In the final hand of the Omaha Eight or Better tournament, Kento Watanabe began on the button with 320,000 in chips and the blinds at 5000 and 10000. Joseph Hallock, crippled after a run of bad rivers, defended the big blind when Watanabe opened the action with a raise, calling all in for his last 10,000.
The cards were tabled immediately. Hallock revealed 3♦K♦9♠J♣, giving him a high-only hand with a suited king. Watanabe showed 5♦J♦Q♦7♥. Even against strong high-only hands, a hand with low possibilities is in good shape. Hallock’s hand would not be considered strong. Watanabe had to feel confident.
The flop was 4♠2♣K♣giving Hallock top pair with his K♦, but also gave Watanabe a low draw that would give a split if it hit. The turn came with a 7♣ that paired Watanabe’s seven and gave him some outs for high to go with his low draw. The river delivered the decisive Q♠, giving Watanabe two pair queens and sevens and the tournament victory.
Watanabe earned $1,862 for his win, Hallock collected $1,150, and Awad Hani finished in third place for $988.
Though he played strongly throughout the tournament and entered heads-up play with the chip lead, Joseph Hallock is in trouble in his heads up battle against Kento Watanabe. He had just stacked up a little after three-betting Watanabe off of an O8 flop. But then he took several O8 hands to the river where he was forced to fold, probably because there was no low possible. Watanabe now outstacks him by nearly 10-1 and the end might be in sight.
With blinds at 1500 and 2500 on the final table bubble of the Omaha8/Stud8 event, we saw a blind on blind confrontation. Fumihiro Yasishima was extremely short, holding only 1500 behind after posting his big blind. Joseph Santagata, in the small blind with a healthier stack, chose to limp. Yasishima checked his option, and the two saw the flop heads up.
The dealer spread 4♥2♠J♣, and Santagata led out. Yasishima called all in for his remaining 1500, putting his tournament life at risk. The cards were revealed: Yasishima showed 2♥4♣8♠9♦ for bottom two pair and some backdoor low potential, while Santagata tabled K♠Q♠J♥6♥, pairing his jack on the flop.
The turn brought the 3♦, failing to improve Santagata while giving Yasishima a draw at the low. There were a lot of cards that could fall to allow him to remain in the tournament, but the river came the J♠, pairing the board and giving Santagata trips. With no qualifying low and only two low pair for the high, Yasishima was eliminated and the remaining players advanced to the final table.
With ten players left and a nine-handed final table, we are one player away from the final table. Unfortunately for those who make the final table, with this small field only the top three get paid. Even at the final table, there is a lot of work yet to be done.
The players are playing five-handed at two tables, meaning the blinds are coming around fast in the O8 rounds. And with less people, even in the stud rounds the likelihood of getting the bring-in a few times in a row goes up. With stacks dwindling fast, it won’t be long till someone is forced to make a stand — possibly their last of the day.
We’re watching the two tables closely to make sure we get the final table bubble hand on video. We will post it when it happens.
16 players remain at the close of registration in this event and it’s still anyone’s game. It will be hours before we know who takes down the Miami John Cernuto Memorial event.
We’re 10 minutes from the second break and 20 minutes from the end of registration! That means when the players come back, things are going to get serious. Well, as serious as they get at this joyous event. Something about the cash games rife with games like Drawmaha and Razzdugi seems to keep everyone in a good mood. But we’ll see if that lasts after the possibility of rebuying disappears…
In the Omaha/8 portion of the tournament, playing 400/800, Hani Awad raised from early position. Dereje Assefa called on the button, Joseph Hallock came along from the small blind, and Daniel Sprung defended his big blind to send four players to the flop.
The dealer spread 8♠7♥2♣, a great action board for O/8. The blinds checked and Awad continued with a bet. All three opponents called, keeping the pot multiway and full of possibilities as they moved to the turn.
Dereje Assefa
The turn brought the 3♦. This time the entire table checked, taking the river for free. The river paired the board with the 8♥, and Hallock seized the moment from the small blind with a lead. All three of his opponents called.
At showdown, Hallock revealed A♠4♠7♦9♣, for the nut low. Sprung and Awad threw their hands away, leaving only Assefa to show his cards. He tabled A♥A♣T♥ X, his two pair good for the high side.
Hallock and Assefa chopped the pot, each taking their share after a lively four way contest to the river.
We’re already having a great time in the OE event, even with a fairly small field to start. And with nearly half a million in lifetime tournament winnings at the table, this is no casual affair.
16 players remain at the close of registration in this event and it’s still anyone’s game. It will be hours before we know who takes down the Miami John Cernuto Memorial event.
