PartyPoker Premier League VI - Duhamel Wins First Round of Group A

Between 17 and 23 March, the $125,000 PartyPoker Premier League VI championship is taking place at the Aspers Cino. The format of the League is the same as last year: 16 players take turns in two groups of eight, taking four rounds (i.e. SNGs) for points. In addition to the points for the finishes, $2,000 cash is rewarded for each point in each round, while $10,000 is rewarded per point in the finale.

The following points are rewarded for the different finishes:

Winner: 16 points
Runner-up: 11 points
3rd place: 8 points
4th place: 6 points
5th place: 4 points
6th place: 3 points
7th place: 2 points
8th place: 0 points

Following the four rounds, the top three players of each group advance to the finale, while the 4th and 5th place finishers play heads-up matches for the remaining places.


The following groups have been formed with a draw:

Group A

Daniel Negreanu
Scott Seiver
Jonathan Duhamel
Antonio Esfandiari
Sam Trickett
Phil Hellmuth
Daniel "Jungleman" Cates
Marvin Rettenmaier

Group B

Jason Mercier
Talal Shakerchi
Igor Kurganov
Jennifer Tilly
Tobias Reinkemeier
Tony G
Phil Laak
Dan Shak

Round 1 of Group A was held on 17 March: players started with 300,000 in chips, the blinds launched from 1,000/2,000 and rose in each 21 hands. First out was 2012 champion Scott Seiver, who shoved with jacks on Antonio Esfandiari’s 14,000 early open. Esfandiari called and showed A-K on the board with both an A and a K.

Daniel Cates finished in 7th place, going all-in with J-9s and only 8 BBs and running into Daniel Negreanu’s A-high hand on the neutral board. Soon, Esfandiari was eliminated as well: on Jonathan Duhamel’s 25,000 open, he 3-bet to 56,000, Sam Trickett 4-bet to 113,000, Duhamel folded and Esfandiari shoved with 401,000 on pocket queens. Trickett’s tens improved to a set.

After eliminating Phil Hellmuth in 5th place, Negreanu was soon railed as well, running all-in with A Q on the 6 5 T flop. His fellow countryman Duhamel called with K T , the turn came 4 and the river was T .

The 2,000/8,000/16,000 Level was kicked off with the following stacks:

Jonathan Duhamel – 913,000
Sam Trickett – 853,000
Marvin Rettenmaier – 634,000

Marvin Rettenmaier managed to get ahead of Trickett but the Brit doubled up on him in turn, with a ten-high straight against the German’s jacks. Rettenmaier was left with 187,000 in chips, which he pushed to the middle on an A-4 hand. Trickett called with A-8 and won.

Sam Trickett – 1.476.000
Jonathan Duhamel – 924.000

The heads-up brought about a huge clash between the two pros: Trickett increased his edge first but Duhamel doubled up on him twice. Trickett regained the lead by doubling up himself but Duhamel managed to force his will upon his opponent and Trickett was far behind by the last hand. The 2010 World Champion opened to 80,000, Trickett shoved with 777,000 and Duhamel called.

Trickett: K J
Duhamel: A 9

Board: T 3 A 7 7

Duhamel had two pairs and the victory in Round 1.

Group A standings are currently as follows:

1st: Jonathan Duhamel, 16 points ($32,000)
2nd: Sam Trickett, 11 points ($22,000)
3rd: Marvin Rettenmaier, 8 points ($16,000)
4th: Daniel Negreanu, 6 points ($12,000)
5th: Phil Hellmuth, 4 points ($8,000)
6th: Antonio Esfandiari, 3 points ($6,000)
7th: Daniel Cates, 2 points ($4,000)
8th: Scott Seiver, 0 points

Prizes:

1. $450,000
2. $200,000
3. $150,000
4. $125,000
5. $100,000
6. $70,000
7. $60,000
8. $45,000