Event 18: $2,500 Seven Card Razz | 2012 World Series of Poker

06-10-2012 22:30 UTC-7

"I Had You For a Minute"

Chad Holloway

Scott Fischman completed with a {2-} and received a call from the {4-} of Phil Hellmuth. The latter took the lead on the turn and fired out a bet, which Fischman called. The lead changed again on fifth, which saw Hellmuth call a bet from Fischman. Unfortunately for the "Poker Brat," he would pair on sixth and fold to a Fischman bet.

Hellmuth: (x-x) / {4-} {2-} {K-} {4-}
Fischman: (x-x) / {2-} {10-} {4-} {3-}

"Nice hand, Scott," Hellmuth said. "I had you for a minute."

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	975,000 125,000	125,000

Scott Fischman	300,000 96,000	96,000

Tags: Phil Hellmuth Scott Fischman

06-10-2012 22:40 UTC-7

Updated Chip Counts

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Chad Holloway

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	1,170,000 195,000	195,000

Brandon Cantu	675,000 245,000	245,000

Don Zewin	475,000 25,000	25,000
Scott Fischman	195,000 105,000	105,000

06-10-2012 22:55 UTC-7

Scott Fischman Eliminated in 4th Place ($54,248)

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Scott Fischman: {x-} {x-} / {6-} {9-} {a-} {10-} / {x-}
Brandon Cantu: {x-} {x-} / {8-} (FOLDED)
Don Zewin: {x-} {x-} / {5-} {4-} {5-} {a-} / {x-}

Cantu brought it in, Zewin completed, and Fischman raised. Only Zewin called. Fischman called a bet on fourth street, and when Zewin paired on fifth, Fischman led out. Zewin called, and Fischman bet all in on sixth. Zewin called.

Fischman: {4-} {2-}
Zewin: {6-} {2-}

Zewin was turned over a {10-} on seventh, so Fischman was drawing, but the {q-} did not improve his hand. Fischman was eliminated in fourth place, while Zewin moved into second on the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Don Zewin	690,000 215,000	215,000
Scott Fischman	Busted

Tags: Scott Fischman Don Zewin

06-10-2012 23:03 UTC-7

The Rich Get Richer

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Chad Holloway

Brandon Cantu put out a bet on the turn and received a call from Phil Hellmuth before slowing down and checking fifth. Hellmuth took the opportunity to bet, which put Cantu in the tank for a solid minute. He eventually made the call only to check-folded to Hellmuth's bet on sixth. Per usual, Hellmuth showed him the goods.

Hellmuth: {2-} {8-} / {J-} {5-} {3-} {4-}
Cantu: (x-x) / {6-} {3-} {10-} {7-}

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	1,700,000 530,000	530,000

Don Zewin	415,000 275,000	275,000
Brandon Cantu	215,000 460,000	460,000

Tags: Phil Hellmuth Brandon Cantu

06-10-2012 23:16 UTC-7

Hellmuth Pulling Away

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Phil Hellmuth	/
Don Zewin	/

Hellmuth brought it in, Zewin completed, and Hellmuth raised. Zewin called. Zewin check-called a bet on fourth street, then folded to a bet on fifth.

Hellmuth has a huge lead now, and can surely smell his twelfth bracelet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	1,800,000 100,000	100,000

Don Zewin	440,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Phil Hellmuth Don Zewin

Level: 26

Limits: 30,000/60,000

Ante: 7,000

06-10-2012 23:25 UTC-7

Brandon Cantu Eliminated in 3rd Place ($74,269)

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Chad Holloway

Don Zewin brought it in with a {K-} and was met with a completion by Phil Hellmuth. Brandon Cantu came along for the ride, Zewin got out of the way, and it was off to the turn. Cantu ended up with the lead and bet out, which prompted Hellmuth to ask for a count.

"Can't afford to let you bluff me," Hellmuth said. "Let's put it all in." He then raised and put the pressure back on Cantu, who though for about 40 seconds before three-betting. Sure enough, his chips ended up in the pot and his tournament life was at risk.

Cantu: {4-} {9-} / {5-} {2-} {3-} {J-} / (x)
Hellmuth: {A-} {5-} / {7-} {8-} {4-} {10-} / {6-}

Hellmuth had the best hand when the money went in and maintained the lead through sixth. Hellmuth quickly showed the {6-} he received on seventh, which meant Cantu needed either a six, seven or ace on the river to win. He squeezed it out slowly and there were no pips visible, meaning it could be an ace. He said it was also a heart, and the {A-Hearts} was alive. He completed the squeeze and all the tension disappeared when he turned over the {3-Hearts} .

Hellmuth's hand held to send Cantu to the rail in third place, and also give him a commanding chip lead headed into heads-up play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	1,900,000 100,000	100,000

Don Zewin	400,000 40,000	40,000
Brandon Cantu	Busted

Tags: Brandon Cantu Phil Hellmuth

06-10-2012 23:34 UTC-7

Zewin Fighting Back

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Don Zewin has won a half dozen small pots heads up, and he just took a monster pot off of Hellmuth.

Hellmuth: {x-} {x-} / {2-} {5-} {a-} {q-} / {x-}
Zewin: {x-} {x-} / {3-} {7-} {3-} {q-} / {x-}

Zewin brought it in, Hellmuth completed, and Zewin raised. Hellmuth called. Hellmuth check-called a bet on fourth street, and then led out on fifth. Zewin called. Hellmuth led again on sixth and seventh, and Zewin called both bets.

Zewin fanned {a-} {6-} {4-} for a seventy-six, and Hellmuth showed {9-} {9-} {4-} for a ninety-five. Zewin scooped the pot, while Hellmuth is in disbelief.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	1,320,000 580,000	580,000

Don Zewin	1,000,000 600,000	600,000

Tags: Don Zewin Phil Hellmuth

06-10-2012 23:48 UTC-7

Hellmuth Starts to Separate

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Phil Hellmuth	/ /
Don Zewin	/ /

Hellmuth brought it in, Zewin completed, Hellmuth raised, and Zewin re-raised. Hellmuth called. Zewin bet out on fourth and fifth street, and Hellmuth called both bets. Hellmuth led on sixth when he made a better board, and Zewin thought for a bit before releasing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	1,625,000 1,337,500	1,337,500

Don Zewin	695,000 579,500	579,500

Tags: Don Zewin Phil Hellmuth

06-10-2012 23:55 UTC-7

Zewin Gaining Ground

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Chad Holloway

Don Zewin had the bring in with an {8-} and faced a completion from Phil Hellmuth. Zewin made the call and then bet when Hellmuth checked the turn. The latter made the call and then both players checked fifth and sixth streets. Zewin then bet out on seventh and Hellmuth made the call.

Zewin: (x-x) / {8-} {3-} {2-} {6-} / (x) ( {4-} {3-} {7-} )
Hellmuth: (x-x) / {2-} {7-} {A-} {Q-} / (x)

"Seven," Zewin said for his 7-6-4-3-2 low, which was good enough to win the pot.