Friday, June 3, 2011 8:04 PM Local Time
The British fans have had to endure about four separate lectures about their conduct over the last hour or so. Following the semifinal match, the railbirds left a wake of spilled beer, empty cans, and turned-over chairs behind them. It really was quite a mess. It took four staff members at least a half hour to clean up the rubble, and the production crew has made it clear they're having none of it this time around.
There's still plenty of beer being passed around, but the masses are a bit more subdued right now after a few stern talkings-to. We'll have to see how long that pacifism lasts once the cards go flying.
Friday, June 3, 2011 7:47 PM Local Time
As we might have guessed, we've been rolled back just a bit on the start of our Heads-Up final. The dealer is in the box, the deck is checked, and there are 4.8 million chips on each side of the table.
We just need a couple players and we can get rolling.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:52 PM Local Time
After Cody limped in for 30,000 on the button, Gus Hansen raised to 98,000 and Cody shoved all-in, moving in for the kill on his short-stacked opponent. Hansen talked to himself while he deliberated, saying "I don't know how I can keep folding" as he went to his water bottle for relief.
Hansen went even deeper in the tank, wincing and counting out stacks of chips as the British-laden audience began heckling him with drunken, soccer-style song.
Eventually the Great Dane announced that he was calling and flipped up the , while Cody revealed the . The players went to the flop with a chop all but certain.
The flop came and a split pot appeared all but inevitable.
When the turn card came the loudest cheer of this year's WSOP erupted, as Cody caught the perfect card and vaulted into the lead. Hansen was down to his last card and needed to catch any heart for a chop, or a seven for the win.
River:
And with that, Jake Cody completed a dominant performance in which he needed only 800,000 chips to capture the entire 2.4 million stack of the Gus Hansen.
The British phenom will look to win his first WSOP bracelet in tonight's Final Round, where he will square off against Yevgeniy Timoshenko in a heads-up duel for the title. Check in with PokerNews.com at 8:30pm for updates throughout the Finals of the $25k Heads-Up Championship.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:33 PM Local Time
Gus Hansen opened to 66,000 from the button, and Jake Cody made a standard three-bet this time. He slid out 168,000 total, but the result was the same. Hansen folded without incident, and Cody continues to press here, knocking Hansen down below 800,000.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:31 PM Local Time
After Hansen raised to 66,000 on his button, Cody made the call and the dealer flopped . Both players checked and the turn came . The Great Dane fired 66,000 at the British phenom, who mucked his hand. Hansen collected a decent pot but is still on life support with only 854,000 chips at his disposal.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:26 PM Local Time
Jake Cody has won 92% of the pots at showdown. Wow.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:24 PM Local Time
Gus Hansen has found the raise button again. He made it 56,000 to go before the flop, and Cody three-bet shoved on him. Hansen made the call for all 316,000 of his remaining chips, and the cards were on their backs.
Showdown
Hansen:
Cody:
The dealer spread out a flop, and Cody's rail erupted in celebration as he pulled into a big lead with two to come. The turn drew another loud cheer, and the roof exploded following the blank . That's another bullet gone for Hansen, and he has just one left. The floor man stacked out his final 800,000 in front of him, and it's going to be an uphill battle now as Cody sits atop the mountain with 4 million chips.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:23 PM Local Time
Trying to rebound from the dispiriting chop on the last hand, Hansen raised for the first time holding the button, making it 56,000 to go. Cody would not oblige, however, and shoved enough chips into the middle to force Hansen all-in.
The power play worked and Hansen mucked his hand, causing the British-heavy audience to shout and scream in support of Cody.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:19 PM Local Time
Jake Cody raised to 48,000 holding the button and Gus Hansen three-bet the action to 112,000. Cody shoved his chips in the middle and Hansen amde the call, showing . His hand was dominating the of Cody and the two settled in as the dealer decided their fates.
A flop of brought no help to Cody and he needed to spike a Queen to take the lead.
The on the turn was a good card for the Brit, as he could now chop the pot with a Jack or a Nine on the river.
The dealer delivered a on the river and Hansen was denied his double-up as the pot was chopped.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:13 PM Local Time
Jake Cody opened the pot with a raise to 52,000, and Gus Hansen sat fiddling with chips for about 30 seconds before sliding out a reraise to 132,000. It didn't work. Cody grabbed a tall tower of green chips and slid them across the line, well enough to cover Hansen. The fold came quickly, and Hansen is down to just half of his second bullet with just 1.2 million chips left in total.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:07 PM Local Time
Hansen has yet to raise on his button during this match and he stayed consistent in this hand. The flop came . A check by Cody prompted the Great Dane to fire a bet of 20,000 but the Brit raised to 62,000 and Hansen quickly threw his hand into the muck.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:04 PM Local Time
Gus Hansen limped in from the button, and Jake Cody took a free flop. It came . Cody checked, and Hansen flicked out 20,000. Cody studied for a bit, then bumped it up to 59,000 on a check-raise. Hansen folded instantly.
"It's not lookin' pretty," Hansen said after the hand, repeating himself once more as he trailed off to silence.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:03 PM Local Time
The Great Dane limped in on the button for 20,000 and Cody came along to see a flop of . The Brit checked/called a bet of 20,000 by Hansen and the turn fell .
After another check by Cody, Hansen fired 62,000 at his young opponent and Cody called once more. The river fell and both players checked. Cody tabled the and scooped the pot with two pair, eliciting yet another raucous cheer from the Brits in attendance.
Friday, June 3, 2011 6:02 PM Local Time
Jake Cody opened to 45,000, and Gus Hansen three-bet to 115,000. Cody shoved in over the top, and Hansen quickly folded.
Much to the delight of the Cody-heavy crowd.
Friday, June 3, 2011 5:56 PM Local Time
On a flop, Jake Cody check-called a bet of 20,000 from Hansen.
The turn came the to put trips on board, and Cody knocked the table again. Hansen checked it back, and the river came the . Cody's fans are still chanting in full throat, by the way, for the duration of this hand. Both men checked the river, and both men showed an ace to chop the pot.
Friday, June 3, 2011 5:56 PM Local Time
Another limp-in by Hansen and another check of the option by Cody brought a flop of to the table. Hansen led out for 20,000 and Cody made the call.
The turn card came and both players checked the action, bringing the on the river.
After another check by Hansen, the Brit bet 30,000 and was called by Hansen, who mucked his cards upon seeing the held by Cody.
Cody's supporters broke out into a rowdy chant after the hand, singing in support of their countryman.
Friday, June 3, 2011 5:52 PM Local Time
Gus Hansen continued his strategy of limping on the button and Cody knocked the table, bringing a flop of . Cody checked and Hansen fired 20,000 into the middle, which Cody called.
The turn card was the and Cody checked once more, prompting a bet of 66,000 from the Great Dane. The pressure moved Cody off of his hand and Hansen dragged a few more chips in his direction.
Friday, June 3, 2011 5:46 PM Local Time
After raising to 36,000 on his button, Cody faced a three-bet to 96,000 by the Great Dane. As the British contingent in the arena audience voiced their disapproval, Cody threw his hand away and Hansen collected the pot.
Friday, June 3, 2011 5:44 PM Local Time
Gus Hansen limped his button, and Jake Cody took a free flop.
The dealer spread out , and Cody led out with 22,000. Hansen quickly raised to 62,000, and Cody seemed to want to, but he could not call. He double-checked his cards and slid them into the muck.
Friday, June 3, 2011 5:42 PM Local Time
After yet another preflop limp-in from the button by Hansen, Cody elected to raise to 49,000 and Hansen came along. The flop came and the Brit led out for 64,000, which was enough to prompt a fold by Hansen.
The players appear to be feeling each other out in the early stages of this heads-up duel.