Online Poker Weekend: Easy Money for 'SteveyMoney' at Full Tilt

Mickey Doft Live Reporter

Mar 09, 2009 7 min read Last updated Mar 11, 2011

Online Poker Weekend: Easy Money for 'SteveyMoney' at Full Tilt 0001

Another busy Sunday night of online poker tournament action saw five more players emerge with six-figure winnings. Four of the five came from the PokerStars Sunday Million, where "TheGoingRate" emerged after a late chop to capture the event and $132,801.79. The night's biggest payday, though, went to Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield, who claimed to honors and $140,436.06 in the Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee. Highlights from the action:

PokerStars Sunday Million

The PokerStars Sunday Million attracted a crowd of 8,118 this weekend for a total prize pool of 1,623,600. Notable finishes included Chad "Confused1" Berthelson in ninth place ($11,365.20), Steve "thorladen" Weinstein in 12th ($8,118), Dao69 in 13th ($5,682.60), Brett "GrayFOX22" Halladay in 16th ($4,059), David "GRinDer444" Redlin in 18th ($4,059), Stian "JohnnyBelow" Stable in 51st ($2,597.56) and Alan "BodogAri" Engel in 53rd ($2,597.56). Two bustouts on the bubble meant only eight made the final table, with their chip counts as follows:

Matthias "Kürschner" Kürschner — 14,867,583

kuzman89 — 13,895,878

steakstud — 12,810,218

TheGoingRate — 11,532,792

George "George2Loose" Bedi — 9,643,436

1stAir — 8,676,112

ferminaitor — 6,382,976

Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet — 3,371,005

The first to exit the final was 1stAir, during the 250,000/500,000/50,000 level. From middle position 1stAir shipped it in for 4,055,107, holding J♥8♥, and kuzman89 called in the cutoff with K♣K♥. The board brought no help to 1stAir, who finished in eighth place for $18,671.40. George "George2Loose" Bedi headed for the exit at 300,000/600,000/60,000. On the button, Bedi moved all in for his last 5,052,436 with A♦5♦, and Matthias "Kürschner" Kürschner looked him up in the big blind with A♥6♥. The board rolled out Q♣8♥J♦3♠2♦ as Kürschner's six kicker played. Bedi took home $28,413 for the seventh-place showing.

Ferminaitor was exterminated next. Down to less than one big blind, ferminaitor was unable to get a comeback started and finished in sixth for $41,401.80. Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet went to the rail soon after. In the cutoff, steakstud min-raised to 1,200,000 and Van Fleet went all in for 10,122,010, which steakstud snap-called with A♠K♦. Van Fleet tabled 2♦2♠ and looked good as the flop and turn came J♣4♣9♥J♦, but the A♦ landed on the river and Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet was out in fifth place for $57,637.80. The remaining four players quickly struck a deal. Each player was guaranteed the following amount, with $30,000 left over for the winner:

Matthias "Kürschner" Kürschner: $132,955.39

steakstud: $127,661.43

kuzman89: $105,097,14

TheGoingRate: $102,801.79

When play resumed, kuzman89 fell in fourth place at 400,000/800,000/80,000. First to act, kuzman89 went all in for 6,390,985 with A♣J♣ and found action from TheGoingRate, who tabled 7♣7♦. The board ran out 8♦3♥4♠Q♠6♦ as kuzman89 came up short, collecting $105,097.14 for fourth place. Matthias "Kürschner" Kürschner became a victim of TheGoingRate a few hands later. In the small blind Kürschner raised to 2,280,000 and TheGoingRate called out of the big blind. The flop came 10♥7♥K♠ and Kürschner led out 2,000,000, but was raised to 8,000,000 by TheGoingRate. Kürschner called and the 4♥ hit the turn. Three bets later the chips were in the middle and Kürschner's tournament life was at stake with top two pair – K♣10♦. However, TheGoingRate had the flush, holding 9♥8♥. The river was the 2♠ and Matthias "Kürschner" Kürschner had third place for $132,955.39.

The match ended a few hands later. A limped pot between TheGoingRate and steakstud brought a flop of 7♦J♥Q♣. After TheGoingRate check-called steakstud's bet of 4,000,000, the J♦ fell on the turn. TheGoingRate again checked and steakstud shoved for 12,607,744. TheGoingRate called with Q♦4♥, which led steakstud's A♣7♠. The river was the 8♥ and the tournament was over. Steakstud finished as the runner-up and earned $127,661.43, with TheGoingRate winning the PokerStars Sunday Million for $132,801.79.

Final Results:

*1. TheGoingRate — $132,801.79

*2. steakstud — $127,661.43

*3. Matthias "Kürschner" Kürschner — $132,955.39

*4. kuzman89 — $105,097.14

5. Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet — $57,637.80

6. ferminaitor — $41,401.80

7. George "George2Loose" Bedi — $28,413

8. 1stAir — $18,671.40

9. Chad "Confused1" Berthelson — $11,365.30

* — per four-way deal, $30,000 for eventual winner

Online Poker Weekend: Easy Money for 'SteveyMoney' at Full Tilt 101

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Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee

The Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee drew a field of 3,966 hopefuls, each vying for the first-place prize of $140,436.06. Just missing out on the final table were Bahbak "bigredAK" Oboodi in 13th place ($5,631.72) and Jake "neverbluff67" Cody in 17th ($3,966). Further down the prize list were players such as Marco "CrazyMarco" Johnson in 58th ($1,467.42), Evan "NEONPILS99" Parkes in 68th ($1,189.80) and Thayer "THAY3R" Rasmussen in 76th ($1,189.80). Several big names made it to the final nine and the starting chip counts were as follows:

dilling89 — 2,803,150

Jims619 — 2,535,502

Adam "Dahladino" Dahlin — 1,237,374

Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield — 1,204,380

Michael "benvo123" Benvenuti — 1,193,823

Bbuddy4brkfst — 1,129,376

Jonathan "xMONSTERxDONGx" Karamalakis — 884,904

MISSTILT1 — 707,728

8SR8 — 201,763

Short-stacked 8SR8 departed the final table during the 17,000/34,000/4,000 level. Adam "Dahladino" Dahlin opned to 78,000 in the cutoff and 8SR8 went all in for 147,763 in the small blind. Chip leader dilling89 called out of the big blind, as did Dahlin, bringing out a board of 8♠3♥8♥A♥K♣ that was checked down. Dahlin tabled A♣Q♥ and won the pot. 8SR8 came up short with 10♣10♠ and finished in ninth place for $10,628.88. MISSTILT1 left at 20,000/40,000/5,000, after shoving for 72,076 with A♠6♦ and finding action from Michael "benvo123" Benvenuti in the big blind. Benvenuti's Q♥9♥ worked as the board rolled out K♣3♠2♥7♥3♥, giving him a flush. MISSTILT1 exited in eighth place with $14,277.60.

Jonathan "xMONSTERxDONGx" Karamalakis bowed out at 25,000/50,000/6,000. Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield opened to 109,400 under the gun and Karamalakis went all in for 576,504 on the button. Adam "Dahladino" Dahlin, in the big blind, re-raised and got Merrifield to fold, isolating the action with his Q♥Q♦ against Karamalakis' A♠K♦. The board ran out J♥2♦9♥6♦6♣ and Karamalakis was out with $18,243.60 for seventh. Michael "benvo123" Benvenuti busted shortly thereafter. In middle position, Bbuddy4brkfst made it 127,000 to go and Benvenuti went all in for 1,142,345, holding A♦J♦ in the cutoff. Bbuddy4brkfst called with Q♠Q♦ and took down the hand as the board delivered 7♦4♦Q♣9♣4♥. Benvenuti earned $24,351.24 for sixth place. Jims619 bid adieu in this level as well. Steven Merrifield opened to 111,400 in the cutoff and Jims619 went all in for 814,504 in the small blind with A♠5♠. Merrifield called and tabled A♣7♣. The board came 4♥6♣K♣J♥A♥ and Merrifield's seven kicker played, earning him the pot. Jims619 took fifth for $32,838.48.

Adam "Dahladino" Dahlin departed at 30,000/60,000/7,500 after dilling89 raised from the button to 140,100. Dahlin re-raised all in for 1,132,500 from the big blind and dilling89 called with A♦5♦, which led Dahlin's K♦7♦. The 6♠A♠5♥6♥10♠ board gave dilling89 two pair and the pot. Dahlin won $43,784.64 for fourth place. Bbuddy4brkfst bit the dust next and finished in third place. Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield raised to 143,400 on the button and Bbuddy4brkfst called from the big blind. The flop came 4♦7♣8♥ and Bbuddy4brkfst check-raised all in for 1,823,097. Merrifield quickly called and tabled A♣8♠ to Bbuddy4brkfst's J♠5♠. The turn and river came 3♥8♦ as Bbuddy4brkfst exited with $55,524.

The chip counts at the start of heads-up play:

Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield — 7,556,782

dilling89 — 4,341,218

Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield closed out the tournament at 40,000/80,000/10,000. In the deciding hand, Merrifield raised preflop to 178,200 and dilling89 called. The flop came 7♦6♦3♠, both players checked, and the A♥ fell on the turn. Dilling89 checked to Merrifield, who fired 242,000, which dilling89 called. The river was the 7♣ and Merrifield bet just over 600,000. However, dilling89 check-raised all in for over 3,000,000. Merrifield tanked briefly before calling with A♠Q♠, which bested dilling89's 9♥6♥. Dilling89 settled for $84,872.40 as the runner-up, while the winner of The Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee was Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield for $140,436.06.

Final Results:

1. Steven "SteveyMoney" Merrifield — $140,436.06

2. dilling89 — $84,872.40

3. Bbuddy4brkfst — $55,524.

4. Adam "Dahladino" Dahlin — $43,784.64

5. Jims619 — $32,838.48

6. Michael "benvo123" Benvenuti — $24,351.24

7. Jonathan "xMONSTERxDONGx" Karamalakis — $18,243.60

8. MISSTILT1 — $14,277.60

9. 8SR8 — $10,628.88

Other Sunday Results

Full Tilt Sunday Brawl

1. Kenny "Hixx" Hicks — $85,495.84

2. Josh "professor plum" Prager — $55,334.40

3. Chris "DeMaci" DeMaci — $41,081.60

4. Sternbfree — $31,020.80

5. noitall611 — $21,798.40

6. zerocashout — $14,252.80

7. Kuntreezer — $9,641.60

8. kingofthetable9 — $6,707.20

9. Kariboo86 — $5,030.40

Buy-in: $240+16

Prize Pool: $419,200

Entrants: 2,096

Other Notables: David "GhettoFabolous" Randall-17th-$1,551.40, Mark "dipthrong" Herm-29th-$1,089.92, Kyle "kwob20" Bowker-54th-$838.40

Full Tilt Sunday Mulligan

1. Yeshaya — $60,808

2. absolutD37 — $38,696

3. Bsawc1 — $28,331

4. krazylouie — $22,457.50

5. AlCarmoo — $17,275

6. Amit "amak316" Makhija — $12,438

7. gott ist stumm — $8,015.60

8. assenvernichter — $5,804.40

9. bgfd — $4,256.56

Buy-in: $200+16

Prize Pool: $276,400

Entrants: 1,382

Other Notables: S Gromenkova-13th-$1,768.96, Isaac Baron-15th-$1,768.96, Christian Kruel-20th-$981.22, Christian "da_professional" Iacobellis-39th-$746.28, Jeff "YoungSupremacy" Hakim-45th-$746.28

PokerStars Sunday Warmup ($750,000 guaranteed)

1. viksha — $108,953.40

2. grebnrets86 — $76,014

3. Brughtality — $50,676

4. flex212derde — $42,230

5. miw700 — $33,784

6. cobusie — $25,338

7. homner — $16,892

8. LunchTime645 — $10,557.50

9. 00psiedaisy — $6,841.26

Buy-in: $200+15

Prize Pool: $844,600