Event 26 - $1,500 Limit Hold'em | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-14-2009 14:19 UTC-12

Doubting Tomas

After a few hands of heads up, Jason Tam had Tomas Alenius down to about 420,000. Then Alenius took three small pots in a row. Next came a hand in which Tam raised from the small blind/button, and Alenius called.

The flop came {3-Spades}

. Alenius checked, Tam bet, and Alenius called. The turn was the {8-Clubs}

, and again Alenius check-called Tam.

The river was the {A-Diamonds}

, and Alenius again checked in same fashion as he had on the previous streets. Tam touched his chips, but then looked at Alenius and decided to check behind.

Tam turned over {7-Spades}

, but Alenius had {A-Clubs}

for the rivered pair of aces. Alenius has inched back up to 920,000 to Tam's almost two million.

06-14-2009 14:12 UTC-12

Heads-Up Chip Counts

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The bracelet is on the table and cards are in the air. Jason Tam enters heads-up play with a 3-1 chip lead over his opponent, Tomas Alenius.

Jason Tam 2,175,000
Tomas Alenius 720,000

06-14-2009 14:08 UTC-12

Al "Sugar Bear" Barbieri Eliminated in 3rd Place ($80,072)

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Al Barbieri raised from the button, Jason Tam three-bet from the small blind and Barbieri made the call. The flop came down {A-Spades}

and Tam led out. Barbieri raised, Tam three-bet, Barbieri four-bet and Tam called. The turn came the {7-Hearts}

. Tam led out and Barbieri called all in for 15,000.

Barbieri {J-Spades}

Tam

The river was the {4-Diamonds}

and the ever-colorful "Sugar Bear" hit the rail in third place, leaving Tam and Tomas Alenius heads-up for the bracelet.

06-14-2009 14:04 UTC-12

Tam Taking Over

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Jason Tam is on a brief rush here after the dinner break, and with the blinds and limits this high, things can change rapidly in just a couple of hands.

After taking a couple of hands off of each of his opponents, a hand came up where Tomas Alenius raised his button, and Tam called from the big blind. The flop came {3-Spades}

. Tam checked, Alenius bet, Tam check-raised, and Alenius called. The turn was the {6-Clubs}

, and once again Tam checked, Alenius bet, Tam check-raised and Alenius called.

The river was the {K-Spades}

and both checked. Tam showed {10-Hearts}

for the flopped two pair, and Alenius {A-Diamonds}

. Tam is way up over 1.8 million now, Alenius down to 720,000, and Barbieri down to 290,000.

Tags: Jason Tam

06-14-2009 13:52 UTC-12

Play Resumes

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Players are back in their seats and cards are in the air.

Level: 25

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0

06-14-2009 12:53 UTC-12

Players Take a 60-Minute Dinner Break

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Play will resume at 6:50 p.m. local time (PDT).

06-14-2009 12:52 UTC-12

Updated Chip Counts

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Tomas Alenius -- 1.32 million
Jason Tam -- 945,000
Al Barbieri -- 455,000

06-14-2009 12:48 UTC-12

Big Hands in the Blinds

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Jason Tam opened with a raise from the small blind, Tomas Alenius three-bet from the big blind, Tam made it four, and Alenius called.

Alenius called Tam's bets on all three streets as the board came {5-Hearts}

, taking some time before making that last call. Tam turned over {Q-Clubs}

, and Alenius mucked.

Tam back up around one million now, Alenius has about 1.2 million, and Barbieri is still sitting at approximately 550,000.

06-14-2009 12:44 UTC-12

Barbieri Rebound

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Jason Tam raised from the button, Tomas Alenius folded, and Al Barbieri called from the big blind. The flop came {10-Hearts}

, and Barbieri immediately bet. Tam called. The turn was the {7-Hearts}

. Barbieri quickly tossed out chips to bet, Tam raised, and Barbieri again with zero hesitation three-bet. Tam called.

The river was the {3-Spades}

. Barbieri put his last 40,000 in the middle, and as Tam called he asked "You got two pair?" "I do have two pair," said Barbieri, turning over {7-Diamonds}

. Tam showed his pocket kings and mucked. "That's the second time," he said, alluding to the earlier hand when Barbieri flopped a straight to crack Tam's kings.

Barbieri bounces back to 550,000 on that one.