Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:55 AM Local Time
Over the course of three long days of poker, 2,714 players have come and gone. At the end of it all, one man is left standing with every chip in play.
The man left is Ray Foley, a proud native of Michigan. Foley put on a poker clinic in this minefield of questionable play. Managing to survive Day 1, Foley really began to assert himself on Day 2. He held the chip lead for much of that second day, just narrowly being edged out for the top spot as play concluded. Foley would pick right up where he left off today. Facing a formidable final three tables, Foley continued to pick his way through the field. At the final table, he got fortunate with a favorable seat draw, sitting to the left of Brandon Cantu and Alex Jacob.
Foley would knock out Jacob (after the afro-headed pro had already taken a big hit), and now he has dispatched of Brandon Cantu. The pivotal hand came just about a half hour into heads-up play. Cantu had been grinding away at Foley, and he moved all in with king-nine with a chance to end the tournament. Foley had pocket tens, but a king on the flop nearly put the bracelet on the wrist of Cantu. If not for a miraculous ten on the turn, that's the way it would have ended. But it wasn't meant to be for Cantu.
After a remarkable three days of poker, Ray Foley has earned himself a shiny gold bracelet and more than $650,000 in cash. Congratulations to Ray Foley, Event #39 Champion!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:40 AM Local Time
Brandon Cantu raised to, you guessed it, 305,000, and Foley made the call to see a flop.
It came down
, and fireworks ensued once again. Foley checked, and Cantu put out 450,000 more chips. After just a quick pause, Foley moved all in, sending Cantu into the tank. After about a minute, Cantu shrugged, nodded his head and made the call for his own tournament life.
[u]Showdown[/u]
Foley:
Cantu:
Cantu seemed to know what Foley had before the cards were even turned over. Looking to pair his seven, Cantu would find no help as the
and
filled out the board. With his pair of jacks, queen kicker, Ray Foley has eliminated Brandon Cantu in 2nd place. For his impressive run, the pro will take home more than $400,000 but fall one spot short of his clear goal.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:34 AM Local Time
Since that last big encounter, Brandon Cantu has given Foley a walk in the big blind three straight times. He's understandably looking just a bit frustrated over there.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:32 AM Local Time
Ray Foley raised to 300,000, and Brandon Cantu moved all in. Foley snap-called for his tournament life.
[u]Showdown[/u]
Cantu:
Foley:
The crowd pressed in on the table, jockeying for a good view of what could be the final hand of the tournament. "King, please," asked Cantu. And the dealer obliged him. The flop shot out
, drawing a huge reaction from the crowd and Cantu alike. Brandon couldn't stand still, pacing around the table with his hands clenched to his face.
Turn:
.
Another huge reaction, this time from the other side of the arena. Foley had come from behind, spiking his two-outer to lock up the pot and a massive double up. He had 4,060,000 to start the hand, and that earns him a double to 8,120,000 as the two men essentially trade stacks.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:22 AM Local Time
Cantu came in with his usual raise to 305,000 from the button, and Foley put in the call.
The flop showed up
. Foley checked, and Cantu's bet of 400,000 earned him the pot.
Foley has been whittled down to the 4,000,000-chip mark.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:18 AM Local Time
Ray Foley limped in from the button, and Cantu knocked the table for the free flop.
It came
, and they both checked. The turn was the
, and it drew a bet of 275,000 from Cantu. Foley raised it up to 650,000, and Cantu made the call. The river came the
, and both men checked once again.
"King," said Cantu, and Foley mucked his hand.
was shown down, and Cantu takes another big bite.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:14 AM Local Time
Cantu raised to 305,000 from the button again, and Foley came along.
The board ran out
with the two men check-checking through fourth street. On fifth, Cantu put in a bet of 400,000, and Foley eventually made the call. Brandon showed
, and it was the winner. He's now sitting right at 7,000,000 in chips.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:11 AM Local Time
Brandon Cantu raised to 305,000, and Foley three-bet it up to 900,000, drawing a fold.
On the next hand, the two men saw a cheap flop of
. They both checked there, as well as on the turn
. When the
hit the river, Cantu bet 300,000, and Foley called. Brandon showed
, good enough to win the pot.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:08 AM Local Time
Ray Foley limped in from the button, and Brandon Cantu raised to 300,000. That prompted an all in from Foley, and Cantu snap-called with a chance to end the night!
[u]Showdown[/u]
Cantu:
Foley:
The flop came safe for Cantu, running out
. When the
hit the turn, Cantu pressed his hands into his cheeks, fearful of his opponent's open ender. The river didn't make Foley's straight, but the
was still a beautiful card for him. With two pair on the board, the players chop up the pot with their ace kickers. No chips change hands, and it's on to the next shuffle.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:01 AM Local Time
On the first hand back from break, Ray Foley raised to 300,000, and Brandon Cantu moved all in to take down the pot.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:00 AM Local Time
Play has resumed. The bracelet is out on the felt, and we're heads up for the title!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:48 AM Local Time
The two remaining men are on a 20-minute break.
Cantu - 6,995,000
Foley - 5,210,000
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:47 AM Local Time
In the cutoff, Brandon Cantu came in raising to 275,000. The small blind ducked out, but Wei Mu came along from the big.
The flop showed up
. Mu checked, and Cantu continued out with a bet of 350,000. Mu quickly announced that he was all in, and Cantu instantly called with that not-so-sure ring to his voice.
[u]Showdown[/u]
Mu:
Cantu:
Cantu had it right, he was ahead and dominating Mu. The turn
was useless, as was the
that hit fifth street. With his ten kicker playing, Brandon Cantu has knocked off Wei Mu in 3rd place. The pay bump for Mu takes him up close to $270,000, not too bad for three days' work.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:42 AM Local Time
First into the pot from the small blind, the now short-stacked Alex Jacob moved all in for 310,000. Big blind Ray Foley called.
[u]Showdown[/u]
Jacob:
Foley:
The board would once again provide no help for Jacob and his legendary afro. It ran down
, and that will be the last board Alex Jacob sees tonight. He put on a marvelous show today, and once he grabbed the chip lead, the table was cowering in fear. One big misstep a few hands ago against Ray Foley would be his undoing though, and Jacob couldn't recover once the bleeding started. For his work over the past three days, he'll take home nearly $200,000 but fall three spots short of his first bracelet.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:37 AM Local Time
After climbing the big long ladder throughout the day, Alex Jacob has fallen down the chute all the way back to where he started.
Just moments after his first big hit against Foley, Jacob was at it again. In the small blind, Brandon Cantu raised it up to 375,000. Next door, Alex Jacob announced that he was all in. Cantu made the call, putting his own tournament life on the line. Jacob hated it.
Showdown
Cantu:
Jacob:
The flop ran down
, giving Jacob a little life with one pair. Still needing help though, the turn was a blank
. "F*ck!" yelled Cantu. "Ten!"
It wasn't a ten, but the
on the river was just as good. Alex Jacob doubles up another player, and this time it's cost him nearly his whole stack. When the dust settled, Cantu has climbed to 4,190,000, leaving the once-mighty Jacob crippled down to just 320,000.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:28 AM Local Time
Brandon Cantu opened with a button raise to 275,000. After a pause to consider, Alex Jacob moved all in from the small blind. Unfortunately for him, Ray Foley was still left to act in the big, and Foley made the huge call to put his own tournament in jeopardy. Cantu quickly ducked out.
[u]Showdown[/u]
Jacob:
Foley:
The board ran dry for Jacob, coming
. His first real misstep of the day is a huge one, costing him the chip lead. After that monster double-up, Foley is now your leader with 5,135,000. Jacob is now down in the mix with the other three players, sitting with 2,230,000.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:18 AM Local Time
The logjam is now in the bottom of the pack, with Jacob really asserting himself as the leader:
Alex Jacob - 4,550,000
Wei Mu - 2,680,000
Brandon Cantu - 2,610,000
Ray Foley - 2,420,000
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:06 AM Local Time
After about a half hour of relative inactivity, a pot finally develops:
It started with Alex Jacob raising to 250,000 from the button. Both Ray Foley and Wei Mu called out of the blinds, and it was three ways to the flop.
It came out
, and all three men checked. The turn card was the
. The blinds checked again, and Jacob slowly counted out chips. He settled on 400,000 and slid them carefully out into the center of the table. Foley ducked out quickly, but Mu made the call just as fast.
The river was the
. Mu checked again, and Jacob announced a big all in. After some careful studying, Mu gave up and open-mucked his
.
Jacob picks up almost 1,000,000 chips in that exchange.
Monday, June 22, 2009 11:45 PM Local Time
Under the gun, Alex Jacob came in raising to 200,000. Brandon Cantu made the call from the big blind, and it was heads up to the flop.
It came down
. Cantu led out into the pot with 300,000. Jacob went deep into the tank, shooting the occasional glance over at Cantu before letting his hand go.
Monday, June 22, 2009 11:28 PM Local Time
Alex Jacob opened the pot with a raise to 200,000 from the cutoff seat. In the big blind, Tyler Spalding moved all in for a total of 575,000, and Jacob quickly called. Spalding cringed.
[u]Showdown[/u]
Jacob:
Spalding:
The board wouldn't provide much of a sweat for Spalding as it ran out
. Failing to overcome Jacob's pocket pair, Tyler Spalding has been sent packing in 5th place. For his efforts over the past three days, he'll pick up a check for $143,421.