Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:20 PM Local Time
2,317 players began this $2,000 NL Hold 'em Event. Over the course of three days, many challengers emerged, but it was Alexandre Gomes that wound up on top. He takes home $770,540 and the championship gold bracelet. In addition, he received the admiration of his fellow Brasillians who witnessed his triumph. Congratulations to Alexandre Gomes, $2,000 NL Holdem Champion.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:16 PM Local Time
After a cyclonic final table, Alexandre Gomes has emerged through a field of 2,317 players to claim victory in Event 48 - $2,000 No Limit Hold'em. Gomes became prominent late on Day 2 to build a large chip stack entering into today's final table.
With plenty of gusto and a lot of gamble, Gomes found luck was on his side today as he survived some amazing situations to claim victory in a tough heads up battle with Marco Johnson.
The Brasilian fans are jumping around and chanting amongst some amazing celebrations here in the Amazon Room as Gomes collects his first WSOP bracelet and $770,540 in prize money. Congratulations Alexandre!
Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:14 PM Local Time
Alexandre Gomes raised it up to 300,000 and Marco Johnson moved all in for approximately 3,000,000. Alexandre Gomes instantly made the call.
Gomes:
Johnson:
Board:
When the final card hit the board, Gomes gallery exploded in celebration that lasted approximately five minutes. They were jumping and chanting and enjoying the fact that one of their own is a WSOP bracelet winner!
Marco Johnson is our second place finisher and will receive $491,273 for his efforts.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:53 PM Local Time
Marco Johnson opened with a raise to 280,000 from the button. Alexandre Gomes thought for a minute before declaring he was all in. Johnson insta-called and slammed
on the table. Gomes cringed as his tournament life was on the line with
.
The flop came
to offer Gomes some hope, and the Brazilian fans blew the roof off the Rio when the
rolled off on the turn! The
on the river left Johnson in a state of disbelief after coming so close to the bracelet, as Gomes doubles through to 4.8 million chips to now hold the lead against Johnson's 4.4 million.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:38 PM Local Time
Preflop, Alexandre Gomes raised to 215,000 total and Marco Johnson made the call. Both players checked the flop of
.
On the turn of the
, Gomes bet out 400,000 and Johnson quickly called.
On the river card of the
, Gomes went all in for 1,600,000. Johnson tanked for a while to decide a call. He asked, "Will you show if I fold?" Gomes just looked at his cards. Finally, Johnson folded and Gomes showed
for a bluff.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:31 PM Local Time
Marco Johnson raised it up to his standard amount of 210,000 from position on the button and Alexandre Gomes made the call.
The flop came
and Johnson fired out 315,000 chips. Gomes looked like he was going to call but gave up his hand as Johnson takes down another post-flop pot.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:27 PM Local Time
Marco Johnson opened with a raise preflop to 210,000 from the button and Alexandre Gomes made the call from the big blind.
They took a flop of
and Gomes checked to Johnson who fired out 310,000. Gomes made the call.
The turn was the
and both checked. The river was the
and it was checked down again. Johnson showed
for a pair of kings on the turn as Gomes sighed and tossed his cards into the muck.
Gomes is now down to 2.9 million chips with Johnson sitting with about 6.3 million.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:20 PM Local Time
As mentioned earlier, John Phan stopped by for a bit to watch the action. Apparently, he was stopping by to watch Marco Johnson. I got a chance to speak with him and asked him if he thought that the two should go all in blind. He replied, "I would." He then said, "I would not just do it one time, or two times, or even three times. I would do it four times."
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:18 PM Local Time
Preflop, Alexandre Gomes raised to 200,000 and Marco Johnson called. On a flop of
, Gomes bet 400,000 and Johnson quickly called. The turn of the
was checked around. On the river of the
, Gomes bet out 500,000 chips and Johnson quickly called. Gomes mucked his hand but the floorman forced Johnson to show his hand to win the pot. Johnson showed
.
After the pot, Johnson has approximately 5,800,000 in chips.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:12 PM Local Time
Things have tightened up with the chip counts nearly dead even at this point with the players recently exchanging pots back and forth.
After raising preflop Alexandre Gomes took down a pot with a bet on the turn on a board of
.
Marco Johnson then got one back after raising preflop from the big blind and then continuation betting on a
flop to take it down.
The biggest pot of the recent action went to Gomes. Johnson had raised to 210,000 from the button before Gomes 3-bet to 600,000. Johnson quickly folded.
Johnson still holds a slight chip lead with 4.7 million to Gomes' 4.5 million.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:08 PM Local Time
Tom "Durrrr" Dwan just came over during the break in his event to wish Marco Johnson good luck. Also two-time WSOP bracelet winner John Phan just cruised by to check out some of the action.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:04 PM Local Time
Alexandre Gomes has a strong Brasillian contingent here today. There cheer him on through thick and thin, and during the break were taking pictures with him as if he had already won the event. Right now, Gomes is proudly wearing the flag of Brazil on his back.
All we need is a soccer announcer to come by and yell out "Goal! Goal!" after every hand.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:59 PM Local Time
Marco Johnson: 5,020,000
Alexandre Gomes: 4,180,000
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:57 PM Local Time
Preflop, Marco Johnson made a raise to 125,000 and Alexandre Gomes reraised. Before he could get the raise out, Johnson announced all in and Gomes called.
Johnson:
Gomes:
The flop was
, giving Johnson a flush draw to go along with his pair. The turn fell the
, giving Johnson a set, but also now giving Gomes a straight draw. The river fell the
and Johnson doubled up to 5,020,000 in chips. Johnson is now the chip leader.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:53 PM Local Time
Alexandre Gomes raised it up to 240,000 from the button and Marco Johnson made the call in the big blind.
They took a flop of
and both players checked. The turn brought the
and Johnson checked to Gomes who fired out 325,000. Johnson made the call.
The river was the
and Johnson checked to Gomes who thought for several minutes before counting out 675,000 and sliding it into the middle. Johnson quickly called as Gomes turned over
for trips to take down the pot.
Things are back where they started for this heads up contest with Johnson on around 2.5 million and Gomes up to 6.7 million.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:48 PM Local Time
Alexandre Gomes: 5,620,000
Marco Johnson: 3,630,000
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:43 PM Local Time
Both players limped in preflop. On a flop of
, Marco Johnson bet out 70,000 and Alexandre Gomes made the call.
Both players checked the turn of the
.
When the river fell the
, Gomes bet out 255,000 chips and then Johnson raised to 1,005,000. Gomes made the call and Johnson showed
for the straight. Gomes mucked his hand.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:36 PM Local Time
This will be an interesting battle and we're not really sure what to expect.
Marco Johnson has been relentlessly aggressive in raising preflop and taking down small pots, and has been very solid throughout. Meanwhile Alexandre Gomes has often taken down big pots with all in moves, and has certainly had some luck to be at this point. He seems prepared to gamble, while you feel that Johnson will be patient and wait for his spot to strike.
The players are still relatively deep compared to the blinds, so you'd expect a fair amount of heads up play, but the way this final table has gone so far, we could see a big pot at any moment!
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:32 PM Local Time
The players are back from the break with Alexandre Gomes draped in a Brazilian flag!
Let the battle for the bracelet begin!
Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:18 PM Local Time
The players are now taking a 20 minute break before we start heads up play.
The upated chip counts are as follows:
Alexandre Gomes - 6,700,000
Marco Johnson - 2,550,000