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The Final Three Players: Jake Balsiger, Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia
Today is the day, folks! It's the day everyone in poker has been waiting for, and the day we crown a World Series of Poker Main Event champion!
The excitement in the air is absolutely unrivaled by anything in the industry, and you can feel the buzz pumping through your veins. Just walking into the Penn & Teller Theatre here on this Tuesday evening in Las Vegas, the fans are donning their appropriate attire in support of each of the three remaining players, and the chants have already begun. The only question left is: Will it be Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia or Jake Balsiger walking away with the gold?
Each of the three remaining players has their own story. Sylvia entered the final table with the chip lead, but only Jonathan Duhamel was able to turn the chip lead into a victory since the inception of the final table delay. Greg Merson could become WSOP Player of the Year and complete the full 180 degree turn of his life after falling into a drug addiction. If Balsiger wins, he'd become the youngest Main Event champion since Joe Cada took the title in 2009. Each have a story, and each are hoping to successfully write the final chapter.
Merson will take the chip lead into three-handed play today, as he bagged up 88.35 million last night. Nearly all of that was thanks to Andras Koroknai in what some would call and early Christmas present. Sylvia sits in second place with 62.75 million, and Balsiger will be bringing up the rear with 46.875 million, but this is really anyone's ball game.
The blinds will start at 300,000/600,000/75,000, so all three remaining are still fairly deep. That means we'll probably be here for awhile, so hunker down and get ready for some amazing poker action. The cards are in the air at 5:45 PM local time, so stay tuned!
Greg Merson started the hand with the button, and opened to 1.2 million. Jake Balsiger three-bet to 3.5 million from the big blind, and Merson called.
The dealer fanned , Balsiger led out for 3 million, and Merson raised to 7 million. Balsiger tank-folded, and Merson is now over 100 million chips - which is more than half of the chips in play.
Jesse Sylvia had the button, and opened to 1.2 million. Jake Balsiger three-bet to 3.5 million from the small blind, Greg Merson folded, and Sylvia tanked before four-betting to 7.2 million. Balsiger moved all in for 28.3 million, and Sylvia immediately called.
Sylvia:
Balsiger:
"Jack! Jack! Jack!" Balsiger's rail chanted.
There was no jack on the flop, but the flop missed Sylvia. The former chip leader did have a backdoor heart draw, however.
The turned, and the crowd "ohhhhhhh'ed." It too did not give Sylvia a set, however, and he was down to three cards to knock out Balsiger.
The completed the board, and Balsiger's rail went wild. The 21-year old successfully doubled, and now has just under 60 million chips.
Jesse Sylvia delivers a fist pump for his supporters after winning a big pot.
Jake Balsiger had the button, and raised to 1.6 million. Jesse Sylvia defended his big blind, and the dealer fanned . Sylvia checked, Balsiger tossed out 2 million, and Sylvia tanked for a minute before check-raising to 5.6 million. Balsiger tank-called.
The turn was the , the crowed "oooooohhhhhh'ed," and Sylvia checked. Balsiger slid out 6 million in red T500,000 chips, and Sylvia called.
The completed the board. Sylvia sat for a few minutes, then fired 10.2 million. The crowd went wild at the site of the eight-figure bet.
Balsiger tanked for less than a minute, then folded.
Greg Merson's fans go wild after he pulled off a big bluff.
Greg Merson had the button at the start of this hand. He limped on the button, and Jesse Sylvia called from the small blind. Jake Balsiger raised to 3.7 million from the big blind, and action fell back on Merson. He called, and Sylvia folded.
The flop came down , and Balsiger bet 4.5 million. Merson called, and the dealer dealt the on the turn. Balsiger took his time, then fired 7.5 million. Merson stood strong and made the call.
The river completed the board with the , and Balsiger was first up once again. He took his time yet again before firing 13 million. Merson put his head down and played with his chips. After a minute, he announced that he was all in. Balsiger snap-folded, and Merson quickly tabled the for just queen high.
Jake Balsiger eyes tell the story. He can't believe his luck to double up.
Greg Merson had the button to start this hand. He raised to two million, and Jesse Sylvia called from the small blind. Jake Balaisger raised all in from the big blind, and Merson asked for a count. Balsiger was all in for 18.175, and Merson folded. Sylvia looked at the dealer and said, "I call."
Sylvia showed the to dominate the for the at-risk Balsiger.
The flop came down , and Sylvia stayed in front. Balsiger's rail chanted for a ten, and they got their wish as the smacked itself down on the turn to give Balsiger the lead. He wasn't out of the woods yet, though, as Sylvia needed a king, a queen or a nine on the river.
The dealer dealt the final card to the board, and it was the . Balsiger spiked his double and found himself right back in the game.
Jesse Sylvia delivers a fist pump for his supporters after winning a big pot.
Jesse Sylvia had the button, and raised to two million. Greg Merson three-bet to 4.8 million from the big blind, Sylvia responded with a four-bet to 10.2 million, and Merson tanked before moving all in for effectively 42.275 million. Sylvia called immediately.
Merson:
Sylvia:
Chants of "Ace! Ace! Ace!" filled Sylvia's cheering section.
There was no ace on the flop, but Sylvia picked up a wheel draw.
The was a brick, and Sylvia, who entered the final table as the chip leader, was one card away from being eliminated.
The entire Penn & Teller Theater fell silent as the dealer rapped the table one final time and delivered the river card: the .
Sylvia's cheering section exploded. Claps, stomps, horns, and screams filled the air as Jack Effel confirmed the chip amounts, and suddenly, after doubling Jake Balsiger, Sylvia is once again the chip leader of the Main Event.
Jake Balsiger pumps his fist as he sees he is going to double up.
Jesse Sylvia started the hand with the button. He raised to 2.4 million, Jake Balsiger moved all in for around 17 million, and Greg Merson folded. Sylvia tank-called.
Balsiger:
Sylvia:
Chants of "Shaun The Dealer" filled the Penn & Teller Theater as the flop fell . Balsiger's fans shouted at the sight of the king, while Sylvia's rail went silent.
The on the turn sealed the deal, and after the completed the board, Balsiger's stack was counted down. He is now flirting with 40 million chips.
Greg Merson had the button to start this hand. He opened with a raise to 3.2 million, and action moved to Jesse Sylvia in the small blind. He reraised to 7.6 million, and Jake Balsiger folded from the big blind. Merson was back up and took a minute before announcing a raise. He slid out a tall stack of chips totaling 12.1 million. Sylvia took his time with the decision, then just called.
With just about 25 million in the middle, Merson and Sylvia took a flop of . Sylvia was first and checked. Merson bet 4.6 million. After a minute, Sylvia just called to go to the turn.
The river completed the board with the to put two cowboys in the middle of the felt. Sylvia checked. Merson looked at Sylvia and sort of laughed before checking behind.
Sylvia tabled the for two pair, kings and queens, and Merson mucked his hand.
Jesse Sylvia had the button, and he limped in. Jake Balsiger raised to 3.7 million from the small blind, Greg Merson surrendered his big blind, and Sylvia called.
The dealer fanned , Balsiger led out for 4.5 million, Sylvia raised to 11.2 million, and Balsiger tanked before moving all in for 41.35 million. Sylvia quickly called.
Balsiger:
Sylvia:
Sylvia needed a nine to eliminate Balsiger, or running threes to chop the pot. The on the turn was no help, however.
Balsiger's rail called for a deuce, but the on the river was sufficient enough. Balsiger doubled, and for the first time, he's the chip leader at the final table.
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, Balsiger led out for 3 million, and Merson raised to 7 million. Balsiger tank-folded, and Merson is now over 100 million chips - which is more than half of the chips in play.
flop missed Sylvia. The former chip leader did have a backdoor heart draw, however.
turned, and the crowd "ohhhhhhh'ed." It too did not give Sylvia a set, however, and he was down to three cards to knock out Balsiger.
completed the board, and Balsiger's rail went wild. The 21-year old successfully doubled, and now has just under 60 million chips.
, the crowed "oooooohhhhhh'ed," and Sylvia checked. Balsiger slid out 6 million in red T500,000 chips, and Sylvia called.
on the turn. Balsiger took his time, then fired 7.5 million. Merson stood strong and made the call.
, and Balsiger was first up once again. He took his time yet again before firing 13 million. Merson put his head down and played with his chips. After a minute, he announced that he was all in. Balsiger snap-folded, and Merson quickly tabled the 
for just queen high.
to dominate the 
smacked itself down on the turn to give Balsiger the lead. He wasn't out of the woods yet, though, as Sylvia needed a king, a queen or a nine on the river.
. Balsiger spiked his double and found himself right back in the game.
was a brick, and Sylvia, who entered the final table as the chip leader, was one card away from being eliminated.
. Balsiger's fans shouted at the sight of the king, while Sylvia's rail went silent.
on the river was sufficient enough. Balsiger doubled, and for the first time, he's the chip leader at the final table.