| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
432,200
-99,000
|
-99,000 |
|
||
|
260,000
99,000
|
99,000 |
|
|
||
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Isaac Hagerling moved all in on the button for 79,500, and Nick Binger called.
Hagerling: 
Binger: 
Binger's hand held as the board rolled out 
, and he doubled to 161,000 chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
531,200
-70,000
|
-70,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
161,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 20b
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 1,000
Jason Koon is in the final eight of Event #27. He’ll compete against Dan Healey in the next round of heads-up play. In his first two matches today, Koon came from behind to win against Taylor Paur and then defeated Mike Watson despite starting with a substantial chip disadvantage. PokerNews caught up with Koon after he won his round of sixteen match against Watson.
PokerNews: Before the summer, you were optimistic—and pretty vocally optimistic—about your chances for success at the World Series. This is your third cash and you’ve had one final table. How do you feel it’s been going, and how do you feel it will go moving forward?
Koon: I think it’s been great. I’ve had to miss a bunch of events for two weddings, so I flew home, but out of the ones that I’ve played I felt like I played really well. I’m being very objective this year. Like today, for instance. I came in final 32. I knew I had two very tough rounds at the beginning. I knew it was unlikely that I would have a shot to win the bracelet. Less than 15%. So back in the day, I would just think I’m due, and then I would end up being bummed out and burn out halfway through the World Series ‘cause I’d have all these deep runs that didn’t come out the way I wanted them to. But nowadays I’m just realistic with my situation ‘cause I focus on what I have control of, and if I happen to win a bracelet, so be it. And if not, I’m really happy with my progress as a person and as a poker player.
Why is this year going to be better than last year for you?
For the last four or five months I’ve spent an extreme amount of time getting coaching, and it’s really paid off.
You’re pretty well known as a fitness fanatic. How has that helped you with poker?
It helps me maintain focus. I feel like that’s a big edge through the long days. And also, it’s just a great outlet for stress. I think a lot of people have a bad day and they go drink or eat a bunch of hamburgers. That might be a quick fix, but it doesn’t work long run. Staying in shape just keeps me happy.
How do you feel about your chances going into the next round?
I have no clue who I’m playing, but I thought it wasn’t cool that he sat on the rail and watched us the entire time as we played. It’s not illegal, but it’s kind of unethical. It’s an edge that he has over me that I wouldn’t have over him. That said, all I’ve done for the past four and a half months is study heads-up no limit, and I feel pretty good about it.
If you win, how are you going to celebrate?
What’s first place, 370K or something? It’s not life-changing money or anything, but we’ll definitely party. We’ll get the crew together and probably hit up a pool during the day and spend a little money. Not too much money, though, I’m kind of over all that.
Binger limped in from the button and Hagerling checked his option.
The dealer put out the flop of 
and Hagerling led at the pot for 8,000. Binger just called.
The turn was the 
and both players checked.
On the river, Hagerling checked to Binger who bet 25,000. Hagerling grabbed raising chips and check raised to 58,000. Binger called but mucked when Hagerling showed 
for a rivered flush.
After that hand Binger dropped under 100,000 chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
601,200
69,000
|
69,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
91,000
-69,000
|
-69,000 |
|
|
||
Isaac Hagerling limped in on the button, Nick Binger checked, and the dealer fanned 
. Binger led out for 8,000, Hagerling called, and the turn was the 
. Binger fired out another 15,000, Hagerling raised to 50,000, and Binger folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
532,200
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
160,000
-23,000
|
-23,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 19b
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 1,000
The remaining match is in the midst of a 20-minute break. In the meantime, you can check out the full bracket here.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
509,200
47,000
|
47,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
183,000
-47,000
|
-47,000 |
|
|
||
Jason Koon raised to 11,000 on the button, Mike Watson three-bet to 27,500, and Koon called. Watson led out for 23,500 on a flop of 
, Koon called, and the turn was the . Watson fired out another 37,500, Koon again called, and the completed the board.
Watson moved all in for around 72,000, and Koon snap-called. Watson showed 
for sevens full of aces, but it was no good against Koon's 
for aces full of threes.
Koon will advance to the round of eight, where he will have a slight chip advantage over No. 4 Dan Healey.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
643,300
179,200
|
179,200 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Action in the final hand of the match between Chris Johnson and Ognjen Sekularac began with Johnson opening on the button to 10,000. Segularac moved all in from the big blind over Johnson's raise. Johnson went into the tank. He put a chip on his cards, counted his chips, took the chip off his card, looked at his cards, put the chip back on his cards then eventually dropped a stack of pink T5,000 chips into the pot, signifying a call.
Sekularac: 
Johnson:
The flop came down putting a stranglehold on the hand for Johnson. The turn was the 
and that left Sekularac drawing dead. The river was the meaningless 
and with that the two men shook hands.
Sekularac was eliminated while Johnson will advance to the round of eight where he will face Jeremy Ausmus to find out who will move into the round of four.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
635,800
235,000
|
235,000 |
|
Busted |
