The two remaining players are playing for a difference of over $36,000 and the WSOP gold bracelet. The prize money might mean a little more to John Monnette, but the win might mean more to Phil Ivey.
Ivey is notorious for placing big bets on winning bracelets at the World Series each year. This year is no different and it's rumored that he may win over seven figures if he can pull this one off. Because of those bets, this may be his most important bracelet ever.
Monnette on the other hand doesn't have any gold bracelets. For him, this will solidify his name in WSOP history and be his greatest poker accomplishment to date. Both of these players have been playing extremely solid poker and this should be a great heads-up battle.
Here we go! John Monnette and Phil Ivey are heads up for the gold bracelet. Monnette is going for his first bracelet while Ivey is trying for his sixth. Monnette has a slight chip lead, but Ivey has built back nicely, especially after eliminating Yan Chen.
With Ivey now heads up, the room has filled out quite a bit. Amnon Filippi, Andy Bloch, Markus Golser, and Dutch Boyd are amongst some of the late arrivals to watch the match.
Yan Chen moved all in from the button for 139,000 and Phil Ivey called. Chen stood pat after Ivey drew one card. Chen showed a jack low and Ivey showed before his draw. He pulled a and that would be it for Yan Chen, he was eliminated in third place for $38,892.
Lots of raising and folding done pre-draw to pick up the blinds and antes, but not many hands lately. Here's a small one though.
John Monnette raised to 23,000 from the button and Phil Ivey called out of the big blind. Both players drew one and then checked. Monnette took the pot with a king-ten low.
Phil Ivey raised to 24,000 from the button. John Monnette called from the small blind and Yan Chen moved all in for about 200,000 from the big blind. Both his opponents mucked and Chen scooped the pot.
Yan Chen raised to 24,000 from the small blind and Phil Ivey called. Both players drew two cards and then Chen checked. Ivey reached for some chips and bet 40,000. Chen called.