Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:53 PM Local Time
Nine talented players started today's final table, but in the end, J.C. Tran was the last man standing.
Play got off to a quick start and never really slowed down throughout the day. John Juanda and Theo Jorgensen both made early exits, busting from the event within the first 90 minutes.
Chad Layne was the next to go and we saw the action tighten up as we reached six-handed play. Tran was in control throughout the day though, often dictating the pace of play. Even after he lost a big portion of his stack when he doubled up Jean-Paul Philippe in the middle stages, he continued to play aggressively, and quickly recovered.
By the time we were down to four players remaining, Tran had built a comfortable lead and entered heads-up play with Jeff Kimber as a 2-1 favorite. He never lost that lead and finally took the bracelet when he got Kimber to call all in while drawing dead to a made full house.
This is Tran's third cash of this year's WSOP and his second career bracelet, coming just a year after the first he earned in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'em tournament.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:40 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber opened for 120,000 from the button and J.C. Tran called from the big blind.
The flop came down
. Tran checked to Kimber, who bet 75,000. Tran made the call. The turn was the
and Tran led out for 100,000. Kimber moved all in and Tran called.
Kimber
Tran
Tran's supporters erupted in cheers as the hands were turned over, Tran with eights full of sevens and Kimber drawing dead. The river was the
and Tran at last had all the chips in front of him, winning his second WSOP bracelet and $235,685.
For his runner-up finish, Kimber will take $145,656 back to England.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:35 PM Local Time
As heads-up play has progressed, the crowd around the secondary feature table has swelled. Chino Rheem (on break from the $10K LHE), John Myung, Amnon Filippi, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and Nam Le are intently watching Tran from behind his side of the table, while about a half-dozen Kimber fans are assembled behind the dealer's side of the table.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:35 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber limped from the button and J.C. Tran checked his option, bringing a flop of
.
Both players checked and we saw the
on the turn, along with a 50,000 bet from Tran and a fold from Kimber.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:32 PM Local Time
Both players limped in and saw a
flop. They both checked and went to the turn which fell the
. Kimber check-called a 50,000 bet from Tran. The river was a third seven, the
. Kimber checked, Tran made a pot-sized bet and Kimber released his hand.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:27 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber limped from the button and J.C. Tran checked, taking us to a flop of
.
Tran bet 50,000 and Kimber called. The
on the turn brought a 100,000 bet from Tran and a fold from Kimber.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:24 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran limped in from the button and Jeff Kimber checked. The flop was
and both players checked. When the turn fell the
, Kimber led out for 60,000. Tran called. The river came the
, pairing the board and putting a flush possibility out there. Both players checked. Let's see the cards!
Kimber
Tran
Both players made the same straight and split the pot.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:20 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran opened for 120,000 from the button and Jeff Kimber made the call. The flop came
and both players checked.
The
on the turn brought a bet of 200,000 from Kimber and a request for a count of his remaining chips from Tran. After a short time in the tank, Tran gave up his hand.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:15 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran limped in on the button and Jeff Kimber checked his option.
The flop was
. Kimber check-called 30,000 from Tran. The turn was the
and both players checked. The river fell the
and they checked it down again.
Tran turned up
and took it down with kings and tens.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:15 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber limped from the button and J.C. Tran checked his option.
On a flop of
, Tran bet 35,000 and Kimber called. The
on the turn brought two checks, and the
on brought a 50,000 bet from Kimber after Tran checked and eventually folded.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:10 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran raised to 90,000 from the button and Jeff Kimber called. We saw a flop of
, and Kimber checked. Tran then bet 100,000 and Kimber folded.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:08 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran limped from the button and Jeff Kimber raised to 95,000 from the big blind. Tran called and we saw a flop of
.
Kimber bet 180,000 and Tran folded his hand.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:08 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber called on the button and J.C. Tran checked.
The flop was
and both players checked. The turn was the
and Kimber check-called a 60,000 bet from Tran. The river was the
and Kimber checked a third time. Tran bet 100,000 and Kimber called.
Tran showed
for sixes full of aces and Kimber mucked. Kimber is down to around 500,000 while Tran is up to better than 2.7 million.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:01 PM Local Time
In a limped pot, we saw a flop of
and both players checked. Jeff Kimber then check-folded after J.C. Tran bet out 30,000 at the
on the turn.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:00 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran 2,500,000
Jeff Kimber 770,000
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:57 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran limped in on the button and Jeff Kimber checked his option.
They both checked a flop of
and checked again on the
turn. Kimber bet 40,000 when the
hit the river and Tran folded.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:56 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber limped from the button and J.C. Tran raised 60,000 more from the big blind. Kimber called and we saw a flop of
. Tran checked and Kimber bet 100,000.
After contemplating his options, Tran raised to 225,000 and Kimber gave up his hand.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:53 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber limped from the button and J.C. Tran checked his option, taking us to a flop of
.
Both players checked and the turn brought the
. Tran bet 40,000 and Kimber called, taking us to the river which came the
. Tran checked and Kimber checked behind. Kimber took the pot after showing
for two pair.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:51 PM Local Time
J.C. Tran raised to 90,000 from the button and Jeff Kimber made the call.
The flop was
and both players checked. The turn came the
. Kimber checked to Tran, who bet 100,000. Kimber called and they went to the river, the
. Kimber checked and Tran checked behind.
Tran showed
for a pair of queens and took it down.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:50 PM Local Time
Jeff Kimber raised to 90,000 from the button and J.C. Tran called.
Both players checked the board down when it came
, and Kimber took the pot when he turned over
.