The Online Railbird Report: Griffin Bests Hastings and Sahamies; Boukai Overs ��DrugsOrMe��
The action since Tuesday hasn��t been characterized by million-dollar swings or record-setting pots, but there has still been plenty of action. Rami ��Arbianight�� Boukai, who��s activity has risen ever since August, continued to do well by besting ��DrugsOrMe,�� who had a impressive outing the previous week; consequently, it was Boukai who became the biggest winner over the past few days with $242,920.20. The Pot Limit Omaha action kept things interesting, especially a three-way battle between three of online poker��s most well-known players, with one of them becoming the biggest loser over the past three days.
��theASHMAN103,�� Brian Hastings, and ��Ziigmund�� Do Battle
A large pot developed at the $300/$600 PLO tables on Full Tilt Poker between Brian Hastings, Ilari ��Ziigmund�� Sahamies, and Ashton ��theASHMAN103�� Griffin. The pot began when Griffin ($123,432) was under the gun and raised to $1,800. Sahamies ($65,176.50) raised to $6,300 from the small blind and Hastings ($88,234) folded from the big. Griffin responded by making it $21,600 to go and Sahamies called. The flop came down 6?J?J?, and Sahamies checked to Griffin, who bet $40,500. Sahamies moved all-in for about $3,000 more and Griffin called.
Sahamies: 9?K?A?J?
Griffin: 7?Q?A?10?
Sahamies was in a dominating position, but Griffin picked up some outs on the 9? turn. Unfortunately for him, the 4? river was no help and Sahamies took down the $131,653 pot.
Griffin recouped some losses later when he and Hasting went heads-up. In the hand, Griffin raised to $1,800 from the small blind and Hastings called from the big. The flop came 8?A?9? and things took off. Hastings check-raised Griffin��s $3,300 bet to $11,400, only to have Griffin make it $38,000. Hastings didn��t back down and moved all-in for $100,733. Griffin called and the cards were revealed.
Griffin: J?A?10?7?
Hastings: K?9?9?7?
Hastings was ahead with his set of nines, but the 7? on the turn gave Griffin a straight. Hastings needed the board to pair on the river to double, but it was the 3?. Griffin took down the $127,198 pot while Hastings reloaded.
The biggest pot between Tuesday and Thursday occurred at the same table just a few minutes later. In the hand, Hastings ($36,834) was on the button and raised to $1,500. Griffin ($129,297.50) reraised to $5,400 from the small blind, and Sahamies called from the big. Hastings also called and the three saw a flop of Q?4?4?. Griffin bet out $7,700 only to be raised to $26,400 by Sahamies. Hastings mucked and Griffin called.
Both players checked the 5? on the turn and the 10? hit the river. Griffin checked and Sahamies moved all-in for $60,650. Griffin called and showed K?4?K?4? for quad fours, which of course was good against Sahamies�� 6?9?2?A? bluff. The pot was worth $190,599 and significantly contributed to Griffin��s three-day total.
Boukai Books Nice Score on Thursday
On Thursday, Rami ��Arbianight�� Boukai had his biggest day to date since increasing his activity in August. Boukai put in 806 hands in PLO and seven games on his way to a $125,000 score. In one hand, Boukai ($65,483) was playing $200/$400 PLO heads-up against DrugsOrMe ($17,398.50) on Full Tilt. DrugsOrMe was on the button and raised to $1,000. Boukai made the call, and the flop came down 2?7?J?.
Boukai checked to DrugsOrMe who bet $1,200. After a call, the Q? hit the turn and it went check, bet $3,200, and call. The 4? fell on the river and once again Boukai checked to DrugsOrMe, who bet $10,600. Boukai called and showed 3?7?5?3? for a small flush, which was good against DrugsOrMe��s K?9?5?8? river bluff.
Who��s Up? Who��s Down?
This week��s biggest winners (10/12-10/14): Rami ��Arbianight�� Boukai (+$242,920.20), Di ��Urindanger�� Dang (+$228,545.50), Ashton ��theASHMAN103�� Griffin (+$172,265.50), Mercelo ��luckexpress10�� Marigliano (+$161,288.50), Gus Hansen ($136,926.50)
In the Red: Ilari ��Ziigmund�� Sahamies (-$511,165.60), DrugsOrMe (-$218,175.50), UarePileous (-$144,667.00), Phil ��OMGClayAiken�� Galfond (-$121,112.50)
Year-to-Date Winners: Daniel ��jungleman12�� Cates (+$4.11 million), Tom ��durrrr�� Dwan (+$4.01 million), Phil Ivey (+$3.08 million)
Year-to-Date Losers: Gus Hansen (-$3.06 million), Brian Townsend (-$2.53 million), Matatuk (-$1.53 million)
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