The Online Railbird Report, Vol. 1: Galfond, durrrr, Kelopuro Log Big Wins
The high-stakes cash game action on Full Tilt Poker was swinging this week on both sides of the Atlantic, with Gus Hansen, Patrik Antonius, Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, Phil "OMGClayAiken" and Tom "durrrr" Dwan leading the action. After Dwan's highly publicized "durrrr Challenge" commenced on Wednesday morning with him picking up a $134,000 win against Patrik Antonius over 1,541 hands, the two agreed to reconvene the next day at the same time if the $500-$1,000 games weren't running.
durrrr: ya sounds good, long as theres not a ton of 500/1k running
durrrr: i obv would rather 4 tbl 500/1
Patrik Antonius: deal
However, the $500-$1,000 games were indeed running, so the two decided to put off the match so they could get in on the action. Several tables of $500-$1,000 HA drew the likes of Brandon Adams, Gus Hansen, Mark Vos, Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond, Hac "trex313" Dang, Brian "tsarrast" Rast, Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, and luckexpress10. The biggest pots of the week, however, unfolded in a $500-$1,000 heads-up PLO match between Sahamies and Dwan in the early morning hours of Thursday, February 20. Dwan emerged about a $500,000 winner from the match, taking down multiple six-figure pots including one that broke the half-million mark.
Durrrr Wins Half a Million off Ziigmund in PLO Duel
In the night's biggest pot, Ziigmund opened on the button for $3,000, durrrr raised to $9,000 from the big blind and Ziigmund four-bet to $27,000. Durrrr called, and checked the Q♥9♠6♣ flop to Ziigmund, who bet $39,000. Durrrr raised to $171,000, Ziigmund shoved for $226,439 and durrrr called. Durrrr showed Q♣Q♠10♣8♠ for top set and a double-gutshot straight draw, about a 2:1 favorite over Ziigmund's wrap draw with J♣10♥9♦8♣. The turn and river fell the 7♦ and the 7♠, durrrr making queens full to take down the $506,877 pot and leaving Ziigmund to reload another $200,000.
About ten minutes after that hand unfolded, Ziigmund dropped another huge pot to durrrr, getting all in on the turn with top two pair vs. durrrr's bottom set. The river paired the board and another $387,000 was shipped durrrr's way. Ziigmund reloaded again for $200,000 and was able to gain some ground back, picking up a $420,000 pot with aces full vs. durrrr's nines full. It was durrrr, though who struck the last major blow of the night. Durrrr opened for $3,000 and Ziigmund popped it to $9,000. Durrrr called and they saw a Q♠10♠5♦ flop. Ziigmund led out for $16,000 and durrrr called. The turn was the Q♣, pairing the board and both players checked. The river brought the 2♣, and Ziigmund fired at the pot for $33,000. Durrrr raised to $115,800 and after quite a think, Ziigmund called and saw the bad news as durrrr's 10♥10♦4♦3♠ flashed onscreen, his tens full winning the $281,600 pot.
A dead-tired durrrr quit the game as the hour neared 9 a.m. EST, and Ziigmund asked him if he'd be playing Patrik Antonius in the challenge today.
"idk im tired as &%$!" was durrrr's reply.
Galfond Takes $300,000 off Gus
The week's other major heads-up match came Tuesday night when Gus Hansen and Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond sat down at two tables of heads-up $500-$1,000 PLO. In a little less than two hours, Galfond managed to book a $300,000 win over the Great Dane. After exchanging mid-sized pots for the first 45 minutes, the two got it all in on a Q♥J♠9♣ flop, Galfond having Hansen covered. Galfond had K♠Q♦10♠10♣ for the flopped straight and Hansen K♥K♦9♥5♣ for the overpair. The A♦ on the turn made Galfond the nuts and he picked up a $136,780 pot, leaving Hansen to reload for another $50,000.
Hansen doubled through Galfond about fifteen minutes later. In a pot that was raised and reraised preflop, Hansen led out on the Q♠J♠6♥ flop for $12,000, Galfond reraised to $54,000, Hansen shoved for $62,798 and Galfond called the balance. Hansen had flopped a set of jacks with J♣J♦5♣2♦ while Galfond had top pair and a straight draw with A♦Q♣10♣4♣. No help came for Galfond on the 6♦ turn or 3♦ river and Hansen dragged the $143,595 pot with his full house.
The largest pot of the match, though, came after Galfond opened for $3,000, Hansen reraised to $9,000 and Galfond called. Hansen led out for $12,000 on the 8♠5♠4♠ flop and Galfond called. The turn was the K♦ and Hansen fired another $32,000, Galfond again making the call. Hansen checked the river when the 5♣ fell, pairing the board, and Galfond moved all in for his remaining $103,768. Hansen tanked and called, with Galfond showing J♦9♦5♥4♥ for the rivered boat. Hansen mucked and Galfond won the $286,387 pot. The match ended a short time later with Galfond emerging a nearly $300,000 winner.
LarsLuzak Picks up $229,000 in Shorthanded HA
Not all of the week's big action came heads-up. Tuesday night's $500-$1,000 HA lineup included Tom Dwan, Gus Hansen, Brian "tsarrast" Rast, Phil Galfond, Mark Vos, Hac "trex313" Dang, Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies and Sami "LarsLuzak" Kelopuro. It was Kelopuro who emerged as the night's biggest winner, picking up $229,000. Vos and Hansen also booked wins at $103,000 and $185,000 respectively, while Galfond was the night's biggest loser, dropping $237,000.
In one of the night's key pots, Dang raised to $3,000 from the cutoff, Kelopuro called on the button, and Dwan put in the squeeze-raise to $12,500 from the big blind. Dang folded and Kelopuro called. Both players checked the 7♣6♠2♠ flop. The 5♣ landed on the turn, and Dwan checked the action to Kelopuro, who bet $18,000. Dwan raised to $82,500, prompting a $99,480 all in from his opponent. Dwan called the additional $16,980, turning up Q♦Q♠ for the overpair, only to be drawing dead against Kelopuro's 3♥4♥ for the turned straight. Kelopuro won the $227,457 pot, the largest of the session.
Editor's Note: "The Online Railbird" report is a new weekly feature summarizing the biggest matchups in the online game. Many of the largest online collisions take place at Full Tilt. Why not join the fun?
