Event #11: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em

Thus we have a sudden end to a drawn out day, and we have one very, very happy winner. Over the past three days Anthony Harb has battled through a field of 1,646 players smattered with big names such as Phil Hellmuth, Tom McEvoy, Neil Channing and T.J. Cloutier and beaten them all to take the lovely first place prize money and, more importantly, the bracelet. In his own words, "It hasn't even sunk in that I've won over half a million dollars, man, it's all about the bracelet." It was a tough three days for everyone who made the final table with long hours and little sleep, and that was reflected in the general pace of the final table. The three-way action, in particular, tested the stamina of all the players, and all three players did well just to stay awake, let alone keep playing good poker throughout. Many congratulations to all the finalists, and especially to new bracelet winner Anthony Harb. Once he's done with the celebrations, we suspect he'll sleep very well indeed.

Perhaps the heads-upsers took the TD's comments about how last year he saw people move all in in the dark for a bracelet to heart, but either way, we have a decent-sized pot. Harb limped on the button, and Rho raised 175,000 more. A sigh from Harb, and a call -- the first time a preflop raise has been called during this heads up. Rho check-called 250,000 from Harb on the       and then another 400,000 on the   turn. He checked the   river too, and this time Harb bet 825,000. Rho stood up and gurned for a while, considering his options -- and then called. Harb showed him     for trips, and Rho mucked. Some change in the stacks!

You may be interested to know that way, way back on Day 1, Peter Rho and Anthony Harb started the tournament at the same table. And now, here they are heads up for the bracelet. How often does that happen? Not often at all, is how often.

Wow, someone definitely got the coffee in. First hand back Jim Geary shoved for 1,370,000 from the small blind and got an insta-call from big blind Anthony Harb. Action at last! Geary:     Harb:     Board:           Thus after a bit of a rollercoaster for him, we lose our crossword champ in third, and at long last we are heads up.

There has been an awful lot of folding buttons, limping in on small blinds and checking big blinds, then whoever bets first on the flop to take it. All three players seem to be taking it in turns to do these things, with just a very occasional button raise to break the tedium. Fatigue seems to be really setting in now...

Jim Geary shoved again, but once more he found no takers. More caffeine is what this final table needs...

A happy family pot saw all three players make it to the turn of the         board. Harb bet 150,000 and Rho passed, but Geary check-called and they saw a   river. Geary bet out a mere 200,000 and Harb called -- but mucked when Geary turned over     for a full house. Geary up to 1,300,000 now.

As WSOP final tables go, this is by no means a late night yet. But bear in mind that players (and bloggers alike!) were in the Amazon Room until 3am yesterday, and then had to be back in here at noon today -- once you factor in showering, travelling, eating and so on, that doesn't really leave much time for rest. So it's no surprise that our remaining three finalists are largely staring wearily at the felt, hands propping up their heads, with no banter or amusing behavior at all to speak of.

Jim Geary, very definitely the short stack here, moved all in from the big blind to a button raise from Anthony Harb, and Harb gave it up. A couple hands later he shoved from the button, and picked up the precious blinds and antes.

Thanks, ESPN! Just enough time to make it to the bathroom and back.