Event #56: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.