Tuesday, June 19, 2012 12:26 AM Local Time
Before today it was hard to argue that this hasn't already been one of the most exciting years the World Series of Poker has seen in a long time. Today just made it all that more exciting as a massive finish to Event 31: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E has seen David "Bakes" Baker crowned the champion, overcoming John Monnete heads up and defeating a final eight that included Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth.
It all started three days ago when 178 players signed-up for their chance to become the champion of H.O.R.S.E. By the end of the first day only 136 survived and when Day 2 was all over, just 15 of those were still in contention. That brings us to today.
John Monnette was the player who started the final day with the chip lead and he managed to make it all the way to the final eight. Some of the players who fell by the wayside during that period were David Bach (14th), John Hennigan (12th) and Scott Clements (12th).
Mori Eskandani was at the "unofficial" final table, but bubbled the official final table when he was eliminated in 9th place. Here is how the final eight stacked up.
Final Table Lineup
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|
| 1 | Phil Ivey | 852,000 |
| 2 | Paul Sokoloff | 646,000 |
| 3 | Matt Waxman | 515,000 |
| 4 | Abe Mosseri | 565,000 |
| 5 | David "Bakes" Baker | 842,000 |
| 6 | Phil Hellmuth | 704,000 |
| 7 | John Monnette | 931,000 |
| 8 | Dan Kelly | 297,000 |
As you can see, it was Monnette who took his lead from the start of the day straight into the final table, while Ivey was not far behind. Amazingly this was Ivey's fourth final table in just over a week and he would be looking to turn it into his first gold bracelet of 2012.
The first player to hit the rail at the final table was Dan Kelly. The last hand of Kelly's tournament was during a hand of Stud Eight-or-Better and it ended up being Hellmuth who dealt the fatal blow. Next out the door was Matt Waxman in 7th place, followed closely by Abe Mosseri in 6th.
Mosseri was short-stacked during an Omaha Eight-or-Better orbit and ended up being all-in preflop holding against David "Bakes" Baker's . The board brought Mosseri no help and he was sent packing.
At this point both Ivey and Hellmuth were still in contention to make poker history, but unfortunately they would be eliminated back-to-back. First to go was Ivey, with his elimination occurring during a hand of Razz against Monnette. By the time all the cards were dealt out, here is how they looked.
| Ivey: ( ) / / |
| Monnette: ( ) / / |
Ivey never flipped over his final downcard as he was sent home in 5th place and will have to find his first gold bracelet of the summer in another event. After Ivey's elimination, it didn't take long for Hellmuth to be the short-stacked player.
A roller coaster ride of a level saw Hellmuth all-in multiple times, but it wasn't until a hand of Omaha Eight-or-Better that Hellmuth would actually be eliminated. Monnette would be the player who dealt the final blow to Hellmuth, with his being too strong for Hellmuth's on a board. With Hellmuth out in 4th place, Monnette had eliminated both "Phils" and we would take to three-handed play.
Never one to shy away from the action, Monnette would end up busting the third-place finisher during a hand of hold'em. Monnette's outdrew the of Paul Sokoloff, sending him home in 3rd place.
Despite eliminating three players in a row, Monnette still only held a slight chip lead going into heads-up play against Baker. By the time it was over, either Monnette was going to have his second gold bracelet of the summer after taking down the victory in Event 10: $5,000 Seven Card Stud, or Baker would have his second career bracelet after winning the $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball event in 2010.
It took just over 90 minutes for the deed to be done in the end, with Baker eventually managing to overcome Monnette, details of which can be seen below. After this effort, Monnette now has a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finish during this year's WSOP and now sits atop the Player of the Year board.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
| 1 | David Bakes Baker | $451,779 |
| 2 | John Monnette | $279,206 |
| 3 | Paul Sokoloff | $183,784 |
| 4 | Phil Hellmuth | $134,056 |
| 5 | Phil Ivey | $99,739 |
| 6 | Abe Mosseri | $75,511 |
| 7 | Matt Waxman | $58,093 |
| 8 | Dan Kelly | $45,360 |
Our congratulations must go out to David "Bakes" Baker for his $451,779 score and of course, for taking down his second WSOP gold bracelet. That's all from us tonight, but make sure to return to PokerNews soon and don't miss one minute of action from the 2012 World Series of Poker.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 12:05 AM Local Time
Stud
David "Bakes" Baker: / /
John Monnette: / /
Monnette brought it in, Baker completed, and Monnette called. Baker led out on fourth and fifth street, and Monnette called both bets. Monnette made a better board on sixth, and check-called bets on both sixth and seventh. Baker turned over for jacks and nines, and Monnette mucked his hand, leaving just 150,000 chips in front of him.
The next hand, the chips went in immediately, and the hands looked like this:
Baker: ( )
Monnette: ( )
Baker's three up-cards were , Monnette's were , and Baker flipped over a third seven - the - on seventh street. We never even caught Monnette's seventh card, because he quickly mucked, shook Baker's hand, and left.
Monnette now has a first, a second, and a third at the 2012 WSOP, making him the leader in the Player of the Year race. He also takes home $279,206 for his efforts.
| David Baker | 5,340,000 | 900,000  |
| John Monnette | 0 | -900,000  |
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:57 PM Local Time
David Bakes Baker now holds a more than 4-1 chip lead and most of those chips came courtesy of a Stud hand. This is how the player's hands looked.
Monnette was the bring-in with the deuce and Baker completed with his ten. Monnette then raised it up and Baker called. On fourth street, Monnette bet and Baker called. Fifth and sixth street would see Baker lead and Monnette call and then we were on seventh.
The final card saw Baker bet and Monnette raise. Baker then made it another bet to go and Monnette begrudgingly called.
When Baker snapped over his , it was good enough to make him the straight and good enough to send Monnette's cards into the muck.
| David Baker | 4,440,000 | 1,695,000 |
| John Monnette | 900,000 | -1,695,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:49 PM Local Time
Razz
| David "Bakes" Baker | / / |
| John Monnette | / / |
Baker brought it in, Monnette completed, and Baker called. Monnette check-called bets on fourth and fifth street, and when he made a better board on sixth, Baker bet. Monnette called.
Baker led once more on seventh, and Monnette again called. Baker tabled for a seventy-six, and Monnette mucked.
| David Baker | 2,745,000 | 945,000 |
| John Monnette | 2,595,000 | -945,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:43 PM Local Time
John Monnette has edged ahead of David Baker during a hand of Omaha Eight-or-Better. It all started when Monnette flat-called on the button. Baker then made it three-bets to go and Monnette called.
On the flop, Baker lead and Monnette called. A on the turn would see Baker again lead and Monnette call as the completed the board on the river. Baker opted to check here and then folded his hand when Monnette fired up a bet.
| John Monnette | 3,540,000 | 875,000 |
| David Baker | 1,800,000 | -875,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:35 PM Local Time
Omaha 8
David "Bakes" Baker had the button, and raised. John Monnette defended, and the flop fell . Monnette check-raised, and Baker called. The turn was the , and Monnette led out. Baker called.
The completed the board, and Monnette led once more. Baker called.
"Fours," Monnette announced, tabling .
Baker mucked, and Monnette raked in the pot.
| David Baker | 2,675,000 | -945,000 |
| John Monnette | 2,665,000 | 945,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:30 PM Local Time
David Baker took down one of the first hands back from the break and edged even further ahead, but John Monnette managed to win those chips straight back during a hand of Limit Hold'em.
The hand started with Monnette opening the button. Baker then three-bet in the big blind and Monnette called.
The flop would see Baker lead and Monnette call. Baker then check-called a bet on the turn. Baker again check-called on the river and Monnette tabled his , enough to send Baker's cards into the muck and plenty of chips into Monnette's stack.
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:23 PM Local Time
The players are back from the break and ready to keep playing.
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:23 PM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:07 PM Local Time
The two players have been sent on a 20-minute break. Here is how their counts look currently.
| David Baker | 3,620,000 | 380,000 |
| John Monnette | 1,720,000 | -380,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:07 PM Local Time
Stud 8
| David "Bakes" Baker | / / |
| John Monnette | / / |
Monnette brought it in, Baker completed, and Monnette raised. Baker called. Monnette led out on fourth and fifth street, Baker called both bets, and Monnette slowed down, check-calling a bet on sixth. Both players checked on seventh, and Monnette tabled for a pair of fours.
Baker held for a pair of sixes however, and scooped the pot.
Monday, June 18, 2012 11:02 PM Local Time
Stud
David Bakes Baker has regained his lead over John Monnette during a hand of stud that played out like so.
Baker brought it in and Monnette completed. Baker then raised and Monnette called. Baker bet on fourth, fifth and sixth streets and Monnette called each time. Both players then checked seventh and Monnette mucked his cards when Baker tabled .
| David Baker | 3,240,000 | 540,000 |
| John Monnette | 2,100,000 | -540,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:55 PM Local Time
Razz
David "Bakes" Baker: /
John Monnette: /
Baker brought it in, Monnette completed, and Baker called. Monnette led out on fourth, fifth, and sixth street, and Baker called him down until sixth, where he folded.
Baker: / /
Monnette: / /
Monnette brought it in, then called when Baker completed. Baker check-called bets on all four streets, and Monnette tabled when Baker called him on seventh.
Baker mucked, and Monnette raked in the pot.
| David Baker | 2,700,000 | -1,215,000 |
| John Monnette | 2,640,000 | 1,215,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:47 PM Local Time
David Bakes Baker has been chipping away at John Monnette the last few rounds, with many of his new found chips being acquired during the Limit Hold'em orbit. Bakes took down three hold'em hands in a row, with Monnette folding to heat on the turn each time.
Baker and Monnette then chopped up a pot during a Omaha Eight-or-Better hand that went like this. On a board, bets were committed on the flop and river (checks on the turn), and at showdown Baker tabled for the high and Monnette for the low.
| David Baker | 3,915,000 | 1,525,000 |
| John Monnette | 1,425,000 | -1,525,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:40 PM Local Time
Hold'em
John Monnette had the button, and raised on the first hand of heads-up play. David "Bakes" Baker defended his big blind, and the dealer fanned . Baker check-raised Monnette, who then re-raised. Baker called.
Baker check-raised Monnette again after the turned, and Monnette folded face up.
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:37 PM Local Time
David "Bakes" Baker and John Monnette are now heads up for the belt.
| John Monnette | 2,950,000 | 870,000 |
| David Baker | 2,390,000 | -210,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:36 PM Local Time
Hold'em
John Monnette, who crippled Paul Sokoloff in a Stud 8 hand moments earlier, raised from the small blind. Sokoloff made it three bets, and Monnette called. The flop came down , and Monnette led out. Sokoloff raised, Monnette instantly re-raised, and Sokoloff called all in.
Monnette:
Sokoloff:
The turn was the , giving Monnette a leading pair of sevens. The suicide king ( ) completed the board, eliminating Sokoloff in third place.
| Paul Sokoloff | 0 | -550,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:25 PM Local Time
Paul Sokoloff has played several hands of Stud games in the few orbits and has seen his stack rise and decrease many times. The latest hand saw Sokoloff take on John Monnette.
| Monnette: / |
| Sokoloff: / (FOLDED) |
Both players checked on fourth street and Monnette bet on fifth. Sokoloff called the bet there, but then folded to a bet on sixth street.
| Paul Sokoloff | 550,000 | 25,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:18 PM Local Time
Stud
After a few small razz pots, John Monnette brought it in with the , and David "Bakes" Baker completed with the .
Baker check-called a bet on fourth street, and on fifth street, he check-raised Monnette, who called. Baker led for the first time on sixth, and Monnette decided to raise. Baker tank-called, and both players checked on seventh.
"Jacks," Baker announced, tabling .
"You didn't even have a pair???" Monnette shot at him, irritably.
"I had them," Baker responded, indicating that he started the hand with a split pair.
Monnette unhappily mucked his hand, while Baker raked in the monster pot to assume the chip lead.
| David Baker | 2,600,000 | 600,000 |
| John Monnette | 2,080,000 | -620,000 |
| Paul Sokoloff | 525,000 | -75,000 |
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:10 PM Local Time
Omaha 8
By the time a board had run out, David Bakes Baker and Paul Sokoloff had committed bets on every street, with Sokoloff the aggressor.
At showdown, Baker's was good enough to scoop the pot and send Sokoloff's cards flying into the muck.
| David Baker | 2,000,000 | 100,000 |
| Paul Sokoloff | 600,000 | -475,000 |