Josh_Cahlik
Vladimir Mefodichev and Neil Willerson Playing Heads Up for the Braclet
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.
Neil Willerson opened from the button and Hugh Henderson immediately went all in from the small blind for his remaining stack. It was folded back to Willerson, who made the call to put Henderson at risk.
Henderson:
Willerson:
Henderson was behind, and the board sealed the deal for Henderson, who was sent to the rail in 3rd place.
Neil Willerson completed from the small blind and Zachary Humphrey took his option from the big and raised to 180,000. Willerson called to see a flop, which came . Willerson checked and Humphrey c-bet for 190,000. Willerson again called.
The turn brought the and Willerson checked again. Undeterred, Humphrey fired 465,000 into the middle. Willerson then announced he was all in and Humphrey called all in for less.
Humphrey:
Willerson:
Willerson had Humphrey in bad shape with his trip fives and the river bricked for Humphrey, who was eliminated in 4th place.
Matthew Graham opened the betting with a raise to 150,000 from the cutoff. It folded to Vladimir Mefodichev's small blind and he moved out a three-bet to 375,000. Graham called and the two were off to see a flop.
A rather monotone flop hit the felt - . Mefodichev continued out with 300,000 and it only took a brief moment for Graham to announce all in. Mefodichev did not hesitate in announcing a call, tabling for a flopped flush. Graham hung his head and showed and was in dire need of help.
The on the turn left Graham drawing dead and the dealer completed the board with the . Graham will take home $171,135 for his efforts.
Hai Chu open-shoved all in for his laugh 575,000 from early position and it folded around to Vladimir Mefodichev on the button who moved all in over the top. Everyone else folded and the hands were tabled to find Chu crushed.
Chu:
Mefodichev:
Mefodichev ensured his lead with the flop of . Chu found a glint of hope when the turned but it was for naught as the board completed with the . Chu will take home $126,770 for his sixth place finish.
"On to the next one!" Chu said with a smile as he left the tournament area.
In a hand that would cripple him, Bryan Piccioli open-pushed all in for just over 700,000 and action folded around to Matthew Graham in the hijack position, who went all in himself for just under 700,000. Everyone else got out of the way and hands were revealed.
Piccioli:
Graham:
Piccioli was dominated and needed help going to the flop. However, the board kept Graham's ace-king high in the lead and Piccioli was cut down to his last 50,000.
A couple of hands later, Piccioli went all in for his last 40,000 from under-the-gun and Neil Willerson raised to 175,000 from the hijack seat. Everyone else got out of the way and Piccioli would be at risk.
Piccioli:
Willerson:
The board left Willerson with kings-full of fours, which was more than enough to send Piccioli to the rail in 7th place.
Randy Ashe opened to 130,000 from early position and action folded around to Hugh Henderson in the cutoff, who called. Everyone else folded and it was heads-up going to the flop.
Flop:
Ashe led out for 220,000 and Henderson moved all in. Ashe quickly called and hands were revealed.
Ashe: for a pair of aces.
Henderson: for a set of sevens.
Ashe's tournament life was in dire straits. The turn and river were no help to Ashe and he was sent to the rail.
Ryan Hughes opened to 100,000 from the hijack seat and it was folded around to Vladimir Mefodichev on the button, who three-bet to 250,000. Both blinds folded and action was back on Hughes, who went all in for about 700,000. Mefodichev snap-called and Hughes was at risk.
Mefodichev:
Hughes:
The flop left Hughes with two pair and the lead, however, the turn gave Mefodichev broadway. The river bricked for Hughes and he was eliminated in 9th place.
Ryan Hughes opened with a raise to 65,000 and received four callers to the flop.
The dealer produced a flop of and two checks came to Sylvain Gonon who bet out 175,000. Neil Willerson called and the rest of the table folded. The two went heads up to the turn. Gonon moved a large stack of green t25,000 chips into the center for a bet totaling 500,000.
Willerson contemplated for a moment before moving a stack of green chips of his own into the middle for a call. The river was the and Gonon checked. Willerson announced that he was all in a Gonon snap-called. Willerson showed for the nuts and a frustrated Gonon threw his {8h across the table. Gonon's flopped set was defeated by Willerson's flush and he was sent to the rail. Willerson's stack is now sitting at about 3,800,000 in chips.
Gonon's elimination has now set in motion the final table of this World Series of Poker event.
Peter Kamaras opened to 70,000 from under-the-gun and action folded around to Neil Willerson on the button, who three-bet to 200,000 and change. Action folded back around to Kamaras, who announced he was all in for about 700,000 total. Willerson quickly called to put Kamaras at risk.
Kamaras:
Willerson:
The board was of no help to Kamaras and he was eliminated just shy of a final table.
board sealed the deal for Henderson, who was sent to the rail in 3rd place.
. Willerson checked and Humphrey c-bet for 190,000. Willerson again called.
and Willerson checked again. Undeterred, Humphrey fired 465,000 into the middle. Willerson then announced he was all in and Humphrey called all in for less.
river bricked for Humphrey, who was eliminated in 4th place.
for a flopped flush. Graham hung his head and showed 
. Graham will take home $171,135 for his efforts.
. Chu found a glint of hope when the 
turned but it was for naught as the board completed with the 
. Chu will take home $126,770 for his sixth place finish.
board kept Graham's ace-king high in the lead and Piccioli was cut down to his last 50,000.
board left Willerson with kings-full of fours, which was more than enough to send Piccioli to the rail in 7th place.
for a set of sevens.
turn. Gonon moved a large stack of green t25,000 chips into the center for a bet totaling 500,000.
