Event 36: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
Day 3 Started
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 36: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$3,000
Prize Pool
$1,602,510
Entries
587
Level
8
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000
Final Table Kicks Off Today
The field of sixty that returned for Day 2 has been reduced to the final ten. Today those ten players will compete for the title of World Series of Poker champion. Along with the shiny gold bracelet that will adorn the winner's wrist, a paycheck of $368,593 will also go to the winner.
Yesterday's play saw many professional players and notable names hit the rail in an attempt to be where the final ten are right now. Melanie Weisner, Ryan D'Angelo, Mickey Petersen, Jason Koon, Steve Billarakis, Justin Bonomo, and Jean-Robert Bellande were just some of the names that were able to score a min-cash but unable to make the final day.
Headlining today's final table is Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari who will begin with a slight advantage in chips. Esfandiari won his first and only bracelet in 2004 in a $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event and will be searching for number two today.
Esfandiari isn't the only bracelet winner in today's field, however, as Athanasios Polychronopoulos will be in the hunt as well. Polychronopoulos won his first bracelet at the 2011 WSOP in Event #48: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em and will be looking to go back-to-back this year with another win.
Today we will be covering all of the action occurring on the ESPN stage in the Amazon room. History occurred in this very spot yesterday when Chris Tryba was able to earn his first bracelet in Event 35: $2,500 Mixed Hold'em. Cards will be in the air at 1:00 PM today so be sure to stay tuned as we crown yet another WSOP champion.
Final Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antonio Esfandiari | 538,000 |
| 2 | Joe Tehan | 529,000 |
| 3 | Jeremiah Fitzpatrick | 539,000 |
| 4 | Athanasios Polychronopoulos | 528,000 |
| 5 | Alessandro Longobardi | 512,000 |
| 6 | Jonathan Lane | 509,000 |
| 7 | Sardor Gaziev | 527,000 |
| 8 | Craig Mccorkell | 539,000 |
| 9 | Roberto Romanello | 530,000 |
| 10 | Thiago Nishijima | 510,000 |
Robbie Thompson on the Mic
![[user196975]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
The hardest working man in poker, Robbie Thompson, aka "Red Bull" Robbie, is making the final table introductions. Cards will be in the air momentarily.
Level: 1
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 1,000
Cards Are In the Air
Level 1
: 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante
Cards are in the air for the start of the Final Table.
Romanello Takes One Down Early
Level 1
: 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante
Roberto Romanello opened to 12,000 and it folded around to Alessandro Longobardi who tossed out a call from the big blind.
The dealer spread out a flop of 
and both players checked. The 
came on the turn and Longobardi checked to Romanello who took this opportunity to bet out 12,000. Longobardi called and the river brought the 
. Longobardi checked once again and Romanello moved 31,000 into the middle. This action prompted Longobardi to fold and Romanello dragged in the pot.
Romanello Takes First Showdown
Level 1
: 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante
Sardor Gaziev opened for 14,000 on the button and Roberto Romanello called from the big blind. The flop came 
, Romanello checked and Gaziev bet 21,000. Romanello called to see the 
turn and both players checked. The river came 
, Romanello bet 31,000 and Gaziev called.
Romanello tabled 
for a flopped two pair and Gaziev mucked.
Esfandiari Chatting it Up
Level 1
: 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante
Antonio Esfandiari loosened up his end of the table and got Joe Tehan, Jeremiah Fitzpatrick and Athanasios Polychronopoulos talking. They were making light conversation and smiling.
However, the other end of the table has been playing in silence. Even the normally rowdy international rails are quiet and calm.
Tank Fold From Nishijima
Action folded to Craig McCorkell in the cutoff who made it 13,000 to go. Thiago Nishijima three-bet to 35,000 out of the small blind and McCorkell called.
We were heads up to a flop of 
. Nishijima continued out for 35,000 only to have McCorkell raise to 98,000. Nishijima tanked for about three minutes before finally folded his hand, sending McCorkell's rail into a frenzy of cheers.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
610,000 | 71,000 |
|
430,000 | -80,000 |
Fitzpatrick Takes First Large Pot
Joe Tehan opened for 14,000 from the cutoff and Jeremiah Fitzpatrick called from the button. The blinds released and the flop came 
. Tehan led out with 21,000 and Fitzpatrick called. The turn came , Tehan bet 50,000 and Fitzpatrick called again.
The river came and Tehan continued his aggression and bet 100,000. Fitzpatrick re-raised to 200,000 and Tehan was visibly not happy with the raise.
He shook his head, counted his stack and stewed for a few minutes. He only had about 275,000 behind so Fitzpatrick put him in a situation where Tehan should either fold or shove.
Tehan checked his cards another time and had a frustrated frown when he folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
710,000 | 171,000 |
|
275,000 | -254,000 |