Event 15: $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better | 2012 World Series of Poker

06-08-2012 14:38 UTC-6

The Crowning of a Champion Occurs Today

Josh_Cahlik

In a few moments cards will be in the air for Event 15: $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better. Only 19 remain in contention from the original starting field of 212. Leading the way is Adam Friedman with a stack of 323,500.

Right on Friedman's heels is John Monnette, who already took down a bracelet this year in Event 10: $5,000 Seven Card Stud. Monnette is sitting on a stack of 314,500. Rounding out the top three in chips is Brian Twete with 284,500.

Yesterday's play began with 137 players, but since the field played a full ten levels, many were sent home with their dreams of winning a World Series of Poker bracelet dashed. Among those to bust yesterday and receive no cash for their efforts include Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negreanu, Eugene Katchalov, David Benyamine, Doyle Brunson, and ESPN commentator Norman Chad. Andy Bloch, who also won a stud bracelet this WSOP in Event 7: $1,500 Seven Card Stud, was eliminated last night just after making the money.

Throughout all of the buzz in the Amazon room, there remains one name on everybody's lips: Phil. Whether it is eleven-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth or eight-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey depends on who you talk to. The two champions are coming into the field with almost equal stacks with Ivey sitting on 234,000 and Hellmuth on 233,000. Ivey skipped last year's WSOP and his last bracelet win occurred in 2010 when he defeated Bill Chen heads up in Event #37: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E..

Hellmuth, on the other hand, had a roller coaster of a year in 2011, finishing second in three separate bracelet events. Coming so close and not being able to clinch a twelfth bracelet no doubt had a harrowing effect on Hellmuth, and he will certainly be playing to win once again this year. Most notably from last year's WSOP, Hellmuth's final second place finish occurred when he lost heads up to Brian Rast in Event #55: $50,000 Poker Player's Championship.

As you watch today's exciting coverage, if you find yourself confused on the rules of Stud Eight or better, or simply need a refresher, be sure to check out our rules page.

We're moments away from the players hitting the felt, so be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the latest updates on the exciting conclusion to this bracelet event!

Tags: Adam Friedman Phil Hellmuth Phil Ivey

06-08-2012 15:36 UTC-6

Eli Elezra Eliminated in 19th Place ($9,675)

Josh_Cahlik

We missed the exact details of the hand, but can officially report that Eli Elezra, who won this event in 2007, has been eliminated in 19th place.

Tags: Eli Elezra

06-08-2012 16:07 UTC-6

Allen Bari Eliminated in 17th Place ($9,675)

[user101598]

Allen Bari : {x-} {x-} / {a-Spades} {9-Diamonds} {10-Diamonds} {8-Spades} / {x-}
Sven Arntzen : {x-} {x-} / {2-Hearts} {4-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {2-Spades} / {x-}

Arntzen brought it in with the {2-Hearts} showing, Phil Ivey completed with an ace showing, and Bari raised with the {a-Spades} . Arntzen called, and Ivey mucked. Bari check-called bets on fourth and fifth street, and when Arntzen paired on sixth, he led out. Bari called.

Arntzen fired once more on seventh, and Bari called. Arntzen tabled {k-Clubs} {6-Spades} {7-Spades} for sevens and deuces, and Bari unhappily mucked, leaving himself with only 20,000 chips.

He busted soon after to Brian Twete.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sven Arntzen	390,000 116,500	116,500
Allen Bari	Busted

Tags: Alle Bari Sven Arntzen

06-08-2012 16:37 UTC-6

Hellmuth Crippled

[user101598]

Jesse Martin	/ (FOLDED)
Alexander Krapivinsky	/ /
Phil Hellmuth	/ /

Hellmuth brought it in with the {2-Clubs} showing, Martin completed with the {6-Clubs} , and Krapivinsky called. Hellmuth put in another raise, Martin reraised, and Krapivinsky called again. Hellmuth called as well.

The action checked the Hellmuth on fourth, and he tossed out a bet. Both Martin and Krapivinsky called. Hellmuth made a pair on fifth and led out, and this time only Krapivinsky called. Hellmuth led again on sixth, and Krapivinsky again called.

When Hellmuth led out on seventh however, Krapivinsky immediately raised. Hellmuth called.

"Straight," Krapivinsky announced, tabling {7-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {4-Clubs} .

"GOD DAMMIT!" Hellmuth shouted, knocking his chair over. He muttered a few more adult words under his breath while Krapivinsky was scooping the pot, but we couldn't hear exactly what he was saying.

Adam Friedman, who's been needling Hellmuth for the better part of two days, tried to explain that, with a low, Krapivinsky was free rolling in sixth street. Hellmuth would hear none of it.

"Well played," Friedman announced loudly.

Krapivinsky could only smile.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexander Krapivinsky	255,000 167,000	167,000
Phil Hellmuth	51,000 -85,000	-85,000

Tags: Alexander Krapivinsky Phil Hellmuth

06-08-2012 17:13 UTC-6

Phil Hellmuth Eliminated in 15th Place ($11,637)

[user101598]

Phil Hellmuth may win his twelfth WSOP bracelet some day, but it won't be here in Event 15: $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better.

After winning a few small pots, Hellmuth was back above 100,000 chips. After a hand with Adam Friedman however, he was left with only 18,000.

Hellmuth: {x-} {x-} / {6-Spades} {10-Hearts} {a-Diamonds} {10-Spades} / {x-}
Friedman: {x-} {x-} / {5-Diamonds} {3-Clubs} {a-Spades} {k-Diamonds} / {x-}
Phil Ivey: {x-} {x-} / {a-Hearts} {q-Spades} {k-Spades} (FOLDED)

We got to the table on fourth street, and the action checked to Friedman who bet. Both Ivey and Hellmuth called. On fifth, Ivey and Hellmuth checked again, and Friedman bet. This time, only Hellmuth called. When Hellmuth paired on sixth, he reached for chips.

"Go ahead and bet," Friedman said.

He did, and Friedman called.

"I don't think you understand the concept of hi-lo games," Friedman told him.

Hellmuth checked on seventh, and Friedman tossed out a bet before he even looked down at his seventh card.

"Nice call," Friedman jabbed again. "If you call you're the next one out."

Hellmuth begrudgingly called, and Friedman turned over {6-Diamonds} {4-Diamonds} before squeezing his last card - the {q-Diamonds} . Friedman gave a little fist pump, while Hellmuth tabled {7-Clubs} {3-Hearts} {4-Clubs} , and began incorrectly pulling his bets back.

"What are you doing?" Friedman shot at him.

Hellmuth eventually realized that Friedman had the best of both, and mucked his hand. Friedman continued jabbing Hellmuth after the hand, until Jack Effel stepped in and stopped it.

A few hands later, Hellmuth was all in on third with a pair of nines, and Friedman had {a-Spades} {10-Spades} {2-Spades} . Friedman picked up a pair of aces on fourth and then two pair on fifth, and Hellmuth never caught up.

Hellmuth is out, while Friedman is among the chip leaders.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adam Friedman	525,000 310,000	310,000

Phil Hellmuth	Busted

Tags: Adam Friedman Phil Hellmuth

06-08-2012 17:14 UTC-6

Ben Yu Eliminated in 14th Place ($14,009)

Josh_Cahlik

Phil Ivey was the bring in and Adam Friedman completed. Ben Yu raised, leaving himself with only a little bit behind and Friedman re-raised him all in. Friedman made a pair of sevens on fourth and added a pair of ducks to that on sixth.

Yu was able to make an eighty-five low but Friedman also had the low covered with a seventy-five. Yu was sent home and will collect $14,009 for his 14th place finish.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ben Yu	Busted

Tags: Adam Friedman Ben Yu

06-08-2012 17:38 UTC-6

Nicholas Verkaik Eliminated in 13th Place ($14,009)

Josh_Cahlik

Nicholas Verkaik got it all in on fourth street against both Adam Friedman and Phil Ivey. Friedman picked up with aggression, betting on both sixth and seventh and Ivey called both bets. Both Ivey and Friedman chopped the high with a flush while Friedman took the low with a sixty-five.

Verkaik, on the other hand, made a seventy-six low but was it was not enough to stay alive in the tournament. He will collect $14,009 for his efforts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Verkaik	Busted

Tags: Nicholas Verkaik Phil Ivey Adam Friedman

06-08-2012 17:49 UTC-6

Ivey Wins One, Then Loses One

[user101598]

John Monnette	/ /
Adam Friedman	/ (FOLDED)
Phil Ivey	/ /

After winning a pot, Phil Ivey was three-handed with Adam Friedman and John Monnette on fourth street. The action checked to Monnette who bet, and both Friedman and Ivey called. Monnette paired on fifth, and led out. Only Ivey called.

On sixth, Monnette led out again, and Ivey called. Monnette fired one more bet on seventh street, and Ivey was none too happy. He cut out enough pink T5,000 chips to make the call, then slammed them back onto his stack. He did this again, and then finally tossed them forwards.

Monnette turned over {q-Hearts} {8-Clubs} {6-Hearts} for a straight and an eighty-seven low, and Ivey mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Monnette	605,000 43,000	43,000

Phil Ivey	175,000 57,000	57,000

Tags: Adam Friedman John Monnette Phil Ivey

06-08-2012 17:57 UTC-6

Christopher George Eliminated in 12th Place ($17,187)

Josh_Cahlik

Zimnan Ziyard bet the rest of Christopher George's chips all in on fifth street and George called. George held {A-Hearts} {6-Clubs} up but failed to make his hand into either a high or a low and was sent to the rail in 12th place, collecting $17,187 in tournament winnings.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zimnan Ziyard	270,000 65,000	65,000
Christopher George	Busted

Tags: Christopher George Zimnan Ziyard

06-08-2012 18:38 UTC-6

Brian Twete Eliminated in 9th Place ($21,392)

Josh_Cahlik

Friedman:

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Arntzen:

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/

Twete:

/

/

We picked up the action on fifth street when Brian Twete led out with a bet. Sven Arntzen called and Adam Friedman pushed out a raise. Twete announced and three-bet and Arntzen called once again. Friedman four-bet only to have Twete cap the action with a five-bet. The five-bet received two callers and on sixth Twete bet out again and had Arntzen call. Friedman raised and Twete called all in. Arntzen called and the three were off to seventh street.

Arntzen and Friedman both checked seventh and Arntzen showed {K-Spades} {j-Clubs} {6-Spades} for kings up. Friedman showed {Q-Clubs} {5-Clubs} {3-Spades} for a seventy-six low and Twete flipped up {Q-Diamonds} {Q-Spades} {8-Spades} for the losing hand on both ends.