U.S. Poker Championship -- Day 3

The story of the day today was numbers, as in the number of players still in the field at the United States Poker Championship and how many would be remaining at the end of the day.

Thursday began with 69 players still vying for the $831K first prize and had no set end time, unlike Wednesday when five levels were contested. Instead, the tournament was going to go on until there were 27 players still alive. At first blush, this sounds like a reasonable enough number. After all, that would be three full tables to start Friday. Plus, as tournaments progress, the rate of bust-outs tends to decrease, so there is no telling how long it might take to eliminate another 42 people.

The problem is that this number does not make sense. The semi-arbitrary cut-off for the day was a complaint that could be heard throughout the poker room at the Trump Taj Mahal. The USPC is only paying out to 18 places, which is fewer than one would normally find at a tournament with 225 participants. Events like this typically pay to around 10%, which would make the distribution down to 22-23 people. It would be very easy to just make it 27 players and thus have the final three tables make the money.

What is really getting the players frustrated is that the payout structure leaves a 9-player gap between the number of competitors who start play on Friday and those that get paid. In most players’ opinions this is both a waste of time and money, especially because it only took two levels to narrow the field to the final three tables. It would have been very easy to shave those nine extra players on Thursday and then everybody who made it to Friday would be guaranteed a payday.

As Jean-Robert Bellande put it:

“Hey, I made it to Day 4 of the USPC!”

“Congratulations? How much did you win?”

“A hand shake and a bill for another night at the Taj.”

Note: Bellande did not actually make it to Day 4. He was one of the last players eliminated Thursday.

Staying on the “numbers” theme, the USPC still couldn’t figure out how to keep the numbers of spectators crowding the tournament area to a minimum until halfway through the day. Even with the tables roped off, fans crowded around, making it hard for the camera crews to get their shots, for press to see what was happening, and for the players to breathe. Finally, after some time, security ushered people outside the ropes (what a novel concept), and some decorum was returned to the festivities.

Hand of the Day

On the first hand of the featured table, Gavin Smith, who entered the day 10th in chips, raised to $15,000 pre-flop with Q-Q. Mark Seif, 4th in chips and never afraid of a little action, called. After the flop of 8-4-4, Smith bet out $50,000, half his stack, and Seif again called. Smith bet out again after a Jack on the turn and Seif called. After the 5 on the river, Smith went all-in and Seif, of course, called him.

Seif had 4-4.

Survivor of the Day

In every tournament there is a short stack. That player Thursday was Bob Edgren, who found himself squarely in last place with $11,100. With blinds at $800/$1,600, he was not in good shape. Surely he would be one of the 42 players to be eliminated.

Not at all.

Edgren, who won a seat at the USPC by winning an online freeroll courtesy of Poker Source Online, strategically stole blinds and antes on a few occasions, power-raised a couple times against players who were trying to bully him, and doubled-up twice to find himself at one of the final three tables. At $51,500, he is once again at the bottom of the field (26th to be exact), but he proved Thursday that as long as you have a chip, you have a chance.

The USPC will resume Friday at 1:00pm and play until the final table is set.


COMPLETE STANDINGS - END OF DAY 3

27 players remaining
Average chips -- $166,667

1 Mark Seif -- $495,500
2 Ralph Pecorale -- $341,000
3 James 'Capo' Caporuscio -- $298,500
4 John Juanda -- $294,000
5 Frank Vizza -- $283,000
6 Paul 'X-22' Magriel -- $261,000
7 Eric Crain -- $258,500
8 Vadim Trinelta -- $256,000
9 Amnon Filippi -- $235,000
10 Kathy Liebert -- $178,500
11 Andrew 'AK' Barta -- $158,000
12 Mike Santoro -- $147,500
13 Ray Lin -- $140,000
14 Men 'The Master' Nguyen -- $134,500
15 Kevin 'The Man' Chan -- $133,000
16 Steve Brecher -- $125,500
17 Surinder Sunar -- $120,000
18 Rathe Miller -- $112,000
19 Kenny 'Kid' Tran -- $99,000
20 Joe Palma -- $96,500
21 Tommy Wang -- $78,000
22 Allen Kessler -- $68,000
23 James White -- $60,500
24 Charlie Bae -- $59,000
25 Jack Schroth -- $59,000
26 Bob Edgren -- $51,500
27 Chris Furbert -- $25,000

PRIZE PAYOUTS

Total Players -- 225
Total Prizepool -- $2,182,500

(Place/Prize Money)

1. $831,532.50
2. $436,500
3. $218,250
4. $130,950
5. $98,212.50
6. $76,387.50
7. $54,562.50
8. $43,650
9. $34,102.50
10-18. $28,372.50