World Poker Challenge Live Updates
Day 4 Live Updates
It's Over! Tran Is Champion!
3 years ago
Tran raises to $120,000 from the button and Alvarado announces all-in. Tran beats him into the pot and turns over pocket tens. Alvarado looks dejected as he turns over A♥ 6♠. The tension is palpable as we go to the flop. The dealer turns 9♠ 9♥ K♥, J.C.'s pocket tens are still good. The turn is the 8♦ and Juan Carlos is down to three outs. The crowd is cheering as the river is dealt and it's the J♥! J.C. Tran has finally done it, beating Juan Carlos Alvarado to take down his first WPT main event!
Pot for Juan Carlos
3 years ago
Both players check down a board of 2♠ A♦ 5♥ Q♥ Q♣ and Juan Carlos shows down a five to take the pot.
Another One for Tran
3 years ago
Juan Carlos folds his button and Tran takes the pot.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran takes down the pot with a button raise.
Counterfeit! - Alvarado Doubles
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado calls from the small blind and Tran checks his option. The flop comes T♠ Q♠ 3♦ and after a check from Alvarado, Tran leads out with $50k. Alvarado moves all-in and Tran quickly calls. It's Tran out in front with T-3 for two pair against Alvarado's K-T. Juan Carlos needs some help going to the river and calls for every card in the deck are coming from all over the room. The dealer burns for the river an turns over another ace! Counterfeiting Tran's two pair, Juan Carlos survives and doubles to around $1.5 million.
Chip Counts
3 years ago
Here are the chip counts going into the heads-up match:
| J.C. Tran: | $3.9 million |
| J.C. Alvarado: | $780,000 |
Heads-Up
3 years ago
With the elimination of David Pham it's time for the money presentation that always precedes the heads-up match. The Xyience Energy girls are presently waiting in the wings to "Show us the money" as Linda Johnson so loves to say and after that we'll decide our champion! Remember, this is J.C. Tran's fifth WPT final table and right now he's closer than ever to a win!
Dragon Slayed!
3 years ago
J.C. Tran raises to $120,000 from the button and David Pham announces all-in. It's only $175,000 back to Tran and after Juan Carlos folds, Tran makes the call. It's David in the lead with A♣ 8♠ against J.C.'s K♣ Q♠. The flop comes 3♣ T♠ 7♦ and David's looking to dodge a king or a queen. The dealer turns the next card and there it is - a queen! David needs an ace but the river comes a seven and he is gone in third place. The Dragon takes home $182,260 for his finish.
Walk for Pham
3 years ago
David Pham gets a walk in his big blind.
Walk for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran gets a walk in the big blind.
Big One for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran raises to $110,000 from the button and gets a call from David in the small blind. Juan Carlos folds and the flop comes 4♥ T♣ Q♦. Both players check and the turn is the 7♣. David leads out with a bet of $170,000 and Tran calls. The river card is the 9♠ and David bets $200k. Tran immediately announces all-in and the crowd jumps to their feet. David Pham reluctantly folds and Tran shows 6-8 for the ten-high straight.
Another One for Pham
3 years ago
J.C. Tran calls from the small blind and David raises to $120,000 from the big blind. Tran lays it down and Pham takes another one.
Pot for Pham
3 years ago
David is on the button and takes down the pot with a standard raise.
Alvarado All-In
3 years ago
J.C. Tran folds his button and David calls from the small blind. Juan Carlos checks his option and the flop comes 8♥ 8♠ 3♣. David checks and J.C. bets $80,000. David calls and the turn is the 3♥. Both players check and the river is the 5♣. David checks again and Alvarado announces all-in. It's $670,000 to Pham and he opts to lay it down.
Pham All-In
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado opens the pot from the button and after Tran gets out of the way, David announces that he's all-in. It's a raise of $500,000 and Juan Carlos stands up from the table to think it over. He's in the tank for a long time and the audience is on their feet as he thinks. He eventually mucks his hand however and Pham rakes the pot.
Another One for Tran
3 years ago
All three players see a flop of A♦ Q♦ 5♣ and after a check from Tran in the small blind David Pham bets $200k. Alvarado folds and Tran announces all-in. Pham quickly folds and Tran takes down the pot.
Pot for Pham
3 years ago
It's a three-way unraised pot and the flop comes 9♥ T♣ A♠. It's checked to Pham on the button and he leads out with a bet. Both players fold and David takes down the pot.
Big Pot for Tran
3 years ago
Juan Calros folds his button and Tran pops in $120,000. David Pham makes the call and the flop comes J♣ 9♥ 4♠. Tran bets out $220k and Pham makes the call. The turn is the A♦ and Tran reached for chips. He pushes $400k in and puts the action on The Dragon. Pham quickly calls and the river is the A♠, J.C. Tran announces all-in and Pham goes into the tank. In the end he opts to fold and Tran takes down a pot of over $1 million.
Pot for Pham
3 years ago
David Pham raises and takes down the blinds and antes.
We're Back
3 years ago
We're back from the break and the cards are in the air once again. The blinds have been bumped up in a big way and are now at $20,000/$40,000 with a $5,000 ante.
Break Time
3 years ago
This level is over and the players have gone on a ten-minute break.
Chop Chop
3 years ago
J.C. Tran calls the $24,000 from the button and so does David. Alvarado checks his option and flop comes A♠ T♦ T♥. Everyone checks and the turn is the A♥. Three more checks and the river is the J♥. David checks and Alvarado bets $65,000. It's on J.C. Tran and he goes for chips. He pops in an extra $185,000 and David folds. It's back to Juan Carlos who announces all-in. Tran makes the call and it's A-7 for Alvarado against Tran's A-2. Both players have a full house, aces full of tens, and they chop the pot.
Walk for Pham
3 years ago
David Pham gets a walk in the big blind.
Walk for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran gets a walk in the big blind.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
All three players are in an unraised pot and the flop comes K♠ 9♣ 7♣. It's checked to Tran on the button. He bets out $60k and takes down the pot.
Pham vs. Alvarado
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado is on the button and makes it $70,000 to go. Tran folds and David makes the call. The flop comes A♠ 6♠ 6♣ and Pham checks and so does J.C. The turn is the 9♦ and they both check again. The K♦ hits the river and David bets out $90,000. J.C. makes the call. It's K-9 for David for two pair which is good for the pot.
Pham vs. Tran
3 years ago
David Pham is on the button and raises to $70,000. Alvarado folds and Tran makes the call. The flop comes J♣ T♦ 5♠ and both players check. The turn is the 2♠ and two more checks follow. The river is the 8♥ and Tran bets out $80,000. David thinks for a few seconds before making the call. J.C. shows K-T for a pair of tens and takes down the pot.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran raises from the button and takes down the blinds and antes.
Pot for The Dragon
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado is on the button and pops it to $70k. Tran folds and David makes the call. The flop comes 2♦ 2♥ Q♠ and both players check. The turn is the 6♥ and two more checks follow. The river is the A♣ and David leads out with $120,000. It's enough to take down the pot.
Alvarado Takes Down a Small One
3 years ago
David Pham folds his button and Alvarado calls from the small blind. Tran checks his option and the flop comes 9♦ 4♠ Q♦. Both players check and the turn is the 6♦. Two more checks and the river is the 8♠. Both players check and Juan Carlos shows a pair of nines to take down the pot.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran is on the button and makes it $64,000 to go. Pham gets out of the way and Juan Carlos makes the call. The flop comes T♠ 3♣ T♦ and after a check form Alvarado, Tran makes a $90k bet that takes down the pot.
Two Walks
3 years ago
Both J.C. Tran and David Pham get walks in the these two hands.
Alvarado Doubles!
3 years ago
It's a three-way pot with J.C. Tran on the button. The flop comes 8♠ 2♦ 7♥ and it's folded to Tran who bets $60,000. David folds and Juan Carlos quickly announces all-in. It's $601,000 back to Tran and he begins to count out chips as he thinks. He decides to make the call and it's 8♦ 9♦ for Tran leading Alvarado's 6♣ 7♦. Juan Carlos is risking elimination and needs a six or a seven to stay alive. The turn is the 7♣ and the cowd erupts! To top it off the river is another seven making Alvarado the boat. With that hand Juan Carlos is back in the game with around $1.4 million.
Chip Counts
3 years ago| Seat 1 | J.C. Tran: | $2.7 million |
| Seat 2 | David Pham: | $1.35 million |
| Seat 3 | J.C. Alvarado: | $685,000 |
Pham Takes One Down
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado is on the button and folds. J.C. Tran makes it $74,000 from the small blind and David Pham announces re-raise and makes it $275,000. It's back to J.C. and he decide to fold.
Pot for Pham
3 years ago
David is on the button and makes it $74,000 to go. Juan Carlos gets out of the way and Tran makes the call. The flop comes 9♥ A♣ 7♦ and after a check from J.C. David bets $110,000. J.C. mucks and Pham rakes the pot.
More Chips for the Chip Leader
3 years ago
J.C. Tran raises to $62,000 from the button and David Pham gets out of the way. Alvarado makes the call and the flop comes 2♦ 9♥ Q♦. Alvarado checks and Tran bets out. Alvarado folds and Tran takes down the pot.
Alvarado Pops a Wheelie
3 years ago
All three players are in on an un-raised pot and the flop comes A♠ 2♣ 9♦. It's folded to J.C. Alvarado, on the button, who bets out and J.C. Tran folds. David Pham calls and the turn is the 3♠. Both players check and the river is the T♦. Pham checks again and J.C. counts out a bet of $150,000. Pham looks skeptical and decides to make the call. J.C. turns over 4-5 for the wheel straight and it's good for the pot.
Walk for Tran
3 years ago
It's folded to J.C. Tran in the big blind and he shows the A♥ as he rakes the pot.
Another One for Pham
3 years ago
J.C. Tran folds his button and David Pham calls from the small blind. Alvarado checks his option and the flop comes Q♦ 9♥ 3♣. Pham checks and Alvarado bets $40,000. Pham announces raise and J.C. muckes before he's even counted out the chips.
Pham Takes One Down
3 years ago
David Pham and J.C. Tran see a flop of A-8-2 and J.C. bets out. Pham makes the call and the turn is the 6♥. David bets out $70,000. J.C. shows a queen as he mucks his hand. Pham reels in the pot.
Chip Counts
3 years ago| Seat 1 | J.C. Tran: | $2,519,000 |
| Seat 2 | David Pham: | $1,301,000 |
| Seat 3 | J.C. Alvarado: | $998,000 |
Blinds and Antes for Tran
3 years ago
David Pham is on the button and folds. J.C. Alvarado calls from the small blind and J.C. Tran pops in $45,000. He gets no call and takes down the blinds and antes.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran is on the button and calls the $24,000. David Pham raise it to $104,000 total and J.C. Alvarado folds. Tran calls the raise and the flop comes 7♥ 8♥ 6♣. David checks and J.C. bets $150,000. Pham goes for chips but decides to fold.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado calls from the button and J.C. Tran completes from the small blind. David checks and we see a flop of T-7-2 with two diamonds. Tran bets out and takes down the pot.
Blinds and Antes for Pham
3 years ago
David Pham makes it $74,000 from the button and takes down the blinds and antes.
Nice One for Pham
3 years ago
J.C. Tran folds his button and David Pham raises it up to $68,000. J.C. Alvarado makes the call and the flop is 7♥ 5♥ 3♦. Pham reaches for chips and bets out $120,000. J.C. makes the call and the turn is the 7♣. Pham goes to his stack once again and pushes in a bet of $165,000. J.C. folds and The Dragon rakes a nice pot.
Groundskinner for Pham
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado is on the button this hand and folds. J.C. Tran folds and gives Pham a walk in the big blind.
Blinds and Antes for Pham
3 years ago
David Pham is on the button and raises it $68,000. He gets no callers and picks up the blinds and antes.
Blinds and Antes for Tran
3 years ago
J.C. Tran raises to $62,000 from the button and gets no callers. He takes down the blinds and antes.
Back To It
3 years ago
The three remaing players are back in their seats and the cards are in the air. The blinds have gone up to $12,000/$24,000 with a $3,000 ante.
Chips: We Count 'Em
3 years ago
Here
they are, hot off the presses:
| Seat 1 | J.C. Tran: | $2,519,000 |
| Seat 2 | David Pham: | $1,301,000 |
| Seat 3 | J.C. Alvarado: | $998,000 |
Break Me Off
3 years ago
It's break time in the place to be and the three remaining players have ten minutes before we get back underway. Stay tuned for chip counts, they're being tabulated at the moment.
J.C. vs. J.C.
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado is on the button and makes it $50,000 to go. J.C. Tran announces raise from the small blind and makes it $140,000 total. David Pham folds and J.C. Alvarado makes the call. The flop comes 5♥ 4♣ A♣ and Tran begins to count out chips. He fires $220,000 and Alvarado mucks.
Blinds and Antes for Pham
3 years ago
David Pham is on the button and raises it to $56,000, he takes down the blinds and antes.
Pham All-In
3 years ago
David Pham and J.C. Alvarado see a flop of 5♦ 7♦ 2♠ and Pham, in the small blind, bets $70,000. J.C. makes the call and the turn is the 3♣. Pham checks and J.C. fires $150,000. The Dragon takes another look at his cards and begins to count out chips. He says raise and goes all-in. Alvarado quickly folds and David rakes in the pot.
Two Small Ones
3 years ago
J.C. Tran picks up the blinds and antes with a pre-flop raise.
David Pham picks up the blinds and antes with a pre-flop raise.
David Pham picks up the blinds and antes with a pre-flop raise.
Alvarado Doubles
3 years ago
J.C. Tran is on the button and folds. David Pham calls and J.C. Alvarado checks. The flop comes Q♣ J♣ 9♥ and after a check from Pham, J.C. bets out $30,000. Pham announces raise and makes it $110,000 to go. J.C. announces all-in. It's $592,000 back to Pham and he starts to eyeball J.C. as he counts chips.
After a bit of though he says call and they turn over their hands. It's 9♣ 2♣ for Alvarado, who is in need of some help against Pham's K♦-Qs. J.C.'s looking for a club, nine or a two and the dealer obliges, turning the K♣. This gives Pham a chance at redrawing to the full house but when the river comes the 6♥ it's over and J.C. doubles.
After a bit of though he says call and they turn over their hands. It's 9♣ 2♣ for Alvarado, who is in need of some help against Pham's K♦-Qs. J.C.'s looking for a club, nine or a two and the dealer obliges, turning the K♣. This gives Pham a chance at redrawing to the full house but when the river comes the 6♥ it's over and J.C. doubles.
Pot for Pham
3 years ago
J.C. Tran and David Pham see a flop of A♥ J♥ 9♦ and David Pham fires out $60k. J.C. calls and the turn is the 6♠. J.C. checks again and The Dragon pushes $130,000 in. It's enough to make Tran fold and Pham rakes the pot.
Nice One for J.C.
3 years ago
David Pham pops it to $60k from the button and gets a call from J.C. Tran in the big blind. Tran checks and The Dragon fires $90k. J.C. makes the call and the flop comes 5♦ 3♦ 4♠. Both players check and the turn is the 8♣. Two more checks and the river is the 4♦. J.C. reaches for chips and bets out $220,000. Pham counts out the chips and after taking a second look at his cards makes the call. J.C. turns over 8-4 for the boat and it's good for the pot.
Seif Mark'd
3 years ago
J.C. Tran is on the button and the action's on Mark Seif. He looks at his cards and reaches for chips. Counting out a raise he pushes $48,000 into the middle and J.C. Tran folds. Tran announces re-raise and makes it $170,000 to go. It's folded back to Mark and he goes into the tank to try to figure it out. He asks the crowd for advice and after getting a resounding cheer of "All-In!" he obliges and shoves.
J.C. makes the call and it's two black nines for J.C. ahead of Mark's A♥ 6♠. The crowd's on their feet as the dealer turns over 6♣ J♥ Q♣. Mark gets a bit of help from the six and is looking for another or an ace. The turn is the 8♥ and the river is the K♥, eliminating Mark in 4th place. He takes home $159,478.
J.C. makes the call and it's two black nines for J.C. ahead of Mark's A♥ 6♠. The crowd's on their feet as the dealer turns over 6♣ J♥ Q♣. Mark gets a bit of help from the six and is looking for another or an ace. The turn is the 8♥ and the river is the K♥, eliminating Mark in 4th place. He takes home $159,478.
Seif All-In
3 years ago
It's folded around to Mark Seif on the button and he pops in a raise to $55,000. J.C. Tran folds and David Pham makes the call. The flop is J♠ T♠ 3♦ and after a check from David, Seif announces all-in. It's about $190k to Pham but he decides to fold.
The Dragon Strikes
3 years ago
David Pham opens the pot to $60,000 and gets a call from J.C. Alvarado. The flop comes 7♠ 2♣ 6♥ and Pham bets out $75k. J.C. announces raise and makes it $265 total. The action's back on Pham and he plays with chips as he thinks. David makes the call and the turn is the 6♦ and Pham checks it. J.C. checks as well and the river is the K♥. Pham reaches for chips and pushes in a massive bet of $450,000. It's enough to push J.C. off his hand and The Dragon rakes a huge pot.
Two for The Dragon
3 years ago
David Pham pickes up two sets of blinds and antes with pre-flop raises.
Chip Counts
3 years ago
Here are the latest chip counts for the four remaining players:
| Seat 1 | J.C. Tran: | $1.8 million |
| Seat 2 | David Pham: | $1.540,000 |
| Seat 3 | J.C. Alvarado: | $1.1 million |
| Seat 4 | Mark Seif: | $310,000 |
Hom Goes Home
3 years ago
John Hom moves all-in and gets a call from David Pham in the big blind. It's K♥ T♠ for Hom behind The Dragon's pocket queens. David has John covered so it's his life on the line. The board comes and goes with now help to John and he's out in 5th place.
Pot for Tran
3 years ago
Mark Seif raises to $50k from the small blind and gets a call from J.C. Tran in the big. The flop comes 4♥ 4♠ Q♠ and after a check from Mark, J.C. bets out $80,000. Mark mucks and J.C. takes down the pot.
Blinds and Antes for Alvarado
3 years ago
J.C. Alvarado raises to $45k from the cut-off and takes down the pot.
The Wong Way; Danny Busts
3 years ago
We have our first elimination of the day and it's Danny Wong. Here's how it went down: J.C. Alvarado is on the button and after it's folded to J.C. Tran he bumps it up to $45,000. The action gets to Danny Wong in the small blind and he announces raise.
He makes it $156k total and it's folded back to J.C. Tran. He announces all-in and Danny quickly calls. It's pocket queens for Tran ahead of Danny's A♣ Q♠. The flop comes 6♣ 6♥ 6♠ giving Tran the full house. Wong needs another six or an ace but the board finishes out J♣ 7♠ and Danny Wong is Gone. He takes home $113,913.
He makes it $156k total and it's folded back to J.C. Tran. He announces all-in and Danny quickly calls. It's pocket queens for Tran ahead of Danny's A♣ Q♠. The flop comes 6♣ 6♥ 6♠ giving Tran the full house. Wong needs another six or an ace but the board finishes out J♣ 7♠ and Danny Wong is Gone. He takes home $113,913.
Play it Seif
3 years ago
It's foleded around to Mark Seif who makes it $40k to go. J.C. Tran and David Pham both get out of the way as do J.C. Alvarado and Danny Wong. Mark takes down the blinds and antes.
Pot for Pham
3 years ago
J.C. Tran is on the button and the action's folded around to him. Tran folds and David Pham, in the small blind, makes the call. J.C. Alvarado checks his option. The flop comes A♣ 8♠ J♠ and both players check. The turn is an ace and both players check again. The river is a trey and Pham fired $30k. It's enough to take down the pot.
Tran Flops Nuts
3 years ago
John Hom raises to $45,000 from the cut-off and J.C. Tran, in the small blind asks for a count of John's chips before making the call. David Pham, in the big blind, also calls. The flop is J♥ 9♠ T♦ and Tran checks. Pham throws in a bet of $90k and Hom gets out of the way. J.C. begins counting out chips and announces raise. He makes it $340,000 total. David goeds into the tank for a few minutes before mucking. J.C. turns over K-Q for the nut straight as he rakes the pot.
Shuffle Up and Deal!
3 years ago
The cards are in the air and the tournament director has just announced that we'll be rolling the blinds and antes back one level. They are now at $8,000/$16,000 with an ante of $2,000.
Introductions
3 years ago
The players are currently being introduced. Linda Johnson has already finished with her absolutely hilarious and fresh instructions to the crowd so we're almost ready to go!
Chip Counts and Seating Chart
3 years ago
Here are the chip counts and seats going into the final table:
| Seat 1 | J.C. Tran: | $904,000 |
| Seat 2 | David Pham: | $1,655,000 |
| Seat 3 | J.C. Alvarado: | $1,107,000 |
| Seat 4 | Danny Wong: | $623,000 |
| Seat 5 | John Hom: | $159,000 |
| Seat 6 | Mark Seif: | $325,000 |
The Set-Up
3 years ago
The last touches are being added to the WPT site here at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. The players aren't here just yet but they'll be arriving momentarily. Play is slated to get underway in about twenty-five minutes so stay tuned for all the action, live, as it happens!
Event Information
- Event Name
- World Poker Challenge
- Venue
- Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Reno
- Date
- 2007-03-25
- Final Day
- Buy In
- $5,000
- Entrants
- 475
- Prize Pool
- $2,278,250
- First Prize
- $683,473
