Défi Poker de la Silicon Valley

The inaugural Silicon Valley Poker Challenge was held on March 13, 2011 à la baie 101 Casino as a prelude to the 2011 WPT Shooting Star event. Its creator is Brian Reynard, CEO of the Silicon Valley Executive Network (SVEN) who organized the event in conjunction with the World Poker Tour.

Brian Reynard is a native of Silicon Valley and has spent 20+ years in some of the world’s leading high tech companies, including 16 years at Cisco in various management roles. His key focus with the Silicon Valley Executive Network is cross-pollinating the core and most senior elements of the high tech ecosystem to build relationships, clarify the technology landscape, and make a philanthropic impact in the community.

With help from Phil Hellmuth making a call on Brian’s behalf to the World Poker Tour in the Fall of 2010, the event was launched to create a unique gathering that pitted elite poker professionals against the core elements of the Silicon Valley technology ecosystem, consisting of senior level high tech executives, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs.

With a fabulous start to this kick-off event on the eve of the WPT Shooting Star, the Silicon Valley Poker Challenge achieved its goal of camaraderie, competition, and impact in the community. 40 executives from high tech, venture capital, and Silicon Valley startups battled 16 professional players, including Erik Seidel, Phil Hellmuth, Layne Flack, Frank Kassela, Men “The Master” Nguyen, Hoyt Corkin, Kara Scott, Dan Cates, Thomas Marchese, Justin Smith, Gavin Smith, Dwyte Pilgrim, and more. Executives from Facebook, Sony Computer Entertainment, Google, Cisco, McAfee, Stubhub, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Institutional Venture Partners, and many other high tech companies, startups, and venture capital firms were represented. Matt Savage, WPT Tournament Director, oversaw the event with emcee assistance from Phil Hellmuth. The champion that emerged was Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, giving the crystal championship trophy and bragging rights to the technology titans in a battle of pride for Silicon Valley.

D'autres entités clés impliquées dans l'événement étaient le Groupe Albertini, dirigé par la PDG Nancy Albertini, dont la société était le sponsor principal. Le Groupe Albertini propose un mélange tout à fait unique de recherche de cadres et d'investissements en capital-risque (www.albertinigroup.com). Nancy et son mari Steve, lui-même cadre dans le domaine de la haute technologie, sont tous deux de fervents joueurs de poker et ont participé à l'événement.

Also key to organizing and carrying out of the event was BUILD (www.build.com). Founded in 1999, BUILD runs the nation’s largest youth incubators with the mission to use entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged, low-income students through high school to college success.

Silicon Valley Executive Network (SVEN) is a nonprofit, private, invitation-only, business & social network for senior high-tech executives, venture capitalists, and key technologists who make up the core DNA of the tech ecosystem. SVEN also acts as an accelerator for early stage tech companies, and a trusted advisory group to various top tech companies. Formed in 2007, 52 events to date, 250+ executive members. Focus areas are: 1) Traditional IT/Internet, 2) Healthcare, 3) Cleantech/Energy, and 4) Digital Media & Entertainment.

Jack Tretton came into heads-up play with a massive chip advantage, but it was not an easy stroll to the finish line for the Sony Computer Entertainment CEO. His opponent, Mike Scanlin, doubled up twice to keep the match going, but, in the end, Tretton's big stack was too much to overcome.

On the final hand of play, Tretton put Scanlin all-in preflop and Scanlin called with [Qs7h]. Tretton showed [10h6c] and was behind in the hand, but live.

Le [8d6s5c] flop paired Tretton, but also gave Scanlin an open-ended straight draw. The [Jd] on the turn was no help to Scanlin, and the [10c] on the river improved Tretton to two pair to take the pot, ainsi que le tournoi.

Félicitations à Jack Tretton pour être devenu le tout premier champion du Silicon Valley Poker Challenge !

Here are the chip counts heading in to heads-up play, where blinds will begin at 40,000-80,000

Jack Tretton - 1,305,000
Mike Scanlin - 84,000 

Jack Tretton completes the small blind and Steve Metzger moves all-in for an additional 85,000.  Tretton calls with [Kc7c] and Metzger shows [Ad10s].  

The flop comes down [Qd8h5s] and Metzger improves with the [10c] on the turn.  The river brings the [Kd] though, giving Tretton the bigger pair and the pot.  Metzger is eliminated in 3rd place and play pauses briefly to prepare for the trophy presentation.

Jack Tretton - 1,305,000
Steven Metzger - éliminé dans 3ème place

The very next hand after Steve Metzger doubles thru Eric Wamsley, blinds go up to 40,000-80,000 and Wamsley is all-in for less than the amount of the small blind.  Action folds around to Wamsley, who is all-in against Metzger, who is in the big blind with [10h10c].  

Wamsley is behind iwth [5d7d], but does get some hope with the [7h6d3s] flop.  The [6c] on the turn takes away some of Wamsley's outs though and, with the [2h] on the river, he is eliminated in 4ème place.

Steven Metzger - 246,000
Eric Wamsley - éliminé dans 4ème place 

Steve Metzger moves all-in from under the gun for 105,000 and Eric Wamsley calls in the big blind.  Metzgershows [6h6c] and Wamsley trails with [Ad5h].

Le plateau s'épuise [8h3d2h7c5d] and Metzger's sixes hold to double him up to 230,000.  Wamsley, meanwhile, is left with just 16,000 chips. 

Jack Tretton complète le small blind et Andy Raab check son option au big blind.

Le flop arrive [Kd4d3s], Tretton moves all in, he has Raab covered, and Raab calls.  

Tretton has [Ks8d] for top pair, and Raab shows [5h3d] for bottom pair. 

Le tour est le [7d] which gives Raab a gutshot straight draw but the river is the [8h] and Raab is out in 5ème place. 

Jack Tretton - 395,000
Andy Raab - Éliminé en 5e place

With blinds up to 20,000-40,000, Phil Hellmuth moves all-in from middle position with [As6s] and Mike Scanlin calls out of the big blind with [3h3c].

Le plateau s'épuise [9d5d4sKh8h] and Scanlin's treys hold to bust the last remaining poker pro in this event.

Mike Scanlin - 264,000
Phil Hellmuth - éliminé dans 6ème place

Voici le nombre de jetons des six joueurs restants.

Places assises 1: Jack Tretton - 368,500
Places assises 2: Phil Hellmuth - 74,000
Places assises 3: Andy Raab - 74,000
Places assises 4: Eric Wamsley - 108,000
Places assises 5: Steve Metzger - 184,000
Places assises 6: Mike Scanlin - 170,000 

There is a three way all-in between Mike Scanlin, Layne Flack, and Eric Wamsley.  Here is each players' holdings:

Flack - A-8
Wamsley - J-5
Scanlin - 4-4

Votre 5-5-4 flop gives Wamsley trips and Scanlin a boat.  Wamsley has Scanlin covered, so he is not at risk for elimination this hand.  The 2 on the turn gives Flack some hope, as he picks up a wheel draw, but the river is a blank and Flack is eliminated.  Scanlin rakes the main pot and Wansley takes the side pot. 

Phil Hellmuth doubles up when his pocket fours hold up against another players' pocket deuces.  He's now up to nearly 90,000. 

Eric Wamsley moves all-in from early position for around 100,000 and Oleg Nodelman calls all-in behind him for his last 20,000 or so.  Phil Hellmuth is in the big blind and has only 36,000 derrière la 20,000-chip forced bet.  He looks at his cards and tells the table, "This is a real San Francisco hand."

Hellmuth then turns over [4h9d] and thinks another minute or so before folding.   

Wamsley shows [AcKs] and Nodelman is drawing thin with [KdJs].  The board runs out [AhAd3d3s9c] and Wamsley makes a full house to eliminate his opponent and take the pot.

Eric Wamsley - 145,000
Phil Hellmuth - 36,000
Oleg Nodelman - éliminé dans 8ème place

 Jack Tretton increases his massive chiplead by eliminating Norm Fogolsong in 10th place. Tretton is now up to 430,000. 

Here are the chip counts and seat assignments for the final table. When play resumes, blinds will be at 10,000/20,000:

Places assises 1: Oleg Nodelman - 20,000
Places assises 2: Layne Flack - 85,000
Places assises 3: Brian Reynard - 43,000
Places assises 4: Norm Fogelsong - 45,000
Places assises 5: Jack Tretton - 275,000
Places assises 6: Phil Hellmuth - 43,000
Places assises 7: Andy Raab - 125,000
Places assises 8: Eric Wamsley - 130,000
Places assises 9 - Steve Metzger - 100,000
Places assises 10: Mike Scanlin - 44,000

Shortly after doubling up Andy Raab, Dan Cates gets the remainder of his short stack all-in holding 4-6 to Wamsley's A-2.  Two aces on the flop leave Cates drawing slim, though he picks up a flush draw on the turn.  The river is a blank and Cates is eliminated in 11ème place.

Après son élimination, le jeu est interrompu afin que les dix derniers joueurs puissent redessiner leurs sièges pour la table finale.

Dan Cates and Andy Raab get it all-in preflop with Cates holding A-10 to Raab's [AdQd].  The J-4-2 flop brings two diamonds, giving Raab a flush draw.  Cates still has three outs though, as he holds the [10d].  The turn brings an off suit eight  and the river the [7d], completing Raab's flush and doubling him up.

Steve Metzger raises out of the small blind and Joe Sebok reraises all-in for 43,000 out of the big blind.  Metzger has him covered exactly and calls with [7h7c].  Sebok shows [10h2s].

Le plateau est épuisé [Kd3d3cQsJd] and Metzger's sevens hold to eliminate Sebok. 

Steve Metzger - 100,000
Joe Sebok - éliminée

Dwyte Pilgrim, Brian York et Steve Metzger font tapis préflop, Pilgrim couvrant les deux autres joueurs. Voici ce que possède chaque joueur :

Dwyte Pulgrim - [AdKd]
Brian York - [Ks3s]
Steve Metzger - [KhKc]

Metzger's wife, Nancy Albertini, approaches the table and scolds Pilgrim for getting it all-in against her husband.

Le pèlerin proteste : « Il m'a appelé !

It was a good board for Metzger, as the board runs out [7s5h3hQh9d].  His kings hold and York is eliminated, while Pilgrim is crippled.

Pilgrim est éliminé quelques mains plus tard et part à la recherche d'une télé diffusant son épisode du WPT.

Maria Ho, Phil Hellmuth et Mark Tonnesen font chacun tapis préflop avec les mains suivantes :

Ho - [Kh10d]
Hellmuth - [3s3d]
Tonneson - [Ah2h]

Tonneson has both players covered and Ho is the short stack.  The board runs out [7h5c4sQsQh] and Hellmuth's treys hold to nearly triple him up and eliminate Ho in the process.

Hellmth celebrates by telling the table, "Ship it!  Ship it holla back y'all!"

Phil Hellmuth - 15,000
Maria Ho- éliminée