Madsen still going strong in San Jose

Jeff Madsen is the chip leader with $706,000 after Day 2 of the Bay 101 Shooting Star in San Jose. On his way to taking the lead in the World Poker Tour (WPT) tournament, Madsen knocked out the defending champion Nam Le.

Nam Le was desperately short-stacked and got called by three opponents, including Jeff Madsen, when he moved all-in pre-flop. The flop showed Ac-Ad-6s, and Madsen scared the other two players away with a sizeable bet.

Of course, it wasn't a bluff. Madsen flipped over As-4c, and Nam Le found himself drawing dead with Qc-4h in his hand. Madsen had eliminated the defending champ and got $5,000 and an "I busted Nam Le" t-shirt as a reward.

Otherwise Joe Sebok, who is in second place behind Madsen, made the most spectacular play of the day. Just after the bubble had burst, Sebok eliminated two players in one hand when his pocket kings held up against A-3 and J-J.

Bill Edler, James Van Alstyne, Hans "Tuna" Lund, David Williams, Lee Markholt, Ted Forrest, and Erik Seidel, are other big names who are still in contention in the WPT tournament.

Among the eliminated on Day 2: Kenna James, Barry Greenstein, J.C. Tran, Scotty Nguyen, Allen Cunningham, Paul McCaffrey, Isabelle Mercier, Robert Williamson III, and Peter Feldman.

Isabelle Mercier took the worst beat of the day when her pocket aces were cracked by David Ong's ace-king. Ong, who has earned himself the nick-name "Bounty Killa", caught a runner-runner straight to make Mercier his third "Shooting Star" casualty of the event.

courtesy of Erik Sylven

News Added: 15 March, 2007

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