Phil Hellmuth opened big to 320,000 from the small blind and then called when Stephane Albertini moved all in from the big for nearly 900,000.
Showdown
Albertini:
Hellmuth:
Albertini was way out in front, and the kept him there. "Six of spades would be nice," Hellmuth said. While that card would have given him a bunch more outs, the that did turn left him drawing to just two sevens headed to the river. The French contingent leaned in close as the dealer burned and out down the . It took a moment for it to sink in, but Hellmuth had hit his two outer to eliminate the Frenchman.
As Albertini's supporters moaned in disbelief, Hellmuth walked around the table and shook hands with his opponents. The "Poker Brat" is now heads-up for bracelet 13.
Phil Hellmuth called from the button and Stephane Albertini raised to 235,000 from the small blind. It folded back to Hellmuth and he called.
The flop came and Albertini checked. Hellmuth bet 350,000 and Albertini raised to 775,000.
"CALL!" yelled Hellmuth, shooting up out of his seat. Typically this behavior displayed when calling an all in bet, but Hellmuth decided to jump from his chair regardless.
The turned and Albertini checked. Hellmuth announced that he was all in. Albertini had to decide for his tournament life and spend several minutes doing so. The clock was called and eventually Albertini folded.
We believe we heard Albertini say he had ace-high, to which Hellmuth responded "Ace-high?! Come on, I'm Phil Hellmuth!" Hellmuth then showed and took down the pot.
Sergii Baranov limped from the small blind and Phil Hellmuth checked his option from the big. The flop saw the latter call a bet of 100,000 from the former, and then the dealer burned and turned the . Again Baranov bet, this time 200,000, and again Hellmuth called.
The river saw Baranov slow down with a check, and Hellmuth snap-bet 300,000. Baranov thought about it for about a minute before making the call, but he mucked when Hellmuth rolled over .
Phil Hellmuth held the button and raised to 140,000. It folded to Sergii Baranov who called from the big blind. The two checked the flop and the turned. Hellmuth led for 130,000 only to be raised to 280,000 by Baranov. Hellmuth called.
The river paired the board with the and Baranov bet 300,000. Hellmuth snap-raised to 700,000 and Baranov called with . Hellmuth showed for trips, however, and took down the pot.
Sergii Baranov limped on the button, Phil Hellmuth folded from the small blind, and Stephane moved all in for 920,000. Baranov made a quick call to put the Frenchman at risk.
Showdown
Baranov:
Albertini:
The flop gave Albertini a big lead with a pair of aces, while the turn left Baranov drawing dead. The meaningless was put out on the river for good measure and the French contingent, of which there are a couple dozen, went wild on the rail.
Sergii Baranov raised to 120,000 from the button and was met with a three-bet to 340,000 from the small blind. The big folded, Baranov called, and the flop fell . Hellmuth led out for 400,000, Baranov called, and then the duo checked both the turn and river.
Hellmuth tabled , but it was no good against the of Baranov.
Action folded to Sergii Baranov's small blind and he made it 120,000. Hellmuth called from the big blind.
The flop was and Baranov led out for 160,00. Hellmuth raised the action to 350,000 and Baranov stuck around. Fourth street was the and both players tapped the table to check. The rivered and Baranov bet 300,000. As usual today, Hellmuth beat him into the pot with a call, but ultimately mucked when Baranov showed .
"He wants to bluff off all of his chips but then he picks up kings and there's nothing I can do," lamented Hellmuth.
Sergii Baranov limped from the small blind and Phil Hellmuth checked his option from the big blind. The flop saw Hellmuth called a bet of 60,000 from Baranov, but the former ended up folding to the latter's bet of 175,000 on the turn.