2010 World Series of Poker

Event #30: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 3
Event Info

2010 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a10
Prize
$581,851
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$3,231,900
Entries
2,394
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

Event #30: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em

Day 3 Completed

Mike Ellis WIns Event #30: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em ($581,851)

Mike Ellis - winner!
Mike Ellis - winner!

It's been a long and gruelling day, and as a new day dawns over Vegas, Event #30 has come to an end.

21 players returned today and one by one they trudged off to the payout desk - all of them taking home a little something for their troubles, but we suspect none of them feeling as though they'd really achieved what they'd come in to do.

Except one.

Mike Ellis outlasted an incredible field of almost 2,400 players to take home the biggest win of his poker career. He first made his presence felt on the poker circuit back home in the UK when he took down the GUKPT Grand Final for £197,600 ($407,700) in late 2007. Since then he's added five WSOP cashes to his record, and now he gets to take home not only the biggest poker payday of his life but also his first WSOP bracelet.

The heads up battle between Ellis and his more than worthy opponent Christopher Gonzales was nothing short of epic, lasting almost three hours and seeing the chip lead change hands several times. Both players played stellar poker, and both deserved to win. In the end though, there can only be one winner, and this is Ellis' moment.

Many congratulations to Ellis and indeed all the other finalists. From PokerNews.com at the Rio, very early on a Saturday morning, it's over and out.

Tags: Christopher GonzalesMike Ellis

Christopher Gonzales Eliminated in 2nd Place ($360,906)

Christopher Gonzales - 2nd place
Christopher Gonzales - 2nd place

Mike Ellis raised from the button, and this time Christopher Gonzales re-popped for another 500,000. Ellis called, and they saw a flop.

Shouted Ellis' buddy Paul Parker, the sartorially daring British poker pro, "It's over now Mikey! This is it!"

Flop: {j-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{6-Diamonds}

Gonzalez bet out 1,255,000. That was a very big bet. Ellis paused for a few moments, while Parker continued to call over encouraging things. After a while, he called.

Turn: {5-Diamonds}

Gonzales announced all in. Ellis announced call.

Gonzales: {a-Spades}{a-Hearts} for, well, aces
Ellis: {a-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds} for the nut flush

River: an irrelevant {7-Hearts}

Ladies and gentlemen, at long last, we have a winner.

Tags: Christopher GonzalesMike Ellis

Back to Snail's Pace

After that excitement, our players have reverted to extreme caginess. They are seeing a lot of flops, but nothing terribly exciting is happening on them.

For instance, our two heads-uponauts saw a limp/checked {q-Spades}{9-Clubs}{k-Spades} flop. Chris Gonzales checked to Mike Ellis, who min-bet. Gonzales folded.

It is most heartening that these two gentlemen both so fervently want that precious gold bracelet - but at the same time this is not really a spectator sport. The few railers who remain are mostly sleeping now.

Tags: Mike EllisChristopher Gonzales

Ellis Doubles Up

Mike Ellis limped on the button and Chris Gonzales announced a raise from the big blind. Ellis insta-shoved. Gonzales insta-called.

Ellis: {a-Spades}{5-Hearts}
Gonzales: {k-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}

Board: {a-Hearts}{8-Spades}{j-Spades}{9-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}

Ellis duly doubled up. The stacks are now exactly even, with both players sitting on roughly 5.4 million. We could still be here next week at this rate.

Tags: Mike EllisChristopher Gonzales

Messing After All

After that promising start to the level, everything's gone a bit slow again.

For example, just now Christopher Gonzales limped in on the button and Mike Ellis checked his option. They proceeded to check down the {3-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{9-Diamonds} flop and {2-Spades} turn, before Ellis bet the 160,000 minimum on the {10-Clubs} river. Gonzales called, but mucked when Ellis showed him a {3-} for two pair.

Tags: Mike EllisChristopher Gonzales