A relatively epic heads up battle with the chip lead dancing back and forth between our deserving two has finally been decided, and it is jovial New Orleans resident David Halpern who takes first prize and the coveted bracelet.
Three days ago Mr. Halpern attempted to buy into a cash game but it was full, so finding himself at a loose end and in the mood to play some poker, he bought himself into Event 53 instead on a last-minute whim. He's now converted his $1,500 and a dull afternoon into the highest accolade in poker, and will be taking home a nice bunch of money to go with it -- once he's finished drinking with his new buddy second place finisher William Kohler, of course.
Many congratulations to all of our Day 3 players, and from the Amazon Green Section, it's goodnight.
"This could be it, this could be the last hand," said William Kohler -- actually for three hands in a row, but this time he was right. "Get your poker pad out," he advised your blogger; your blogger took heed.
Kohler bet on 4th street and Halpern called. Kohler bet again on 5th and this time Halpern raised. "Oh, you raise?" said Kohler. He called. Kohler bet again on 6th street, and come 7th he went all in. Call.
All we managed to spot of the action was David Halpern betting on 5th street and then the rest of the hand being checked down, but come 7th, Halpern mucked to Kohler's two pair and Kohler is back up to 1.25 million, while Halpern once again languishes on 850,000.
Perhaps the Scotch is not having the effect on William Kohler that he'd maybe hoped for -- he's now down to 900,000 while sober, sensible David Halpern has snuck into the lead on 1.2 million.
The more astute reader, however, will notice that those counts are still roughly even...