Harrah's Rincon - Live Updates

Peter Feldman has just become the second person in World Series of Poker history to win two Circuit Main Events, joining such lofty company as Chris "Jesus" Ferguson after defeating Davidson Matthew to win this event.

The final hand played out as follows: Feldman raised to $36,000 from the small blind and Davidson Matthew made the call. The flop came A♠ K♦ T♠ and Matthew checked to Feldman, who bet out $50,000. Matthew re-raised to $100,000 and Feldman popped it again, making it $200,000 to go.

Matthew stood up from the table, and muttered, "I'm all in." Feldman asked for a count (the answer was $485,000), before making the call, having Matthew covered and showing A♣ K♥ for top two pair. Matthew was in a dire state, showing A♥ 4♣ for a pair of aces and needing to hit running cards to stay alive in this tournament. The turn was the 9♥ and that sealed the deal, and after the river was the 3♦ to make it official, Peter Feldman was the winner of the 2007 WSOPC Harrah's Rincon Main Event.

For finishing second, Davidson Matthew takes home $147,364, while Peter Feldman wins the WSOPC ring, an entry into the 2007 WSOP Main Event, and a cool $280,859 to go along with his newfound immortality. Congratulations to both finalists!

The first three hands back from dinner break have seen Peter Feldman take small pots without showing down his hands, the first with a raise out of the big blind preflop, the second with a $50,000 bet on the flop after being checked to, and the last after betting on the turn in an unraised pot. Keep chipping away, Norberg!

We've all filled our bellies and are back in the saddle for the thrilling conclusion of the WSOPC at Harrah's Rincon. The cards are in the air with chip counts as we return from dinner set at $935,000 for Peter Feldman and $875,000 for Davidson Matthew. Game on!

After forty-two hands we've reached the end of this level and have been informed it is time for the dinner break. We will return in ninety minutes to continue the break-kneck pace of this heads-up match.

In a scintillating hand, Peter Feldman limps in from the small blind and Davidson Matthew checks his option. The flop comes T♥ 5♣ 2♦ and both players check. The turn is the K♠ and both players continue to check, apparently having lost all motivation to bet. They check the river as well (6♠), with Matthew breaking out into giggles as he smacks the table. Feldman shows 7♦ 2♣ and Matthew is still laughing. He shows Q♣ 8♣ as he folds, and Feldman takes the hand with the hammer.

In the first pot in a while that has even come close to being sizeable, Davidson takes down a few chips after rivering a straight. Both players limped in and saw a flop of 7♥ T♠ 4♦ and after a check from Matthew, Feldman bet out $12k. Davidson makes the call and the turn is the 8♥. Both players check and the river is the 6♣. Davidson tosses in $40,000 and after a few moments Feldman makes the call. Matthew shows a nine for the straight and Peter mucks.

After a few minor skirmishes, the players seem to have settled into a Council Bluffs-esqeu rhythm involving lots of checking, a few chopped pots, and a lot of small amounts of chips being shipped back and forth. Peter Feldman makes a $24,000 raise, Davidson Matthew calls, and with or without minor betting on the flop, the players will check the turn, take a stab at the river, and show down hands for small profits. We can only hope they both wake up with monster hands, and soon!

Peter "Norberg" Feldman makes his usual $24,000 raise from the small blind and Davidson Matthew makes the call. The flop comes 7♦ 6♥ 3♣ and Matthew checks to Feldman, then raises his $35,000 wager another $65,000. Feldman makes the call and the turn is the J♦. Both players check and the river is the 2♦. Matthew checks to Feldman, who throws out $120,000, and Matthew insta-calls, then insta-mucks when Feldman shows A♦ 7♣ for a pair of sevens. Feldman rakes a pot worth more than $400,000.

After a number of small (but mercifully, contested) pots, Davidson Matthew limps in and Peter Feldman checks his option. The flop comes J♣ 7♣ 3♦ and Feldman bets out $12,000. Matthew raises to $25,000 and Feldman calls. The turn is the 5♣ and both players check to see the river card, which is the A♣. Feldman bets out $42,000 and Matthew calls. As he does so, Feldman mucks his hand, and Matthew rakes the pot.

We're down to two players, Peter Feldman and Davidson Matthew. Feldman is looking for his second WSOPC title here today, which would make him the first player to win two, and Davidson is looking for his first. Here are the chip counts at the onset of the heads-up match:

Peter Feldman:	$1,011,000
Davidson Matthew:	$799,000

We're now heads-up at the final table and organizers are taking a quick break to ensure they are ready for the inevitable madness that will ensue. Bar the doors and lock away your daughters; action will resume shortly!

Davidson Matthew raises to $25,000 from the small blind and Gavin Griffin re-raises all-in for his last $142,000. Matthew makes the call and shows A♦ 3♦ to Griffin's 7♦ 7♥. The flop comes T♦ 6♣ 2♥ and Griffin is in good shape to double up, but the J♦ on the turn gives the Canadian a few more outs to lay the bustication on his opponent. The river is the K♦ and Matthew hits one of those outs, making the runner-runner flush to scam Griffin out of a six figure prize. He heads out in third place, the recipient of a $86,685 runner-up prize he can distribute as he sees fit (don't trust the railbirds, Gavin!).

All three players see the flop come 8♥ 4♦ 2♣ in an unraised pot, and they all check to see the turn card, which is the 4♠. Gavin Griffin bets out $10,000 and Peter Feldman gets out of the way, but Davidson Matthew is game and he sticks around to see the river card. It's the 9♣ and Griffin defers to the Canadian, who bets out $40,000. Griffin makes the call and Matthew shows 4♣ 3♣ for trip fours, which is good to take down the pot.

Here are the updated chip counts for the final three contestants:

Gavin Griffin	$230,000
Peter Feldman	$880,000
Davidson Matthew	$650,000

Peter Feldman opens the pot for $24,000 and Danny Wong pops it to $100,000. Feldman immediately moves all-in and Wong makes the call with the shorter stack, showing K♥ Q♥ to Feldman's A♥ Q♠. The board comes T♠ 9♦ 7♠ A♣ Q♦ and Feldman makes two pair to send Wong to the rail in fourth place, the beneficiary of a $69,348 consolation prize.

Danny Wong raises to $21,000 under the gun and Davidson Matthew makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes T♠ T♣ 6♦ and both players check to see the turn, which comes 2♥. Again both players check, and the river card is the 3♣. Matthew checks to Wong, who bets out $16,000, but when Matthew makes the call Wong automucks and Matthew takes the pot.

On a board of 3♦ Q♦ J♣ 9♠ 4♥ with Gavin Griffin betting each street and Peter Feldman calling him all the way down, Gavin shows pocket queens for the set and the win. Gavin rakes in a pot of over $150,000, a welcome boon for the shortstack at the table.

We're back in action from the Pavillion at Harrah's Rincon, with increased blinds and antes and a nice relaxing reggae music mix playing overhead. Here are the latest chip counts:

Danny Wong	$274,000
Gavin Griffin	$139,000
Peter Feldman	$750,000
Davidson Matthew	$647,000

We've reached the end of the first full level of the day and will take a fifteen minute break as soon as organizers have finished racing off the $500 chips. See you in a quarter-hour.

Peter Feldman raises to $18,000 and Danny Wong re-ups to $60,000. Feldman makes the call, and the flop comes 4♥ 3♦ 2♦. Wong bets out $80,000, and after a few moments of thought, Feldman moves all-in. Wong goes into the tank, thinking through the decision for five long minutes before finally mucking his hand, and Feldman takes down the pot.

Danny Wong raises to $18,000 on the button and Gavin Griffin comes over the top all-in for $53,000 more from the small blind. Peter Feldman gets out of the way and Wong makes the call, showing A♦ 5♠ to Griffin's 4♠ 4♣. The flop comes T♣ 7♦ 4♦, and as usual on this final table day, the pocket pair flops a set. The turn is the A♣ and the river is the T♠, and Gavin Griffin has doubled up at the expense of Danny Wong.

Gavin Griffin raises to $18,000 and everyone wants some action - the other three players make the call and we've got a family pot going to the flop. The flop comes A♦ K♣ 6♥ and action checks to Griffin, who bets out $50,000. Davidson Matthew raises to $100,000, and Griffin eyeballs his remaining chips. Eventually, he makes the call, and the turn is the 8♣.

Matthew immediately moves all-in and Griffin insta-calls, but instead of monsters, the men turn over A♣ 6♣ (Matthew) and A♠ 7♦ (Griffin). Matthew is in the lead with two pair, and the river card is the 5♠, giving Matthew the check mark and putting Griffin on the hook for $175,500, payable to Davidson Matthew Inc.

We are down to four players now that Canadian Erik Cajelais has been sent to the rails. The hand began with a raise from Erik and a call from Danny Wong in the big blind. The flop came J♣ T♦ 7♦ and Danny led out with a bet of $24,500. Erik quickly bumped it to $75k total which was followed by an insta-all-in from Wong and an insta-call from Cajelais.

Turning over their hands we saw it was Wong in the lead with 8♠ 9♠ for the mortal nuts and T♥ J♥ making two pair for Cajelais. With his tournament life on the line Erik was looking to fill up on the turn or river but when the board finished out 3♠ 5♠ Wong earns the check mark and Cajelais is eliminated. Erik will take home $52,011 for his fifth place finish.

Shane Schleger limps in from under the gun, and is joined in the pot by Gavin Griffin, Peter Feldman, and Davidson Matthew in the big blind. The flop comes 9♠ 9♥ 7♣ and Schleger bets out $23,000. Griffin and Feldman get out of the way, but Matthew wants to raise. He throws out $40,000, and is told he has to raise it to $46,000 as a minimum. It takes a while, but Matthew gets the required chips out there, and the turn is the 9♦.

Matthew gives a little snort as the third nine hits, and he checks to Shaniac, who immediately moves all in. "I have a nine," says Matthew, standing up to call. "Do you really?" says Shaniac, and he can only watch in shock as Matthew turns over 9♣ 3♥. Schleger can't compete with quads and he mucks, and after the river card of T♣ makes it official, Shane "Shaniac" Schleger is the sixth place finisher, taking home $43,343.

Peter Feldman raises to $18,000 from under the gun and Shane Schleger and Gavin Griffin both call. The flop comes J♣ 8♠ 4♣ and Griffin checks to Feldman, who bets out $40,000. Shaniac drops out and Griffin makes the call. Both players check the 9♦ on the turn, and the river card is the 2♦. Griffin bets out $60,000 and Feldman folds, giving Griffin the pot.

Erik Cajelais raises to $20,000 and Davidson Matthew makes the call in the big blind. The players check the flop and the turn as the board comes T♠ 4♠ 4♣ 6♦, and on the river (Q♥), Matthew bets out $25,000. Cajelais is disgusted. "I let you have it," he says. "I should have bet the term." He makes the call, and Matthew shows Q♣ J♠ for a pair of queens. "I didn't think you'd check twice with those rags," says Cajelais.

"How am I going to bet?" retorts Matthew. "When I can see the all-in coming from you. It's written on your face, in the way you play with your chips."

Cajelais doesn't respond, but his stack is dwindling, and this read by Matthew has to be bad news for the French-Canadian. He's down to about $120,000.

Here are the latest chip counts, fresh out the oven:

Shane Schleger	$190,000
Danny Wong	$310,000
Gavin Griffin	$460,000
Erik Cajelais	$130,000
Peter Feldman	$510,000
Davidson Matthew	$230,000

Gavin Griffin raises to $18,000 from early position and Erik Cajelais, Peter Feldman, Davidson Matthew, and Shane Schleger all call. "I feel left out," says Danny Wong. "Give me my cards back." The flop comes Q♠ 5♥ 3♥ and Schleger and Griffin both check. Cajelais raises to $50,000 and the action folds back around to Griffin, who raises all-in. Cajelais, disgusted, thinks it over for a minute or two before mucking his hand, and Griffin takes down the pot.

Everyone was hoping to see a Smith vs. Nordberg heads-up rematch here today but it was not to be. Gavin Smith has been busted in seventh place and will take home $34,674. The hand began with a raise from Peter Feldman on the button and a call from Davidson Matthew in the small blind. Gavin Smith, in the big blind, pushed all-in for $46,500 more.

Peter Feldman came over the top again, figuratively pushing his massive stack into the middle. Davidson thought for a few seconds before mucking his cards. It was a coin flip between Gavin's A♠ Q♣ and Nordberg's pocket sevens. The flop came 7♣ Q♠ 8♦, pairing Smith's queen but giving Peter the set. The board finished out K♦ 7♥ adding insult to injury by giving Feldman quads. So long eh.

Shane "Shaniac" Schleger raises to $18,000 and gets no callers. He shows A♦ A♥ as he rakes the pot. On the next hand, Shaniac raises to $18,000. Nobody calls and Shaniac takes more of the blinds and antes. On the next hand, Shaniac raises again to $18,000. The action folds around and Shaniac, disgusted, shows bullets again (A♦ A♠)(!!!) as he takes down the blinds and antes.

Gavin Griffin raises to $18,000 and Yoon Kim comes over the top all-in for another $20,000 from the small blind. Griffin is quick to call and shows a pair of cowboys (K♠ K♣). Kim has aces, though (A♠ A♥) and is in great shape heading to the flop. Not so much afterwards, though - the flop comes K♦ J♦ 2♣, and Griffin flops a set. The board finishes out Q♣ 6♠ and Yoon Kim has been busticated, finishing eighth in this event. He'll take home $26,005 for his efforts.

Davidson Matthew raises to $18,000 from middle position, and on the button Jerry Renfroe moves all-in for another $39,000. Matthew makes the call, showing T♣ T♥, while Renfroe is in a bad place with A♦ T♠. The board comes 7♣ 7♦ 5♥ K♣ J♦ and Jerry Renfroe is the ninth place finisher at this event. He takes home $17,337 for his efforts.

Since the play ended yesterday only about fifteen minutes shy of the end of the level, we quickly find ourselves at a new blind level today. The new price to play is $3,000/$6,000 with an ante of $500.

Gavin Smith raises to $11,000 from under the gun and the action folds around to Erik Cajelais on the button. He makes the call, and Peter Feldman gets out of the way in the small blind. Davidson Matthew is the big blind, and he tells Smith, "You know I defend my blind to the death, right?" before announcing a raise. He makes it another $40,000 to go, and neither of his countrymen feel like testing the Torontonian's will, mucking their hands and giving up the pot.

Davidson Matthew raises to $14,000 from the hijack and in the small blind, Jerry Renfroe is experiencing an existential crisis. Eventually he pushes his last $22,500 into the middle, and despite his protestations that he was "only trying to steal a pot", Matthew is priced in and makes the call, showing J♣ 3♣ to Renfroe's 6♣ 6♦. The flop comes K♦ 7♥ 6♠ and Renfroe is jubilant, flopping the Cloven-Hoofed Set. After the board finishes out A♦ 5♠ he has doubled through Matthew and kept the dream alive.

Erik Cajelais opens for $13,000, and Gavin Smith moves all-in for a total of $52,000. Cajelais thinks for a few moments before laying the hand down, and Smith shows K♠ K♦ as he rakes the pot.

On the second hand at the final table, Shane Schleger raises to $12,000 and Danny Wong pops it to $40,000 from the hijack. Action folds back around to Shaniac, and he decides to lay it down without a fight.

On the next hand, Jerry Renfroe moves all-in for his last $17,500, but gets no callers. He takes down the blinds and antes.

The introductions have been completed and the players are at the table. The tournament director has instructed her dealer to "shuffle up and deal", and we're underway from the Pavillion at Harrah's Rincon. Stay tuned for live updates as the action unfolds.

The final table is about to begin and the players are currently being introduced to the crowd here in the Pavilion at Harrah's Rincon. Here are the chip counts and seats for the final nine players:

Seat 1	Jerry Renfroe	$19,000
Seat 2	Shane "Shaniac" Schleger	$205,500
Seat 3	Danny Wong	$244,500
Seat 4	Gavin Griffin	$390,500
Seat 5	Erik Cajelais	$270,500
Seat 6	Peter Feldman	$444,000
Seat 7	Davidson Matthew	$119,500
Seat 8	Gavin Smith	$71,000
Seat 9	Yoon Kim	$45,500