After 21 hours of grueling, crazy poker, we have our first bracelet winner of the 2012 World Series of Poker! A big congratulations goes out to Chiab “Chip” Saechao, who came into today as the chip leader, and rode that momentum to a final table victory in Event #1 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em. He will take home almost $71,000, and of course, the coveted gold bracelet, for his efforts.
732 entrants ponied up the $500 entry fee for the opening event of the series, and 81 of those players walked away with money in their pockets. 46 of those players came back today, including WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. Stewart played very well but, ultimately bowed out in 19th place.
Despite entering today as the chip leader, Saechao remained fairly quiet for the first half of the day. He entered the final table 8th in chips, and seemed very content with sitting back and letting the other players take each other out. With five players left, Saechao won back-to-back coin flips, including a roller coaster hand against Patricia Baker, the eventual runner up. Action began with Patricia Baker opening under-the-gun for 32,000. Action folded around to Saechao in the small blind who immediately pushed his entire stack in for about 260,000 more. Ray Pulford folded from the big and Baker fell into the tank. She eventually slid a calling stack into the middle.
Baker:
Saechao:
"It's a race!" Saechao shouted.
The flop came and a clearly dejected Saechao groaned and shouted, "Ten!"
Turn:
Ask and you shall receive.
A fell on the river, giving Baker trips, but improving Saechao to a full-house as he doubled.
From there, Saechao never looked back, notching three of the final four eliminations, on his way to victory! Once again, a big congratulations go out to Chiab Saechao, our first bracelet winner of the summer!
In what would be the final hand of Event #1, Chiab Saechao completed from the button and Patricia checked her option.
The flop came and Baker check-called a 35,000 bet from Saechao.
Before the turn came, Baker announced a dark check. A landed and Saechao checked behind.
The river came the and Baker announced all in for her last 200,000. Saechao called immediately but was reluctant to turn his hand over. Baker obliged and said, "Straight," as she flipped over . Saechao triumphantly slammed down the for a rivered flush and let out a heart-felt "Woooo!!" upon realizing his victory.
Action began with Chiab Saechao, who opened for 60,000 from the button. Patricia Baker folded from the small blind and James Routos announced he was all in from the big for his last 300,000. Saechao quickly called and hands were revealed.
Routos:
Saechao:
The board ran out , failing to improve Routos' hand and sending him to the rail in 3rd place.
In case you forgot how brutal a game poker can be, this will remind you. Patricia Baker and Ray Pulford just dueled in back to back hands that led to the stunning elimination of Pulford, who was the chip leader for much of this final table.
On the first hand, Pulford limped on the button, Baker called in the small blind, and James Routos checked his option. Baker checked in the dark before the flop came down . Routos checked as well, and Pulford bet out 40,000. Baker was the only caller, and the turn came the . Baker moved all in for 144,000, and a clearly upset Pulford threw his hand into the muck, saying "I flopped the nut straight!"
Now here's the brutal one. Baker limped in from under the gun, and it folded around to Pulford, who decided to check. The dealer fanned out a flop of , and Pulford checked to Baker, who fired out an over bet of 80,000. Pulford made the call, and the turn came the . In the blink of an eye, Pulford checked, Baker moved all in, and Pulford snap called. The cards were flipped, and Pulford had trapped Baker to perfection.
Pulford:
Baker:
Baker had turned two pair, but Pulford had flopped bottom set. Baker would need a queen or an eight to take down the pot and pull out an incredible suck out. Well I'm sure you can guess what happened.
River:
An understandably frustrated Pulford said, in not so kind words "are you kidding me?!?!" When the stacks were counted, it was determined that Baker had more, and Pulford hit the rail in truly stunning fashion.
We are now three handed, with Chaib Saechao holding half the chips in play.
Well that was sudden. On the very next hand, Chiab Saechao limped in under the gun, and action folded all the way around to Nicolas Vaca-Rondon. He moved all in for around 200,000, and Saechao insta-immediately-snap called, and yelled "aces"!
Saechao:
Vaca-Rondon:
The flop brought a couple scary looking cards, but it was safe for Saechao, coming . Saechao told the dealer to keep it high, and the on the turn was right in like with his request. The river was the , and Saechao increased his chip lead, while Vaca-Rondon went to the rail.
Ray Pulford and James Routos have been fixtures at the top of the leaderboard all day, and the two just tangled in a big pot. Action folded to Pulford on the button, and he raised to 26,000. Patricia Baker called out of the small blind, and it was on James Routos in the big blind. He announced raise, and slid a bet of 55,000 into the middle. Both Pulford and Baker came along, and we had a rare three way pot.
The flop came down , and Baker checked to Routos, who kept his foot on the gas, betting out 70,000. Pulford thought for just a few moments before putting the chips in for the call, and Baker folded fairly quickly. The turn brought the , and this time, Routos checked. Pulford saw the opportunity to strike, and fired out 85,000 into the middle. After 15 seconds in the tank, Routos announced "fold" and Pulford's rail celebrated as Pulford showed his hand, for just third pair . That hand gives him the chip lead, while Routos is still plently healthy, sitting comfortably in 2nd place.
Patricia Baker limped in from the cutoff, and it folded around to Matthew Wilmot in the big blind, who checked his option. The flop came down , and Wilmot quickly checked to Baker, who bet out 50,000. Wilmot thought for just a few moments before check raising all in. Now it was Baker's turn, and she too thought for about five seconds before calling! The cards were flipped, and Baker had flopped a monster.
Wilmot:
Baker:
Wilmot would need alot of help to survive as the turn brought the . Wilmot shouted for another five, as that would counterfeit Baker's two pair, but it was close but no cigar for Wilmot, as the hit the river. Wilmot was sent to the rail, while Baker breaks the 500k mark, and is our new chip leader.
Dan O'HairDonald Michael - once the chip leader, now out in 13th place.
And just like that, we're down to a dozen.
In what would be the biggest hand of the evening so far, a very short-stacked Scott Wygal open-shoved for his last remaining chips from under-the-gun. Right behind him, Donald Michael re-shoved his own stack for over 100,000. Right behind *him* Geogri Ivanov announced an all-in of his own, having the previous two players covered. Everyone else folded and hands were revealed.
Ivanov:
Wygal:
Michael:
The board came , which kept Ivanov's big-slick in the lead the entire time as he eliminated two players simultaneously. Keep in mind that when the final two tables began play with 18 remaining, Michael had the chip lead.
With that hand, Ivanov's stack has ballooned to just over 300,000.
A short-stacked Jacob Wesloski moved all in for about his last 13,000 from the cutoff position and found one caller in Matthew Wilmot from the small blind. Trish Baker folded from the big. Revealed hands showed it was a race situation.
Wesloski:
Wilmot:
The board ran out , failing to improve Wesloski's hand and eliminating him from the tournament.
and a clearly dejected Saechao groaned and shouted, "Ten!"
fell on the river, giving Baker trips, but improving Saechao to a full-house as he doubled.
and Baker check-called a 35,000 bet from Saechao.
landed and Saechao checked behind.
and Baker announced all in for her last 200,000. Saechao called immediately but was reluctant to turn his hand over. Baker obliged and said, "Straight," as she flipped over 
. Saechao triumphantly slammed down the 
for a rivered flush and let out a heart-felt "Woooo!!" upon realizing his victory.
. Baker moved all in for 144,000, and a clearly upset Pulford threw his hand into the muck, saying "I flopped the nut straight!"
, and Pulford checked to Baker, who fired out an over bet of 80,000. Pulford made the call, and the turn came the 
. In the blink of an eye, Pulford checked, Baker moved all in, and Pulford snap called. The cards were flipped, and Pulford had trapped Baker to perfection.
on the turn was right in like with his request. The river was the 
, and Baker checked to Routos, who kept his foot on the gas, betting out 70,000. Pulford thought for just a few moments before putting the chips in for the call, and Baker folded fairly quickly. The turn brought the 
, and this time, Routos checked. Pulford saw the opportunity to strike, and fired out 85,000 into the middle. After 15 seconds in the tank, Routos announced "fold" and Pulford's rail celebrated as Pulford showed his hand, 
, failing to improve Wesloski's hand and eliminating him from the tournament.