2008 World Series of Poker

Event 17 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
Day: 2
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$335,565
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Entries
1,000
Level Info
Level
10
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

Fun & Frolics

You wouldn't think they were playing for a bracelet here (not to mention all that money) as the mood here at the final table is quite positive.

Mike Schwartz informs Jason Young that he's handing him a second consecutive birthday present by giving him a walk in the big blind. Then a couple of hands later, he raises Monahan's big blind and shows pocket ducks after Monahan folds.

"I knew you'd like that one he adds".

Push or Fold Time

With just 300,000 in chips, Rory Monahan is in push or fold mode, last seen moving all in from the button on Mike Schwartz's big blind.

"It's now or never," sings Schwartz as Monahan slides his stack across the felt.

"Let's see if we can double you up," he adds checking his cards.

Moments later, he folds, only for Monahan to reveal {3-Diamonds}{3-Spades}.

"Let me have my cards back," begs Schwartz.

Tags: Mike SchwartzRory Monahan

Few Flops Apparent

Schwartz raises under the gun to steal the blinds.

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Monahan raises to 150,000 from the button, but is called by Schwartz in the big blind. Schwartz bets out 175,000 on the {K-Spades} {6-Hearts} {4-Clubs} and Monahan folds. He's pretty short now, down to around 350,000.

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Now it's Strzemp's turn to steal the blinds, with a raise to 175,000 under the gun.

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Some action here: Schwartz limps in under the gun, Monahan makes up the blind, and big blind Strzemp raises 150,000. To which Schwartz reraises another 800,000. Monahan insta-folds, and with an expression that says, "Yikes!" Strzemp folds too.

Schwartz Pushes Monahan off the Flop

After Rory Monahan had made a small preflop raise of 110,000 from under-the-gun, Mike Schwartz and Jason Young called in the blinds.

On the {6-Spades}{4-Clubs}{2-Clubs} flop, both blinds checked and Monahan continue bet for 575,000. However, Schwartz made 575,000 to take down the pot.

Young Maintains Lead

Although losing the odd minor pot, Jason Young is still your current chip leader with 4,600,000. The last hand he played saw him limp-raise Mike Schwartz's preflop raise from the big bind to a total of 400,000. Schwartz reluctantly folded, showing an ace in the process.

Strzemp Up to Two Million

John Strzemp has upped his stack to around 2 million -- Jason Young raised under the gun to 115,000, and Strzemp made it 300,000 from the small blind. After some deliberation, Young passed, and the pot went to Strzemp.

Blind Stealing

We're seeing very few flops at the moment, the players taking it in turns to take each other's blinds uncontested.

On a side note, the players agreed that they would take a dinner break at the end of this level.

Schwartz Fights Back

Jason Young raises from the button, taking down the hefty blinds and antes.

Next hand, he raises from the cutoff, and this time finds a caller in Michael Schwartz on the big blind. Schwartz bets out 150,000 on the {5-Spades} {3-Clubs} {9-Clubs} flop and Young threads the six 25,000 chips thoughtfully for a while before calling. The turn is the {A-Hearts} and Schwartz bets out 200,000. Young quickly folds.

Tags: Jason YoungMichael Schwarz

Two Pots for Strzemp

John Strzemp takes down two consecutive post-break pots.

First he took the blinds uncontested with a button raise of 175,000.

Then, he raised again preflop, this time from the button and for 150,000, before being called by Jason Young. Strzemp took it down with a continue bet of 150,000 on the {10-Clubs}{A-Hearts}{6-Spades} flop.