Defending champion of this event in 2012: David "ODB" Baker
We'll have a new champion in the $2,500 Eight-Game Mix as last year's winner, David "ODB" Baker, was recently eliminated.
We didn't catch all the details surrounding Baker's demise, but we do know that he was crippled by Allen Kessler in a hand of Stud when the "Chainsaw" made a flush on a board.
A few minutes later Baker was dispatched while playing the same game against Thomas "Thunder" Keller, who you may remember as the man who defeated Martin De Knijff heads up in the 2004 WSOP Event #13 $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $382,020. We're not sure of Baker's hand but we do know Keller had made an ace-high diamond flush.
Meanwhile, Kyle Julius has been eliminated from the tournament.
Paul Volpe just took down another pot and is rapidly climbing the counts. We didn't catch all the action but we do know that on a board a player in middle position checked and Volpe bet, though we're not sure of how much. What we do know is the middle-position player check-raised all in for 8,375 more and Volpe called.
Volpe:
Opponent:
Volpe was ahead with his pair of aces, but his opponent had both straight and flush draws. Much to Volpe's good fortune, the river blanked and he was able to chip up to 36,000.
According to Eric Crain, Phil Hellmuth got all of his chips in with a double gutshot straight draw, but his opponent had a set. Hellmuth didn't improve, and he's been eliminated from the tournament.
Vanessa Selbst opened for 400 under the gun, and a player in the hijack made it 900 to go. Everyone else folded, and Selbst called.
The players took in a flop, and Selbst check-called 1,125. Both players checked through a turn and river, and Selbst rolled over the for a turned flush that was counterfeited by the four-flush board on the river. Still, the nine of diamonds was good enough to earn this pot, as her opponent mucked his cards.
Six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Layne Flack completed with the and then called when Brett Richey raised.
Flack: / /
Richey: /
Richey bet fourth, Flack called and then both players checked on fifth. Richey checked for a second time on sixth and Flack took the opportunity to bet. Richey called and then checked before he received seventh.
"Two pair," Flack said after checking behind.
Richey squeezed out his last card and said, "Straight." We assume he started with a pair of tens and got the straight on seventh, but we're not 100% sure as he tabled all three cards at one. Whatever the case, Richey won the pot.
We found 1986 Main Event champion Berry Johnston all in with from the small blind against his button opponent who held . The board ran out , and Johnston doubled up.
button in Safari
board.
board a player in middle position checked and Volpe bet, though we're not sure of how much. What we do know is the middle-position player check-raised all in for 8,375 more and Volpe called.
flop, and Selbst check-called 1,125. Both players checked through a 
turn and 
river, and Selbst rolled over the 
for a turned flush that was counterfeited by the four-flush board on the river. Still, the nine of diamonds was good enough to earn this pot, as her opponent mucked his cards.
and then called when Brett Richey raised.
/ 
/ 
board, and Todd Brunson's 
