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

Level: 22

Limits: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 3,000

06-10-2012 20:18 UTC-6

Greenstein Slipping

Chad Holloway

Barry Greenstein was showing an {8-} and completed, which Phil Hellmuth raised with his {2-} . Greenstein made the call and then called bets on the turn and fifth street. On sixth, Greenstein folded after receiving paint, but not before he showed his hole cards.

Greenstein: {2-} {4-} / {8-} {6-} {6-} {J-}
Hellmuth: (x-x) / {2-} {6-} {10-} {4-}
Hellmuth

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	385,000	51,000
Barry Greenstein	95,000	-76,000

Tags: Phil Hellmuth Barry GReenstein

06-10-2012 20:32 UTC-6

Barry Greenstein Eliminated in 6th Place ($30,150)

[user101598]

Barry Greenstein: {x-} {x-} / {2-} {7-}
Brandon Cantu: {x-} {x-} / {4-} {2-}

Greenstein completed, Phil Hellmuth released, and Cantu examined Greenstein's stack before raising. Greenstein called. On fourth street, Cantu led out, and Greenstein raised. Cantu re-raised, putting Greenstein all in, and Cantu called.

Greenstein: {6-} {5-}
Cantu: {7-} {3-}

Greenstein was dealt a {j-} on fifth, Cantu received a {9-} , and then both players were dealt {9-} s on sixth. Cantu flipped over a {10-} on seventh, while Greenstein squeezed his down card.

"I'm even money," Greenstein said, grinning. "It's either the six or eight of hearts."

The {6-Hearts} would pair him, and the {8-Hearts} would give him the best hand. Unfortunately for the Bear, it was the eliminating him from the tournament. Greenstein received a loud round of applause, and he's off to the cage to collect his $30,150.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Cantu	280,000	111,000
Barry Greenstein	Busted

Tags: Barry Greenstein Brandon Cantu

Level: 23

Limits: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 3,000

06-10-2012 20:40 UTC-6

Hellmuth Takes the Chip Lead

Chad Holloway

Phil Hellmuth completed with a {5-} and then called a raise from Brendan Taylor. Hellmuth called another bet on the turn before taking the lead on fifth and betting out. This time it was Taylor who did the calling, which he would repeat on both sixth and seventh streets.

"Nine," Hellmuth said to signify a nine-low. Taylor didn't look too surprised as he folded his hand.

Taylor: (x-x) / {6-} {J-} {6-} {9-} / (x)
Hellmuth: (x-x) / {5-} {Q-} {7-} {8-} / (x) ( {9-} {7-} {4-} )

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	650,000	170,000
Brendan Taylor	460,000	-185,000

Tags: Brendan Taylor Phil Hellmuth

06-10-2012 20:46 UTC-6

The Poker Brat Refuses to Budge

Chad Holloway

Level 22 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante

Brandon Cantu, who is seated in the six seat, just asked Phil Hellmuth, who is in Seat 5, if he could scoot down a bit given the players in Seats 3 and 4 have been eliminated.

"No," said Hellmuth. "This is my lucky seat." Cantu seemed taken aback that such a simple request was denied and asked the floor if he'd request Hellmuth to move down a bit. "Even six inches," Cantu said.

The floor politely asked Hellmuth if he'd be willing to move down and again the "Poker Brat" refused. Cantu asked for a little help and the floor said he could check with his superiors, which prompted Hellmuth to say, "You better call Jack [Effel]."

Despite his unwillingness to budge, Hellmuth did say with sincerity, "I love Brandon Cantu." Hellmuth's stubbornness may just be a result of superstition, though it appears he has scooted down a bit.

Tags: Brandon Cantu Phil Hellmuth

06-10-2012 20:54 UTC-6

Hellmuth's Heater Continues

[user101598]

Phil Hellmuth: {x-} {x-} / {6-} {4-} {k-} {k-} / {x-}
Brendan Taylor: {x-} {x-} / {7-} {4-} {2-} {j-} / {x-}

Taylor completed with a {7-} , Hellmuth called with a {6-} , and both players were dealt a {4-} on fourth. Hellmuth check-called a bet. Taylor led out on fifth, sixth, and seventh, and on seventh, Hellmuth ripped off his glasses.

"I think I'm supposed to raise," Hellmuth announced. "But I just call. I caught a seven."

Hellmuth fanned {a-} {7-} {2-} for a seventy-four, and all we saw from Taylor's hand was {10-} {3-} . Hellmuth pulled in the monster pot, and is starting to pull away.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hellmuth	795,000	145,000
Brendan Taylor	280,000	-180,000

Tags: Brendan Taylor Phil Hellmuth

06-10-2012 21:07 UTC-6

Brandon vs. Brendan

Chad Holloway

Brandon Cantu completed with a {6-} only to have Brendan Taylor raise with a {9-} . Cantu thought long and hard before making the call. With the lead, Cantu bet the turn and Taylor called. The latter then check-called a bet on fifth street before pairing and folding on sixth.

"Whew," Cantu said as he showed his hole cards . . . {2-} {7-} .

Taylor: (x-x) / {9-} {J-} {10-} {9-}
Cantu: {7-} {2-} / {6-} {7-} {Q-} {2-}

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Cantu	280,000	155,000
Brendan Taylor	100,000	-180,000

Tags: Brandon Cantu Brendan Taylor

Level: 24

Limits: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 5,000

06-10-2012 21:15 UTC-6

Brendan Taylor Eliminated in 5th Place ($40,167)

[user101598]

Brandon Cantu completed with a {3-} , Brendan Taylor raised with an {8-} , and Taylor re-raised. The rest of the chips got in, and the hands were opened.

Taylor: {6-} {2-} / {8-}
Cantu: {7-} {6-} / {3-}

Both players were dealt paint on fourth street - Cantu a {q-} and Taylor a {k-} - and both players received a {4-} on fifth. Cantu improved with a {2-} on sixth, Taylor received more paint ( {q-} ), and Cantu turned over a {7-} on seventh. We missed Taylor's last card, but he mucked, and exited the tournament in fifth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Cantu	315,000	35,000
Brendan Taylor	Busted

Tags: Brandon Cantu Brendan Taylor