Prizepool: $4,361,000
Entries: 928
Structure: 15,000 chips, 1 hour blinds
Well guys, I went into this tournie with the idea of playing my socks off and running really deep, as the six handed game suited me better. Also the stack size gave me plenty of room to play with. But it was not be!
So I am first at my table, arriving 15 mins early and just can't wait. An unknown player sits to my left, Phil Laak is the big blind, another unknown to his left and Full Tilt pro Steve Yea to my right. On the second hand, Phil Laak is all-in against Steve Yea. After a lot of raising and re-raising on the flop and turn, Phil gets it all-in on the river. Steve folds, leaving him short stacked with 4,000 chips.
I manage to keep out of trouble for the first four levels, stealing whatever I can, and my stack has dropped just below starting level to 13,000. Steve has taken out the player to my left and has his stack back up to 20,000 playing super aggressively, 3- and 4-betting any pot pre-flop in which he has position - awesome stuff to watch. He'd done it to me two or three times where I'd had to fold with weak holdings.
Level Four - blinds 100/200/ante 25
I pick up pocket tens on the button and Steve has already made an initial raise to 600 in the cut-off, so I go ahead and re-raise to 2,200 not really wanting to see a flop against this type of player as he was playing any two cards to a raise. Low and behold, he makes it 5,800 to play. Calling here was weak, as any face card on the flop and I had to fold as I knew he would bet into me. Shoving went through my mind and I regret not doing so in hindsight. I folded with my tail between my legs!
Level Five - blinds 150/300/25
My stack had dwindled to about 10,000 and we were now playing six handed. The game was very aggressive and there was a lot of 3- and 4-betting going on pre-flop, especially by Steve who was table captain at this stage. Even Phil Laak had taken a back seat by now. Halfway through the level, Steve makes his normal raise from the button and I look down at 88. It's 800 to call, so I raise it up to 2,800. The big blind folds and again Steve comes over the top and makes it 6,400 to play, putting me all-in more or less. I go to the tank but not for long.
The final hurrah
I decide to make a stand, which is something that I wouldn't usually do with this type of hand, but the way he was playing I just felt it had to be done. I shove all-in and he makes the call for my few remaining chips and turns over AQ. The flop is harsh, bringing an ace. The turn and river are blanks, and my WSOP ends for this year. All in all, I regret not making a stand with my tens, but was happy with my play overall. The experience of playing in an event like this will hopefully stay with me and improve my game in so many ways, so until we meet again Mr Yea and Co...
Best of luck,
Callmebabe