2012 World Series of Poker

Event 61: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Event Info

2012 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k5
Prize
$8,531,853
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$62,021,200
Entries
6,598
Level Info
Level
42
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
300,000

Danny Wong Eliminated in 14th Place ($465,159)

Danny Wong - 14th Place
Danny Wong - 14th Place

Marc Ladouceur opened to 480,000 from the hijack seat, Danny Wong moved all in for 1.9 million in the cutoff, and Greg Merson re-jammed from the big blind. Ladouceur folded, and the hands were opened.

Merson: {a-Clubs}{j-Clubs}
Wong: {a-Spades}{2-Clubs}

The {q-Spades}{6-Clubs}{5-Spades} flop didn't improve Wong's hand, and neither did the {8-Clubs} on the turn. The {7-Spades} completed the board, and Wong was eliminated in 14th place.

Chants of "P! O! Y!" filled the mothership, as Merson chipped up to 22.115 million.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Merson us
Greg Merson
22,115,000
2,690,000
2,690,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 2X Winner
Danny Wong us
Danny Wong
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Danny WongGreg Merson

Sylvia Adds More

Russell Thomas opened with a raise from the cutoff and got a single caller in new chip leader Jesse Sylvia in the big blind. The flop came {2-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}. Sylvia checked, Thomas continued, and Sylvia called. The turn brought the {J-Spades} and another check from Sylvia. Thomas bet 1.05 million this time, and Sylvia called, building a pot of around 4 million.

The river brought the {3-Spades} and one more check from Sylvia. Thomas bet 1.55 million, and when Sylvia check-raised to 3.9 million, Thomas instantly tossed his cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Jesse Sylvia us
Jesse Sylvia
27,900,000
3,835,000
3,835,000
Russell Thomas us
Russell Thomas
17,000,000
-3,800,000
-3,800,000

Tags: Jesse SylviaRussell Thomas

Blind Versus Blind

Marc Ladouceur limped from the small blind and Andras Koroknai checked his option from the big. Ladouceur proceeded to bet 510,000 on the {7-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{6-Spades} flop, Koroknai called, and then both players checked the {J-Hearts} turn.

Ladouceur checked for a second time on the {9-Diamonds} river, but this time Ladouceur came out firing to the tune of 1.05 million. The Canadian gave up his hand and Koroknai was pushed the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Andras Koroknai hu
Andras Koroknai
19,080,000
780,000
780,000
Marc Ladouceur ca
Marc Ladouceur
4,415,000
-610,000
-610,000

Tags: Andras KoroknaiMarc Ladouceur

More for Merson

Elisabeth Hille opened to 480,000 from the cutoff, Greg Merson called on the button, and the blinds released. The flop fell {q-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{k-Hearts}, and Hille led for 575,000. Merson called.

The turn brought the {6-Hearts}, and Hille slowed down, checking to Merson who fired 875,000. Hille released, and Merson picked up the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Merson us
Greg Merson
24,610,000
2,495,000
2,495,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 2X Winner
Elisabeth Hille no
Elisabeth Hille
9,965,000
-1,805,000
-1,805,000

Tags: Elisabeth HilleGreg Merson

Four-Bet Gets Gee A Few

Steven Gee has been quiet of late, but got involved just now with a raise to 500,000 from the hijack seat, then Jacob Balsiger reraised to 1.65 million from the small blind. It folded back to Gee who went deep into the tank. He sat riffling chips for three minutes, peering out from beneath the brim of his Raiders cap, then finally raising to 4.1 million. Balsiger immediately pushed his cards away.

Player Chips Progress
Jake Balsiger us
Jake Balsiger
15,800,000
-1,700,000
-1,700,000
Steve Gee us
Steve Gee
15,200,000
2,200,000
2,200,000

Tags: Jacob BalsigerSteven Gee

Merson Takes It Down on the Turn

John Esposito opened for 500,000 from the hijack and Greg Merson defended from the big blind. The {7-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}{3-Spades} flop saw Merson bet 650,000, Esposito call and the {10-Spades} turn. Merson slowed down with a check, but proceeded to check-raise Esposito's bet up to 3.3 million. The latter quickly folded and it was on to the next hand.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Merson us
Greg Merson
26,950,000
2,340,000
2,340,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 2X Winner
Michael Esposito us
Michael Esposito
18,920,000
-2,660,000
-2,660,000

Tags: Greg MersonMichael Esposito

Baumann Doubles Through Hille

Gaelle Baumann doubles again
Gaelle Baumann doubles again

The action folded to Elisabeth Hille, who opened to 480,000 on the button. Gaelle Baumann three-bet jammed for 2.455 million from the big blind, and Hille tank-called.

Baumann: {4-Hearts}{4-Spades}
Hille: {q-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}

The crowd burst into chorus of cheers and "ohhhh"s as the flop fell {7-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{5-Spades}. Baumann had the dummy end of an open-ended straight draw, but any eight would give Hille a higher straight. The {3-Clubs} turned, giving Baumann a seven-high straight, and Hille was drawing to just four cards.

The {q-Clubs} gave Hille a meaningless pair of queens, and Baumann doubled to 5.2 million.

Player Chips Progress
Elisabeth Hille no
Elisabeth Hille
7,540,000
-2,425,000
-2,425,000
Gaelle Baumann fr
Gaelle Baumann
5,210,000
2,160,000
2,160,000
Winamax

Tags: Gaelle BaumannElisabeth Hille

Meanwhile, at the Secondary Feature Table...

...things have been a bit quieter of late than at the main feature table.

We watched several hands without a flop, with players taking turns raising and taking the blinds and antes. That sequence then changed to Scott Abrams in the blinds three-betting over late position raises — first from Steven Gee, then from Jesse Sylvia — and taking the pot both times. On the second instance, Abrams showed his {8-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} before collecting the chips.

The next hand finally brought us some community cards after Gee raised to 500,000 from the hijack seat and Jacob Balsiger called from the small blind. The flop came {5-Diamonds}{A-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}. Balsiger checked, Gee bet 600,000, and Balsiger called. Both then checked the {10-Spades} river and {3-Spades} river. Balsiger showed {K-Hearts}{J-Spades}, and Gee mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Jake Balsiger us
Jake Balsiger
17,400,000
1,600,000
1,600,000
Steve Gee us
Steve Gee
12,700,000
-1,300,000
-1,300,000

Tags: Jacob BalsigerSteven Gee

Marc Ladouceur Eliminated in 13th Place ($465,159)

Marc Ladouceur gets a hug from Elisabeth Hille
Marc Ladouceur gets a hug from Elisabeth Hille

Greg Merson raised to 500,000 from the cutoff and action folded to a short-stacked Marc Ladouceur in the big blind. He moved all in for 4.285 million and Merson made a quick call.

Showdown
Merson: {4-Hearts}{4-Clubs}
Ladouceur: {A-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}

Ladouceur, who began the day as chip leader, was racing for his tournament life and would need to improve to stay alive. At first it looked as if he would as the {7-Diamonds} appeared in the window, and while it was accompanied by the {7-Clubs}, the flop also brought the {4-Spades}. Ladouceur had flopped trips, but Merson a full house.

The {2-Clubs} turn meant Ladouceur could win with either the case seven, an ace, or a deuce, but it wasn't in the cards as the dealer burned and put out the {6-Spades} on the river. With that, Ladouceur was eliminated from the tournament while Merson chipped up to over 30 million.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Merson us
Greg Merson
31,305,000
4,355,000
4,355,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 2X Winner
Marc Ladouceur ca
Marc Ladouceur
Busted

Tags: Greg MersonMarc Ladouceur