Victor Ramdin is the only Team PokerStars Pro left in the field and has made it down to the final 11 here in Event No. 33. Ramdin represents Team USA and has over $2.6 million in career tournament winnings to his name. He has 15 cashes at the WSOP, includding two from this year alone. Two of those cashes were also final table appearances. The one thing that Ramdin doesn't have in his trophy case is a WSOP gold bracelet and he'll surely be looking to knock that off the checklist today if he can. Here's a few hands with Ramdin from this past level.
Pot-Limit Omaha
Ramdin raised preflop to 21,000 and Joshua Tieman called out of the small blind. After the flop came forn , Tieman checked to Ramdin. The Team PokerStars Pro fired 50,000 and Tieman folded after a brief moment, allowing Ramdin to move up to 365,000 in chips.
A couple hands later, Craig Gray limped in from middle position and then Kevin MacPhee limped from the cutoff seat. Ramdin saw this as an opportunity to pick up some chips and stuck in a raise to 44,000. Action folded through the blinds before both limpers also gave up their hands, allowing Ramdin another pot to move him up to about 390,000 in chips.
After everyone folded Ramdin said, "Wow, this game is easy. Just raise and they fold." As he collected the chips from the pot he went on to joke with the guys at his table a little bit, "You guys play here everyday?"
Pot-Limit Hold'em
On the subsequent hold'em round, Ramdin saw a flop with Tieman once again. The flop was and both players checked. After the fell on the turn, Tieman check-called a bet of 30,000 from Ramdin. Tieman made the call, opting to go to a river against the member of Team PokerStars.
The river completed the board with the and both players checked. Tieman showed two reds nines, but lost to Ramdin's . That pot put Ramdin up to about 440,000 chips.
Victor Ramdin raised from the button and was met with a hefty reraise from James Mitchell in the small blind. It took Gavin Cochrane a few moments to fold his big blind. It took Ramdin much less time to fold his hand.
"One day I'll find a hand," chuckled Ramdin.
"You've let the secret out now," said Kevin MacPhee, "You don't always have aces."
Jose-Luis Velador raised to 18,000 before Phil Ivey three-bet to 66,000. After everyone folded back to Velador, he made the call.
The flop came down and Velador checked to Ivey. The man most consider to be the best in the game, ever, fired 80,000 into the pot and left himself with 179,000 chips behind. After a minute, Velador raised all in for 283,000 total, having Ivey covered. Ivey went into the tank and he sat there for several long minutes.
After a couple minutes Ivey said, "I guess you could have aces too, right?" Velador didn't give him anything though and just sat there.
Ivey tanked for a couple more minutes as the crowd on the rail inched closer and closer, standing four and five heads deep. Media surrounded the table and the players at the other table stood up to watch once they completed their current hand. All eyes were on Ivey.
"The best I can hope for is a chop," said Ivey.
A minute later Velador responded, "You'll get to see it anyway." Phil laughed at that comment.
Ivey tanked for another little while and eventually said, "All right, I call," nodding his head. Velador immediately spread the for a full house, jacks over fours. Ivey turned up his for a pair of aces that didn't look so good anymore.
The turn was the and left Ivey needing help on the river. Only an ace would do it. The river completed the board with the and that was it. Ivey abruptly stood up and headed out the door. He didn't grab his payout sheet or wait to be escorted to the payout desk, he was just gone.
Ivey finished in 12th place for $16,075. The amount he won is going to be the last thing on his mind as he moves on to the next tournament. Velador moved to about 700,000 in chips and has taken the chip lead.
We arrived just in time to see Matt Sterling all in preflop against Jose-Luis Velador.
Sterling:
Velador:
Board:
Sterling's trip tens were good enough to take the pot, and he stayed in the game on 150,000 or so. Velador took a bit of a hit, but it didn't make that much of a dent and he was at 560,000 after that.
We arrived on the turn of the board to witness Victor Ramdin (small blind) betting out 37,000. Kevin MacPhee (button) made the call.
The river was the and both players checked.
"Straight," announced Ramdin, turning over .
"Higher straight," trumped MacPhee, and tabled .
"The real straight," commented Craig Gray as MacPhee raked in the pot to put him up to 445,000. Ramdin didn't look terribly happy, and dropped to 280,000.
One player who has decided not to chance it at the Poker Kitchen today is the Netherlands' first ever bracelet winner Rob Hollink. He's brought along some frankly delicious-looking sushi that judging by its packaging has clearly not come from anywhere in the Rio. We're hoping that our Dutch friends will be able to find out where he got it from.
Over on the next table, Victor Ramdin is rather overestimating the level of service that a player can expect here. "...I'd like some room temperature water," he was telling the waiter - doable - "Oh, and a couple joints," he giggled. (Not doable.)
On the flop of , Jose-Luis Velador checked to Phil Ivey who bet 40,000. Velador made the call.
The turn brought the and both players checked. The river completed the board with the and Velador checked once more. Ivey fired double what he fired on the flop for 80,000 and Velador tank-folded.
Velador dropped to 340,000 in chips while Ivey increased to 355,000.
, Tieman checked to Ramdin. The Team PokerStars Pro fired 50,000 and Tieman folded after a brief moment, allowing Ramdin to move up to 365,000 in chips.
fell on the turn, Tieman check-called a bet of 30,000 from Ramdin. Tieman made the call, opting to go to a river against the member of Team PokerStars.
and both players checked. Tieman showed two reds nines, but lost to Ramdin's 
. That pot put Ramdin up to about 440,000 chips.![[user46392]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Velador checked to Ivey. The man most consider to be the best in the game, ever, fired 80,000 into the pot and left himself with 179,000 chips behind. After a minute, Velador raised all in for 283,000 total, having Ivey covered. Ivey went into the tank and he sat there for several long minutes.
for a full house, jacks over fours. Ivey turned up his 
for a pair of aces that didn't look so good anymore.
and Velador checked once more. Ivey fired double what he fired on the flop for 80,000 and Velador tank-folded.
flop to Team PokerStars Pro Victor Ramdin, who bet. Gray called, and they proceeded.
river, and they turned the cards over.
for a missed flush draw which had turned into a mere pair of sevens
