Wednesday, June 15, 2011 11:12 PM Local Time
It's all over folks and another one is in the books. Elie Payan from France has earned himself victory in Event #22: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha and a whopping $292,825 in cash. Not only that, Payan now has a World Series of Poker gold bracelet wrapped around his wrist -- the most coveted prize in poker!
When the day began, Payan was right in the middle of the pack, but he was a little late to the party. Payan missed the entire first orbit of play before he showed up to the final table and played his first hand. That didn't matter though, as he was the last man standing on the felt with all the chips in front of him.
Payan defeated Rafe Kibrit heads up, but it wasn't easy. The two battled back and forth, swapping the lead a couple times. At first, Payan held the chip lead heading into heads-up play, but then Kibrit fought back to take pole position in the match. Payan never gave up though and fought his way back in front and then steadily applied the necessary pressure in order to finish off his opponent.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Players | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Elie Payan | $292,825 |
| 2 | Rafe Kibrit | $181,222 |
| 3 | David Sands | $113,383 |
| 4 | Juha Vilkki | $82,297 |
| 5 | Stephen Wolfe | $60,754 |
| 6 | Emil Patel | $45,554 |
| 7 | Cody Munger | $34,642 |
| 8 | Jeff Sarwer | $26,704 |
| 9 | Roland Israelashvili | $20,863 |
Congratulations to Elie Payan, the latest gold bracelet winner at the 2011 WSOP!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:59 PM Local Time
Rafe Kibrit began this hand with 1.025 million in chips and raised to 180,000 after Elie Payan limped in from the button. Payan made the call and the flop brought the . Kibrit fired a pot-sized bet for 360,000 and Payan re-potted it to put Kibrit all in. Kibrit made the call and he was at risk.
Kibrit:
Payan:
The turn brought the and although it gave Kibrit a set of aces, Payan nailed a heart flush. Still, the board could pair on the river to give Kibrit the double up.
The river completed the board with the and that was it. Payan had made his flush and it held up, allowing him to eliminate Kibrit from the tournament in second place and more importantly win the tournament. For his runner-up finish, Kibrit earned $181,222.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:56 PM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:51 PM Local Time
With the board reading , both Elie Payan and Rafe Kibrit had checked the whole way down. After the dealer dropped the on the river, Payan fired 300,000 at Kibrit, who mucked his cards. As has been the pattern in this heads-up contest, Payan is currently riding a hot streak, but if the past few hours are any indication the momentum may just swing at any moment.
| Elie Payan | 3,640,000 | 300,000  |
| Rafe Kibrit | 1,180,000 | -300,000  |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:41 PM Local Time
Rafe Kibrit raised from the button, making it 100,000 to go and Elie Payan made the call. The dealer flopped the and both players opted to see another card, checking it down. The turn was the and Payan fired 80,000 into the middle. Kibrit came along and the river fell . Payan led out for 315,000 and Kibrit studied for a minute or so before looking the Frenchman up.
Payan tabled the for a backdoor flush and Kibrit mucked his hand.
| Elie Payan | 3,340,000 | 770,000 |
| Rafe Kibrit | 1,480,000 | -770,000 |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:35 PM Local Time
After being pushed around during the last few hands, Rafe Kibrit pushed back and raised to 100,000 from the button. Elie Payan was not impressed and three-bet to 300,000, a bet which Kibrit called. The flop ran out and Payan bet the pot of 600,000.
Kibrit had enough of Payan's power plays and reraised all-in for his last 825,000 and Payan quickly called to put Kibrit at risk.
Showdown:
Payan:
Kibrit:
Payan was in the lead with his pair of queens and he had a flush draw to boot. Kibrit held just a pair of tens and a gutshot straight draw and needed help to arrive on the river to survive.
River:
Kibrit's help had arrived in the form of a non-spade nine, giving him two pair for the double-up. The match is now nearly even again after both players had staked themselves to huge leads in the last few hours.
| Elie Payan | 2,570,000 | -490,000 |
| Rafe Kibrit | 2,250,000 | 490,000 |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:23 PM Local Time
Elie "Punisher934" Payan has wrested control of this match back from Rafe Kibrit and now he is punishing him with preflop raises and three-bets.
Kibrit is visibly frustrated with this turn of events and Payan has kept the pressure on.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:11 PM Local Time
Rafe Kibrit raised to 100,000 from the button and Elie Payan came along for the ride.
Flop:
Payan led out for a pot-sized bet of 200,000 and the action escalated in extreme fashion. Kibrit announced "re-pot" and before he could even touch his chips Payan repeated the phrase, making a massive reraise. Kibrit shoved his stack forward, flipped up his for two-pair, tens and sixes.
Payan tabled the for a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw, giving him plenty of outs to take the lead.
Turn:
One of Payan's plethora of outs was delivered and his rail exploded in celebration. Kibrit would need to fill up with a ten or six on the river to claim the victory.
River:
The river was a brick and Payan scored the massive double up, swinging the momentum in this match sqaurely back in his favor. He now sits with over 3,000,000 chips and, despite his Herculean efforts in staging a comeback, Kibrit finds himself right back where he started entering heads-up play.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:03 PM Local Time
Rafe Kibrit raised from the button to 100,000 only to have Elie Payan reraised to 300,000 form the big blind. Kibrit made the call and the dealer slid the out in the middle of the felt. Payan bet all in for 580,000 and Kibrit called, standing and tabling the for top and bottom pair plus a flush draw. Payan showed the for a better flush draw, a straight draw and bottom pair.
The turn was the and that gave Payan a better two pair and the lead. The river completed the board with the and Payan was safe from elimination. He doubled up, but it still down in chips to Kibrit as the battle goes on.
| Rafe Kibrit | 3,060,000 | -705,000 |
| Elie Payan | 1,760,000 | 705,000 |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:00 PM Local Time
From the button, Elie Payan limped in and then called a raise to 150,000 from Rafe Kibrit out of the big blind. The flop came down and Kibrit didn't waste any time. He fired right out for the full amount, 300,000. Payan gave it up and Kibrit won the hand.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:58 PM Local Time
Rafe Kibrit limped in on his button and Elie Payan checked, bringing a flop of to the felt. Both players knocked the table and the turn came .
Payan fired a bet of 100,000 and after Kibrit called, the dealer turned over the on the river.
Payan slowed down and checked it to Kibrit, who seized the moment of weakness by betting 150,000. This forced a fold by Payan and Kibrit is pulling away after having been on life support just an hour ago.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:52 PM Local Time
To borrow a phrase coined by out tournament announcer here this evening, the players are back at the table and the dealer is ready to "blend 'em and send 'em."
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:49 PM Local Time
Level: 26
Blinds: 25000/50000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:49 PM Local Time
The players have stood to stretch and, perhaps in Elie Payan's case, shake off this recent run of bad luck as we are now on a quick ten-minute break.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:48 PM Local Time
Riding that incredible rush which all poker players have known at some point in their lives, Rafe Kibrit raised to 80,000 from the button and Elie Payan came along for the ride.
Flop:
Both players checked the flop and the fell on the turn. Payan checked it once more, his aggression a thing of the past at this point, and Kibrit fired 120,000 into the middle. Payan decided to peel off one more card and made the call.
River:
Kibrit slid eight green chips forward for a bet of 200,000 and Payan agonized briefly before deciding to look his red-hot opponent up. Kibrit calmly turned over his for trip eights on the turn and Payan had paid him off once again.
Kibrit now holds all of the green 25,000 denomination chips on the table in a stunning reversal of fortune. In an entertaining coincidence, at least for Kibrit, his rush began immediately after a fan wearing all green entered the audience area to cheer him on. This fan tells us his nickname is "The Royal Sweat" and he seems to have the uncanny ability of rooting for eventual bracelet winners. Rafe Kibrit will certainly be thankful to "The Royal Sweat" for arriving just in the nick of time if he goes on to complete the comeback and capture the gold bracelet here tonight.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:34 PM Local Time
Rafe Kibrit fired 180,000 on the flop and Elie Payan made the call to see the turn, which was the . Kibrit stayed on the gas and fired 400,000 this time, one of the largest bets this tournament has seen. Payan again made the call and wasn't about to back down.
The completed the board on the river and Kibrit checked. Payan fired the pot and had Kibrit's 1.11 million covered. Kibrit tanked for a minute or two and then finally announced a call.
When Kibrit called, Payan nodded as if to say, "Nice call, you're good." Kibrit then showed the for a Broadway straight. His cheering section erupted as Payan's hand spun into the muck.
| Rafe Kibrit | 3,640,000 | 2,820,000 |
| Elie Payan | 1,180,000 | -2,820,000 |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:30 PM Local Time
After Elie Payan had seemingly taken control of the match with his aggressive play, Rafe Kibrit made his stand and raised to 80,000 from the button. Payan made the call and the flop fell .
Payan checked and Kibrit continued with a bet of 135,000, which the Frenchman called. The turn card came and Payan knocked the table once more, prompting Kibrit to bet the pot of 435,000. Payan made the call and this bet put most of Kibrit's stack into the middle. The American-heavy rail began to stand in anticipation, as they knew it was do or die time for their man.
River:
Payan checked for a third time and Kibrit pushed his remaining chips into the pot. Payan appeared discouraged but with the pot odds he was being laid he had to make the call.
Kibrit tabled the for two pair on the flop and Payan instantly mucked, eliciting a roar of approval from Kibrit's friends and fans. Kibrit doubled up to approximately 1,600,000 with the win and the final table arena is now rocking with shouts of "Ship It!" and "Let's go Rafe!"
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:24 PM Local Time
Current 2011 WSOP Player-of-the-Year Leaderboard
| Player | Points | Cashes | Bracelets | Winnings |
|---|
| Amir Lehavot | 330.75 | 2 | 1 | $578,454 |
| Viacheslav Zhukov | 315 | 1 | 1 | $465,216 |
| Jake Cody | 300 | 1 | 1 | $851,192 |
| Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier | 299.25 | 3 | 1 | $364,565 |
| Jason Sommerville | 291.50 | 2 | 1 | $525,274 |
| Sean Getzwiller | 280 | 1 | 1 | $611,185 |
| Eddie Blumenthal | 279.80 | 2 | 0 | $589,784 |
| Allen Bari | 279.50 | 1 | 1 | $877,262 |
| Richard Ashby | 273.60 | 2 | 0 | $305,212 |
| John Juanda | 270 | 1 | 1 | $367,170 |
*Standings through Event #21
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:19 PM Local Time
There are all kinds of fun and interesting stats surrounding the World Series of Poker, so we thought we'd share some with you. Keep in mind these numbers do not take into account the 2011 WSOP:
The WSOP by the Numbers
- $1,228,375,121—total prize money awarded
- $8,944,310—Amount Jonathan Duhamel won for winning the 2010 Main Event
- 525,000- # of individual poker chips deployed to run the WSOP each year
- 420,834- # of entrants that have competed in the WSOP
- 50,792- # of total entrants to compete in the WSOP Main Event
- $50,000—Highest buy-in for a WSOP bracelet event in 2011
- 41,417- # of entrants that have cashed
- 7,318- # of people Jonathan Duhamel beat in 2010 to become champion.
- 1970—Year that the first WSOP was held at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas
- 893- # of WSOP Gold Bracelet winners [WSOP classifies all past winners as Bracelet winners]
- 888- # of Official WSOP events [5 Mixed Double events had 2 winners, but were 1 event]
- 858- # of gold bracelets awarded [In 1974, the Main Event winner received a bracelet. 1975 became the first year all event winners received a gold bracelet. In 1982, gold watches were awarded to the 15 winners instead].
- $500—Smallest buy-in for a WSOP bracelet event in 2011 [Employee's Event]
- 193- # of millionaires created by the WSOP.
- 117- # of nations represented at the 2010 WSOP [82 nations competed in Winter Olympics]
- 97- Age of Jack Ury in 2010, the oldest player ever to compete in a WSOP event.
- 40- # of cameras ESPN uses to cover WSOP [FOX used 32 to cover Super Bowl XLIV]
- 21 years, 11 months, 22 days—Age of Joe Cada [Youngest Main Event Champion in history]
- 11- # of people Moss beat in 1970 to become champion [by vote of his peers]
- $0—Amount Johnny Moss won for winning 1970 Main Event [won a silver cup]
- 1- # of countries represented at the 1970 WSOP
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:15 PM Local Time
Elie Payan has really stretched his lead here in the last series of hands. He's won four or five hands in a row now and holds a little over four million of the chips in play. In case you're wondering, that means Rafe Kibrit only has about 750,000.