Event 25 - $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em World Championship | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-15-2008 16:29 UTC-7

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user75032]

Cards are in the air. Blind levels have reset to 6,000 and 12,000. Each player starts the match with 1,280,000 chips.

06-15-2008 16:27 UTC-7

Fashionably late, Alec Torelli has finally made his way to the Milwaukee's Best Light No-Limit Lounge. By way of explanation, all he said was, "Freakin' Wynn spa, dude."

ESPN is getting Torelli set up with a microphone. As soon as that is done, we will start the match.

Tags: Alec Torelli

06-15-2008 16:25 UTC-7

A Class Act

[user75032]

Tournament Director Jack Effel just suggested to the tournament staff that if Alec Torelli does not arrive within another five minutes, he feels the match should be started without Torelli. Vanessa Selbst, in a display of good sportsmanship, responded that she would not take any action until Torelli arrives, even if the tournament clock is started and a hand is dealt.

"I'm not gonna take his chips," said Selbst.

Tags: Vanessa Selbst

06-15-2008 16:21 UTC-7

Paging Alec Torelli

[user75032]

We still haven't spotted Alec Torelli. The last report was that 25 minutes ago, Torelli was stuck at the Wynn waiting for the valet to bring his car around. One of the people in media row said to Vanessa Selbst, "Maybe he's just scared."

Without missing a beat, Selbst responded "I'd be scared too if I had to play me."

06-15-2008 16:15 UTC-7

Second Match: Vanessa Selbst v. Alec Torelli

[user75032]

Our second semifinal match of the day pits highly aggressive Vanessa Selbst against Alec Torelli, the man who finally outlasted Lyle Berman at 4:30am last night. Selbst has made her way to the stage; as soon as Torelli does the same, we will be underway.

06-15-2008 16:03 UTC-7

Hand #60 - Kenny Tran Eliminates Jonathan Jaffe; Advances to Finals!

[user38449]

Jonathan Jaffe has the button and makes it 60,000 to go. Kenny Tran then reraises to 210,000 and Jaffe announces "All in," a bet totaling 1,180,000.

"It would be another 970,000 should Kenny wish to call. He does have Jonathan covered.... barely," said tournament director and emcee Robbie Thompson.

While in the tank, Kenny talks to himself out loud and goes through the motions before surprising practically everyone in the room with a call!

Jonathan: {K-Hearts}

Kenny:

As the dealer spread the flop, Kenny stepped away from the table, not watching to watch:

Flop: {4-Spades}

Turn:

River:

A safe board for Kenny Tran sends him sailing into the finals. "Let's hear it for 'Sick-call Kenny!' said Thompson as Tran threw his arms up into the air.

Semi-finalist Jonathan Jaffe will take home $108,288 in prize money for his efforts, while Tran now awaits the winner of Vanessa Selbst v. Alec Torelli which is scheduled to begin in just a few minutes.

Stay tuned -- more action to come!

Tags: Jonathan Jaffe Kenny Tran

06-15-2008 15:51 UTC-7

Hand #59 - Jonathan Jaffe

[user75032]

Kenny Tran has the button. He completes the small blind. Jonathan Jaffe checks.

Action checks all the way through to the river on a board of {7-Clubs}