sitthammavong | 475,000 | 344,000 | |
Brian Wells | 320,000 | 20,000 | |
Robert Seney | 230,000 | 44,000 | |
Bill Lubyk | 212,000 | 100,000 | |
Kelly Dalke | 155,000 | 73,000 |
In a not-so-classic race, Brian Wells shoved the hijack and Malcolm Bogler called the button to set up for Wells against for Bolger. The board ran clean for Wells' ace-high and he survived.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 460,000 | 40,000 | |
Brian Wells | 300,000 | 175,000 |
They are down to 7 now after Bijan Emmanuel hit the rail in 8th place tonight while I was still working on the pictures.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Biajn Emmanuel | 0 | 0 |
I missed the action while trying to get the pictures sorted out, but Michael Bean was the first off the final table tonight in 9th place for $1,034.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Michael Bean | 0 | 0 |
There were two busts on different tables at the same time with Keith Schultz going out on one table and David Huppertz busting from the other. The two players will split 11th and 10th place for $770.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
David Huppertz | 0 | 0 | |
Keith Schultz | 0 | 0 |
In the first hand in the money, Brett Finch got his short stack in but couldn't find his cards and hit the rail in 12th for the first payout tonight.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Brett Finch | 0 | 0 |
They are in the money now after Malcolm Bolger "Bolger'd" Ron Piasetzki out of the game on the bubble. Piasetzki was nursing a short stack and was almost all in after paying his big blind. Malcolm Bolger raised enough to put Piasetzki all in and he made the call.
Piasetzki had the best of it with against for Bolger. The board ran clean for Piasetzki until the river when Bolger called for a six and got it, flipping the domination on Piasetzki.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Ron Piasetzki | 0 | 0 |
Malcolm Bolger limped in from the small, then called when Somsanouk Sitthammavong raised to 40k from the big. Bolger checked the flop of and after a bit of speech play, Sitthammavong fired 50k. Bolger tanked for a few seconds but folded.
Bill Lubyk just won a race against Kelly Dalke when his pocket threes were able to hold against overs on a board of .
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Bill Lubyk | 190,000 | 78,000 | |
Kelly Dalke | 150,000 | 68,000 |
Malcolm Bolger raised his button to 23k and Somsanouk Sitthammavong called from the small blind. Sitthammavong checked dark and Bolger also checked the flop.
Sitthammavong led for 30k on the turn and Bolger called to the river. Noth players checked, and Bolger ducked his hand when Sitthammavong announced ace high and showed down ace-jack.
They are now hand-for-hand on the bubble with 2:37 remaining in Level 17. They'll take 3 minutes off the clock for each hand now, which is a new addition from the TDA this year, until the next bustout puts them in the money.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Suru Patel | 0 | 0 |
The flop of was already out, and Robert Seney checked to Bill Lubyk who bet 20k. Seney check-raised all in and Lubyk folded without getting a count.
They are just two off the money now after John Letts busted in 15th tonight. They have just over 5 minutes left to play in Level 17.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
John Letts | 0 | 0 |
They are now just three players off the money with 15 remaining after Thomas Roach busted out in 16th.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Thomas Roach | 0 | 0 |
Malcolm Bolger just grabbed a huge double to around 500k after he hit the bigger two pair with ace-nine against Michael Bean's ace-seven two pair. Bean still has about 130k in front of him, but Bolger is now the leader.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 500,000 | 259,000 | |
Michael Bean | 120,000 | 254,000 |
Francis Fan and Michael Bean are the leaders with Level 17 just beginning.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Francis Fan | 380,000 | 260,000 | |
Michael Bean | 374,000 | 269,000 | |
Malcolm Bolger | 241,000 | 37,000 | |
Robert Seney | 186,000 | 98,000 | |
John Letts | 146,000 | 1,000 | |
Somsanouk Sitthammavoung | 131,000 | 11,000 | |
Thomas Roach | 127,000 | 52,000 | |
Brian Wells | 125,000 | 18,000 | |
Bill Lubyk | 112,000 | 52,000 | |
Ron Piasetzki | 100,000 | 48,000 | |
Suru Patel | 92,000 | 12,000 | |
David Huppertz | 83,000 | 31,500 | |
Kelly Dalke | 82,000 | 16,000 | |
Keith Schultz | 80,000 | 0 | |
Brett Finch | 72,000 | 10,500 | |
Biajn Emmanuel | 70,000 | 100,000 |
Bill Lubyk limped in under the gun and two players followed before it got to Francis Fan in the big blind. He raised it up to 36k and Lubyk put in a quick call while the other players got out of the way to send them heads-up to a flop of . Fan fired out 30k and got the call, but on the turn, he shoved forcing Lubyk to muck his hand.
Bijan Emmanuel limped in from the middle and Malcolm Bolger called from the cutoff. Brett Finch and David Pietrzyko came along from the blinds as well, and they all checked through to the river on a board of . After two checks on the river Emmanuel fired 10.5k and Bolger called while the blinds mucked their hands. Both Bolger and Emmanuel had a ten for the straight, but Bolger's was the so he was drawing to a straight flush on the river.
They are just four players off the money now after Brian Fujimoto just hit the rail in 17th place. Level 16 has just begun and the players will take another break following this level, and I'll try to full counts for all players on the break.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Brian Fujimoto | 0 | 0 |
John Letts opened to 10k and Bijan Emmanuel came along from his left. Keith Schultz also put in the call from the hijack before button Malcolm Bolger bumped it up to 40k. Letts folded while Emmanuel smooth-called, prompting Schultz to make a pained fold.
Emmanuel checked dark to the flop, then faced a shove from Bolger, who was down from his last break high of almost 290k to about 150k. Emmanuel had him covered but eventually laid down pocket jacks face up.
"Good fold," said Bolger.
"Show it," said Emmanuel.
"Can't," replied Bolger, but he did allow Emmanuel to look at one, which was a black queen.
Ron Lauzon shoved under the gun, but ran into reshoves from Thomas Roach and Bill Lubyk from the middle and the cutoff. Lauzon was in with queens racing against two ace-kings. An ace on the flop of left Lauzon's queens high and dry and Roach and Lubyk chopped him up.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Ron Lauzon | 0 | 0 |
They are down to 18 with the start of Level 15 with the final two tables setting up now. Juno Lau was the player to bubble the final two tables.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Juno Lau | 0 | 0 |
They are down to 19 remaining now, just one elimination away from the final two tables and 7 players off the money spots for tonight. There are just under 10 minutes to play in Level 14.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
David Pietrzyko | 0 | 0 | |
Brian Mix | 0 | 0 | |
Shawn Trojan | 0 | 0 | |
Ronald Hauser | 0 | 0 |
They are just 11 off the money now with Level 14 just underway.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Steve Azizi | 0 | 0 | |
Russ Sluchinski | 0 | 0 | |
Darren J | 0 | 0 | |
Pam MacNaughton | 0 | 0 |
The are now down to the final three tables after Francis Fisher busted in 28th.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Francis Fisher | 0 | 0 |
I had a full count on dinner, and Malcolm Bolger is way out in front with almost 280k in front of him. In fact, he's been that big for a while, as he was quick to inform me at the break that my last count was missing at least 100k from it. That's the danger of trying to eyeball stacks while play is in progress lol.
Full chips for the 30 players remaining after dinner are under the Chip Counts tab, but Paul Meyer has busted while I was entering the chips.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 278,000 | 0 | |
Biajn Emmanuel | 170,000 | 0 | |
John Letts | 145,000 | 0 | |
Francis Fan | 120,000 | 0 | |
Somsanouk Sitthammavoung | 120,000 | 0 | |
Paul Meyer | 0 | 0 | |
Desmond Stuart | 0 | 0 |
There are just under 15 minutes left in Level 12 with a 15-minute break following this level and the field down to 32 left, 20 players off the money.
They are down to 35 players left to start Level 12 and they'll be off for a break following this level. I'll do my best to get full counts while they are out for the break but depending on the remaining field, there may be too many for one person to count in 15 minutes.
They are down to 36 players left on the final four tables in the Seniors game with about 10 minutes to play in Level 11. There is another break after Level 12, and I'll try to grab a full count of the field at that point.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 170,000 | 95,000 | |
Pam MacNaughton | 140,000 | 120,000 | |
Francis Fan | 100,000 | 45,000 | |
Steve Azizi | 90,000 | 70,000 | |
Keith Stick | 80,000 | 60,000 | |
Rob Lothian | 0 | 0 | |
Ron Lauzon | 0 | 0 |
The prizes are posted and the winner tonight will be getting just shy of $10k for their work. There will be 12 players getting a share of $34,770, with the 12th place min-cash set at $705.
Place # |
Prize |
1 | $9,679 |
2 | $6,671 |
3 | $4,336 |
4 | $3,335 |
5 | $2,568 |
6 | $2,034 |
7 | $1,601 |
8 | $1,267 |
9 | $1,034 |
10 | $833 |
11 | $706 |
12 | $706 |
The unofficial number on the board was still 122 when the clock started for Level 9, but I'm waiting on the final prize pool for confirmation of the numbers, but regardless, it looks like 12 players will be getting a piece of just shy of $35k.
The Seniors are off for their dinner break now with 122 entries on the board and 51 players left in the action. They still have a bit more than 30 minutes to get a few more entries and they only need one more to hit $35k in total prizes. With the current numbers, it looks like 12 players will be sharing $34,770 at the end of the night, but that could still change before the start of Level 9.
There are just over 10 minutes remaining in the final level of play before dinner with entries set to close at the end of dinner. There are currently 120 entires on the board for prizes of about $34k right now. Another three entries before the end of dinner will push the prizes over $35,000.
The Seniors are now into their final level of entry with the start of Level 8. That means there are just under 30 minutes to play until dinner, and about 75 minutes left until the entry desk closes on Event #1.
Prizes are now just shy of $34k with 119 entries on the board.
Level 7 has just begun with prizes up to $33,345 and 117 entries on the board. There are two more levels to play before the dinner break, and entries will close when dinner is finished at about 5 pm.
The field is up to 107 entries to start Level 6 now and three levels of play remain before dinner comes following Level 8. That puts the prizes at about $30.5k now with just river 2 hours left to enter this game.
The field is up to 104 entries with about 10 minutes to play in Level 5. That puts the field two entries shy of $30k in prizes so that total should be surpassed long before entries close in a bit less than 2.5 hours.
I had a quick wander around the room during the break following Level 4 and it looks like Malcolm Bolger is the current leader with about 75k in front of him. Francis Fan and Rob Lothian are both playing in the 50k range while Ron Lauzon is on a bit more than 40k right now. Note that stack sizes are estimated as I just eyeballed them rather than doing exact counts.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Malcolm Bolger | 75,000 | 55,000 | |
Francis Fan | 55,000 | 35,000 | |
Rob Lothian | 50,000 | 30,000 | |
Ron Lauzon | 41,000 | 21,000 |
They are just moments away from the day's first break, and the field has just capped 100 entries. The prizes are now sitting at just shy of $29k with about 3 hours left to get into this one.
There are still 20 minutes to play in Level 4 before the first break of the day but the field is now just two entries shy of 100. That puts the prizes over $27k with more than 3 hours left to enter the game. Brian Wells was among the more recent entries I've seen today.
Level 4 is about to begin with 92 entries on the board and 80 players still alive. That puts the prizes at $26,505 with the first break of the day scheduled following this level.
There will be four more levels of play after this one before the entries close at the start of Level 9, which will be about 5 pm.
The field is up to 85 entries now with Level 3 just underway. That puts the prize just above $24,000 with plenty of time left for that to grow. Among the recent additions to the field were Gerald Chung, who has won this Seniors game on the PPT a few times already, as well as Gary Rooprai.
There are just over 10 minutes left in Level 2 and the field is at 8 entries for prizes of $22,800 at the moment. Among the players I spotted on my last trip around the room were Steve Azizi, Ed Zurawell, Brett Worton, Keith Schultz, Reg Hampton, Brett Finch, and Larry Quon.
The prize pool is now just two entries shy of $20k with 69 entries on the board as Level 2 begins. There have been a few busts in Level 1 with 65 players still listed in the game. They'll take their first break of the day in about 90 minutes at the end of Level 4, with the dinner break scheduled for about 4:15 at the conclusion of Level 8.
Rob Lothian hit the rail about halfway through Level 1 after a pretty brutal spot. Both he and Jeff Forester flopped a set with Lothian ahead on the set of nines against a set of sevens for Forester. After a brick turn, the river paired the seven, giving Lothian the boat but giving Forester the stone quads.
The money went in, of course, and Lothian had to rebuy, but as he mentioned, at least it was early so he still buys in with a full stack. Among the other players I spotted out there so far are Paul "Squirrel Attack" Meyer, as well as Ali Razzaq, who had a deep run in the Colossus recently in Vegas, Francis Fan, and Leo Brouwer.
They are just approaching the 15-minute mark of Level 1 with the field now up to 63 entries. So far there have been no open seat calls so all 63 players appear to still be at the tables. The prizes are now sitting just shy of $18k.
Action is barely underway and the field is up to 55 players with $15,675 in prizes. Cliff Green, Pam MacNaughton, Brain "BA" Anderson, Ron Lauzon, and Malcolm Bolger are among the familiar faces I've spotted so far today.
The line at the entry desk has now shortened, but there is still fairly steady action at the till, so the numbers are still climbing pretty quickly in this one.
There are 50 players on the board as announcements are being made prior to cards going in the air. That puts the prizes at $14,250 as the action begins for Level 1 of the opening event of 2024 PPT #3.
The cards aren't even in the air yet but the prizes are already closing in on $10k with 31 entries on the board so far today. Rob Lothiam Dale "Soupy" Campbell, and Russ Sluchinski are among the familiar faces waiting for cards to go in the air in less than 10 minutes.
There are 10 players already waiting for cards to go in the air for the Seniors event today, with about 45 minutes to go until the action gets underway. That means the prizes are already nearing $3k so it looks like today could be a pretty decent turnout.
For the younger crowd, there will be an open game starting at 4 pm today, as well as a Survivor at 7 pm tonight, so there are lots of chances for everyone to play some PPT poker today.
Event: | #1 - $340 Seniors First (50+) ($300 + $40) |
Date: | July 23, 12 Noon |
Blinds: | 30 Minutes |
Start Stack: | 20,000 |
Late Entry: | 8 Levels (~5 pm) |
It's time for the third edition of the 2024 Pure Poker Tour (PPT). The Tour heads to Pure Casino Edmonton (Argyle) and opens with the traditional Seniors First game, open to players aged 50 and older. For younger players, there will be two other open events on Tuesday, with a regular NLH starting at 4 pm and a Survivor game at 7 pm.
The first poker to happen at this stop will be for the old folks, however, with the 30-minute blinds kicking off at noon. There will be 8 levels of late entry for the Seniors, putting the final chance to enter at about 5 pm when the dinner break concludes.
After dinner, it will be a race to the trophy with the winner expected to be crowned late Tuesday night. I'll be focusing on this event for the opening day, but will try to keep the numbers on Events 2 & 3 updated as well, and move over to whatever else is still running once the Seniors are finished.