Tuesday, May 29, 2012 1:15 AM Local Time
After 21 hours of grueling, crazy poker, we have our first bracelet winner of the 2012 World Series of Poker! A big congratulations goes out to Chiab "Chip" Saechao, who came into today as the chip leader, and rode that momentum to a final table victory in Event #1 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em. He will take home almost $71,000, and of course, the coveted gold bracelet, for his efforts.
732 entrants ponied up the $500 entry fee for the opening event of the series, and 81 of those players walked away with money in their pockets. 46 of those players came back today, including WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. Stewart played very well but, ultimately bowed out in 19th place.
Despite entering today as the chip leader, Saechao remained fairly quiet for the first half of the day. He entered the final table 8th in chips, and seemed very content with sitting back and letting the other players take each other out. With five players left, Saechao won back-to-back coin flips, including a roller coaster hand against Patricia Baker, the eventual runner up. Action began with Patricia Baker opening under-the-gun for 32,000. Action folded around to Saechao in the small blind who immediately pushed his entire stack in for about 260,000 more. Ray Pulford folded from the big and Baker fell into the tank. She eventually slid a calling stack into the middle.
Baker:
Saechao:
"It's a race!" Saechao shouted.
The flop came and a clearly dejected Saechao groaned and shouted, "Ten!"
Turn:
Ask and you shall receive.
A fell on the river, giving Baker trips, but improving Saechao to a full-house as he doubled.
From there, Saechao never looked back, notching three of the final four eliminations, on his way to victory! Once again, a big congratulations go out to Chiab Saechao, our first bracelet winner of the summer!
Place | Player | Prize |
1 | Chiab Saechao | $70,859 |
2 | Patricia Baker | $43,754 |
3 | James Routos | $28,206 |
4 | Ray Pulford | $20,663 |
5 | Nicolas Vaca-Rondon | $15,359 |
6 | Jay Pinkussohn | $11,571 |
7 | Steven Phan | $8,824 |
8 | Matthew Wilmot | $6,808 |
9 | Georgi Ivanov | $5,309 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 1:05 AM Local Time
In what would be the final hand of Event #1, Chiab Saechao completed from the button and Patricia checked her option.
The flop came and Baker check-called a 35,000 bet from Saechao.
Before the turn came, Baker announced a dark check. A landed and Saechao checked behind.
The river came the and Baker announced all in for her last 200,000. Saechao called immediately but was reluctant to turn his hand over. Baker obliged and said, "Straight," as she flipped over . Saechao triumphantly slammed down the for a rivered flush and let out a heart-felt "Woooo!!" upon realizing his victory.
Baker will take home $43,754 for her efforts.
Chiab Saechao | 2,200,000 | 600,000 |
Patricia Baker | 0 | -36,400 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:53 AM Local Time
Chaib Saechao called from the small blind, and Patricia Baker checked her option. The flop came out , and Baker fired out a big bet of 100,000. Saechao went into the tank for about 20 seconds, before announcing all in. Baker had less then 400,000 behind, but she was reluctant to call off the rest of it. After about 30 seconds, she said "I should have raised preflop" and folded her hand. This dropped her down to 360,000, while Saechao now has almost 2 million.
Chiab Saechao | 1,840,000 | 240,000 |
Patricia Baker | 360,000 | -240,000 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:43 AM Local Time
We are finally down to our final two players. Stay tuned as Chiab Saechao and Patricia Baker duke it out for the right to be called WSOP champion.
Chiab Saechao | 1,600,000 | 0 |
Patricia Baker | 600,000 | -20,000 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:40 AM Local Time
Action began with Chiab Saechao, who opened for 60,000 from the button. Patricia Baker folded from the small blind and James Routos announced he was all in from the big for his last 300,000. Saechao quickly called and hands were revealed.
Routos:
Saechao:
The board ran out , failing to improve Routos' hand and sending him to the rail in 3rd place.
Chiab Saechao | 1,600,000 | 1,449,400 |
James Routos | 0 | -146,900 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:34 AM Local Time
At this point, I'm pretty sure that James Routos and Chiab Saechao don't have a chance to win this tournament. Routos came in for a raise to 55,000 on the button, and Patricia Baker came along in the big blind. The flop came down , and Baker thought for about 15 seconds before announcing a bet of 238,000, which was also all of her chips. Routos wasted little time in calling, and Baker knew that she had been caught.
Baker:
Routos:
Both players caught a pair on the flop, but Routos was well out in front. The turn brought paint, but it was the , and Baker would need a jack or a two to win the pot. The river brought paint again, but this time, it was the that Baker was looking for. Baker doubled up yet again, and is sitting on over 600,000.
Patricia Baker | 620,000 | 320,000 |
James Routos | 310,000 | -490,000 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:30 AM Local Time
Action began with Patricia Baker, who completed from the small blind. James Routos checked his option.
The flop came and Baker led out for 100,000. Routos mulled over his decision and announced he was all in. Baker looked pained and eventually gave it up.
Baker is down to her last 300,000.
James Routos | 800,000 | 140,000 |
Patricia Baker | 300,000 | -210,000 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:20 AM Local Time
Patricia Baker limped in from the button, and James Routos called in the small blind. Chiab Saechao was sitting in the big blind, and he made it 60,000 on top to go. Baker came along for the ride, but Routos folded.
The dealer showed a flop of , and Saechao thought for just a few moments before announcing all in. Baker snap called, and showed for flopped top pair. Saechao caught no part of the flop, showing just , and he would need some help. The turn came the , and Saechao was still looking for an ace. The hit the river, and Baker collected the double up.
Chiab Saechao | 1,010,000 | -190,000 |
Patricia Baker | 510,000 | 210,000 |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:08 AM Local Time
All three players are back in their seats and cards are in the air!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:07 AM Local Time
Level: 21
Blinds: 12000/24000
Ante: 4000
Monday, May 28, 2012 11:48 PM Local Time
The three remaining players are now on break. We will try to crown a champion when they get back in 20 minutes.
Monday, May 28, 2012 11:38 PM Local Time
Ever since 3-handed play began, action has been rather slow, with most hands being a "raise it and take it" or a walk. With blinds due to rise again soon, it will only be a matter of time before the action picks up. Stay tuned.
Monday, May 28, 2012 11:23 PM Local Time
In case you forgot how brutal a game poker can be, this will remind you. Patricia Baker and Ray Pulford just dueled in back to back hands that led to the stunning elimination of Pulford, who was the chip leader for much of this final table.
On the first hand, Pulford limped on the button, Baker called in the small blind, and James Routos checked his option. Baker checked in the dark before the flop came down . Routos checked as well, and Pulford bet out 40,000. Baker was the only caller, and the turn came the . Baker moved all in for 144,000, and a clearly upset Pulford threw his hand into the muck, saying "I flopped the nut straight!"
Now here's the brutal one. Baker limped in from under the gun, and it folded around to Pulford, who decided to check. The dealer fanned out a flop of , and Pulford checked to Baker, who fired out an over bet of 80,000. Pulford made the call, and the turn came the . In the blink of an eye, Pulford checked, Baker moved all in, and Pulford snap called. The cards were flipped, and Pulford had trapped Baker to perfection.
Pulford:
Baker:
Baker had turned two pair, but Pulford had flopped bottom set. Baker would need a queen or an eight to take down the pot and pull out an incredible suck out. Well I'm sure you can guess what happened.
River:
An understandably frustrated Pulford said, in not so kind words "are you kidding me?!?!" When the stacks were counted, it was determined that Baker had more, and Pulford hit the rail in truly stunning fashion.
We are now three handed, with Chaib Saechao holding half the chips in play.
Patricia Baker | 600,000 | 400,000 |
Ray Pulford | 0 | -350,000 |
Monday, May 28, 2012 11:12 PM Local Time
Chiab Saechao opened to 45,000 from the button and found one caller in Patricia Baker in the big blind.
The flop came and Baker check-called another 45,000 bet from Saechao.
The turn brought the and both players checked.
When the fell on the turn, Baker led out for 100,000, only to have Saechao shove all in, which was enough to put Baker all in. Baker fell hard into the tank.
"I think you're just trying to blow me off my hand," Baker said.
Saechao remained silent.
"Alright, I'm gonna let it go," Baker said as she folded.
Saechao mucked without showing.
Saechao has the chip lead with 1,100,000, while Baker is down to her last 200,000.
Chiab Saechao | 1,100,000 | 250,000 |
Patricia Baker | 200,000 | -200,000 |
Monday, May 28, 2012 11:01 PM Local Time
Well that was sudden. On the very next hand, Chiab Saechao limped in under the gun, and action folded all the way around to Nicolas Vaca-Rondon. He moved all in for around 200,000, and Saechao insta-immediately-snap called, and yelled "aces"!
Saechao:
Vaca-Rondon:
The flop brought a couple scary looking cards, but it was safe for Saechao, coming . Saechao told the dealer to keep it high, and the on the turn was right in like with his request. The river was the , and Saechao increased his chip lead, while Vaca-Rondon went to the rail.
Chiab Saechao | 850,000 | 200,000 |
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon | 0 | -160,000 |
Monday, May 28, 2012 10:58 PM Local Time
Ray Pulford raised it up to 46,000, and Patricia Baker moved all in for 141,000 on top. Action folded around to Pulford, who went deep into the tank. After about 20 seconds of thinking, Baker began goading Pulford. She said, "I want you to call. I know you want to call go ahead I have the best hand." Pulford thought for about 90 more seconds, with Baker chiming in with similar sentiments every 20 seconds or so. Finally, Pulford tossed in the call.
Baker:
Pulford:
Pulford caught a piece of the flop, but so did Baker, as it came out . Pulford would need to find another pair to secure the knockout, but the turn, the , didn't help. The river gave Baker unnecessary trips, coming the , and Baker doubled up to around 400,000, while Pulford dropped to 550,000.
Ray Pulford | 550,000 | -50,000 |
Patricia Baker | 400,000 | 160,000 |
Monday, May 28, 2012 10:51 PM Local Time
Level: 20
Blinds: 10000/20000
Ante: 3000
Monday, May 28, 2012 10:50 PM Local Time
In a blind vs. blind confrontation, Chiab Saechao raised to 40,000 from the small and Ray Pulford flatted from the big.
Both players checked the flop.
When the hit the turn, Saechao led out for 40,000 and Pulford called.
A fell on the river and Saechao checked a final time. Pulford tossed out a 75,000 bet and Saechao said, "Let's see it," and tossed in a call.
"You got it," Pulford said and revealed .
Saechao showed for a rivered pair of jacks and scooped the pot.
Chiab Saechao | 650,000 | 80,000 |
Ray Pulford | 600,000 | -90,000 |
Monday, May 28, 2012 10:30 PM Local Time
Ok seriously...who is writing these hands?! For the second time in five hands, a miracle turn card helps one player survive. This time, Patricia Baker was on the right side of it, as she doubled through Nicolas Vaca-Rondon. Ray Pulford raised in the cutoff to 37,000, and Baker moved all in on the button for 98,000 total. Action folded to Vaca-Rondon in the big blind, and after thinking for about 20 seconds, he announced all in for about 275,000. Pulford got out of the way, and we had another coin flip on our hands.
Baker:
Vaca-Rondon:
Vaca-Rondon shot out to the lead when the flop came down . Baker was now well behind, but in what was a carbon copy of the hand that crippled her, Baker spiked her two outer, as the hit the turn. Vaca-Rondon was now drawing dead, but just for good measure, Baker hit quads with the on the river. After the hand, Baker is sitting on 240,000, while Vaca-Rondon is now on the short stack with 160,000.
Patricia Baker | 240,000 | 115,000 |
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon | 160,000 | -245,000 |
Monday, May 28, 2012 10:25 PM Local Time
The once short-stack Chiab Saechao has made quite the comeback.
Action began with Patricia Baker opening under-the-gun for 32,000. Action folded around to Saechao in the small blind who immediately pushed his entire stack in for about 260,000 more. Ray Pulford folded from the big and Baker fell into the tank. She eventually slid a calling stack into the middle.
Baker:
Saechao:
"It's a race!" Saechao shouted.
The flop came and a clearly dejected Saechao groaned and shouted, "Ten!"
Turn:
Ask and you shall receive.
A fell on the river, giving Baker trips, but improving Saechao to a full-house as he doubled.
Chiab Saechao | 570,000 | 210,000 |
Patricia Baker | 125,000 | -245,000 |