Sunday Warm-Up: Return trip successful, RibyJl9R wins $96K

The $500,000 guarantee Sunday Warm-Up final table tonight proved once again that experience in these situations seem to go a long way towards banking something special like a Sunday Major title. This week’s champ RibyJl9R was here just last month, and was joined by SCOOP champs and other players who have hit the final table of this tournament. But, the recent success for RibyJl9R allowed the Russian to outlast all 3,074 players to claim the $96,555.00 first place prize.

Two Red Spades managed to weave their way into the cash this evening as Team Online’s Caio Pessagno (253rd place – $448.95) and Team PokerStars Pro Sebastian Ruthenberg (320th place – $362.85) both managed to get into one of the 450 money spots.

13 players would get to enjoy a five minute break after the ninth hour of play and that $96,555.00 first place prize still sitting up top. SCOOP 2013 Event #8-H champ Sobizzle21 was looking to add a Sunday Major title to the SCOOP watch.

Sobizzle21 was not the only one looking for a return to the Sunday Warm-Up final table as RibyJl9R was here just last month. The Russian picked up $48K on July 28th after finishing third here and was coming off the break second in chips.

Not to one-up Sobizzle21 and RibyJl9R but Israel’s orange6 was looking to add a second Sunday Warm-up title having won in May 2012 for $86K and third major title after claiming a SCOOP watch in 2010 at Event #22-L.

With the blinds at 50K/100K ante 10K andrew1963 tried to slide Q♠ 8♠ past Stella948’s A♠ 3♥ for a 1.2 million chip preflop pot. But failed to catch on the 2♥ 5♦ 10♦ K♠ 3♣ board to finish in 11th place ($3,782.25) and starting up hand-for-hand play.

There would be no second Sunday Warm-Up title for orange6 tonight as the Israeli’s tournament came to a swift end. orange6 was just one card away from yet another big time final table but with the blinds at 50K/100K ante 10K a bad beat would shoot down that storyline. After calling Chaz D 87’s 1.2 million chip shove with pocket queens Q♦ Q♥ orange6 watched in horror as the river J♣ 5♥ K♥ J♠ 2♦ brought a deuce to match the two in Chaz D 87’s hand 2♣ 2♠ to steal the 2.6 million chip pot.

Under 300K in chips, orange6’s scraps would be thrown at AliStatus33 on the next hand starting up the final table below:

Seat 1: Stella948 (2485860 in chips)
Seat 2: Sobizzle21 (1985713 in chips)
Seat 3: AliStatus33 (1462378 in chips)
Seat 4: RibyJl9R (5034984 in chips)
Seat 5: Chaz D 87 (2556488 in chips)
Seat 6: da Ape (6819689 in chips)
Seat 7: OTT CANADA (3768738 in chips)
Seat 8: Éles01 (4437714 in chips)
Seat 9: PURSHistik (2198436 in chips)

Cooled then frozen

OTT CANADA had a bit of a harsh leave from tonight’s final table. With the blinds moving up to 65K/130K ante 13K OTT CANADA would min-raise from UTG as Éles01 and da Ape called from the big blind to see a A♥ 6♣ J♣ flop. da Ape checked as OTT CANADA bet 320,320 and Éles01 called as da Ape looked for another money tree to climb. 7♣ on the turn and OTT CANADA check-called a 778,875 chip bet from Éles01. River A♣ OTT CANADA got aggressive again and shoved for 1.66 million as Éles01 snap called with jacks full J♥ J♠ . OTT CANADA’s trips A♠ Q♠ were no good. 480,317 chips left and in the big blind, OTT CANADA would shove that small stack in a lose against Stella948 on the very next hand to finish in ninth place ($4,920.00).

Shot to the ribs

Seven hands later with the blinds holding at 65K/130K ante 13K AliStatus33 tried to open shove for 1.21 million from the button holding 8♦ K♦ . Instead taking the blinds, AliStatus33 got a call from RibyJl9R in the small blind with pocket fives 5♠ 5♥ . Probably the best outcome for AliStatus33’s hand getting a coin flip against the small pair, but the 7♣ J♣ 7♦ 10♣ 6♥ board returned no hits and ended AliStatus33’s tournament in eighth place ($7,687.50).

Is there a half-price sale going on?

It seemed like everyone could not wait to finish this final table with some important shopping to do or grabbing breakfast at McDonald’s before heading out to the office. Just three hands later Sobizzle21 and Chaz D 87 squared off preflop for this 4.2 million chip pot below:

Sobizzle21 was not kidding around with the opening min-raise, turning over big slick K♣ A♣ as Chaz D 87’s A♥ J♠ would be dead after the turned pair of kings 4♦ 6♣ 8♣ K♦ 6♦ ending the night in seventh place ($13,837.50). Certainly no stranger to the Sunday Warm-Up final table as the former champ (December 2012) added yet another big score.

Nine minutes seemed like nine seconds

Trying to keep up with the action tonight has been a tad tough on this writer’s fingers after enjoy my brother’s wedding reception last night as just nine minutes later with the blinds moving up to 80K/160K ante 16K da Ape would lead off with a min-raise as PURSHistik shoved from the cutoff for 1.86 million. Big slick K♥ A♠ worked for Sobizzle21 and it would work again for da Ape as PURSHistik turned over the dominated Q♠ A♦ and could not overcome the deficit on the J♣ K♣ J♦ 9♣ 9♥ board to finish in sixth place ($19,987.50).

And then there were four

Seven hands after PURSHistik’s leave Stella948 would min-raise from the hijack seat as Éles01 shoved 2.22 million from the big blind holding the popular big slick A♦ K♠ . It worked for da Ape but Stella948’s A♠ Q♠ would find a second lady nestled in the middle of the J♥ 9♥ Q♦ J♣ A♥ board to steal the 4.6 million pot and knockout Éles01 in fifth place ($26,328.15).

Time for a Stella

Big slick has played a part in the previous three eliminations. Well, make that four. Shortly after the tenth hourly break with the blinds moving up to 100K/200K ante 20K RibyJl9R would min-raise from the button as Stella948 shoved 3.7 million from the big blind holding 9♠ J♦ . RibyJl9R could comfortably call with big slick K♦ A♣ and this hand was put to bed by the turned two pair 3♥ 6♥ A♥ K♣ 2♦ to send Stella948 off to the pub in fourth place ($35,362.50).

Bizzle busted

Both Sobizzle21 and RibyJl9R made good on their return to the Sunday Warm-Up final table as Sobizzle21 finished in fourth place around Christmas time last year. Today it would be a third place finish as the blinds moved up to 125K/250K ante 25K Sobizzle21 would shove from the button for 3.74 million getting a call from RibyJl9R holding A♠ 10♥ . A flip against Sobizzle21’s pocket threes 3♠ 3♥ turned out just fine for RibyJl9R as a ace laid down on the 8♥ 6♦ 5♣ 5♦ A♣ river to knock out Sobizzle21 in third place ($51,045.00).

Return trip successful

The Russian was just here at the end of last month, but made it count tonight. Heads-up play would only last eight minutes as RibyJl9R never let go of the chip lead. As the blinds stayed the same at 125K/250K ante 25K and increasing the lead for 27.4 million to 3.25 million, da Ape would shove from the button as RibyJl9R made the call. Watch below for RibyJl9R’s title winning hand:

Dominated 9♥ K♥ to RibyJl9R’s A♠ 9♣ da Ape could not find any help on the 6♥ 3♦ 10♦ 9♠ 2♦ board as RibyJl9R took down tonight’s Sunday Warm-up for $96,555.00!

PokerStars $500,000 guarantee Sunday Warm-Up results (08-25-13):

Players entered: 3,075
Places paid: 450
Prizepool: $615,000.00

1. RibyJl9R (Russia) $96,555.00
2. da Ape (Germany) $71,955.00
3. Sobizzle21 (Mexico) $51,045.00
4. Stella948 (Australia) $35,362.50
5. Éles01 (Hungary) $26,328.15
6. PURSHistik (Russia) $19,987.50
7. Chaz D 87 (United Kingdom) $13,837.50
8. AliStatus33 (Canada) $7,687.50
9. OTT CANADA (Canada) $4,920.00

David Aydt is a freelance contributor