Caesars Cup
Day 1 Completed
2011 World Series of Poker Europe
Caesars Cup
Day: 1
Team America Wins the Caesars Cup!
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Phil Hellmuth leads a victorious Team Americas
Team America Wins 2011 Caesars Cup
Level 11
: 3,000/6,000, 0 ante
The 2011 Caesars Cup is complete. After four different matches of play, Team America has won the battle and taken the cup back from the Europeans. It was only fitting that team captain Phil Hellmuth was the man to finally finish off Europe after he eliminated Max Lykov in the final match.
Team America jumped out to an early lead when Jason Mercier and Ben Lamb defeated Jake Cody and Tony G in the alternating match. After that, Hellmuth paired up with Negreanu to take on Gus Hansen and Lykov, but couldn't stretch the lead any further and Europe evened things up at one apiece.
In the third match, Johnny Chan beat Team Europe's captain Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier to take the overall lead again and put Team America just one win away from winning the entire thing. That's when Hellmuth chose himself to go against Lykov.
The match went back and forth, but in the end it was Hellmuth's 
that out ran Lykov's 
to win it all.
Team America, complete with Jason Mercier, Ben Lamb, Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan and captain Phil Hellmuth were able to defeat Team Europe and win the title. For now, the cup has returned back across the pond and we'll have to wait until next time around to see if Europe can avenge their loss.
Hellmuth Defeats Lykov to Give America the Win
Level 11
: 3,000/6,000, 0 ante
Phil Hellmuth limped in from the button and Max Lykov raised all in. Hellmuth snap-called and stood up immediately. He said, "I was trapping!" and tabled the . Lykov had the .
The flop came down 
and Team America took the lead. The turn was the 
and the river the 
. Team America's pair of queens was the winning hand and it earned them their third point. With that point, they clinched the match and won the 2011 Caesars Cup.
Hellmuth Doubles and America Takes Lead
Level 11
: 3,000/6,000, 0 ante
Max Lykov limped in from the button and Phil Hellmuth checked in the big blind to see the flop come down 
. Hellmuth checked, Lykov bet 6,000 and then Helluth check-raised to 16,000. Lykov called.
The turn was the 
and Hellmuth took a few moments before betting 18,000. Lykov studied and then raised all in. Hellmuth called for 56,000 total.
Hellmuth: 
Lykov: 
Lykov was drawing dead and the river completed the board with the 
. Both teams were closely railing the action and after the river card hit, Team America's Ben Lamb said, "These Internet kids will never learn."
Team America now leads with 156,000 to 44,000.
Level: 11
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 0
Europe Doubles Back
Level 10
: 2,000/4,000, 0 ante
Phil Hellmuth moved all in and Max Lykov called. Hellmuth held the and was dominated by the 
for Lykov. The board ran out 
and Europe doubled up to even things back up.
America Doubles
Level 10
: 2,000/4,000, 0 ante
Phil Hellmuth raised to 8,000 from the button and Max Lykov reraised to 35,000 from the big blind. Hellmuth moved all in for 72,000 and Lykov called.
Hellmuth: 
Lykov: 
The board ran out 
and Team America doubled up. They now have 144,000 in chips to Team Europe's 56,000.
Level: 10
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 0
Lykov Takes Another
Level 9
: 1,000/2,000, 0 ante
Max Lykov raised from the button to 4,000 and Phil Hellmuth called from the big blind to see the flop come down 
. Hellmuth and Lykov both checked to see the 
land on the turn. Hellmuth checked, Lykov bet 5,000 and Hellmuth won the pot.