Event #35: $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship (256 player max)

Jason Somerville opened to 75,000 on the button only to have Ayaz Mahmood three-bet to 275,000 from the big blind.

Somerville went deep into the tank for nearly two minutes before raising to 600,000 total. Mahmood quickly moved all in and Somerville made the call for his last 1,550,000.

Mahmood:   

Somerville:   

As Somerville's friends rushed the stage, the dealer spread the     to put Mahmood out in front.

The   on the turn changed little, and after the   landed on the river, Somerville exited the tournament in equal third place for a $214,289 payday as Mahmood progresses through to the final two.

Jason Somerville just got a walk, and with a wide grin showed one card to Ayaz Mahmood before folding.

"Look at that smile!" yelled a Somerville supporter from the bleachers. Somerville explained the reason for the smile.

"Every time I get a walk I have an ace," he explained. "100 percent!"

Mahmood's good timing in that regard has helped him keep the chip lead for the last good while. He sits with 2.32 million to Somerville's 1.54 million.

Jason Somerville limped from the button, and Ayaz Mahmood raised to 80,000. Somerville made the call.

The flop came    . Mahmood bet 80,000 once again, and Somerville took his time making the call. The turn was the  , and Mahmood very quickly gathered chips and set out a bet of 175,000.

Again, Somerville took his time before responding. He took a quick look out from beneath the brim of his dark gray Nike cap, then looked down at the table for two minutes while riffling chips. Finally, looking at Mahmood once again, he made the call.

The river was the  , putting a couple of pairs on the board. This time Mahmood immediately checked. Somerville went through a similar routine as on the previous street, then set out a bet of 300,000. Mahmood quickly let it go.

Somerville now has 1.68 million, but is still behind Mahmood's 2.16 million.

Neither Ayaz Mahmood nor Jason Somerville seem in any huge hurry to get their chips in the middle, so it may be a while before this one is decided.

In between folding hands and conceding small pots, the pair has begun a conversation about their respective paths to the semifinals. Somerville noted how he'd won one of his matches -- his fourth-round match versus Julian Herold -- in just one hand. ([URL="http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2010-wsop/event-35/day2/post.151623.htm"]Here's that one[/URL] from yesterday.)

"It was nice to have the break," said Somerville, referring to his subsequent wait to play the fifth round. The winner of this match will receive a brief respite before the finals tonight, but nothing like the rest Ernst Schmejkal is getting as he waits for an opponent.

Both Jason Somerville and Ayaz Mahmood are taking a quick 5-minute break.

Jason Somerville entered the pot on the button with a raise to 40,000 only to have Ayaz Mahmood three-bet to 240,000.

Somerville took his time before folding his hand to see the pot pushed to Mahmood.

Ayaz Mahmood raised to 60,000 from the button, and Jason Somerville called.

The flop came    , and both checked. The turn was the  . Somerville bet 50,000, and Mahmood checked his cards before making the call.

The river was the  . This time Somerville checked, Mahmood quickly tossed out 100,000, and Somerville got out.

Somerville has about 1.74 million at present, and Mahmood 2.1 million.

Jason Somerville raised to 40,000 from the button, and Ayaz Mahmood called. The flop came    . Mahmood checked, Somerville bet 55,000, and Mahmood made the call.

The turn then brought the  . Mahmood checked again, and Somerville pushed out 135,000. Mahmood sat back in his chair for a moment, then leaned forward to tell the dealer he was raising. After setting out the 135,000, he added another 460,000, and the action was back on Somerville.

Somerville thought for about a minute, then let it go. He slips to 1.54 million, while Mahmood takes the advantage with 2.3 million.

Well, that was a stark contrast to Ernst Schmejkal's last match with Vanessa Rousso which took nearly four hours, as his semifinal contest with Alexander Kostritsyn has ended within just 30 minutes.

In the final hand, Kostritsyn opened with a raise to 40,000, Schmejkal reraised to 116,000 total, and Kostritsyn called. The flop came    . Schmejkal bet 80,000, and Kostritsyn made the call.

The turn was the  . This time Schmejkal checked, and Kostritsyn pushed out a bet of 210,000. Schmejkal then check-raised to 450,000 total, sending Kostritsyn into the tank. After a couple of minutes the Russian made a decision -- he was reraising to 750,000 total, leaving himself just 450,000 behind.

Schmejkal didn't waste much time reraising all in, and Kostritsyn called. Kostritsyn shook his head with a look of disappointment as he saw the cards being tabled.

Kostritsyn   

Schmejkal   

The river was the  , making Schmejkal's hand a full house, and Kostritsyn is out. Schmejkal moves onto the finals!

Ayaz Mahmood entered the pot with a raise on the button to 35,000 with Jason Somerville making the call.

Somerville check-called a 60,000-chip continuation bet on the     flop before both players checked the   on the turn.

When the river landed the   Somerville fired out a 125,000-chip to prompt a fold from Mahmood.

As Mahmood slips to 1,750,000, Somerville climbs to 2,090,000 in chips.