Five Simultaneous All-Ins Create Exciting Money Bubble at WSOP Main Event
The money bubble of the World Series of Poker Main Event creates some of the most tension-filled and exciting moments in poker every year. Friday's money bubble early on Day 4 was one of the best we've seen yet.
With 695 players remaining and only the top 693 spots being paid, a loud commotion developed in the Amazon Room as five players were all-in and at risk for their tournament life. With all of the hole cards still facing down and a mystery to all but the players themselves, WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel announced that he would be going from table to table to reveal the outcome of each hand.
The PokerNews Live Reporting team was scattered across the room catching all of the action as it went down. Here’s what happened:
Bubble Hand #1: Dywer Runs Full House Into Quads
Reported by Chad Holloway
The first bubble hand to play out happened at Table 377. It began when Mark Newhouse, who finished ninth in this very event last year, opened for 10,500 and John Dwyer called on the button. The player in the small blind came along for the ride and it was three-way action to the Q♦5♦K♦ flop. The small blind checked, Newhouse bet 18,000, and only Dwyer called.
When the 5♣ appeared on the turn, Newhouse bet 32,000 and Dwyer called, which brought about the A♠ on river. Newhouse simply bet 205,000, which put Dwyer, who had 160,000 behind, to the ultimate test. The minutes ticked by as Dwyer debated what to do, and he ultimately dropped in a single orange T5,000 chip to signify a call.
Action was paused until tournament director Jack Effel could make his way over, and he told the players to table their hands. Dwyer showed QxQx for a full house, but it was no good as Newhouse held 5♠5♥ for quads.
With four more hands to play out, Dywer stuck around to see if any other players would bust on the hand.
Bubble Hand #2: Zhen Cai Eliminated
Reported by Mickey Doft
Zhen Cai shoved from early position for 29,500 and was called by Darren Keyes in the big blind. After several minutes of having to wait for the ESPN cameras to get there because of multiple all-in hands, the hands were revealed.
Cai: Q♣Q♦
Keyes: A♥A♦
Cai found no help from the board that ran out 8♣6♥4♦8♦6♣, ending his Main Event on the bubble.
Bubble Hand #3: Hunter Becomes the Prey
Reported by Donnie Peters
Kori Hunter was all in for 46,000 over an opening raise from Harry Kaczka. Kaczka made the call, then both he and Hunter waited to reveal their hands while Effel made his way over to the table.
Hunter turned over the A♠A♣ and was up against Kaczka's 9♦8♦.
The flop came down Q♠8♥7♥ to give Kaczka a pair of eights, but keep Hunter in the lead.
The turn was the 5♣, and that made things even more interesting as Kaczka added a gutshot straight draw.
Then, the river delivered the 9♠ to give Kaczka two pair, and that was the end of the line for Hunter as he joined the other two players before him as bustouts on the bubble.
Tedeschi Doubles
Reported by Rich Ryan
After big preflop action, Paul Tedeschi was all in and at risk for 145,000 on a flop of 7♦3♥9♦. He was ahead with A♠A♥ against the Q♠Q♦ of Arthur Morris, and the cards were turned face up when prompted by Effel.
"There's streets to come," Morris joked, hoping for a diamond on the turn.
The turn was red, but the 10♥ was a brick, as was the 6♥ on the river.
The Frenchman Tedeschi doubled to 440,000 chips, while Morris dipped down to 520,000.
Rutter Doubles on the Bubble
Reported by Tim Duckworth
The action folded to Stuart Rutter on the button and he raised to 10,500. Daniel Alaei called from the big blind and checked the J♦7♣2♠ flop with Rutter continuing for 12,000. Alaei then pushed in a stack of chips before Rutter moved all in for 73,000 with Alaei instantly making the call.
Although Rutter was the first hand to be paused, his would be the last to be played out.
Rutter: A♥J♥
Alaei: J♠9♣
With Rutter at risk, the turn of the 4♦ and river of the 7♦ ensured him the double to 174,000 as Alaei slipped to 145,000 in chips.
With three players busting on the bubble - Zhen Cai, Kori Hunter, and John Dwyer - and only one 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event seat to give away, Effel decided to add some fun to the situation.
The three split the first $18,406 prize, earning $6,135.33 each, then pulled high cards for the $10,000 seat.
"Alright, Max," Effel told the dealer. "Let's scramble 'em up."
Max obliged, shuffling the cards then fanned the 52 across a table in the middle of the Amazon Room. Hunter was first, and he opted to sweat his card. He eventually turned over the 6♦, leaving him drawing very slim, and Cai quickly took the lead with the man with the ax - the K♦.
Dwyer was the last to pick, and because spades and hearts rank higher than diamonds, there were six cards in the deck that could give him the $10,000 seat: K♥K♠A♣A♦A♥A♠.
He also pulled a red six - the 6♥ - and Cai was the winner of the hi-card bonanza.
The remaining players are all in the money, and guaranteed a minimum of $18,406, but all eyes are on the $10 million first-place prize. Be sure to keep your browsers locked to PokerNews.com as we bring you up-to-the minute coverage all the way until a champion is crowned in the 2014 WSOP Main Event!
