Christophe Benzimra's table
Event #46 – $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em / 6-Handed Championship attracted the toughest field of all the tournaments of the 2011 WSOP so far and is one of the biggest events prior to the Main Event which will start on July 7th.
English player Sam Trickett and French player Christophe Benzimra from Team Titan joined the action of this event which saw a starting field of 474 players.
Many stars of the poker world were present at the start of the day including Tom Dwan, Eric Lindgren, Eugene Katchalov, John Juanda, Vanessa Rousso, Barry Greenstein, Jonathan Duhamel, ElkY, Matt Affleck, Jake Cody and many others…
This tourney has attracted the top stars of both online and live poker.
Unfortunately neither Sam Trickett or Christophe Benzimra qualified for Day 2 of this event.
Starting stack: 30 000 chips – 1 hour level with starting blinds 25/50
Level 1 and 2:
Christophe Benzimra joined Freddy Deeb at table #25 at the beginning of the day. During the first two hours, Christophe caught Aces twice but unfortunately just won the blinds with it while his opponents didn’t give him any action. Frustrating.
Then he lost a pot with pocket kings when his adversary hit a backdoor flush.
He was down to 25K at the end of Level 2.
Level 3 – 100/200:
Christophe Benzimra found a nice situation to make a profit when the cut-off raised to 550 and he decided to call. The big blind 3-bet to 2K and after the fold of the CO, Christophe called with 9♦ 7♦
Flop J♦ 9♥ 4♠
The big blind made his continuation-bet for 2,700 and Christophe paid this amount to see the turn.
2♠
The big blind checked and Christophe did the same.
4♥
The big blind decided to fire a bet of 5.5K which was instantanely paid by the Frenchman.
His opponent showed AK and Christophe Benzimra won the hand and climbed to 38K.
During the next level, Christophe Benzimra played a lot of small pot with no signicative loss or profits “I took one pot and I lose one. It is a perpetual war”.
Sam Trickett decided to late register to the event to reserve some energy for what he expected would be a long and tiring day.
Level 5 – Blinds 150/300 ante 25:
Christophe raised with K♣ to 750 and the player in big blind position decided to defend.
Flop: K-K-Q rainbow
Both players checked. Christophe wanted to trap his opponent.
Turn: ♥
Big blind opened to 1K and Christophe just called.
River: 4♠
New barrel from the big blind. Christophe just paid the 2,200 bet of the big blind. “I didn’t like that he bet on the turn and river. I was thinking he could have AJ so Ii preferred to control the size of the pot. And bingo, he had it. It is amazing. I could have lost much more on this one”.
Christophe was back to 30.7K.
Then came another hard hand for Christophe.
The button player raised to 750, Christophe called with Q♣ J♣ and the big blind paid as well.
Flop: 9♣ 8♣ 3
Big blind checked, Christophe bet 1,300 and only the button paid.
Turn: 9♥
Christophe opened to 2,700 and it was paid.
River: 3♣
Christophe checked and his opponent checked behind him. “I can believe it. He was on the flush as well with A♣ 10♣ If the 3 didn’t appear on the river, I would have been eliminated. This 3 saved me but it is really no luck for me”.
Christophe was down to 22K at the end of the level.
Sam Trickett
At the same time, a few tables away, Sam Trickett made a great fold but was down to 15K.
Sam raised to 700 and the big blind called.
Flop: Q-3-3 with two hearts. Sam bet 1,050 and his adversary made the call.
Turn: 6♠
Sam fired a second barrel for 2,550 and he obtained another call from the big blind.
River: 10♠
Sam made a third barrel for 7K convinced he was in front but his opponent instantly pushed all-in. Sam Trickett understood that his AQ was not enough here and gave up this pot with a lot of frustration.
Level 6 – Blinds 200/ 400 ante 50:
The cut-off raised to 1,000 and the button called. Sam Trickett called from the big blind with 33.
On the flop 3♦ 5♣ 6♦ Sam bet 2,800 and the preflop raiser moved all-in. Sam insta-called. His opponent is drawing with J♦ Q♦
Turn: 9♠ and river 2♥ and Sam won the pot and was back to 31K.
Christophe Benzimra was card-dead for almost 2 hours.
Average: 45K with 312 players left.
Level 7 – Blinds 300/600 ante 100:
Christophe had no chance to compete well because received just garbage for 2 hours. He was down to 13K when he played his last hand.
Christophe raised to 1,500. A late position player bet 3,500 and Christophe moved all-in with pocket 10s, assuming his opponent held AK. The man called and unfortunately he held pocket Qs.
Board : 8-A-8-4-K
Christophe Benzimra was emiminated and left the poker-room a little bit disappointed. “With no cards you can fight. And when your opponents get cards, it is just impossible”.
The same fate awaited Sam Trickett a few minutes later. The button raised and the small blind called. Sam Trickett went all-in with 77 for 20 big blinds and the small blind called with A♠ Q♠
A crucial ace fell on the river and the English player was out.
Christophe Benzimra
Tags: Christophe Benzimra, Freddy Deeb, Sam Trickett, Team Titan
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