Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:21:27 -0700
Congratulations to Vanessa Selbst, Event No. 19 Champion ($227,905)
Omaha's reputation as the "action game" was well served at today's final table, as Vanessa Selbst survived a memorably manic heads-up confrontation with Jamie Pickering to win the bracelet in Event No. 19, the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event.
Selbst took the chip lead midway through Day 1, and immediately began applying pressure to all of her shorter-stacked opponents. She increased her lead throughout Day 2, then a gutsy play in the final hand of the ten-handed final table propelled her to a massive chip lead entering today's play.
Selbst maintained control of the final table as the shorter stacks dropped away one by one. Then, at three-handed both eventual third-place finisher Stanley Statkiewicz and Pickering managed to double up through Selbst, and suddenly we were looking at three players with very even stacks.
Selbst soon retook her advantage, though, and after knocking out Statkiewicz managed to negotiate her way through the land mines of Pickering's no-look pot-sized raises to take home the bracelet. Selbst is the first woman to win a WSOP bracelet this year in an open event.
It's been a wild one here at Table No. 15. Thanks to everyone for following the coverage!
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:44:44 -0700
"Are We Playing Poker Now?"
First hand back from the break: Selbst limped from the small blind/button, and Pickering checked -- his option and his cards.
The flop came
. Pickering checked, Selbst bet 25,000, and Pickering called. "Are we playing poker now?" asked Selbst.
Both checked the
on the turn. The river was the
. Pickering checked, Selbst bet 95,000, and Pickering folded.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:40:25 -0700
Players Are Back and the Level is Up 12,000/24,000
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:34:58 -0700
Impromptu Break
It was decided we all needed 15 minutes to calm down. Selbst now has about a 2-to-1 chip advantage.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:23:32 -0700
Pickering Assumes Chip Lead
Picking this one up on a flop of
. . .
Pickering raised to 120,000, and Selbst asked for a count of his remaining chips. When it was determined she could put him all in, she repotted.
"Have you got a ten?" he asked her. "No," she said. He made the call.
Pickering:
Selbst:
Pickering had flopped a set of fives, while Selbst had flopped a huge draw. The turn was the
and the river the
, and Pickering took the hand.
Pickering now has about 1.3 million, to Selbst's 760,000.
(Not sure, but it again appears Pickering hadn't checked his cards before turning them over on this one.)
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:19:20 -0700
Jamming Jamie
Jamie Pickering is contiuing to bet and raise blind and it has helped him win two smallish pots from Vanessa Selbst. She doesn't seem to know how to play him but is enjoying it all the same.
She folded in these two hands to give Pickering the pots and he had her drawing dead twice when blind!
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:12:39 -0700
Insanity at the Final Table
The third hand of heads up began with Pickering having about 950,000 to Selbst's 1.3 million. The two talked a bit about chopping the cash and playing for the bracelet, but couldn't come to terms and the hand was dealt.
"RAISE POT!!!" cried Pickering, again without looking at his cards. An incredulous Selbst checked hers, and made the call.
The flop came
. Selbst checked. Pickering again bet the pot, still having not checked his cards. "Have you really not looked?!" asked Selbst. She made the call.
The turn was the
. This time Pickering checked. It was Selbst's turn to put on the pressure. She bet the pot.
Thus ensued about ten minutes' worth of hilarity as Pickering contemplated whether or not to call, or perhaps raise the pot again. He also had to decide whether or not he was going to look at his cards.
Finally, amid the shouts of the 70-80 spectators we have gathered around, he gave in and looked at his hand.
"Oh, sh*t! I'm dead!" he said. "Five-king-eight-two!"
"RUN IT FOUR TIMES!" came a shout from the rail.
"I've got a shot at a wheel," he said. Finally, amid the ever-rising craziness surrounding the table, he let it go. Selbst showed Q-7-7-9, not much, but better than what Pickering had folded.
Selbst has retaken her commanding chip lead.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:55:55 -0700
Raise Pot!
On the first hand of heads up, Jamie Pickering had the small blind/button. Before even looking at his cards, he announced, "Raise pot!"
Vanessa Selbst looked at her cards. "This feels so dirty!" she said as she folded. Pickering turned over his cards -- he had a couple of kings!
Looks like we're gambling again here on the second hand. Stay tuned.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:53:10 -0700
Good Times
A jovial mood here at the final table as supporters of both of the final two players are celebrating their friends' achievement. We're a couple of minutes away from restarting.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:45:25 -0700
Chip Counts As We Begin Heads Up
Vanessa Selbst -- 1,800,000
Jamie Pickering -- 465,000
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:44:10 -0700
Stanley Statkiewicz Eliminated in 3rd ($88,062)
Vanessa Selbst raised to 60,000 from the button/under the gun, Stanley Statkiewicz called her from the small blind, and Jamie Pickering folded.
The flop came out a tantalizing
. Selbst bet 90,000. Statkiewicz counted out chips, then asked how much was in the pot. Once it was determined that the pot was big enough for him to raise all in, he did so. When Selbst quickly called, Statkiewicz did not look pleased.
Statkiewicz:
Selbst:
Statkiewicz had two pair, but Selbst had flopped the flush. The turn was the
and the river the
, and Statkiewicz was out in third.
We'll get you updated chip counts going into heads up play in a moment.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:40:57 -0700
Two More Pots
Vanessa Selbst just picked up two more pots in a row.
In the first pot, she raised from the the button and both blinds called. Then she bet out on a
and takes it down. She flashed a deuce to her cheering supporters on the rail.
She took down the next pot too after reraising Jamie Pickering on the flop.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:31:44 -0700
Final Table Attracting More Attention
Within the last few minutes, the table has been surrounded by others interested in recording this one for posterity's sake. We've got a boom mike operator, a video cameraman, and another still photographer crowding hovering over our remaining three players. And there are about thirty or forty spectators watching from outside the ropes.
Vanessa Selbst has picked up a few small pots the last couple of orbits. She has maintained her lead.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:25:49 -0700
Pickering Up Chips
Jamie Pickering raised to 70,000 from the button/under the gun, Vanessa Selbst folded, and Stanley Statkiewicz called from the big blind. The flop came
, and Pickering hastily bet 150,000.
"How much?" asked Statkiewicz, referring to how much Pickering had behind. His chips were counted out: 276,000. Statkiewicz thought a bit more, then let it go.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:21:48 -0700
And Builds on It
Jamie Pickering makes it 70,000 to play from the button and Vanessa Selbst calls from the small blind.
They both check the
flop.
When the turn comes
Selbst leads out for 135,000 and takes down the pot.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:17:04 -0700
Selbst Retakes the Lead
First hand back from the break: Stanley Statkiewicz raised to 60,000 from the button/under the gun, Jamie Pickering folded in the small blind, and Vanessa Selbst repopped to 190,000 from the big blind. Statkiewicz made the call.
The flop came
. Selbst quickly bet 240,000, and Statkiewicz folded, showing 8-9-10-J.
Selbst showed two of her cards: a five and a trey. Statkiewicz laughed, saying "You gotta show more than two for it to be a bluff!"
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:12:54 -0700
Play Has Resumed
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:04:50 -0700
Updated Chip Counts
Stanley Statkiewicz -- 845,000
Vanessa Selbst -- 837,000
Jamie Pickering -- 588,000
