Sunday, June 1, 2014 4:09 PM Local Time
Cantu Continues to Slide
David Bach completed with a and received a call from Brandon Cantu, who had a out in front of him. Cantu check-called a bet on fourth, and then watched Bach fire out a bet on fifth. Cantu did a bit of a pump fake (for which he received a warning) and then folded.
Bach: (x-x) /
Cantu: (x-x) / fold
| David Bach | 225,000 | 5,000  |
| Brandon Cantu | 49,000 | -18,000  |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 4:05 PM Local Time
Hellmuth Takes from Cantu
Phil Hellmuth completed with a and received calls from Brandon Cantu and David Bach who were showing a and respectively. All three players then checked fourth street and Cantu put out a bet after both his opponents checked fifth. Only Hellmuth called and then both players returned to checking on sixth.
Cantu then check-called a bet on seventh and didn't like what he found.
Hellmuth: /
Cantu: (x-x) / [2xkx4x10x /
Bach: (x-x) / fold
Hellmuth had made an 8-6-5-3-A low, and it was good enough to win the hand.
| Phil Hellmuth | 430,000 | 110,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 67,000 | -41,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:52 PM Local Time
"That's Impossible"
Brandon Cantu completed with a and Yuebin Guo opted to call with a . Guo took the lead on fourth when he received a and Cantu paired. Guo bet, Cantu called, and the action repeated itself on fifth street. Guo bet for a third time on sixth, and this time it did the trick as Cantu folded, but not before voicing his frustration.
"That's impossible," he said.
Cantu: (x-x) / fold
Guo: (x-x) /
Guo then showed a third five for good measure.
| Yuebin Guo | 170,000 | 37,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 108,000 | -32,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:44 PM Local Time
Parker Finally Gets Involved
Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Brock Parker has been quiet thus far at the final table, but that just changed when he won a nice pot off Brandon Cantu.
In it Parker completed with an and Cantu called with a . Cantu proceeded to call bets on fourth, fifth, and sixth streets before folding to one on seventh.
Parker: (x-x) / /
Cantu: (x-x) / /
| Brock Parker | 160,000 | 55,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 140,000 | -50,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:38 PM Local Time
Hellmuth vs. Cantu Round III
Phil Hellmuth just called the bring-in bet with a only to have Brandon Cantu complete with his own . Hellmuth called that an then bet when he took the lead on fourth street. Cantu called and then check-called a bet on fifth.
Cantu turned right around and bet on sixth, and then checked seventh after Hellmuth call. Hellmuth tossed out a bet and Cantu wasted little time in making the call.
Hellmuth: /
Cantu: /
Hellmuth wound up with a 10-8-6-4-2 low, but it was no good as Cantu made a 9-6-7-5-A low on the river. Ship the pot to Cantu.
| Phil Hellmuth | 320,000 | -60,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 190,000 | 85,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:33 PM Local Time
One for Hellmuth
Ted Forrest completed with an up and Greg Pappas called with an of his own. Phil Hellmuth then called with an , Cantu with a , and four players went to fourth street. Forrest made the best hand but checked, and then Hellmuth bet after Pappas had also checked. All three of his opponents called and then Forrest led out on fifth. Pappas folded, Hellmuth called, and Cantu got out of the way.
Hellmuth then called a bet on sixth street and put out a bet after Forrest checked seventh. Forrest folded.
Forrest: (x-x) / /
Pappas: (x-x) / fold
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
Cantu: (x-x) / fold
| Phil Hellmuth | 380,000 | 50,000 |
| Ted Forrest | 170,000 | -20,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:27 PM Local Time
A Double for Guo
Ted Forrest just called the bring-in bet with a only to have Brandon Cantu complete with a . Yuebin Guo then raised with an , Forrest folded, and Cantu called. Cantu proceeded to call bets on every street until Guo got his last 7,500 all in on sixth.
Guo: / /
Cantu: / /
Guo had a 7-6-5-2-A low tabled, and it was good as Cantu was drawing dead heading into seventh.
| Yuebin Guo | 133,000 | 43,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 105,000 | -55,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:19 PM Local Time
Slow Going
Action has slowed considerably here in the new level with players rarely getting past fifth street. Of course it's only a matter of time before two players find a hand that they like. In fact, it looks like one might be brewing now. Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:04 PM Local Time
Hellmuth vs. Cantu Round II
Phil Hellmuth completed with a and Brandon Cantu called with a . The latter then called a bet on fourth before taking the lead on fifth and firing out. Hellmuth called and then called two more bets on sixth and seventh.
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
Cantu: /
Cantu had made an 8-6-4-3-A low, and it was good as Hellmuth sent his cards to the dealer unseen.
| Phil Hellmuth | 330,000 | -60,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 160,000 | 67,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:56 PM Local Time
Guo Takes a Walk Through the Forrest
Yuebin Guo completed with a up and Ted Forrest, who if you recall won the $1,500 razz event at the 1993 World Series of Poker, called with a . Even though he caught a on fourth, Guo bet because Forrest had paired. That didn't stop the five-time bracelet winner from calling though, as he did when he tripped up on fifth.
Guo then fired out another bet on sixth and it did the trick as Forrest released his hand.
Guo: (x-x) /
Forrest: (x-x) / fold
| Ted Forrest | 190,000 | -40,000 |
| Yuebin Guo | 90,000 | 20,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:47 PM Local Time
"Any Two" vs. the "Gunslinger"
David "Gunslinger" Bach complted with a up and received a call from Brandon "Any Two" Cantu, who was showing a . Cantu took the lead on fourth and bet, which Bach called. That action repeated itself until seventh when both players checked.
Cantu: /
Bach: /
We missed one of Cantu's cards, but the announcer stated that he had a jack-nine low. It was no good though as Bach had rivered a J-8-7-6-4 low for the win.
| David Bach | 220,000 | 60,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 93,000 | -67,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:36 PM Local Time
Kevin Iacofano Eliminated in 8th Place ($11,143)
It didn't take long for the first elimination of the day to occur, and it's no surprise that it was the short stack at the final table.
It happened when Greg Pappas called the bring-in bet with an showing and Hellmuth completed with a . Kevin Iacofano reraised with a , Pappas called, and Hellmuth pushed back. A series of raises saw Iacofano get his last 28,500 in the pot and he needed to survive against two opponents.
Pappas and Hellmuth actually created a side pot when the former bet both fourth and fifth and received calls from the "Poker Brat." Hellmuth took the lead on sixth, promptly bet, and Pappas called. Hellmuth then bet seventh and Pappas raised him. Hellmuth called and discovered the bad news.
Pappas: /
Hellmuth: /
Iacofano: /
Iacofano finished with a Q-8-6-4-A low, which was no good as Hellmuth and Pappas held a seven-five and six-four low respectively. Hellmuth seemed distraught to be beat, and he got up out of his chair and wandered toward the back of the ESPN main stage as Iacofano collected his things and exited to a nice round of applause.
| Greg Pappas | 470,000 | 78,500 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 295,000 | -65,000 |
| Kevin Iacofano | 0 | -45,500 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:27 PM Local Time
Hellmuth vs. Cantu Round I
Two years ago Phil Hellmuth and Brandon Cantu were both at the $2,500 razz final table where they engaged in numerous battles, both on the felt and verbally. Hellmuth ultimately won that event and knocked out Cantu in third. There's a lot of history between these "frenemies," and the two just played their first pot together here at the Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz final table.
It began when Greg Pappas completed with a and Hellmuth raised with an . Cantu reraised with a , both his opponents called, and it was off to fourth street. Cantu kept the lead with a but checked, which opened the door for Pappas to bet with a . Hellmuth and Cantu both called and then two checks on fifth street put action on the "Poker Brat." He bet, two calls followed, and then Cantu led out on sixth.
Hellmuth called, Pappas folded, and then seventh went check-check.
Pappas: (x-x) / fold
Cantu: (x-x) / /
Hellmuth: /
Hellmuth managed to make an 8-7-6-4-A low on the river, and it was good as Cantu scooped up his cards and sent them to the muck.
| Phil Hellmuth | 360,000 | 46,000 |
| Brandon Cantu | 160,000 | -16,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:13 PM Local Time
First Blood to Forrest
In the first hand of the final table, Kevin Iacofano brought it in with a and David Bach just called with an . Ted Forrest then completed with a , Iacofano folded, and Bach called. Forrest proceeded to bet on both fourth and fifth streets, Bach called, and then the "Gunslinger" took the lead on sixth.
Bach check-called a bet and then did the same on seventh.
Bach: (x-x) / /
Forrest: /
Forrest had made an 8-7-5-4-2 low on the river, and it was good as Bach sent his cards to the muck.
| David Bach | 250,000 | -40,500 |
| Ted Forrest | 230,000 | 59,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:08 PM Local Time
Shuffle Up and Deal!
The introductions have been made and the final eight players are in their seats. Cards are back in the air here in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz. The ESPN Main Stage has drawn quite the crowd, many of them in attendance to see if Phil Hellmuth is able to capture his record fourteenth bracelet.
Sunday, June 1, 2014 12:42 PM Local Time
Will Hellmuth Capture Bracelet No. 14 & His Second Razz Title in Three Years?
Today the 2014 World Series of Poker will see the start of two events (Event #9: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em and Event #10: $10,000 Limit Omaha Hi-Low Championship) and the conclusion of two others (this one and Event #6: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout); however, it's safe to say that all eyes will be here on Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz as the WSOP's most decorated player, Phil Hellmuth, attempts to capture his fourteenth bracelet.
Yesterday, Hellmuth notched his 101st cash by making the money and then went on to make his 50th WSOP final table. Hellmuth, who won the razz event at the 2012 WSOP for his 12th bracelet, will start the day second in chips.
The only man in a better position to make a run at the $121,196 first-place prize is Greg Pappas, a poker industry veteran who bagged up 391,500. Also in a good position is last year's runner-up, David "Gunslinger" Bach, who you may recall showed off his mixed-game chops when he won the 2009 Poker Players' Championship.
The final table also includes Brandon Cantu (175,000) and Ted Forrest (171,000). The former is a two-time bracelet winner that finished third in the razz event Hellmuth won two years ago. The two butted heads numerous times at that final table, and leading up to this one they engaged in numerous verbal jousts while taking turns getting under the other's skin. We expect the two to attack each other here on Day 3, both verbally and in their gameplay.
As for Forrest, who has played a quiet and steady game leading up to the final table, he has five gold bracelets on his résumé including the 1993 WSOP $1,500 razz title, and he's in a good position to make a run at No. 6. Brock Parker, also a two-time bracelet winner who grinded his way to the final table, is still alive with 138,500, as are short stacks Yuebin Guo and Kevin Iacofano, who're bringing up the rear with 90,000 and 45,500 respectively.
| Seat | Player | Count |
|---|
| 1 | Brock Parker | 138,500 |
| 2 | Ted Forrest | 171,000 |
| 3 | Greg Pappas | 391,500 |
| 4 | Phil Hellmuth | 314,000 |
| 5 | Brandon Cantu | 175,000 |
| 6 | Yuebin Guo | 90,000 |
| 7 | Kevin Iacofano | 45,500 |
| 8 | David Bach | 290,500 |
Play is set to get underway at 2 p.m. local time, which is just over an hour from now. Join the PokerNews Live Reporting Team then to see if Hellmuth will capture his fourteenth bracelet or if one of the others players will stand in his way and become a part of history.