Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (2,000 player max)

Today there were 12 players returning to take their shot at the bracelet and the $326,440 first prize. At the end of it all, it was Simeon Naydenov with his head held high and his country's flag draped around his shoulders as he held the World Series of Poker Bracelet for his winner's photo. Naydenov was making his second appearance at a shootout final table this year and while he finished tenth in that event, he was able to do today what he couldn't then.

It only took about seven hours to reach a winner here in Event #36, but play today began with 12 men all trying to reach the final table. With the 12 players beginning at two six handed tables, two had to fall for the players to reach the official final table. It looked as if Nacho Barbero would be one of the first to fall as he found himself on a short stack, but he was able to double up to save is tournament life. The first to fall today was Vladimir Kochelaevskiy, who showed up late and left first. Kochelaevskiy was crippled after his    couldn't catch up to Salman Bebehani's    and he was eliminated on the next hand. Next to fall was Kevin Vandersmissen who was eliminated when his    ran into Mike Watson's   .

It was 28 hands into the final table when Sumanth Reddy was eliminated. He got his money in good, but Andrew Kloc ran better and eliminated Reddy from the tournament. The next three to fall were Noah Bronstein, Salman Behbehani, and Jan Kropacek. Kropacek got off to an early chip lead at the final table, but ended up doubling up Naydenov with a combo draw against Naydenov's aces. It was Mike Watson who fell next. He moved all in with an overpair of  s against Naydenov's  s, but a nine on the turn ended Watson's tournament and he left in sixth place. Falling after Watson was Nacho Barbero, who moved all in with    and was instantly called by Tobias Wenker's   . Barbero couldn't catch up and he was sent to the rail in fifth place.

Coming in fourth was Wenker himself. He moved all in from the small blind with    and was snap called by Jake Schwartz's aces. The board didn't improve Wenker at all and he was sent home with fourth place prize money. The third to last man to drop was Andrew Kloc. Kloc four bet shoved all in with    and was snap called by Naydenov who was holding   . The board brought both players a full house, but Naydenov held a better one and he scored the knock out.

Heads up play only lasted 10 hands. Just before the last hand of the match, both Naydenov and Schwartz took a shot of tequila. That shot may have proved to be Schwartz's downfall because on the next hand he ran his top two pair into Naydenov's nut flush. Naydenov faded Schwartz's outs and that was it, the match was over. Schwartz walked away with second place prize money for his efforts while Naydenov took down $326,440 and a World Series of Poker bracelet for his accomplishments.

Lynn Gilmartin spoke with Naydenov after his win:

That's it for us at PokerNews.com here in Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout. Be sure to stay tuned to all our coverage of the 2013 World Series of Poker.

Hand #149: Jake Schwartz receives a walk in the big blind.

Hand #150: Jake Schwartz opens to 60,000 from the button and wins the big blind and antes.

Hand #151: Simeon Naydenov opened with a raise and won the big blind and antes.

Hand #152: Jake Schwartz opened to 60,000 and Simeon Naydenov made the call before check-folding to 55,000 on the     flop.

Hand #153: Jake Schwartz receives a walk in the big blind.

Hand #154: Jake Schwartz opened to 60,000 and Simeon Naydenov made the call to see a     flop. Naydenov check-folded to Schwartz's 55,000-chip bet.

Hand #155: Simeon Naydenov raised the button and Jake Schwartz made the call. The       board was checked down until Schwartz bet out 130,000 and Naydenov folded.

Hand #156: Jake Schwartz opened the button to 60,000 and Simeon Naydenov three-bet to 175,000 to force a fold from Schwartz.

Hand #146: Jake Schawartz received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #147: Schwartz raised to 60,000 from the small blind and won the pot.

Hand #148: Schwartz raised to 60,000 from the button. From the small blind Simeon Naydenov reraised to 165,000. From the big blind, Andrew Kloc moved all in. Action folded back to Naydenov who snap called.

Naydenov:   
Kloc:   

The flop came down     and that gave Kloc a little hop as he saw the nine fist, but the jack kept Naydenov in the lead. The turn was the   giving both players two pair. The river was another   giving both players a full house, but Naydenov the better full house. Just like that Kloc was eliminated from the tournament in third place.

Simeon Naydenov	4,075,000	1,410,000
Jake Schwartz	1,300,000	-720,000
Andrew Kloc	0	-995,000

Hand #139: Schwartz raised from the button and both players called from the blinds. On the     flop both players checked back to Schwartz who bet 80,000. Both blinds folded and Schwartz won the pot.

Hand #140: From the small blind Andrew Kloc raised to 65,000. Schwartz called from the big blind and the flop came down    . Kloc checked to Schwartz who bet 80,000 and Kloc folded.

Hand #141: Andrew Kloc raised to 65,000 on the button. From the big blind Simeon Naydenov called. Both players checked to the river where the board read      . Naydenov bet 100,000. Kloc called, but mucked when Naydenov showed    for trip fives.

Hand #142: Schwartz raised to 60,000 from the button but folded when Kloc moved all in over the top from the big blind.

Cards are back in the air.

The remaining three players are heading on a 60-minute dinner break.

Play will recommence at approximately 9:10 p.m. local time.

Simeon Naydenov	2,665,000	125,000
Jake Schwartz	2,020,000	120,000
Andrew Kloc	665,000	0

Hand #130: Tobias Wenker received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #131: Action folded around to Wenker who moved all in from the small blind. Schwartz was still stacking some chips from his double up and as soon as he looked down at his cards he announced a call.

Wenker:   
Schwartz:   

The flop came out     offering no extra help to Wenker. On the   turn, Wenker was left drawing dead. The dealer put out the meaningless   on the river and Wenker was eliminated from the tournament while Schwartz piled up the chips.

Jake Schwartz	1,900,000	1,020,000
Tobias Wenker	0	-710,000

Hand #123: Action folded to Andrew Kloc who limped from the small blind. Tobias Wenker checked his option. On the     flop Kloc led for 53,000. Wenker called. The turn was the   and Kloc slowed down with a check. Wenker put out a bet of 95,000 and Kloc called. On the   river both players checked. Kloc turned up his    for top pair with a pair of threes on board and it was good to take down the pot when Wenker mucked.

Hand #124: Andrew Kloc raised to 53,000 from the button and he was called by Jake Schwartz from the big blind. The flop came down     and Schwartz checked to Kloc who bet 72,000. Schwartz called but thinking that he had made reraise Kloc announced he was all in. Either way the dealer put out the   on the turn and Schwartz checked to Kloc who made a bet of 132,000. Schwartz folded and Kloc showed his    while he scooped the pot.

Hand #125: Tobias Wenker raised to 50,000 from the button. He was called by Simeon Naydenov from the big blind. On the     flop. Naydenov check raised to 150,000 after a 50,000 bet from Wenker and Naydenov won the pot when Wenker folded.

Hand #116: Tobias Wenker raised to 50,000 from the small blind and he took down the pot.

Hand #117: Jake Schwartz raised to 50,000 from the small blind and took the pot when Simeon Naydenov folded.

Hand #118: From under the gun Tobias Wenker raised to 50,000. Everyone folded and Wenker won the pot.

Hand #119: Action folded to Simeon Naydenov on the button who raised to 50,000. Everyone folded and he was awarded the pot.

Hand #106: From the small blind Simeon Naydenov called. Andrew Kloc checked his option. On the     both players checked. The turn was the   and both players checked again to the   on the river. Naydenov put out a bet of 25,000 and Kloc laughed and called the bet. Naydenov showed    for a pair of  s and Kloc showed    for a losing pair of threes. Naydenov collected the pot.

Hand #107: Naydenov opened to 50,000 from the button and he won the pot.

Hand #108: Kloc raised to 51,000 from the button and it was enough to take down the pot.

Hand #109: From the button Wenker raised to 50,000. Schwartz folded his big blind before Simeon Naydenov reraised to 157,000 from the big blind. Wenker cut out a reraise of his own and he made it 267,000. Naydenov didn't think too long before he folded.

Hand #110: Tobias Wenker opened to 50,000 from the cutoff. He was called by Jake Schwartz on the button. From the small blind Simeon Naydenov reraised to 172,000 and that was enough to take down the pot when Wenker and Schwartz folded.