Event #59: $2,500 Big Bet Mix

In a span of less than 20 hands, Jens Lakemeier single-handedly brought Event #59: $2,500 Big Bet Mix from five players down to one to take down his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet.

Lakemeier started the final day as the chip leader but very quickly fell from that pole position. As soon as he regained the lead, though, he put the pedal to the metal and, with his aggressive play, removed each of his final four opponents.

Of course, play was slow and steady at first, with no one wanting to be the first to leave. That unfortunate honor went to Kenneth Fitzgerald, who lost a coin flip to Ashton Griffin. Fitzgerald exited in sixth place, taking home ($16,793) for his finish.

Play really slowed down after Fitzgerald's exit, with the players trading pots back and forth for almost four hours. At one point, Lakemeier fell down to the shortest stack. He was able to double without a showdown by taking down several pots in a row, then finally doubled through Jerry Wong in a hand of Big O to take back the chip lead. He used that chip lead aggressively, raising relentlessly and putting immense pressure on his oponnents.

It wasn't until a stunning 5 Card Draw hand that fireworks finally exploded. Ashton Griffin opened with a raise to 55,000 from the cutoff, and Wong shoved from the cutoff. Lakemeier called from the big blind, and Griffin called all in, as well. Lakemeier was only drawing to four outs with one card to come. Griffin had a better two pair than him, but Lakemeier binked his queen to make a full house and eliminate Wong and Griffin in the same hand.

Andrew Kelsall fell immediately after when Lakemeier turned a straight in Pot-Limit Omaha to leave Kelsall drawing dead.

Heads-up play, too, was a quick ordeal, as Jason Stockfish lasted less than 10 hands. Lakemeier had an overwhelming chip lead, and the two got it all in during a Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo hand. Lakemeier held top pair, while Stockfish had middle pair and a straight draw. The turn and the river bricked out, and that earned Lakemeier the victory.

Lakemeier has had some success in live tournaments in Europe, but this is his first World Series of Poker bracelet and by far his biggest WSOP cash, as well as his first cash this summer. For his win, he locked up his first gold bracelet and the $112,232 first prize.

Full Final Table Results:

Players are now seated, and action is back under way.

No-Limit 5 Card Draw

In a stunning hand, Jens Lakemeier just eliminated both Jerry Wong and Ashton Griffin at the same time.

Ashton Griffin opened from the cutoff with a raise to 55,000. Jerry Wong then moved all in from the small blind with a covering stack. Next to act was Jens Lakemeier, and he called the all-in from the big blind.

Ashton Griffin stood up from his chair, motioned his chips into the pot, pulled them back for a second, then plopped them down, calling, as well.

Wong took three, Lakemeier took one, and Griffin took one.

Griffin turned up      for two pair while Lakemeier was drawing thin with     . Wong was left drawing practically dead with   . He needed to draw three of a kind to improve to a full house, which he did not do; he showed    , making him a worse two pair.

Griffin turned up his last card, showing the   and keeping his hand the same.

Lakemeier then sheepishly turned over his last card. It was the   making him a full house and scoring him the double knockout.

With that hand, Lakemeier moves into the overwhelming chip lead. Griffin takes fifth place with the shortest stack for $23,235, and Wong takes fourth for $32,804.

Jens Lakemeier	1,800,000	1,130,000
Jerry Wong	0	-400,000
Ashton Griffin	0	-610,000

Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

Jerry Wong limped the small blind, and Jens Lakemeier defended his big blind.

The flop came    , and both players checked. Wong bet 20,000 on theh   turn. and Lakemeier called. The river was the  , and Wong bet 25,000. Lakemeier called.

Wong showed      and won the pot.

Jens Lakemeier	670,000	-135,000
Jerry Wong	400,000	105,000

Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

Jens Lakemeier has taken an agressive strategy of raising almost every pot and betting when given the chance. For the most part, he's met little resistance, but he has been up and down, trading pots with the players at the table. In a recent Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo hand, he took on Andrew Kelsall.

Lakemeier limped from the small blind, and Kelsall checked his big blind.

On the     flop, both players checked to see the   on the turn. There, Lakemeier bet 39,000, and Kelsall called. The river was the  , pairing the board. Lakemeier slowed down with a check. Kelsall took the opportunity to bet 68,000. Lakemeier thought for a minute then plopped out a raise of what looked like 275,000. Kelsall didn't take too long to fold, and Lakemeier took down the pot.

Lakemeier has regained his chip lead in the tournament and is using it to apply a lot of pressure to his opponents.

Jens Lakemeier	805,000	-95,000
Andrew Kelsall	415,000	90,000

Pot-Limit Omaha

Hand #1: Jason Stockfish opened from the cutoff to 40,000. Jerry Wong called on the button. Jens Lakemeier was in the small blind and he potted it, making it 186,000 to play. Stockfish folded quickly and Wong thought for a long time before releasing his hand, awarding the pot to Lakemeier.

Hand #2: Lakemeier opened to 38,000 from the button. Ashton Griffin called from the big blind.

On the     flop, Griffin checked to Lakemeier. Lakemeier bet 38,000 and Griffin folded.

Hand #3: Jens Lakemeier opened from under the gun to 38,000. Jerry Wong called from the big blind.

The flop was     and both players checked to see the   on the turn. Wong checked to Lakemeier who made it 38,000 and Wong folded.

With those three pots, Lakemeier was effectively able to double up without a showdown.

Jens Lakemeier

430,000

235,000

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Jens Lakemeier raised to 37,000 and Jason Stockfish defended his big blind.

Stockfish drew one and Lakemeier two. Stockfish checked and Lakemeier bet 68,000. Stockfish called.

Lakemeier showed       and Stockfish won with      .

Jason Stockfish	520,000	160,000
Jens Lakemeier	400,000	-120,000

No-Limit Hold'em

Jerry Wong limped in from the small blind and Jens Lakemeier checked his option from the big blind.

The flop came down     and Wong led out for 12,000. Lakemeier called.

On the   turn both players checked to see the   on the river. Wong let out for 28,000 and after about 30 seconds Lakemeier called. Wong showed    and Lakemeier mucked quicky.

Jerry Wong	980,000	140,000
Jens Lakemeier	210,000	-50,000