Chiab Saechao Wins Event no. 1 ($70,859)
May 29, '12
Level: 21
Blinds: 12,000-24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Live Updates:
Patricia Baker Doubles Through Chiab Saechao
Patricia Baker limped in the pot for 24,000 on the button, James Routos completed the bet from the small blind, Chiab Saechao raised to 84,000 from the big blind, Baker called and Routos folded.
The flop came 9
8
2
, Saechao shoved and Baker called all in.
Baker led the flop with J9 for top pair against Saechao’s ace-high with A
4.
The turn and river were the 4 and the K, as Baker doubled the short stack to about a half million in chips (20 bbs) to stay alive.
Patricia Baker ~ 500,000
Chiab Saechao ~ 1,000,000
Baker Doubles Again, Trades Stacks With Routos
Jame Routos opened the pot for 55,000 from the button and Patricia Baker called from the big blind.
The flop came AJ8, Baker moved all in for just under 240,000 and Routos called.
Routos led the flop with A10 for top pair against Baker’s middle pair with J2.
The turn and river were the Q and the J, giving Baker trips on the river to double up to second in chips and put Routos on the short stack.
Patricia Baker ~ 620,000
James Routos ~ 310,000
James Routos Eliminated in 3rd Place ($28,206)
Shortly after being doubled through by Patricia Baker, James Routos three-bet all in for about 300,000 from the big blind after Chiab Saechao opened the pot for 60,000 from the button. Saechao called the raise and Routos was all in for his tournament life.
Saechao led before the flop with 99 against Routos’ A7.
The board came J63JQ, offering no help to James Routos who was eliminated in 3rd place ($28,206).
With Routos’ elimination, Chiab Saechao leads going into heads-up play with roughly 1,6000,000 to Patricia Bakers’s 600,000.
Chiab Saechao Wins Event no. 1 ($70,859)
Patricia Baker Eliminated in 2nd Place ($43,754)
It didn’t take long for Chiab Saechao to capitalize on his nearly 3:1 chip lead over Patricia Baker going into heads-up play. After being whittled down to just over 10 bbs on the final hand, Patricia Baker completed the bet from the small blind and Chiab Saechao checked his option in the big blind.
The flop came 1072, Baker checked, Saechao bet 35,000 and Baker called.
The turn was the A and both players checked.
The river was the 6, Baker moved all in for about 200,000 and Saechao called.
Baker turned over 98 for a rivered straight while Saechao showed J4 for a rivered flush. Patricia Baker was eliminated in 2nd place ($43,754) while Chiab Saechao wins Event no. 1, taking home the $70,859 grand prize, the first gold bracelet of the 2012 WSOP and the envy of all his peers.
Be sure to check back with Card Player for all of your final table action, current chip counts, and prize distributions for each gold bracelet event.
Player Tags: James Routos, Chiab Saechao, Patricia Baker
Level 18 Update: Pinkussohn 6th ($11,571), Phan 7th ($8,824)
May 28, '12
Level: 18
Blinds: 6,000-12,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 out of 732
Average Chip Count: 439,200
Chip Counts:
Seat no. 1 — James Routos — 580,000
Seat no. 2 — Nioclas Vaca-Rondon — 405,000
Seat no. 7 — Chiab Saechao — 250,000
Seat no. 8 — Ray Pulford — 540,000
Seat no. 9 — Patricia Baker — 370,000
Players Eliminated:
Jay Pinkussohn — 6th Place ($11,571)
Steven Phan — 7th Place ($8,824)
Live Updates:
Steven Phan Eliminated in 7th Place ($8,824)
Jay Pinkkusohn opened the pot for 30,000 from under the gun, Steven Phan moved all in for 38,000 from middle position, Ray Pulford reraised to 138,000 and Pinkussohn folded.
Pulford led before the flop with AQ against Phan’s J10.
The board came Q77A2, giving Pulford top two pair on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Steven Phan in 7th place ($8,824).
James Routos Doubles Through Jay Pinkussohn
James Routos opened the pot for a raise from the button, Jay Pinkussohn shoved from the big blind and Routos called all in.
Routos led before the flop with 55 against Pinkussohn’s 44.
The board came A85K10, giving Routos middle set on the flop to double up.
James Routos ~ 340,000
Jay Pinkussohn ~ 50,000
Jay Pinkussohn Eliminated in 6th Place ($11,571)
After being doubled through by James Routos just a few hands earlier, Jay Pinkussohn moved all in for about 50,000 after Patricia Baker limped into the pot from under the gun. Baker called the raise and Pinkussohn was all in for his tournament life.
Baker led before the flop with A9 against Pinkussohn’s A6.
The board came 1082105, offering no help to either player as Baker’s kicker played to win the pot and eliminate Jay Pinkussohn in 6th place ($11,571).
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon Doubles Through Ray Pulford
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon opened the pot for 26,000 from the cutoff and Ray Pulford called from the small blind.
The flop came KJ2, Pulford checked, Vaca-Rondon bet 33,000, Pulford check-shoved, and Vaca-Rondon called all in.
Vaca-Rondon led the flop with KK for top set against Pulford’s flush draw with 65
The turn and river were the 4 and the 6, failing to improve Pulford’s hand as Vaca-Rondon doubled up.
Ray Pulford ~ 540,000
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon ~ 405,000
Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: James Routos, Jay Pinkussohn, Nicolas Vaca Rondon, Patricia Baker, Steven Phan
Action Begins, Official Final Table Underway
May 28, '12
The final table of Event no. 1 (Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em – $500) is now underway, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
With the elimination of John Vohs in 10th Place ($4,189), the official, nine-handed final table is now set. Play will begin in Level 17 with blinds of 5,000 – 10,000 with a 1,000 ante, and will continue until a winner is determined. Play may be extended an additional day if it takes more than 10 levels to reach a winner as noted on the official structure sheet.
With cards now back in the air, here is a look at the final table and how these players match up:
Seat no. 1 — James Routos — 425,000
Seat no. 2 — Nicolas Vaca-Rondon — 90,000
Seat no. 3 — Georgi Ivanov — 190,000
Seat no. 4 — Matthew Wilmot — 230,000
Seat no. 5 — Jay Pinkussohn — 121,000
Seat no. 6 — Steven Phan — 152,000
Seat no. 7 — Chiab Saechao — 99,000
Seat no. 8 — Ray Pulford — 498,000
Seat no. 9 — Patricia Baker — 395,000
While only 9 remain, this event gathered 732 players, creating a total prize pool of $329,400. Here is a look at the final payouts:
1st Place — $70,859
2nd Place — $43,754
3rd Place — $28,206
4th Place — $20,663
5th Place — $15,359
6th Place — $11,571
7th Place — $8,824
8th Place — $6,808
9th Place — $5,309
Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.
Player Tags: James Routos, Ray Pulford, Chiab Saechao, Georgi Ivanov, Matthew Wilmot, Patricia Baker, Steven Phan
