Event #7: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em

It's early in the 2013 World Series of Poker, but the Event #7 $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em final table will no doubt go down as one of the most stacked of the summer. The day began with five amateurs who combined for $2,968 in WSOP earnings and five established pros with more than $4 million in combined earnings; what's more, two of the final table participants were seeking their second bracelet—Brent Hanks and Eric "basebadly" Baldwin.

Unfortunately for them, it was 28-year-old Matt Waxman who prevailed in a memorable final table to capture the $305,952 first-place prize and his first gold bracelet.

The first elimination of the day came within minutes when Scott Yelton fell to Jess Dioquino, bringing about the official final table of nine.

On Hand #23 of the final table, Baldwin managed to double through Jason Koon. Six hands later, Koon was dispatched in ninth place by Hanks, good for $22,435.

In Level 24, Matt Waxman eliminated Tuu Ho on Hand #41 to take over the chip lead, and then sent Robert Dreyfuss out the door 21 hands later. One level later, on Hand #73, Jacob Jung was sent packing in sixth place for $51,086.

After losing a good portion of his chips in Hand #74, Hanks was unable to recover and saw his dreams of a second bracelet cut short by Baldwin 20 hands later in a brutal bad beat.

Five hands later, the start-of-the-day chip leader, Amit Makhija, was eliminated by Waxman when he ran queens straight into aces. Three-handed play was a quick affair and saw the last of the amateurs, Dioquino, fall to Baldwin.

Heads-up play began with Waxman holding a 3.1-million-to-2.4-million chip lead over Baldwin. The Wisconsinite was able to double into the chip lead 17 hands into heads-up play, but eight hands later Waxman reclaimed it with a double of his own.

The two would battle for 187 hands over the course of nearly seven hours, but during that time the duo swapped the chip lead multiple times. It really was an epic heads-up match with both men trying their upmost to win poker's most prestigious prize. Unfortunately there could only be one winner, and as you already know that man was Waxman. Of course you can read the final hand simply by scrolling down.

Congratulations to Matthew Waxman on winning Event #7: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $305,952 and his first WSOP gold bracelet!

Hand #290: Matt Waxman moved all in and Eric Baldwin folded.

Hand #291: Eric Baldwin limped on the button and Matt Waxman checked his option in the big blind. Both players then checked the     flop and the dealer burned and turned the  . Waxman bet 230,000, Baldwin moved all in and Waxman called off for 1.965 million. Baldwin tabled the    for two pair but was behind of Waxman's    two pair. The   river improved Waxman to a full house and gave him the double.

Hand #292: Matt Waxman moved all in on the button and Eric Baldwin folded.

Matt Waxman	4,200,000	2,239,000
Eric Baldwin	1,311,000	-2,239,000

Hand #280: Matt Waxman called from the button and Eric Baldwin checked his option from the big. Baldwin then check-folded to a bet of 180,000 on the     flop.

Hand #281: Eric Baldwin folded the button.

Hand #282: Matt Waxman shoved all in and Eric Baldwin folded.

Hand #283: Eric Baldwin folded the button.

Hand #284: Matt Waxman moved all in from the button and Eric Baldwin folded.

Hand #285: Eric Baldwin won the pot by moving all in on the button.

Hand #286: Matt Waxman folded the button.

Hand #287: Eric Baldwin moved all in on the button and Matt Waxman folded.

Hand #288: Matt Waxman moved all in and took down the pot.

Hand #277: Eric Baldwin folded the button.

Hand #278: Matt Waxman folded the button.

Hand #279: Eric Baldwin raised the button to 240,000, Matt Waxman called and the flop fell    . Waxman check-called a bet of 170,000, both players checked the   turn and the   completed the board on the river. Waxman checked and then folded when Baldwin moved all in.

Matt Waxman	3,260,000	-801,000
Eric Baldwin	2,251,000	801,000

Hand 270: Matt Waxman raised to 240,000 on the button and takes it down.

Hand 271: Eric Baldwin raised to 240,000 and Matt Waxman three-bet shoved. Baldwin folded.

Hand 272: Matt Waxman raised to 240,000 on the button and takes it down.

Hand 273: Eric Baldwin limped on the button and Matt Waxman checked.

The flop fell     and Waxman check-called 135,000. Both checked the   turn and Waxman bet 180,000 on the   river. Baldwin called, but mucked when Waxman tabled   .

Hand #266: Matt Waxman moved all in from the button for 1.14 million and Eric Baldwin called.

Baldwin:   
Waxman:   

Once again Baldwin got it in good and was looking to hold, but again Waxman would find a nine as the board ran out      .

Eric Baldwin	3,201,000	-1,119,000
Matt Waxman	2,310,000	1,119,000

Hand #257: Eric Baldwin limped from the button and Matt Waxman checked from the big blind. Both players checked the     flop and then Baldwin called a bet of 135,000 on the   turn. When the   completed the board on the river, Waxman checked and Baldwin bet 470,000. Waxman folded.

Hand #258: Matt Waxman folded the button.

Hand #259: Eric Baldwin limped the button, Matt Waxman checked his option and the flop fell    . Waxman bet 135,000 but folded when Baldwin raised to 300,000.

Hand #260: Matt Waxman raised to 240,000 and Baldwin folded.

Hand #261: Eric Baldwin raised to 240,000 and won the pot.

Hand #262: Matt Waxman raised to 240,000 and Eric Baldwin called. Baldwin then check-folded to a bet of 340,000 on the     flop.

Hand #263: Eric Baldwin limped the button and then folded when Matt Waxman moved all in.

Hand #247: Eric Baldwin limped from the button and Matt Waxman checked his option from the big blind. Waxman proceeded to check-call a bet of 135,000 on the     flop and then both players checked the   turn. When the   peeled off on the river, Waxman checked and Baldwin bet 220,000. Waxman woke up with a check-raise to 620,000 and Baldwin made a quick call.

Waxman sheepishly turned over the    for ace high and Baldwin took down the pot with the    straight.

Hand #248: Matt Waxman limped from the button and then folded when Eric Baldwin moved all in.

Hand #249: Eric Baldwin folded the button.

Hand #250: Matt Waxman raised to 240,000 and then folded when Eric Baldwin moved all in.

Hand #251: Eric Baldwin folded the button.

Eric Baldwin	3,651,000	941,000
Matt Waxman	1,860,000	-941,000

Hand #240: Matt Waxman opened for 200,000 and Eric Baldwin called. The latter then check-called bets of 140,000 on the     flop and 235,000 on the   turn, and then both players checked the   river. Baldwin tabled the    for a pair of sevens and it was good.

Hand #241: Eric Baldwin limped the button and Matt Waxman checked his option. Waxman check-called a bet of 105,000 on the     and then the players checked both the   turn and   river. Waxman showed the    and Baldwin mucked.

Hand #242: Matt Waxman opened the button for 200,000 and Eric Baldwin folded.

Hand #243: Eric Baldwin limped and then called a raise to 260,000 from Matt Waxman. The latter fired out 240,000 on the     flop and Baldwin folded.

Hand #244: Matt Waxman limped, Eric Baldwin checked and the flop fell    . Baldwin checked and then folded to Waxman's 110,000 bet.

The two players have decided to take a short break. They're essentially even in chips.

Matt Waxman	2,801,000	-340,000
Eric Baldwin	2,710,000	340,000