2012 World Series of Poker

Event 61: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Event Info

2012 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k5
Prize
$8,531,853
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$62,021,200
Entries
6,598
Level Info
Level
42
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
300,000

Hand #352: Merson Fires Flop and Turn

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 200,000 ante

Jesse Sylvia had the button to start this hand. He folded, and Jake Balsiger limped in from the small blind. Greg Merson checked his option, and the flop came down {7-Clubs}{7-Spades}{5-Diamonds}. Balsiger checked, and Merson fired two million. Balsiger made the call.

The {10-Clubs} appeared on the turn, and Balsiger checked again. Merson fired 3.5 million, and Balsiger gave it up.

Tags: Greg MersonJake Balsiger

Hand #350: Greg Merson

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 200,000 ante

Jake Balsiger started this hand on the button and the chip lead following his big double up with two kings. He folded, and Greg Merson raised from the small blind to 4.2 million and won the pot.

Tags: Greg Merson

Hand #349: Balsiger Doubles; Assumes Chip Lead

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 200,000 ante
Jake Balsiger
Jake Balsiger

Jesse Sylvia had the button, and he limped in. Jake Balsiger raised to 3.7 million from the small blind, Greg Merson surrendered his big blind, and Sylvia called.

The dealer fanned {9-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}{3-Spades}, Balsiger led out for 4.5 million, Sylvia raised to 11.2 million, and Balsiger tanked before moving all in for 41.35 million. Sylvia quickly called.

Balsiger: {k-Spades}{k-Clubs}
Sylvia: {k-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}

Sylvia needed a nine to eliminate Balsiger, or running threes to chop the pot. The {j-Clubs} on the turn was no help, however.

Balsiger's rail called for a deuce, but the {a-Diamonds} on the river was sufficient enough. Balsiger doubled, and for the first time, he's the chip leader at the final table.

Tags: Jake BalsigerJesse Sylvia

Hand #348: Sylvia Takes Big Four-Bet Pot

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 200,000 ante
Sylvia back in the lead now
Sylvia back in the lead now

Greg Merson had the button to start this hand. He opened with a raise to 3.2 million, and action moved to Jesse Sylvia in the small blind. He reraised to 7.6 million, and Jake Balsiger folded from the big blind. Merson was back up and took a minute before announcing a raise. He slid out a tall stack of chips totaling 12.1 million. Sylvia took his time with the decision, then just called.

With just about 25 million in the middle, Merson and Sylvia took a flop of {K-Hearts}{9-Hearts}{3-Clubs}. Sylvia was first and checked. Merson bet 4.6 million. After a minute, Sylvia just called to go to the turn.

Shaun "The Dealer" Harris placed the {Q-Hearts} out on the turn, and Sylvia checked. Merson checked behind.

The river completed the board with the {K-Clubs} to put two cowboys in the middle of the felt. Sylvia checked. Merson looked at Sylvia and sort of laughed before checking behind.

Sylvia tabled the {Q-Clubs}{9-Clubs} for two pair, kings and queens, and Merson mucked his hand.

Tags: Greg MersonJesse Sylvia

Hand #347: Jake Balsiger

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 200,000 ante

Jake Balsiger started the hand with the button, and he limped in. Greg Merson folded in the small blind, Jesse Sylvia checked his option in the big blind, and the flop fell {8-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{7-Hearts}. Sylvia checked, Balsiger fired 2.75 million, and Sylvia folded.

Tags: Jake BalsigerJesse Sylvia