Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:41 AM Local Time
The eighth bracelet of the 2010 World Series of Poker has been won and French-Canadian Pascal LeFrancois is your champion! LeFrancois has just one previous WSOP cash in last year's $1,500 no-limit hold'em event. This will definitely be memorable for LeFrancois who had a entire contingency of friends rooting him on throughout this last day of play.
Play began on Wednesday with 2,341 hitting the felt, all with hopes of being crowned champion. After Day 1, 277 players remained. At the end of the second day, the field had been whittled down to 25. Saar Wilf led the way into Day 3 with the chip lead and not too far behind was Phil Hellmuth, who was looking to take home his 12th bracelet.
Hellmuth will have to wait for another event to snag that elusive 12th bracelet however, as he was eliminated in 15th place. Action was fast and furious at the start of Day 3 and players were heading to the payout desk almost as fast as we could write up the hands. Soon though, we found ourselves at the secondary feature table in the Amazon Room with ten players looking for the gold.
Jose Gatmaitan was eliminated in 10th place, giving us our official final table. Soon after, the day's chip leader Wilf hit the rail followed by Joshua Brikis, Kurt Disessa, and James Andersen. David Aue was eliminated in fifth place and Daniel Wjuniski, who was in competition with LeFrancois for loudest railbirds was eliminated in fourth. Kevin Howe left us heads up with LeFrancois holding a nine-to-one chip lead over Max Steinberg. It wasn't too long after that that LeFrancois finished the deal.
LeFrancois took home $568,974 for his victory and his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet! Congratulations to him for conquering Event No. 8. Here's how the entire final table wrapped up.
1. Pascal LeFrancois - $568,974
2. Max Steinberg - $352,916
3. Kevin Howe - $249,351
4. Daniel Wjuniski - $179,286
5. David Aue - $130,617
6. James Andersen - $96,422
7. Kurt Disessa - $72,087
8. Joshua Brikis - $54,579
9. Saar Wilf - $41,843
Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:21 AM Local Time
Pascal LeFrancois limped and Max Steinberg checked his option.
The flop came down .
Steinberg bet 140,000 and LeFrancois made the call.
The turn brought the .
Steinberg bet 360,000 and LeFrancois made the call.
The fell on the river and Steinberg moved all in. LeFrancois asked for a count, thought for a second, and made the call.
When he saw the of Steinberg and knew his was good, he jumped out of his seat and ran over to his railbirds who were screaming and jumping up and down. Steinberg may not have gotten the bracelet but $352,916 isn't a bad consolation prize.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:09 AM Local Time
Pascal LeFrancois raised to 235,000 and Max Steinberg moved all in.
Steinberg:
LeFrancois:
The flop came down .
The turn brought the and the river the and the pot was chopped.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:07 AM Local Time
After a number of folded hands. The chips went in the middle preflop on this hand and the entire rail leaned forward to get a closer look.
Pascal LeFrancois:
Max Steinberg:
The board ran out and Steinberg doubled to 1.58 million.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:05 AM Local Time
It was limped to the flop of . Pascal LeFrancois checked and Max Steinberg bet 110,000. LeFrancois made it 360,000 and Steinberg folded.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:58 AM Local Time
We're heads up now. Pascal LeFrancois has a commanding chip lead with 9,184,500 in chips and Max Steinberg is sitting behind 1,350,000.
"Flip for the bracelet!" cried out one of the railbirds.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:44 AM Local Time
We're heads up and going on a 20 minute break
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:39 AM Local Time
Pascal LeFrancois raised to 180,000 from the button. Kevin Howe reraised to 455,000. LeFrancois re-reraised and Howe moved all-in. LeFrancois snap-called and the cards were on their backs. LeFrancois' railbirds were on their feet so fast they made our heads spin.
LeFrancois:
Howe:
The board ran out .
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:37 AM Local Time
Max Steinberg made it 200,000 to go from the small blind. Pascal LeFrancois called from the big blind and the two saw a flop of .
Steinberg bet 180,000 and LeFrancois called.
Turn:
Steinberg bet 400,000 and again, LeFrancois called.
The river brought the . Steinberg bet 650,000. LeFrancois moved all in and Steinberg folded.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:32 AM Local Time
Just a look at what the players are sitting behind.
Pascal LeFrancois - 3,900,000
Kevin Howe - 3,800,000
Max Steinberg - 2,700,000
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:29 AM Local Time
Pascal LeFrancois made it 180,000 to go from the button. Kevin Howe reraised to 350,000 and Max Steinberg re-reraised to 680,000. LeFrancois folded and Howe moved all in. Steinberg folded and the pot was shipped to Howe.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 12:00 AM Local Time
From the button, Max Steinberg made it 175,000 and found a caller from Pascal LeFrancois.
The flop came down .
Both players checked to the turn, which was the .
LeFrancois checked and Steinberg made it 165,000. Lefrancois then made it 505,000. Steinberg mucked his cards and LeFrancois took the pot.
Friday, June 4, 2010 11:50 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg made it 120,000 to go from the button. Pascal LeFrancois made the call from the small blind and Kevin Howe folded from the big blind.
Flop:
LeFrancois check-called Steinberg's bet of 130,000.
The turn brought the and both players checked.
The river got checks from both players as well.
Steinberg showed ace-high to better LeFrancois' king-high and take the pot.
Friday, June 4, 2010 11:38 PM Local Time
Kevin Howe made it 140,000 from under the gun before Daniel Wjuniski moved all in from the button for 830,000. Max Steinberg moved all in over the top and Howe got out of the way.
Wjuniski:
Steinberg:
The Brazilian contingent was the quietest we've heard them all night.
The flop came down . Steinberg's rail cheered and Wjuniski's called for a seven.
The turn, brought no help to Wjuniski nor did the on the river.
The Brazilian side of the rail was a bit dejected, but sang their soccer cheer for their friend.
Friday, June 4, 2010 11:30 PM Local Time
From under the gun, Max Steinberg made it 140,000. Daniel Wjuniski made the call from the big blind.
Flop:
Wjuniski bet 200,000 and Steinberg made the call.
The turn brought the .
Wjuniski checked to Steinberg who made it 220,000. Wjuniski thought for a moment before mucking his cards.
Friday, June 4, 2010 11:23 PM Local Time
The player's have tightened up their game. We haven't seen a flop in about 18 minutes.
Friday, June 4, 2010 11:04 PM Local Time
Daniel Wjuniski raised to 125,000 on the button and both blinds, Max Steinberg and Pascal LeFrancois, called.
Flop:
Steinberg and LeFrancois checked. Wjuniski made it 180,000 and Steinberg raised it to 500,000. LeFrancois and Wjuniski got out of the way and Steinberg took the pot.
Friday, June 4, 2010 10:51 PM Local Time
Kevin Howe made it 140,000 from the cutoff before David Aue moved all in from the small blind. Howe made the call and the cards were turned on their backs.
Aue:
Howe:
The French rail contingency was shouting, "Go David!" The flop came down .
The turn brought a ten and although it gave Aue a set, it gave Howe a straight draw. Sure enough, the hit the river and Aue was eliminated.
Friday, June 4, 2010 10:44 PM Local Time
Everyone's back in their spots and the rails are getting louder. Cards are in the air. It's go time.
Friday, June 4, 2010 10:26 PM Local Time
We're on a 20. Be back soon.