Epic Poker League Event #1

Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info

Epic Poker League Event #1

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
ak
Prize
$1,000,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$20,000
Prize Pool
$3,085,200
Entries
137
Level Info
Level
23
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000

What a Turn and River to Keep Habib Alive

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Chino Rheem opened from the cutoff seat to 80,000 and action folded to Hasan Habib in the big blind. He reraised all in for a little over 500,000. Rheem made the call.

Rheem: {7-Clubs}{7-Spades}
Habib: {6-Hearts}{6-Spades}

Jason Mercier's rail has gotten on the side of Habib whenever he's not involved with their favorite Mercier. Brent Hanks yelled out that all Habib would have to do to win this one is say, "Yeahhhpp!" Habib did so and off to the flop they went.

The flop came down {J-Spades}{3-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} and Habib missed. Still, Mercier's rail cheered hard for him. Some yelled for a six and some others yelled for a jack and a three to come in succession. The dealer dealt the {J-Diamonds} on the turn and now Habib could chop if another three fell. Hanks had other things in mind and for some reason called for an eight, which would be no help whatsoever to Habib.

The river card was dealt and the {3-Hearts} smacked the felt. The crowd erupted as Habib stood behind his chair pumping his arm in a tomahawk chop sort of way and yelling, "Yeahhhpp!" Chop it up boys.

Tags: Brent HanksChino RheemHasan HabibJason Mercier

Seidel Continues Upward Trend

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Chino Rheem was first to act and raised to 70,000. Action folded to Erik Seidel in the big blind and he made it 200,000. Rheem called and the flop was {10-Spades}{k-Spades}{9-Clubs}. Seidel took out a stack of reds worth 250,000 and placed it in the middle. Rheem let go of his hand and Seidel won another pot.

Tags: Chino RheemErik Seidel

Gavin Smith Eliminated in 5th Place ($154,260)

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Gavin Smith (photo courtesy of Epic Poker) - 5th Place
Gavin Smith (photo courtesy of Epic Poker) - 5th Place

Erik Seidel began the hand with the button and Jason Mercier raised from under the gun to 60,000. Seidel flatted and then play folded to Gavin Smith in the big blind. He reraised all in for around 600,000. Mercier came with a reraise of his own and shoved his entire stack into the middle. Seidel quickly folded.

Smith: {9-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}
Mercier: {Q-Spades}{Q-Hearts}

The flop, turn and river ran out {K-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} to keep Mercier's queens in front and eliminate Smith from the tournament. Smith earned over $150,000 for his finish as Mercier inched closer to Seidel's leading stack.

Tags: Erik SeidelGavin SmithJason Mercier

Seidel Check-Raises River

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Erik Seidel limped his small blind after action had folded around. Chino Rheem was in the big blind and raised to 85,000 which Seidel called.

The flop was {3-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}{9-Diamonds} and Seidel let Rheem continue for 100,000 and called.

The turn was the {2-Clubs} and this time both players checked to see the {a-Clubs} hit the river. Seidel checked and Rheem took a stab for 200,000. Seidel thought a bit and raised to 500,000. Rheem didn't waste time folding and Seidel raked in the pot.

Tags: Chino RheemErik Seidel

Habib Moves All In

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

From under the gun, Erik Seidel raised to 70,000 and action folded to Hasan Habib in the big blind. He made the call and the {3-Hearts}{k-Spades}{a-Spades} flop was seen heads up. Habib checked and Seidel continued for 70,000. It didn't take long for Habib to announce he was all in and Seidel folded even more quickly.

Tags: Hasan HabibErik Seidel

Smith's Turn to Shove

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

From under the gun, a recently quiet Jason Mercier raised to 60,000. Action folded to Gavin Smith in the big blind who moved all in for 555,000.

Mercier thought for a little while with a perplexed face before deciding to let his hand go.

Tags: Jason MercierGavin Smith

Rheem Shoves Turn

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Chino Rheem raised to 70,000, continuing to play nearly every hand since losing that big pot to Erik Seidel. Hasan Habib made the call from the big blind and the flop came down {Q-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{7-Hearts}. Habib checked, Rheem bet 100,000 and Habib called.

The turn was the {9-Clubs} and Habib checked. Rheem almost instantly moved all in. Habib tanked for a little bit and then mucked his hand.

Tags: Chino RheemErik Seidel

Rheem Involved Again

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Action folded to Chino Rheem in the small blind and he limped in. Gavin Smith checked his option.

The flop was {j-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}{7-Spades} and both players checked. The turn was the {6-Hearts} and Rheem led out for 40,000 which was met by a quick call from Smith. The river was the {q-Spades} which was checked by Rheem and bet by Smith for 100,000. Rheem went unusually long into the tank and thought for three or four minutes before tossing in the chips to call.

Smith had a pair of jacks which were good enough to take the pot and halt Rheem's recent run.

Tags: Gavin SmithChino Rheem

Finally a Fold from Rheem

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Action folded to Erik Seidel in the small blind and he raised to 90,000. Chino Rheem gave him some chatter and then mucked his hand, finally opting not to play a hand.

Rheem Playing Every Hand Now

Level 21 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Since losing that big pot to Erik Seidel and doubling him up, Chino Rheem has been involved in every single hand. Once again, Rheem opened with a raise. This time it was from under the gun and to 70,000. Everyone folded, but Rheem seems to want to play every hand.

Tags: Chino Rheem