Million Dollar Cash Game

September 18th, 2008

Full Tilt Million Dollar Cash Game kicked off on Wednesday with an all star lineup and was never short of action the entire evening. The game kicked off with Patrik Antonius, Eli Elezra, Gus Hansen, David Benyamine, Tom Dwan, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, and Chris Ferguson putting up at least $100,000 each to take their shot at the high stakes action.
The very first hand set the pace for the evening when Phil Ivey moved all-in for $100,000 from the button. He was called by Patrik Antonius, who was holding K-6. Ivey held 7-3 offsuit. A three hit the flop and the hand held up. Ivey was already up $100,000. He gave $95,000 back a few hands later when Gus Hansen’s jacks outdrew Ivey’s aces. During the course of play, Gus Hansen was replaced by Mike Matusow who was his typical boisterous self. Matusow finished the day with a small loss.

Day one saw Dwan on a massive roller coaster ride in regards to his chips. He got into a hole of around $300,000 and could never recover. Durrrr finished down for over $220,000. Chris Ferguson was the big winner of the day, finishing up $198,900. Patrik Antoinius ended up as the big loser for the day. He bought in for $600,000 but finished the day with $362,300, or a net loss of $237,700. Eli Elezra bowed out of the game at the end of Day 1 and Andy Bloch joined the mix for Day 2.

Phil Ivey was very quiet for most of Day 1, and early on in Day 2 things weren’t much different. Then out of nowhere, Ivey showed why he is the most dominant poker player on the planet. Chris Ferguson made a raise preflop holding A-A and Ivey made the call holding 3-3. Ivey flopped a set of three on a low board. Ferguson bet out $40,000 and Ivey raised to $100,000. Ferguson made the call. The turn paired the board and Ivey moved all-in and was called by Ferguson. An ace did not fall on the river and in one hand Ivey was up $300,000. A few hands later Ivey was able to bust Hellmuth when he turned a jack high straight holding pocket eights. Hellmuth was holding A-J. This hand put Ivey up around $500,000. A few hands later, Phil Hellmuth ended up storming off the set due to a combination of complaints about the production and steaming about how his day had went.

At the end of Day 2, Phil Ivey was the big winner in the Million Dollar Cash Game. Ivey finished up $536,400 and was awarded the trophy. Mike Matusow ended up the next biggest winner, taking home $130,000. The biggest losers were David Benyamine and Patrik Antonius. Benyamine finished down $120,000 and Antonius lost $170,000. Durrr continued his roller coaster ride through the second day. Once down $300,000 on day one, Durrrr was actually ahead about $50,000 before finally finishing a $54,000 loser.

The action throughout both days proved hot and heavy and should make for some interesting television. Congratulations to Phil Ivey, winner of the Million Dollar Cash Game.