2008 World Series of Poker

Event 3 - $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
123
Event Info
2008 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q♠4♠
Prize
$214,131
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Entries
713
Level Info
Level
23
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
0
Players Left 1 / 713
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Dominican Done With Dominating

...And right back it goes to Singer.

He limps in from the button, and calls Fernandez' 40,000 raise to see a flop. The flop is {A-Hearts} {7-Diamonds} {6-Spades} and Fernandez tries it on for 60,000, but when Singer makes it 150,000 to go, he looks down at his cards in disgust and folds.

Fernandez then steals Singer's big blind, but next hand Singer's back in it. Fernandez bets 30,000 on a {10-Spades} {2-Spades} {Q-Clubs} flop and Singer calls. They both check the {J-Diamonds} turn, and Singer takes it with a 75,000 bet in position on the {Q-Spades} river.

Tags: David SingerJacobo Fernandez

Dominican Dominates

The balance has been slowly tipping towards Fernandez in recent minutes. By the way, although he currently resides in Florida, he is actually originally from the Dominican Republic, thus facilitating some further punning hilarity.

Our finalists limp and check their way to the turn of a {J-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {5-Spades} {2-Hearts} board, before Fernandez bets a relatively small 40,000 in position. Singer calls, and then checks the {7-Spades} river. Fernandez says nothing but turns over {2-Clubs} {5-Clubs} for two pair. Singer mucks.

Then, with 100,000 in the pot preflop, Fernandez smooth-calls Singer's 65,000 bet on the {3-Diamonds} {7-Clubs} {2-Clubs} flop. They both check the {2-Spades} turn, and Singer gives it up to Fernandez' 175,000 pop at the {8-Clubs} river.

Tempting Fate

After my last report of a relatively aggressive game and the potential for a quick finish, it would appear as though I have jinxed tonight's heads-up confrontation as both players are taking turns to raise it up preflop, the other conceding in double quick time. This alternating game of raise and fold has occurred for the last seven or eight hands.

The Minimum of Fuss

By the way, all this X-bets-24,000 and Y-raises-to-48,000 sort of stuff sounds very impressive, but the truth is that raising to 48,000 preflop is actually a minimum raise with the blinds as enormous as they are right now. Taking that into account, the level of aggression seems to have dropped down a notch or two -- many of the hands we've seen since the players got back from dinner have involved the big blind folding to a minimum raise from the button, or the button folding to a minimum bet on the flop after the players limp/checked preflop.

Having said that, a little while ago the coveted bracelet, resplendent on a very tiny Corum-branded display plinth, appeared on the table. It can't be easy throwing your chips around when that holy grail of poker is within easy physical reach...

Willing to Play

The current prediction is that this event will be over within the next level or two, if only because both players are willing to raise and even re-raise the other in order to steal pots.

There hasn't been too much action of late, but the last five hands did, at the very least, show that this heads up won't turn into a simple case of check, fold, check, fold.

(1) Singer makes it 48,000 preflop and Fernandez calls. Fernandez check-raises the {9-Clubs}{3-Spades}{4-Hearts} flop from 50,000 to 125,000 to take the pot.

(2) Fernandez raises 40,000 preflop and Singer folds.

(3) Fernandez receives a walk in the big blind.

(4) Fernandez limps in the small blind and Singer checks. Check, check on {2-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{9-Clubs} flop. Fernandez calls a 30,000 bet on the {Q-Spades} turn. Both players check the {6-Hearts} river, Fernandez wins with {10-Hearts}{8-Clubs}

(5) Singer raises, Fernandez folds.

Ping Pong Poker

Maybe poker is like tennis after all -- there's been an awful lot of back and forth chip movement, although no major change in the balance yet.

First the players see a {K-Diamonds} {3-Spades} {5-Diamonds} flop, and Fernandez check-calls a 30,000 button bet from Singer. They both check the {A-Diamonds} turn, and Fernandez takes a shot at the pot, betting out 40,000 on the {5-Clubs} river, but gives it up when Singer makes it 130,000. One-love to Singer.

Then Fernandez makes it 70,000 from the button and Singer calls. He goes on to check the {9-Spades} {6-Hearts} {3-Spades} flop, allowing Fernandez to bet 75,000. He dwells for a few moments in utter stillness before, with a sudden jerk of his hand, passing his cards and immediately getting up to chat to someone on the rail. One-all.

What Would They Do?

As the dinner break drew to a close, Dana and I were pondering as to what would happen if one player failed to return. Would they start without him at the scheduled return time or would they agree to wait? How long would they wait? Has this even happened before?

If anyone has an answer, or would like to hazard a guess, then feel free to let us know your thoughts in the shout box.

Meanwhile play continues here at the final table, although mainly small-ball poker thus far.

First Blood to Singer

They're not easing their way in gradually post dinner, a raising war occurring on the very first hand back. With David Singer posting the big blind, Jacobo Fernandez raises to 49,000, only for Singer to make a deep reach and push Fernandez off the hand.

Level: 21

Blinds: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 0

Right On Time

Just as the TD's alarm went off to signify the end of the break, one David Singer and one Jacobo Fernandez strolled back into the non-televised final table 'arena'. Shuffle up and deal some more!
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