2012 World Series of Poker

Event 49: $1,500 Ante-Only No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
Event Info

2012 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
77
Prize
$256,691
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,267,650
Entries
939
Level Info
Level
25
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
30,000

Congratulations to Greg Hobson, Winner of Event 49: $1,500 Ante-Only No Limit Hold'em ($256,691)!

Level 25 : 0/0, 30,000 ante
Greg Hobson - Champion
Greg Hobson - Champion

Three days ago World Series of Poker history was made when this unique event kicked off. It was a standard no-limit hold'em event with one key difference: no blinds. Players would ante every hand and have the option to bring in for the smallest denomination chip in play. After three days of play and a field of 939 players, Greg Hobson was able to rise to the top to grab the first place prize of $256,691 as well as the first WSOP bracelet offered for this type of event.

When Day 1 of this event began kicked off, many were excited about the unique play that this structure of tournament would offer. What was not expected was how quickly the field would fly. The starting 939 was whittled down to the final 110 after just ten levels of play on Day 1, which was enough to make the money. Among those to come out for the event and go home without a cash were Daniel Negreanu, Barry Shulman, Joe Cada, Matt Glantz, Dennis Phillips, David Williams, Jennifer Tilly, Christian Harder, Phil Hellmuth, Randy Lew, and many more.

The pace of the tournament did not slow down on Day 2 when the final 110 returned to the felt. Dan O'Brien, Jeff Williams, Mickey Petersen, David Chicotsky, Max Pescatori, Melanie Weisner, John Racener, Men Nguyen, Mike Leah, and Erick Lindgren were among those to return for Day 2 only to hit the rail before the final table.

Day 2 ended after a little more than eight levels of play as a final nine were reached.

Final Table Chip Counts

SeatPlayerChips
1Seth Davies640,000
2Sameer Aljanedi167,000
3Justin Schwartz252,000
4Eugene Du Plessis996,000
5Mike McDonald205,000
6Greg Hobson608,000
7Mike Sowers824,000
8John Hayes229,000
9Harrison Gimbel325,000

Play at the final table began just as fast and furious it had been for the first two days of the tournament. Justin Schwartz became the first casualty, however, when he was unfortunate enough to run his {A-Hearts}{k-Clubs} into Greg Hobson's {A-Spades}{A-Diamonds} during a preflop all in confrontation. Schwartz flopped a gutshot Broadway draw but was unable to hit it and was sent to the rail in ninth place.

Soon after Schwartz's elimination Sameer Aljanedi got it all in with {A-Hearts}{9-Spades} before the flop and was called by eventual champion Greg Hobson's {A-Clubs}{Q-Clubs}. Hobson paired his queen on the flop and that was all she wrote for Aljanedi.

Play slowed down after this for what seemed to be the first time in the entire tournament. This lull in the action ended, however, when Harrison Gimbel got his stack all in against Seth Davies. Gimbel was way behind with {A-Spades}{6-Spades} to Davies' pocket queens. Davies' hand held up all the way until the river when the {A-Hearts} hit to give Gimbel a pair of aces. A crippled Davies was the next to go when Harrison Gimbel finished off his short-stack during the next hand.

Mike "Timex" McDonald was the next player to be eliminated from the field. McDonald moved all in before the flop and was called by John Hayes.

Showdown

McDonald: {A-Hearts}{9-Hearts}
Hayes: {10-Hearts}{10-Spades}

Hayes was in the lead and jumped into an even more secure place when he flopped top set on the {3-Hearts}{5-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} flop. The board paired fives on the turn and McDonald was drawing dead. Timex collected $39,931 for his sixth place finish.

Eugene Du Plessis was the chip leader coming into play but remained quiet for a majority of the final table. Eventually he moved all in before the flop holding ace-king but was sent packing when Greg Hobson's ace-queen drilled a queen on the flop. Harrison Gimbel was the next to go when he showed two pair against Mike Sowers. Sowers held a better two pair and Gimbel was out the door.

Immediately after Gimbel's elimination, John Hayes moved all in with pocket sevens on a {K-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{6-Clubs} flop. Mike Sowers called with {K-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} for top pair and Hayes failed to improve. Hayes' third place elimination put Greg Hobson and Mike Sowers heads up with virtually even chip stacks.

Hobson came out to an quick lead winning two substantial pots early on in heads up play. Sowers was able to fight back a little but in the end it just was not enough. About thirty minutes after returning from the dinner break, Sowers moved all in with {A-Clubs}{7-Spades} and was snap called by Hobson's {7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}. The board fell {9-Spades}{K-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{8-Clubs} and Sowers was forced to settle for a second place finish and $158,887 in prize money.

PokerNews sends its congratulations to Greg Hobson as the champion of the first ever Ante-Only No-Limit Hold'em event in World Series of Poker History.

Final Table Payouts

PlacePlayerPrize
1Greg Hobson$256,691
2Mike Sowers$158,887
3John Hayes$99,409
4Harrison Gimbel$72,155
5Eugene Du Plessis$53,267
6Mike McDonald$39,931
7Seth Davies$30,373
8Sameer Aljanedi$23,413
9Justin Schwartz$18,292

That does it for our coverage of Event 49: $1,500 Ante-Only No-Limit Hold'em. Be sure to check out our live reporting page for more updates from the 2012 World Series of Poker!

Tags: Greg Hobson

Mike Sowers Eliminated in 2nd Place ($158,887)

Level 25 : 0/0, 30,000 ante
Mike Sowers - 2nd Place
Mike Sowers - 2nd Place

Mike Sowers had the button.

Greg Hobson was the bring in for 30,000. Mike Sowers moved all in before the flop and Hobson snap called.

Hobson: {7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}
Sowers: {A-Clubs}{7-Spades}

Hobson was ahead and needed to fade an ace to clinch the win. The {9-Spades}{k-Hearts}{5-Hearts} flop obliged and Sowers was two cards away from being sent home in second place.

The turn brought the {9-Diamonds} and Sowers still needed one of the three remaining aces to continue heads up play. The dealer produced the {8-Clubs} on fifth street and Sowers was sent to the rail with a second place finish. Sowers will take home $158,887 for his efforts.

Tags: Greg HobsonMike Sowers

John Hayes Eliminated in 3rd Place ($99,409)

John Hayes - 3rd Place
John Hayes - 3rd Place

The very next hand after Harrison Gimbel hit the rail, John Hayes fired out a bet on a flop of {K-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{6-Clubs}. Mike Sowers raised to 100,000 and Hayes replied by moving his stack of a little under 400,000 all in. Sowers quickly called with the {K-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} for top pair and was ahead of Hayes' {7-Clubs}{7-Hearts}.

The {4-Diamonds} hit the turn and the {9-Hearts} on the river, ensuring Hayes' elimination and thrusting us into heads up play.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Sowers us
Mike Sowers
2,100,000 600,000
John Hayes us
John Hayes
Busted

Tags: John HayesMike Sowers

Harrison Gimbel Eliminated in 4th Place ($72,155)

Harrison Gimbel - 4th Place
Harrison Gimbel - 4th Place

Harrison Gimbel had the button.

Mike Sowers limped and Gimbel raised to 80,000. Sowers called and the two were heads up to a flop of {3-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{J-Spades}. They both checked and saw a turn of {A-Spades}.

Sowers checked for a second time and Gimbel dipped into his stack, pushing 135,000 into the middle. Sowers replied by moving all in and Gimbel quickly called to realize he was crushed.

Sowers: {A-Diamonds}{6-Spades}
Gimbel: {A-Clubs}{3-Spades}

Both had turned two pair with Sowers having the higher two pair. The {9-Spades} finished the board and Gimbel was sent home in fourth place.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Sowers us
Mike Sowers
1,500,000 630,000
Harrison Gimbel us
Harrison Gimbel
WSOP 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Harrison GimbelMike Sowers

Eugene Du Plessis Eliminated in 5th Place ($53,267

Eugene Du Plessis - 5th Place
Eugene Du Plessis - 5th Place

Greg Hobson raised to 40,000 and was called by Harrison Gimbel. Eugene Du Plessis moved all in for 210,000 and both players called.

The three saw a {10-Spades}{Q-Hearts}{4-Spades} flop with Du Plessis' life on the line. Hobson bet 105,000 and Gimbel's hand quickly reached the muck. The hands were turned over and Du Plessis was in need of some help.

Du Plessis: {A-Clubs}{K-Spades}
Hobson: {A-Spades}{Q-Spades}

Hobsob's paired queen was in the lead and the {7-Spades} and {10-Diamonds} on the turn and river sealed Du Plessis fate. He was sent to the rail as our 5th place finisher.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Hobson us
Greg Hobson
WSOP 1X Winner
1,800,000 500,000
Eugene Du Plessis za
Eugene Du Plessis
Busted

Tags: Eugene Du PlessisGreg Hobson

Mike McDonald Eliminated in 6th Place ($39,931)

Mike McDonald - 6th Place
Mike McDonald - 6th Place

Mike McDonald brought in for 1,000 and John Hayes also called. Harrison Gimbel made it 40,000 and Mike McDonald called the 40,000. John Hayes replied by three-betting all in and Gimbel folded. McDonald called for his tournament life.

McDonald: {A-Hearts}{9-Hearts}
Hayes: {10-Hearts}{10-Spades}

The flop essentially killed McDonald when it gave Hayes top set with {3-Hearts}{5-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}. The {5-Clubs} on the turn gave Hayes a full house and McDonald was drawing dead for the {5-Diamonds} river. He will take home $39,931 in winnings.

Player Chips Progress
John Hayes us
John Hayes
1,100,000 495,000
Mike McDonald ca
Mike McDonald
Busted

Tags: John HayesMike McDonald

Seth Davies Eliminated in 7th Place ($30,373)

Seth Davies - 7th Place
Seth Davies - 7th Place

Harrison Gimbel raised to 40,000 and after being crippled in the previous hand, Seth Davies moved all in for 43,000 total. Gimbel called with {K-Hearts}{9-Clubs} and was up against Davies' {A-Clubs}{8-Spades}.

The board ran out {3-Clubs}{K-Spades}{10-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{5-Spades} and Gimbel paired his king, allowing him to take the pot and send Davies home in 7th place.

Player Chips Progress
Harrison Gimbel us
Harrison Gimbel
WSOP 1X Winner
1,290,000 620,000
Seth Davies us
Seth Davies
Busted

Tags: Harrison GimbelSeth Davies

Sameer Aljanedi Eliminated in 8th Place ($23,343)

Sameer Aljanedi - 8th Place
Sameer Aljanedi - 8th Place

Mike McDonald had the button.

Greg Hobson brought the action in for 1,000 and four more players called. Sameer Aljanedi opted to move all in for 132,000 and it folded to Hobson who announced a call. The rest of the table folded and the hands were shown:

Hobson: {A-Clubs}{Q-Clubs}
Aljanedi: {A-Hearts}{9-Spades}

Hobson furthered his lead by pairing his queen on the {Q-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}{7-Diamonds} flop. The {4-Diamonds} turned and Aljanedi was drawing dead to the {5-Hearts} river. Aljanedi will collect $23,343 for his eighth place finish.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Hobson us
Greg Hobson
WSOP 1X Winner
875,000 155,000
Sameer Aljanedi us
Sameer Aljanedi
Busted

Tags: Greg HobsonSameer Aljanedi

Justin Schwartz Eliminated in 9th Place ($18,292)

Justin Schwartz - 9th Place
Justin Schwartz - 9th Place

John Hayes had the button and Harrison Gimbel started the action by bringing in for 1,000. After five more players called Greg Hobson raised to 24,000. Justin Schwartz moved all in for 285,000 and it folded back to Hobson who made the call.

Hobson: {A-Diamonds}{A-Spades}
Schwartz: {A-Hearts}{K-Clubs}

Schwartz was in need of help and found a tiny glimmer of hope on the {2-Diamonds}{J-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds} flop. Shwartz was in need of a ten to make Broadway, but did not find it on the {2-Hearts} turn.

The {7-Diamonds} completed the board and Schwartz became the first casualty of this final table.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Hobson us
Greg Hobson
WSOP 1X Winner
720,000 300,000
Justin Schwartz us
Justin Schwartz
Busted

Tags: Greg HobsonJustin Schwartz

Final Nine Return To Battle for the Bracelet

Eugene Du Plessis In The Lead
Eugene Du Plessis In The Lead

Players and staff alike were shocked at the rapid pace that this event moved at on Day 1. In a mere ten levels the 939 players that registered became 110 and by the end of Day 1 all remaining players were in the money. That pace continued on Day 2 and after just shy of nine levels of play a final table was reached. Leading the final table is Eugene Du Plessis who is just shy of one million chips with 996,000.

Yesterday's play saw many notable players attempt to make the prestigious final table only to fall short. Jeff Williams, Dan O'Brien, McLean Karr, Jon Turner, Men Nguyen, Melanie Weisner, John Racener, Max Pescatori and Thomas Conway are just a few of the names that made the money but were unable to clinch a top nine finish.

World Series of Poker bracelet winner Erick Lindgren led the way for a majority of Day 2 play. Unfortunately for Lindgren, he was one of the last players eliminated on Day 2. Lindgren finished eleventh when he moved all in with pocket eights on a {2-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{10-Clubs} board. Lindgren was called by Du Plessis' two pair of {10-Spades}{4-Hearts} and did not improve on the river.

Cards will be in the air here at the Pavilion stage at 1:00 PM. Follow along as we once again traverse the path to a WSOP champion.

Final Table Chip Counts

SeatPlayerChips
1Seth Davies640,000
2Sameer Aljanedi167,000
3Justin Schwartz252,000
4Eugene Du Plessis996,000
5Mike McDonald205,000
6Greg Hobson608,000
7Mike Sowers824,000
8John Hayes229,000
9Harrison Gimbel325,000

Tags: Eugene Du Plessis