Team Party’s Ian Frazer took down heat five at the PartyPoker.com Premier League IV at the M Resort in Las Vegas.
Frazer, who qualified via the Team Party qualifier now has a slim chance of making the final table direct and a guaranteed place in the heads-up play-off.
Check out all the pictures from Ian Frazer’s big day.
League standings at the end of day five:
- Phil Laak – 48 points
- David Benyamine – 35 points
- Giovanni Safina – 29 points
- Ian Frazer – 26 points
- Luke Schwartz – 23 points
- JC Tran – 20 points
- Yevgeniy Timoshenko – 16 points
- Roland De Wolfe – 14 points
- Vanessa Rousso – 12 points
- Daniel Negreanu – 10 points
- Phil Hellmuth – 8 points
- Tony G – 9 points
EVERYBODY IS MATHEMATICALLY STILL IN!
This was the most epic and intriguing heat yet – three-handed play between Ian Frazer, Giovanni Safina and Luke Schwartz was the centrepiece of the action.
Frazer said: “Go on the Raiser! That was one intense battle – it was murder three-handed and just as intense heads-up. I’m so happy I am back in contention for the PartyPoker.com Premier League.”
Full details of how the drama played out can be found at PokerNews.
Italian online qualifier Giovanni Safina‘s third place finish means that he is all but guaranteed to make the final table direct but a win for Roland De Wolfe tomorrow could change matters. Safina has been a revelation in this tournament after qualifying for just 100 euros on PartyPoker.it and in the three-handed battle was subject to verbal onslaughts from a pumped-up Schwartz.
Safina said, “That was tough but I have the final table in my sights – we’ll just have to see how it goes on Wednesday.”
Asked about Schwartz’s verbal volleys he said he was unconcerned: “he’s just a little boy,” he added. Safina’s limited English language skills were probably an advantage as the pressure grew!
Heat six sees Laak, Benyamine, Schwartz, De Wolfe, Rousso, Negreanu, Hellmuth and Tony G take to the table. With Laak and Benyamine locked-in for the final table the pressure is on the other six and we can expect lots of the tactical play the Premier League is famous for.
After a quiet run in the Premier League so far, Tony G was in great bantering mood today. Both Timoshenko and Hellmuth rode the bike. This is how our friends at PokerNews reported Hellmuth’s elimination:
Phil Hellmuth Eliminated in 7th Place ($4,000)
Phil Hellmuth opened to 17,000 with Ah Qc and then Luke Schwartz reraised to 47,000 with Ac Kd . Hellmuth moved all in for 223,000 and Schwartz didn’t like it.
“Could you ever have ace-queen here?” he asked. After a few minutes, he made the call and the hands were revealed with Hellmuth being dominated.
“What were you thinking?” said Tony G. “Let’s get the trike!”
Schwartz left the Ravello Bar at The M Resort and Casino and went into the slot machine area before the flop was dealt. The production team had to go run and get him while everything was stalled until he came back. A few minutes went by and Hellmuth had to sit and wait the entire time. Then the board was run out without Schwartz being back.
“I won’t ride the trike, but you can walk it next to me, Tony.” said Hellmuth.
The board ran out Js, 8s, 6s, 6c, As and without Schwartz there, he won the pot and sent Hellmuth to the rail. Tony G ran and got the bike and Hellmuth got on it to be a good sport. Tony G chased him on the tricycle and they rode around the Ravello Bar.
Schwartz came back to the table and said, “I saw him on the bike and I knew it was good.
Hellmuth earned two points and $4,000 for his finish.
