The heads-up match between Joseph Cada and Darvin Moon started about 50 minutes ago in Las Vegas. Cada started play with about a 2.5 to 1 chip lead but Moon grabbed the advantage through continuing his aggressive play. Cada later reclaimed the lead.
Cada has about 110 million chips while Moon holds roughly 65 million. Cada, an online professional player, could become the youngest player to ever win the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Hall of Famer Phil Hellmuth set the mark in 1989 when he earned the title at age 24. Last year, 22-year-old Peter Eastgate broke Hellmuth's record. Cada is 21 years, 11 months old.
Meanwhile, Moon is a 39-year-old logger from Oakland, Maryland. He's noticeably refrained from accepting sponsorships this weekend and kept wearing the New Orleans Saints baseball cap he wore at the start of the tournament in July.
He seems content to finish his major tournament and return to the anonymous life he had four months ago. He may not be completely unknown thanks to his unlikely run at the WSOP but he's probably not going to become a pro player like Cada.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
WSOP Heads-Up Match Starts Monday
Joseph Cada and Darvin Moon are the last two players standing at the World Series of Poker Main Event after a final table that lasted until daybreak Sunday in Las Vegas. Play began just after 1 p.m. Saturday. Cada and Moon will meet heads-up at 10 p.m. Pacific Monday.
After James Akenhead and Kevin Schaffel were eliminated yesterday afternoon, top pro Phil Ivey was the next player to bust. Moon's ace-queen was matched by a queen on the flop to sink Ivey's ace-king. When Ivey left in seventh place, a lot of the energy at the full Penn and Teller Theater inside the Rio Hotel seemed to disappear with him.
Play was generally cautious. Cada and Frenchman Antoine Saout, the last foreign player remaining, took advantage of their tight opponents and raised more often.
Ace-queen was good for Moon again later in the evening when an ace on the river bested Steven Begleiter's pocket queen and sent him home in sixth place. Jeff Shulman, who finished seventh in the 2000 WSOP Main Event, exited in fifth today. The dashing blow came when Cada's pocket threes proved superior to his pocket jacks as a third trey came on the flop.
One-time chip leader Eric Buchman had to settle for fourth place. He became short-stacked when, on a seemingly rare occasion, he failed to rally. His ace-queen trailed Saout's ace-king all the way.
Saout was not so lucky again when his pocket queens were cracked by Cada's pocket deuces combined with another two on the flop. Saout later was eliminated when holding pocket eights against Cada's ace-king. In a classic race scenario, Cada hit a king on the river to send Saout home in third place and finally end play for the session.
After James Akenhead and Kevin Schaffel were eliminated yesterday afternoon, top pro Phil Ivey was the next player to bust. Moon's ace-queen was matched by a queen on the flop to sink Ivey's ace-king. When Ivey left in seventh place, a lot of the energy at the full Penn and Teller Theater inside the Rio Hotel seemed to disappear with him.
Play was generally cautious. Cada and Frenchman Antoine Saout, the last foreign player remaining, took advantage of their tight opponents and raised more often.
Ace-queen was good for Moon again later in the evening when an ace on the river bested Steven Begleiter's pocket queen and sent him home in sixth place. Jeff Shulman, who finished seventh in the 2000 WSOP Main Event, exited in fifth today. The dashing blow came when Cada's pocket threes proved superior to his pocket jacks as a third trey came on the flop.
One-time chip leader Eric Buchman had to settle for fourth place. He became short-stacked when, on a seemingly rare occasion, he failed to rally. His ace-queen trailed Saout's ace-king all the way.
Saout was not so lucky again when his pocket queens were cracked by Cada's pocket deuces combined with another two on the flop. Saout later was eliminated when holding pocket eights against Cada's ace-king. In a classic race scenario, Cada hit a king on the river to send Saout home in third place and finally end play for the session.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
WSOP Final Table Underway
After a four-month break, the World Series of Poker Main Event is beginning its final weekend. The last group of players, called the November Nine, began action at 1 p.m. in Las Vegas.
Play resumed a short time ago after a longer-than-usual dinner break that featured inducting Mike Sexton into the World Poker Hall of Fame. Sexton, a well-known player, commentator and ambassador for the game, is a popular inductee.
James Akenhead finished in ninth place this afternoon. He was all-in with pocket threes against Kevin Schaffel's pocket nines and the board was no help. Akenhead, of Great Britain, earned no additional money today because all nine players were paid ninth-place money upon qualifying for the final table in July--about $1.26 million.
Schaffel was the next player eliminated. He went all-in with pocket aces against Eric Buchman's pocket kings. The flop included a king to give Buchman the lead. The turn showed the fourth king to give Buchman an unbeatable hand.
Darvin Moon started the day as the massive chip leader but slipped into third place a moment ago. Buchman is the new chip leader. Seven-time WSOP bracelet Phil Ivey's stack has remained below the table average all day. Jeff Shulman, the only man of the nine to have previously reached a WSOP Las Vegas Main Event final table, is the short stack.
Play will continue until two players are left. The last two men will meet heads-up Monday night for the title and more than $8.5 million.
Play resumed a short time ago after a longer-than-usual dinner break that featured inducting Mike Sexton into the World Poker Hall of Fame. Sexton, a well-known player, commentator and ambassador for the game, is a popular inductee.
James Akenhead finished in ninth place this afternoon. He was all-in with pocket threes against Kevin Schaffel's pocket nines and the board was no help. Akenhead, of Great Britain, earned no additional money today because all nine players were paid ninth-place money upon qualifying for the final table in July--about $1.26 million.
Schaffel was the next player eliminated. He went all-in with pocket aces against Eric Buchman's pocket kings. The flop included a king to give Buchman the lead. The turn showed the fourth king to give Buchman an unbeatable hand.
Darvin Moon started the day as the massive chip leader but slipped into third place a moment ago. Buchman is the new chip leader. Seven-time WSOP bracelet Phil Ivey's stack has remained below the table average all day. Jeff Shulman, the only man of the nine to have previously reached a WSOP Las Vegas Main Event final table, is the short stack.
Play will continue until two players are left. The last two men will meet heads-up Monday night for the title and more than $8.5 million.
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Game Will Not Be Made Up: Page 27
Jimmy pushed me away from the umpire and began barking in my place. I turned my rage from the umpire to Jimmy. I stepped behind him, out of his sight, then swung the bat I was holding like I was going after a hanging curveball. I connected with the back of his right knee and made it explode. Home run! An ambulance had to come on the field to transport Jimmy to the hospital. I was kicked out of the game. I went to the hospital to visit Jimmy. I had flowers for his wife, Michelle, as well as pictures, video and audio of Jimmy's exploits on the road. I knew Michelle wanted a divorce and the information my private investigators had uncovered would help her immensely in the proceedings. Don't worry, she's repaid me often since then. She moved to New York and I fuck the hell out of her every time I'm in town.
"Why," he asked repeatedly while moaning in anguish as soon as he saw me enter his room. He sounded like Nancy Kerrigan after Tonya Harding's crew injured her knee.
The chief doctor told me moments earlier Jimmy was sedated but conscious. I promised I wouldn't touch him. Besides, I didn't have a bat with me. The doctor didn't think that line was as funny as I did.
"Don't ever get in my way during a fight," I answered, "And don't ever piss me off. Ever!"
"That's my job," he said.
"Not anymore. If you don't quit today, I'll bust your other knee."
"I'll sue you!"
"If I ever think you're serious about that, I'll ruin you."
"What?"
"I was going to tell the owner this after the season but I'll tell you now. Either you go immediately and quietly or I'll have Michelle use the pictures and tapes I just gave her."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're a bigger horndog than any player I've ever seen. But you're also the least discreet. Blockbuster doesn't have as many videos on stock as I have of you fucking anybody in sight."
"How could you..."
"A lot of those women were paid by me to service you. While you were sporting a woody, they were sporting wires, lipstick cameras and camera phones. Don't worry, I think one or two of them might have fucked you for free. My private investigators did the rest."
"I tried to help you, Paul."
"Then do what I tell you and quit. You need to help me how I want to be helped."
"But I'm the manager. You should fucking respect me."
"Those days are over. I want a new manager. Since I'm worth more than you, I'm going to get my way. People pay to watch me, not you. You're expendable. I'm important."
"I'll have you arrested for assault."
"First off, I contributed $50,000 to the DA's last campaign. If he presses charges, I'll spend $20 million getting him out of office and he knows it."
"You busted my knee in New York, not Montreal," Jimmy interrupted.
"I've given $50,000 to the DA in every National League city," I retorted. "Sixteen cities, $800,000. Small price to pay to do whatever the fuck I want. As I was saying, even if he is that stupid, you'll be the one put on trial, not me. Besides, you and I both know courts go easy on crimes committed by athletes in stadiums. Do you really think I can't find one juror to let me off? Sign a few autographs for the judge's kids. Remember, local judges are elected officials. Do you really think one wants to get on the wrong side of me?"
"Wait until everyone hears about this."
"Who says they haven't already? The only one around here who thinks you're not an asshole is you. By the time I left the clubhouse to see you, I had $75,000 from guys ready to pay my fine for me. I'll be just fine as long as I get people out."
"Why," he asked repeatedly while moaning in anguish as soon as he saw me enter his room. He sounded like Nancy Kerrigan after Tonya Harding's crew injured her knee.
The chief doctor told me moments earlier Jimmy was sedated but conscious. I promised I wouldn't touch him. Besides, I didn't have a bat with me. The doctor didn't think that line was as funny as I did.
"Don't ever get in my way during a fight," I answered, "And don't ever piss me off. Ever!"
"That's my job," he said.
"Not anymore. If you don't quit today, I'll bust your other knee."
"I'll sue you!"
"If I ever think you're serious about that, I'll ruin you."
"What?"
"I was going to tell the owner this after the season but I'll tell you now. Either you go immediately and quietly or I'll have Michelle use the pictures and tapes I just gave her."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're a bigger horndog than any player I've ever seen. But you're also the least discreet. Blockbuster doesn't have as many videos on stock as I have of you fucking anybody in sight."
"How could you..."
"A lot of those women were paid by me to service you. While you were sporting a woody, they were sporting wires, lipstick cameras and camera phones. Don't worry, I think one or two of them might have fucked you for free. My private investigators did the rest."
"I tried to help you, Paul."
"Then do what I tell you and quit. You need to help me how I want to be helped."
"But I'm the manager. You should fucking respect me."
"Those days are over. I want a new manager. Since I'm worth more than you, I'm going to get my way. People pay to watch me, not you. You're expendable. I'm important."
"I'll have you arrested for assault."
"First off, I contributed $50,000 to the DA's last campaign. If he presses charges, I'll spend $20 million getting him out of office and he knows it."
"You busted my knee in New York, not Montreal," Jimmy interrupted.
"I've given $50,000 to the DA in every National League city," I retorted. "Sixteen cities, $800,000. Small price to pay to do whatever the fuck I want. As I was saying, even if he is that stupid, you'll be the one put on trial, not me. Besides, you and I both know courts go easy on crimes committed by athletes in stadiums. Do you really think I can't find one juror to let me off? Sign a few autographs for the judge's kids. Remember, local judges are elected officials. Do you really think one wants to get on the wrong side of me?"
"Wait until everyone hears about this."
"Who says they haven't already? The only one around here who thinks you're not an asshole is you. By the time I left the clubhouse to see you, I had $75,000 from guys ready to pay my fine for me. I'll be just fine as long as I get people out."
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