LIVE EVENTS

Event #13 of the World Cup of Cards, the $150 + $15 Seniors’ Event, was more popular than anyone anticipated, bringing out a field that made a total of 170 entries to this single-day event. The huge turnout built a prize pool that more than doubled the $10,000 guarantee, putting up $24,735 in prize money to be shared between the top 22 players.

The action kept up a steady pace throughout the afternoon, with only a relatively short lull for the money bubble. Once the top 22 players made the money, the bustouts piled up quickly and brought about the final table within one level of play. At the final table, the stacks were relatively short, but the players showed their grit and determination by patiently waiting for the right spots. Eventually, when the field counted five players, they agreed to an ICM chop of the remaining prize pool. From there the chips went in easily to quickly bring about heads-up play between Lee Bechard and Francis Collins. These two players swapped a few pots back and forth before the final hand came about with a preflop all in. Bechard discovered, to his surprise, that he was slightly ahead of Collins’ hand and watched the runout with bated breath. It went his way, giving him some additional prize money, the coveted trophy and the bragging rights that come with being a World Cup of Cards event champion. Congratulations!

Seniors’ Event Champion: Lee Bechard, $4,095

Last Hand of Play:

The five finalists have just agreed to an ICM chop of the remaining prize pool. According to the terms of their deal, there will be an additional $840 for the champion as well as the coveted World Cup of Cards trophy.

The payouts will be made according to the following table.

The Seniors’ Event is now down to five players, following four eliminations at the final table.

The blinds have forced the action over the course of the last two levels, as the chip average now provides less than ten big blinds. So it comes as no surprise to see most hands decided preflop and winning races becomes the key to success.

Jean-Marc Jobidon was the first players eliminated from the final table, but he will take home $560 for his efforts. David Cadoch followed shortly after in eighth place, good for a $740 payout. Steven Baker was the next to make the walk to the cashier as he finished in seventh place for $980, a good showing considering he was paying a short stack for a large part of the day. Ernest Kelly was just eliminated in sixth place, earning a payout of $1,310 for his deep run.

Only nine players remain in the Seniors’ Event. The final table was brought about rather quickly once the field entered the money, a result of both the relatively short stacks in play and the change in approach as the players shifted from survival to chip-accumulation mode.

The following players made the money but fell short of the final table.

The nine finalists are seated according to the following table.

After the field reached the money roughly an hour ago, a series of bustouts followed in short order. Only a dozen players remain in contention. And the tension is still high. The major pay jumps at the final table are tantalizing prospects so the players will be carefully managing their chips with that in mind.

For the time being, Tyler Lee has a healthy lead over the field as the only player with a stack above double the current chip average.

Following a dramatic level of hand-for-hand play, the money bubble has finally burst on the Seniors’ Event. The blinds caught up to the field in recent levels, as the prospect of making the money caused the players to tighten their ranges and the bustouts stopped altogether.

The current chip average provides roughly a dozen big blinds, which made for some added drama during hand-for-hand play. But the remaining players are now all in the money, each with a payout of at least $260 secured so the eliminations will add up quickly from here to the final table.

Play has just resumed following a flurry of action in the lead up to the latest break. The field is now down to only 44 players, half of which will reach the money.

The blinds have caught up to the field; the chip average provides only 12 big blinds. So it will come as no surprise to see many hands played out entirely preflop in the levels ahead.

Here are the current chip leaders:

A look at some of the action in level 14:

The players have returned from their second break of the day, as play continues in level 11.

The field still counts 80 players, with a chip average of roughly 26 big blinds. But the players who made the latest leaderboard each have more than double that amount

The action is picking up pace, as this event enters its fourth hour of play. Despite the end of the late registration and re-entry period, the players in the field are not being shy about putting their chips at risk in this level. Everyone realizes that there is a long way to go before the final table arrives so building a stack now will increase their chances of making it through the late stages.

The current chip average provides slightly more than 27 big blinds, which leaves lots of room to play for most in the field, but staying out ahead of the blinds will be the key to success in this single-day event.

Here is a look at the field from level 10:

Play has just resumed in level 7, meaning that the late registration and re-entry period has ended. But there was time for this event to take in 170 entries before the buzzer sounded. The huge turnout has built a prize pool that far exceeds the prize pool guarantee and will provide some huge payouts to those fortunate enough to make a deep run.

Several players have put themselves in good position to get to the late stages with stacks of more than double the current chip average, but there remains a lot of poker to be played this afternoon. Time will tell whether or not the following players can turn their strong starts into big payouts.

The players are about to set off on their first break of the day as this event nears the end of level 6. New players and re-entries have been helping grow the field since play began to push the total number of entries to 165 with a few minutes to go in the late registration and re-entry period.

Here is a look at the action from the early levels: