Event #28: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed

A little more than a year after winning a World Series of Poker circuit ring, Gal Yifrach won another piece of WSOP jewelry. He emerged victorious in Event #28: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed, besting a field of 868 players to win the first-place prize of $461,798.

Born in Israel and now living in Los Angeles, the 31-year-old entrepreneur considers poker more of a hobby than a profession but has a solid poker résumé. With eight WSOP and five circuit cashes under his best, Yifrach was appreciative of the winning feeling.

"You don't make a final table every tournament," said Yifrach. "I was fortunate enough and am happy my family and girlfriend came to support me. I'm very happy. Everybody has hopes, and everybody is hoping to get very far. I was fortunate enough to get there."

Final Table Results

Tournament Recap

Event #28: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed drew 868 players and after 10 levels played on Day 1, Christian Rudolph led the remaining 186 players. Just 131 of them would make the money on Day 2 and after another 10 levels on Day 2, only 20 were still in the hunt for a coveted gold bracelet and the first-place prize of $461,798.

Rudolph rode his Day 1 chip lead to 11th in chips following Day 2, but busted in 19th place. Meanwhile, end-of-Day 2 chip leader Ben Palmer bubbled the official final table, finishing in seventh place for $48,823. Others who made deep runs but fell short of the final table include Jason Mercier (16th - $20,975), Tony Dunst (13th - $20,975) and Yorane Kerignard (9th - $36,164).

For Yifrach, his path to the final table started smoothly as he returned on Day 2 17th in chips of the remaining 186. He was on the shorter side to begin Day 3 sitting 15th in chips of the remaining 20 players, but chipped up early in the day before winning a coinflip against Dunst to leave just 12 players remaining.

Yifrach chipped up a little more by the time the official final table of six players was reached, sitting second in chips. Ana Marquez (6th - $67,116) was eliminated shortly after the final table began, and Darren Rabinowitz (5th - $93,917) followed her to the rail about two hours later. On the 56th hand of the final table, Yifrach seized the chip lead for the first time and held it for just about the rest of the way. Aaron Mermelstein (4th - $133,731) fell a little while later, and Yifrach was comfortably in the lead with about two-thirds of the chips when three-handed play began.

In the last batch of hands from Day 3, Yifrach doubled up both James Mackey and Gary Hasson, meaning a fourth day would be necessary for a winner to emerge.

Hasson battled valiantly but was unable to overcome his chip deficit, falling in third place for $193,716. The heads-up battle between Yifrach and Mackey was brief, lasting just seven hands. Starting down nearly 2:1 in chips, Mackey quickly moved back to basically even in chips before the final hand took place.

After the turn of an eight-high board, Mackey shoved with pocket tens. Yifrach called after about three minutes in the tank and trailed with ace-eight, but an eight landed on the river to give him the victory.

"When you run good you play good, as well. It comes hand in hand. It's a great feeling."

Hand #215: Gal Yifrach raised to 350,000 from the button, James Mackey three-bet jammed for 4,485,000 from the big blind and Yifrach folded.

Hand #216: Mackey raised to 325,000 from the button and Yifrach called.

They checked to the turn of a      board where Yifrach bet 325,000. Mackey folded.

Hand #217: Yifrach raised to 325,000 from the button and Mackey called from the big blind.

They checked to the turn of a      board where Mackey bet 400,000. Yifrach folded.

Hand #218: Mackey raised to 325,000 from the button and Yifrach called from the big blind.

The flop came down     and Yifrach check-called 300,000 from Mackey. The turn was the  , both checked and the   river completed the board. Yifrach checked, Mackey bet 775,000 and Yifrach folded.

Hand #219: Yifrach opened to 350,000 from the button and Mackey defended his big blind.

They check to the river of a       board where Mackey bet 400,000. Yifrach folded.

Hand #220: Mackey raised to 325,000 from the button and Yifrach folded his big blind.

Gal Yifrach	6,555,000	-1,965,000
James Mackey	6,470,000	1,965,000

Hand #208: Gary Hasson limped in the small blind. Gal Yifrach, three-bet to 480,000. Hasson folded.

Hand #209: Yifrach limped in the small blind. Mackey checked. The flop was    . Yifrach bet 175,000. Mackey called. The turn brought the   and was checked to the   river. Again, both players checked. Mackey tabled    to win the pot.

Hand #210: Mackey raised to 350,000 in the small blind. Hasson gave up his big blind.

Hand #211: Mackey opened to 350,000 on the button. He got no action.

Hand #212: Mackey got a walk.

Hand #213: Yifrach opened to 350,000 on the button. Mackey moved all in from the small blind for 2,900,000. Everyone folded.

Hand #199: James Mackey raised to 350,000 from the button, Garry Hasson shoved from the small blind for 1,305,000 and Mackey went into the tank.

"I might have the only hand here I can fold," said Mackey as he folded. He later said he had five-four suited.

Hand #200: Gal Yifrach limped from the small blind and James Mackey checked his option.

The flop came down     and Yifrach check-folded to a bet of 175,000 from Mackey.

Hand #201: Mackey shoved from the small blind with a covering stack and Hasson folded his big blind.

Hand 202: Mackey opened to 350,000 from the button and Yifrach defended his big blind.

They checked to the turn of a      board where Yifrach bet 350,000. Mackey called, the   river completed the board and both players checked.

Yifrach showed    for a flush, Mackey showed the   and mucked and Yifrach won the pot.

Hand #203: Mackey received a walk.

Hand #204: Yifrach raised to 325,000 from the button and won the blinds and antes.

Hand #205: Mackey opened to 350,000 from the button and received no action.

Hand #206: Yifrach raised to 400,000 from the small blind and Mackey folded his big blind.

Gal Yifrach	7,520,000	1,195,000
James Mackey	4,270,000	-890,000
Gary Hasson	1,230,000	-305,000

Hand #190: James Mackey opened to 250,000 on the button. Gary Hasson, in the small blind, raised all in for 1,400,000. Everyone folded.

Hand #191: Gal Yifrach limped in the small blind. Mackey checked. The flop was    . Yifrach bet 125,000. Mackey folded.

Hand #192: Mackey raised to 275,000 in the small blind. Hasson folded.

Hand #193: Mackey opened to 275,000 on the button. Yifrach called from the big blind. A flop of     was dealt. Yifrach checked. Mackey bet 250,000. Yifrach let it go.

Hand #194: Yifrach opened to 325,000 in the small blind. Mackey called from the big blind. The flop came    . Yifrahc checked. Mackey bet 250,000. Yifrach check-called. The turn brough the  . Yifrach checked again. Mackey continued for 450,000, enough to win the pot.

Hand #195: Yifrach opened to 250,000 on the button. Hasson, in the big blind, called. The flop came     and was checked around to the   turn. Hasson checked. Yifrach bet 250,000. Hasson folded.

Hand #196: Mackey raised to 250,000 on the button. Yifrach called from the big blind. The dealer spread a flop of    . Both players checked. The turn was the   and was checked again to the   river. Yifrach bet 300,000. Mackey called. Yifrach tabled    to win the pot.

Hand #197: Hasson moved all in on the button for 1,200,000. He got no action.

Hand #198: Yifrach opened to 250,000 on the button. Mackey, in the small blind called. Hasson called from the big blind as well. The flop was     and was checked to Yifrach who bet 400,000. His opponents folded.

Hand #177: Gal Yifrach opened to 250,000 on the button. Gary Hasson, in the big blind, called.
A flop reading     was dealt and was checked through to the   turn. Again, both players checked. The river was the  . Hasson bet 300,000. Yifrach folded.

Hand #178: Yifrach got a walk.

Hand #179: Hasson opened to 260,000 on the button. Mackey called from the big blind. The flop was    . James Mackey checked. Hasson bet 225,000. Mackey called. The turn came the   and was checked around to the   river. Again, both players checked. Mackey tabled   . His opponent mucked.

Hand #180: Yifrach opened to 250,000 on the button. Mackey raised to 700,000 from the small blind. Everyone folded.

Hand #181: Mackey raised to 250,000 on the button. Yifrach, in the big blind, called. A flop of  [   was dealt. Yifrach checked. Mackey bet 200,000, enough to win the pot.

Hand #182: Yifrach limped in the small blind. Mackey checked. The     flop was checked to the   turn. Yifrach bet 175,000. His opponent folded.

Hand #166: James Mackey opened to 250,000 on the button. Gal Yifrach, in the big blind, called.

The flop was     and was checked through to the   turn. Yifrach checked. Mackey bet 350,000. Yifrach called.

The   river completed the board. Yifrach checked again. Mackey continued for 550,000. Yifrach let it go.

Hand #167: Yifrach limped from the small blind. Mackey, in the big blind, raised to 420,000. Yifrach folded.

Hand #168: Mackey raised to 260,000 in the small blind. He got no action.

Hand #169: Mackey opened to 250,000 on the button. Yifrach three-bet to 650,000 from the big blind. Mackey gave up his hand.

Hand #170: Yifrach opened to 375,000 in the small blind. Mackey called from the big blind.

The flop came     and was checked to the   turn. Again, both players checked. The river brought the  . Yifrach threw in a bet of 350,000, enough to win the pot.

Hand #171: Mackey limped from the small blind. Gary Hasson, checked.

The flop came    . Mackey bet 125,000. Hasson called. The turn brought the  . This time, Mackey checked. Hasson bet 190,000. Mackey folded.

Hand #172: Hasson limped in the small blind. Yifrach raised to 425,000 from the big blind. Hasson let it go.

Day 4 of Event #28: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed begins at 12 p.m. local time in the Amazon room.

After 165 hands were played on the final table last night, there are still three players left to battle it out for the bracelet and the first place of $461,798. This is an unscheduled day as action was not able to be completed yesterday.

Gal Yifrach is the chip leader going into Day 4 with a stack of 6,965,000. The other two players left in the field are bracelet winner James Mackey (3,100,000) and Gary Hasson (1,960,000).

When action resumes, players will start at Level 31: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante. Levels will be of 60 minutes and players will play as many levels as it takes to crown a winner. There will be a 15-minute break every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after 6 levels, at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Here is a look today's seating and chip counts:

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