Coming back to the final table with a huge chip advantage, James Mackey has eliminated Stuart Fox and is the winner. James Mackey pushed all in every hand with any two cards and Fox folded the first two hands of heads up play. Following another all in raise from Mackey, Fox finally pushed his last $400,000 into the middle with K 4. Mackey had the 'ol "Doyle Brunson" and showed 10 2. The flop came Q 9 7 and Fox's king was still good. The turn brought the 10 for Mackey and the river emphasized his win when it came 10. Stuart Fox was eliminated after playing only two hands all day, and climbed the pay scale up to $448,892. Mackey takes home $730,740 for his first place win and the coveted World Series of Poker bracelet.
This rapid final table lasted only 48 hands and went from nine players to a winner in just over two hours. Seven eliminations came in level 20 and the final elimination came just a few hands into level 21. James Mackey takes home his first World Series of Poker bracelet and at just 21 years old, stands as the third youngest player ever to win one. Mackey started his poker career by depositing $75 in an online account and building his bank roll to over $20,000 in low limit cash games before switching over to playing tournaments. Mackey has come a long way since that initial deposit and you can expect to see more of him in the future.
The second level of this final table was absolutely crazy. In the last hour there have been seven eliminations and the action is now heads up between James Mackey and Stuart Fox. The play this level was almost all preflop, with less than five flops on hands that didn't eliminate a player. James Mackey and Michael Binger established themselves as the aggressors at the table this level, and their large chip stacks reflected that. The two remaining players are on a short break while tournament officials place the money on the table and get the bracelet ready. Play will resume shortly.
The order of eliminations are:
9th Place - Mike Gracz ($43,684)
8th Place - John "Tex" Barch ($60,254)
7th Place - Jan Sorenson ($81,343)
6th Place - Nick Schulman ($108,457)
5th Place - Karga Holt ($140,091)
4th Place - Will McMahon ($194,319)
3rd Place - Michael Binger ($295,245)
James Mackey will return from the break as the dominant chip leader. Mackey has a 12:1 chip advantage coming into heads up play, with $5,900,000 up against $495,000 helf by Stuart Fox. Fox came into the final table fourth in chips and has only played one hand all day. Fox has been able to sneak in the back door into at least second place by watching his companions battle all day.
There are approximately two hands remaining in the 20th level and after that the blinds will rise to $30,000-$60,000 with a $5,000 ante. There will be $100,000 of dead money in each hand in the 21st level which means Fox will be forced to make a move soon.
Michael Binger bet out from the button and Stuart Fox folded his small blind. James Mackey raised from the big blind $360,000 more. Binger reraised all in and Mackey instantly called. Mackey had A Q and Binger was slightly ahead with 10 10. The flop took all the mystery out of it when it came A 6 4. The turn was the 6 and Binger desperately needed a ten. The river bricked out for Binger when it came 7 and he was eliminated in 3rd place. Coming into the final table with the smallest chip stack, Binger was able to play well enough to move up six spots to third. Binger earned $295,245.
William McMahon Eliminated in 4th Place ($194,319)
Posted: Fri, Jun 15, 07, 10:21 AM
First to act, Michael Binger raised. Stuart Fox folded on the button and James Mackey called from the small blind. Will McMahon reraised all in from the big blind and caused Binger to fold. Mackey made the call and showed 10 7. McMahon had pushed with A 6. The dealer laid out 9 7 3 3 3 and Mackey was ahead since the flop. McMahon was eliminated in 4th place, earning him $194,319. Macky continues to chip up and has a commanding lead over Binger and Stuart Fox.
Karga Holt was eliminated in 5th place when he got involved in a hand with Michael Binger, who is currently second in chips with almost $1,900,000. After winning the first two hands of the day, Holt had been on a steady decline and found himself all in on a short stack with Q 3. Binger called with J J. The dealer put out A 10 8 A 9 and Holt missed his queen. Holt was eliminated in 5th place, earning $140,091. Binger moved up to almost $2,000,000 and is the only player that can put pressure on James Mackey, who sits with over $3,000,000.
James Mackey raised enough from the small blind to put Nick Schulman all in. Schulman, in the big blind, called for all of his chips. Mackey pushed with A 10 and Schulman called with A 5. The board came Q 7 3 2 3 and Schulman was eliminated. Mackey is still in control of a commanding chip lead. Schulman was eliminated in 6th place after a short day filled with ups and downs. Schulman earned $108,457 for his play.
Will McMahon raised from middle position and Michael Binger reraised. Jan Sorenson reraised all in and McMahon got out of the way. Binger had Sorenson barely covered and called. Binger showed 10 10 and Sorenson flipped up A A. The flop came 10 8 4 and Binger looked so calm in his seat it was as if he expected it. The turn was the Q and the river came the 5. Jan Sorenson was eliminated in 7th place, earning him $81,343.
John "Tex" Barch Eliminated in 8th Place ($60,254)
Posted: Fri, Jun 15, 07, 9:36 AM
John "Tex" Barch moved all in for $190,000 and was called by Stuart Fox. Barch held A 10 and Fox was holding A J. The flop came J 10 9 and Fox took a commanding lead. The turn was the 2 and the river was the 4 sending Barch to the rail. Tex Barch was eliminated in 8th place, earning $60,254 for his efforts.
With the blinds at $20,000-$40,000 Mike Gracz picked up 9 9 on the short stack. Second to act, Gracz pushed all in. Chip leader James Mackey reraised all in and the table folded. Mackey turned up Q Q and continued to stay on fire. The board came 10 6 4 J Q and Gracz was eliminated. Mike Gracz finished in 9th place, earning $43,684 for his efforts.
The cards have been in the air for only an hour and already it is evident that this table came to play. There are still nine players remaining and play has entered level 20. Blinds are going up to $20,000-$40,000 with a $5,000 ante.
Just 15 minutes into this final table John "Tex" Barch and Jan Sorenson got tangled up. Barch raised preflop and Sorenson reraised all in for about $340,000. Barch called quickly and flipped up K K. Sorenson turned over A Q. Barch went into the flop the favorite but was quickly disappointed when the flop came A J 4. The turn was the 7 and the river came the 9 giving no help to Barch. After the hand Sorenson was up over $800,00 and Barch was left with less than $300,000.
Later in the level James Mackey made a large preflop raise and was called by Nick Schulman. The flop came 6 6 3 and Mackey bet out $125,000. Schulman made the call and the turn was the 5. Both players checked and the river was the 7. Mackey bet out again and Schulman quickly called. Mackey showed K K and Schulman flipped up A 3. Mackey took down the large pot and now sits as the chip leader.
Not missing a beat, Schulman made a large raise preflop just a few hands later. Michael Binger reraised all in for $236,000. Schulman called and showed Binger 9 9 and Binger didn't even flinch. Binger showed A A and Schulman started counting out his chips to match Binger's bet. The dealer peeled off 8 4 4 Q K and Binger doubled through Schulman and now has $572,000.
On the last hand of the level, Nick Schulman found himself involved in a hand for all of his chips. Karga Holt had made a large raise from the button and Nick Schulman protected his big blind by pushing all in. Holt made the call and turned over A J. Schulman had A 10 and couldn't believe his unfortunate luck yet again. The flop came J 7 2 and Schulman started to gather his things. The turn was the 8 and all of a sudden Schulman had outs. The river was the 9 and Schulman couldn't believe he caught runner-runner to take down the pot. Schulman doubled up through Holt who was still one of the big stacks at the table.
The players are taking a short break following the completion of level one and the cards will be back in the air shortly.
Check back with CardPlayer.com for the next level update and all current eliminations.
4
. Mackey had the 'ol "Doyle Brunson" and showed 10
. The flop came Q
. Stuart Fox was eliminated after playing only two hands all day, and climbed the pay scale up to $448,892. Mackey takes home $730,740 for his first place win and the coveted World Series of Poker bracelet.
