Monday, June 28, 2010 3:09 AM Local Time
Coming back for Day 2 with 35, we knew the journey could be long, and your blogging team were taking bets on the under/over for a 4am finish. But, with just two minutes to spare, we eventually unearthed a winner, an elated Jesse Rockowitz who toppled a tough opponent in Raymond Coburn to overcome what was an epic final table.
Prior to the heads-up battle, the arena was buzzing with the ever-vocal Brazilian contingent supporting their hero as if he were the second coming. However, when he crashed out in third, the chanting and singing came to an abrupt end, and the mood suddenly became deadly serious: the bracelet was brought to the table, and our two remaining Trojans were just one spot away from topping a 3,097-thick field.
Cooler than the Fonzie in a fridge freezer, Rockowitz remained composed throughout, and battled ferociously to come back from a chip deficit to, first, double through, and then, several hands later, drop the hammer with to claim victory. Without doubt, this was a tough, hard-fought out victory that would have aged any man, but it was all worth it as Rockowitz goes home with some new jewelry and the small matter of the $721,373 first prize.
Monday, June 28, 2010 3:06 AM Local Time
Raymond Coburn limped in with the button and Jesse Rockowitz checked his option.
The flop fell and Rockowitz led for 95,000. Coburn raised to 500,000, Rockowitz re-raised to 1,360,000 and Coburn called.
The turn brought the and Rockowitz led again - this time for 945,000. Coburn announced all in and Rockowitz shot up from his chair. Rockowitz asked for the dealer to pull the bet in and stood in silence mulling the decision over. Nobody made a sound during the tank.
Finally, Rockowitz called and nearly everyone in the area rushed to the table to get a look at the hands:
Showdown
Coburn:
Rockowitz:
One must have a five or a ten to make any straight in poker, and those were the only two cards that could keep Coburn alive. The on the river was a big, fat brick though and Coburn was eliminated in 2nd place.
Coburn played valiantly throughout the entire tournament, and for his efforts he will receive $446,274.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:52 AM Local Time
After a tentative sparring period, we encountered our first all-in (and call) of this heads-up battle.
It was Jesse Rockowitz who lit the first spark, opening from the button with a raise to 320,000. Raymond Coburn made the call.
Fireworks on the flop as Coburn check-raised Rockowitz's continuation bet of 315,000 to a cool million. Rockowitz announced all-in and, with a shrug of the shoulders, Coburn made the call.
Coburn:
Rockowitz:
Despite the threat of a split, the turn and river were both safe cards and Rockowitz doubled up. As a result, stacks are virtually back up to even.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:48 AM Local Time
It's been rather slow during heads up play, but many of our friends on the rail just jumped for joy (literally) when Vivek Rajkumar entered the final table area.
"Vivek's here!" Clayton Newman shouted when he saw him.
Apparently, everybody loves Mr. Rajkumar.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:45 AM Local Time
Jesse Rockowitz has taken three small pots in a row from Raymond Cobrum, but is still behind with only 4,300,000 chips.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:29 AM Local Time
Raymond Coburn and Jesse Rockowitz saw a cheap flop of . Both players checked leading to a turn where Coburn check-called a bet of 260,000. On the river, Coburn once again check-called a bet, this time 500,000, before showing a triumphant .
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:25 AM Local Time
Jesse Rockowitz opened to 240,000 with the button and Raymond Coburn defended his big blind.
The dealer flopped and Coburn checked to Rockowitz who continued for 295,000. Coburn check-raised to 725,000 and Rockowitz called.
The turned and Coburn led for 1,000,000. Rockowitz flicked his cards into the muck and the chips were shipped to Coburn.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:22 AM Local Time
Most hands have been min-raised preflop by the button, and the last encounter was no exception. This time it was Jesse Rockowitz utilizing his position, Raymond Coburn making the call from the big blind.
On the flop, Rockowitz led for 295,000 and Coburn made the call. With both players checking the turn, Rockowitz announced a bet of 465,000 on the river. Coburn made the call.
As Coburn turned onto the felt, Rockowitz nodded his head and mucked his cards.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:17 AM Local Time
Raymond Coburn raised to 250,000 with the button and Jesse Rockowitz made the call.
The flop fell and Rockowitz checked to Coburn who continued for 300,000. Rockowitz check-raised to 865,000 and Coburn quickly folded.
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:09 AM Local Time
The candy lady was just called over to the final table and Raymond Coburn's rail ordered basically everything on the menu compliments of Shaun Deeb. We may not be in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but perhaps one of our friends on the rail just received a golden ticket.
Monday, June 28, 2010 1:52 AM Local Time
Our two remaining Trojans reached a cheap flop of where Raymond Coburn bet 300,000. Jesse Rockowitz made the call, before check-calling a bet of 700,000 on the turn. On the river, however, he turned aggressor, leading for 930,000. Coburn called, but was chagrined to see Rockowitz turn over the for the rivered flush.
Monday, June 28, 2010 1:49 AM Local Time
Jesse Rockowitz had the button and raised to 240,000. Raymond Coburn called.
The flop fell and Coburn check-called 295,000 from Rockowitz.
The turned and Coburn check-called another bet - this one was worth 745,000.
Both players checked the on the turn and Rockowitz mucked when Coburn opened .
Coburn is up to 8,350,000 chips while Rockowitz slipped to 5,500,000.
Monday, June 28, 2010 1:28 AM Local Time
We are going to be heads up for the cash and the bracelet, but first the players have opted to take a break. Cya in a few!
Monday, June 28, 2010 1:20 AM Local Time
With the blinds at 60,000 and 120,000, Ray Coburn made a rare limp on the button, leading to a fold from Jesse Rockowitz in the small blind and a raise from Thiago Nishijima to 395,000 in the big blind. Coburn, with his head resting on one arm as his cap and hoodie combo shadowed his face, made the call.
The dealer roller out a flop, and after much deliberation, Nishijima led out for 475,000. Coburn paused briefly, glanced at the dealer, and quietly announced all-in. Nishijima rechecked his cards and responded with a call.
An excited crowd left their seats and closed in on the table as the hole cards were revealed: for Coburn, but for Nishijimi.
As the Brazilian contingent held their breath in unison, the American fans began chanting for a six, but before their requests had barely left their lips, the dealer duly popped the onto the felt. The locals erputed as the Brazilians were silenced. A river and it was all over for Nishijima - despite a plucky performance that would make Rocky look like a quitter, he'd finished just two places shorts of the bracelet.
"U S A!! U S A!! U S A!!" came the chants, but the Brazilians were quick to respond. "Braaazil!! Braaazil!! Braaazil!!" Outnumbering their foes, the Brazilians stormed the stage to congratulate their sunken hero, lifting him up on their shoulders as if he'd won the bracelet. But although he wouldn't be adding gold to his wrist, he does leave with a rather sumptuous $315,828 in his back pocket, and that alone is worth a cheer or two.
Monday, June 28, 2010 1:06 AM Local Time
Thiago Nishijima opened the pot preflop and was called by Jesse Rockowitz out of the big blind.
The flop fell and Rockowitz check-called 250,000 from Nishijima.
Both players checked the on the turn and the river brought the . Rockowitz led for tiny bit, 195,000, and Nishijima folded.
Monday, June 28, 2010 12:53 AM Local Time
Thiago Nishijima raised from the button to 250,000, Raymond Coburn called from the small blind, and Jesse Rockowitz three-bet squeezed from the big blind to 645,000. Nishijima folded, but Coburn made the call.
The flop came , but both players tentatively checked, before Rockowitz took it down with a bet of 590,000 on the turn.
Monday, June 28, 2010 12:46 AM Local Time
Raymond Coburn opened to 225,000 with the button and both Jesse Rockowitz and Thiago Nishijima called.
All three players checked the flop, and after the turned Rockowitz led for 425,000. Nishijima and Coburn folded and the pot was sent to Rockowitz.
Monday, June 28, 2010 12:41 AM Local Time
Jesse Rockowitz raised his button to 200,000 only for the action to halt on Thiago Nishijima in the small blind. After meticulously counting out the necessary chips, he slid 600,000 across the felt. Raymond Curburn folded, and Rockowitz released his hand in equally quick measure.
Monday, June 28, 2010 12:39 AM Local Time
Jesse Rockowitz completed the small blind and Thiago Nishijima opted to check in the big.
The dealer flopped and Rockowitz led for 150,000. Nishijima called.
Rockowitz slowed after the turned, checking to Nishijima who bet 225,000. Rockowitz called.
The river brought the and Rockowitz again checked. Nishijima fired 300,000 and Rockowitz folded.
Nishijima is on a rush, and is back over 3,000,000 chips.
Monday, June 28, 2010 12:28 AM Local Time
Thiago Nishijima opened his button to 225,000, Raymond Coburn three-bet to 650,000 from the small blind and Nishijima relinquished his hand.