Mattern and Katchalov

Two Team PokerStars Pros Arnaud Mattern and Eugene Katchalov have started on the same table this afternoon. Mattern has been playing very well of late and has been very unfortunate in his last few outings in major tournaments. During the WSOPE Main Event he was disposed of in cruel fashion holding pocket aces against the eventual winners pocket tens. Then in WPT Amneville he held a set of tens on a rainbow board only to see an ace on the turn hand his opponent a bigger set of aces. In both of those tournaments if his hand held he would have been in a great position in the latter end of a big tournament. He will be hoping for better luck today and here he is clashing with Katchalov right from the outset.

Mattern raised to 225 in the cutoff and Katchalov defended the big blind (the small blind was absent). The flop came down {J-Diamonds} {8-Hearts} {5-Hearts} and Katchalov check-called a 400 bet. The next card was the {2-Hearts} and this time Katchalov took the role of aggressor with a 900 bet but Mattern raised to 2,500. Katchalov took a few minutes to consider his decision before making the call. The river card was the {A-Clubs} and Katchalov checked to Mattern and he bet nearly 4,000. Katchalov folded instantly and Mattern gets off to a great start.