The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey & Viktor Blom Clean Up at PokerStars Nosebleeds
Last week's Online Railbird Report was overshadowed a bit by the news that PokerStars was returning to the United States after being approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). Still, there was a lot of nosebleed action, including Jens "Jeans89" Kyllönen becoming the biggest tracked winner in PokerStars nosebleed games since 2010, and Viktor "Isildur1" Blom dropping $242,933 to finish as the week's biggest loser.
Fortunately for the Swede, he rebounded this week by winning a hefty $673,881 – more than enough to make him the biggest winner of the week — in 14,442 hands over 109 sessions. Likewise, it was a good week for Phil "RaiseOnce" Ivey, who won $146,002 in 6,262 hands spread across 49 sessions.
On the flip side, Ilari "Ilari FIN" Sahamies was the week's biggest loser after dropping $211,215 in 4,909 hands over 58 sessions, while Jean-Robert "Jacqueline" Bellande wasn't too far behind after losing $207,419 in 738 hands spread over 11 sessions.
Tollerene Finishes as Friday's Big Winner; a Big Pot Sent to Ivey
On Friday, October 2, the winner of the WCOOP $51,000 Super High Roller, Ben "Ben86" Tollerene, managed to finish as the day's biggest winner after profiting $294,800 at the $200/$400 pot-limit Omaha tables. "WRUUUUM" (+$219,800) was also a big winner in the game, which included the likes of Ivey, Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky, and "JayP-AA," just to name a few.
Of course there were several big pots played in the match. Here's a look a the biggest two:
Hand #1: With six players seat, Ivey ($99,002.94) limped under the gun and Kyllönen ($83,480.91) raised to $2,280 from the hijack. "€uroTr@sh1" ($23,493.72) called from the small blind, Ivey did the same, and it was three-way action to the 8♥7♦J♥ flop.
"€uroTr@sh1" led out for $7,715, Ivey raised to $15,430, and Kyllönen three-bet to $61,720. "€uroTr@sh1" called off his short stack, Ivey four-bet to $96,722.94, and Kyllönen called off for $81,200.91 total.
Ivey: A♦J♦J♣9♦
"€uroTr@sh1": A♥7♥6♠4♠
Kyllönen: 10♥9♣Q♠K♣
Kyllönen had flopped the nuts, while Ivey held top set and "€uroTr@sh1" a flush draw. The 8♦ turn was gin for Ivey, who filled up to lock up the hand. The meaningless 2♠ was put out on the river for good measure, and Ivey was pushed the $191,335.54 pot.
Hand #2: Once again action was six-handed when Blom ($98,031.25) raised to $1,880 from the button and Tollerene ($86,757) three-bet to $6,320 from the big blind. Blom then four-bet to $19,640, Tollerene called, and the flop came down 9♦7♦J♣.
Tollerene checked, Blom bet $26,400, and Tollerene check-raised all in for $67,117, which his Swedish opponent called to create a $174,194 pot.
Tollerene: K♦K♠5♣5♦
Blom: A♥K♥10♠J♥
Blom had flopped top pair and a gutshot, which was way behind the overpair and flush draw of Tollerene. The two agreed to run it twice, and Tollerene managed to scoop it after the A♦6♦ on the first run gave him a flush, and the 2♠7♣ on the second allowed his two pair to hold.
Ivey Finishes as Sunday's Biggest Winner
On Sunday, October 4, Ivey finished as the day's biggest winner after banking $284,100 playing a mix of PLO, 2-7 triple draw, and 8-Game. Most of his profit came from a three-hour evening $100/$200 PLO session. All told, Ivey won $163,000 playing PLO.
In what would be his biggest hand, action was six-handed when Ivey ($62,790.89) opened for $940 from the button and Kyllönen ($29,416.45) called from the button. The blinds both folded and it was heads-up action to the flop, which fell 5♠J♥8♥. Ivey bet $1,800, Kyllönen called, and the K♠ appeared on the turn.
Ivey led out for $4,800, but this time Kyllönen opted to raise to $20,415. Ivey called and then bet $23,422 on the 9♣ river. Kyllonen only had $6,261.45 remaining and called it off with the K♣K♥A♣6♦ for a set of kings. Unfortunately for him, it was no good as Ivey made a straight on the river with the Q♣10♣A♥10♥. Ship the $59,372.90 pot to Ivey.
Blom Has Huge $408,700 Day
On Tuesday, October 6, Blom was far and away the day's biggest winner after profiting $408,700, more than half of which came in an 80-minute heads-up match against Tollerene at the $200/$400 PLO tables.
In the biggest pot played between the two, Blom ($104,614) opened for $1,360 from the button only to have Tollerene ($55,156) three-bet to $4,240 from the big blind. Not to be outdone, Blom four-bet to $12,880, Tollerene called, and the flop came down 6♣8♣5♠. Tollerene led out for $8,293.76 and then quickly called off for $42,276 total after Blom had raised big.
Tollerene: Q♣7♣7♠2♠
Blom: J♣9♣Q♠8♠
Both players were drawing to a flush, but Tollerene's was best in that regard. A third club never came, but Blom managed to make a straight after the K♦ was put out on the turn followed by the 7♦ on the river. Ship the $110,472 pot to Blom.
From there, the Swede went on to play a seven-hour session at a $100/$200 table and won a further $197,600. Also doing well in that game was Kyllönen, who finished the day with $179,200 in profit while also capturing the day's biggest pot.
It happened at a six-handed table when Kyllönen ($75,124.80) raised to $940 from the hijack and Tollerene ($24,580) called from the button. Blom ($106,074.05) then three-bet to $4,200 from the small blind, Kyllönen four-bet to $13,980, and Tollerene flatted. Blom came along as well and then checked the 5♣9♣3♦ flop. Kyllönen bet $42,375, Tollerene called off his remaining $10,600, and Blom check-raised all in, prompting Kyllönen to call off for $61,144.80 total and create a $175,269.60 pot.
Kyllönen: A♣3♣A♦9♦
Tollerene: 5♥2♥6♦4♦
Blom: K♣7♣J♠9♠
Tollerene flopped a wrap, while Blom and Kyllönen held flush draws, with the latter's being best. The 4♣ turn completed the said flush, and Kyllönen was pushed the pot after the 9♥ blanked on the river.
Biggest Winners/Losers from October 1-8
| Winners | Profit | Losers | Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Viktor "Isildur1" Blom | $673,881 |
Ilari "Ilari FIN" Sahamies | $211,215 | |
|
"bodamos" | $187,622 |
Jean-Robert "Jacqueline" Bellande | $207,419 | |
|
Phil "RaiseOnce" Ivey | $146,002 |
"onehandturks" | $107,271 |
Year's Biggest Winners/Losers
| Winners | Profit | Losers | Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Viktor "Isildur1" Blom | $3,477,613 |
 Viktor "Isildur1" Blom | $1,367,244 | |
|
"bbvisbadforme" | $965,770 |
Phil "Polarizing" Ivey | $1,250,806 | |
|
Jens "Jeans89" Kyllönen | $839,666 |
Jean-Robert "Jacqueline" Bellande | $952,903 | |
|
Ben "Sauce1234" Sulsky | $743,015 |
"Sanlker" | $910,746 | |
|
"Yoghii" | $555,596 |
Phil "RaiseOnce" Ivey | $883,149 | |
|
Ike Haxton | $455,675 |
Mikael "ChaoRen160" Thuritz | $696,881 | |
|
Isaac "luvtheWNBA" Haxton | $341,519 |
"8superpoker" | $648,955 |
Data, hands, and replayer obtained from HighStakesDB.com
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