Event #58: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max

When Event #58: $1,500 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold'em kicked off on Monday there were 1,475 runners in the room, each hoping to find themselves where Jared Jaffee sits tonight. The longtime pro finally earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet after recording 11 cashes here at the Rio since 2009, and with the accomplishment he also moved one step closer to capturing poker's "Triple Crown." Jaffee took down the World Poker Tour Jacksonville bestbet Fall Poker Scramble $3,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in November of last year, but as every poker player knows, there's nothing quite like grabbing the WSOP gold.

The mixed-max format saw the field play a full first day of nine-handed action and whittle the field down to 181, and on Day 2 the tables shrunk to six-handed for another gauntlet of short-handed poker. Late on Day 2, the final 24 players reconvened at four-handed tables and the pace accelerated until just 10 remained. Jaffee topped the counts entering the third and final day of play, and he quickly went to work building on that advantage.

A crucial cooler of a hand against Brandon Cantu propelled Jaffee into the final four heads-up matches with nearly half the chips in play, as Jaffee's kings were ran down by Cantu's queens, until the river reversed the situation in cruel fashion for the combustible Cantu.

Armed with a massive chip advantage over his heads-up opponent Joseph Alban, Jaffee dispatched him in short order to secure a spot in the finals, where he would face fellow pro Mike Watson. Both players were searching for their first WSOP bracelet, and a lengthy heads-up duel ensued in which Watson fought back admirably from a nearly 2-1 disadvantage when play began. Watson picked off a bold bluff by Jaffee to briefly claim the chip lead, but Jaffee continued to apply pressure with preflop raises and post-flop aggression, winning the majority of pots during the contest.

Eventually, the tide turned in Jaffee's favor and he finished Watson off in stunning fashion, going runner-runner to make a straight and crack Watson's pocket jacks in a preflop clash.

Jaffee collected $405,428 for the first-place finish, pushing over the $2 million live earnings milestone in the process by capturing his third six-figure score in a nine-month span. He now needs only a victory on the European Poker Tour to become the latest member of the "Triple Crown" club, proving that Jaffee's name belongs among the short list of poker's rising stars.

Hand #97: Mike Watson limped on the button, Jared Jaffee checked his option and the flop fell    . Jaffee check-called 100,000 to see the   turn where both checked. The   river completed the board and both checked again. Jaffee tabled    for kings and eights, besting Watson's holdings to win the pot.

Hand #98: Jared Jaffee raised to 175,000 on the button and Mike Watson called three-bet shoved for about 1.45 million from the big blind.

"It's close," said Jaffee, before he folded.

Hand #80: Jared Jaffee opened for 125,000 and Watson flatted to see the     flop. Both players checked and the turn came  , prompting Watson to bet out for 150,000. Jaffee eyed the bet and sized Watson up from across the table before making the laydown.

Hand #81: Watson opened for 120,000 and took down the pot without a fight.

Hand #82: Jaffee opened to 125,000, Watson flatted, and the flop came down    . Watson tapped the table, Jaffee fired away for 155,000 and Watson folded.

Hand #83: Watson opened for 120,000, Jaffee defended his big blind, and the flop was    . Both players checked, and the turn came  . Jaffee then led out for 165,000 and Watson called to see the   complete the board on the river. Jaffee fired away with a bet of 405,000 and Watson relented to send the sizable pot Jaffee's way.

Hand #84: Jaffee opened to 125,000 and Watson laid down.

Hand #85: Watson opened for 120,000, Jaffee flatted and the flop fell    . Jaffee check-folded to Watson's 130,000 wager.

Hand #76: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the big blind.

Watson checked the     flop and Jaffee continued for 160,000. Watson called, the   hit the turn and Watson checked. Jaffee bet 310,000 and Jaffee collected the pot.

Hand #77: Watson raised to 150,000 on the button and received no action from Jaffee.

Hand #78: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson called.

They checked to the turn of a      board where Watson bet 150,000. Jaffee called, the   river completed the board and both players checked. Watson showed   , Jaffee tabled    and they chopped up the pot.

Hand #79: Watson raised to 150,000 on the button and Jaffee called.

The flop fell     and Jaffee checked to Watson who bet 160,000. Jaffee check-raised to 405,000, Watson called, and the   landed on the turn. Jaffee fired 780,000, Watson slid in calling chips after about 30 seconds and the   river completed the board. Jaffee shoved for 1.885 million and Watson quickly folded.

The players are in the midst of a 10-minute break.

Mike Watson	3,645,000	1,125,000
Jared Jaffee	3,005,000	-1,125,000

Hand #66: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the big blind. They checked to the river of a       board where Jaffee bet 140,000. Watson folded and Jaffee picked up the pot.

Hand #67: Watson limped his button and Jaffee checked his option. They checked to the turn of a      board where Watson took down the pot with a bet of 60,000.

Hand #68: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button, Watson three-bet shoved for about 1.14 mllion and Jaffee folded.

Hand #69: Jaffee received a walk.

Hand #70: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson three-bet all in for 1.255 million. Jaffee confirmed the amount before he called.

Jaffee:   
Waston:   

A chop was likely, but the flop fell    . Watson still led, while Jaffee picked up a wheel draw. The   turn added some chop outs, but the   river gave Watson the double up as his six kicker played.

Jared Jaffee	4,130,000	-880,000
Mike Watson	2,520,000	880,000

Hand #56: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the big blind.

The flop came down     and Watson checked to Jaffee who bet 175,000. Watson check-raised all in for 780,000 and after a few moments Jaffee called.

Watson:   
Jaffee:   

Jaffee was drawing very slim and found no help from the   turn or   river, locking up the double for Watson.

Jared Jaffee	4,830,000	-810,000
Mike Watson	1,820,000	810,000