Tuesday, June 25, 2013 3:19 AM Local Time
Congratulations to Steve Gross, Winner of Event #41: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Six-Handed) ($488,817)
For many years, Steve Gross was better known by his online poker handle — "gboro780" — than by his actual name, his successes at the online tables earning him copious notice as he consistently ranked as one of the best players on the virtual felt. He'd added some live scores to those successes, too, over the years, but the one breakthrough win had eluded him. Until today, that is, as Gross has become the latest WSOP bracelet winner after topping a field of exactly 400 to win Event #41: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Six-Handed).
Gross entered today's third and final day of play as the chip leader, although he'd relinquish that lead early on as the field was quickly whittled from 22 down to 12 within the first two hours of play. Roland Israelashvili (21st), Sorel Mizzi (16th), and Event #2: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Eight-Handed) winner Trevor Pope (13th) were among the fallen during the afternoon on Monday,
Down to two tables, play slowed as players dropped one-by-one, with Timo Pfutzenreuter ultimately grabbing the chip lead away from Lee Goldman and maintaining it as the reached the dinner break with seven left. Then on the first hand back from the break Yevgeniy Timoshenko was eliminated in seventh to bubble the final table, and just six remained with Pfutzenreuter still in front.
But by the time Nader Arfai (6th), Lee Goldman (5th), and Joseph Leung (4th) had been eliminated, Gross had pulled back into the top spot three-handed. That battle saw Salman Behbehani come back from a short stack to take the lead briefly, but then Gross took out Pfutzenreuter in third to take a chip advantage to heads-up play. Behbehani battled gamely against Gross for more than 40 hands, but could never grab the lead away, then down to a short stack lost his first all-in to finish runner-up.
Congratulations to Steve Gross for adding an impressive live achievement to his long list of online scores by winning his first WSOP gold bracelet and a $488,817 payday. Thanks as well for following our coverage of Event #41: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Six-Handed) here at PokerNews.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Steve Gross | $488,817 |
| 2 | Salman Behbehani | $301,965 |
| 3 | Timo Pfutzenreuter | $194,147 |
| 4 | Joseph Leung | $128,742 |
| 5 | Lee Goldman | $87,890 |
| 6 | Nader Arfai | $61,739 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 3:03 AM Local Time
Salman Behbehani Eliminated in 2nd Place ($301,965)
Hand #123: Steve Gross raised to 180,000 from the button, and after looking over his cards and contemplating a bit, Salman Behbehani exhaled and said he was raising all in for his last 380,000. Gross called the raise.
Behbehani:
Gross:
The flop came , missing Behbehani and hitting Gross's seven. The turn was the , still no good for Behbehani. The dealer then burned a card and delivered the river… the .
The sevens were still good, but Gross's boisterous rail hesitated for a moment to make sure that their man had indeed won. Soon it was apparent, though, and an excited roar erupted as Behbehani stood and the pair met to shake hands. It was a great run for Behbehani, ending in second for a $300K-plus prize.
| Salman Behbehani | 0 | -380,000  |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:55 AM Local Time
Gross Continues to Apply Pressure
Hands #117-#118: Steve Gross raised to 130,000 and won, then Salman Behbehani raised the pot to 180,000 and won.
Hand #119: Behbehani got a walk.
Hand #120: Behbehani limped in and Gross checked. The flop came , and Gross check-called a bet of 120,000 from Behbehani. The turn was the . Gross bet 210,000 this time, and Behbehani folded.
Hand #121: Gross limpped, Behbehani checked, then both checked the flop. The turn was the . Behbehani checked, Gross bet 60,000, and Behbehani folded.
Hand #122: Behbehani limped in and Gross checked. The first three community cards came and both players checked. The turn was the . Gross bet 60,000, and Behbehani folded.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:48 AM Local Time
Gross Whittles Further
Hand #113: Steve Gross limped and Salman Behbehani checked. The flop came . Behbehani checked, Gross bet 65,000, and Behbehani called. Both checked the turn. The river brought the . Behbehani checked, Gross bet 150,000, and Behbehani folded.
Hand #114: Behbehani limped, Gross checked, then both checked the flop. The turn was the . Gross checked, Behbehani bet 115,000, and Gross folded.
Hand #115: Gross raised to 130,000 and Behbehani folded.
Hand #116: Salman raised to 130,000 and Gross called. The flop came , and both checked. The turn was the and Gross bet 125,000. Behbehani called. The river was the . Gross bet 275,000 and Behbehani called again.
Gross showed for sixes full of aces, and Behbehani mucked.
| Steve Gross | 5,325,000 | 555,000  |
| Salman Behbehani | 680,000 | -555,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:37 AM Local Time
Gross Increases Lead to Better than 3-to-1
Hand #106: Salman Behbehani raised to 130,000 and Steve Gross called. They checked the flop. The turn was the , and Gross check-called a bet of 100,000 from Behbehani. They then checked the river. Salman showed , Gross , and they chopped as both had queens.
Hand #107: Gross raised to 130,000 and Behbehani called. The flop came , and Behbehani check-folded to Gross's bet of 150,000.
Hand #108: Behbehani raised to 130,000, Gross three-bet to 360,000, and Behbehani folded.
Hand #109: Gross bet 130,000 and Behbehani called. The flop came . Behbehani checked, Gross bet 135,000, and Behbehani folded.
Hand #110: Gross got a walk.
Hand #111: Gross limped, Behbehani checked, and both checked the flop. The turn was the , and Salman bet 120,000. Gross called. The river brought the and a bet of 225,000 from Behbehani, and when Gross raised to 600,000, Behbehani folded.
Hand #112: Gross got a walk.
| Steve Gross | 4,615,000 | 1,245,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 1,390,000 | -1,245,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:28 AM Local Time
Behbehani Narrows The Gap
Hand #105: Steve Gross limped, Salman Behbehani checked, and the flop came . Behbehani checked, Gross bet 60,000, and Behbehani called. The turn brought the . Behbehani checked again, and this time Gross bet 180,000 and Behbehani called.
The river was the , and Behbehani bet the pot — 600,000. Gross called, and Behbehani showed for a seven-high straight. Gross showed two of his cards — — and mucked the other two.
| Steve Gross | 3,370,000 | -840,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 2,635,000 | 840,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:23 AM Local Time
Dueling Button Raises and a Chop
Hand #98: Salman Behbehani limped, Gross potted to 180,000, and Behbehani called. The flop came . Gross bet 250,000 and Behbehani called. The turn was the . Gross bet 625,000 this time and Behbehani folded.
Hands #99-#103: Five straight raise-and-take hands with Gross raising his button 125,000 and Behbehbani his 130,000.
Hand #104: Behbehani raised to 130,000 from the button and this time Gross called. The pair then checked the flop and turn. The river was the . Gross bet 100,000, and Behbehani called.
Gross showed and Behbehani — both had ten-high straights and they chopped the pot.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:15 AM Local Time
Small Pots
Hands #91-#92: The players exchanged walks.
Hands #93-#94: Steve Gross raised to 125,000 and won, then Salman Behbehani raised to 135,000 and won.
Hand #95: Gross limped, Behbehani bet the pot (180,000), and Gross folded.
Hand #96: Behbehani raised 135,000 from the button and earned Gross's blind.
Hand #97: Gross raised to 125,000, Behbehani called, and both checked the flop. The turn was the , and when Behbehani bet 170,000, Gross folded.
| Steve Gross | 3,780,000 | -245,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 2,225,000 | 245,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:10 AM Local Time
Aces Versus Kings
Hand #90: The first hand back from the break saw Salman Behbehani raising to 135,000 from the button and Steve Gross calling. Both checked the flop and turn. The fell on the river and Gross responded with a bet of 200,000, and Behbehani called.
Gross showed for top set of kings, and Behbehani showed his . "Really?" said Behbehani afterwards. "Wow, we could have got it in."
| Steve Gross | 4,025,000 | 235,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 1,980,000 | -235,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:01 AM Local Time
Level 28 started
Level: 28
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 0
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:49 AM Local Time
Chip Counts at Break
The players are in the midst of a 15-minute break.
| Steve Gross | 3,790,000 | 285,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 2,215,000 | -285,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:49 AM Local Time
Gross Calls, Collects
Hands #86-#87: Steve Gross and Salman Behbehani gave each other walks.
Hand #88: Behbehani raised to 125,000 from the button and won.
Hand #89: Gross raised to 100,000 and Behbehani called. The flop came . Behbehani checked, Gross bet 130,000, and Behbehani called. Both then checked the turn card. Fifth street brought the and a bet of 330,000, and after a long tank Gross emerged to make the call.
Gross showed for the Broadway straight, and it was good as Behbehani had .
Afterwards Behbehani asked Gross "Did you know you had a jack?" and Gross replied "Oh, no… I just knew I had ace-ten."
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:43 AM Local Time
First Five Hands of Heads-Up Play
Hand #81: Steve Gross raised to 100,000, Salman Behbehani three-bet to 300,000, and Gross called. The flop came and Behbehani bet 205,000. Gross called. They checked the on the turn, then when the fell on fifth street Behbehani bet 500,000 and Gross folded.
Hand #82: Gross got a walk.
Hand #83: Gross raised 100,000 and Behbehani folded.
Hand #84: Behbehani raised to 100,000 and Gross called. They checked the flop, then Gross bet 115,000 on the turn and Behbehani called. The river came the and Gross bet 315,000, forcing a fold from Behbehani.
Hand #85: Gross limped, Behbehani checked, and the pair checked down the board. Behbehani tabled and Gross mucked.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:37 AM Local Time
Chip Counts to Begin Heads-Up Play
| Steve Gross | 3,505,000 | 1,125,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 2,500,000 | 80,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:33 AM Local Time
Timo Pfutzenreuter Eliminated in 3rd Place ($194,147)
Hand #80: Steve Gross raised to 100,000 from the button and Timo Pfutzenreuter called from the big blind. The flop came and both players checked. The turn was the . Pfutzenreuter bet 150,000 and Gross called.
The river brought the . Pfutzenreuter bet again, this time for 175,000, and Gross raised to 800,000. Pfutzenreuter shook his head and took off his glasses as he contemplated what to do. He had but a little more than 800,000 left, and after thinking for a while he finally set them forward and Gross called the remainder.
Gross turned over for the straight, while Pfutzenreuter had for a second-best set. Pfutzenreuter is out in third and heads-up play is about to commence.
| Timo Pfutzenreuter | 0 | -1,150,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:21 AM Local Time
Behbehani In Front
Hand #79: After battling in third position for the first part of three-handed play, Behbehani has nudged ahead of Steve Gross and into the lead.
In this hand, Gross opened for 130,000 and Behbehani called from the big blind. The flop came . Gross bet 155,000 and Behbehani called. The turn was the , and this time Gross bet 405,000. Behbehani called again.
The river was the and went check-check. Behbehani showed for kings, and Gross said "pair of deuces" as he mucked.
| Salman Behbehani | 2,420,000 | 720,000 |
| Steve Gross | 2,380,000 | -770,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:14 AM Local Time
Behbehani Defends Blinds
Hand #73: Steve Gross raised to 100,000 from the small blind and Salman Behbehani called from the big blind. The flop came and Gross continued for 105,000, getting a call from Behbehani. Both then checked the turn. The river was the , and Gross checked once more. Behbehani bet 200,000, and Gross folded.
Hands #74-#75: Pfutzenreuter got a walk, then Gross enjoyed one.
Hand #76: Pfutzenreuter raised to 100,000 from the button and Behbehani called from the big blind. They checked the flop. The then came on the turn. Behbehani bet 125,000, and Pfutzenreuter called. The river was the , and both checked it down. Behbehani turned over for a small flush, and Pfutzenreuter folded.
Hand #77: Gross raised to 100,000 from the button, and Behbehani called from the small blind. Both checked the flop. The turn was the . Behbehani bet 175,000 and Gross called. The river was the . This time Behbehani bet 320,000, and Gross got out.
Hand #78: After defending his blinds successfully during that sequence, Behbehani raised to 100,000 from the button and earned the blinds of his two opponents.
| Steve Gross | 3,150,000 | -815,000 |
| Salman Behbehani | 1,700,000 | 1,205,000 |
| Timo Pfutzenreuter | 1,150,000 | -395,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:05 AM Local Time
Behbehani Binks Diamond, Survives
Hand #72: Salman Behbehani raised to 100,000 from the button and Steve Gross called from the big blind. The flop came . Gross made a pot-sized bet of 225,000, then Behbehani pushed all in for 370,000 and Gross called.
Behbehani had while Gross showed . The turn was the and the river the , that diamond on the river giving Behbehani a flush to beat Gross's two pair and survive.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:00 AM Local Time
Lots of Folds
Hands #65-#67: All three players successively took turns enjoying walks in the big blind.
Hand #68: Steve Gross raised to 100,000 from the button and won the blinds
Hand #69: Gross got another walk.
Hand #70: Salman Behbehani got another walk as well.
Hand #71: Gross raised his button again to 100,000 and won the blinds once more.