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2012 43rd Annual World Series of Poker

Monday, June 18, 2012 to Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Event #35: $2,500 Mixed Limit/No-Limit Hold'em

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  • Buy-in: $2,500
  • Prizepool: $894,075
  • Entries: 393
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012 7:23 PM Local Time

Bracelet Winner Chris Tryba

After three hard-fought days of Texas Hold'em, both in its limit and no-limit formats, Event #35: $2,500 Mixed Hold'em is in the books with Chris Tryba standing tall as champion.

Day 1 began with 393 entrants, which was a notable decrease in attendance from last year's event, which brought in 580 entrants. However, despite the decrease, there was no shortage of big names and notable pros in attendance. Among those who showed up for Day 1 included Antonio Esfandiari, Daniel Negreanu, Jeff Madsen, Barry Greenstein, David Williams, Huck Seed, Dan Harrington and the one and only Phil Ivey, who registered late after being eliminated from the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.

Of those players, only Ivey, Williams, Seed and Harrington would survive into Day 2, with gold bracelet winner Andre Akkari leading the field. The 87 remaining players would be chopped down to 46 in short order, with Dario Sammartino claiming the unfortunate title of "bubble boy" after being eliminated in 46th place. Dan Harrington soon followed suit after min-cashing in 45th place ($4,229). Most of the remaining big names would fall in the race to the final table, including Williams in 30th ($5,195), Seed in 19th ($6,437) and Akkari in 15th ($10,219).

When Day 2 was all said and done, just nine players remained to compete for the gold bracelet in Day 3. Among them included Day 2 chip leader Joep van den Bijgaart, bracelet winner Michael Gathy and of course, Phil Ivey — who cemented his fifth final table appearance for this World Series of Poker and tied the record for final table appearances in a single Series.

Here is how the final table looked in its entirety going into Day 3:

SeatPlayerChips
1Chris Tryba347,000
2Salman Behbehani253,000
3Michael Foti105,000
4Michael Gathy418,000
5Joep van den Bijgaart605,000
6Erik Cajelais368,000
7Phil Ivey169,000
8Samuel Golbuff526,000
9Brent Wheeler158,000

The short-stacked Michael Foti would be the first to hit the rail after getting all in preflop with    against Cajelais'   . The dominated Foti failed to improve and he was eliminated.

Next to go would be the man everyone had their eyes on — Phil Ivey. The events leading to his bustout were... unlucky, to say the least. Golbuff dealt the brunt of the damage to Ivey's stack after his    rivered a straight against Ivey's    after getting all in preflop. Shortly thereafter, Ivey was all in for his last 7,000 against three opponents, who checked all the way down on the       board. Ivey held the    for a pair of aces, but it was no good against Cajelais'    for two pair and Ivey made a hasty exit.

Wheeler exited in 7th place after getting all in preflop with    against the    of Golbuff. Wheeler was in good shape to double, however, the board ran out     ...  , giving Golbuff a pair of queens on the river for the knockout.

Golbuff wouldn't be able to ride his momentum, however, as he was knocked out in sixth after running his    into the    of van den Bijgaart all in preflop. The       board kept Golbuff second best and he was eliminated.

Gathy had a chance to accomplish the rare feat of winning more than one WSOP gold bracelet in a single year, but fell short when his    lost a race to Behbehani's    after getting all in preflop.

Van den Bijgaart had to settle for fourth place despite coming into Day 3 as chip leader. He met his end during Limit Hold'em against Cajelais after getting all in on a     flop with    against Cajelais'   . The   turn and   river bricked out for van den Bijgaart and he was eliminated.

Next up was Behbehani, who was by far the shortest stack going into three-handed play. Behbehani ran into runner-runner trips held by Tryba and was sent to the rail in disbelief in third place.

Tryba and Cajelais were both relatively deep going into heads-up play, however, that apparently did not matter as their battle was decided on the very first hand. The game was No-Limit Hold'em and the flop read    . Tryba checked to Cajelais from the big blind and Cajelais bet 45,000, which Tryba called. The turn brought a   and Tryba check-called a 130,000 bet from Cajelais. A   completed the board and Tryba led out for 250,000. Cajelais raised all in and Tryba insta-called and revealed    for the nuts — a straight flush. Cajelais held the    for an inferior king-high straight and had to settle for a runner-up finish.

Final Table Payouts

PlacePlayerPrize
1Chris Tryba$210,107
2Erik Cajelais$129,766
3Salman Behbehani$93,842
4Joep van den Bijgaart$68,576
5Michael Gathy$50,640
6Samuel Golbuff$37,793
7Brent Wheeler$28,494
8Phil Ivey$21,699
9Michael Foti$16,692

And just like that, Chris Tryba claimed his first WSOP gold bracelet and the $210,107 prize that went along with it. This victory adds to Tryba's already-impressive poker resume, which includes over $1 million in live tournament earnings.

Chris Tryba embraces with friends after his win

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 6:21 PM Local Time

Erik Cajelais - 2nd Place

No-Limit Hold'em

On the first hand of heads-up play, Erik Cajelais and Chris Tryba took the     flop after Cajelais had raised on the button and Tryba called from the big blind. On the flop, Tryba checked and Cajelais bet 45,000. Tryba made the call.

The turn was the   and Tryba checked again. Cajelais fired another bet of around 130,000 and Tryba made the call.

The river card was the   and instead of checking for a third street in a row, Tryba fired 250,000. Cajelais took a minute and then announced a raise. He first put out the 250,000 to call, then thought a few moments more. Then, he announced that he was all in and Tryba snap-called and exploded from his seat, tabling the    for an unbeatable straight flush!

Cajelais held the    for a king-high straight, but was eliminated in second place. Tryba jumped for joy and shouted at the top of his lungs, knowing he had just won the most coveted prize in all of poker, a World Series of Poker gold bracelet.

For his finish, Cajelais earned $129,766 and fell just short of earning his second piece of WSOP gold.

Chris Tryba2,947,5001,027,500
Erik Cajelais0-1,028,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 6:13 PM Local Time

Salman Behbehani - 3rd place

No-Limit Hold'em

Chris Tryba min-raised to 40,000 from the button and was three-bet to 105,000 by Salman Behbehani from the small blind. Erik Cajelais got out of the way from the big and Tryba made the call.

The flop came     and Behbehani under-bet the pot for 65,000. Tryba made the call to see a turn, which brought the  . Behbehani led out again - this time for 85,000. Tryba again called.

When a   completed the board, Behbehani announced he was all-in for his last 300,000. Tryba snap-called and revealed    for runner-runner trips.

"Jesus Christ...," is all Behebehani could say, revealing    for a second-best queens and deuces before heading to the rail.

Behbehani will receive $93,842 for his efforts today.

Chris Tryba1,920,000479,000
Salman Behbehani0-480,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 6:00 PM Local Time

Players have taken their seats and cards are back in the air!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 6:00 PM Local Time
Level: 23
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Gorilla Gaming
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:45 PM Local Time

Our final three combatants are on their second break of the day. Play will resume in 20 minutes.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:43 PM Local Time

Erik Cajelais scoops a big one

Limit Hold'em

Chris Tryba raised from the button and Salman Behbehani reraised from the small blind. Erik Cajelais four-bet from the big blind and Tryba folded his hand. Behbehani called.

The flop came down paired with the    . Behbehani checked and Cajelais bet. Behbehani made the call.

The turn was the   and Behbehani checked. Cajelais bet and Behbehani made the call again.

The river was the   and Behbehani checked with trip deuces on board. Cajelais fired a bet and Behbehani called.

Cajelais tabled the    for deuces full of kings and Behbehani mucked his hand.

Below are the chip counts going into break.

Chris Tryba1,441,000141,000
Erik Cajelais1,028,000203,000
Salman Behbehani480,000-270,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:40 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

Erik Cajelais made it two bets from the button and Chris Tryba three-bet from the small blind. Salman Behbehani cold-called from the big blind and Cajelais made the call as well for a three-way pot.

The flop brought     and Tryba led out. Behbehani called and Cajelais got out of the way. The turn brought a   and this time, Tryba check-called a bet from Behbehani.

The   completed the board and Tryba led out. Behbehani reluctantly called and Tryba flipped over    for a rivered pair of aces. Behbehani shook his head and mucked without showing.

Chris Tryba1,300,000485,000
Salman Behbehani750,000-165,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:36 PM Local Time

Joep van den Bijgaart - 4th Place

Limit Hold'em

From under the gun, Erik Cajelais raised. Action moved to Joep van den Bijgaart in the big blind and he thought for a few moments before raising. Cajelais called.

The flop came down     and van den Bijgaart bet. Cajelais raised and van den Bijgaart reraised to put himself all in. Cajelais called with the    for top pair. Van den Bijgaart held the    for an underpair.

The turn was the   and river the  , both missing van den Bijgaart and sending him to the rail in fourth place.

Joep van den Bijgaart0-175,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:33 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

From under the gun, Joep van den Bijgaart raised. Chris Tryba made it three bets to go fro the small blind and van den Bijgaart called to see the     flop.

On the flop, Tryba bet out and van den Bijgaart called. The turn was the   and Tryba checked. Van den Bijgaart bet and Tryba check-raised. Van den Bijgaart tanked and looked a bit pained by the decision. He eventually folded and was left with just 175,000 in chips.

Chris Tryba815,000195,000
Joep van den Bijgaart175,000-365,000
Gorilla Gaming
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:28 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

From under the gun, Joep van den Bijgaart raised and Salman Behbehani called from the big blind. The flop was     and Behbehani check-called a bet from van den Bijgaart.

The turn was the   and both players checked. They also checked the   on the river.

Behbehani tabled the    for two pair, eights and deuces, and van den Bijgaart mucked.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:26 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

Salman Behbehani raised from under the gun and Erik Cajelais reraised from the small blind. Behbehani called and the flop came down    . Cajelais bet and Behbehani called.

The turn was the   and both players checked to see the   fall on the river. Cajelais checked and Behbehani bet. Cajelais called.

"King high," announced Behbehani, but Cajelais turned over the    and won the pot.

Salman Behbehani915,000115,000
Erik Cajelais825,000140,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:23 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

From under the gun, Chris Tryba raised. Salman Behbehani reraised on the button and Tryba called.

The flop came down    . Tryba checked and Behbehani bet. Tryba called and the turn was the  . Tryba checked and Behbehani bet again. Tryba called.

The river was the   and Tryba checked. Behbehani bet and Tryba folded his hand.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:07 PM Local Time

No-Limit Hold'em

Action folded over to Chris Tryba, who completed from the small blind. Salman Behbehani checked his option from the big blind and it was heads-up going to the flop.

Flop:    

Both players checked to see the a turn, which brought the  . Tryba checked again, prompting a 18,000 bet from Behbehani. Tryba made the call.

The   completed the now double-paired board and Tryba checked once more. Behbehani fired 53,000 and was met with an all-in from Chris Tryba for about 400,000. Behbehani revealed a   for threes-full of nines and mucked his hand.

Tryba is at 620,000 following the hand, while Behbehani has slipped to 800,000.

Salman Behbehani800,000-100,000
Chris Tryba620,00010,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 4:56 PM Local Time

Michael Gathy - 5th Place

No-Limit Hold'em

Action folded to Salman Behbehani on the button and he raised to 35,000. Michael Gathy reraised all in for 266,000 from the small blind and Behbehani called.

Behbehani:   
Gathy:   

The flop came down     and kept Behbehani in front. The turn was the   and river the  . Behbehani won the pot with a full house, sevens over sixes, and sent Gathy to the rail.

Earlier at this World Series of Poker, Gathy won Event 21: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em for over $440,000. This was his second final table and he earned another $50,000 and change for this result.

Salman Behbehani900,000230,000
Michael Gathy0-665,000
Gorilla Gaming
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 4:45 PM Local Time
Level: 22
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 4:42 PM Local Time

Samuel Golbuff - 5th Place

Limit Hold'em

Samuel Golbuff open-raised all in for his last 44,000 from early position and action folded over to Joep van den Bijgaart in the big blind, who called to put Golbuff at risk.

Golbuff:   
Joep van den Bijgaart:   

Golbuff was dominated going into the flop and would need help to survive. However, the       board kept Golbuff second-best and he was sent to the rail in 6th place.

Joep van den Bijgaart540,000-37,000
Samuel Golbuff0-96,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 4:34 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

Action folded to Salman Behbehani in the small blind and he raised. Michael Gathy called out of the big blind and the flop came down    . Behbehani checked and Gathy bet. Behbehani check-raised and Gathy made the call.

The turn was the   and Behbehani checked. Gathy bet and Behbehani called.

The river was the   and both players checked.

Behbehani announced that he had an underpair and Gathy showed the    for top pair. Gathy won the pot.

Salman Behbehani670,000-180,000
Michael Gathy665,000375,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 4:30 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

Samuel Golbuff check-called a bet on the      board before checking in the dark before the dealer dealt the river. The river was the   and Tryba checked behind.

Golbuff showed the    for a pair of nines, but was bested by the    for Tryba and he won the pot.

Chris Tryba610,000140,000
Samuel Golbuff96,00069,000
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 4:20 PM Local Time

Limit Hold'em

Samuel Golbuff made it two bets from the button and Salman Behbehani three-bet from the big blind. Golbuff flatted to see a flop, which came    .

Golbuff proceeded to call a bet from Behbehani on the flop,   turn and   river. Behbehani flipped over    for aces and fives. Golbuff couldn't beat it and mucked his hand without showing.

Behbehani is our new chip-leader with 850,000, while Golbuff has slipped to 270,000.

Salman Behbehani850,000221,000
Samuel Golbuff270,000-80,000
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