2012 World Series of Poker

Event 16: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Six-Handed
Day: 3
Event Info

2012 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Matthew Matros
Winning Hand
65
Prize
$454,835
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$2,165,400
Entries
1,604
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000

Congratulations to Matt Matros, Event #16 $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed Champion ($454,835)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Matt Matros
Matt Matros

It has been a wild, action packed three days here at the Rio, and the sun has set on Event #16: $1,500 No-Limit Six-Handed. An incredible 1,604 players brought in for this tournament, but there could only be one victor. That man is Matt Matros. He took home his third gold bracelet in as many years, and oh yeah, also won $454,835 to boot.

We started Day 3 with just nine players, and we quickly got down to our final table within the first level. The first victim of the day was Jonathan Currle. He got caught four bet shoving with {k-Hearts} {j-Diamonds}. He ran into the {a-Clubs} {a-Hearts} of Matros, and he wasn’t able to catch any miracles.

Mike Matusow entered today with high hopes, starting off today third in chips. Matusow was looking for bracelet #4, but those chances took a big hit early when his queens lost to the ace-king of Ramey Shaio. He was eliminated a few hands later, when his {a-Diamonds} {10-Clubs} could not beat Robert Muzzatti’s {k-Hearts} {k-Clubs}. Matusow’s elimination got us down to our unofficial final table, and this is how the stacks looked as we entered it.

TableSeatPlayerChips
11Gordon Vayo460,000
12Matt Matros1,400,000
13Ramey Shaio1,000,000
14Robert Muzzatti1,420,000
15Mark Darner730,000
16Matt Glantz600,000
17Mark Radoja750,000

It took just one hand for us to lose our first player, and that was arguably the most notable player left in the field, Matt Glantz. It was another race that decided this huge pot, as Glantz held {a-Hearts} {k-Clubs} against the {q-Diamonds} {q-Hearts} of Ramey Shaio. A queen on the flop virtually ended the hand, and Glantz went home in a disappointing 7th.

We played six handed for about two hours without losing anybody, or even coming close really. The action was very slow, with the hands rarely getting to showdown. Then, in a flash, we lost three players in six hands!

On the first hand, Matt Matros four bet shoved on Mark Darner, who made the call with {a-Hearts} {j-Hearts}. Matros had him dominated with {a-Spades}{k-Hearts}. It stayed that way on the {7-Diamonds}{q-Spades}{5-Clubs} flop, but Darner shot ahead when the {j-Clubs} hit the turn. It wasn’t meant to be for Darner though, as the {10-Spades} hit the river, giving Matros a winning straight. On the very next hand, Matros played executioner again. This time his victim was Robert Muzzatti, who held {a-Spades}{k-Spades}. Matros showed {q-Diamonds}{q-Spades}, and the board ran down {6-Spades}{3-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}, giving Matros the knockout.

Just a few hands later, Gordon Vayo too met his end. He got it in preflop holding {a-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}, and it looked like it would be a chop, as he was up against Mark Radoja’s {a-Diamonds}{k-Spades}. However, the flop came down {2-Spades}{10-Spades}{j-Spades}, giving Radoja a freeroll for the win. The {6-Hearts} on the turn was a blank, but the {3-Spades} on the river was anything but that, giving Radoja the win, brutally knocking out Vayo.

Another hour passed before we lost Ramey Shaio. He was all in with {3-Hearts}{3-Clubs} and he was in a race with Radoja, who held {a-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}. Radoja flopped a ten, and despite hitting a four outer earlier to survive, Shaio couldn’t find a miracle three to come back.

The two remaining players were bracelet winners: Matt Matros and Mark Radoja. These two players started today with the second and third shortest stacks, so they both had quite an impressive journey to heads up play. Matros was looking to become just the third player in the last 30 years to win a WSOP bracelet in three consecutive years, while Radoja was looking to make it two years in a row with a WSOP win. It turned out that the former would be making history today.

The two were dead even as we started heads up play, but Radoja took a big lead early. However, it took about an hour for Matros to climb back, and the tide turned when Matros turned two pair, and got paid off after a big bet on the river after Radoja tanked for five minutes. About twenty minutes later, the bracelet belonged to Matros. He shoved on the turn of a {10-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{8-Spades} board, and was snap called by Radoja, who had a straight. Matros held just {6-Hearts}{5-Hearts}, but destiny was on his side, as the {10-Hearts} hit the river, completing his flush, and giving Matros his third bracelet.

PlacePlayerPrize
1stMatt Matros$454,835
2ndMark Radoja$281,502
3rdRamey Shaio$182,521
4thGordon Vayo$121,262
5thRobert Muzzatti$81,202
6thMark Darner$56,300
7thMatt Glantz$40,059
8thMike Matusow$40,059
9thJonathan Currle$29,665

That wraps it up for us here! We hope you enjoyed the coverage all day! Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews, as we are bringing you action from all over the Rio! For now, good night from Las Vegas!

Tags: Matt Matros

Mark Radoja Eliminated in 2nd Place($281,502)

Mark Radoja- Runner Up
Mark Radoja- Runner Up

Mark Radoja raised to 100,000 on the button, and Matt Matros called. The flop came down {10-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}{2-Hearts}, and Matros check called a bet of 100,000. The turn was the {8-Spades}, and Matros led out for 175,000, and Radoja raised it up to 475,000. Matros asked him what he had behind, and after about a minute, shoved all in. Radoja snap called, and the cards were tabled.

Matros: {6-Hearts}{5-Hearts}
Radoja: {j-Hearts}{7-Spades}

Radoja had turned a straight, and would need to just dodge a heart on the river to win the pot. He couldn't do it, as the {10-Hearts} hit the river. Radoja will take home $281,502 for his efforts, falling just short of his 2nd bracelet.

Player Chips Progress
Matthew Matros us
Matthew Matros
WSOP 3X Winner
7,200,000 1,700,000
Mark Radoja ca
Mark Radoja
WSOP 2X Winner
Busted

Tags: Mark RadojaMatt Matros

Ramey Shaio Eliminated in 3rd Place($182,521)

Ramey Shaio
Ramey Shaio

Action started with Mark Radoja on the button, and he raised to 80,000. It folded to Ramey Shaio in the big blind, and he went all in. Radoja made the call, and the cards were tabled.

Radoja: {a-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}
Shaio: {3-Clubs}{3-Hearts}

It was a monster flop for Radoja, coming {2-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}{10-Spades}. Radoja gave a huge fist pump, and a big yell of excitiment as he jumped to the lead. The turn was the {7-Diamonds}, and we were down to the river. Shaio would need a three and a three only to take the pot, but it was close but no cigar, coming the {4-Diamonds}. Shaio hit the rail, earning over $180,000 for his efforts.

Player Chips Progress
Ramey Shaio
Ramey Shaio
Busted

Tags: Ramey ShaioMark Radoja

Gordon Vayo Eliminated in 4th Place($121,262)

Gorden Vayo
Gorden Vayo

Seriously, who's writing this?! We have now lost our third player in about six hands. On the first hand of the new level, Ramey Shaio raised under the gun to 65,000. Mark Radoja three bet to 125,000, and it was on Gordon Vayo. He shoved all in for about 500,000, and Shaio folded. Radoja snap called, and the cards were flipped.

Radoja: {a-Diamonds}{k-Spades}
Vayo: {a-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}

"You have two suits!" Vayo astutely pointed out, as Radoja's ace of diamonds trumped Vayo's king. The flop ran out all spades, {2-Spades}{10-Spades}{j-Spades}. Radoja shot out of his chair in excitment, while Vayo had a disgusted look on his face. Radoja was now freerolling on the knockout, but he missed it on the turn, the {6-Hearts}. However, the {3-Spades} hit the river, and Radoja gave a huge fist pump as he scored the unlikely knock out.

Vayo will leave with a bitter taste in his mouth, but the $121,262 will likely soothe his pains a bit. And just like that, we are down to three.

Player Chips Progress
Mark Radoja ca
Mark Radoja
WSOP 2X Winner
2,400,000 700,000
Gordon Vayo us
Gordon Vayo
Busted

Tags: Gordon VayoMark Radoja

Robert Muzzatti Eliminated in 5th Place($81,202)

Robert Muzzatti
Robert Muzzatti

Well then. After playing six handed for the last two hours, we have now lost two players in as many hands. Right after Mark Darner was eliminated, Matros raised to 52,000 under the gun. It folded to Robert Muzzatti in the big blind, and he three bet to 200,000. It got back to Matros, and in what was a carbon copy of the hand before, he four bet shoved, and was called by his opponent. The cards were flipped, and it was a classic race.

Matros: {q-Diamonds}{q-Spades}
Muzzatti: {a-Spades}{k-Spades}

Muzzatti didn't pair the flop, but it did come {6-Spades}{3-Diamonds}{10-Spades} giving him a flush draw. Muzzatti hit his hand on the felt a few times, clearly happy with the new outs he received. The {5-Diamonds} hit the turn, and Matros looked at his rail, and motioned "one more". If he could dodge an ace, king, or spade, he would take another big pot. The {6-Diamonds} hit the river, and Matros collected the bounty.

Muzzatti will take home over $80,000 for his efforts, while Matros holds almost half the chips in play as we enter four handed.

Player Chips Progress
Matthew Matros us
Matthew Matros
WSOP 3X Winner
3,300,000 900,000
Robert Muzzatti
Robert Muzzatti
Busted

Mark Darner Eliminated in 6th Place($56,300)

Mark Darner
Mark Darner

Matt Matros raised in the cutoff to 54,000, and it folded to Mark Darner in the big blind. He put in a three bet to 140,000, and it was back to Matros, who shoved all in. Darner thought for a minute before calling off the rest of his stack, and he was in bad shape.

Matros: {a-Spades}{k-Hearts}
Darner: {a-Hearts}{j-Hearts}

The flop came down {7-Diamonds}{q-Spades}{5-Clubs}, and Matros was well out in front. However, the {j-Clubs} spiked on the turn, and Darner's rail erupted. Darner looked at his rail, and told them to calm down, as the hand was far from over. Matros could catch a king or a ten to win, and sure enough, the {10-Spades} slammed down on the river, giving Matros broadway.

Darner will take home over $56,000 for his efforts, while Matros takes the chip lead, as he's up to 2.4 million.

Player Chips Progress
Matthew Matros us
Matthew Matros
WSOP 3X Winner
2,400,000 765,000
Mark Darner us
Mark Darner
Busted

Matt Glantz Eliminated in 7th Place ($40,059)

Matt Glantz
Matt Glantz

We missed the exact action, but we know that after facing a raise, Matt Glantz shoved his last 600,000 in with {a-Hearts}{k-Clubs}, and was called by Ramey Shaio, who held {q-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}. This race would determine the chip lead, and it went from a race to a demolition when the flop came {2-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}. Shaio's rail exploded, as Glantz was simply left shaking his head. The turn was the {8-Diamonds}, leaving Glantz drawing dead. The meaningless river was the {3-Clubs}, and Glantz bubbled the official final table.

It has been a dream day for Shaio so far. He came into today as the short stack, but he is now on top of the mountain, holding the chip lead at 1.885 million as we enter the final table.

Player Chips Progress
Ramey Shaio
Ramey Shaio
1,885,000 885,000
Matt Glantz us
Matt Glantz
Busted

Tags: Matt GlantzRamey Shaio

Mike Matusow Eliminated in 8th Place ($40,059)

Mike Matusow
Mike Matusow

Mike Matusow came into today with high hopes, but in less then a level, those hopes have come crashing down. He lost a huge race about 20 minutes ago, and he was just eliminated. It started with Matusow on the button, and he raised it up to 35,000. Robert Muzzatti three bet all in, and when it got back to Matusow, he made the call. The cards were tabled, and Matusow was in a world of hurt.

Matusow: {a-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}
Muzzatti: {k-Hearts}{k-Clubs}

The flop was a disaster for Matusow, coming {3-Spades}{9-Spades}{k-Diamonds}. Matusow could only win with a running queen and jack for a straight, and to rub salt in the wound, Matusow hit a now useless {a-Hearts} on the turn. The river was the {q-Spades}, and an understandably disappointed Matusow hit the rail. He will have to wait another day to grab his 4th bracelet.

The seven remaining players are now moving into the thunderdome, where we will have our unofficial final table.

Player Chips Progress
Robert Muzzatti
Robert Muzzatti
1,420,000 140,000
Mike Matusow us
Mike Matusow
WSOP 4X Winner
Busted

Tags: Mike MatusowRobert Muzzatti

Jonathan Currle Eliminated in 9th Place($29,665)

Jonathan Currle
Jonathan Currle

Action started with Matt Matros raising it up to 35,000. Jonathan Currle was next to act, and he three bet to 85,000. It got back to Matros, and after about 45 seconds of thinking, he four bet to 190,000, with about 400k behind. Currle thought for about 15 seconds before shoving, and Matros snapped called.

Matros: {a-Clubs}{a-Hearts}
Currle: {k-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}

Currle got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he would need a world of help. The flop hardly brought any, coming {q-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{6-Hearts}. The {a-Diamonds} hit the turn, and while it gave Matros a set of aces, it was actually a great card for Currle, as it kept him alive with a straight draw. A ten on the river would give him the unlikely double up, but the river brought the {q-Diamonds}.

Currle was sent to the payout desk, while the two-time bracelet winner Matros is now our chip leader with 1.3 million.

Player Chips Progress
Matthew Matros us
Matthew Matros
WSOP 3X Winner
1,325,000 785,000
Jonathan Currle de
Jonathan Currle
Busted

Tags: Jonathan CurrleMatt Matros