Saturday, June 13, 2009 11:26 PM Local Time
When we started today with fourteen of the world's best Omaha/Stud players, you kind of got a feeling it was going to be a special day. Any final day which features superstars such as Chad Brown, Blair Rodman, Steve Wong, Dutch Boyd, Jon Turner and Carlos Mortensen is going to produce a final table for the ages. However, it was the undeniable presence of the six-time WSOP bracelet winner that was sending whispers around the Rio.
Could Ivey really make it number seven today? Two bracelets in one year? All while multi-tabling two different WSOP events!
The achievement would cement his place as a legend of poker and arguably the best player in the modern game. We say this, like there was ever any doubt.
At times it seemed like Ivey just couldn't be touched as he cut through the final table like a knife through butter, claiming the chip lead and the destiny that awaited him.
A memorable day for the WSOP, and the buzz in the air this evening was one that those present will always remember. Thanks for your company this evening, I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and see you again soon!
Saturday, June 13, 2009 11:14 PM Local Time
It's over! Phil Ivey has captured an incredible seventh World Series of Poker bracelet, his second this year, to the delight of the massive group of friends and fans on the rail here at the Rio.
The final hand came during a round of Stud-8 with Lee all in on third street. The boards ran out as follows:
Lee:
Ivey:
Phil Ivey made trip queens and the crowd cheered in delight at having witnessed this historic poker moment.
However, we also congratulate Ming Lee, who started the day short stacked and fought incredibly well against some of the greatest players the game has seen, to finish in 2nd place for a cash of $136,292.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 11:09 PM Local Time
It now appears to be a matter of time. Ming Lee has been all in three times, twice in Omaha-8 and once in Stud-8, with the pots being chopped.
Lee sits with only 150,000 chips as Ivey is now taking shots to end this tournament.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 11:06 PM Local Time
Ming Lee raised from the button before Phil Ivey popped it from the big blind.
The flop was
and Ivey fired a bet before Lee raised. Ivey called and the
hit the turn. Ivey checked and Lee fired a bet. Ivey made the call.
The river brought the
and Ivey checked to Lee who bet, before Ivey put in a check-raise. Lee deliberated and made the call.
Ivey showed
for a full house to scoop and leave Lee crippled.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 11:02 PM Local Time
In an Omaha-8 hand, Phil Ivey was within a spade of the bracelet, but incredibly the river was a cruel blow, giving Ming Lee an unlikely scoop.
Ming Lee raised the button before Phil Ivey reraised the big blind. Lee called and they saw a flop of
. Ivey led out and Lee made the call.
The turn was the
and after a series of raises, Lee's last chips were in the middle.
Lee:
Ivey:
Ivey held the nut low as the fans were all on their feet in anticipation of a potential spade on the river that would give Ivey a flush to better Lee's made straight. However, the twist came when the
fell, to not only miss Ivey's flush but to also give Lee a better low!
Lee doubles to 650,000 with Ivey on 2.15 million.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:56 PM Local Time
After a few more small pots with the (rather significant) blinds and antes going the way of Phil Ivey, Ming Lee is now down to his last 350,000 chips. It appears Phil Ivey has slowed down just a little as he prepares his final strike.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:51 PM Local Time
After taking a couple of small pots, Phil Ivey forced another fold from Ming Lee on fifth street in a Stud-8 hand to again have Lee in deep trouble.
Ivey had completed on third, and the betting pressure from Ivey on fourth and fifth streets was too much for Lee as he folded.
Lee: (X-X)
Ivey: (X-X)
Lee: 500,000
Ivey: 2.3 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:49 PM Local Time
It was Phil Ivey's turn to raise the button with Ming Lee making the call in the big blind.
The flop fell
and Lee checked, then called a bet from Ivey.
On the
turn, Lee checked and Ivey fired again to force a fold from Lee.
Lee: 900,000
Ivey: 1.9 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:47 PM Local Time
While there are throngs of Phil Ivey fans on the rail here, a small group of Ming Lee fans just got to clear their lungs as Lee scooped a pot to get himself headed back in the right direction.
Ivey raised the button and Lee called in the big blind. They saw a flop of
and Lee checked to Ivey who bet. Lee made the call.
The turn was the
and this time Lee led out with a bet with Ivey making the call.
The river brought the
and again Lee fired out a bet and Ivey called.
Lee tabled
for two pair for the high to go with the nut low to scoop.
Lee: 1.1 million
Ivey 1.7 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:43 PM Local Time
Phil Ivey raised the button and Ming Lee called in the big blind.
The flop was
and Lee checked, Ivey bet and Lee raised. Ivey made the call.
The turn was the
and again Lee checked, Ivey bet but this time Lee flat called.
The river brought the
and again Lee check-called the bet from Ivey.
Ivey tabled
for jacks full of nines to scoop another pot. Lee is now on his knees and one mistake away from elimination.
Lee: 550,000
Ivey: 2.25 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:37 PM Local Time
Phil Ivey completed in the first hand of Stud-8 and Ming Lee made the call. Ivey took control of the betting on fourth, fifth and sixth streets before Lee check-raised his bet on the river. Ivey wasn't phased as he put in yet another raise with Lee making the call.
Ivey: (
)
Lee: (X-X-X)
Ivey made a king-high flush to take down the pot as the first major pot of this heads-up battle goes his way. He's now up to around 1.9 million chips, with Lee back to 900,000.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:33 PM Local Time
Ming Lee raised the button and Phil Ivey called in the big blind. Ivey called the bet of Lee on the
flop before they both checked through the
turn. The river was the
and Ivey fired a bet with Lee calling him down.
Once again, Ivey had been caught as Lee showed
for kings and eights to collect the whole pot and Ivey quickly mucked.
Lee: 1.4 million
Ivey: 1.4 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:29 PM Local Time
Phil Ivey raised the button and Ming Lee called in the big blind. The flop landed
and Lee checked, Ivey bet and Lee called.
The turn was the
and this time Lee check-raised Ivey's bet, but Ivey made the call. The river was the
and Lee checked, Ivey bet and Lee called.
Lee:
Ivey:
Ivey makes the nut low with Lee collecting the high with a set. Chop it up!
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:26 PM Local Time
Back onto Omaha-8 once again and Phil Ivey has taken down a much needed pot to get some momentum back in his favor.
Ming Lee raised the button and Ivey re-popped it from the big blind. Lee called and they saw a flop of
. Ivey led at the pot and Lee made the call.
The turn was the
and again Ivey fired a bet with Lee making the call.
The river brought the
and once again Ivey bet and Lee called.
Ivey tabled
for a full house with queens full of aces to take it down.
Lee: 1.2 million
Ivey: 1.6 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:22 PM Local Time
Phil Ivey completed on third street, both players checked fourth before Ivey fired bets on fifth, sixth and seventh streets. Ming Lee made the call and tabled the best hand with two pair as Ivey mucked.
Lee: (
)
Ivey (X-X-X)
Lee: 1.6 million
Ivey: 1.2 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:18 PM Local Time
Ming Lee completed and Phil Ivey raised on third street. Lee called, and again made the call on fourth and fifth. But by the time sixth landed, Lee took control of the betting to force a fold from Ivey and take down another pot.
Lee: (X-X)
Ivey: (X-X)
Lee: 1.3 million
Ivey: 1.5 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:13 PM Local Time
In the final hand of Omaha-8, Phil Ivey raised on the button and fired bets on the flop and turn, before checking it down on the river.
The board read
and Lee showed down
to take it down with two pair.
Lee: 1.22 million
Ivey: 1.58 million
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:09 PM Local Time
It's the battle of the six-time WSOP bracelet winner versus the unknown quantity. The legendary Phil Ivey gunning for his second bracelet this year against Ming Lee who will be out to capture his first ever bracelet.
It's been one helluva final table - how will the ending unfold?
Updated chip counts:
Phil Ivey: 1,785,000
Ming Lee: 1,035,000
The players have returned and the battle for the bracelet has recommenced!
Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:59 PM Local Time
Back onto Omaha-8 and after a series of raises, Carlos Mortensen was all in preflop against Ming Lee.
Mortensen:
Lee:
The board ran out
and Lee makes kings full of fours to take it down and eliminate Mortensen from the tournament, after a great run, in 3rd place for $89,342 in prize money.
The players are now taking a quick bathroom break before heads-up play commences.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:55 PM Local Time
Carlos Mortensen was all in by fifth street against Phil Ivey who ended up making a powerful ace-high flush and eight-low, but somehow Mortensen survived:
Ivey:
Mortensen:
Mortensen makes a slightly bigger flush to take the high as Ivey takes the low.