Saturday, April 30, 2011 2:14 PM Local Time
What just happened? That's what we're left asking ourselves because if you blinked, you'd have missed this final table as it went so fast. Just about two hours, 40 minutes ago, the first hand was dealt. Now, we're looking at a winner and that player is Chris Johnson. He'll be pocketing $153,599 and the gold championship ring!
Johnson began the day as a chip leader and ran through this final table with ease, eliminating five players at the final table. Brian England got the other four eliminations en route to his second-place finish for $94,944. When asked about how he felt the final table went, Johnson told Nolan Dalla, "I pretty much got run over by the deck."
Johnson wasn't the only winner at this final table, as fifth-place finisher Adam Hui earned himself enough points to win the Casino Champion award and will join Johnson and 98 others in the $1,000,000 National Championship at the end of May. For now, let's look at how the final table wrapped up.
Final Table Payouts
1 | Chris Johnson | $153,599 |
2 | Brian England | $94,944 |
3 | Jon Seaman | $69,360 |
4 | John Kulish | $51,418 |
5 | Adam Hui | $38,699 |
6 | James Martini | $29,498 |
7 | Alex Santiago | $22,820 |
8 | Dave Stann | $17,906 |
9 | Matthew Leecy | $14,249 |
10 | Derrick Kuenzel | $11,492 |
That wraps up our coverage of the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event here at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Thanks to everyone for following along and congratulations to all of the winners, especially Chris Johnson on his new title. Be sure to follow along with all of [URL="http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/"+]PokerNews' live reporting[/URL] and hopefully we'll see you in Chester, PA at the next WSOP Circuit stop!
Saturday, April 30, 2011 2:02 PM Local Time
For a final table that was on a break-neck pace from the very beginning, it seemed fitting that heads-up play didn't last even five minutes. Third-place finisher Jon Seaman was still being processed at the payout desk when Brian England opened the button to 100,000. Chris Johnson, in the big blind, three-bet to 240,000. England quickly announced he was all-in for 1.5 million and Johnson snap-called!
Showdown
England:
Johnson:
"Sick," said England in disgust. "Even with ace-queen." He was referencing the fact that his intended second card -- the -- would have given him but was inadvertently exposed by the dealer and became the burn card. Even with ace-queen suited, England would have been dominated.
The flop paired each player, .
"Ace-queen would have been good now," noted Johnson. Indeed -- ace-queen would have flopped the joint! Instead of a double-up to 3.0 million, England hit the rail in 2nd place after the turn and river.
The dealer was absolutely beside himself at the magnitude of the dealing error that led to the final hand. He profusely apologized to England at the payout desk, but England was completely non-plussed. "No worries, man," he said as he shook the dealer's proferred hand.He collected his $94,944 and went on his way.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:56 PM Local Time
Chris Johnson | 8,250,000 | -250,000 |
Brian England | 1,750,000 | 250,000 |
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:56 PM Local Time
After Brian England folded the button, Chris Johnson jammed on Jon Seaman's big blind. Seaman had about 575,000 and made the call for all of his chips with the . Johnson held the .
The board ran out and Johnson's ace high stayed in the lead to give him the win. Seaman was eliminated in third place and took home $69,360 for the win.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:52 PM Local Time
From the button, Chris Johnson raised to 90,000. Brian England reraised to 240,000 from the big blind and Johnson made the call.
The flop came down and both players checked to see the pair the board on the turn. England fired 145,000 and Johnson folded.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:47 PM Local Time
Chris Johnson | 8,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Brian England | 1,500,000 | -200,000 |
Jon Seaman | 500,000 | -800,000 |
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:47 PM Local Time
Chris Johnson keeps winning every pot. After a stretch of about 15 minutes of raise-it-and-take-it pots, Johnson opened the small blind to 120,000. Jon Seaman called in the big blind, then called another 120,000 on a highly coordinated flop, . Both players checked the turn. When the hit the river, Johnson fired another quarter million into the pot. Seaman didn't look happy, but called. He was even less happy to see Johnson's , a pair of aces. He mucked and dropped to 500,000.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:31 PM Local Time
Chris Johnson has gotten the best of Brian England several times today. It may be starting to get under England's skin. England opened to 90,000 pre-flop from the small blind and Johnson called. Both players checked a king-high flop, . England tried a bet of 80,000 on the turn; Johnson called. Down the river , England bet 140,000. Johnson eyed the 140,000, then announced a raise and started cutting out chips. Before he could even complete the raise, England flipped his cards into the muck.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:25 PM Local Time
Chris Johnson | 6,000,000 | 1,600,000 |
Brian England | 2,500,000 | -600,000 |
Jon Seaman | 1,500,000 | 1,300,000 |
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:25 PM Local Time
Big stacks Brian England and Chris Johnson have little choice but to go after each other now that play is three-handed. England raised his last button to 70,000, then called Johnson's small blind three-bet to 225,000. Johnson fired 250,000 on a flop of and 500,000 on the turn. England wasted little time calling both bets. On the river, Johnson tank-checked. England quickly checked behind and was none-too-thrilled to see Johnson's , a nine-high straight.
"Nice hand," said England after mucking.
"Thank you," Johnson replied. "Good check."
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:20 PM Local Time
With the elimination of John Kulish in fourth place, Adam Hui has officially won the Casino Champion title and earned his way into the $1,000,000 National Championship freeroll. We'll see him at the end of May.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:17 PM Local Time
On the first hand after being crippled, John Kulish put his last 100,000 into the pot. Big stacks Chris Johnson and Brian England were both in there to take him on. They checked all the way down to the river, . When the river card fell, Kulish said, "Uh oh." Uh oh indeed. England bet 100,000 and folded Johnson. He then opened , a rivered Broadway straight. Kulish showed , a pair of aces, stood up and shook everyone's hand. He finished in 4th place, good for $51,418.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:17 PM Local Time
From the button, Jon Seaman raised to 90,000. John Kulish reraised all in from the small blind for 925,000 and Seaman made the call.
Seaman:
Kulish:
The flop came down and paired both players, but kept Kulish in the lead. "This is the biggest sweat of my life!" yelled out Adam Hui from the rail as he knew he needed Kulish to bust before second place in order for him to claim the Casino Champion honors. He then called for a nine on the turn.
The dealer smacked the on the turn and gave Hui what he wanted. The river then completed the board with the . Seaman won the hand and at the final count, had less chips than Kulish. Kulish had 925,000 and Seaman 820,000, leaving Kulish with just 105,000.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:06 PM Local Time
Give credit to Brian England for trying. He did everything he could to shake Chris Johnson off his hand. On a flop of , England checked and allowed Johnson to make a continuation-bet of 105,000. England then check-raised to 280,000. Johnson called to the turn, where he called a bet of another 350,000 from England. The river fell . England cut out 550,000 and slid the chips across the betting line. Johnson thought for around a minute before calling.
"You win," said England as he opened a stone bluff, . "Nice call."
Johnson showed down a pair of kings, , and dragged a pot worth about 2.5 million.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:00 PM Local Time
From the button, Chris Johnson raised to 85,000. Jon Seaman was in the small blind and three-bet to 215,000. Johnson studied for a minute ands then moved all in. Seaman had about an even million behind and gave it up.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 12:54 PM Local Time
Action passed to Brian England's small blind. He looked at his cards, looked at Adam Hui's short stack, and then moved all in. Hui opted to call with ; he was a favorite over England's .
"I got it in good!" said Hui with a laugh. "No chop, one time," he added, acknowledging the high likelihood of a chop given the players' small kickers.
Hui should have been more specific about what he was looking for. The hand didn't chop; England flopped a four and held on through the river, . Tens and fours gave England the winner and sent Hui to the rail.
Hui still has a sweat though; he can finish as Casino Champion for WSOP-C Las Vegas, and qualify for the $1,000,000 National Freeroll, as long as John Kulish finishes in any position EXCEPT second. If Kulish wins, he'll qualify for the Freeroll as the Main Event champion and Hui will qualify as Casino Champion. If Kulish finishes in 3rd or 4th, he will not be able to overtake Hui on points for Casino Champion. If Kulish finishes in 2nd, however, he'll earn enough points to qualify as Casino Champion himself and Hui will not qualify.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 12:44 PM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 20000/40000
Ante: 5000
Saturday, April 30, 2011 12:38 PM Local Time
Brian England | 3,825,000 | 425,000 |
Chris Johnson | 2,950,000 | -750,000 |
Jon Seaman | 1,543,000 | 193,000 |
John Kulish | 825,000 | -50,000 |
Adam Hui | 513,000 | -87,000 |
Saturday, April 30, 2011 12:31 PM Local Time
With the end of the level, the remaining five players have agreed to a five-minute break.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 12:24 PM Local Time
James Martini opened pre-flop to 75,000. Action passed to Brian England in the blinds who announced that he was all in. Martini didn't have many chips behind -- only about 600,000. After a minute of thought he went for the double-up and called with . England showed and once again the race was on.
"Jack of hearts," called one of England's railbirds. Sure enough, right in the window -- . The turn and river sent Martini off to the rail.
John Kulish turned around in his seat to address England's railbird. "Hey get over here, man! I've got to hire you. I wish you were my buddy instead of his."
Adam Hui wanted to compete for the railbird's services also. "Can you call cards for me?"
Martini's 6th-place finish is worth $29,498.