Andy Bloch Wins Seat to Pro-Am Final

He Plays for $500,000 Thursday

Today’s first heat of the Pro-Am Equalizer poker tournament series at the South Coast Casino in Las Vegas, provided another solid performance by the “amateurs” at the table, but in the end, it was a pro who took down the coveted spot at the final table. Actors Shannon Elizabeth and Don Cheadle joined Erik Seidel, Gavin Smith, Gabe Kaplan, and Andy Bloch in today’s early action.

Things started out quickly as Gavin Smith saw the first four hands without a moment of hesitation. This prompted the wise and comedic sage Kaplan to comment, “You going to play every hand?” To which Smith responded, “Only the ones I’m dealt.”

Although Smith showed no fear from the start despite the talent at the table, his plan back-fired and he was the first to exit. Luckily surviving a chop with Andy Bloch, Smith busted when he moved in for $40,000 (leaving him with $1,000) against Gabe Kaplan with pocket nines. Kaplan called with AK of diamonds and Kaplan spiked a king on the flop and a king on the turn to leave Smith crippled. Two hands later, Smith was gone.

Actress and “Friend” of Full Tilt, Shannon Elizabeth was next to go when her pocket sevens ran into Seidel’s pocket eights. Elizabeth was very aggressive throughout the match, but her luck ran out when she ran into two hands with Gabe Kaplan, who hit a full house, and Seidel’s eights.

The next player to bow out was Gabe Kaplan. Kaplan led the table in conversation, but was short-stacked throughout most of the match. After doubling up through Shannon Elizabeth, things looked as though they had changed for Kaplan, but it simply wasn’t meant to be for the former television star that has turned to poker announcing more recently. According to Kaplan in the post-match interview, “It all comes down to the cards and I didn’t catch them.”

After Kaplan’s departure, Bloch began showing why he is one of the game’s elite players, dominating the majority of hands with flawless reads and working cards. This didn’t however stop the often quiet Seidel from interacting with Cheadle, who kept things light at the table with his wit. When told by the famous actor not to covet his chips, Seidel responded, “Perish the thought.”

Despite the humor being displayed at the table, Bloch was all business when he took a commanding chip lead by beating Seidel’s A-10 with his pocket fours. Bloch flopped a four, annihilating Seidel’s chip count. Several hands later Seidel was eliminated by Cheadle. According to Seidel, “As the tournament goes on you have to gamble more and take some chances and I thought I had Andy, but I was wrong.”

The heads up battle between Bloch and Cheadle saw consistent play by both players for the first half of their mano-a-mano action, with neither player being willing to throw all their chips in the middle quickly. Action continued as the two talked back and forth about the rigors of their different jobs, with each of them seeming to want to try doing the other’s job.

As blinds increased to $12,000-$24,000, both players continued their tight play, but in the end, it was Bloch who took home the seat. Bloch’s 7-3 won as he hit two threes on the flop, defeating Cheadle’s 9-5.

The show will air on ABC weekends starting Nov. 11, for a total of 14 hours of poker action. The broadcast schedule is as follows (all times are EST): Sat. Nov. 11, 2-3 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 12, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Sat. Nov. 18, 2-3 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 19, 4-6 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 3, 4-6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 17, 1-3 p.m.; and the final takes place Saturday, Dec. 23, 2-4 p.m.
courtesy of cardplayer.com

News Added: 28 September, 2006

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