Last night we saw the completion of event #20, $2,000 seven card stud eight-or-better. The event attracted 340 entrants, creating a prize pool of over $620,000.
Coming into the final table saw the return of Greg Raymer, the 2004 main event champion. The lineup by chip count was: Steve Graboski ($373,000), Ryan Hughes ($341,000), Raymer ($215,000), Doug Carli ($97,000), Min Lee ($66,000), Jim Weir ($46,000), Ron Ware ($46,000), and Adam Spiegelberg ($36,000).
The short stacks at the table got action moving along early. Spiegelberg was the shortest stack coming into the final table and, as one would expect, he was the first to be eliminated. His eighth-place finish awarded him $13,923, unfortunately a far cry from the spoils of first place.
After a few short stacks had busted, Raymer found himself with over half the chips in play with four left. This did not stop variance from rearing its ugly head, and over the next several hands disaster ensued for Raymer and his stack. Raymer managed to deliver one more knockout blow to Graboski. The chip leader at the start of the final table had to settle for fifth place and $32,187.
Despite the massive chip lead he once held, Raymer was soon crippled after losing multiple pots in a row. He was eventually knocked out in fourth place, earning $41,460 in his second cash at this year's World Series of Poker.
Carli would be the next player to meet misfortune. Carli ran into a full house held by Hughes, who was starting to amass a large chip lead in the most crucial part of the tournament. Carli finished the tournament in third place and was awarded $61,880.
Eventually Hughes and Lee got down to heads up, with Hughes wielding a 3-to-1 chip advantage over Lee. After only 11 hands, Lee got all in and both players turned up their cards. Lee showed (J
8 4
) 6 4
4
3, but Hughes had (J 5 10) 10 10 10 6, to win with quad tens! Hughes emerged victorious, capturing the bracelet, and $176,385 in first-place money. Lee had to settle for the second prize of $97,461, a respectable consolation.
By Zach Bailey
