We're down to the final four players in Event #25, $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em World Championship. Following the late conclusion to the final quarterfinal matchup, where Alec Torelli ousted Lyle Berman, the semifinal pairings have been set:
Vanessa Selbst vs. Alec Torelli
Kenny Tran vs. Jonathan Jaffe
In the semifinal, each player will start off with 1,280,000 chips, with blinds beginning at 6,000/12,000. The semifinal winners will then square off in a best 2-of-3 showdown for the title.
The players are seated at the TV table in the Milwaukee's Best Light No-Limit Lounge. Play should be underway shortly. After this match concludes, Vanessa Selbst will play Alec Torelli in the other semifinal match. Then the best-two-out-of-three finals will start, currently scheduled for 7pm.
Kenny Tran has the button. He raises to 36,000. Jonathan Jaffe reraises to 125,000. Tran thinks briefly before making the call. Both players check a highly coordinated flop of . Jaffe again checks when the turn comes . Tran fires off a 150,000 bullet, which Jaffe calls. On the river , Jaffe came out firing for 275,000. Tran went into the tank for a minute before folding. Jaffe flashed the .
Kenny Tran has the button. He completes the small blind. Jonathan Jaffe checks his option from the big blind.
The flops . Jaffe checks it to Tran, who bets 12,000. Jaffe calls to see the fall on the turn. He now leads for 12,000 and Tran quickly calls. On the river, Jaffe quickly reaches for his chips and bets 26,000. Tran stops to think, shuffling a stack of orange chips with his right hand all the while. He makes the call. Jaffe shows for two pair, kings and sixes, which is enough to win the pot.