2018 World Series of Poker

Event #12: $1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed
Day: 3
Event Info

2018 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aa876
Prize
$129,882
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$548,100
Entries
406
Level Info
Level
30
Limits
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
0

Event #12: $1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed

Day 3 Completed

Jeremy Harkin Wins Event #12: $1,500 Dealer's Choice for $129,882

Level 30 : 80,000/160,000, 0 ante
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy Harkin

"I basically gave up on the dream of ever winning bracelet last year," said Jeremy Harkin who has been coming to play the World Series of Poker every year since 2003. Today, his lost dream came true as he came out on top in Event #12: $1,500 Dealer's Choice event. Harkin took home the coveted gold bracelet along with $129,882.

"Everything seemed to click for the last few days," Harkin said. His way to victory led through an incredibly tough field of 406 entries. Some of the world's most respected mixed games players ran deep and battled against Harkin on the final three, and then two tables.

Harkin, however, took it as a learning experience. He didn't stress out and fought bravely. Amassing chips while sharing the boards and draws with the likes of John Hennigan, Mike Leah, Chris Klodnicki and Jeff Lisandro would be a tough task for anyone in the game but Harkin did extremely well.

"This is a chance to play and see how I stack up against these guys. I just kinda visualized it. I thought I was playing well. If it didn't work out, it didn't work out."

Final table results:

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Jeremy HarkinUnited States$129,882
2Frankie O'DellUnited States$80,256
3George TrigeorgisUnited States$52,130
4Anthony ArvidsonUnited States$34,700
5James WoodsUnited States$23,686
6Scott AbramsUnited States$16,589

Harkin took down a giant pot against Klodnicki at the end of day 2 to claim the chip lead and eventually closed it out. And while it was an extremely long and tough way to reach the pinnacle, Harkin remained composed through the day, focused on making the correct decisions at any given time.

Harkin guarded a solid chip-stack for most of the day and that certainly helped his mindset, but he also had a plan that he utilized to perfection.

"I didn't think anybody had an advantage over me in pot-limit hi-lo or Big O," Harkin said.

Big O was the game that Harkin picked the most, but he changed his strategy when he made it to the heads-up against two-time WSOP bracelet winner Frankie O'Dell. He started selecting various games, trying to see where he could find O'Dell's leaks.

"I wanted to see if I can put a lot of pressure on him in pot-limit games."

The heads-up match lasted for well over two hours, with the lead switching back and forth. The stacks were getting shallow and it seemed that one cooler would be the decider. But there was another key moment that helped Harkin get closer to the victory. O'Dell, who was selecting stud-8, suddenly shifted to Omaha-8, a game in which he's won his two bracelets. However, Harkin is also strong in Omaha and revealed that the change of game was to his benefit.

"Honestly, I was glad when Frank changed from playing stud games, cause I'm not used to playing those games short-handed or even in the tournaments," Harkin admitted.

Harkin tackled O'Dell down to crumbs and finished him off in a hand of Big O. "He's a great player," Harkin complimented his final opponent.

O'Dell made a terrific comeback when three-handed, first doubling in 2-7 and then winning a massive pot against George Trigeorgis in Big O when they got all-in on a flop with O'Dell having hit a middle set and Trigeorgis holding a huge draw. Trigeorgis got there on the turn but the board paired on the river and the pot swung O'Dell's way.

Trigeorgis was down to peanuts and never recovered, falling shy of winning his first bracelet for the second time in three days as he finished fifth in the Mixed Triple Draw on Monday.

Fourth-place finisher Anthony Arvidson improved his last year's fifth-place finish, outlasting movie star James Woods who was eliminated in fifth. Woods has been playing at the Series for over a decade and made his first final table in 2016 when he took seventh in the $3k Shootout.

The official final table also featured Scott Abrams who busted in sixth while former Poker Players Championship winner Hennigan walked away in seventh place.

Fans of the Dealer's Choice tournaments should tune back to PokerNews tomorrow (June 7th) as the $10,000 Championship event kicks off at 3pm PST. So come back for the live updates as the 2018 WSOP grind is in full swing.

Tags: Anthony ArvidsonChris KlodnickiFrankie O'DellGeorge TrigeorgisJames WoodsJeff LisandroJeremy HarkinJohn HenniganMike LeahScott Abrams

Frankie O'Dell Eliminated in 2nd Place ($80,256)

Level 30 : 80,000/160,000, 0 ante
Frankie O'Dell
Frankie O'Dell

Big O

Jeremy Harkin raised to 110,000 and Frankie O'Dell called in the big blind.

The flop fell {Q-Clubs}{J-Spades}{8-Hearts} and O'Dell shoved his last 144,000. Harkin called after giving it some thought.

Frankie O'Dell: {A-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{6-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}
Jeremy Harkin: {A-Hearts}{A-Spades}{8-Spades}{7-Spades}{6-Diamonds}

Harkin had a pair of aces against O'Dell's queens and his hand held on the {7-Clubs} and {K-Spades} turnout as he made two pair. O'Dell was rewarded $80,256 for his finish while Harkin becomes first-time WSOP champion for $129,882. End of day wrap to follow shortly.

Player Chips Progress
Jeremy Harkin us
Jeremy Harkin
3,045,000
300,000
300,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Frankie O'Dell us
Frankie O'Dell
Busted
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Frankie O'DellJeremy Harkin

Flush for Harkin

Level 30 : 80,000/160,000, 0 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

From the button, Jeremy Harkin raised to 160,000 and Frankie O'Dell called.

The flop landed {9-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{4-Spades} and O'Dell checked to Harkin who bet 80,000. O'Dell called, and then check-called 160,000 when the turn landed the {Q-Hearts}.

The river fell the {Q-Diamonds}, and both players checked.

Harkin tabled his {A-Clubs}{2-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{7-Hearts}, and he scooped the pot against O'Dell's two pair.

Player Chips Progress
Jeremy Harkin us
Jeremy Harkin
2,745,000
400,000
400,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Frankie O'Dell us
Frankie O'Dell
300,000
-400,000
-400,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Jeremy HarkinFrankie O'Dell

Harkin Raises River

Level 30 : 80,000/160,000, 0 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

After significant betting action preflop and on the flop of {J-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}{Q-Clubs}, the turn landed the {K-Diamonds} and Frankie O'Dell bet out 160,000.

Jeremy Harkin called, and the river landed the {8-Diamonds}.

O'Dell bet, Harkin raised, and O'Dell quickly folded.

Player Chips Progress
Jeremy Harkin us
Jeremy Harkin
2,345,000
845,000
845,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Frankie O'Dell us
Frankie O'Dell
700,000
-845,000
-845,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Jeremy HarkinFrankie O'Dell

Level: 30

Limit Flop / Draw: 40,000/80,000
Stud Games: 20,000-ante, 20,000 bring-in, 80,000 completion
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 20,000/40,000/10,000-ante

Rivered Wheel for Harkin

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 0 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

Jeremy Harkin raised, Frankie O'Dell called and they looked at the {3-Clubs}{J-Clubs}{2-Hearts} flop. O'Dell check-called and the {Q-Hearts} landed on the turn.

O'Dell led out and Harkin called.

The river was the {4-Spades} and O'Dell checked to Harkin who fired. O'Dell sighed but then threw in the calling chips.

"Wheel," Harkin said, rolling over {A-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{5-Spades}. O'Dell showed {Q-}{Q-} and mucked the rest of his hand, losing the pot to his rival.

Player Chips Progress
Jeremy Harkin us
Jeremy Harkin
1,700,000
755,000
755,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Frankie O'Dell us
Frankie O'Dell
1,345,000
-755,000
-755,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Frankie O'DellJeremy Harkin

O'Dell Edges Further Ahead

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 0 ante

Big O

Jeremy Harkin raised to 75,000 and Frankie O'Dell called in the big blind.

The flop landed {5-Hearts}{6-Spades}{10-Clubs} and O'Dell checked to Harkin who bet 100,000. O'Dell called, and then the {A-Clubs} and {7-Diamonds} were checked down.

O'Dell tabled his {A-Hearts}{J-Spades}{J-Clubs}{9-Hearts}{2-Hearts} for a pair of aces and a live deuce, and Harkin mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Frankie O'Dell us
Frankie O'Dell
2,100,000
255,000
255,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Jeremy Harkin us
Jeremy Harkin
945,000
-255,000
-255,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Jeremy HarkinFrankie O'Dell

O'Dell Strikes Back in O8

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 0 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

Frankie O'Dell raised, Jeremy Harkin called and led on the {8-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds} flop. O'Dell raised and Harkin called.

The {3-Clubs} turn saw Harkin check-fold and O'Dell raked in the pot.

The next hand brought another victory for O'Dell as he called Harkin's raise and then led himself on the {4-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} flop. Harkin called.

O'Dell checked the {8-Hearts} turn and Harkin fired. O'Dell called and then led again after the {5-Clubs} hit the river. Harkin called.

"Straight," O'Dell said, turning up {Q-Spades}{7-Spades}{10-Hearts}{6-Hearts}.

Harkin only flashed the {4-Spades} but he ended up scooped.

Player Chips Progress
Frankie O'Dell us
Frankie O'Dell
1,845,000
745,000
745,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Jeremy Harkin us
Jeremy Harkin
1,200,000
-745,000
-745,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Jeremy HarkinFrankie O'Dell