2008 WSOP Main Event - The Final Table

November Nine
Day: 1
Event Info

2008 WSOP Main Event - The Final Table

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$9,152,416
Event Info
Entries
9
Level Info
Level
39
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
150,000

Hand #33 - Ylon Schwartz

Scott Montgomery has the button in Seat 4. The action is folded to Ylon Schwartz in the cutoff, who makes it 900,000 to go. Scott Montgomery and Darus Suharto get out of the way, leaving big blind Chino Rheem to stare down Schwartz for a few moments while contemplating his move. He ultimately elects to fold, though, and Schwartz picks up another pot.

Tags: Ylon Schwartz

More Famous Faces on the Rail

As morning turns to afternoon, the pros keep drifting in to the Penn & Teller Theater to check out the final table action. Phil Hellmuth is in the vicinity, while Hasan Habib has taken a seat behind Phil Gordon in the stands. Also in attendance are Amnon Filippi (supporting Chino Rheem) as well as Evelyn Ng, Maria Ho, and 17th-place finisher Tiffany Michelle.

Hand #34 - Scott Montgomery

Darus Suharto has the button in Seat 5. Once again Ylon Schwartz is the first raiser, making it 850,000 to go. Scott Montgomery calmly reraises almost 2 million, to a total of 2.8 million. Darus Suharto quickly folds his button, but Chino Rheem is not so quick in the small blind. He asks the dealer to confirm how much the bet is, then decides to fold. Ivan Demidov mucks his big blind.

The action is back to Schwartz, who has his left hand completely covering his face. He rubs the bridge of his nose before glancing at Montgomery and pointing at his stack, apparently trying to eyeball how much Montgomery has left behind his raise. After mulling it over, he decides to muck.

Tags: Scott MontgomeryYlon Schwartz

Hand #35 - Kelly Kim Doubles Through Ivan Demidov

K-E-L-L-Y!
K-E-L-L-Y!
Chino Rheem has the button in Seat 6. Ivan Demidov sets Kelly Kim all in from the small blind and Kim makes a snap-call from the big blind, having more than half his stack invested in the big blind and ante.

Kim {K-Clubs} {K-Hearts}

Demidov {K-Spades} {10-Diamonds}

Kim leaps out of his seat and pumps his fist, a huge smile on his face as he sees what great shape he's in. His supporters let out a roar of approval as they saw his pocket kings for the first time and began chanting "Let's go Kelly!" in earnest, their man's tournament life on the line.

The flop is {7-Spades} {7-Clubs} {6-Clubs}, making Kim two pair and leaving Demidov drawing only to running cards. The turn is the {9-Spades}, promping an "oooooh" from the crowd as Demidov picks up a gutshot straight draw. The river, though is the {3-Spades} and Kelly Kim doubles up as the crowd goes absolutely bonkers.

After the hand, Kim was up to 1,720,000 while Demidov fell to 26,500,000.

Tags: Ivan DemidovKelly Kim

Hand #38 - Chopped Pot, Chino Rheem and Kelly Kim

Peter Eastgate has the button in Seat 9. Chino Rheem, who has been uncharacteristically silent so far today, raises to 800,000. Kelly Kim quickly moves all in behind him for a total of about 1.45 million. Rheem is priced into a call.

Rheem: {A-Hearts} {K-Clubs}
Kim: {A-Diamonds} {K-Spades}

Both players have Big Slick, but they also have all four suits covered. If the board four-flushes, someone will lose the pot.

You can imagine that Kelly Kim is disgusted when the flop comes {8-Hearts} {J-Hearts} {10-Hearts}. The two men stand beside each other, at the end of the table, sweating the turn and the river. The turn {q-Clubs} gives each a straight and changes nothing. It comes down to the river - any heart on the river would send Kim to the rail.

Chants of "Heart! Heart! Heart!" break out in the gallery, but the river is the {Q-Diamonds}. Kim's supporters go wild as he stays alive.

Tags: Chino RheemKelly Kim

Hand #41 - Dennis Phillips Doubles Through Chino Rheem

Back in this thing
Back in this thing
Ylon Schwartz has the button in Seat 3. Chino Rheem makes it 800,000 to go from under the gun. The action folds around to Dennis Phillips, who moves all in for his remaining 4,510,000 and stands up from his seat. Rheem does as well, as he counts out his stack and contemplates a call. He'd have 6,655,000 left should he call and lose this pot.

Rheem indeed decides to call and cringes when he sees he has the worst of it.

Phillips {Q-Spades} {Q-Diamonds}
Rheem {J-Diamonds} {J-Clubs}

The "Phillipians" are on their feet and cheering as the flop comes down {K-Clubs} {5-Diamonds} {3-Spades}. The turn is the {9-Diamonds}, and Rheem is looking for one of the two remaining jacks to eliminate Phillips and double up.

The river, though is the {6-Hearts} and the Penn & Teller Theater explodes as Phillips doubles up. He's now sitting on 9,830,000 in chips while Rheem is down to 6,655,000.

Tags: Chino RheemDennis Phillips