In last week’s edition of the Online Railbird Report we told you about Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond becoming the third player, along with Phil Ivey and Patrik Antonius, to surpass $10 million in winnings on Full Tilt Poker. This week we focus on a back-and-forth battle between Viktor “Isildur1” Blom and Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene, and how the mysterious “jama-dharma” managed to finish as the week’s biggest winner with $667,544 in profit, which came from 1,724 hands over 16 sessions.
Other big winners on FTP this week included “Yoghii” (+$249,646 in 2 sessions/361 hands) and “kagome kagome” (+$235,544 in 20 sessions/1,454 hands), while “knez1985” (+$303,474 in 6 sessions/2,602 hands), “PimpyLimpy” (+$218,327 in 16 sessions/8,660 hands) and “Axelf82” (+$127,783 in 64 sessions/1,466 hands) all did well on PokerStars.
On the flip side, Ben “Sauce1234” Sulsky finished as the week’s biggest loser after dropping $426,249 in 1,296 hands over seven sessions while “MIKMIC888”, who lost $425,060 last week, was once again PokerStars’ biggest loser, having dropped $279,693 in 15 sessions/10,654 hands. Others who did not fare well were Patrik “FinddaGrind” Antonius (-$252,004 in 7 sessions/362 hands), Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo (-$182,592 in 20 sessions/4,321 hands) and Alexander “PostFlopAction” Kostritsyn (-$182,516 in 5 sessions/132 hands).
Blom and Tollerene Exchange Million-Dollar Wins
On Friday, May 24, Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene and Viktor “Isildur1” Blom fell into old habits as they duked it out at the $500/$1,000 CAP pot-limit Omaha tables. The two played for four hours untl Tollerene walked away a $517,000 winner. Unfortunately, he held on to that profit for less than 24 hours because the two were back at it the following day.
It started at the $200/$400 CAP PLO tables where Blom won back $95,000 in just 18 minutes. Fast forward five hours and the two fired up another game in which Tollerene was up $350,000 in just 15 minutes. It looked like Blom was destined for another bad day, but eventually the cards turned in his favor, and he finished up $470,000.
Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene
Given that the matches took place at the CAP PLO tables, there were plenty of $80,000 pots between the two matches. Here’s a look at two matches, both of which went to Blom.
Hand #1: This one occurred at the $500/$1,000 CAP tables on Friday when Tollerene ($77,494.50) opened for $3,000, Blom ($220,840) called and the flop came down 9♠7♦Q♦. Blom check-called a bet of $3,000 and then checked the 2♦ turn. Tollerene kept the pressure on with a bet of $9,500, Blom called and the 5♣ completed the board on the river. Blom checked for a third time and then called when Tollerene capped the pot with a $24,500 bet. Tollerene rolled over K♦K♣10♣9♣ for a pair of kings, but it was no good as Blom revealed the 10♦5♦4♠2♣ for a flush. Ship the $80,000 pot to the Swede.
Hand #2: Tollerene ($233,594) opened for $3,000 from the button, Blom ($40,546) called and the flop fell Q♣4♥10♦. Blom check-called a bet of $3,000 and then checked for a second time when the 3♦ turned. Tollerene bet $9,500 and then called when Blom woke up with a check-raise to $34,000, which capped the pot at $80,000.
Tollerene: A♦J♦9♣2♥
Blom: Q♦9♦7♦5♦
Both players had turned flush and straight draws, but the innocuous J♣ on the river gave Blom the pot with a measly pair of queens.
“wilhasha” Books $146,300 Win in Sunday Action on PokerStars
We don’t get to write much about PokerStars action these days as Full Tilt Poker has seemingly recaptured the high-stakes cash game action, but on Sunday and interesting $200/$400 heads-up no-limit hold’em match took place between “wilhasha” and Ben “Ben86” Tollerene. The latter ended up losing $152,800 in that match, which helped propel “wilhasha” to a $146,300 win. That match also produced the two biggest pots of the day.
Hand #1: Tollerene ($52,392) opened for $800 on the button and then called when “wilhasha” ($136,285.69) three-bet to $2,800, bringing about a flop of 5♥4♣4♥. “Wilhasha” check-called a bet of $3,200, and then check-called one of $9,598.39 on the A♥ turn. When the 6♥ completed the board on the river, “wilhasha” moved all in and Tollerene called off his remaining $36,993.59. “Wilhasha” turned over the A♣5♣ for two pair, but it was no good against the A♦4♦ full house of Tollerene, who was more than happy to pull in the $104,782 pot.