Event #48: $3,000 Limit Hold'em

After over fourteen hours of play, including a two-hour heads-up match, Kenny Hsiung is the winner of Event 48: $3,000 Limit Hold'em.

Day 3 began with 20 players looking to capture World Series of Poker glory, and the top prize of $165,205. Paul Berende was the chip leader to start the day, and he was closely followed by Kenny Hsiung, John Virtue, and Cary Marshall. Marshall was the only member of that group to miss the final table – he was ultimately eliminated in thirteenth place, earning him $9,272.

Vladimir Shchmelev and Justin Bonomo were the first two players eliminated today, and they busted fairly quickly, but after that, there was a lull in play until the start of Level 19. Within an hour however, the field shrunk from eighteen players to eleven, and six minutes into Level 20, we had reached the official final table.

Stephen Hung was the first player to be eliminated from the final table when his ace-ten was out-raced by Mitchell Davis' pocket nines. The board ran out      , and Hung's day was finished. John Myung was the next player to bow out, followed by Davis, who started the final table as the chip leader. Davis took a couple of hits, including a big one against Dwyte Pilgrim, and was busted by Hsiung, who assumed the chip lead.

Matthew Woodward, and Pilgrim were the next two players eliminated. Pilgrim, who was down to one big blind on Day 2, climbed all the way to the top of the chip counts at one point during the final table, only to bust at the hands of Berende. Berende was still short however, and couldn't get anything going during four-handed play. Hwang did him in with    against the    of Berende on a flop of    . The   gave Berende outs, but the   bricked on the river, eliminating him from the tournament.

Hsiung began pulling away as John Virtue began sinking, and Virtue was crippled when Hsiung turned a flush against Virtue's flopped set. Virtue was eliminated the next hand, and was off to the cage to collect $76,244.

Hsiung began heads-up play with a massive lead over Hwang, but Hwang quickly fought back and evened the match. For the next two hours, the chip lead changed hands numerous times, until finally Hsiung began to pull away for good. On the final hand, Hwang was all in with an open-ended straight draw, and Hsiung held just king high. The board paired on the river, and Hsiung was the champion.

Congratulations are in order to Hsiung, who considers himself a limit-hold'em specialist. He'll take home $165,205, along with the WSOP gold bracelet.

Robert Hwang raised with the button, Kenny Hsiung called, and the flop fell    . Hsiung check-called a bet, and the turn brought the  . Hsiung led out, Hwang called, and the   completed the board. Hsiung led again, Hwang called, and Hsiung tabled    for trip sixes.

Hwang mucked, and now has two-and-a-half big bets.

Kenny Hsiung	1,975,000	870,000
Robert Hwang	250,000	-870,000

Robert Hwang had the button, and raised. Kenny Hsiung called, and the flop fell    . Hsiung check-raised Hwang, who called.

The turn was the  , and Hsiung led out. Hwang called. The   completed the board, but before it did, Hsiung moved all in blind.

"I can't fold now," Hwang announced, calling.

Hsiung turned over    for trip tens, and doubled.

Robert Hwang	1,525,000	-350,000
Kenny Hsiung	700,000	350,000

Robert Hwang strung a few pots together before raising with the button. Kenny Hsiung called, and the flop fell    . Hsiung led out, and Hwang called.

The turn was the  , and Hsiung led again. Hwang raised, Hsiung made it three bets, and Hwang called. Hsiung bet in the dark before the   completed the board, and Hwang tank-called.

Hsiung tabled two black eights for a set, and raked in the pot.

Kenny Hsiung	1,480,000	60,000
Robert Hwang	745,000	-60,000

Kenny Hsiung had the button, and raised. Robert Hwang defended his big blind, and the flop fell    . Hwang checked, Hsiung bet, and Hwang check-raised. Hsiung re-raised, and Hwang called.

The turn was the  , and Hwang check-called a bet. He then check-folded when the   completed the board, and Hsiung raked in the pot.

Kenny Hsiung	1,760,000	655,000
Robert Hwang	465,000	-655,000

Robert Hwang had the button, and raised. Kenny Hsiung called, and the flop came    . Hsiung led out, Hwang raised, and Hsiung called.

The turn was the  , and Hsiung slowed down, check-calling a bet.

The river was the  , and Hsiung checked again. Hwang bet, Hsiung check-raised, and Hwang tank-called. Hsiung tabled    for a rivered straight, and Hwang flashed his rail a   before folding.

Robert Hwang	1,120,000	-180,000
Kenny Hsiung	1,105,000	182,000

Kenny Hsiung raised with the button, Robert Hwang defended hid big blind, and the flop fell    . Hwang led out, Hsiung raised, and Hwang called. Hwang led again after the   turned, Hsiung raised again, and Hwang called.

Both players checked after the   fell on the river, and Hsiung had queen-high. Hwang showed    for tens and deuces, and won the pot.

Robert Hwang	1,893,000	618,000
Kenny Hsiung	330,000	-618,000

Kenny Hsiung raised with the button, Robert Hwang called, and the flop fell    . Hwang check-called a bet, and the turn was the  . Hwang led out, Hsiung raised, and Hwang made it three bets. Hsiung released, and Hwang took the pot.

Robert Hwang	1,743,000	543,000
Kenny Hsiung	480,000	-550,000

Robert Hwang had the button, and raised. Kenny Hsiung called, and the flop fell    . Both players checked.

The turn was the  , and Hsiung led out. Hwang called.

The river was the  , and both players checked. Hsiung tabled    for ace-high, and retook the chip lead.

Kenny Hsiung	1,363,000	313,000
Robert Hwang	860,000	-313,000