Monday, July 10, 2017 2:50 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Wins Bracelet No. 2 in $10,000 Seven Card Stud: "I Was Trying To Win For Me"
Mike Wattel won the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship to claim his second WSOP gold bracelet and the $245,451 first prize.
Just after 2 a.m. local time, Wattel hit a flush on seventh street and left his opponent with less than a big bet. His opponent was none other than Chris Ferguson. Ferguson needed a win to take over first place in the WSOP Player of the Year race. He was also looking for his first bracelet since 2003.
On the very next hand, Wattel got all in on third and Wattel would make kings up to knock out Ferguson after six hours of heads up play and win his second WSOP gold bracelet. Wattel had also had a long stretch without a bracelet, winning his second bracelet 18 years after his first.
"I was wondering if the second one was ever coming," Wattel said after the victory. "Second one better than the first. I'm just feel relieved that I finally won one again."
Wattel and Ferguson were both at risk during heads up play. On one seventh street, Wattel pulled trip fives to double up and would eventually go on to finish off Ferguson and claim his second WSOP win.
"It was an epic battle," Wattel added. "He plays great and I had him, then he had me. I pulled it off at the end."
Here are the final table payouts:
| Place | Player | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Mike Wattel | $245,451 |
| 2 | Chris Ferguson | $151,700 |
| 3 | Perry Friedman | $104,416 |
| 4 | Sean Mirrasouli | $73,810 |
| 5 | John Monnette | $53,621 |
| 6 | Bryce Yockey | $40,066 |
| 7 | Shaun Deeb | $30,817 |
| 8 | David Benyamine | $24,419 |
The final table for this event started Saturday evening and David Benyamine was eliminated in eighth place. He was eliminated by Perry Friedman when Friedman made aces up.
When play started Sunday at 2 p.m. Shaun Deeb was the short stack, entering the day with less than a big bet. He busted shortly after play began when he went four to a flush on fourth, but bricked the remaining streets and was eliminated by Sean Mirrasouli.
Bryce Yockey was next to go. He got a pair of sixes in against Ferguson and couldn't improve. John Monnette finished in fifth place after being eliminated by Wattel, who started with split aces and made aces up to beat Monnette's single pair of aces. Monnette will jump into first place in the Player of the Year race with his fifth place finish here. Ferguson will now be in second behind Monnette thanks to his finish here as well.
Sean Mirrasouli busted in fourth place when Wattel made a wheel on seventh street. Then Perry Friedman, who entered the day with a big chip lead, fell to Ferguson in third place. Ferguson made a pair of nines after getting Friedman all in on fourth street and Friedman couldn't improve on his pair of threes.
Heads up play lasted longer than the rest of the final day up to that point, but when all was said and done it was Mike Wattel who added another WSOP gold bracelet to his resume. He was unconcerned about the Player of the Year ramifications or that a majority of the poker world was cheering for him to beat Ferguson and lock him out of the top spot on the POY leaderboard.
"I was trying to win for me. I didn't care who the opponent was."
Wattel and Ferguson both hurried out quickly since they are both planning on playing Day 1c of the WSOP Main Event.
Thanks for following the updates for the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship, and be sure to follow along for the rest of the WSOP, especially the Main Event right here on PokerNews.com.
Monday, July 10, 2017 2:19 AM Local Time
Chris Ferguson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($151,700)
Chris Ferguson: / /
Mike Wattel: / /
Mike Wattel brought in and Chris Ferguson raised all in. Wattel called.
Ferguson was ahead with a pair of sixes, but on sixth street Wattel had made a pair of kings.
Wattel improved to kings up on seventh street, and although Ferguson improved, his two pair was inferior and he was eliminated in 2nd place.
The 2000 Main Event champion takes home $151,700 in prize money.
| Chris Ferguson | 0 | -170,000  |
Monday, July 10, 2017 2:18 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Grabs Big Lead, Ferguson Barely Hanging On
Mike Wattel: / /
Chris Ferguson: / /
Mike Wattel was the bring in and Chris Ferguson completed. Wattel raised and Ferguson called. On fourth, Wattel bet and Ferguson called. He bet again on fifth and Ferguson called. Wattel bet sixth and Ferguson raised. Wattel called.
Wattel check-raised seventh and Ferguson called. Wattel showed for a flush. This left Ferguson with just 175,000.
| Mike Wattel | 4,230,000 | 1,530,000  |
| Chris Ferguson | 170,000 | -1,530,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 2:08 AM Local Time
Heads-Up Play Continues
Ferguson: /
Wattel: / — fold
Ferguson brought in and Wattel completed. Ferguson called. Wattel bet on fourth street and Ferguson called.
Ferguson bet on fifth street when he made open nines and Wattel folded.
| Mike Wattel | 2,700,000 | 10,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 1,700,000 | -10,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 2:00 AM Local Time
Level 26 started
Level: 26
Blinds: 150000/300000
Ante: 30000
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:56 AM Local Time
Break Time
"What time is it?" asked Mike Wattel as the final seconds of the level ticked off the clock.
"One forty-five," replied Chris Ferguson.
"Shit."
Mike Wattel and Chris Ferguson are headed to a ten-minute break. They will play at least one more level tonight; if they are still playing at that point, they may have to bag and return tomorrow.
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:55 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Hits Aces on Fifth
Mike Wattel: /
Chris Ferguson: /
Chris Ferguson was the bring in. Mike Wattel completed the bet and Ferguson raised. Wattel reraised and Ferguson called.
Wattel bet fourth street and Ferguson called. Wattel hit two aces on his board on fifth and bet. Ferguson folded.
| Mike Wattel | 2,690,000 | -45,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 1,710,000 | 45,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:37 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Wins With Kings Up
Chris Ferguson: / /
Mike Wattel: / /
Mike Wattel brought in and Chris Ferguson completed. Wattel raised and Ferguson called.
On fourth street Ferguson bet and Wattel called. Ferguson check-called on fifth street.
Ferguson called bets in position on sixth and seventh street.
Wattel showed for kings up and took down the pot.
| Mike Wattel | 2,735,000 | 870,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 1,665,000 | -870,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:32 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Gets Some Back
Mike Wattel: /
Chris Ferguson: /
Mike Wattel was the bring in and Chris Ferguson completed. Wattel raised and Ferguson called. Ferguson bet when he hit the on fourth and Wattel raised. Ferguson called. On fifth, Wattel paired his seven and bet. Ferguson folded.
| Chris Ferguson | 2,535,000 | -565,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 1,865,000 | 565,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:25 AM Local Time
Chris Ferguson Wrestles Back the Chip Lead
Ferguson: / /
Wattel: / /
Ferguson brought in and Mike Wattel completed. Ferguson raised and Wattel re-raised. Ferguson called.
On fourth street Wattel bet and Ferguson called. On fifth street Ferguson check-called.
On sixth street Ferguson bet and Wattel called. Ferguson bet again on seventh street and Wattel went into the tank.
He shifted the chip stack he had been shuffling back and forth from right hand, to left, and then back to right. Eventually he called.
Ferguson showed for two pair, queens and fours, and took down the pot.
| Chris Ferguson | 3,100,000 | 1,220,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 1,300,000 | -1,220,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:18 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Back On Top With a Flush of His Own
Mike Wattel: / /
Chris Ferguson: / /
Chris Ferguson checked his lead on fourth street and Mike Wattel bet. Ferguson called. On fifth, Ferguson check-raised Wattel and Wattel called. Both players checked sixth and received their seventh street cards.
Ferguson adjusted his chair several times and held both hands over his hole cards. He glanced again at Wattel's board then checked his hand. He bet. Wattel didn't take too long to raise, leaving himself with 10,000 behind. Ferguson called and Wattel showed for a flush.
Wattel is now in the lead again as the heads up match continues.
| Mike Wattel | 2,520,000 | 1,720,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 1,880,000 | -1,720,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:07 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Doubles Up to Stay Alive
Chris Ferguson: / /
Mike Wattel: / /
Mike Wattel brought in and Chris Ferguson completed. They got the rest of Wattel's stack in the middle the cards were turned over.
Ferguson starts with split jacks and Wattel with split fives. By seventh street Ferguson hadn't improved, with Wattel needing to make two pair or better to double up and prevent Ferguson from winning.
Wattel turned over the case to double up with trip fives.
| Chris Ferguson | 3,600,000 | -325,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 800,000 | 325,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:04 AM Local Time
Chris Ferguson Takes a Big Lead After Hitting a Flush on Seventh
Chris Ferguson: / /
Mike Wattel: / /
Mike Wattel was the bring in and Chris Ferguson completed. Wattel raised and Ferguson called. On fourth, Ferguson had the lead and bet. Wattel called. On fifth, Ferguson bet again, hitting the and giving him two diamonds on the board. Wattel raised and Ferguson called. Both players checked on sixth street.
Ferguson checked his seventh street card and then bet. Wattel took about fourty seconds to decide, during which time he didn't stop shuffling chips. He then started shuffling chips with both hands. Finally, he decided to call and Ferguson showed , giving him a flush. Wattel mucked with less than 500,000 behind.
| Chris Ferguson | 3,925,000 | 1,125,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 475,000 | -1,125,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 1:00 AM Local Time
Level 25 started
Level: 25
Blinds: 12000/240000
Ante: 30000
Monday, July 10, 2017 12:57 AM Local Time
A Big Pot For Ferguson
Ferguson: /
Wattel: /
Chris Ferguson brought-in, and Mike Wattel completed. Ferguson raised, and Wattel re-raised. Ferguson called.
Wattel bet on fourth and fifth streets, with Ferguson calling both times. Ferguson took the lead on sixth street and bet, forcing a fold from Wattel.
| Chris Ferguson | 2,800,000 | 1,270,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 1,600,000 | -1,270,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 12:53 AM Local Time
More Tug of War
The heads-up match is entering it's fifth hour, and Mike Wattel is once again in the lead with almost three million chips.
Mike Wattel: /
Chris Ferguson: /
The two players got three bets in apiece on third street. Chris Ferguson was the bring-in, and Mike Wattel completed. Ferguson raised, and Wattel called.
Wattel checked fourth street, and Ferguson bet. Wattel called. On fifth, Wattel bet, and Ferguson folded.
| Mike Wattel | 2,870,000 | -55,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 1,530,000 | 55,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 12:41 AM Local Time
A Turning Point?
Chris Ferguson: / /
Mike Wattel: / /
Chris Ferguson brought-in, and Mike Wattel completed. Ferguson raised, and Wattel called.
Wattel bet on fourth street, and Ferguson called. Ferguson check-called on fifth and sixth streets. Ferguson checked on seventh street, and after quickly rechecking his down-cards, Wattel bet. Ferguson folded.
| Mike Wattel | 2,925,000 | 625,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 1,475,000 | -625,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 12:29 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Back on Top
Mike Wattel: /
Chris Ferguson: /
Mike Wattel was the bring-in, and Chris Ferguson completed with the . Wattel called.
Ferguson checked fourth street, and Wattel checked behind. Ferguson bet fifth, and Wattel raised. Ferguson folded.
Wattel edged slightly ahead.
| Mike Wattel | 2,300,000 | 350,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 2,100,000 | -350,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 12:21 AM Local Time
Mike Wattel Wins Some Back
Chris Ferguson: /
Mike Wattel: /
Chris Ferguson brought-in, and Mike Wattel completed.
Ferguson bet on fourth street, Wattel raised, and Ferguson called. Ferguson check-folded on fifth street.
| Chris Ferguson | 2,450,000 | -150,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 1,950,000 | 150,000 |
Monday, July 10, 2017 12:11 AM Local Time
Chris Ferguson Looks to Press Home His Newly Found Advantage
| Chris Ferguson | 2,600,000 | 250,000 |
| Mike Wattel | 1,800,000 | -250,000 |