Kenneth Griffin started today 2nd in chips out of the 21 players remaining. He fought hard, played aggressively, and battled his way to his first WSOP bracelet. Griffin had to battle a field of players including the likes of Antonio Esfandiari, David Baker, Andrew Teng, and our chipleader to start the day Jonathan Driscoll.

In the first hour of play today a whopping seven players were eliminated narrowing the field down to 14. Griffin helped with those eliminations a bit by knocking out Nicolo Calia in 16th place. Esfandiari had trouble gaining momentum at beginning of the day with his stack dipping to as low as 200,000 at one point. David Baker came into the day short stacked and although he fought hard, he was eventually eliminated in 13th place.

When we reached the final table, Esfandiari had rebounded to take the chip lead while Griffin wasn't far behind him. The first player eliminated from the final table was Jeremiah Siegmund and he was followed out the door by Aaron Massey.

Esfandiari started the final table with the chip lead along with being the far-and-away most experienced player at the table. Unfortunately, he lost a few huge pots early during final table play which included running into aces when he held ace-eight on an ace high board, and running king-ten into another players ace-king and he was knocked out in seventh place.

Jonathan Lane, who was the chip leader at the start of day 2, was next to go in sixth place and he was followed by Andrew Teng in fifth place who racked up his 4th cash in the 2011 WSOP and his 12th overall WSOP cash.

Eric Baudry stayed quiet for most of the day, not getting involved in many big hands and eventually was eliminated in fourth place. Our third place finisher was Philip Hammerling who had never cashed in a WSOP event before today. He flopped trip sevens from his blind in an unraised pot and was outdrawn by Griffin's flush draw to be eliminated.

When we reached heads up play it was obvious to all present that Griffin's aggression and gutsy plays were getting under the skin of Jean Luc Marais who couldn't seem to gain any ground. On the final hand of the night, Griffin already had a large chip advantage to his opponent and found himself in a dream situation.

Marais declared he was all in preflop and Griffin looked down at his cards... pocket aces. He excitedly called and found that he would only have to beat Marais' king-six offsuit to take the bracelet. The board ran out blanks and Griffin's rail went crazy with excitement, hoisting the champion onto their shoulders and singing his praise.

Griffin is no stranger to battle as he served in the Marines for more than 10 years including tours in Iraq and Afganistan. He now works as a consultant for the Marines and just got back from an eight-month trip to Afganistan a week ago. His brother and many of his friends were present to witness his victory and it was clear from the looks on all their faces that this would be a moment none of them will ever forget.

Congratulations to Ken Griffin, winner of Event #45: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em, he takes home $455,356 and his first ever WSOP gold bracelet for his achievement!

Since heads-up play began, Kenneth Griffin seized control of the match against Jean Luc Marais, relentlessly reraising the Frenchman and bullying him in nearly every pot. Whether Marais was simply card dead or unable to accurately read his opponent we will never know, but Griffin had the upper hand from the start.

After losing a few big pots by folding to Griffin's pressure, Marais became visibly frustrated and began angrily sliding his cards away. Eventually, Marais decided to shove all-in before the flop, trying to give the American a taste of his own medicine.

Griffin was having none of it, however, and stood triumphantly while yelling "Call!" He revealed his and thrust his arms skyward, knowing he was on the cusp of the greatest achievement a poker player can accomplish. Marais seemed frozen when he saw Griffin's monster, and he reluctantly showed down his bluff.

Griffin's vocal supporters on the rail exploded in celebration, knowing their man was five cards away from capturing his first WSOP bracelet.

The dealer spread a flop of across the felt and Griffin exhaled slightly, knowing he had survived the danger of the flop. When the arrived on the turn, both players seemed to hesitate for a moment, unable to process that the tournament had come to an end. Marais was drawing dead and Griffin finally began screaming in joy as he rushed to embrace his brother and best friends. The dealer dropped the on the river to make everything official, and Kenneth Griffin became the WSOP's newest champion.

Jean Luc Marais fell one player short of claiming an unprecedented 4th bracelet for his native France, but he earned $282,676 for his deep run, as well as the respect of Griffin and anybody else who watched him play the game.

Kenneth Griffin	8,670,000	2,270,000
Jean Luc Marais	0	-2,400,000

It seems that Kenneth Griffin's aggressive play is working so far during this heads-up match.

Jean Luc Marais raised to 205,000 on the button and Ken Griffin re-raised to 705,000 from the big blind. Marais called and they saw the flop come . Griffin bet out 1,000,000 and Marais folded his hand.

On the very next hand the two players saw a flop of and Marais bet out 175,000 only to have Griffin raise to 500,000. Marais angrily slid his cards away and began rubbing his head, Griffin's aggression obviously getting to him.

Kenneth Griffin	6,400,000	1,030,000
Jean Luc Marais	2,400,000	-900,000

With many in the poker world dubbing this year's WSOP a British Invasion, due to the extraordianry performance of English players thus far, the French have quietly asserted themselves as a nation to be reckoned with.

A total of three Frenchman have captured WSOP gold and glory in 2011, including Fabrice Soulier in Event #37, the $10,000 HORSE Championship. Bertrand "ElKy" Grospellier shipped Event #21, the Seven-Card Stud World Championship and Elie Payan won Event # 22: $1500 Pot-Limit Omaha.

Having reached heads-up play here today, Jean Luc Marais has a chance to give France its 4th bracelet of the WSOP, repelling the supposed British Invasion and replacing it with a new French Revolution.

Ken Griffin limped on the button, Jean Luc Marais called from the small blind and Philip Hammerling checked his option. The flop came and both Marais and Hammerling checked and Griffin bet 100,000. Marais called and Hammerling raised to 290,000. Griffin called and Marais folded.

The turn was the and Hammerling bet out 535,000. Griffin called again and they saw the come on the river. Hammerling announced he was all in and Griffin immediately called.

Hammerling:
Griffin:

Hammerling had flopped trip sevens but had been outdrawn by Griffin's flush. Hammerling was eliminated in 3rd place.

Kenneth Griffin raised to 230,000 from the small blind and Jean Luc Marais defended his big blind with a substantial raise. The Frenchman made it 660,000 to go and Griffin immediately announced himself all-in.

Marais stood and slammed his on the table after making the snap-call. Griffin also rose to his feet while revealing his , telling his rail "I gotta get lucky here boys."

The flop fell and despite the baby cards on board, Griffin's eights had not matched up. His supporters began hollering for a seven to hit on the turn, which would give their man additional outs to a straight, but the arrived in its place.

The turn card did give Griffin a gutshot straight draw and he would now need an eight or a seven to fall on the river to take the pot.

River:

Both players flinched when the nine hit the board, as it looked suspiciously like the prized eight Griffin needed, but it turned out to be a blank and both players retook their seats. Griffin gave up the chip lead to Marais and the two essentially traded chip stacks after the hand.

Jean Luc Marais	4,600,000	2,300,000
Kenneth Griffin	1,950,000	-2,350,000

Jean Luc Marais raised to 175,000 from the button and Philip Hammerling moved all in for a total of 935,000 from the small blind. Kenneth Griffin folded the big blind and Marais called.

Hammerling:
Marais:

The board ran out drama-free when it came and Hammerling doubled his stack.

Jean Luc Marais	2,450,000	-1,230,000
Philip Hammerling	1,870,000	670,000

Kenneth Griffin, with his boisterous rail cheering his every move, raised to 150,000 from the small blind. Jean Luc Marais defended his big blind and we saw a flop of hit the table.

Griffin continued with a bet of 100,000 and the Frenchman came along for the ride. The turn card fell and Griffin led out for another 100,000 bet. Marais wanted to see the river card and splashed four T25,000 chips into the middle.

After the arrived on the river, Griffin fired a third barrel and made it 200,000 to go. Marais finally became a believer and surrendered by tossing his cards into the muck.

Kenneth Griffin	3,700,000	350,000
Jean Luc Marais	3,680,000	-440,000

The button is being passed from player to player without many fireworks. It seems a simple raise or three-bet is taking down the pot almost every time. We're occasionally seeing a flop but action isn't usually going any further than that.

Philip Hammerling called from the small blind and Ken Griffin checked his option from the big blind. The flop came , Hammerling checked, Griffin bet 75,000, and Hammerling called. The turn was the and Hammerling again check-called a bet from Griffin, this time for 100,000.

When the came on the river Hammerling checked once more and Griffin fired out a bet of 125,000. Hammerling then raised to 330,000 and Griffin wasted no time in counting out the chips required to make the call and tossing them into the pot.

"You have quads?" Griffin asked. Hammerling did not have quads as he showed the . Griffin tabled his for aces full of tens and took down the pot.

Kenneth Griffin	3,350,000	510,000
Philip Hammerling	1,200,000	-400,000

Ken Griffin raised to 150,000 from the small blind and Jean Luc Marais called from the big blind. The flop came and Griffin instantly shoved all in. Marais snap called and the hands were revealed.

Griffin:
Marais:

Marais was ahead with his pair of queens but Griffin had a flush draw. The turn was the and the river was the and Marais got a huge double up to make him our chipleader.

Jean Luc Marais	4,120,000	2,020,000
Kenneth Griffin	2,840,000	-2,060,000

Coming back from the recent break, Eric Baudry opened up his game and took a few pots down with preflop raises. Perhaps feeling emboldened by his new aggressive image, Baudry raised to 115,000 holding the button.

Kenneth Griffin was in the small blind and decided enough was enough. He three-bet for his entire stack of 3,000,000 or so chips and put Baudry to the ultimate test. With the action back on him, Baudry called to put his tournament life at risk.

Showdown:

Griffin:
Baudry:

The players were flipping a coin with the pocket pair against overcards confrontation. Griffin stood to watch the flop arrive, and when he saw it come he pumped his fist slightly after surviving three board cards. The turn card came and Baudry was down to his last chance, but the river was dry, coming .

Baudry offered the remaining three players a sincere congratulations and departed the table with a smile on his face. With the knockout, Griffin built a commanding chip lead and now sits with 4,900,000, which is more than twice that of his nearest competitor.

Kenneth Griffin	4,900,000	1,650,000
Eric Baudry	0	-1,525,000

Our four remaining players are now back from break. Ken Griffin is our current chipleader and Eric Baudry is the short-stack at the table as we begin level 27.

Players are now on a 20-minute break.

Action folded to Andrew Teng on the button who raised to 85,000. Ken Griffin then re-raised to 285,000 from the small blind. Jean Luc Marais gave up his big blind and action was back to Tend who declared he was all in for a total of 1,215,000. Griffin, who had Teng covered, only thought for around 15 seconds before deciding to call.

Teng:
Griffin:

It was a classic race with Teng in the lead so far. Unfortunately for Teng, the flop came putting Griffin in the lead. The came on the turn giving Griffin a flush draw as well and leaving Teng drawing to only one out. The river brought the which secured Griffin's win and sent Teng to the rail.

Griffin is now our chipleader as we head into four-handed play.

Kenneth Griffin	3,250,000	1,350,000
Andrew Teng	0	-1,250,000

Andrew Teng raised to 60,000 from the hijack and Kenneth Griffin called from the cutoff. Jean Luc Marais then folded but accidentally exposed his in the process.

Next to act, Jonathan Lane pushed his entire stack of 515,000 into the middle and the action was back on Teng. The young tournament veteran from England began to agonize over the decision, asking the dealer to be sure that an ace had been exposed and was now in the muck. He held up his and stared forlornly at what he considered a missed opportunity, before tossing the cards away.

With the action back on him, Griffin announced that he was making the call, putting Lane at risk of elimination.

Showdown:

Lane:
Griffin:

The all-in Lane held a big ace, but with one of his outs already in the muck, he was in a slightly more disadvantageous position than the average coin flip. The dealer spread a flop of and now things had gotten interesting. Griffin was still in the lead with his pair of eights, but Lane now held two overcards and an open-ended straight draw. Two of Lane's straightening cards were held by Griffin, however, so his outs were still a bit limited.

The dealer turned the and Lane was down to his last chance. He needed to spike an ace, king, queen or an eight to retake his seat at the final table. With Griffin's supporters screaming for the board to pair, the dealer revealed the river card.

River:

The ultimate brick arrived on the river and after fading what seemed like half of the deck, Griffin scored the knockout.

Kenneth Griffin	1,900,000	750,000
Jonathan Lane	0	-510,000