Event #10: No-Limit Hold'em Main Event

From 697 entries, only one player is still standing. After three days of action, Christian Pham (pictured) is the champion in the Circuit Main Event here at Caesars Palace.

Pham earned his way into this event by winning his seat in a $200 satellite. He has now parlayed that investment in a six-figure payday, as he earned $214,322 for his victory. This is a personal record cash for Pham, as his biggest tournament score before today was for $17,000. He also won his first WSOP Circuit ring and a free entry in the National Championship in Atlantic City in May.

In his heads-up battle, Pham defeated Jonathan Gaviao, who is fresh off a Main Event victory at the Harrah’s Tunica Circuit stop and was trying to win his second in the span of a month. He just barely fell short, earning $132,622. With his win at Tunica, Gaviao had already secured a spot in the National Championship, so he and Pham might see each other across the felt again in a few month.

Day three started with 14 players remaining. It took only about 10 minutes until the first casualty, as William Chao was eliminated in 14^th place. Before long Joseph Elia was eliminated in 10^th place on the final table bubble, and the official final table was set. Chris Lindh, who made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event last summer, finished in 9th place for $20,053. Nancy Birnbaum, who is currently in the lead for this venue’s Casino Champion race, finished in 6^th place for $41,642.

Here are the final table payouts. A complete list of results can be found in the “Results” tab.

1. Christian Pham – $214,322
2. Jonathan Gaviao – $132,622
3. Yu Sheng (Allen) Lin – $97,273
4. Michael Ma – $72,338
5. Andrew Sapiro – $54,523
6. Nancy Birnbaum – $41,642
7. Ofer Akerman – $32,22
8. Jesse Wilke – $25,259
9. Chris Lindh – $20,053

Allen Lin raises to 250,000 on the button. Jonathan Gaviao folds his small blind, and Christian Pham calls from the big blind. The flop falls    . Pham checks, and Lin continues for 300,000. Pham then check-raises to 600,000. Lin moves all in, and Pham immediately calls. Lin turns over   , and Pham shows him the bad news,    for trip sevens. The turn is the  , and the river is the  .

Pham wins the pot, and Allen Lin is eliminated in third place, earning him $97,273.

Christian Pham - 1,086,000 (109 BBs)
Jonathan Gaviao - 3,080,000 (31 BBs)
Allen Lin - eliminated in third place for $97,273

Jonathan Gaviao is in the small blind and Christian Pham is in the big blind when they go heads-up to a flop of    . Gaviao bets 275,000 and Pham calls.

The turn brings the  . Gaviao bets 500,000, Pham folds, and Gaviao takes the pot.

Jonathan Gaviao - 4,000,000 (40 BBs)
Christian Pham - 8,500,000 (85 BBs)

Allen Lin raises to 200,000 on the button, and both Jonathan Gaviao and Christian Pham call. The flop comes    , and action checks around to Lin. He continues for 200,000, Gaviao calls, and Pham folds. The turn is the  , and Gaviao checks. Lin bets 200,000 again, and Gaviao check-raises to 475,000. Lin calls, and the dealer reveals the   for the river. Gaviao bets out for 500,000. Lin thinks for a minute, then counts out a call, but doesn't push it forward yet. He thinks for a minute more, then calls, and Gaviao shows him    for a flopped set. Lin mucks his cards, and Gaviao collects the pot.

Jonathan Gaviao - 3,800,000 (38 BBs)
Allen Lin - 2,260,000 (23 BBs)

Christian Pham raises on the button and Allen "Yu Sheng" Lin calls from the small blind. The flop comes     and Lin bets 200,000. Pham quickly raises, making it 700,000 to play. Lin calls.

The turn brings the   and both players check. The river comes   and Lin checks again. Pham bets 700,000 and Lin calls instantly.

Pham hesitates a few seconds before turning over his hand,    for two pair, nines and sixes. Lin mucks and Pham takes the pot and a noticeable chip lead.

Christian Pham - 7,900,000 (80 BBs)
Allen "Yu Sheng" Lin - 3,140,000 (31 BBs)

Christian Pham raises to 200,000 from the button, and Jonathan Gavaio calls from the big blind. The flop falls    , and Gaviao checks. Pham continues for 250,000, and Gaviao check-raises to 550,000. Pham thinks for a minute, then pushes forward a call. The turn is the  , and Gaviao leads out for 640,000. Pham calls again, and the river is the  . Gaviao tanks for about two minutes before announcing, "All in." Pham calls instantly and turns over    for trip queens. Gaviso tables   , and the players split the pot.

Allen Lin advises them both to look on the bright side. "Well," he says. "At least you win 10,000."

Allen Lin raises to 160,000 from the button, and Christian Pham calls from the big blind. The flop falls    , and Pham checks to Lin. Lin bets 200,000, and Pham calls. Both players then check the   on the turn, and the river card is the  . Pham leads out for 550,000. Lin thinks for a minute, then announces a raise to 175,000. Now Pham thinks for a minute, and eventually decides to relinquish his cards. As soon as he does, Lin shouts, "Yes!" and pulls in his newly-earned chips.

Allen Lin - 5,600,000 (70 BBs)
Christian Pham - 3,450,000 (43 BBs)

Action folds to Michael Ma in the small blind and he raises all-in for 1,595,000. Allen "Yu Sheng" Lin looks at his cards, then announces, "I need a count."

Ma counts down his stack to the chip, then Lin takes a few more seconds before calling with   . Ma turns over   .

Ma gets no help from the       board and he is eliminated just a few hands after jumping up near the chip lead.

Allen "Yu Sheng" Lin - 5,250,000 (66 BBs)
Michael Ma - eliminated in fourth place for $72,388

Jonathan Gaviao limps from the small blind, and Christian Pham raises to 250,000. Gaviao calls, and the flop falls    . Gaviao checks, then calls Pham's 375,000-chip bet. Both players check the   on the turn, and the   completes the board on the river. Gaviao checks again, and Pham looks like he's counting out a bet of about 500,000, but then he decides to check. Gaviao says, "You win," and Pham turns over 7-6 for the win.

Christian Pham - 4,550,000 (57 BBs)
Jonathan Gaviao - 1,550,000 (19 BBs)