WSOP $300 NL at Harrah's Atlantic City

Sunday December 9 found myself and a few friends playing in the $300 + $40 NL WSOP sponsored tournament at Harrah's in Atlantic City. Starting chips at 4000, blinds starting at 25-50 for 45 minute rounds.

A big shout out and congratulations to my friend Walt who ended up in 10th place at the event, out of a field of 701 players. As luck would have it, at around the third level Walt was moved over to my table with about 2500 in chips, all but outta there. He played two hands well back to back and shot up to about 20000 chips. We stayed at the same table through level seven when I busted out, more on that in a second. On day two at the final table I estimated perhaps 4 or so short stacks relative to the blinds, and Walt was one of them. Roughly 30 minutes into the first round Walt found himself on the button with rockets. He raised pre-flop and the cut-off limper called. With the stacks so short, there was only one move on the flop of 9-J-K: all-in. Player calls and turns over Q-10 for a straight. Ouch.

Overall, I was happy with my play but could just not get any momentum going. I stayed above water at about 12 or 13 times the big blind through level seven. How I busted out: Folds around to a late position limper and I look down at A-J suited in the small blind. I go all-in hoping to pick up 4600 in needed chips (I had about 10000 total at this point). Big blind folds and limper thinks a long time and finally calls showing 5-5. 5-5 holds and I'm out in place 170 or so, 100 positions from the money. Bummer. At least I made my money back at the tables.