2007 World Series of Poker

Day 3 completed

Posted 06-17-2007 01:54 GMT-8

Final Thoughts

Once this event got heads up, it turned into a carnival atmosphere. The drinks were flying as quickly as the cards, and at times, the players didn't seem overly interested in the outcome.

While Eli Elezra won nearly $200,000 in prize money, he made much more with the side action. He specifically mentioned a bet with Barry Greenstein -- Greenstein put him at 10-to-1 to win a bracelet this year, and Elezra bet $25,000. Elezra can now collect the $250,000, and during his interview he said, "I'm sorry, Barry Greenstein. I got you, baby!"

Elezra mentioned additional side action which might take his total earnings to $500,000 -- plus the paltry $200,000 of "official" prize money.

This is Eli Elezra's first WSOP bracelet, and before today, he was one of the best poker players in the world without one on his resume. That can't be said anymore.

Hand #177 - Eli Elezra Wins Event #24 ($198,984)

Hand #177 - Scotty Nguyen is all in on third street, and he shows (7-7) A. Elezra shows (K-Q) 10. The final hands look like this on sixth street:

Eli Elezra: (K-Q) 10-7-3-J
Scotty Nguyen: (7-7) A-2-10-Q

Nguyen has the lead with a pair of sevens, but Elezra has a lot of outs -- an open-ended straight draw and four over cards. The last card is dealt, and both players take a very, very long time to look at their cards.

After about two minutes of back-and-forth teasing, Elezra starts to climb on the table with his knees, and he shows his last card -- the . Nguyen is drawing dead.

Eli Elezra wins the hand -- and his first WSOP bracelet -- with an ace-high straight.

Scotty Nguyen is eliminated in second place, earning $110,731.

Eli Elezra wins Event #24 ($3,000 Seven Card Stud Hi Lo), earning $198,984, a Corum watch, and a coveted WSOP bracelet.

Tags: Eli Elezra, Scotty Nguyen.

Chip Counts

Eli Elezra - 1,397,000
Scotty Nguyen - 20,000

Hand #176

Hand #176 - Elezra and Nguyen take the hand to seventh street, betting the entire way.

Elezra yells, "Yes!" as he looks at his last card, and then he bets. Nguyen calls.

Elezra shows two pair, sevens and deuces, which he apparently made on the last card. Nguyen shows a pair of sixes, and Elezra takes the pot.

Elezra's chip "stack" is just one big messy pile that he runs his hands through.

Hand #175

Hand #175 - Elezra (2-8-9-Q) and Nguyen (4-3-7-2) take it to seventh street. Nguyen shows two pair, threes and deuces, and Elezra shows two pair, nines and eights. Elezra takes the pot.

It took Elezra a good 15 seconds to figure out he had the better hand. He then knocks over Nguyen's chips again. They are drinking and laughing like old friends.

Hand #174

Hand #174 - Elezra takes the pot on third street.

Chip Counts

Eli Elezra - 1,076,000
Scotty Nguyen - 341,000

Hand #173

Hand #173 - Elezra takes the pot on fourth street.

Hand #172

Hand #172 - Nguyen takes the pot on third street, showing (K-8) A.