Event 53: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day 3 Completed
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 53: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$4,274,100
Entries
3,166
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000
Willerson and Mefodichev Will Return for Day 4
Three days ago 3,166 people registered to play for a bracelet in Event 53: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em. After a full ten levels of play the final two players have emerged. Neil Willerson and Vladimir Mefodichev were locked in a heads up battle for about an hour before tournament staff enforced a hard stop after ten levels of play. Due to this ruling we will have to wait until tomorrow for Day 4 to crown the next World Series of Poker champion.
The two players will return on Tuesday at 2:00 PM to battle it out on the felt until a champion is crowned. Willerson will return as the chip leader with 8,920,000 while Mefodichev will be sitting on a stack of 5,335,000.
Final Results So Far
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ??? | $737,248 |
| 2 | ??? | $456,217 |
| 3 | Hugh Henderson | $322,866 |
| 4 | Zachary Humphrey | $233,708 |
| 5 | Matthew Graham | $171,135 |
| 6 | Hai Chu | $126,770 |
| 7 | Bryan Piccioli | $94,971 |
| 8 | Randy Ashe | $71,933 |
| 9 | Ryan Hughes | $55,093 |
Will Willerson be able to seal the deal or will the Russian be able to find a victory? Be sure to tune into PokerNews tomorrow for the epic conclusion to the largest open event of the 2012 WSOP so far.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,920,000 | -680,000 |
|
5,335,000 | 735,000 |
That's It For Today!
Level 31
: 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante
Our epic heads-up battle will have to wait until tomorrow as ten levels have passed, which means play has ended for the day. We will have exact chip counts and a re-cap of the day's events shortly.
Four Fours For Willerson
On a flop of 
both Neil Willerson and Vladimir Mefodichev checked. The turn was the 
and Willerson decided to fire out 375,000. Mefodichev raised to 750,000 and Willerson flat called.
The river paired the board with the 
and the action went check-check. Willerson showed 
for quad fours and Mefodichev mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,600,000 | 1,900,000 |
|
|
4,600,000 | -1,900,000 |
Mefodichev Doubles Through Willerson
Vladimir Mefodichev made his standard open of 275,000 from the button and Neil Willerson announced he was all in. Mefodichev called off his remaining stack to put himself at risk.
Mefodichev: 
Willerson: 
The 
kept Mefodichev in the lead, but gave Willerson a flush draw. The 
turn gave Willerson even more outs as he had an open-ender to boot, however, the 
river bricked out for Willerson and Mefodichev doubled through to 6.5 million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,700,000 | -3,200,000 |
|
|
6,500,000 | 3,200,000 |
Willerson Scoops Huge Pot
Vladimir Mefodichev had the button. The two players limped before the flop and saw 
fall. Neil Willerson check-called a bet of 275,000 and the two saw fourth street bring the .
Willerson checked for a second time and Mefodichev moved 650,000 into the center of the table. Willerson pushed out a call rather quickly and the came on the river. Willerson checked his option for a third time prompting Mefodichev to move 1,225,000 into the middle.
"I call," said Willerson quickly.
"Nice call," replied Mefodichev. Willerson showed 
for a pair of sevens and was able to drag in a monster pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,900,000 | 1,900,000 |
|
|
3,300,000 | -1,900,000 |
Willerson Pulling Away
Neil Willerson has been slowing grinding away at Vladimir Mefodichev.
In a recent pot, Mefodichev opened to 275,000 on the button and Willerson made the call to see a flop, which brought the 
.
Willerson checked to Mefodichev, who fired 275,000 into the middle. Willerson then check-raised to 600,000 and Mefodichev gave up his hand after some thought.
Willserson is up to nine million while Mefodichev is down to 5.2 million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,000,000 | 1,900,000 |
|
|
5,200,000 | -1,900,000 |
Aces for Willerson
Neil Willerson had the button and completed before the flop. Vladimir Mefodichev raised to 370,000 and Willerson called.
The flop was 
and Mefodichev check-called a 375,000 chip bet. They both checked when the board paired queens with the 
turn.
Fifth street was the 
and Mefodichev checked one last time. Willerson fired 400,000 and Mefodichev called.
Willerson showed 
and Mefodichev tossed his hand to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,100,000 | 900,000 |
|
|
7,100,000 | -900,000 |
Mefodichev Re-Takes The Lead
Neil Willerson completed from the button and Vladimir Mefodichev took his option to raise 250,000 on top. Willerson called to see a flop, which came 
. Mefodichev fired 400,000 into the middle and Willerson called.
The turn brought the and Mefodichev kept up with his aggression and fired an even million into the pot. Willerson gave it up and Mefodichev scooped the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,000,000 | 1,050,000 |
|
|
6,200,000 | -1,050,000 |
Willerson Connects on River; Jumps Into Slight Lead
Vladimir Mefodichev had the button. He raised to 250,000 only to have Neil Willerson three-bet to 525,000. Mefodichev peered at his cards once again then announced that he was all in. Willerson quickly said "call" and the hands were shown:
Mefodichev:
Willerson: 
Mefodichev took the lead with the 
flop. Willerson was in need of either an ace or a king to double up but did not find it on the turn. The tension loomed int he air as Mefodichev was one card away from a World Series of Poker championship. The dealer produced the river card:
The .
Willerson was able to connect with the final card and scored a double up that put him in a slight chip advantage while a crushed Mefodichev took his seat to resume play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,250,000 | 3,050,000 |
|
|
6,950,000 | -3,550,000 |