2008 World Series of Poker

Event 25 - $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em World Championship
Day: 3
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
$539,056
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
256
Level Info
Level
63
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
0

Alec Torelli Eliminates Vanessa Selbst; Advances to Finals

Vanessa Selbst eliminated
Vanessa Selbst eliminated
Hand #35 -

Vanessa Selbst has the button. She raises to 40,000. Alec Torelli reraises to 130,000. Selbst makes the call.

On a flop of {J-Spades} {4-Diamonds} {5-Clubs}, Torelli bets 150,000. Selbst, fidgeting with her chips, thinks for 20 seconds before calling.

The turn comes the {10-Diamonds}. Now it's Torelli's turn to be deliberate about his action, taking a solid 30 seconds before betting 350,000. Selbst sits up in her chair, one sandal falling to the floor as she considers what to do. Finally, she moves all in; Torelli quickly calls.

"Sh*t," says Selbst, but she's actually in the lead with {K-Spades} {10-Spades} against Torelli's {K-Clubs} {Q-Spades}. The river puts a dagger through her heart when it falls {9-Hearts} to make a nut straight for Torelli.

This makes the second year in a row that Vanessa Selbst has been eliminated from this event in the semifinals. She earns $108,288 for her performance. Alec Torelli, meanwhile, earns the right to battle Kenny Tran for the championship of this event and a WSOP gold bracelet in the best-two-out-of-three final starting in an hour and a half at 7pm PT.

Level: 57

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Ante: 0

A Contrast in Styles

The two opponents in this second semifinal match have completely different table styles. Alec Torelli has been very chatty, flashing lots of smiles and telling jokes. Selbst, on the other hand, has been much more stone-faced, allowing Torelli to engage her in conversation but not offering much in return.

Hand #31 - Alec Torelli

Vanessa Selbst has the button. She makes it 30,000 straight. Alec Torelli calls.

The flops comes {7-Diamonds} {4-Spades} {10-Hearts}. Both players check it through to the {A-Diamonds} turn. It is checked through again to the {5-Diamonds} river. Both players check one more time; Torelli's {5-?} {8-?} makes a pair of fives and takes down the pot.