2011 World Series of Poker

Event #22: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha
Day: 2
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q987
Prize
$292,825
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,445,850
Entries
1,071
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
0

Vilkki and Sarwer Playing Above The Rim

Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Juha Vilkki thinking deeply during Day 2 action
Juha Vilkki thinking deeply during Day 2 action

Juha Vilkki and Jeff Sarwer were spotted engaging in mental warfare during a recent hand. The flop fell {J-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} and Sarwer, a world renowned chess prodigy earlier in life, fired 27,000 into the middle.

Vilkki, who himself is a highly-skilled online player from Finland, made the call and after Sarwer checked the {9-Diamonds} on the turn, he bet 67,000. Sarwer called and the river fell {3-Spades}. This time the Finn fired 75,000 at the chess master and Sarwer went deep into the tank. He began asking Vilkki questions in an attempt to discern some sort of read, eventually asking "will you show if I fold?"

Vilkki just smiled and nodded his head in the affirmative. Evtually Sarwer made the tough laydown and said he folded pocket aces. Vilkki proved to be a man of his word and showed Sarwer his {8-Spades}{9-Spades}{10-Diamonds}{10-} for two pair on the turn. After previously discussing various nuances of PLO play, these two players appear to have developed a respectful rapport, and this hand proved just how complex a game poker can be when it is played by two extremely intelligent individuals.

Tags: Jeff SarwerJuha Vilkki