WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals, Day 3 Recap

By BJ Nemeth

Day 3 of the WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals began with 66 players, and they had five levels to see if they could reach the final three tables and burst the money bubble.

The money was reached just as Day 3 came to an end with 27 players, and the surviving players are all guaranteed at least $19,916.

Here are some of the highlights from Day 3:

Defending WPT Foxwoods champion Jeff Forrest came into the day with a short stack, and unfortunately wasn’t able to last long. In 10 seasons, the World Poker Tour has never seen a player win the same event twice.

ClubWPT.com qualifier Don Burwell earned his entry in an online freeroll, and managed to play with the pros for three straight days before his elimination.

Dwyte Pilgrim, who won last year’s WPT Borgata Poker Open, didn’t let a short stack slow him down as he repeatedly challenged reigning WPT Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger in pots on Day 3. Unfortunately, Pilgrim couldn’t build any momentum, and he was eliminated.

Andy Frankenberger has been near the top of the leaderboard for much of the tournament so far, but could he keep the trend going until the end of Day 3?

There was a great featured table on Day 3, with big names, plenty of table talk, and even a twist — the players agreed that whenever somebody won a pot, they would have to show one card. The table included (from left to right) Jason Mercier, Kathy Liebert, and Christian Harder.

Day 2 chipleader Dan Colpoys got off to a strong start, adding more than 100,000 to his stack in the early levels before running into trouble. Colpoys eventually dropped down near the bottom of the leaderboard, but managed to survive the money bubble and reach Day 4.

In the first two levels, Bernard Lee eliminated two former WPT winners — Erik Seidel and Dwyte Pilgrim. Lee reached the money and survived to Day 4, and he’s looking for a WPT title of his own.

David "Doc" Sands is interviewed by the WPT cameras as the field continues playing behind him. Sands had three-bet all in after a flop of [Qh10d6d] with [KhKs], and Jack Schanbacher called with [AdQd] (top pair, flush draw, overcard). An ace hit the river to send Sands to the rail, while Schanbacher took the chip lead with more than 400,000.

This photo taken from the empty seat 2 gives a more complete view of the featured table. In seat order: Andy Rossi (seat 1), Grant Lang (3), Jason Mercier (4), Kathy Liebert (5), Christian Harder (6), Hoyt Corkins (7), Alistair Melville (8), and Lee Markholt (9).

With the board showing [9c6d2s4c] on the turn, Andy Rossi (left) bet, and Jason Mercier (right) moved all in. Rossi tanked for several minutes before calling with [9h6h] (top two pair), and Mercier turned over [AcAd]. The [3d] on the river was no help to Mercier, who was eliminated.

Chris Klodnicki stacks his chips after eliminating Jeremiah Fitzpatrick a few spots away from the money bubble. Klodnicki finished the day with an above-average chip stack.

With the board showing [6c4h2s4s] on the turn, Matt Stout (left) moves all in against Christian Harder (right). Harder tanked for a few minutes before folding, and Stout was forced (per the agreed-upon table rules) to show one card — he showed the [Ks]. Both players survived to Day 4, though last-woman-standing Kathy Liebert (center) was eliminated just shy the money.

Two-time WPT winner Cornel Cimpan (standing, center) was short stacked and facing elimination near the money bubble, but doubled up here with [KdQd] against the [Jd10d] of Darren Elias (left). Cimpan went on to reach Day 4, while Elias, who finished fifth at the WPT Borgata Poker Open last month, was eliminated a few minutes later.

With 28 players remaining, the final four tables played hand-for-hand on the money bubble.

With the board showing [AdKc9d6s3c] and a little more than 40,000 in the pot, Matt Stout (center left) studied the board before betting 25,000 — not quite the full stack of his opponent, Alistair Melville. Melville called, but mucked his cards when he saw Stout’s [AhKd] (top two pair). Melville was left with less than 2 big blinds on the money bubble.

Alistair Melville (right) was all in from the small blind a few hands later, and three players limped into the pot and checked to the river on a board of [Qd8h4h5c7s]. Christian Harder (left) made a pot-sized bet from the button, and Hoyt Corkins (center) folded.

Harder showed [9d6s] to win the pot with [9d6s] for the nuts — a nine-high straight. Melville showed [Jh3d] (jack high) as he was eliminated in 28th place — bursting the money bubble to end the day.

Reigning WPT Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger has been dominating so far this tournament, and finished Day 3 with 658,000 for a huge chip lead.

Here’s some interesting trivia — Jonathan Little won the Season V WPT Player of the Year award and won the WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals the next year. Frankenberger would obviously like to follow in Little’s footsteps, though Little is still alive and fifth in chips — one of three former WPT Foxwoods champions still in the field. (The other two are Hoyt Corkins and Cornel Cimpan.)

Here are the official chip counts and seating positions for the final 27 players:

TABLE 1
1. Thomas Schreiber – 54,000 (13 BBs)
2. Hoyt Corkins – 235,500 (58 BBs)
3. Cornel Cimpan – 25,000 (6 BBs)
4. Bob Carbone – 156,500 (39 BBs)
5. Jonathan Little – 355,000 (88 BBs)
6. Eli Berg – 152,500 (38 BBs)
7. Peter Politano – 237,000 (59 BBs)
8. Andy Rossi – 352,500 (88 BBs)
9. Steven Brackesy – 339,000 (84 BBs)

TABLE 2
1. Matt Stout – 221,500 (55 BBs)
2. Tony Biceglia – 49,500 (12 BBs)
3. Chris Klodnicki – 236,000 (59 BBs)
4. Matt Glantz – 226,500 (56 BBs)
5. Michael Dentale – 250,000 (62 BBs)
6. Lawrence Greenburg – 360,000 (90 BBs)
7. Jack Schanbacher – 483,500 (120 BBs)
8. Dan Colpoys – 51,000 (12 BBs)
9. Christian Harder – 378,500 (94 BBs)

TABLE 3
1. Dan Colman – 43,000 (10 BBs)
2. Daniel Santoro – 331,000 (82 BBs)
3. Lee Markholt – 61,000 (15 BBs)
4. Josh Bergman – 153,000 (38 BBs)
5. Andy Frankenberger – 658,500 (164 BBs)
6. James Frangoulidis – 134,500 (33 BBs)
7. Bernard Lee – 84,000 (21 BBs)
8. Andy Powderly – 76,500 (19 BBs)
9. Allen Kessler – 43,500 (10 BBs)

Day 4 begins Sunday at 12:00 noon ET. Stay tuned to WPT.com for live coverage as they battle it out for the six seats at Tuesday’s televised WPT Final Table.