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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 10:17 PM Local Time
Everyone who knew anything about poker, knew that Steve Billirakis was one of the favourites to win this event when it started today. In 2007, he became the youngest person to ever win a WSOP bracelet and since then the young man has won over $2 million, throwing cards around tables, all around the world.
Billirakis never, ever seemed phased or in danger during the entire final table. He started the day in 2nd place behind Sam Trickett and he just bided his time until eventually taking control of the table during the latter stages of the day. Billirakis eliminated Jerome Bradpiece and Ramzi Jelassi before finally getting heads up with Michele Di Lauro. The heads up action didn't last long, with Billirakis winning every pot of note, and he was crowned the WSOP Event #3 €5,300 PLO Champion after calling the all-in of Di Lauro on a flop of whilst holding . His hand held up handing him his 2nd bracelet, €238,140 and a deserving round of applause from the audience and media.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 10:16 PM Local Time
Michele Di Lauro raises to 44,000 on the button and Steve Billirakis three-bets to 130,000. The Italian doesn't think about his decision for too long before making the call.
Flop:
Everyone in the room could sense that this was going to be the pivotal moment in this fantastic tournament and we were not disappointed.
Billirakis bet 70,000 and Di Lauro took a few moments to compose himself before moving all in for the remainder of his stack. Billirakis calmly called and you knew he was ahead by the way he turned his cards over.
Just a few cards for Billirakis to dodge and he would win his second WSOP bracelet.
Turn: & River:
Billirakis got up off his seat and shook the hand of Di Lauro and the photographic mayhem ensued.
| Steve Billirakis | 2,700,000 | 534,000  |
| Michele Di Lauro | 0 | -534,000  |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 10:13 PM Local Time
In the first hand of heads-up play we saw one of the biggest pots of the tournament. Di Lauro raised to 46,000 to start things off and Billirakis made the call. The flop came down and both players checked.
The turn was the and Billirakis lead out for 65,000, Di Michele made the call. On the river the appeared and Billirakis grabbed chips again. The American pro bet out 175,000 putting a lot of pressure on his opponent. Di Lauro wasn't scared and pushed out two huge stacks of black 5,000 chips making it 400,000. Billirakis called instantly.
| Steve Billirakis | |
| Michele Di Lauro | |
Di Michele had turned a full house but on the river Billirakis managed to hit a bigger boat. Billirakis takes a big chip lead while Di Lauro looks very shaking up by this loss.
| Steve Billirakis | 2,166,000 | 510,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 534,000 | -510,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 10:03 PM Local Time
Ramzi Jelassi raised to 42,000 on the button and Steve Billirakis three-bet to 140,000 from the small blind. Michele Di Lauro folded in the big blind and Jelassi made the cold call.
Flop:
Billirakis bet 65,000, Jelassi moved all-in for 220,000 and Billirakis called.
Billirakis was looking to avoid some diamonds.
Turn: & River:
"OK, where is my money?" Asked Jelassi
| Steve Billirakis | 1,656,000 | 442,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 0 | -442,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:55 PM Local Time
Level: 23
Blinds: 10000/20000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:35 PM Local Time
| Steve Billirakis | 1,214,000 | -136,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 1,044,000 | 184,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 442,000 | -58,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:32 PM Local Time
Back in 20 minutes.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:31 PM Local Time
His tournament life to be precise, we don't want to make to too dramatic. Billirakis raised from the button the 35,000 getting a fold from Di Michele. Jelassi decided to raise pot to 113,000 and after some thinking Billirakis called.
The flop was and after a couple of seconds Jelassi announced, "Pot". Billirakis double checked his cards and folded saying, "Scary". "That was even scarier for me," Jelassi laughed as he raked in the pot. Jelassi regains some ground and is back up to half a million.
| Steve Billirakis | 1,350,000 | -118,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 500,000 | 120,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:22 PM Local Time
Michele Di Lauro bets 35,000 on the button and Steve Billirakis calls in the small blind. The flop is a very regal looking and both players check. The turn is the and once again both players check. The river is the and Billirakis bets 55,000 and after a minutes thought Di Lauro makes the call and pays Billirakis off.
| Steve Billirakis | 1,468,000 | 98,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 860,000 | -90,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:17 PM Local Time
| Steve Billirakis | 1,370,000 | 90,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 950,000 | -128,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 380,000 | 64,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:13 PM Local Time
Di Lauro raises on the button to 35,000 and Steve Billiraki calls in the big blind. The flop is and both players check. The turn is the and Billirakis bets 45,000 and Di Lauro calls. The river is the and Billirakis checks this time and Di Lauro bets 65,000 and the American lays down his hand.
| Steve Billirakis | 1,280,000 | -80,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 1,078,000 | 88,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:05 PM Local Time
After a raise to 48,000 pre flop and a call we got to see heads-up action on the flop between Michele Di Lauro and Sam Trickett. The flop came down and all of a sudden the announcer said there was a showdown. Trickett started the hand with around 220,000 chips and was all-in for his tournament life.
| Sam Trickett | |
| Michele Di Lauro | |
The turn was the and the river the . Di Lauro had two pair and busted Trickett bringing us down to the final three players.
| Michele Di Lauro | 990,000 | 339,000 |
| Sam Trickett | 0 | -248,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:48 PM Local Time
Michele Di Lauro raises to 35,000 on the button and Ramzi Jelassi calls in the small blind. The flop is and Jelassi check-calls a 41,000 Di Lauro bet. The turn is the and Jelassi check-calls a 102,000 bet. The river is checked by both parties and the showdown was won by the two-pair of Di Lauro.
| Michele Di Lauro | 651,000 | 201,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 316,000 | -188,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:43 PM Local Time
Steve Billirakis is crushing the table at the moment. He raises to 32,000 on the button and Sam Trickett announces "pot" from the small blind. The bet is 112,000 and Billirakis wastes no time in making the call. The flop is and Trickett checks to Billirakis who bets pot and Trickett snap-folds.
| Steve Billirakis | 1,360,000 | 130,000 |
| Sam Trickett | 248,000 | -112,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:41 PM Local Time
From the under the gun position Ramzi Jelassi raised to 25,000 getting calls from the button, Billirakis, and the big blind, Di Lauro. The flop came down , Di Lauro and Jelassi checked to Billirakis who bet 62,000. Di Lauro gave it some thought before raising to 180,000.
Jelassi instantly folded his cards and so it was on to Billirakis once again. He gave it some thought once more and calmly announced he was all-in putting Di Lauro to the test. The Italian folded his cards uttering the words, "I had nines and the ace of clubs". The move with blockers didn't work but Trickett gave him a nod of approval satisfying the youngster.
Billirakis keeps winning and nobody seems to be able to stop him from winning at this point.
| Steve Billirakis | 1,230,000 | 200,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 450,000 | -148,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:33 PM Local Time
Level: 22
Blinds: 8000/16000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:30 PM Local Time
Michele Di Lauro raises to 26,000 on the button and Ramzi Jelassi defends the small blind. The flop of and checked through and the bald-headed dealer gives us the on the turn. Jelassi bets 30,000 and Di Lauro makes the call. The last community card to appear in this hand was the and both players check. Jelassi mucks his hand when he sees the flush of Di Lauro
| Michele Di Lauro | 598,000 | 68,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 504,000 | -56,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:27 PM Local Time
From the small blind Ramzi Jelassi raised it up to 33,000 getting called by Billirakis who was in the big blind. The flop brought out and both players checked.
The turn was the and Jelassi bet 40,000. Billirakis took some time, as usual, and made the call. The river completed the board with the and Jelassi bet out 65,000. Billirakis tanked for quite some time before raising to 200,000. Jelassi wasn't happy and after taking some time and double checking his cards he opted to fold.
Billirakis was short for a while but is in full control again with just four players remaining!
| Steve Billirakis | 1,030,000 | 110,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 560,000 | -256,000 |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:15 PM Local Time
Steve Bilirakis has not seemed to be in any trouble throughout this entire tournament. On the previous days he even played 13-card Chinese poker with Jason Mercier while simultaneously trouncing this high quality field.
Michele Di Lauro bets 24,000 and both Ramzi Jelassi and Steve Billirakis call. The action is checked down to the river when Bilirakis extracts 55,000 worth of value from Michele Di Lauro.
Board:
| Steve Billirakis | 920,000 | 100,000 |
| Ramzi Jelassi | 816,000 | -24,000 |
| Michele Di Lauro | 530,000 | -80,000 |