Ivo Donev raised on the button and Sherkhan Farnood called. The flop was . Farnood checked, Donev bet, Farnood raised and Donev called. The turn came the and both players checked. The river brought the . Farnood bet, Donev raised and Farnood made what looked like a reluctant call.
Farnood brought it in, Donev completed, Farnood raised and Donev called. On fourth street Donev bet and Farnood called. Farnood made an open pair of deuces on fifth street and led out, Donev raised and Farnood called. Sixth street was met with a check from Farnood and a bet from Donev. After a few moments of consideration, Farnood mucked, conceding the pot to Donev.
Farnood is down to 394,000 while Donev is up to 708,000.
With just 27,000 in chips, I lurked over the shoulder of Howard Lederer, notepad poised as I awaited his exit like a bloodthirsty vulture.
The first hand he survived, whipping up the antes early doors by making it 12,000 with the showing. Ivo Donev seemed tempted with the , but ultimately conceded his hand.
On the next hand, Lederer made the same move, bumping it up to 12,000 with the showing. This time, however, his opponents were less accommodating.
Howard Lederer =
Sherkhan Farnood =
Ivo Donev =
After Lederer had made it 12,000, Farnood reraised to 24,000, Donev called, Lederer pushed for 9,000 more, Farnood raised again (he sought permission first), and Donev called.
"Good luck, my friend," said Farnood as Lederer sat back in his seat.
Fourth street: Farnood bet 12,000, Donev called.
Fifth street: Both players checked.
Sixth street: Farnood led for 24,000, and Donev called.
Seventh street: Check, check.
With Lederer's sweet nothings to the Poker Gods falling on deaf ears, the remaining two players chopped the pot, with Farnood showing and two pair for the high, and Donev tabling and a 2-4-5-6-8 for the low. Lederer mucked.
Howard Lederer had the bring-in, Sherkhan Farnood completed, Ivo Donev folded and Lederer called. Farnood led out on fourth and fifth streets and Lederer called. Sixth street brought a check from Farnood, a bet from Lederer, and a call from Farnood. Both players checked seventh street.
Farnood rolled over for a pair of eights. Lederer looked back at his hand resignedly and mucked. Farnood dragged the pot, leaving Lederer with only 22,000 in chips.
Lederer seems to have stumbled upon frustrating times, perhaps the early hour even getting to The Professor as fatigue finally begins to settle in. The last hand with Ivo Donev was just one of a handful of recent encounters that didn't go his way:
Donev =
Lederer =
Fourth street: Lederer bet 12,000, Donev called.
Fifth street: Both players checked.
Sixth street: Lederer bet 24,000, Donev raised to 48,000, Lederer called.
On the final street, Donev came out firing to the tune of 24,000, only for Lederer to grimace, blow out his cheeks and make what appeared to be a very reluctant call indeed. His negative vibes were sadly justified as Donev revealed for the straight.
Lederer quickly mucked and is now the current short stack with 135,000.