2011 World Series of Poker

Event #22: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha
Day: 2
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q987
Prize
$292,825
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,445,850
Entries
1,071
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
0

Event #22: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha

Day 2 Completed

Day 2 of $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha In the Books

Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Juha Vilkki Is The Dominant Chip Leader Entering Final Table Play
Juha Vilkki Is The Dominant Chip Leader Entering Final Table Play

Day 2 of Event #22 at the World Series of Poker, the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament, has come to an end with 117 players having been carved down to our final nine. The action on the felt was fast and furious right from the start and the Amazon Room was filled calls of “Pot!” and “Re-pot!” all night long.

Our Day 1 chip leader, Yuha Vilkki of Finland, continued his dominant play to finish at the top of the leaderboard once again. After a highly entertaining last hand of the night, Vilkki sits with 1,235,000 chips heading into the final table, which puts him in the commanding position of having twice as many bullets as any of his fellow players.

The Binger brothers, Michael and Nick, both made their exits during the middle of Day 2, although Nick fought valiantly to survive after taking a bad beat which left him with only 2,500 chips. Good for a single big blind at the time, Binger showed why he is a true professional by never surrendering and building his tiny stack to over 40,000 in a monumental comeback, before eventually succumbing to the variance-heavy game that is Omaha.

Heading into Day 3’s final table action, this event will take on a distinctively foreign flair, with France and Finland being represented by two of the more aggressive players in the field. Check in with PokerNews tomorrow at 2:30 PST for all of the final table action as a new Pot-Limit Omaha champion is crowned.

Tags: Juha VilkkiMichael BingerNick Binger

Benjamin Palmer Eliminated In 10th Place ($16,511)

Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Benjamin Palmer Eliminated In 10th Place ($16,511)
Benjamin Palmer Eliminated In 10th Place ($16,511)

Juha Vilkki and Benjamin Palmer got all of the chips into the middle before the flop and a seat at tomorrow's final table was on the line.

Showdown:

Vilkki: {A-Diamonds}{A-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}
Palmer: {A-Spades}{A-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}

With both players holding pocket aces, the young Finn began smiling devilishly and held up his {6-Hearts}, saying "I'm playing this one, this is my card." The dealer burned and turned, spreading a flop of {5-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{7-Clubs} across the felt. The flop actually changed little and both Vilkki and Palmer were still playing their pair of aces, although now Vilkki's chosen six provided additional outs to take the pot.

The turn card came {8-Spades} and changed nothing. Vilkki was still holding his six up in the air, as if anticipating what was to come next.

River: {6-Spades}

Roland Israelashvili practically shot out of his chair when the final six hit the board and asked Vilkki in amazement, "How do you know... how can you know this?"

The Finnish online regular who has been playing since he was younger than 16 years of age simply shrugged his shoulders in response, still flashing that devilish grin as the pot was shipped his way. He had just hit the river to claim the entire pot, stamping his ticket to the final table with flair. Juha Vilkki will enter the final table arena as the massive chip leader after this improbable win, holding a stack of 1,235,000, nearly double that of any other player.

Palmer was understandably devastated by the loss but accepted defeat graciously, and he will take home $16,511 for his deep run in this event.

Tags: Benjamin PalmerJuha VilkkiRoland Israelashvili

Did I Win?

Cody Munger started the hand out by raising in the cut off making it 25,000 to any one who wanted to see a flop. David Sands more than obliged and moved in a raise of 80,000 Munger called and we were ready for a flop.

{6-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}{A-Spades} all made an appearance on the flop, and it was Sands who moved all in, Munger quickly called.

Sands: {K-}{K-}{2-Diamonds}{6-}
Munger: {8-}{K-Clubs}{7-}{6-Clubs}

Sands had the lead with a pair of kings and was actually able to hold as the {Q-Diamonds} hit the turn and the {4-Hearts} on the river.

Player Chips Progress
David Sands us
David Sands
250,000 190,000

Tags: David Sands

Sarwer's Set Of Sixes Swamp Payan

Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

After the flop came {7-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{3-Spades}, Jeff Sarwer and Elie Payan checked the action, along with two other players in the hand. The pot contained 40,000 after the four preflop limp-ins and when the turn came {6-Diamonds} Sarwer slid 21,000 into the middle.

Payan made the call and both players checked the {j-Hearts} on the river. Sarwer looked up and said "set of sixes any good?" and Payan mucked his hand to confirm that they were.

With ten players remaining in the tournament and the prized final table one elimination away, none of the competitors want to make any foolish mistakes and the play has slowed down significantly.

Tags: Elie PayanJeff Sarwer

Vilkki and Sarwer Playing Above The Rim

Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Juha Vilkki thinking deeply during Day 2 action
Juha Vilkki thinking deeply during Day 2 action

Juha Vilkki and Jeff Sarwer were spotted engaging in mental warfare during a recent hand. The flop fell {J-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} and Sarwer, a world renowned chess prodigy earlier in life, fired 27,000 into the middle.

Vilkki, who himself is a highly-skilled online player from Finland, made the call and after Sarwer checked the {9-Diamonds} on the turn, he bet 67,000. Sarwer called and the river fell {3-Spades}. This time the Finn fired 75,000 at the chess master and Sarwer went deep into the tank. He began asking Vilkki questions in an attempt to discern some sort of read, eventually asking "will you show if I fold?"

Vilkki just smiled and nodded his head in the affirmative. Evtually Sarwer made the tough laydown and said he folded pocket aces. Vilkki proved to be a man of his word and showed Sarwer his {8-Spades}{9-Spades}{10-Diamonds}{10-} for two pair on the turn. After previously discussing various nuances of PLO play, these two players appear to have developed a respectful rapport, and this hand proved just how complex a game poker can be when it is played by two extremely intelligent individuals.

Tags: Jeff SarwerJuha Vilkki