On the first hand of heads-up play this tournament is over!

Erik Seidel raises to $260,000 on the button and Robert Richardson makes the call. The flop comes A K 9 and Richardson checks to Seidel, who bets out $300,000. Richardson thinks for a minute before he makes the call; the turn is the 8. Richardson moves all-in for his last $1,275,000 and Seidel looks down at his cards before making the call and turning up A J to Richardson's 9 7.

The Gentle Giant needs only to dodge a nine or a seven to win his first World Poker Tour title and after the river card is the K he has done it, capturing the Foxwoods Poker Classic after a marathon final table!

For the win, Seidel takes home $967,390, an entry into the WPT World Championship in a couple of weeks, a vase and the honor of an exclusive PokerListings.com interview, while runner-up Robert Richardson earns $558,792. Congratulations to both finalists!

The women have been found and the money dumped and we're heads-up from Foxwoods. Here are the chip counts as we resume play in the Grand Ballroom:

Erik Seidel	$8,530,000
Robert Richardson	$1,850,000

 

As the WPT producers scramble to find enough scantily clad women at this late hour to make up the required bevy for the money presentation, Erik Seidel and Robert Richardson are taking a quick break and so are we. Action will resume shortly, we hope.

It was bound to happen. Andrew Barta played with fire one too many times and finally, as the saying goes, was burned. Barta had moved all-in indiscriminately over the course of the last level, taking down the blinds and antes with massive overshoves as his opponents bided their time waiting for the right hand with which to pick him off.

In Barta's climactic hand, Erik Seidel raised to $280,000 on the button and saw Barta move all-in for a total of $4,160,000. Seidel quickly called off his last $4,130,000 and turned up J J to Barta's A Q. Seidel was racing for his tournament life.

The flop came J 6 3 and Seidel flopped a set to make him the massive favorite. The 5 on the turn sealed the deal and after the river was the 6, Seidel had doubled through Barta to take over the chip lead and cripple his counterpart, who was left with only $30,000 to his name.

On the next hand, Robert Richardson limped from the button with Barta all-in in the small blind and Erik Seidel checked his option. Seidel and Richardson checked down the 8 5 4 J J board and Seidel showed A-Q to take the side pot over Richardson's Q-6. Barta could only muster Q-10 and was eliminated, out in third place for a $281,011 payout.

 

Erik Seidel raises to $280,000 in the small blind and Robert Richardson moves all-in over the top for his last $1,540,000. Seidel thinks, but not that long, before making the call with A J and he's in dominating position against Richardson's A T. The flop comes 9 8 5 and Seidel takes away one of Richardson's outs. The turn is the 5 and Richardson regains some outs for the chop, and the river is the 9 leading to exactly that. The players chop the pot and we continue play three-handed.

It's 10 minutes after three in the morning in the Grand Ballroom at Foxwoods and the two players not named Erik Seidel seem to have hit a wall. Despite still holding about $2.5 million per man and being quite deep-stacked for this stage of the tournament, both Andrew Barta and Robert Richardson have abandoned all pretense of strategy and are moving all-in pre-flop every hand.

Andrew Barta summed it up thus as he waited for Richardson to decide whether or not to call (he didn't): "It's the best scenario, because the other player has enough chips to play with Erik heads-up."

The argument has thus far failed to sway Richardson, though Barta has moved in on almost every hand since the return from the last TV timeout.

Erik Seidel had chipped up, taking a lead on Robert Richardson and Andrew Barta, before giving at least a little back.

In a recent hand Seidel made it $280k to go from the small blind and Richardson pushed all-in. Those looking for action would not find it here, though, as Seidel folded.

The very next hand Seidel made it $275k, Richardson moved in again and both Barta and Seidel folded. As it stands right now, Sedel has $5 million and Barta and Richardson $2.5 million each.

The blinds are up; hopefully we'll see a little more action at this level.

 

Robert Richardson and Andrew Barta see a flop come Q 7 3 and both players check. The turn is the 5 and Barta bets out $175,000. Richardson raises to $300,000 and Barta makes the call. The river is the A and both players check, with Richardson showing 6-4 for the seven-high straight to take the pot.

Seidel Checks to Victory!

All three players see the flop come 7 4 3 and the action checks around. The turn is the 5 and Richardson and Barta check to Seidel, who bets out $150,000. Richardson makes the call and the river is the 9, prompting checks from both players. Richardson has 10-5 for a pair of fives but Seidel has A 2 for the wheel and he takes it.

Andrew All-in

Robert Richardson raises to $240,000 and Andrew Barta moves all-in for another $2.6 million. The action folds around and Barta takes the pot.

Play has ground to a complete halt here at Foxwoods. With all three players deep-stacked and a in a dead heat they seem unwilling to gamble at this point. PL.com has resorted to praying for rain. Not sure if it'll help but that's our plan.

Here's the chip counts:

1. Erik Seidel	$3,790,000
2. Andrew Barta	$3,425,000
3. Robert Richardson	$3,165,000

 

Robert Richardson limps from the small blind and Andrew Barta raises to $160,000 in the big blind. Richardson calls and the flop comes A 8 7. Both players check and the turn is the K. Richardson checks and Barta bets out $100,000. Richardson calls and the river is the Q. Both players check again and Barta shows A T. It's good for the pot.

Again!

Barta limps-in from the small blind and Seidel checks in the big blind. The flop comes A Q 3 and both players check. The turn is the 5 and Barta bets out $100,000. Seidel calls and the river is the 6. Again, Barta bets out $100,00 and Seidel calls. Barta shows 6-5 for two pair and takes the pot.

Richardson Shoves!

Andrew Barta raises to $150,000 on the button and Robert Richardson moves all-in from the big blind. Barta ruminates for a moment or two before telling his opponent, "You folded to so many of my all-ins; I'll fold this time.#

Richardson Leaves Value Town

Robert Richardson and Erik Seidel see a flop come Q 7 3. Seidel bets out $130,000 and Richardson makes the call. The turn is the 6 and Seidel bets out $400,000. Richardson calls and the river is the Q, prompting both players to check - Richardson inexplicably, as it turns out, as he turns up Q 5 for trips. It's good for the pot.

After pushing all in again and again, somebody finally called Andrew Barta down.

The action in the hand began when Robert Richardson raised to $120k pre flop and geot the call from Barta. On the 4 9 Q flop Richardson bet another $200k and, once again, Barta shoved all in.

After finding out the bet was $1,215,000 Richardson made the massive call. Barta had the Q 9 for two pair and Richardson the K Q. The turn is the 6 and Richardson could only win with a king. The river wasn't one as the 10 fell and Barta doubled up to over $3 million. Richardson is now in third with $2.4 million.

Erik Seidel raises to $180,000 on the button and Robert Richardson makes the call in the small blind. The flop comes Q T 7 and both players check. The turn is the J and Richardson bets out $200,000. Seidel raises to $550,000 and after some pause, Richardson makes the call. The river is the A and Richardson checks. Seidel bets out $775,000 and Richardson, looking disgusted, lays down the hand.

Part 2!

Seidel calls out of the small blind and Richardson checks his option in the big blind. The flop comes 9 3 2 and Seidel bets out $80,000. Richardson raises to $220,000 and Seidel folds. Richardson takes the pot.

Here are the current chip counts from the final table of the Foxwoods Poker Classic:

Robert Richardson	$5.5 million
Erik Seidel	$3.985 million
Andrew Barta	$1.44 million

 

In a battle of the big stacks; Erik Seidel opens the pot making it $160k before Robert Richardson raises to $450k. Andrew Barta gets out of the way and Seidel then four bets it up to $1.1 million. Richardson takes his sweet time before folding his hand and avoiding the kind of fireworks that could have brought the entire tournament down right there and then.

Looking To Double

Robert Richardson opens a pot to $180k before Andrew Barta pushes all in for the second hand in a row. Richardson stands up before Barta says he needs to double up. Rob-Rich then takes his seat to stare Barta down and ponder the decision. Eventually he folds the hand.

Erik Seidel felt a similar sting a few hands later when he made it $160k to go and Barta shoved on him. Seidel avoided the trouble as well folding his hand.

Erik Seidel raises to $150,000 on the button and Robert Richardson calls out of the small blind. The flop comes Q 8 2 and Richardson checks to Seidel, who checks behind. The turn is the 7 and both players check again. The turn is the 5 and Richardson bets out $200,000. Seidel makes the call and sees his opponent turn up a pocket pair of fives for the set. Seidel mucks and Richardson takes the pot.

Barta Shoves

Richardson limps on the button and Andrew Barta moves all-in from the small blind for $1.49 million. Erik Seidel folds in the big blind and after some thought, Richardson gets out as well. Barta takes the pot.

More Fives for Richardson

Richardson limps on the button and Seidel checks his option in the big blind. The flop comes A Q J and both players check. The turn is the 2 and Seidel bets out $75,000. Richardson calls and the river is the 3. Seidel checks and Richardson checks behind. He shows another pair of fives and it's good for the pot.

The level is over and the blinds are on the rise. It will now cost each player $105,000 to play a round at this table. Take a look at the average stack and tell us if you think the new level scares anyone at all.

Frank Cieri open shoves for his last $215k and Robert Richardson makes the call. Cieri's tournament life is riding on the Q 7 against Richardson's K 6.

Things get worse for the Yonker's undertaker on the 6 8 8 flop and Cieri's day is done when the 3 turn and 9 river fall. He goes out 4th cashing $200,261.

Meanwhile, Richardson pads his lead and now has almost $6 million.

Robert Richardson raises to $150,000 from under the gun and Frank Cieri flat-calls in the big blind. The flop comes K J 4 and Cieri moves all-in instantly, sending Richardson up and out of his seat as he contemplates a call for his tournament life. The tournament director counts down both players' stacks, with Cieri having $2.8 million to Richardson's $2.6 million.

After some serious tankage, Richardson announces a call and shows K T for top pair against Cieri's J T for the club draw. Richardson paces the stage, muttering "No club, no club," before settling down and shaking Cieri's hand as the two rivals prepare for Fourth Street.

The turn is the 3 and the river the Q and Richardson fades the flush draw, taking the pot with king high and doubling through Frank Cieri. Rob-Rich is now chipleader while Cieri is down to absolute scratch.

Frank Cieri actually had to show down a hand for what seems like the first time today. In a three way limped pot, Robert Richardson and Andrew Barta check the 8 6 5 flop. Cieri makes it $200k to go, but Richardson pulls out the old check raise making it $400k. Frank calls and both players slow down checking the 4 turn. The scary 6 on the river is also checked and it turns out Richardson's 7 9 is good for the straight against Cieri's J-8.

Here's the chip counts as it stands right now:

1. Erik Seidel	$3,490,000
2. Frank Cieri	$2,955,000
3. Robert Richardson	$2,745,000
4. Andrew Barta	$1,190,000

 

Adam "AKat11" Katz raises to $110,000 and Robert Richardson makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes Q 6 5 and Richardson bets out $140,000. Katz gives the matter some thought before moving all-in for his last $765,000 and Richardson snap-calls, turning up K 7 for the heart-flush draw to Katz's Q J for top pair.

The pro-Katz crowd is on their feet, screaming for no hearts, and the turn card is the 6. Katz dodges the first bullet and his entourage starts calling for the 6. "Don't even say that word," says Katz. "I know what you mean, but still."

The crowd is on its feet heading to the river, which brings the dagger K, surprising anyone who'd forgotten that Richardson had the over card. It's good for the pot and Katz is eliminated, out in fifth place for $151,811.

Here are the chip counts of the remaining four players:

Seat 1	Erik Seidel	$3,900,000
Seat 2	Frank Cieri	$2,900,000
Seat 3	Robert Richardson	$2,000,000
Seat 4	Ted Forrest	$0
Seat 5	Andrew Barta	$1,100,000
Seat 6	Adam Katz	$0

The levels are over and the blinds are moving on up. We'll continue play without a break.

Frank Cieri continues his takeover of the final at Foxwoods. He made it $120k in a hand just a few minujtes back and Andrew Barta bumped it up to $310k total. Cieri called the $190 more and the flop came J 8 9. Cieri checked, and Barta bet out $380k. 

Suddenly, Cieri moved all in so fast it made Barta's head spin. Seriously it was spinning. We swear. Once it stopped, Barta looked at the $1.019 million bet and decided to fold.

Value Town

Erik Seidel has taken yet another pot from Adam Katz. In a limped blinds situation Katz bets $70k on the 6 5 5 flop and Seidel calls. The turn is the 6 and both players check. The river is the A and after Katz checks, Seidel makes it $80k.

"Welcome to value town," Katz moans, making the call only to muck when Seidel shows an ace. These two are headed towards a big confrontation. We can smell it.

Adam Katz raises to $110,000 from the cutoff and Erik Seidel re-pops to $300,000 on the button. Action folds back around to Katz, who thinks for a moment before making the call. The flop comes K 4 3 and Katz checks to Seidel, who bets out $375,000. Katz mucks his hand and the Full Tilt pro takes the pot.

Barta Flexes

Robert Richardson limps-in and Andrew Barta joins him in the pot before Katz raises to $140,000. Richardson flat-calls and Barta moves all-in over the top for $1.5 million. Katz doesn't like it and he lays the hand down and Richardson follows suit. Barta takes the pot.

Chip Counts!

Here are the latest chip counts as we return from a tape-change break:

Seat 1	Erik Seidel	$3,981,000
Seat 2	Frank Cieri	$1,337,000
Seat 3	Robert Richardson	$1,674,000
Seat 4	Ted Forrest	$0
Seat 5	Andrew Barta	$2,161,000
Seat 6	Adam Katz	$1,231,000

Ted Forrest has fallen at Foxwoods and everybody heard.

Forrest got in a pre flop raising war with Robert Richardson that ended when Forrest pushed and Richardson instacalled.  

It was A A for Rob-Rich versus J J for Ted with his last $287k in the middle. The 7 6 2 flop provided no surprises. The turn was the 3 and the 7 river sent Forrest home sixth. He cashes $103,360 and after coming into play in the final six second in chips, Forrest has to be disappointed.

Ted Forrest limps-in from under the gun and is joined in the pot by Adam Katz in mid-position and Robert Richardson in the big blind. The flop comes 7 6 2 and Richardson checks to Forrest, who bets out $80,000. Katz and Richardson both call and the turn is the T, prompting another check from Richardson, a $160,000 wager from Forrest and a call from Katz before RR re-pops all-in for another $647,000.

Forrest goes into the tank, looking absolutely miserable, before laying down the hand and then it's Katz's turn to look pained. He tanks for a good five minutes, telling hte world it's "So sick," before finally laying down what he claims is 8 7. Richardson takes a massive pot.

Forrest Shoves

Ted Forrest open-shoves all-in from the cutoff for his last $575,000 and Andrew Barta tanks beside him, finally telling Forrest, "I think I have you, but you deserve a break." He and the rest of the table lay down the hands and Forrest flashes a pair of aces as he rakes the blinds and antes.

Chip Counts

Here are the current chip counts as play continues from Foxwoods:

Seat 1	Erik Seidel	$3,200,000
Seat 2	Frank Cieri	$1,300,000
Seat 3	Robert Richardson	$1,400,000
Seat 4	Ted Forrest	$380,000
Seat 5	Andrew Barta	$1,500,000
Seat 6	Adam Katz	$1,700,000

The blinds are rising - Danger Will Robinson...Danger!

Andrew Barta just doubled through Ted Forrest in a hand Ted could have and should have ran away from. The action started with Forrest making it $70k under the gun and Andrew Barta raising it up to $210k total right behind him. When it folded back around to Forrest he made the mistake of moving all in for $1.4 million and Barta quickly called.

It was K K for Barta and 9 9 for Forrest as they see a J 4 Q flop. No help for Forrest on the 4 turn or the 7 river and Forrest's stack is cut in half with Barta doubling his $722k.

Andrew Barta raises to $90,000 and Adam Katz makes the call. The flop comes 7 7 5 and Barta bets out $100,000. Katz raises to $260,000 and Barta goes into the tank. He mulls his options before finally laying down pocket tens face-up and Katz tells him it was a good fold.

Chip Counts!

We've just had a ten-minute tape-change break. Here are the chip counts as we return to play:

Seat 1	Erik Seidel	$3,2408,000
Seat 2	Frank Cieri	$1,066,000
Seat 3	Robert Richardson	$886,000
Seat 4	Ted Forrest	$2,023,000
Seat 5	Andrew Barta	$997,000
Seat 6	Adam Katz	$2,159,000

Here comes Frank Cieri. First Erik Seidel makes it $90k from the small blind and Cieri decides it's time to shove from the big. Facing a half million dollar bet Seidel goes into the tank for some time but lets it go.

Seidel then makes $85k total in the very next hand. Cieri and Robert Richardson call and when the flop falls 2 K Q Cieri shoves again. Both players fold.

A few hands later Cieri flat calls a $70k Ted Forrest pre flop raise and when Ted best $40k into the 5 2 J flop Cieri bumps it up 100k. Forrest quickly folds and after he raises and takes the very next hand before the flop, Cieri is up around $1 million in chips.

Adam Katz raises to $85,000 from the cutoff and Robert Richardson calls in the big blind. The flop comes T 6 4 and Richardson checks. Katz bets out $150,000 and Richardson instantly moves all-in over the top for $287,000 more. Katz looks pained, but has to make the call, saying, "At least everyone will know I'm an Internet pro now."

He shows 8 7 for the double gutshot and is behind Richardson's K 5. The board finishes out J A and king-high takes the pot, doubling Richardson up to more than $1 million.

Seidel Shows Some Muscle

Ted Forrest raises to $80,000 and Andrew Barta makes the call in the cutoff before Erik Seidel raises to $280,000 from the small blind. Both players fold out and Seidel takes the pot.

Another Pot for the Giant

Barta raises to $90,000 on the button and Seidel calls in the big blind. The flop comes 6 4 2 and both players check. The turn is the K and Seidel checks to Barta, who bets out $150,000. Seidel makes the call and the river is the 3. Both players check again and Seidel shows K 8 to take down the pot.

The players have been introduced and Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten have teed up the tournament in their charming and non-threatening way. It's game time from Foxwoods!

Welcome back to the massive Foxwoods gaming complex in Mashantucket, Connecticut, where the World Poker Tour's Foxwoods Poker Classic is back for the sixth and final day of tournament play. It's final table time and the vast confines of the Grand Pequot Ballroom have been converted into the intimate and dimly-lit familiarity of the WPT soundstage.

We're about thirty minutes away from the start of play, so you have plenty of time to start wearing in that groove on your desk chair or couch before the live update magic commences. Grab some Cheetos and your favorite shirt and get ready for glory; PokerListings.com is your ticket to ride, so stick around and get punched!

Here are the seating positions and chip counts for the final six:

Seat 1	Erik Seidel	$3,280,000
Seat 2	Frank Cieri	$403,000
Seat 3	Robert Richardson	$526,000
Seat 4	Ted Forrest	$2,347,000
Seat 5	Andrew Barta	$1,522,000
Seat 6	Adam Katz	$2,311,000