Level: 29
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante:
Level: 29
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante:
Stud-8
Chen: X-X / / X
Ivey: X-X / / X
Bill Chen brought it in on third street, then raised Phil Ivey's completion. Ivey, undeterred, re-raised. Chen called to fourth street, where he checked the lead. Ivey fired another bet that Chen called.
Chen also checked fifth street, but raised after Ivey bet. Ivey called that raise, then called bets on sixth street and seventh street. At showdown, Chen tabled two pair, aces and kings, with in the hole, to scoop the whole pot.
The stacks are even again.
Hold'em
It's been a while since Bill Chen had the chip lead. He has it again after raising the button and being called by big blind Phil Ivey. Both players checked a flop of . Ivey led the turn and was called by Chen.
When the river fell , Ivey slowed down. He checked, then folded to a bet from Bill Chen. Chen is up to about 2.5 million after dragging that pot.
Hold'em
The chip lead is changing almost every hand now. If Phil Ivey wins a pot, he grabs the lead. If Bill Chen wins a pot, he grabs the lead. After a few small hold'em pots, Bill Chen has 1.9 million and Phil Ivey has 2.4 million chips.
Hold'em
Bill Chen raised the button, with Phil Ivey calling from the big blind. Ivey then led into Chen on a flop of and the turn. Chen called the first bet, but on the turn he put in a raise. Ivey called that raise to see the fall on the river. He checked to Chen, then put in a check-raise after Chen bet. Chen decided not to call, folding his hand and slipping to 1.1 million in the process.
Omaha-8
Even at this stage of the tournament, being quartered happens. Bill Chen raised his button and Phil Ivey called. Ivey check-raised a flop of , with Bill Chen calling. Ivey then went into check-call mode, check-calling the turn and river. Each player made the same straight for high, but Chen got the low with to Ivey's .
Chen is still down in the match with 1.5 million in chips.
Omaha-8
After a couple of chopped pots, Phil Ivey raised the button and Bill Chen called. Chen check-called a bet on a flop of , but when Ivey fired again on the turn, Chen surrendered. He's down to 1.25 million now.
Omaha-8
Bill Chen raised his button and was called by Phil Ivey. Ivey check-raised a flop, then took the pot down with a bet on the turn.
Chen is back down to less than a million. He's got 950,000. This has been a long, steady march for Ivey but it seems like he's closing in on his eighth bracelet unless things drastically change for Bill Chen.
Razz
We thought we were on a five-minute razz siesta. Every previous round of razz in the heads-up portion of this match saw the high card bring it in, the low card complete, and the high card fold. In fact, on the first hand of razz this round, Phil Ivey brought it in and just immediately passed the bring-in chips to Bill Chen rather than wait for Chen to complete.
On the final hand of the tournament, Chen brought it in with a deuce and Ivey completed an ace. Chen then raised and Ivey re-raised. That's where Chen stopped and motioned to TD Bob Smith.
"I have a question," said Chen. "How many raises are we allowed?"
"Heads-up, as many as you like," Smith replied. Chen then put in the next raise, which Ivey just called.
Both players caught babies on fourth street. Ivey was slightly better and bet the lead. Chen called. The situation repeated itself on fifth street. Ivey bet, Chen raised, Ivey re-raised and like that Chen was all in. The reveal showed an ugly situation for Chen:
Chen: A-5 / 2-7-6, a made 7-6
Ivey: 3-5 / A-6-2, a made 6-5
Improbably, each player started three to a wheel and made a strong low in 5. Ivey's was stronger and left Chen looking for a 3 just to chop the pot. Each player drew a 7 on sixth street, no help. Down the river, Chen pulled a 10, which was no help. Ivey, because he's Ivey, obviously pulled an unnecessary 4 to end the tournament in style with a wheel.
Chen leaves in 2nd place with $203,802 in prize money.