Wednesday, June 9, 2010 3:26 AM Local Time
At around this time last night, Frank Kassela ended Day 2 with the chip lead, as play was paused two spots before the money. Today, those 18 players returned to whittle their way down to a winner and Kassela was able to ride that lead all the way to his first WSOP bracelet.
Kassela is truly a self-made man. After getting out of the army, he borrowed $7,000 from his parents to start a business. Now he's a multi-millionaire. Kassela made a WSOP final table before, back in 2005 when he was four-handed in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em event. He picked up pocket aces and got his money in against Johnny Chan, who spiked a queen to take him out. Chan went on to win his tenth bracelet that night while Kassela would have a five-year wait to earn his first.
Kassela also noted in his post-game interview that while this event was starting, he was still playing in Event #12, $1,500 Limit Hold'em. He bubbled off the final table in 10th place and had he not busted then and there, he would not have played this tournament.
Tonight's final table was one of the 2010 WSOP's toughest. Kassela had to get past Dario Minieri, POY points leader Vladimir Schmelev, Kirill Rabstov, John Juanda, Steve Zolotow, Jennifer Harman and runner-up Allen Kessler in order to claim the $447,446 first-place prize. That's nine WSOP bracelets right there, and now Kassela is proud to call himself a member of that fraternity.
Congratulations to Frank Kassela, truly one of the good guys of poker, on his first WSOP bracelet. It's been a long time coming and is certainly well-deserved.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 3:17 AM Local Time
Allen Kessler: ( )( ) / / ( )
Frank Kassela: ( )( ) / / ( )
Kessler brought in before Kassela completed. Kessler then raised and Kassela reraised. Kessler called off the last of his chips and we were off to the races on third street. Kassela started ahead with a buried pair of sevens, but Kessler took the lead with eights on fourth. On fifth street, Kassela pulled back ahead with two pair and from there his hand held up.
Kessler finished in second place and earned $276,486. It wasn't the bracelet win he was hoping for, but Kessler did score his largest-ever cash. A hand shake and a hug from Kassela officially ended it and Kessler left the building to collect his payout.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 3:08 AM Local Time
Despite the late hour, Allen Kessler has a small but vocal contingent of young players sweating him on the rail. We've never seen anyone get the cheers Kessler gets for simply winning the antes!
"C'mon SAW!!!" screamed one.
"RRRRRRRRRRRAWWWR!" cried another as he imitated a chainsaw.
Their man is fighting hard, but still has only a bit more than two bets left in his stack.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 3:05 AM Local Time
Frank Kassela / [ /
Allen Kessler / /
Kessler had the bring-in, Kassela completed, and Kessler bet all-in for his last 200,000. Kassela called.
Kassela's pair of fours led until the river, when Kessler spiked a queen to make two pair and double up to 440,000.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:56 AM Local Time
Frank Kassela - 4,435,000
Allen Kessler - 665,000
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:41 AM Local Time
Allen Kessler: ( )( ) /
Frank Kassela: ( )( ) /
Kessler brought in, Kassela completed, Kessler raised and then Kassela called. On fourth street, Kessler bet, Kassela raised, Kessler moved all in for 10,000 more on a reraise and Kassela called.
On fifth street, Kassela picked up a and Kessler a . On sixth, Kassela added the and made a low while Kessler picked up the . It was now time for seventh. Kassela picked up the and only had the low at the current moment. Kessler could still pull a low and was already freerolling with the high. Everyone in the room chanted for him to hit his card and then Kessler squeezed and squeezed hard. He slammed over the and never showed as much emotion as just then, making his low and scooping the entire pot.
Kessler's now got 840,000 chips while Kassela dropped to 4.26 million.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:33 AM Local Time
Frank Kassela (X)(X) / / (X)
Allen Kessler (X)(X) / / (X)
Kassela had the bring-in and called Kessler's completion. Kessler check-called on fourth street, then called Kassela's bets on fifth and sixth. Both players checked the river.
Kessler showed for a pair of jacks, but Kassela had him with for a pair of kings. Kassela scooped the pot, leaving Kessler with only 395,000 in chips.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:28 AM Local Time
Allen Kessler: (X)(X) /
Frank Kassela: (X)(X) / - fold
Kessler brought in, Kassela completed and then Kessler called. On fourth, Kassela bet and Kessler called. On fifth, Kassela checked and Kessler asked how much the bet was. After being informed that the big bet had to be 200,000, Kessler fired it. Kassela folded and Kessler picked up the pot to move to about 1.3 million chips.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:21 AM Local Time
Frank Kassela - 4,070,000
Allen Kessler - 1,030,000
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:21 AM Local Time
Jennifer Harman: (X)(X) / / (X)
Allen Kessler: (X)(X) / / (X)
Harman brought in and Kessler completed. Harman made the call. Both players checked the next street and then Harman check-called on fifth. On sixth street, Harman checked, Kessler bet and Harman called off her last 140,000. She then flipped up the while Kessler turned up the .
Kessler already had the low locked up and then drew the to pair up. He was now freerolling as Harman queezed her last card. She found a useless underneath and that was it, Kessler won the pot and sent Harman home in 3rd place. She left with $173,159.
After the hand, Kessler asked to see the payout sheet. When he saw he was guarnateed over $276,000 he said, "Wow that's my biggest cash ever. Just give me a minute to regroup."
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:05 AM Local Time
Jennifer Harman: (X)(X) / / (X)
Frank Kassela: (X)(X) / / (X)
Harman brought in, Kassela completed and then Harman called. Harman called bets from Kassela on fourth and fifth street before both players checked sixth and seventh. Kassela turned up the for a pair of aces and won the pot.
Kassela increased his chip-leading stack to 3.75 million while Harman dropped to 320,000.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:01 AM Local Time
Allen Kessler (X)(X) / / (X)
Frank Kassela (X)(X) / / (X)
Kessler brought it in on third street and called Kassela's completion. Kassela check-called on fourth street, then led out on fifth and sixth. Kessler called. Both players checked on the river.
Kessler showed for fours and deuces but Kassela had him one better with in the hole for fives and treys. Kassela scooped the pot.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 1:56 AM Local Time
Frank Kassela - 2.9 million
Allen Kessler - 1.5 million
Jennifer Harman - 700,000
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 1:54 AM Local Time
After Allen Kessler brought in with the , Steve Zolotow completed with the up. Frank Kassela raised with the up, Kessler folded, Zolotow reraised to put himself all in and Kassela called. Here's how the boards ran out from there.
Zolotow: ( )( ) / / ( )
Kassela: ( )( ) / / ( )
As you can see, Kassela hit a third nine on sixth street and Zolotow failed to catch back up. He was eliminated in 4th place, taking home over $125,000 and leaving only three remaining for the bracelet.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 1:51 AM Local Time
Steve Zolotow (X)(X) / / (X)
Allen Kessler (X)(X) / / (X)
Zolotow brought it in on third street and called Kessler's completion. Zolotow check-called on fourth street, then led out on fifth. Kessler raised and Zolotow called. Zolotow check-called another bet on sixth street, then checked the river. Kessler bet and after a very long tank, Zolotow folded. He's down to 250,000 while Kessler is up to 1.5 million.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 1:34 AM Local Time
John Juanda has finally succumbed here at the final table, finishing in 5th place for nearly $100,000. He got involved in a hand with chip leader Frank Kassela and here's how the boards looked.
Kassela: (X)(X) / / (X)
Juanda: (X)(X) / / (X)
After Jennifer Harman brought in with the , Kassela completed and then Juanda called. Harman folded. On the next street, Kassela check-called a bet from Juanda. On fifth street, Kassela check-called again. Both players wound up checking sixth and then Kassela checked to Juanda on seventh. The multi-bracelet winner bet his last 135,000 and Kassela called.
"I think I got a scooper," said Juanda as he turned up the for kings up.
"Three aces," responded Kassela, turning up the . That was good enough to best Juanda and send him to the rail. Kassela moved up to about 2.5 million chips.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 1:08 AM Local Time
Allen Kessler (X)(X) / / (X)
Jennifer Harman (X)(X) /
Frank Kassela (X)(X) / / (X)
Kessler had the bring-in and both Harman and Kassela called. Kassela led out on fourth street, Kessler called and Harman folded. Kassela led fifth street and Kessler called. He bet out again on sixth, Kessler raised and Kassela called. Kassela check-called one more bet on the river.
Kassela showed for aces full of sevens. Kessler showed for a wheel and they split the pot.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:57 AM Local Time
Steve Zolotow just asked the tournament staff if they reach 3:00 a.m., if they'll come back tomorrow and continue. The director laughed and shook his head.
"How about 3:05?" tried Zolotow.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:57 AM Local Time
John Juanda (X)(X) / / (X)
Jennifer Harman (X)(X) / / (X)
Juanda brought it in for a completion, Harman raised and Juanda called. Harman caught an ace and led out on fourth street. Juanda called. Harman check-called on fifth street and both players checked sixth and seventh.
Harman showed for trip sevens and a 8-7-6-4-A low and scooped the pot. She's up to 875,000 and Juanda is down to 600,000.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:42 AM Local Time
Allen Kessler (X)(X) / / (X)
Jennifer Harman (X)(X) / (?) / (X)
Kessler completed on third street, Harman raised and Kessler called. Both players checked on fourth street. Kessler led on fifth and sixth streets and Harman called in both spots. Kessler bet the rest of his chips in the dark on the river and Harman folded.
"Aces up and an 8 low," revealed Kessler after the hand.
He is up to 1 million in chips while Harman slipped to 775,000.