Gregg Merkow wins the WSOP Circuit Championship in Tunica, Mississippi, winning $561,175 and a gold-and-diamond ring. Bobby Law finishes in second place, earning $309,490.
Gregg Merkow Wins WSOP Circuit Tunica ($561,175)
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:31 PM
Hand 200 - Gregg Merkow has the button, he limps, and Law checks his option. The flop comes Kc-Jh-4c, and both players check. The turn card is the Qh, Merkow bets, and Law folds.
Hand 201 - Bobby Law has the button, he limps, Merkow raises to $56,000, Law reraises all in, and Merkow immediately calls. Merkow shows As-7h, while Law has pocket fives (5h-5d). It's a race situation.
The flop comes Ah-8d-3c, and Merkow takes a big lead with a pair of aces. Law needs to catch a five or something runner-runner to stay alive. The turn card is the 4d, and Law picks up a gut-shot straight draw, winning on a two or a five (6 outs). The river card is the 8s, and Bobby Law is eliminated in second place, earning $309,490.
Gregg Merkow wins the World Series of Poker Circuit Championship at the Grand Casino in Tunica, Mississippi, earning $561,175 and a gold-and-diamond ring.
Players Request Short Break
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:22 PM
There are 20 minutes left at the current level, but the players request a very short bathroom break. Granted.
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:21 PM
Hand 199 - Bobby Law has the button, he limps, and Merkow checks his option. The flop comes Qh-5d-5c, Merkow bets $80,000, Law raises to $180,000, and Merkow thinks for a minute or two before saying, "All in." The ESPN cameraman jumps up from his seat, and now Law is under the microscope once again. He rechecks his cards and counts out his chips, and then studies Merkow, trying to pick up on something. Law eventually folds, and Merkow takes the pot.
Updated Chip Counts
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:15 PM
Tournament Director Johnny Grooms announces the following chip counts:
Gregg Merkow - $1,200,000
Bobby Law - $535,000
Bobby Law Doubles Up Through Gregg Merkow
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:14 PM
Hand 197 - Bobby Law has the button, he raises, and Merkow says, "All in." The ESPN camera and microphone are once again focused on Law, but this time he folds after just a few moments. Merkow shows pocket aces (Ah-Ad) as he collects the pot.
Hand 198 - Gregg Merkow has the button, he raises to $69,000, and Law says, "All in." It would cost Merkow $189,000 more if he decides to call, and for the first time, he has the ESPN camera and boom mic focused on him. Merkow says, "I call." Merkow shows Jd-7d, while Law has Ac-2h.
The flop comes As-10d-8c, giving Law a pair of aces and Merkow a gut-shot straight draw. The turn card pairs the board with the Ah, and Merkow needs to catch a nine (4 outs) to eliminate Law with a straight. The river card is the Js, and Bobby Law doubles up in chips.
Eights Are Cheap
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:10 PM
Hand 196 - Gregg Merkow has the button, he limps, and Law checks his option. The flop comes Ad-7c-2c, and both players check. The turn card is the 8h, Law bets $30,000, and Merkow calls. The river card is the 8s, Law checks, Merkow moves all in, and Law quickly calls. Merkow shows 8-4 (trip eights), but Law shows 8-5 (trip eights). Unfortunately for Law, their kickers don't play -- they both have three eights with an ace and a seven, and it's a chopped pot.
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 5:07 PM
Hand 194 - Gregg Merkow has the button, he raises to $69,000, and Law reraises all in. Merkow lifts up his cards to take another look at them, looking like he's going to fold. He then puts the cards back on the table, and asks how much it would cost him to call the raise. It's another $348,000 to Merkow if he decides to call. Merkow then mucks his cards.
Hand 195 - Bobby Law has the button, he limps, and Merkow checks. The flop comes 10h-5h-3s, Merkow bets, Law raises $100,000 more, and Merkow reraises all in. Action stops and the crowd goes silent as all eyes focus on Bobby Law, wondering if he'll make the call. The ESPN camera and microphone are trained on Law, waiting for something -- anything -- to happen. After several very long minutes, Law folds, and Merkow shows 10-2 once again as he collects the pot.
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 4:57 PM
Hand 192 - Gregg Merkow has the button, and he folds.
Hand 193 - Bobby Law has the button, he raises to $50,000, and Merkow says, "All in." Law folds, and Merkow takes the pot.
Updated Chip Counts
Posted: Thu, Aug 25, 05, 4:55 PM
Assistant Tournament Director Jack Effel announces the following chip counts:
