October 30, 2005

We had the first round of Quarterfinalists last week. We get the second batch this week. If you don't remember how it goes, I'll remind you - bottom two are gone. Top two move on to the semifinals. The winner here gets $30,000.

Let's see who we have and the amount of chips that they will be starting out with. The number of chips will be based on what they did during the Round of 16 play.

Carlos Mortenson - 850,000
Johnny Chan - 850,000
David Sklansky - 700,000
Freddie Deeb - 700,000

Hand #1 - Mortenson limps in on a Q ? 2 ? while Chan checks on J ? 3 ?. The Flop - 6 ? A ? 7 ?. We get a pair of checks to a 5 ? on the Turn - then another set of checks to the 9 ? on the river. We get one more set of checks and Mortenson takes the first pot and a Queen High.

Hand #2 - Mortenson raises with Q ? 9 ?. This time, Chan has 7's, but just calls. The Flop - 5 ? 10 ? A ?. No help to either person and we get another set of checks. The Turn - 3 ? and we have more checking. The River - 10 ? and...more checking? Yep, and Chan wins the rematch.

Hand #3 - Deeb decides to join the party with a K ? 9 ?, and Mortenson with a A/6 ?, finally raises. Deeb folds and Mortenson takes the hand.

Hand #4 - Now Deeb has ladies and raises. Chan has 4's and decides to call. The Flop - 2 ? 3 ? K ?. Check. Check. The Turn is an A ? and no one does anything. The Rive is... a 5? and Chan has a straight. Chan lays the trap and checks - but Deeb doesn't bet and we check through to a Chan win. Chan is now the current leader on the chip board.

Hand #5 - Now it's Mortenson's turn to get a pair - and this time it's 9's. He raises to Sklansky, with a K/10 ? and he calls. The Flop - 10 ? 8 ? Q ?. Sklansky pairs the 10's but Mortenson has both a straight and a flush draw. The Turn is a 4 ? and the River is a 6 ? and both people check through. Neither card helped Mortenson, so Sklansky gets a win.

Hand #6 - Chan raises with a... 9 ? 4 ?? Well, he does, and everyone else folds.

Hand #7 - It's a good thing he didn't do that this time, because Deeb has a A ? and J ? and raises. Mortenson calls with a Q ? J ?. The Flop - 5 ? 8 ? K ?. Checky checky check to a 9 ? on the Turn - and Mortenson needs a 10 for the straight. It's Deeb who's betting into Mortenson and Mortenson raises him. Deeb lays it down and Mortenson moves up to second in the Chip count behind Chan.

Hand #8 - Mortenson has...uh-oh...pocket 10's, and he raises them. Deeb has Red 9's and goes over the top and All-In. Mortenson calls and Deeb is overmatched...and really so when the Flop has a 10 ?, Q ? 3 ?. The 3 ? on the Turn gives Mortenson a Full House and the 8 ? on the River means nothing. It means nothing for Deeb either, as he is eliminated from the tournament. He will walk away with $50,000, which isn't too bad.

Hand #9 - Chan has 8's and no one wants to contest his raise.

Hand #10 - More pairs for Mortenson - this time, it's Queens and he limps in wanting to find a buyer. Chan could be one with a K ? 9 ?, but not with a Flop of 6 ? 6 ? 2 ?. Mortenson bets and Chan leaves the hand.

Hand #11 - Mortenson doesn't have a pair - but he does have a A ? 9 ? and raises. Sklansky has a A ? 4 ? and goes All-In - which is not a good time to be doing that with an A/9...unless Mortenson folds, which he does.

Hand #12 - Sklansky limps in with a K ? 8 ?. Mortenson raises with a A ? 9 ? and Sklansky decides to not call.

Hand #13 - Sklansky does this time with an A ? 4 ? and goes All-in. No one challenges him and Sklansky gets some blinds.

Hand #14 - Mortenson has K ? J ? and raises. Sklansky just calls with a K/7 ?. The Flop - A ? 2 ? J ?. Mortenson pairs the Jacks and raises. Sklansky decides that there will be another hand to do battle with and leaves.

Hand #15 - Chan raises in with K ? 7 ?. No one else wants to play with him.

Hand #16 - Mortenson limps in with a Q ? 2 ?, Chan calls with a A ? 6 ?. The FLop - Q ?, 7 ?, 7 ? and Mortenson has 2 pairs. They both check. Turn - 4 ?. Check. River - K ?. Check. Mortenson wins with 2 pair and gets some more chip lead.

Hand #17 - Mortenson raises with a J/10 ?. Sklansky calls with a K ? 9 ?. The Flop - K ? A ? Q ? and Mortenson has a straight. The Turn - 7 ? and Mortenson bets. Sklansky decides that he has no chance (and he's right) and bails. Mortenson increases that chip lead and Sklansky is becoming quite short stacked.

Hand #18 - Sklansky has K/3 ? and goes all-in. Mortenson has Big Slick and quickly calls. Chan has 8's - and lays them down because he knows that should Sklansky lose, he's into the next round. The Flop - 8 ? 9 ? 4 ? - and Chan is really pissed at himself because he would have had Trip 8's...uh...make that 4 of a Kind with a 8 ? on the Turn. You can see the smoke coming out of Johnny Chan's head - but that's tempered with a 7 ? on the River and an elimination of David Sklansky. Johnny Chan and Carlos Mortenson are going on to the semifinals - and all that's left is a little matter of $30,000.

Hand #19 - Mortenson has a K ? 7 ?. Chan has a 6 ? 7 ?. The Flop - all hearts and Mortenson leaves even before Chan bets.

Hand #20 - Chan has 10's and goes all-in. Mortenson, with a Q ? J ?...doesn't and folds.

Hand #21 - Mortenson has pocket queens and bets. Chan has a K ? Q ? and calls. The Flop - 2 ? K ? K ?. Yipes. Chan has trip Kings. The Turn is a 2 ? and Chan has a boat. He bets again and Mortenson raises him to go all-in. Oops. Chan calls and he wins the pot, severely crippling Mortenson.

Hand #21 - Mortenson has a Q ? 5 ? Chan has a J ? 6 ?. The Flop - 7 ? 6 ? 7 ?. Chan has 2 pair and goes all-in. Mortenson, who has nothing, folds.

Hand #22 - Mortenson limps in with a Q/9 ?, while Chan checks with the 4/2 ?. The Flop - Q ? 3 ? Q ?, which is an interesting board - Mortenson has Trip Queens, but Chan has a flush draw. Mortenson bets and Chan calls. The Flop - J ? and that's the flush. Johnny bets at it and Mortenson raises. Chan of course calls and we see the River - a 6 ?. Chan goes all-in and if Mortenson calls, then the match is over and Chan wins. Mortenson, even knowing that Chan probably has the flush, calls. Chan shows Mortenson the flush and Chan pockets $30,000.

Your final four are all set. Next week - the semifinals start. Your pairings are Johnny Chan Vs. Scotty Nguyen and Carlos Mortenson Vs. Todd Brunson. Join us in 7 days to see who gets that much closer to $400,000.