World Series of Poker -- Kirk Caldwell Wins $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Event

Another weekend at the 2011 World Series of Poker saw a huge field pack the Pavilion and Amazon Rooms at the Rio and late last evening a champion was crowned from the field of 2,828 players. That champion was Kirk Caldwell and he took home his first gold bracelet and $668,276 for his first-ever WSOP cash.

Caldwell came to his ultimate conquest with the help of his friends. A few months prior to the tournament, several of his buddies in the Toronto, Ontario area decided to host a mini-satellite, with the top prize being a trip to Las Vegas with an entry fee into a gold bracelet event. Caldwell won the first battle, and then he won again when he got to Vegas. The 31-year-old became the fourth Canadian to claim a gold bracelet at the 2011 WSOP.

Through the conclusion of this tournament, the national origin (birthplace) of winners has been:

United States (17)
Canada (4)
Great Britain (3)
France (2)
Ukraine (2)
Israel (1)
Russia (1)
Honduras (1)
Indonesia (1)
Germany (1)

Here is a look at the elimination hands as featured on CardPlayer.com’s summary reports:

Martin Stevens Eliminated in 9th Place ($49,631)
Kyle Cartwright Eliminated in 8th Place ($64,788)

Marc McLaughlin raised to 60,000 before the flop, Martin Stevens reraised to 185,000 from the small blind, Kyle Cartwright moved all in for 775,000 from the big blind, McLaughlin re-shoved and Stevens called all in for 710,000.

Cartwright was ahead with J J against Stevens’ 10 10 and McLaughlin’s A Q

The board came K 5 3 4 Q, giving McLaughlin a pair of queens on the river to win the pot and bust two players on the same hand. McLaughlin took the chip lead that hand with 3.5 million while Kyle Cartwright was eliminated in 8th place ($64,788) and Martin Stevens was eliminated in 9th place ($49,631).

Rodrigo Portaleoni Eliminated in 7th Place ($85,556)

Rodrigo Portaleoni got it all in before the flop for 80,000 against Marc McLaughlin and Gabriel Morin.

The flop came J 10 7, Morin bet 125,000 and McLaughlin folded.

Morin was ahead with 7 7 for bottom set while Portaleoni had K 9 for an inside straight draw.

The turn and river were the 2 and the 3, no help to Rodrigo Portaleoni who was eliminated in 7th place ($85,556).

Randy Haddox Eliminated in 6th Place ($114,304)

Kirk Caldwell raised to 95,000 before the flop, Randy Haddox reraised to 345,000, Caldwell shoved and Haddox called all in.

Haddox was ahead with K K to Caldwell’s Q Q.

The board came Q 9 7 9 4, giving Caldwell top set on the flop and a full house on the turn. Randy Haddox was eliminated in 6th place ($114,304).

Dror Michaelo Eliminated in 5th Place ($154,506)

Kirk Caldwell opened the pot for 90,000 from the small blind and Dror Michaelo called from the big blind.

The flop came A K 5 and both players checked.

The turn was the 4, Caldwell bet 285,000, Michaelo moved all in and Caldwell called.

Caldwell was ahead with A 5 for two pair against Michaelo’s K J for one pair.

The river was 9, and Dror Michaelo was eliminated in 5th place ($154,506).

Gabriel Morin Eliminated in 4th Place ($211,353)

Gabriel Morin moved all in from the button before the flop and Marc McLaughlin called from the big blind.

McLaughlin lead with K Q against Morin’s Q 9.

The board came A J 2 5 6, no help to Gabriel Morin who was eliminated in 4th place ($211,353).

Marc McLaughlin Eliminated in 3rd Place ($211,353)

On a flop of 8 5 4, Marc McLaughlin bet 200,000, Kirk Caldwell raised to 500,000, McLaughlin moved all in and Caldwell called.

McLaughlin turned over 6 5 for the lead with middle pair and a straight draw while Caldwell showed A 10 for a flush draw and two overs.

The turn and river were the 10 and the 9, giving Caldwell a higher pair on the turn to win the pot. Marc McLaughlin was eliminated in 3rd place ($211,353), while Caldwell took the chip lead going into heads-up play.

Ben White Eliminated in 2nd Place ($414,918)

Ben White entered heads-up play with a 2:1 chip disadvantage and really never got anything going. On the final hand of the night, Kirk Caldwell button-raised to 300,000, Ben White reraised to 900,000 from the big blind, Caldwell shoved and White called all in.

Caldwell turned over 8 8 for the lead while White showed A Q for the draw.

The board came 9 9 7 J 8, no help for Ben White who was eliminated in 2nd place ($414,918). Kirk Caldwell wins the gold bracelet for Event #32 and the $688,276 grand prize.

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