Brent Hanks Wins $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Event At 2012 World Series of Poker

After being down to about one big blind earlier this week, Brent Hanks has won the first open bracelet event of the 2012 World Series of Poker.

Hanks defeated a star-studded final table to earn his first gold bracelet, a massive first-place prize of more than $400,000, after chopping, and 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points. He’s moved into 52nd position in the overall standings.

The $1,500 no-limit hold’em event attracted a grand total of 2,101 players, building a total prize pool of $2.8 million.

The final day of play began with 15 players, with Hanks joined by WSOP bracelet winners JP Kelly, Vanessa Selbst and Andrew Badecker. Kelly was the first of these notable pros to hit the rail at the final table.

Play got down to four handed with Selbst, Badecker, Hanks and final-day chip leader Jacob Bazeley to fight for the title.

Selbst was the first to fall, shoving her short stack under the gun with K 7 and finding herself in rough shape against Badecker’s K Q. Selbst was unable to come from behind, and was sent to the rail in fourth for $161,345 and 540 POY points. Selbst now sits in 69th place in the overall POY standings.

Despite busting Selbst, Badecker was the next to go. After doubling up a shorter-stacked Bazeley, Badecker soon found himself in a cooler situation three-handed, running pocket tens into Hanks’ Q-Q. The run out improved neither player, and Badecker was eliminated in third. For his third final-table finish of the year, Badecker earned $224,029 and 720 POY points, vaulting him into 19th place in the rankings.

Heads-up play between Hanks and Bazely lasted for more than two hours, with the lead changing hands a few times before the decisive pot. Hanks opened for 160,000 from the button, Jacob Bazeley reraised to 420,000 from the big blind, Hanks four-bet to 780,000, Bazeley shoved, and Hanks called all-in.

Bazeley held a slight chip lead going into the hand, and it was Hanks who was all-in for his tournament life. Bazeley led preflop with 9-9 against Hanks’ A 8. The board ran out A 7 6 6 4, giving Hanks the double up.

A severely short-stacked Bazeley got the rest of his chips in before the flop with 10 4 against Brent Hanks’ A10.

The board came J 10 2 6 J, giving Hanks the win.

Bazeley took home about $400,000 and 900 POY points for his runner-up finish. With a final table finish at the $1,600 WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Tunica main event also under his belt, Bazely has moved into 35th place in the overall standings.

Here’s a look at the listed payouts and POY points awarded:

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