On the one hand, it seemed unlikely. Down to less than four big bets to start Day 2 of this event, it didn't appear as though Calen "Big Wheel" McNeil would be around for long yesterday, let alone make it to today's final table with one of the bigger stacks among the final nine. But he's made it, and thus the defense of his $1,500 Limit Omaha Hi-Low title from a year ago continues.
Then again, knowing McNeil's even-keeled approach to the game, the comeback perhaps seems less surprising.
A few months back McNeil sat down with Josh Cahlik for an extended interview for Learn.PokerNews in which McNeil focused on the topic of keeping one's ego in check at the tables. In the interview McNeil conveys some worthwhile advice about being confident without letting ego get the best of you at the table. He also has some good things to say about conveying respect to others at the table, including sharing a wonderful story about a World Series of Poker Circuit event he played this year in which he finished runner-up to a recreational player — and couldn't have been happier for the fellow who won.
Jim Bucci limped in early position, Michael Stewart raised leaving himself 13,000 behind. Steve Chanthabouasy called and then Bucci three-bet it. Stewart called and was all in and Chanthabouasy called as well.
The flop came and Chanthabouasy check-called a bet from Bucci. He did the same on the turn. On the river he would check-raise Bucci's bet and Bucci would call. The hands were turned over as Stewart started to sing "some guys have all the luck":
Chanthabouasy: — a six-high straight
Bucci: — the nut low
Stewart's caught neither end of the pot and he was eliminated. He smiled and said to the rest of the table "I know you all enjoyed playing with me. Old man gone."
Konstantin Puchkov defended his big blind from an Alex Luneau raise, and he check-called the flop. On the turn, both players checked, and the hit the river. Puchkov bet, and Luneau thought briefly before calling.
Puchkov showed for the nut low with aces, and that was a scooper.
Jason, Donnie, and Rich celebrate National Doughnut Day and talk about final table railing, vuvuzelas, the recent bracelet winners, and more. They are then joined by RunGood Team Pro and WSOP bracelet winner Bryan Campanello to talk Texas high school football, grinding the live circuit, and more.
Joe Phaphon limped in and Alex Luneau raised. It was folded back to Phaphon and he made the call. The flop came and Phaphon check-called a bet from Luneau. The turn was the and Phaphon check-called again - this was enough to set him all in.
Luneau
Phaphon
Phaphon needed any card less than an 8 to split the pot but it was the and that would be the end of his tournament.
Gary Benson was all in from the big blind, and Adam Coats and Alex Luneau were playing a small side pot. Luneau bet the flop and check-called the turn. A paired the board, and both active players checked.
Coats showed for tens and nines. Luneau and Benson turned over identical for bricked lows, and Coats scooped.
Maria Ho was in the big blind with less than two blinds left in her stack. Her rail (which included Vanessa Selbst and Tiffany Michelle) started chanting "Walk! Walk! Walk!" as the rest of the table folded. It got to Konstantin Puchkov in the small blind who decided to play the villain by raising it up. "Boooooo," said several members of Ho's rail. Ho made the call.
Maria Ho
Puchkov
The board would run out to give Puchkov the pot. She stood up and said "good luck everyone" and then walked over to Puchkov and said "I hate to tell you this but nobody likes you right now" before adding "just kidding."
![[user272102]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Chanthabouasy check-called a bet from Bucci. He did the same on the 
turn. On the 
river he would check-raise Bucci's bet and Bucci would call. The hands were turned over as Stewart started to sing "some guys have all the luck":
— a six-high straight
— the nut low
caught neither end of the pot and he was eliminated. He smiled and said to the rest of the table "I know you all enjoyed playing with me. Old man gone."
flop. On the 
turn, both players checked, and the 
and Phaphon check-called a bet from Luneau. The turn was the 
and that would be the end of his tournament.
flop and check-called the 
paired the board, and both active players checked.
for bricked lows, and Coats scooped.
.
to give Puchkov the pot. She stood up and said "good luck everyone" and then walked over to Puchkov and said "I hate to tell you this but nobody likes you right now" before adding "just kidding."
