2017 Poker Masters

Event #2 $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info

2017 Poker Masters

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$900,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$2,500,000
Entries
50
Level Info
Level
25
Blinds
35,000 / 70,000
Ante
70,000

Slow Rolling with Quads

Level 23 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Steffen Sontheimer limped with the {7-Hearts}{6-Clubs} and called when Fedor Holz, who held the {j-Clubs}{10-Clubs}, three-bet to 190,000.

Holz then bet 125,000 on the {2-Spades}{5-Spades}{6-Spades} flop and Sontheimer called. Holz kept the pressure on with a bet of 310,000 on the {6-Diamonds} turn, and Sontheimer called with trips.

When the {6-Hearts} appeared on the river, Holz moved all in and Sontheimer, who made quads, hesitated for nearly 30 seconds. He is good friends with Holz, and it was apparent the slow roll was done in fun rather than with malice aforethought.

Eventually Sontheimer called off and showed Holz the winner.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
3,690,000
-1,754,000
-1,754,000
Profile photo of Steffen Sontheimer de
Steffen Sontheimer
2,560,000
1,750,000
1,750,000

Tags: Fedor HolzSteffen Sontheimer

Tom Marchese Eliminated in 3rd Place ($300,000)

Level 23 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Tom Marchese - 3rd Place
Tom Marchese - 3rd Place

There's no denying that Fedor Holz is playing great and running better here in Event #2, which was evidenced by a hand he just played against Tom Marchese.

It began with Holz raising to 165,000 from the small blind with the {a-Clubs}{10-Clubs} only to have Marchese three-bet all in for 1.5 million with the {a-Spades}{j-Spades}. Holz hit the tank, using a time extension in the process, and eventually dropped in a call.

Holz was way behind, but that all changed when the flop came down {7-Clubs}{j-Clubs}{9-Clubs} to give him the nuts. Marchese needed to go runner-runner full house in order to win, but the {6-Spades} turn took away any chance of that happening.

The meaningless {3-Diamonds} was run out on the river and Marchese hit the rail in third place for $300K.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Tom Marchese us
Tom Marchese
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Fedor HolzTom Marchese

Level: 23

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 50,000

Phil Hellmuth Eliminated in 4th Place ($200,000)

Level 22 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Phil Hellmuth - 4th Place
Phil Hellmuth - 4th Place

A short-stacked Phil Hellmuth moved all in under the gun for 495,000 and Tom Marchese isolated by three-betting all in over the top from the small blind.

Hellmuth: {a-Spades}{10-Hearts}
Marchese: {6-Spades}{6-Clubs}

In all three of the elimination hands thus far an ace has spiked on the river, but the opposite happened here as the {j-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{6-Hearts} flop gave Marchese a set. Hellmuth needed running straight cards, but the {9-Hearts} turn took away any chance of that happening.

The {9-Diamonds} river made Hellmuth's elimination official, and he headed to the exit. He also stated he may go take a nap before jumping into Event #3.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Tom Marchese us
Tom Marchese
1,735,000
495,000
495,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
Busted
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Tags: Tom MarchesePhil Hellmuth

Christian Christner Eliminated in 5th Place ($175,000)

Level 22 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Christian Christner - 5th Place
Christian Christner - 5th Place

Christian Christner, who began the day as the chip leader, raised to 85,000 under the gun and Fedor Holz three-bet to 235,000 from the cutoff. Action folded back to Christner and he moved all in. Holz snap-called. It was a big pot as the player second in chips got it in against the chip leader.

Holz: {a-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}
Christner: {j-Spades}{j-Hearts}

It was a flip, but not after the {a-Hearts}{9-Spades}{10-Clubs} flop paired Holz. The {2-Diamonds} turn left Christner looking for a jack on the river, but it wasn't in the cards as the {5-Diamonds} bricked instead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
3,210,000
1,520,000
1,520,000
Profile photo of Christian Christner de
Christian Christner
Busted

Tags: Christian ChristnerFedor Holz

Level: 22

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 40,000

"I Have the Best No-Limit Hold'em ROI in History"

Level 21 : 20,000/40,000, 30,000 ante
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth raised the cutoff to 85,000 with the {q-Hearts}{j-Spades} and Fedor Holz called from the small blind. Tom Marchese came along from the big with the {2-Clubs}{3-Clubs} and the trio saw a flop of {6-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}, which they all checked.

Holz then checked for a second time on the {4-Diamonds} turn, Marchese bet 165,000, and Hellmuth quickly called. Holz folded and it was heads-up action to the {8-Hearts} river.

Marchese missed but bet 400,000 nonetheless. Hellmuth gave it a little thought and then folded the winner, which prompted Marchese to reveal the bluff.

"WTF are they doing?" Hellmuth asked as he shot up out of his chair. "Wow. Defend with deuce-f***ing-three. I wish I could play with you guys everyday."

"We wish the same," Holz quipped.

"Really, Fedor? I have the best no-limit hold'em ROI in history," Hellmuth shot back before giving Marchese credit for the river bluff.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Tom Marchese us
Tom Marchese
1,260,000
335,000
335,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
495,000
-250,000
-250,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Tags: Phil HellmuthTom Marchese