2012 World Series of Poker

Event 44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
Event Info

2012 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Rocco Palumbo
Winning Hand
a9
Prize
$464,464
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$2,654,100
Entries
2,949
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000

Event 44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em

Day 3 Completed

Congratulations to Rocco Palumbo, Winner of Event #44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($464,464)!

Level 28 : 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Rocco Palumbo
Rocco Palumbo

After three hard-fought days of Texas Hold'em, Event #44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em is in the books with Rocco Palumbo standing tall as champion.

Day 1 began with 2,949 entrants, which marked the second-biggest field thus far during this year's World Series of Poker. (The Senior's Event drew a record-setting field of 4,128).

With a field this epic, you can be sure there was no lack of pros and notable names. Some who joined the action in Day 1 include Barry Shulman, Terrence Chan, Liv Boeree, Joe Cada, Jonathan Little, Jude Ainsworth, Ivan Demidov and Amnon Filippi.

Of those players, several would go on to make a deep run in Day 2, but eventually fall short of the final table. Some names that were unable to survive into Day 3 include Cada (112th), Little (104th), Soi Nguyen (88th), Ainsworth (78th), Demidov (76th), Maya Antonius (65th) and Amnon Filippi, who busted in 62nd after coming into Day 2 as one of the chip leaders.

Blair Hinkle would also make deep run, but he fell short of the final table after busting out in 24th place. This would mark another deep run for Hinkle, who managed a 4th place finish just four days ago in Event 38: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em.

When Day 2 was all said and done, just 16 players remained to compete for the gold bracelet in Day 3. Among them included bracelet winner Keven Stammen, who won a bracelet back in 2009 and the last woman standing, Anke Berner - who came into day two with just 7,600 in chips. However, Berner managed to build her stack and survive into Day 3 tied for fourth in chips.

Here is how the final two tables looked in their entirety going into Day 3:

TableSeatPlayerChips
4401Thomas Conway880,000
4402Patrick Karschamroon678,000
4403Francisco Azares678,000
4404— Empty — 
4405Jaspal Brar551,000
4406Rocco Palumbo382,000
4407Niel Mittelman578,000
4408Darren Rabinowitz760,000
4409Nelson Robinson871,000
    
4411— Empty — 
4412Paul Sokoloff209,000
4413David Forster437,000
4414Kevin Elia503,000
4415Jason Everett399,000
4416Travell Thomas368,000
4417Keven Stammen654,000
4418Anke Berner655,000
4419Mario Delis234,000

When Day 3 began, the eliminations came swiftly and we reached our final table within just two levels of play. These early eliminations included Delis, Solokoff, Brar, Thomas, Azares and Stammen, who all fell just short of the final table.

Shortly after the remaining ten players relocated to the main feature table, Darren Rabinowitz was eliminated when his pockets kings fell to Elia's ace-king after getting all in preflop.

And just like that - we had our official final table. Here is how it looked:

SeatPlayerCount
1Jason Everett620,000
2Kevin Elia1,600,000
3Patrick Karschamroon660,000
4Anke Berner600,000
5Niel Mittelman1,800,000
6Nelson Robinson650,000
7Rocco Palumbo850,000
8David Forster870,000
9Thomas Conway1,210,000

David Forster left our official final table first after getting into a preflop raising war with Palumbo. Forster ended up calling a Palumbo four-bet all in with {A-Hearts}{K-Spades}, which was crushed by the {A-Spades}{A-Clubs} of Palumbo. Forster couldn't pull the miracle and was sent to the rail in ninth place.

Next to go would be Karschamroon after getting all in preflop with pocket eights against the queens of Everett. Karschamroom didn't improve and he was sent to the rail in eighth place.

The sole-remaining lady, Anke Berner, was sent home next after pushing all in with {K-Hearts}{Q-Spades} and running into the {A-Spades}{K-Spades} of Niel Mittelman. The board failed to improve Berner's hand and she was sent eliminated in seventh place.

Out in sixth place was Elia, who pushed his short stack into the middle from the big blind on a {Q-Clubs}{9-Clubs}{7-Clubs} flop after calling a preflop raise from Palumbo. Palumbo snap-called with {K-Clubs}{Q-Hearts} and eliminated Elia after he failed to improve.

Everett hit the rail after running his {A-Diamonds}{7-Clubs} into the {A-}{10-Hearts} of Robinson all-in preflop. Robinson was dominated and failed to get any help from the board - sending him home in fifth place.

Mittelman made his exit in fourth place after getting into a preflop raising war against Robinson. After the smoke cleared, Mittelman was all in with {A-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts} against the pocket eights of Robinson. Mittelman bricked out and was sent home.

Conway, who had not been involved in many pots during the final table, met his end after calling an all-in push from Palumbo with {K-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}. Palumbo held the {A-Diamonds}{7-Hearts} and the board kept Conway second best - sending him to the rail in third place.

When heads-up play began, Palumbo enjoyed a slight chiplead over Robinson and quickly put his chips to work. Palumbo played aggressively to slowly whittle Robinson down to just over one million in chips. However, Robinson proved resilient as he doubled through Palumbo not once, but twice as a short stack. However, Palumbo would not be denied. Shortly after dinner break, Robinson and Palumbo would get into a preflop raising war. Robinson four-bet pushed all in with {K-Spades}{6-Spades} for his remaining stack and Palumbo called with {A-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}. The board ran out {4-Hearts}{A-Hearts}{J-Spades}{4-Clubs}{K-Hearts} and Palumbo claimed Robinsons' remaining chips with aces and fours.

And just like that, Palumbo claimed his first WSOP gold bracelet and the $464,464 prize that went along with it!

Be sure to check out our other coverage of the 2012 World Series of Poker, including the star-studded $50,000 Poker Players Championship, which is currently in its third day.

That does for us here at Event 44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em. Until next time - goodnight from Vegas!

Tags: Rocco Palumbo

The Italian Job

Rocco Palumbo of Italy outlasts a field of close to 3000 runners to capture a WSOP Gold Bracelet. Winner photos by Neil Stoddart/Reaction photos by Joe Giron

Rocco Palumbo waits with his rail for the cards to fall.AnticipationRocco Palumbo's rail mobs him after winning the WSOP Gold BraceletRocco Palumbo shows off the WSOP Gold Bracelet he won to his supportersRocco Palumbo casts his eyes upward as he catches his breathe after winning a WSOP Gold BraceletRocco Palumbo and Sarah GrantRocco PalumboRocco Palumbo

Nelson Robinson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($288,448)

Nelson Robinson - 2nd Place
Nelson Robinson - 2nd Place

Just a few hands after the dinner break and we have our champion. The last hand of the tournament began when Nelson Robinson opened the button to 120,000. Rocco Palumbo then asked how much Robinson had, before three-betting to 300,000. A few moments thought and Robinson would four-bet all in. Palumbo shrugged and made the call and the two players turned their hands over.

Palumbo: {a-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}
Robinson: {k-Spades}{6-Spades}

Robinson was behind and in need of some help. The {4-Hearts}{a-Hearts}{j-Spades} flop was the opposite of help and by the time the {4-Clubs} turn and the {k-Hearts} river had run out, it was all over for Robinson.

For his effort, Robinson takes home $288,448 which is added to the almost $250,000 he won for finishing in 33rd place in last year's World Series of Poker Main Event.

Player Chips Progress
Rocco Palumbo it
Rocco Palumbo
8,847,000 8,465,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Nelson Robinson us
Nelson Robinson
Busted

Tags: Nelson RobinsonRocco Palumbo

Rocco Starts Grinding Again

Nelson Robinson had the button when he raised it up. Rocco Palumbo called and the {k-Spades}{8-Spades}{5-Clubs} flop was dealt. Palumbo check-called a bet of 115,000 here and then both players checked the {a-Diamonds} turn. On the {6-Diamonds} river, Palumbo led for 170,000 and Robinson let go of his hand, sending the small pot to Palumbo.

Player Chips Progress
Rocco Palumbo it
Rocco Palumbo
6,600,000 250,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Nelson Robinson us
Nelson Robinson
2,200,000 -250,000

Tags: Nelson RobinsonRocco Palumbo

Palumbo Scoops One

Rocco Palumbo opened to 120,000 and Nelson Robinson made the call from the big blind.

The flop came {Q-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{A-Clubs} and Robinson checked to Palumbo, who bet 110,000. Robinson called to see a turn, which came the {6-Clubs}.

Robinson checked again and Palumbo fired 175,000. Robinson decided to give it up and slid his hand into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Rocco Palumbo it
Rocco Palumbo
6,350,000 250,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Nelson Robinson us
Nelson Robinson
2,450,000 -250,000

Tags: Nelson RobinsonRocco Palumbo

Level: 28

Blinds: 30,000/60,000

Ante: 10,000

Robinson Doubles Through Palumbo Again

Nelson Robinson opened to 100,000 and Rocco Palumbo made the call.

The flop came {K-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{7-Spades} and Palumbo checked to Robinson, who fired another 100,000. Palumbo then check-raised to 220,000. Undeterred, Robinson pushed all in and Palumbo called to put him at risk.

Palumbo: {K-Hearts}{6-Hearts}
Robinson: {K-Spades}{10-Hearts}

Robinson was in front with his ten kicker. The {A-Hearts} turn and {4-Hearts} river kept Robinson in front and he doubled through to 2.7 million.

Player Chips Progress
Nelson Robinson us
Nelson Robinson
2,700,000 1,200,000

Tags: Nelson RobinsonRocco Palumbo