Monday, June 13, 2011 1:08 AM Local Time
After three days of grueling completion which saw 963 runners attempt to navigate the mine field that is mixed game play, we have crowned a new $1,500 H.O.R.S.E champion at the 2011 World Series of Poker. Aaron Steury has captured his first gold bracelet, along with a prize of $289,283 for his triumph, and while every WSOP championship is well deserved, this one holds a special meaning for the victor simply because of the sheer difficulty of claiming the title. The 24-year old Steury, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, defeated 35-year old Honolulu native Michael Chow in a spirited heads-up duel to earn the crowning achievement of every poker player's career.
With decorated professional players sprinkled throughout every table, each proficient in the five poker disciplines which comprise this event, Steury had to prove his mettle time and time again against the best in the business. World class players like Eli Elezra, Layne Flack, David Bach and Victor Ramdin all made deep runs but eventually fell short in their quest for gold and glory. Ramdin reached our final table but was eliminated in ninth place.
Steury bested eight other competitors during the mentally demanding final table marathon which lasted for more than five hours. To achieve this feat, Steury had to exhibit a mastery of Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo Split Eight or Better, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Stud Eight or Better during three intense days of poker action. He will take home $289,283 for the win and his name will forever be etched in poker's stored history books.
Monday, June 13, 2011 1:02 AM Local Time
Stud-8:
After a few alternating hands of completions, raises and folds, Aaron Steury raised it up with the showing and the in the hole. Michael Chow, who was extremely short stacked, finally made his stand with the showing and the in the hole.
Both players stood as the dealer prepared to decide their fates. Steury's board ran out and his pair of aces did not improve. Chow was dealt the and he also caught no help. Steury graciously told Chow, "I'll flip my last card as soon as I get it so you know" and he turned over the with a flourish, leaving him with a lone pair of aces.
Chow now needed to catch any three, five, eight, ten or jack to survive and stay in the contest. He squeezed his seventh street card extremely slowly, causing Steury to fidget a bit as he stood smiling in nervous anticipation. Eventually, Chow gave up the goose and showed Stuery the good news: .
Twenty-four year old Aaron Steury of Fort Wayne, Indiana has taken first prize in this $1,500 H.O.R.S.E tournament, earning the gold bracelet and $289,283 for his amazing run through an immensely tough field.
Michael Chow, 35, of Honolulu, Hawaii was our runner-up and will pocket $178,691 for his efforts tonight.
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:25 AM Local Time
| Aaron Steury | 3,500,000 | 100,000  |
| Michael Chow | 835,000 | -185,000  |
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:23 AM Local Time
Hold'em:
Adam Friedman pushed his last 135,000 into the middle and was called by Michael Chow.
Showdown:
Friedman:
Chow:
Friedman was in very bad shape after his desperation shove and would need lady luck to smile on him if he was to survive this all-in confrontation. The flop fell [ and Mrs. Luck was nowhere to be found. Friedman stood up and packed his things, offering handshake to Chow in a show of class. Chow returned the gesture but it was apparent he wanted to see a brick on the turn to cement the win before he did any celebrating.
The turn card fell and Friedman was offered a glimmer of hope. He could now catch a six and a six only to make complete his gutshot straight draw and remain in contention. His supporters began hollering for a six as the dealer burned and turned.
River:
With that, Friedman's run had come to an end and he was eliminated in third place, earning $121,437 for his efforts. Chow climbed to 835,000 with the win and is still vastly outchipped by Aaron Steury as we begin heads-up play.
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:15 AM Local Time
Stud-8:
Aaron Steury: (X)(X) -
Adam Friedman: (X)(X) -
Steury three-bet Friedman on third street and he made the call. Steury would not relent on fourth street and fired another 120,000 into the pot, which Friedman called. On fifth street, another 120,000 bet by Steury did the trick and Friedman mucked.
This loss drops Friedman to only 280,000 chips, or just two and half big bets. Steury is pulling away now and holds 3,400,000 for a commanding chip lead.
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:09 AM Local Time
Stud:
Michael Chow: ( )( ) -
Adam Friedman: (X)(X) -
We missed the preliminary betting but after a bet of 120,000 on fifth street Friedman released his hand. Chow chipped up to 800,000 while Friedman fell to 525,000 after the hand.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:55 PM Local Time
Level: 29
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:47 PM Local Time
Razz:
Michael Chow: (X)(X) -
Adam Friedman: (X)(X) -
Chow bet out on third and fourth streets and Friedman made the call both times. After another bet of 100,000 by Chow, Friedman raised to 200,000 but Chow could not be shaken even with two face cards showing. Friedman tried again on sixth street to force Chow's into the muck, with a bet of 100,000, but Chow called him down.
On seventh street Friedman led out once more for 100,000 and Chow looked him up, tabling his down cards for a 2-3-5-6-J low. This was good enough and Friedman slid his cards face down into the muck.
This loss dropped Friedman to only 500,000 chips, good for just five big bets, and pushed Chow to the 1,400,000 mark.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:37 PM Local Time
Hold'em:
Adam Friedman four-bet a raise by Aaron Steury holding the button, making it 200,000 to go and Steury came along for the ride. The flop fell and Steury check-called a bet of 50,000 by Friedman. The turn card came and again Steury check-called a bet, this time for 100,000.
River:
Another check by Steury prompted a final bet of 100,000 by Friedman and this was enough to force the fold. Friedman climbed to just over a million chips after the win.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:29 PM Local Time
Hold'em:
After Aaron Steury limped in on the small blind, Adam Friedman raised to 100,000 holding the button, Steury responded with a three-bet, making it 150,000 to go before the flop. Friedman came along and the dealer spread the across the table.
Steury led out for 50,000 on the flop and Friedman came along.
Turn: .
Steury again led out, this time for the big bet of 100,000 and again Friedman made the call.
River:
Steury slowed down and checked to Friedman, who fired a final bullet of 100,000 into the middle. Steury stared his man down for thirty seconds or so and apparently picked up a tell, because he made the call and waited for Friedman to table his hand. When Friedman obliged, he could only produce the for a busted drawing hand.
Steury then calmly showed down the for his own missed straight draw and just queen-high. Friedman, along with the railbirds, were stunned to see Steury's holding and this amazing read gave him an unlikely win.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:15 PM Local Time
Stud:
Aaron Steury: (X)(X) -
Adam Friedman: (X)(X) -
With his board showing four to a flush, Friedman bet on every street, including a four-bet on third street, and Steury called him down the whole way. On seventh street, Friedman again bet 100,000 and Steury looked him up, unafraid of his opponent's intimidating board.
His read proved to be eerily accurate and Friedman dejectedly announced "You got it" as he mucked his cards. Steury tabled his down cards and took the pot with just a pair of jacks. This amazing call propelled Steury to over 1,600,000 chips while Friedman fell to 1,200,000 with the loss.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:07 PM Local Time
Omaha-8:
Aaron Steury raised to 100,000 on the button and both Michael Chow and Adam Friedman came along. The dealer spread a flop of and the players all tapped the table.
The turn card came and Chow led out for 100,000, forcing Friedman to fold. Steury wanted to see the last card and made the call, bringing the to the table on the river.
Chow led out for 100,000 more and Steury looked him up, only to see Chow table his for a diamond flush and a 2-3-4-5-6 low. This powerful Omaha-8 hand earned Chow the scoop and he now sits with 1,350,000 chips while Steury slipped to 1,600,000.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:59 PM Local Time
One side of the MotherShip audience is stacked with Michael Chow's increasingly vocal supporters while the other side remains a ghost town. Calls of "Cocktails, final table!" have been heard throughout the night as Chow's friends and fans continue to soak in the celebratory atmosphere here at the WSOP's main stage.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:46 PM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:43 PM Local Time
Hold'em:
Aaron Steury raised to 80,000 from the small blind and Michael Chow made the call.
Flop:
Steury led out for 40,000, Chow popped it to 80,000 and Steury called. The turn fell and Steury slowed down, checking to Chow who bet another 80,000. Steury called and the river card came .
Both players opted to check and Steury tabled his for ace-high. Chow showed the for a pair of deuces and dragged the chips his way.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:42 PM Local Time
Stud-8:
Aaron Steury: (X)(X) -
Adam Friedman: (X)(X) -
Friedman bet out on every street and Steury came along each time. On seventh street, Friedman bet another 80,000 and Steury looked him up. Friedman tabled the for a pair of tens and an A-2-4-6-7 low, which was good enough to scoop the 800,000+ chip pot.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:34 PM Local Time
Stud:
Michael Chow: (X)(X) -
Adam Friedman: (X)(X) -
We missed the third street action but on fourth street Friedman bet 80,000 and Chow called. The action repeated itself on fifth and sixth streets, and after the dealer flipped each player their last down card on seventh street, Friedman fired a final barrel.
This was enough to move Chow off his hand and Freidman climbed to 930,000 with the win. Chow slipped to 550,000 after the loss.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:29 PM Local Time
Razz:
Aaron Steury: (X)(X) - - (X)
Michael Chow: (X)(X) - - (X)
We missed the betting on third street but Chow fired 80,000 at Steury on fourth street and he made the call. Fifth street saw both players check and on sixth street Chow bet another 80,000, which Steury called.
Both players checked on seventh street and Chow revealed his hole cards: for a 5-6-7-8-9 low. This was good enough to force a muck by Steury and Chow chipped up to over 1,000,000 after the win.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:19 PM Local Time
Omaha-8:
Aaron Steury looked to continue bullying his fellow players and raised to 80,000 from the small blind. Jonathan Tamayo made the call and the flop came . Tamayo's last 70,000 chips went into the middle and we were off to a showdown.
Tamayo:
Steury:
Tamayo had flopped top pair but was trailing Steury's two-pair, queens and fives. The chip leader also held an open ended straight draw and Tamayo would need help on the turn or river. The on the turn only improved Steury's hand, giving him queens and sixes and Tamayo was down to his last chance, needing a nine, ten or ace to fall on the river.
River:
With that, Jonathan Tamayo was eliminated in 4th place and he will take home $84,516 for his deep run.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:12 PM Local Time
Hold'em:
Adam Friedman raised to 80,000 from the small blind and Aaron Steury made the call from the big blind.
Flop:
Friedman led out for 40,000 and was raised to 80,000 by Steury. After Friedman made the call we saw a turn card of . Friedman check-called a bet of 80,000 and the river fell . Another check-call by Friedman prompted Steury to table his for a flopped nut straight and Friedman immediately mucked his hand.
Steury followed this win with another one against Michael Chow in Omaha-8 and he has now amassed over 2,300,000 chips.