Wednesday, June 20, 2012 12:15 AM Local Time
Day three has ended here at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino with Max Steinberg being crowned champion of Event 33: No Limit Hold'em. Steinberg bested 2,779 other players and walks away with $440,238. Steinberg will also receive his first World Series of Poker bracelet.
Fourteen people came in today with the aspirations of winning poker's top prize. The afternoon went quickly with players being eliminated right in the first level of the day. With the elimination of Vincent van der Fluit and Mikhail Timoshin who were each at different tables, but got eliminated at the same time as each other we went straight to our official nine-handed final table. Once the final table was reached the action stayed at the same fast pace with Christopher Shaw being eliminated 20 minutes into the final table.
Soon play slowed down though with the majority of preflop raises stealing the blinds and antes. Eventually though the game sped up and we saw a slew of eliminations; Vitaly Meshcheriakov, Ryan Laplante, David Nicholson, and Joseph Marzicola all dropped off. After some more intense game play Dylan Hortin was knocked-out. The former chip leader continued his aggression and ultimately paid the price for it .
Then it was down to the final three. Matt Stout, Steinberg, and Samuel Gerber. Matt Stout was the first to leave after having a yo-yo of a day finishing in third.
The two remaining players both knew what it was like to be where they were. Both Steinberg and Gerber have been runner ups in WSOP events, and both players did it in the same year. Heads up play began with both players fairly even in chips, but a couple of hands put Steinberg in front, and he was able to ride that all the way to victory.
Steinberg didn't just win the bracelet, he earned it by making great calls, coming back from being down, and just playing great poker in general. Congratulations to Max Steinberg on winning his first WSOP bracelet.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:58 PM Local Time
In what would be the final hand of the tournament, Max Steinberg limped from the button and Samuel Gerber checked his option from the big.
The flop came and Gerber checked to Steinberg, who bet 100,000. Gerber immediately moved all-in for his last 1.7 million and Steinberg deliberated a while, but eventually made the call.
Steinberg:
Gerber:
Gerber looked clearly dejected to see he was drawing to just two outs, as a four and a four only would allow Gerber to survive.
It wasn't meant to be, however, as the turn and river bricked out for Gerber and he was eliminated in 2nd place.
| Max Steinberg | 8,400,000 | 2,300,000  |
| Samuel Gerber | 0 | -2,300,000  |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:34 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg has slowly been grinding Samuel Gerber down since the last posted hand, however, Gerber was able to find a small rush to get some chips back.
In the first hand, Steinberg raised to 225,000 and Gerber re-raised all in for his last 1.7 million. Steinberg folded and Gerber scooped the pot.
In the very next hand, Gerber open-shoved all in and Steinberg mucked.
In the third hand, Steinberg again raised to 225,000, Gerber went back over the top all in and Steinberg folded.
Gerber still has a long way to go, however, as Steinberg still has more than a 2-1 chip advantage over him.
| Max Steinberg | 6,100,000 | 350,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 2,300,000 | -350,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:22 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg raised it up to 225,000 from the button and received a call from Samuel Gerber in the big blind. The flop came and Gerber check-called a bet of 250,000 from Steinberg.
The on the turn lead to both players knuckling.
The on the river saw Gerber fire out 375,000. Steinberg then took his time before making a raise of 1,065,000. Steinber got out of his chair in distress, sat back down and made the call.
Steinberg flipped over for two pair sixes and threes. Gerber mucked and Steinber took down the substantial pot.
| Max Steinberg | 5,750,000 | 1,050,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 2,650,000 | -1,050,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:13 PM Local Time
Heads-up play has been surprisingly clockwork since break ended. Almost every single hand has consisted of the player on the button raising to 225,000 and the player in the big blind folding.
Stay tuned - something noteworthy is bound to happen eventually.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:01 PM Local Time
Level: 30
Blinds: 50000/100000
Ante: 10000
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:42 PM Local Time
Players are now on another 20 minute break.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:40 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg raised it up to 175,000 from the button and received a call from Samuel Gerber in the big blind. The flop came and Gerber checked. Steinberg opted to bet 200,000 and quickly found himself being raised by Gerber who mandated 500,000. A few moments passed before Steinberg put out a three-bet of 1,000,000. Gerber eventually folded after thinking it through a little bit.
| Max Steinberg | 4,700,000 | 400,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 3,700,000 | -400,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:36 PM Local Time
The action has been slow since heads up began. Both players are clearly picking their spots before committing too many chips. However, with the blinds set to rise again in just a few minutes - it is only a matter of time before the action picks up.
| Max Steinberg | 4,300,000 | 300,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 4,100,000 | -300,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:28 PM Local Time
We are now heads up between Samuel Gerber and Max Steinberg. Neither player possesses a World Series of Poker bracelet, but that is about to change. Another thing both players have in common is that they have both been runner ups in 2010 WSOP events.
Samuel Gerber came in second in 2010's Event #16: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed, and Max Steinberg came in second in 2010's Event #8: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em.
Once reaching heads up play both players teased each other about their second place finishes and wished each other good luck.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:20 PM Local Time
Matt Stout moved in for his last 210,000 after being crippled the hand before. Samuel Gerber made the call from the small blind, and Max Steinberg raised from the big blind. Gerber immediately got out of the way and cards were tabled.
Stout:
Steinberg:
The board came and Stout was eliminated when he couldn't beat his opponent's ace high.
| Samuel Gerber | 4,400,000 | -100,000 |
| Max Steinberg | 4,000,000 | 0 |
| Matt Stout | 0 | -400,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:15 PM Local Time
Action began on Max Steinberg, who raised to 170,000 from the button. Matt Stout re-raised to 425,000 from the small blind and Samuel Gerber pushed all in for about 2.2 million from the big. Steinberg tanked, but eventually landed on a fold and Stout snap-called to put Gerber at risk.
Gerber:
Stout:
The flop brought , giving Stout a royal flush draw and a plethora of outs to improve. However, the turn and river bricked out for Stout, who couldn't help but shout, "God!" in frustration.
Stout is crippled following the hand with just 400,000.
| Samuel Gerber | 4,500,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Matt Stout | 400,000 | -1,700,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:09 PM Local Time
Matt Stout announced all in from the small blind, a bet that would put his opponent Samuel Gerber all in. Gerber quickly made the call and cards were tabled.
Gerber:
Stout:
The board came and Gerber was able to grab hold of another double up with ace high.
| Samuel Gerber | 2,400,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Matt Stout | 2,100,000 | -1,400,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:02 PM Local Time
Matt Stout opened to 180,000 from the button and Samuel Gerber went all-in from the small blind for his last 490,000. Max Steinberg folded from the big and Stout called to put Gerber at risk.
Gerber:
Stout:
The board kept Gerber in the lead and he doubled through Stout.
| Matt Stout | 3,500,000 | -700,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 1,000,000 | 430,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:58 PM Local Time
Samuel Gerber raised it to 210,000 after Matt Stout folded the button. Max Steinberg then raised it up to 450,000. Gerber's response was to move all in for more and put Steinberg at risk. Steinberg snap called and cards were turned over.
Steinberg:
Gerber:
The board came and with Gerber missing his flush and ace draw he was crippled. Steinberg now sits with around 4,000,000.
| Max Steinberg | 4,000,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 570,000 | -1,230,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:46 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg limped from the button, Matt Stout completed from the small and Samuel Gerber checked his option from the big for a three-way pot.
The flop came and Stout and Gerber checked to Steinberg, who bet 110,000. Stout called from the small blind, however, Gerber raised to 400,000 total. Undeterred, Gerber flatted, but Stout went all in for a bit over three million. Gerber insta-mucked and Steinberg fell hard into the tank. He eventually let his hand go and Stout scooped the sizable pot.
| Matt Stout | 4,200,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Max Steinberg | 2,700,000 | -100,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 1,800,000 | -800,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:42 PM Local Time
Level: 29
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:30 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg completed from the small blind and Matt Stout raised it up. Steinberg moved all in and Stout quickly made the call.
Stout:
Steinberg:
The board came and Stout's three of a kind tens were enough to earn him a double up. Players are all now relatively even in chips.
| Matt Stout | 2,900,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Max Steinberg | 2,800,000 | -1,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:26 PM Local Time
Samuel Gerber called from the big blind and Max Steinberg checked his option from the big to see a flop, which came .
Gerber led out for 75,000 and Steinberg made the call. The turn brought the and and Gerber fired again - this time for 175,000. Steinberg again called.
The completed the board and Gerber fired 375,000. Steinberg folded and Gerber scooped the pot.
| Max Steinberg | 4,000,000 | -600,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 2,600,000 | 100,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:03 PM Local Time
Max Steinberg limped in on the button, Matt Stout completed the small blind, and Samuel Gerber checked his option in the big blind.
The flop came and Stout bet out 115,000. Gerber was next to act and he raised to 315,000. Last to act was Steinberg who three-bet to 775,000. Stout quickly got out of the way, and Gerber took his time before ultimately following suit with a fold.
| Max Steinberg | 4,600,000 | 440,000 |
| Samuel Gerber | 2,500,000 | -320,000 |
| Matt Stout | 1,800,000 | -150,000 |