The format for the All-Star Showdown is a variation at the SuperStar Showdowns of old, with the matches requiring players to play four heads-up cash sessions simultaneously. However, unlike within the SuperStar Showdowns where the matches would end after 2,500 hands despite the fact that a player hadn't busted, each All-Star Showdown match will continue until one player has won every last chip from his opponent.
The game is no-limit hold'em, with blinds of $50/$100. Each player is bringing $100,000 of his own money to the match (i.e., 1,000 big blinds). If the pair have the capacity to get through 3,000 hands without one busting, the blinds could be increased to $100/$200 to accelerate the method.
Eight players, including new Team PokerStars Online member Isaac "IkeHaxton" Haxton -- are participating on this first All-Star Showdown. A draw determined the brackets for the single-elimination tournament. Here's the whole schedule:
Quarterfinals27 October: Tobias "KTPOKP" Kuder vs. Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky28 October: Alex "Kanu7" Millar vs. Isaac "IkeHaxton" Haxton30 October: Alexander "Sussie Smith" Roumeliotis vs. Dan "w00ki3z." Cates31 October: Phil "mrsweets28" Galfond vs. Ben "ben86" Tollerene
Semifinals2 November: Semifinal 1 (27 October winner vs. 28 October winner)3 November: Semifinal 2 (30 October winner vs. 31 October winner)
Final4 November: The All-Star Showdown final
Saturday's first quarterfinal match pitted the SuperNova Tobias "KTPOKP" Kuder of Austria against Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky playing from Canada. Like everyone else within the All-Star Showdown, both will also be regularly found on the high-stakes tables at PokerStars, with Sulsky having additional renown for having some huge online tourney scores under his belt. Most notably, last May Sulsky took down SCOOP #37-H, the $21,000 buy-in heads-up NLHE event, an eyebrow-raising resume-builder for the All-Star Showdown.
Kuder and Sulsky took seats on the four "All-Star Showdown" tables prior to 18:00 CET, and exchanged some friendly chat regarding previous heads-up encounters they'd had.
KTPOKP: gl gl Sauce123: gl, hfKTPOKP: u2Sauce123: txSauce123: hopefully our previous matches arent indicative of today :PKTPOKP: i am hoping so :)
Soon play was underway!
Hour 1 (Hands 1-310)
Players started with stacks of $10,000 (100 big blinds) at each table, automatically topping off back as much as $10K in the event that they dipped below. Resetting of stacks would occur in addition to verify players would have no less than $10K with which to play, until after all one started to run too low along with his reserve funds to do so.
The pair traded small pots through the early going, with Sauce123 pushing to a $4,406 profit over the primary 52 hands to snatch an early advantage.
The lead quickly moved back to KTPOKP, however, in a hand on Table 1. In that one the flop brought Sulsky top pair of nines and Kuder the nut flush draw. The flush never came, but an ace at the river gave KTPOKP the simpler pair, so when Sulsky shoved the river Kuder called to win a $20,000 pot. Take a look:
Moments later, Sulsky rebought and doubled up himself on the same table in a hand by which both players flopped trip fives, however the turn gave Sauce123 a whole house. Advantage back to Sulsky.
Kuder recovered, edging in front on all the the opposite three tables, and after 103 hands Sauce123's lead was just $1,323.
Over the following 50 hands or so -- played at a clip of about five hands per minute -- the lead remained concerning the same. Sauce123 then swiftly grabbed a chain of medium-sized pots to widen his result in about $20,000, but KTPOKP was in a position to carve back some in a preflop all-in by which Sulsky held J♦J♥ and Kuder A♣K♣. An ace flopped, KTPOKP's hand held, and after 202 hands Sulsky led by $12,329.
KTPOKP grabbed a couple of more chips back over the following 100 hands, gradually closing the distance back under $6,000. When the match reached the one-hour mark the pair took their first five-minute break, and with 310 hands within the books, Sulsky still led by $5,724.
52 hands: Sauce123 +$4,406103 hands: Sauce123 +$1,323156 hands: Sauce123 +$658202 hands: Sauce123 +$12,329250 hands: Sauce123 +$8,179310 hands: Sauce123 +$5,724
Hour 2 (Hands 311-605)
The first 10 minutes of the second one hour went rather well for Sulsky, highlighted by a $13,200 pot won in a hand on Table 4 during which Sauce123 held A♦K♥, flopped a king, and managed to gather a few post-flop streets' worth of value. That one helped push Sulsky's lead up around $25,000.
Kuder soon got those chips back and some more, however, in a hand on the same table wherein KTPOKP got all of it in at the turn with the board showing 9♥2♥J♠3♥. Kuder held J♥5♥ for a flush while Sulsky had 2♣2♠ for bottom set, and when the river brought a harmless king, KTPOKP had earned a $20,510 pot.
Undeterred, Sulsky kept pushing and grabbing small and medium pots, and by the point they crossed the 400-hand mark he had again pushed his profit up just about $20,000.
The aggression from both players started to increase, with more four-bets before the flop and several other back-and-forth battles over pots after. Sulsky continued so as to add to his stacks, leading significantly on three of 4 tables while Kuder had a small edge on Table 4.
In a hand on Table 3, they'd reach the river with the pot $3,400 and the board showing 2♣K♠7♣5♦Q♦. KTPOKP took a $2,500 stab on the pot, but Sauce123 raised all in, forcing a tank and fold from his opponent. The lead had moved up over $30K.
Sulsky then won an enormous $24K-plus pot during which he called a Kuder river shove with the board showing J♠9♥4♣K♥4♠. KTPOKP had A♦T♥ for ace-high and had hoped to earn a fold, but he'd run into Sulsky's Q♦T♦ -- a king-high straight.
They crossed the 500-hand mark, with Sauce123's lead having moved up around $45K. Way to the topping off, the entire amount of cash spread around the four tables was up over $150,000, with nearly two-thirds of that sitting in Sulsky's stacks.
The second hour soon came to a close, with Sauce123 still comfortably in front.
352 hands: Sauce123 +$15,420401 hands: Sauce123 +$19,488452 hands: Sauce123 +$30,123480 hands: Sauce123 +$40,182499 hands: Sauce123 +$45,254507 hands: Sauce123 +$41,999555 hands: Sauce123 +$37,370605 hands: Sauce123 +$40,092
Hour 3 (Hands 606-890)
The third hour began with Sulsky continuing to press his advantage, pushing his lead up over $50,000 at one point.
There was numerous action on Table 3 to begin Hour #3. First Sulsky won an $18K-plus pot after turning trip fours versus Kuder's top pair of kings. Then Sulsky gave those chips back in a few $10K pots when Kuder flopped two pair in one, then in another was dealt pocket queens and saw his hand hold up.
Kuder then earned an almost $20K pot on Table 1 in a hand through which he three-bet from the small blind preflop, Sulsky called, and the flop came 2♦3♥6♣. Both checked, then after the 7♣ turn KTPOKP bet $1,400 and Sauce123 called.
The river brought the 3♠ and of venture of $1,500 by Kuder into the $4,400 pot. Sulsky raised to $7,500 and Kuder called. KTPOKP showed J♥J♠ for jacks and treys, which was good versus Sulsky's K♦2♣.
After that hand, KTPOKP actually led on two of the four tables, but Sauce123 maintained a greater than $30K advantage overall.
Table 3 was the positioning of still more action, with an enormous hand wherein the board brought three tens and an ace and large betting at the river to place KTPOKP all in. Sauce123 held an ace for tens full, but KTPOKP had the case ten in his hand for quads. Take a look:
"Nh," typed Sauce123 afterwards, adding "should fold river u have quads."
The lead was suddenly backpedal under $20K. The space would tighten much more after another nearly $25K pot went KTPOKP's way on Table 1 in a hand by which both players flopped two pair, but Kuder's were better.
They were nearing the top of the third hour when what would ultimately prove the most important pot of all the day arose, another time on Table 3 where the effective stacks had risen to greater than 240 big blinds.
After a gap raise by Sauce123 to $200 from the button, KTPOKP reraised to $800 and Sauce123 called. The flop came J♦K♦4♠ and KTPOKP check-called a chance of $1,200 from Sauce123. The turn was the 5♣ and again Kuder checked. Sulsky bet $3,200 this time, and Kuder called.
The river was the 2♦. Kuder checked once more, and this time Sulsky pushed out a large bet of $14,400 and Kuder called. Sauce123 showed 9♦7♦ for a diamond flush, and KTPOKP mucked because the $39,200 pot slid Sulsky's way.
Not long after that one, KTPOKP managed a snappy double-up at the same table after flopping a suite of fives, and the pair soon reached the three-hour break.
670 hands: Sauce123 +$30,267704 hands: Sauce123 +$33,271729 hands: Sauce123 +$18,984771 hands: Sauce123 +$16,341800 hands: Sauce123 +$18,241838 hands: Sauce123 +$32,246890 hands: Sauce123 +$22,341
Hour 4 (Hands 891-1,159)
Another five-minute break passed, and the pair were soon back at it.
Sulsky started the fourth hour at the right foot, swiftly snaring a $22,200 pot on Table 1 after turning a flush to nudge his lead back over $30K. A HURRY of pots then went Sauce123's way on Table 2, and because they crossed the 1,000-hand mark Sulsky's lead had ballooned back up over $50,000.
Still more went Sulsky's way in a hand that saw KTPOKP three-bet preflop, then check-call all three post-flop streets as the board came Q♠K♣J♦6♠2♣. KTPOKP showed A♠A♥, but Sauce123 had flopped a straight with T♠9♠ and claimed another $20K-plus pot.
Gradually KTPOKP's overall total fell down close $40,000, and play was halted on Table 3 as a way to ensure Kuder could keep battling with a minimum of $10,000 on all of the other three tables.
An all-in preflop situation soon arose on Table 2 wherein KTPOKP picked up A♥K♦ but unfortunately for him Sauce123 were dealt A♦A♠. Five cards later, Sulsky had added still more to his stack.
With Kuder right down to around $30,000, Table 2 was thus halted, and shortly the fourth hour concluded with play continuing on two of the four tables.
941 hands: Sauce123 +$29,791993 hands: Sauce123 +$52,8601,016 hands: Sauce123 +$51,1601,072 hands: Sauce123 +$54,8601,108 hands: Sauce123 +$55,7351,126 hands: Sauce123 +$63,4351,133 hands: Sauce123 +$73,5351,159 hands: Sauce123 +$68,785
Hour 5 (Hands 1,160-1,354)
The fifth hour began with KTPOKP chipping up enough to reopen a 3rd table.
A preflop all-in soon followed on Table 4 with KTPOKP holding Q♦Q♠ against Sauce123's T♥T♠. A queen flopped, KTPOKP's hand held, and Kuder earned a timely boost to his comeback efforts.
That hand pushed Kuder back up over $40,000 total, and the fourth table was opened again. KTPOKP's success swiftly hit a wall, however, after running A♣K♠ into Sauce123's K♥K♦ and losing all of his stack on Table 2. The flop brought the case king but in addition a gutshot to Broadway for Kuder. However, the turn and river bricked out and a $24K-plus pot went to Sulsky.
Sauce123 would soon grab eight straight small pots on Table 3 to force KTPOKP from his seat there, they usually were back off to 2 tables.
Soon all-in river push by Sauce123 on a K♦A♣6♠6♥9♥ board on Table 1 was called by KTPOKP. The latter showed A♦4♥ for aces and sixes, but Sulsky had A♠A♥ for a whole house and another $20K pot. That table closed, and so they were right down to just one.
Kuder had lower than $10K, and Sulsky took to the chat box to peer if his opponent could be able to gamble the remaining away.
Sauce123: wish to flip ? Sauce123: one table boringKTPOKP: no..why should i do this?Sauce123: fine, ill just play bad instead
Kuder battled gamely, earning a double-up in a hand wherein both players flopped top pair of queens, but Kuder had the easier kicker.
Sulsky continued to speak about flipping, noting that a big pot-limit Omaha game was running. "you'll fold every hand and play plo instead," answered KTPOKP. "i do not care."
Play continued, with Sulsky in truth joining a few $200/$400 PLO tables because it did. In a single hand, Sulsky installed a four-bet preflop, and after a protracted pause Kuder shoved all in, forcing a handy guide a rough fold from Sauce123. But KTPOKP mostly kept out of harm's way while preserving his remaining chips.
Slowly but surely, Sauce123 edged to a bonus at the lone remaining table because the next hourly break arrived.
1,201 hands: Sauce123 +$57,6351,237 hands: Sauce123 +$73,4851,264 hands: Sauce123 +$91,5851,273 hands: Sauce123 +$82,5701,345 hands: Sauce123 +$86,3891,354 hands: Sauce123 +$87,689
Hour 6 (Hands 1,355-1,457)
Play resumed, and shortly KTPOKP was backpedal as regards to $11,000.
They reached the river in a hand by which the Kuder three-bet before the flop, then led with bets at the flop and switch because the board came 3♠Q♣9♦2♦. The river brought the 6♣ and a shove from Kuder, and after thinking just a little Sulsky let his hand go.
Another hand arose wherein Sulsky raised Kuder's river bet with the board showing J♣J♥A♦7♣2♥ and after some thought Kuder called. Sauce123 showed 7♠2♣ (jacks and sevens) while KTPOKP turned over J♦T♠ for trip jacks.
Alluding to Sulsky's PLO game -- and maybe their hand strengths in that just concluded hand -- Kuder started typing:
KTPOKP: this isn't omahaSauce123: nhKPTOKP: we're playing holdem hereSauce123: oh ****KTPOKP: only for your notice
Kuder had built a stack up as regards to $20,000, meaning despite being down within the match he had an edge on the table as Sulsky had but about half that quantity in play.
At in regards to the five-and-a-half-hour mark, a comparatively big hand finally developed that swung the advantage back to Sauce123.
Following a preflop three-bet by Sulsky, the flop came monotone -- K♠3♠T♠ -- and Sulsky check-raised a big gamble from Kuder. The turn brought the T♣ and a $3,000 bet from Sauce123, called by KTPOKP. The river was the 9♣, and after hesitating a moment, Sulsky shoved, and KTPOKP let it go.
Sulsky kept leaning on Kuder, and before long had the Austrian down under $5,000. But Kuder would double that during a hand by which both players flopped flushes, but KTPOKP's ace-high flush beat the jack-high one among Sauce123.
They were only a minute or so shy of the the six-hour mark when the top finally arrived at the 1,457th hand of the match.
Sauce123 started it with a raise to $200 from the button, with KTPOKP coming back with a three-bet to $700 which Sulsky called. The flop came K♦2♠Q♦. KTPOKP bet $800, and Sauce123 called. The turn then brought the 7♠ and action. KTPOKP initially checked, and when Sauce123 fired $2,000, Kuder check-raised all in for $7,972 and Sulsky quickly called.
Sauce123: K♣6♣KTPOKP: K♠J♠
Kings for both, with Kuder enjoying the easier kicker (plus a flush draw). However the river brought the 6♥, delivering a second pair to Sulsky together with the last of his opponent's money.
1,427 hands: Sauce123 +$88,2781,457 hands: Sauce123 +$100,000
Congratulations to Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky for winning the primary of 4 quarterfinal matches within the first ever All-Star Showdown, essentially leading from start-to-finish! Sulsky will play the winner of tomorrow's match between Alex "Kanu7" Millar vs Team PokerStars Online member Isaac "IkeHaxton" Haxton.
We'll be back tomorrow here on the PokerStars blog for coverage of that match. We'll even have reports for the entire other remaining matches within the All-Star Showdown, too, so stay tuned!
Martin Harris is a contract Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: All Star Showdown]
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