Monday, July 5, 2010 11:33 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda played very solid throughout the day, but the road became very rocky once play was three-handed. Berda was one the shorter stacks at the time and after coming back from a break even he admitted his struggles.
"I am playing really bad," he told one of our reporters. "You can write that."
It all turned around from there. Berda eliminated our third place finisher Bryan Porter, and was headstrong entering heads up play with Vladimir Kochelaevskiy. The two passed the chip lead back and forth until Berda was fortunate enough to bink a giant double up right before our last break.
A few hands later, Berda finally eliminated Kochelaevskiy and his father greeted him with a giant bear hug.
Nothing can be taken from Kochelaevskiy however, the Russian proved today that he is a deadly No-Limit Hold'em player. His patience and timely aggression helped him amass a giant chip lead, but it just wasn't in the cards for him in the end.
This event, like many at the WSOP, attracted some of the best players in the world. Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu and Ivan Demidov are just a few of the 1,941 players who flooded the Pavilion Room three days ago with dreams of WSOP gold. The event took longer than expected, and a fourth day was added to the schedule for the final table.
Earlier today, nine players returned to fight for the bracelet. Alfonso Amendola was the first to go, and after falling very short Joseph Curcio followed him out the door. Ali Alawadhi missed a flush draw eliminating him in 7th place, Hungcheng Hung fell in 6th and although he began the day as our shortstack, Mike Wattel battled all the way to 5th place.
Salvatore Bonavena was eliminated on the very same hand as Wattel. Despite entering the day as a massive chip leader, Bonavena hit a rough patch and stalled in fourth place. Porter was the next to go and of course Berda bested Kochelaevskiy in their heads up match.
Congratulations to Tomer Berda for winning the 56th and final preliminary bracelet of the 2010 World Series of Poker!
Monday, July 5, 2010 11:20 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy pushed all in from the button and Tomer Berda made the call.
Berda:
Kochelaevskiy:
The flop was bad news for Kochelaevskiy. He hit his six but still needed to improve. The on the turn changed nothing and Kochelaevskiy was down to his last cards. The came on the river and it was over. Kochelaevskiy slowly rose, shook Berda's hand and congratulated the champion. Kochelaevskiy was eliminated in second place and will take home $510,939.
Monday, July 5, 2010 11:14 PM Local Time
Vitaly Lunkin has made his way to the rail to cheer on his fellow countryman, Vladimir Kochelaevskiy, and yes, Lunkin is sporting his stylish fanny pack.
Monday, July 5, 2010 11:04 PM Local Time
The players are now on a 20-minute break. Here's how the stacks look:
Tomer Berda - 10,950,000
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy - 3,600,000
Monday, July 5, 2010 11:03 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda started the hand with the button and raised to 450,000. Vladimir Kochelaevskiy re-raised to 1,730,000, Berda four-bet to 3,500,000 and Kochelaevskiy five-bet shoved. Berda called.
Berda:
Kochelaevskiy:
Spectators rushed to the rail to catch a glimpse of the flop; .
Kochelaevskiy's Russian contingency began to celebrate as the dealer burned and turned the .
"Queen!!!" someone from the rail yelled.
A seven would suffice as well, but the dealer obliged and spiked the on the river giving Berda the winning straight.
Berda stood from his chair and led out a loud yell in disbelief. He had just caught runner-runner straight cards to miraculously double to 11,950,000 chips.
Kochelaevskiy is now dangerously low with just 2,600,000 in his stack.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:54 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy opened to 450,000 with the button and Tomer Berda called.
The flop brought three aces, , and both players checked. The turn was the and Kochelaevskiy checked to Berda who bet 250,000. Kochelaevskiy called. The river brought the and Kochelaevskiy checked again. Berda bet 500,000 and Kochelaevskiy called.
Berda opened for a complete air-ball and Kochelaevskiy tabled for a full house.
Kochelaevskiy took a slight chip lead with the victory.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:49 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy opened to 450,000 with the button and Tomer Berda defended his big blind.
Both players checked the flop and Berda again checked after the turned. Kochelaevskiy opted to bet 765,000 and Berda folded.
Kochelaevskiy is storming back and now has 7,200,000 chips. Berda slipped to 7,500,000.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:33 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda raised to 450,000 from the button and Vladimir Kochelaevskiy made it 965,000 more to go. Berda made the call and the flop came . Kochelaevskiy bet 1.71 million and Berda moved all in. Kochelaevskiy snap folded and gave up on the hand.
Berda is back on top with 8.9 million to Kochelaevskiy's 5.775 million.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:28 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy was on the button and limped. Tomer Berda raised 400,000 more and Kochelaevskiy made the call. The flop came and Berda bet 600,000. Once again, Kochelaevskiy called.
Berda then bet 1 million when the came on the river, which caused Kochelaevskiy to fold. Berda is up to 5.9 million while Kochelaevskiy is at 8.8 million.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:23 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda was on the button and raised to 450,000. Vladimir Kochelaevskiy popped it to 1.415 million and Berda made the call to see the flop. Kochelaevskiy bet 1.51 million and Berda instantly called.
When the hit the turn, Kochelaevskiy moved all in and Tomer went into the tank for a long time. Eventually he opted to fold and left himself with 4.4 million. Meanwhile, Kochelaevskiy has taken back the chip lead and is over 10 million.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:17 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy raised to 425,000 only to have Tomer Berda reraise to 1.5 million. Kochelaevskiy moved all in and Berda called.
Berda:
Kochelaevskiy:
The board ran out and Kochelaevskiy doubled to 6.9 million while Berda dropped to 7.7 million.
Monday, July 5, 2010 10:13 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy limped from the small blind and Tomer Berda checked his option from the big. The flop came and Berda checked. Kochelaevskiy bet 325,000 and Berda called. When the came on the turn, Berda checked and Kochelaevskiy bet 510,000.
Berda called and then checked in the dark as the hit the river. Kochelaevskiy checked behind and mucked when Berda showed . Kochelaevskiy dropped to 3 million after the hand.
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:59 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy started the hand with the button and raised to 365,000. Tomer Berda promptly re-raised to 1,160,000 and Kochelaevskiy called.
The flop was all diamonds; . Berda built two massive towers of green T25,000 chips and slid them forward to bet 2,000,000. Kochelaevskiy announced all in and Berda quickly called.
Kochelaevskiy:
Berda:
Berda needed a diamond, ace or jack to take the lead. The came on the turn which was an interesting card. It didn't change much persay, but it did give Berda a wheel draw.
The on the river completed said draw.
"Yessssss!!!!!!!" Kochelaevskiy's rail shouted from the rail, not realizing Berda had made a straight.
After a moment for clarification and chip verification, Merda was shipped a wave up chips making him our new chip leader:
Merda - 10,800,000
Kochelaevskiy - 3,800,000
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:48 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda raised to 350,000 from the button and Vladimir Kochelaevskiy reraised to 1.015. Berda then came over the top to 2.5 million, leaving only 2.1 behind. Kochelaevskiy didn't take long to muck.
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:40 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy raised to 365,000 from the button and Tomer Berda moved all in. Kochelaevskiy made the call and they turned over their cards:
Kochelaevskiy:
Berda:
Kochelaevskiy was looking to hit an ace and couldn't do so on the flop. The was no help and all Berda needed to do was avoid an ace or four on the river. The dealer burned and put up the .
Berda doubled to 4.54 million while Kochelaevskiy sits with around 10 million.
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:29 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda raised to 350,000 from the button only to have Vladimir Kochelaevskiy reraise to 1.02 million. Berda made the call and the two saw a flop of .
Both players checked, as they did when the came on the turn. When the hit the river, Kochelaevskiy gathered chips and pushed forth a bet of 1.435 million. Berda quickly called but mucked when he saw Kochelaevskiy's .
"Nice hand," was all Berda could say as he dropped to 2.4 million; meanwhile, Kochelaevskiy is up to 12.2 million.
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:24 PM Local Time
Tomer Berda raised to 350,000 with the button and Vladimir Kochelaevskiy defended his big blind.
The flop fell and Kochelaevskiy led for 410,000. Berda called.
The turn brought the and Kochelaevskiy slowed down, checking to Berda. Berda took the opportunity to bet 700,000 and Kochelaevskiy released.
Berda chipped up to 5,200,000 chips while Kochelaevskiy slipped to 9,400,000.
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:17 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy limped from the small blind and Tomer Berda checked his option in the big. The flop came and Berda checked. Kochelaevskiy bet 180,000 and received a call.
Both players checked the on the turn and Berda checked the on the river. Kochelaevskiy bet 610,000 and Berda mucked. Berda dropped to 4 million after the hand.
Monday, July 5, 2010 9:08 PM Local Time
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy had the button and raised to 335,000. Tomer Berda called.
Both players checked the flop, but after the turned Berda led for 300,000. Kochelaevskiy called.
Both players again checked after the rivered and Berda opened . It was no good against the of Kochelaevskiy however, and he was shipped the pot.
Monday, July 5, 2010 8:57 PM Local Time
But first the players need a quick pee-break. Here are the counts in the meanwhile:
Vladimir Kochelaevskiy - 9,800,000
Tomer Berda - 4,800,000