Event #70: $3,000 Limit Hold'em 6-Handed

After six hours of play, Yaser Al-Keliddar has taken down Event #70: $3,000 Limit Hold'em 6-Handed, here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. The US player walked away the proud owner of his first bracelet and is $154,338 better off after beating a 221-strong field.

Al-Keliddar started the day as joint chip leader with Juha Helppi and the pair had three-times more chips than their nearest rival when they sat down to play in the Amazon room earlier. It was little surprise that the eight remaining players were quickly picked off one by one throughout the day.

Official Final Table Results

It began with an eighth-place finish for Joao Vieira who cashed for $14,871 after getting the last of his chips in with queen high versus Mike Schneider's king high. This took the final seven to the unofficial final table and, about an hour later, Won Lee was the next to hit the rail. He got it in good on an ace-high board with ace-queen against Justin Thurlow's ace-three, which also had an open-ended straight draw. Lee didn't manage to dodge, as a three came on the river and he finished in seventh place for $14,871.

With the official final table reached, the next to fall was Barry Greenstein. Greenstein had less than five big blinds when he ran pocket sixes into Al-Keliddar's pocket kings. He finished in sixth place for $20,358. Mike Schneider wasn't far behind him and got the last of his chips in from the button with jack-nine against Helppi's ace-eight suited. He couldn't find any help and left in fifth place for $28,708.

After making it to the top four, it took another two hours to lose another player. This time it was Andrew Yip who won $41,665 for his fourth-place finish. Just as with most of the other players before him, he was very short and got it in with king-nine against Justin Thurlow's ace-king. With no nine on the board, he made his way to the payouts desk.

Justin Thurlow couldn't make it beyond third place and will take home $62,187 for his efforts. He opened the button with pocket deuces and both his opponents called. He had less than a full-size bet left and got it in ahead of Helppi's ace-eight but didn't manage to hold all the way to the river, which left Al-Keliddar and Helppi heads up.

Al-Keliddar was the two-to-one favorite as the pair began their battle for the crown, and over the course of 45 minutes, his stack went up and down until the last hand, where Al-Keliddar's raise committed him to his all-in. It was ten-four against Al-Keliddar's pocket fours, and with the runout favoring the preflop favorite, the Finn narrowly missed out on the top prize, having to settle for second place and $95,380 in prize money.

That left Al-Keliddar the last man standing. Speaking in an interview afterward, he explained what it meant to him to win the event.

"I'm relieved because I was tied for the chip lead heading into the day, so to have blown it would have been rough. I had a lot of friends from back home who were really supportive, cheering me on, and that helped a lot. I didn't want to let anyone down. Apparently, my home casino back in the D.C. area is excited for me, which is great. First bracelet. I wasn't gonna play this thing until an hour and a half before."

Born in England, Al-Keliddar moved to Washington, D.C. at two years old. He is a self-described "business guy" with "some rental properties" who plays a lot of poker, has been to law school and even had a spell as a stand-up comedian.

The comedy is something that Al-Keliddar thinks adds to his game: "I like to have a lot of fun at the table and joke around, especially if my chip stack is doing well. I just like to have fun at the table I think it's important to stay loose. If you make your opponents laugh, that's good. It helps you get people to play with you over and over again."

After spending six weeks in Vegas, Al-Keliddar hopes to take some time off. A huge congratulations go to the newest WSOP bracelet winner, here's hoping he enjoys some well-deserved time off.

Pokernews will provide live coverage of every event here at the WSOP this summer.

Hand #180: Juha Helppi raised in the small blind and Yaser Al-Keliddar in the big blind called.

A flop reading     was dealt. Al-Keliddar bet. Helppi called. The turn brought the  . Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar check-called. The   river completed the board. Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar raised and Helppi folded.

Hand #181: Al-Kellidar folded his small blind.

Hand #182: Helppi raised in the small blind. Al-Keliddar called. The flop came    . Al-Keliddar bet and Helppi folded.

Hand #183: Al-Keliddar raised in the small blind. Helppi folded.

Hand #184: Helppi raised in the small blind. Al-Keliddar called. The flop was    . Al-Keliddar bet and Helppi called. The turn was the   and was checked around. The   river completed the board. Both players checked. Al-Keliddar took down the pot with   .

Hand #185: Al-Keliddar raised. Helppi folded.

Hand #186: Helppi raised in the small blind and Al-Keliddar called.

The flop came    . Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar called. The turn brought the  . Al-Keliddar bet. Helppi raised. Al-Keliddar three-bet. Helppi called. The   river filled up the board and was checked around. Al-Keliddar showed    for a flush to win the pot.

Hand #187: Helppi got a walk.

Hand #188: Helppi raised from the small blind. Al-Keliddar folded.

Hand #189: Al-Keliddar raised from the small blind and Helppi folded.

Hand #190: Al-Keliddar got a walk.

Hand #191: Helppi got a walk

Hand #192: Helppi raised from the small blind. Al-Keliddar called. The flop was    . Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar folded.

Hand #193: Helppi got a walk.

Hand #194: Helppi limped in the small blind. Al-Keliddar raised. Helppi called.

A flop reading     was dealt. Al-Keliddar bet. Helppi called. The turn brought the  . Al-Keliddar bet again. Helppi called. The   river filled up the board. Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bt. Al-Keliddar called and showed    to win the pot.

Hand #195: Al-Keliddar raised in the small blind. Helppi called for his last chips.

Juha Helppi:   
Yaser Al-Keliddar:   

The baord ran       and Helppi doubled up.

Hand #196: Al-Keliddar got a walk.

Hand #163: Justin Thurlow raised on the button. Yaser Al-Keliddar and Juha Helppi in the blinds called.

A flop reading     was dealt. Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Thurlow called with the last of his last chips. Al-Keliddar folded.

Juha Helppi:   
Justin Thurlow:   

The   turn and   river filled up the board for Helppi to win the pot, eliminating Thurlow in third place for $62,187.

Yaser Al-Keliddar	2,300,000	570,000
Juha Helppi	1,015,000	315,000
Justin Thurlow	0	-450,000

Hand #142: Juha Helppi got a walk.

Hand #143: Justin Thurlow got a walk.

Hand #144: Yaser Al-Keliddar got a walk.

Hand #145: Thurlow opened button and Al-Keliddar called in the small blind. On the     flop, Al-Keliddar led and Thurlow called. The turn and river were both checked and each player turned over ace-six for a chop.

Hand #146: Al-Keliddar opened the button and Thurlow called in the big blind. Thurlow then check-folded the flop.

Hand #147: Thurlow made up the small blind and Al-Keliddar checked his option. It was an     flop and both players checked. The   turn saw Thurlow bet 80,000 and Al-Keliddar came along. The   river went check-bet-fold and Al-Keliddar took it down.

Hand #148: Thurlow opened button and took it down.

Hand #149: Helppi raised in the small blind and Thurlow three-bet. The flop came     and the players ended up four-betting to the tune of Helppi's all-in. Helppi had    versus Thurlow's pocket    with one card to come. It was a   on the river and Helppi got a double.

Hand #150: Helppi opened the button and everyone folded.

Hand #151: Al-Keliddar called in the small blind and Helppi checked. It fell     on the flop and Al-Keliddar check-folded.

Hand #152: Thurlow got a walk.

Juha Helppi	700,000	330,000
Justin Thurlow	450,000	-470,000

Hand #124: Juha Helppi opened the button and Justin Thurlow three-bet the small blind. It was a     flop and Thurlow continued and Helppi called. The   on the turn saw a check from Thurlow and a bet from Helppi, which was called. The   river saw Thurlow lead and Helppi pass.

Hand #125: Yasser Al-Kellidar raised and took it down.

Hand #126: Helppi opened the small blind and won the pot.

Hand #127: Thurlow opened in the small blind and Al-Kellidar defended. It came     on the flop and both players checked. On the   turn, Thurlow bet and Al-Keliddar called. On the   river, Thurlow check-called Al Kellidar's bet but mucked when Al-Keliddar tabled    for the straight.

Hand #128: Al-Keliddar opened his button and Thurlow called the big blind. The     flop and   turn went check-check. Thurlow checked the   river and folded to Al-Keliddar's bet.

Hand #129: Thurlow raised blind on blind and Al-Kaliddar called. Thurlow continued on the     flop and took it down.

Hand #130: Al-Keliddar raised blind on blind and Helppi called. Al-Keliddar continued on the     flop and Helppi came along. It was a   turn and and it went check-bet-call this time. The   completed the board and Al-Keliddar check-folded.

Hand #119: Yaser Al-Keliddar raised in the small blind. Juha Helppi called from the big blind.

The flop was    . Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar check-raised and Helppi folded.

Hand #120: Al-Keliddar raised on the button. Helppi, in the small blind, three-bet. Al-Keliddar called.

A flop reading     was dealt. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar raised. Helppi three-bet. His opponent called. The turn brought the  . Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar called. The   river filled up the board. Helppi checked. Al-Keliddar bet. Helppi called. Al-Keliddar showed    for two pair to win the pot.

Hand #121: Helppi raised on the button. Al-Keliddar, in the big blind, called.

The flop came    . Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. His opponent folded.

Hand #122: Al-Keliddar raised in the small blind. He got no action.

Hand #123:Al-Keliddar raised on the button. Justin Thurlow, in the big blind, called. On a flop of    , Thurlow checked. Al-Keliddar bet. Thurlow called. The   turn was checked around to the   river. Thurlow bet. Al-Keliddar gave up his hand.

Yaser Al-Keliddar	1,730,000	750,000
Justin Thurlow	920,000	50,000
Juha Helppi	665,000	-75,000

Hand #108: Juha Helppi limped from the small blind. Justin Thurlow, in the big blind, checked. On a flop of    . Helppi bet and won the pot.

Hand #109: Helppi raised on the button. Andrew Yip, in the big blind called.

A flop reading     was dealt. Yip checked. Helppi bet. Yip check-raised. Helppi called. The turn brought the  . Yip bet. Helppi raised. Yip folded.

Hand #110: Yaser Al-Keliddar got a walk.

Hand #111: Yip raised on the button. Helppi called from the big blind.

The flop came    . Helppi checked. Yip bet. Helppi check-raised. Yip called. The turn was the  . Helppi bet and Yip called. The   river completed the board. Helppi bet. Yip gave up his hand.

Hand #112: Helppi limped in the small blind. Thurlow, in the big blind, checked. The flop was    . Helppi bet. Thurlow raised. Helppi called. The   turn was checked around to the   river. Again, both players opted to check. Helppi showed    and Thurlow revealed    for a chopped pot.

Hand #113: Al-Kelidda raised on the cutoff. Yip called from the big blind.

The flop came     was checked through to the   turn. Yip bet. Al-Keliddar raised. Yip tank-called. The turn brought the  . Yip checked. Al-Keliddar bet. Yip raised. Al-Keliddar called and showed    to win the pot with a set.

Hand #114: Helppi raised on the cutoff. Yip, in the small blind, called for less, putting his last chips at risk. Al-Keliddar, in the big blind, called as well.

The flop of     was checked around to the   turn. Al-Keliddar bet. Helppi tank-folded.

Yaser Al-Keliddar:   
Andrew Yip:   

The   river completed the board for Yip to triple up.

Hand #115: Thurlow raised under the gun. Helppi called from the big blind.

The flop was    . Thurlow bet and won the pot.

Hand #116: Yip raised under the gun. He got no action.

Hand #117: Thurlow raised from the small blind. Yip folded in the big blind.

Andrew Yip

120,000

-530,000

Hand #88: Andrew Yip raised under the gun. Justin Thurlow in the big blind called.

The flop came    . Thurlow checked. Yip bet. Thurlow raised. Yip called. The turn was the  . Thurlow bet. Yip called. The   river completed the board. Thurlow checked. Yip bet. Thurlow gave up his hand.

Hand #89: Thurlow limped from the small blind. Yip checked in the big blind. The flop came     and was checked around to the   turn. Thurlow bet. Yip folded.

Hand #90: Yip raised from the small blind. Yaser Al-Keliddar, in the big blind, called.

A flop reading     was dealt. Yip bet. Al-Keliddar folded.

Hand #91: Al-Keliddar raised from the small blind. Helppi called from the big blind. The flop was    . Al-Keliddar bet. Helppi called. The turn came the  . Al-Keliddar checked. Helppi bet. Al-Keliddar gave up his hand.

Hand #92: Helppi limped from the small blind. Thurlow checked. On a flop of    , Helppi bet and Thurlow folded.

Hand #93: Al-Keliddar raised on the cutoff. Yip called from the big blind.

The dealer spread a flop of     that was checked around to the   turn. Yip checked. Al-Keliddar bet. Yip called. The river came the  . Yip checked again. Al-Keliddar bet. Yip check-raised and got called. Yip tabled    for a flush to win the pot.

Hand #94: Thurlow raised on the button. Al-Keliddar, in the big blind, called.

A flop of     was dealt. Al-Keliddar checked. Thurlow bet and took down the pot.

Hand #95: Helppi got a walk.

Hand #96: Al-Keliddar raised from the button. Thurlow called from the big blind.

A flop reading     was dealt and checked through to the   turn. Thurlow checked. Al-Keliddar bet. Thurlow gave up his hand.

Hand #97: Helppi raised on the button. Thurlow, in the small blind, three-bet. Action folded back to Helppi who called.

The flop came    . Thurlow bet. Helppi called. The turn brought the  . Thurlow checked. Helppi bet. Thurlow check-called. The river came the  . Thurlow checked. Helppi bet again and Thurlow called. Helppi showed    to rake in the pot.

Hand #98: Thurlow raised on the button. Al-Keliddar called from the big blind.

On a flop of    , Yaser check-called a bet from Thurlow. The turn brought the   and was checked through to the   river. Al-Keliddar checked again. Thurlow bet. Al-Keliddar called. Thurlow showed    and it is Al-Keliddar who won the pot after tabling   /

Andrew Yip

650,000

-150,000