Caesars Cup

The 2011 Caesars Cup is complete. After four different matches of play, Team America has won the battle and taken the cup back from the Europeans. It was only fitting that team captain Phil Hellmuth was the man to finally finish off Europe after he eliminated Max Lykov in the final match.

Team America jumped out to an early lead when Jason Mercier and Ben Lamb defeated Jake Cody and Tony G in the alternating match. After that, Hellmuth paired up with Negreanu to take on Gus Hansen and Lykov, but couldn't stretch the lead any further and Europe evened things up at one apiece.

In the third match, Johnny Chan beat Team Europe's captain Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier to take the overall lead again and put Team America just one win away from winning the entire thing. That's when Hellmuth chose himself to go against Lykov.

The match went back and forth, but in the end it was Hellmuth's    that out ran Lykov's    to win it all.

Team America, complete with Jason Mercier, Ben Lamb, Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan and captain Phil Hellmuth were able to defeat Team Europe and win the title. For now, the cup has returned back across the pond and we'll have to wait until next time around to see if Europe can avenge their loss.

Max Lykov limped in from the button and Phil Hellmuth checked in the big blind to see the flop come down    . Hellmuth checked, Lykov bet 6,000 and then Helluth check-raised to 16,000. Lykov called.

The turn was the   and Hellmuth took a few moments before betting 18,000. Lykov studied and then raised all in. Hellmuth called for 56,000 total.

Hellmuth:   
Lykov:   

Lykov was drawing dead and the river completed the board with the  . Both teams were closely railing the action and after the river card hit, Team America's Ben Lamb said, "These Internet kids will never learn."

Team America now leads with 156,000 to 44,000.

Phil Hellmuth moved all in and Max Lykov called. Hellmuth held the    and was dominated by the    for Lykov. The board ran out       and Europe doubled up to even things back up.

After Phil Hellmuth raised for Team America from the button to 4,000, Europe's Max Lykov reraised to 12,000 from the big blind. Hellmuth called to see the flop.

The flop came down     and Lykov bet 8,000. Hellmuth took his time and then mucked his hand. Lykov showed a three.

Phil Hellmuth raised from the button to 4,000 and Max Lykov called from the big blind to see the     flop. After Lykov checked, Hellmuth fired 4,000 and won the pot.

Team America's Johnny Chan raised all in from the button and Team Europe's Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier called all in from the big blind. Here's what we saw.

Chan:   
Grospellier:   

Team Europe was at risk in the hand and was flipping with two overs for his tournament life. The flop was interesting with the     falling, giving Team Europe more outs to a better two pair.

The turn was the   and now Team America took way some outs with a flush draw.

The river landed with the  , gave Team America a full house and won them the match. They're now up two to one on Europe going into the next match.

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier raised all in and Johnny Chan called for 54,000. Chan held the    for Team America and Grospellier held    for Team Europe.

The flop, turn and river ran out       and Team America doubled up. They now have the slight chip lead with 108,000 in chips to Europe's 92,000.