World Poker Tour on FSN: The WPT Celebrity Invitational

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

May 23, 2011 4 min read

FSN continued its broadcast of the World Poker Tour’s ninth season with the WPT Celebrity Invitational from the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, California. The episode began with a recap of the tournament leading up to the final table, including appearances by a number of celebrities including Camryn Manheim, Billy Burke, Lou Diamond Phillips, Chaka Khan, Bruce Buffer, Randy Couture, Hope Dworaczyk, and Shannon Elizabeth, just to name a few.

Celebrities and amateurs weren’t the only players in attendance. In fact, a number of pros comprised the 482-player field (412 rebuys) including Chino Rheem, Michael Mizrachi, McLean Karr, Mike Sexton, Jeff Madsen, Faraz Jaka, Mike Matusow, and Phil Laak. While all were there for a good time, they were also there to support a great cause. The event was held to benefit Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization that helps economically disadvantaged and homeless people become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.

Here is how the final table, the only players to get paid in the Invitational, looked at the top of the broadcast.

Final Table

Seat 1: Dinara Khaziyeva - 670,000
Seat 2: Damon Schramm - 865,000
Seat 3: George Rechnitzer - 660,000
Seat 4: Dan Heimiller - 700,000
Seat 5: Davidi Kitai - 845,000
Seat 6: Almira Skripchenko - 710,000

First Hand: With blinds at 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante, and an average chip stack of just over 700,000, the action was expected to be fast and furious. In the first hand, Dan Heimillier limped with Q♣J♠ from the cutoff and Dinara Khaziyeva checked her option in the big blind with K♠5♣. The 10♥K♣3♦ flop gave Khaziyeva top pair and she quickly bet 40,000. Heimiller called with his open-ended straight draw, and the 7♠ hit the turn. Both players checked as they did when the 7♣ peeled off on the river. Khaziyeva’s top pair held and she took down the modest pot.

Khaziyeva Crippled: After winning the first pot, Khaziyeva raised to 105,000 holding K♣10♣ and received a call from the 10♦9♦ of Almira Skripchenko in the big blind. Amazingly, the flop fell K♠10♥9♥ and gave both players two pair. Obviously it was going to be a big pot. Skripchenko checked, Khaziyeva bet 130,000, Skripchenko check-raised all-in for 555,000, and Khaziyeva made the call.

Skripchenko was in bad shape and needed a nine to stay alive. Wouldn’t you know it, the 9♠ spiked on the turn and the crowd was in complete shock. The 7♦ river changed nothing, and Skripchenko doubled to 1.37 million while Khaziyeva was left with just 90,000.

Khaziyeva Eliminated in Sixth Place: In the very next hand, action folded to Skripchenko in the small blind and she moved all in. Khaziyeva called off her short stack and the cards were turned up.

Khaziyeva: 10♠2♣
Skripchenko: A♥10♥

The board ran out uneventfully - K♥8♠A♣6♦J♣, and Khaziyeva was eliminated in sixth place for $5,000.

Heimiller Doubles Through Schramm: Heimiller raised to 100,000 with A♦K♥ only to have Schramm reraise to 200,000 with A♥10♦. Heimiller moved all-in for 660,000 total, and Schramm thought about it for a moment before making the call. Heimiller was a favorite in the hand and needed to dodge a ten, which is exactly what he did as the board ran out 9♥K♠6♠5♥6♣. Heimiller doubled to 1,345,000 while Schramm was left with the extreme short stack.

The Raw Deal: Tony Dunst took to his popular segment, The Raw Deal, to discuss the differences between a charity event and a regular tournament. He highlighted a fast and shallow structure, more preflop all-ins, greater luck factor, and a decreased edge. Dunst seemed to know what he was talking about, considering that he fell victim to these same factors.

Schramm Out in Fifth Place: After Heimiller raised to 80,000 with A♥A♣, Schramm moved all-in for his last 100,000 with K♣10♣. Heimiller quickly called the additional 20,000 and Schramm laughed at his bad luck. The board ran out 9♣8♦K♥6♠6♦ and Schramm finished in fifth place, taking home $10,000 for his efforts.

Coin Flip Results in a New Chip Leader: Heimiller opened for 120,000 with 7♠7♣ only to have Kitai move all in for 915,000 with A♦Q♥. Heimiller made the call and it was off to the races. The crowd and players were on their feet as the flop fell 6♦A♣3♠, vaulting Kitai into the lead. The K♣ changed nothing, and neither did the Q♦ river. Just like that, Heimiller lost half his stack, and Kitai took the chip lead with 1,925,000.

To Be Continued . . . : FSN’s broadcast of the WPT Invitational will continue next Sunday with the final four players, and we can guarantee that George Rechnitzer will play a hand. That said, be sure to either check your local listings or visit PokerNews for the recap.

Past WPT Invitational Winners

Season	Player	Earnings
1	Layne Flack	$100,000
2	Phil Laak	$100,000
3	Alex Brenes	$100,000
4	Barry Greenstein	$100,000
5	Adam Weinraub	$100,000
6	Van Nguyen	$100,000
7	Freddy Deeb	$100,000
8	Leron Washington	$100,000
9	???	$100,000