25k Headsup championship at Full Tilt Day 1

Full Tilt Poker hosted the biggest buy in tournament in online history Saturday with a $25,000 buy in heads up shootout. 64 players made the field making a first place prize worth $560,000. Of course, the large buy in drew in many of the biggest names in both the online and live high stakes poker community, including both Full Tilt sponsored pros as well as non signed pros. The popular Full Tilt names in the field included Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Brian Hastings AKa ‘$tinger88′, Gus Hansen, and Phil Ivey. Other online pros in the field included Dani ‘Ansky451′ Stern, Tom Dwan aka durrrr, Patrick Antonius aka FinddaGrind, and Phil Gandolph aka OMGClayAiken. The structure called for heads up matches much the way of the NBC Heads up Championship. First round casualties of the tournament included Chris Ferguson, Huck Seed, Erik Seidel, Erick Lindgren, Phil Ivey, David Benyamine, and Gus Hansen among others. We pick up the action in the second round of play with the two most intriguing match ups. These are two situations of live players playing against primarily online players. In one match we see Andy Bloch take on Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan, and the other saw Patrick ‘FinddaGrind’ Antonius play big game regular Eli Elezra. The play was very deep stacked with the players starting with 10,000 in chips at the 20/40 level, leaving the players 250 big blinds to begin play. Our first big hand came up when Patrick Antonius took a sizable pot off Eli Elezra. After calling a preflop raise, Antonius led the turn and river and was called down. Antonius revealed a turned flush and took down a sizable pot.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548337609: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 10 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:23:37 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (9,340)
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (10,660)
Eli Elezra posts the small blind of 20
FinddaGrind posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Eli Elezra raises to 120
FinddaGrind calls 80
*** FLOP *** [Ad 9d Ks]
FinddaGrind checks
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra bets 240
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind calls 240
*** TURN *** [Ad 9d Ks] [3d]
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind bets 560
Eli Elezra calls 560
*** RIVER *** [Ad 9d Ks 3d] [5h]
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind bets 1,520
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra calls 1,520
*** SHOW DOWN ***
FinddaGrind shows [6d 8d] a flush, Ace high
Eli Elezra mucks
FinddaGrind wins the pot (4,880) with a flush, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,880 | Rake 0
Board: [Ad 9d Ks 3d 5h]
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (small blind) mucked
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (big blind) collected (4,880)

Antonius didn’t let up there as he took another 15% of Elezra’s starting stack with a bet on the turn of this hand.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548410621: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 10 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:30:16 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (7,280)
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (12,720)
FinddaGrind posts the small blind of 25
Eli Elezra posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind raises to 150
Eli Elezra calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Qs 7s 7c]
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra checks
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind bets 200
Eli Elezra raises to 400
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind raises to 1,200
Eli Elezra calls 800
*** TURN *** [Qs 7s 7c] [5d]
Eli Elezra checks
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind bets 1,800
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra has requested TIME
Eli Elezra is sitting out
Eli Elezra has timed out
Eli Elezra folds
Uncalled bet of 1,800 returned to FinddaGrind
Eli Elezra has returned
FinddaGrind mucks
FinddaGrind wins the pot (2,700)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,700 | Rake 0
Board: [Qs 7s 7c 5d]
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (small blind) collected (2,700), mucked

As Antonius was going to work on Elezra, Andy Bloch and Tom Dwan were playing small ball poker before the following game came up. Bloch makes a big check raise before shoving the river, makeing Dwan fold off half his stack.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548420767: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 8 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:31:12 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (10,860)
Seat 2: durrrr (9,140)
Andy Bloch posts the small blind of 25
durrrr posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Andy Bloch raises to 125
durrrr raises to 352
Andy Bloch calls 227
*** FLOP *** [4d 7s 8h]
durrrr bets 456
Andy Bloch calls 456
*** TURN *** [4d 7s 8h] [Th]
durrrr bets 1,074
Andy Bloch has 15 seconds left to act
Andy Bloch raises to 3,000
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr calls 1,926
*** RIVER *** [4d 7s 8h Th] [3d]
durrrr checks
Andy Bloch bets 7,052, and is all in
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr folds
Uncalled bet of 7,052 returned to Andy Bloch
Andy Bloch mucks
Andy Bloch wins the pot (7,616)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7,616 | Rake 0
Board: [4d 7s 8h Th 3d]
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (small blind) collected (7,616), mucked
Seat 2: durrrr (big blind) folded on the River

Bloch took another pot off Dwan when he called a preflop threebet and made a gutsy call on both the flop and turn with bottom pair. Dwan gave up the river and Bloch’s bottom pair took down a big pot.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548468462: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 8 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:35:32 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (14,594)
Seat 2: durrrr (5,406)
Andy Bloch posts the small blind of 25
durrrr posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Andy Bloch raises to 125
durrrr raises to 378
Andy Bloch calls 253
*** FLOP *** [Qs 9c Jh]
durrrr bets 486
Andy Bloch calls 486
*** TURN *** [Qs 9c Jh] [Kh]
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr bets 1,074
Andy Bloch has 15 seconds left to act
Andy Bloch calls 1,074
*** RIVER *** [Qs 9c Jh Kh] [Jc]
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr checks
Andy Bloch checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
durrrr shows [5d 8s] a pair of Jacks
Andy Bloch shows [9h Ah] two pair, Jacks and Nines
Andy Bloch wins the pot (3,876) with two pair, Jacks and Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,876 | Rake 0
Board: [Qs 9c Jh Kh Jc]
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (small blind) showed [9h Ah] and won (3,876) with two pair, Jacks and Nines
Seat 2: durrrr (big blind) showed [5d 8s] and lost with a pair of Jacks

Both Bloch and Antonius tried to continue to chip up their leads by playing small pots against their opponents. Bloch continued to expand his lead in the following hand where he shoved the turn and didn’t get a call.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548523615: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 8 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:40:28 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (16,941)
Seat 2: durrrr (3,059)
Andy Bloch posts the small blind of 30
durrrr posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Andy Bloch raises to 150
durrrr calls 90
*** FLOP *** [Qd 8s 5c]
durrrr bets 134
Andy Bloch has 15 seconds left to act
Andy Bloch raises to 600
durrrr calls 466
*** TURN *** [Qd 8s 5c] [3s]
durrrr checks
Andy Bloch bets 16,191, and is all in
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr folds
Uncalled bet of 16,191 returned to Andy Bloch
Andy Bloch mucks
Andy Bloch wins the pot (1,500)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,500 | Rake 0
Board: [Qd 8s 5c 3s]
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (small blind) collected (1,500), mucked
Seat 2: durrrr (big blind) folded on the Turn

Dwan finally chipped up when he got all the money in on the turn with an over pair of pocket kings against Bloch’s open ended straight draw. Dwan held and doubled up to almost half of his starting stack.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548534495: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 8 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:41:26 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (17,691)
Seat 2: durrrr (2,309)
durrrr posts the small blind of 30
Andy Bloch posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
durrrr raises to 164
Andy Bloch calls 104
*** FLOP *** [Tc 2d 3h]
Andy Bloch checks
durrrr bets 214
Andy Bloch calls 214
*** TURN *** [Tc 2d 3h] [Js]
Andy Bloch checks
durrrr bets 429
Andy Bloch has 15 seconds left to act
Andy Bloch raises to 2,043
durrrr calls 1,502, and is all in
Andy Bloch shows [Kd Qh]
durrrr shows [Kh Kc]
Uncalled bet of 112 returned to Andy Bloch
*** RIVER *** [Tc 2d 3h Js] [8c]
Andy Bloch shows King Queen high
durrrr shows a pair of Kings
durrrr wins the pot (4,618) with a pair of Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,618 | Rake 0
Board: [Tc 2d 3h Js 8c]
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (big blind) showed [Kd Qh] and lost with King Queen high
Seat 2: durrrr (small blind) showed [Kh Kc] and won (4,618) with a pair of Kings

Through small pots, Elezra chipped himself back up to 7,500 chips against Antonius. Bloch won a big hand off Dwan here after flopping three sevens against the aces up of durrrr.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548644646: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 8 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:51:10 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (15,100)
Seat 2: durrrr (4,900)
durrrr posts the small blind of 40
Andy Bloch posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
durrrr raises to 207
Andy Bloch calls 127
*** FLOP *** [7s 7d Ac]
Andy Bloch checks
durrrr checks
*** TURN *** [7s 7d Ac] [5d]
Andy Bloch bets 220
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr calls 220
*** RIVER *** [7s 7d Ac 5d] [8d]
Andy Bloch checks
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr bets 344
Andy Bloch calls 344
*** SHOW DOWN ***
durrrr shows [6c As] two pair, Aces and Sevens
Andy Bloch shows [7c Ks] three of a kind, Sevens
Andy Bloch wins the pot (1,542) with three of a kind, Sevens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,542 | Rake 0
Board: [7s 7d Ac 5d 8d]
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (big blind) showed [7c Ks] and won (1,542) with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 2: durrrr (small blind) showed [6c As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Sevens

Bloch made a gutsy call on the flop with bottom pair in the following hand. He turned a flush draw and called the shove of durrrr, who revealed a bluff and was sent out of the tournament.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548654270: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 8 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold’em - 17:52:01 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (15,871)
Seat 2: durrrr (4,129)
Andy Bloch posts the small blind of 40
durrrr posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Andy Bloch raises to 200
durrrr raises to 562
Andy Bloch calls 362
*** FLOP *** [5h 4c Td]
durrrr bets 544
Andy Bloch calls 544
*** TURN *** [5h 4c Td] [Jd]
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr bets 3,023, and is all in
Andy Bloch has 15 seconds left to act
Andy Bloch has requested TIME
Andy Bloch calls 3,023
durrrr shows [Qc 8c]
Andy Bloch shows [7d 4d]
*** RIVER *** [5h 4c Td Jd] [2s]
durrrr shows Queen Jack high
Andy Bloch shows a pair of Fours
Andy Bloch wins the pot (8,258) with a pair of Fours
durrrr stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,258 | Rake 0
Board: [5h 4c Td Jd 2s]
Seat 1: Andy Bloch (small blind) showed [7d 4d] and won (8,258) with a pair of Fours
Seat 2: durrrr (big blind) showed [Qc 8c] and lost with Queen Jack high

As Bloch was eliminating Dwan, Elezra was using frequent three bets both preflop and postflop to chip his way back to 9000 chips and being almost even with the Finnish superstar. Antonius put a big bet on the river into a pot of 3000 chips, Elezra thought before folding, leaving himself with only 2,000 in chips and a 9:1 chip disadvantage.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6548944385: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 10 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold’em - 18:17:50 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (4,915)
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (15,085)
FinddaGrind posts the small blind of 60
Eli Elezra posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind raises to 360
Eli Elezra calls 240
*** FLOP *** [9d Jh Ah]
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra checks
FinddaGrind checks
*** TURN *** [9d Jh Ah] [Js]
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra bets 720
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind raises to 1,440
Eli Elezra calls 720
*** RIVER *** [9d Jh Ah Js] [4c]
Eli Elezra checks
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind bets 2,280
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra folds
Uncalled bet of 2,280 returned to FinddaGrind
FinddaGrind mucks
FinddaGrind wins the pot (3,600)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,600 | Rake 0
Board: [9d Jh Ah Js 4c]
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (small blind) collected (3,600), mucked

Antonius didn’t allow Elezra to chip up and left him crippled until the final hand came here.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6549050013: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 10 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold’em - 18:27:10 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (2,515)
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (17,485)
FinddaGrind posts the small blind of 80
Eli Elezra posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
FinddaGrind has 15 seconds left to act
FinddaGrind calls 80
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra checks
*** FLOP *** [4c 3s 2d]
Eli Elezra checks
FinddaGrind bets 160
Eli Elezra has 15 seconds left to act
Eli Elezra calls 160
*** TURN *** [4c 3s 2d] [Jd]
Eli Elezra bets 2,195, and is all in
FinddaGrind calls 2,195
Eli Elezra shows [5d Jh]
FinddaGrind shows [Ad 5c]
*** RIVER *** [4c 3s 2d Jd] [Td]
Eli Elezra shows a pair of Jacks
FinddaGrind shows a straight, Five high
FinddaGrind wins the pot (5,030) with a straight, Five high
Eli Elezra stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,030 | Rake 0
Board: [4c 3s 2d Jd Td]
Seat 1: Eli Elezra (big blind) showed [5d Jh] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: FinddaGrind (small blind) showed [Ad 5c] and won (5,030) with a straight, Five high

After two rounds were finished, we were left with 16 players remaining. Players that headlined this field including live pros such as Howard Lederer, David Singer, and Andy Bloch, as well as well known online players Dani ‘Ansky451′ Stern, Patrick ‘FinddaGrind’ Antonius, and Brian Hastings. We pick up the round of sixteen following a battle between the live and online world between Howard Lederer and Brian Hastings. The match started with about fifty hands of small pot poker with the players feeling each other out. However, ‘Stinger’ as Hastings is known as around the poker world won the first big pot by flopping top set.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6550192181: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 6 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold’em - 20:08:08 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Howard Lederer (20,350)
Seat 2: Brian Hastings (19,650)
Brian Hastings posts the small blind of 60
Howard Lederer posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Brian Hastings raises to 360
Howard Lederer calls 240
*** FLOP *** [Jd 5c 6s]
Howard Lederer checks
Brian Hastings bets 600
Howard Lederer calls 600
*** TURN *** [Jd 5c 6s] [5d]
Howard Lederer checks
Brian Hastings bets 1,680
Howard Lederer has 15 seconds left to act
Howard Lederer calls 1,680
*** RIVER *** [Jd 5c 6s 5d] [2c]
Howard Lederer checks
Brian Hastings has 15 seconds left to act
Brian Hastings bets 4,320
Howard Lederer has 15 seconds left to act
Howard Lederer calls 4,320
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Brian Hastings shows [Js Jc] a full house, Jacks full of Fives
Howard Lederer mucks
Brian Hastings wins the pot (13,920) with a full house, Jacks full of Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 13,920 | Rake 0
Board: [Jd 5c 6s 5d 2c]
Seat 1: Howard Lederer (big blind) mucked
Seat 2: Brian Hastings (small blind) collected (13,920)

Hastings had a clear advantage after that win. Only three hands later, he finished Lederer off after Lederer made two pair on the river against Hasting’s pocket Aces, and advancing to the final eight and guaranteeing a profit from his $75,000 investment.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6550208467: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 6 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold’em - 20:09:37 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: Howard Lederer (13,210)
Seat 2: Brian Hastings (26,790)
Howard Lederer posts the small blind of 60
Brian Hastings posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Howard Lederer raises to 300
Brian Hastings raises to 950
Howard Lederer calls 650
*** FLOP *** [5s 8h Jc]
Brian Hastings bets 1,320
Howard Lederer calls 1,320
*** TURN *** [5s 8h Jc] [5c]
Brian Hastings has 15 seconds left to act
Brian Hastings bets 3,120
Howard Lederer has 15 seconds left to act
Howard Lederer raises to 10,940, and is all in
Brian Hastings calls 7,820
Howard Lederer shows [Kc 8c]
Brian Hastings shows [Ac Ad]
*** RIVER *** [5s 8h Jc 5c] [Kd]
Howard Lederer shows two pair, Kings and Eights
Brian Hastings shows two pair, Aces and Fives
Brian Hastings wins the pot (26,420) with two pair, Aces and Fives
Howard Lederer stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 26,420 | Rake 0
Board: [5s 8h Jc 5c Kd]
Seat 1: Howard Lederer (small blind) showed [Kc 8c] and lost with two pair, Kings and Eights
Seat 2: Brian Hastings (big blind) showed [Ac Ad] and won (26,420) with two pair, Aces and Fives

Another round of 16 match that is of interest to many online followers took place between ‘pr1nnyraid’ and Dani ‘Ansky451′ Stern. The two seemed to be friends in the chat as they openly chatted about the lack of advancement of Full Tilt Red Pros, as well as their want for David Benyamine to do well in the event in order to get a high stakes No Limit Game with him going. The match ended up being primarily small pots before the following hand came up. ‘Ansky451′ made a nice river bet in order to take down a pot worth 6,000 chips.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6550274095: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 5 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold’em - 20:15:37 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: pr1nnyraid (16,040)
Seat 2: Ansky451 (23,960)
Ansky451 posts the small blind of 80
pr1nnyraid posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Ansky451 raises to 480
pr1nnyraid calls 320
*** FLOP *** [Ad 9c 2c]
pr1nnyraid checks
Ansky451 bets 800
pr1nnyraid has 15 seconds left to act
pr1nnyraid raises to 2,720
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 calls 1,920
*** TURN *** [Ad 9c 2c] [2h]
pr1nnyraid has 15 seconds left to act
pr1nnyraid checks
Ansky451 checks
*** RIVER *** [Ad 9c 2c 2h] [5c]
pr1nnyraid has 15 seconds left to act
pr1nnyraid checks
Ansky451 bets 4,100
pr1nnyraid has 15 seconds left to act
pr1nnyraid folds
Uncalled bet of 4,100 returned to Ansky451
Ansky451 mucks
Ansky451 wins the pot (6,400)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6,400 | Rake 0
Board: [Ad 9c 2c 2h 5c]
Seat 1: pr1nnyraid (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: Ansky451 (small blind) collected (6,400), mucked

After a few more small pots, the end came as all the money got in preflop between the two. ‘pr1nnyraid’ was dominated as he took his A10 against Stern’s AK. Although he flopped two pair, ‘pr1nnyraid’ was still dominated as Stern flopped a higher two pair, sending ‘pr1nnyraid out of the tournament and short of the money.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6550301391: $25K Heads-Up Championship (49738779), Table 5 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold’em - 20:18:08 ET - 2008/05/24
Seat 1: pr1nnyraid (12,600)
Seat 2: Ansky451 (27,400)
pr1nnyraid posts the small blind of 80
Ansky451 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
pr1nnyraid raises to 480
Ansky451 raises to 1,600
pr1nnyraid raises to 12,600, and is all in
Ansky451 calls 11,000
pr1nnyraid shows [Ts Ac]
Ansky451 shows [Kh Ah]
*** FLOP *** [As Kd Td]
*** TURN *** [As Kd Td] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [As Kd Td 8c] [4c]
pr1nnyraid: TTT
pr1nnyraid shows two pair, Aces and Tens
Ansky451 shows two pair, Aces and Kings
Ansky451 wins the pot (25,200) with two pair, Aces and Kings
pr1nnyraid: gg
Ansky451: gg
pr1nnyraid stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 25,200 | Rake 0
Board: [As Kd Td 8c 4c]
Seat 1: pr1nnyraid (small blind) showed [Ts Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Tens
Seat 2: Ansky451 (big blind) showed [Kh Ah] and won (25,200) with two pair, Aces and Kings