Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:50 PM Local Time
The first Pot-Limit Hold'em bracelet of 2010 goes to James "Flushy" Dempsey. Just before the final table began, we heard the British national anthem played as Praz Bansi was awarded his second career bracelet. To the delight of Dempsey's vocal British rail, he has ensured we'll get to hear "God Save the Queen" at least once more. The $197,470 he earned for this win doubles Dempsey's lifetime live tournament cashes, but it is less than he earned for his largest online cash. He picked up $211,000 for second place in the 2009 SCOOP $320 No-Limit Hold'em event.
Dempsey defeated Steve Chanthabouasy heads up in a tough battle that took more than two hours. Both outlasted a stacked field of 650 that began the tournament three days ago. Dempsey ended Day 1 as chip leader and maintained his position through most of Day 2, only relinquishing it at the end to Chanthabouasy, who began the final table as chip leader with only 5,000 more than Dempsy. Flushy quickly retook the lead and bullied the table for the rest of the evening before finally eliminating Chanthabouasy and securing the title.
Dempsey eliminated JJ Liu in third place. She earned the honor of being the first woman to make a final table at the 2010 World Series. She began the day with her eyes on the bracelet, but could never accumulate enough chips to make a run at the top spot. Liu lost a flip to Dempsey to end her fight and had to settle for $86,512.
Here is how the final table payouts broke down:
1st: James Dempsey - $197,470
2nd: Steve Chanthabouasy - $121,963
3rd: JJ Liu - $86,512
4th: Mark Babekov - $62,232
5th: Scott Haraden - $45,393
6th: Armen Kara - $33,573
7th: Joseph Williams - $25,166
8th: Edward Brogdon - $19,120
9th: Gregg Wilkerson - $14,715
For you Pot-Limit Hold'em fans out there, the next event is a $2,500 PLH/PLO mix beginning June 17th. The $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em World Championship starts on June 20th. PokerNews will be there to cover both start to finish.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:46 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy raised to 150,000, and James Dempsey made it 450,000. Chanthabouasy four-bet shoved, and Dempsey made the call.
Showdown
Chanthabouasy:
Dempsey:
The flop gave Chanthabouasy an open-ended straight draw, sending the crowd further into a frenzy. Somehow, the turn and river blanked out, bringing this heads-up match to a close. Chanthabouasy battled back from short-stack several times in the last few hours, but after the last break, he couldn't put the brakes on his downward slide and finishes in second place for $121,963.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:42 PM Local Time
James Dempsey raised to 125,000, and Steve Chanthabouasy called. The flop fell , and Chanthabouasy checked. Dempsey checked behind. The turn brought the , and after Chanthabouasy checked again, Dempsey bet 150,000. Chanthabouasy called. The river was the , and this time, Chanthabouasy bet out 225,000. Dempsey called. Chanthabouasy showed for for absolutely nothing, and Dempsey's was good for the big pot.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:35 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy limped, then called when James Dempsey made it 150,000 to go. The flop came , and both players checked. It went check, check after the on the turn as well. The on the river prompted a bet of 250,000 from Chanthabouasy. Dempsey called, and Chanthabouasy could only show for missed draws. Dempsey took the pot with for two pair.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:07 PM Local Time
Back in 20 minutes.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:00 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy limped, and James Dempsey checked to see a flop. Dempsey checked, then called a 100,000 bet from Chanthabouasy. Dempsey again checked the turn, and Chanthabouasy checked behind. After the river and a third check from Dempsey, Chanthabouasy bet an intimidating 230,000. Dempsey folded, and Chanthabouasy took the pot, showing as he did. The the rail explosion begin.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:52 PM Local Time
Both checked the flop and the turn. The on the river paired the board, and Steve Chanthabouasy bet out 80,000. James Dempsey called and mucked when he saw Chanthabouasy's .
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:47 PM Local Time
James Dempsey is on a roll. Steve Chanthabouasy raised to 100,000, and Dempsey called. Both checked the flop. When the turn brought the , Dempsey bet 100,000, and Chanthabouasy folded.
The next hand, they limped to the flop, and it went check, check. The came on the river, and when Dempsey bet 60,000, Chanthabouasy folded.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:44 PM Local Time
James Dempsey raised to 100,000 preflop, and Steve Chanthabouasy called. The flop came out , and Chanthabouasy checked. Dempsey bet 100,000, and Chanthabouasy folded.
Both players checked the flop. Dempsey bet 60,000 after the on the turn, and Chanthabouasy called. The river was the , and Dempsey bet out 145,000. That was enough to take it down.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:35 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy limped, and James Dempsey checked his option to get to a flop. Both players checked, and the turn brought the . Chanthabouasy bet 80,000, and Dempsey called. The river peeled off the , and Dempsey checked again. Chanthabouasy checked behind, showing . His pair wasn't good, as Dempsey tabled for the king-high straight.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:28 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy stopped the bleeding since his last double up. He raised to 80,000 preflop, and James Dempsey called. Both checked the flop and the turn. Dempsey checked again after the on the river, and when Chanthabouasy bet 100,000, Dempsey folded.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:23 PM Local Time
James Dempsey refused to give up after doubling Steve Chanthabouasy twice. Since then, he's won nearly every pot. None have gone to showdown, but that hasn't stopped Dempsey from rebuilding to 1.3 million. He's still behind Chanthabouasy's 1.6 million, but he's let everyone know this match is far from over.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:22 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy raised to 80,000, and James Dempsey called. The flop came , and Dempsey checked. Chanthabouasy bet 100, and Dempsey quickly check-raised to 265,000. Just as fast, Chanthabouasy moved all in. Dempsey called with for top two pair. But it wasn't good enough to best Chanthabouasy's for the flopped straight. The on the turn and on the river didn't change anything, and Chanthabouasy doubled up again, taking over the chip lead for the first time during the heads-up match and dropping Dempsey below 1 million.
As Chanthabouasy stacked his chips, his fans broke out into a "USA! USA! USA!" chant.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:14 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy didn't waste any time when he came back from break. He raised to 80,000, and James Dempsey potted. Chanthabouasy moved all in, and Dempsey quickly called.
Showdown
Dempsey:
Chanthabouasy:
The flop had Chanthabouasy's fans screaming for hearts while Dempsey's rail called for sevens. It was Chanthabouasy's crew that errupted with the on the turn. They got even louder after the on the river doubled up their boy and kept him in the hunt for his first bracelet.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:05 PM Local Time
The level start has been paused for a few minutes for a bathroom break requested by one of the players.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 8:02 PM Local Time
Both players saw a limped flop of . James Dempsey check-called a 60,000 bet from Steve Chanthabouasy. After the on the turn, Dempsey checked again, and Chanthabouasy checked behind. The river brought the , and Dempsey bet out 125,000. That was enough to get Chanthabouasy to fold.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 7:56 PM Local Time
James Dempsey bet 35,000 on a flop, and Steve Chanthabouasy called. The turn was the , and Dempsey checked. Chanthabouasy bet 100,000, and Dempsey called, triggering a wave of yells from his rail. The river brought the , and Dempsey took back the aggression with a 150,000-chip bet. Chanthabouasy folded, and the British had more reason to chant.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 7:52 PM Local Time
In a limped pot, both players checked the flop. The on the turn earned a 60,000-chip bet from Steve Chanthabouasy and a fold from James Dempsey.
Next hand, Chanthabouasy raised to 60,000. Dempsey reraised to 150,000 and Chanthabouasy called. The flop came , and Dempsey bet out 150,000. Chanthabouasy folded.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 7:48 PM Local Time
The rail has started to sound like it belongs at a baseball game. Now that James Dempsey's fans are split up on either side of the table, they've taken up back-and-forth chants. It's hard to understand most of what they're saying, but they definitely just sang "We all know Neil Channing" a few times.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 7:45 PM Local Time
In a limped pot, both players checked a flop. After the turn, Steve Chanthabouasy bet 60,000, and James Dempsey folded.
The action on the next hand was much the same. They saw a cheap flop, and both checked. Dempsey checked again after the on the turn, and Chanthabouasy bet 60,000. Dempsey folded, giving the second pot in a row to Chanthabouasy.