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 #254: Greg Merson

Level 39 : 500,000/1,000,000, 150,000 ante

Jake Balsiger had the button to start this hand. He folded, and Greg Merson called from the small blind. Jesse Sylvia checked his option in the big blind, and the flop came down {K-Spades}{10-Spades}{8-Diamonds}. Merson bet 1.5 million, and Sylvia folded.

Tags: Greg MersonJesse Sylvia

Hand #253: Sylvia Ships a Monster Double

Level 39 : 500,000/1,000,000, 150,000 ante
Jesse Sylvia delivers a fist pump for his supporters after winning a big pot.
Jesse Sylvia delivers a fist pump for his supporters after winning a big pot.

Jesse Sylvia had the button, and raised to two million. Greg Merson three-bet to 4.8 million from the big blind, Sylvia responded with a four-bet to 10.2 million, and Merson tanked before moving all in for effectively 42.275 million. Sylvia called immediately.

Merson: {k-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}
Sylvia: {a-Hearts}{k-Spades}

Chants of "Ace! Ace! Ace!" filled Sylvia's cheering section.

There was no ace on the {3-Spades}{5-Clubs}{2-Diamonds} flop, but Sylvia picked up a wheel draw.

The {8-Hearts} was a brick, and Sylvia, who entered the final table as the chip leader, was one card away from being eliminated.

The entire Penn & Teller Theater fell silent as the dealer rapped the table one final time and delivered the river card: the {4-Hearts}.

Sylvia's cheering section exploded. Claps, stomps, horns, and screams filled the air as Jack Effel confirmed the chip amounts, and suddenly, after doubling Jake Balsiger, Sylvia is once again the chip leader of the Main Event.

Tags: Greg MersonJake BalsigerJesse Sylvia

Hand #252: Balsiger Spikes a Double

Level 39 : 500,000/1,000,000, 150,000 ante
Jake Balsiger eyes tell the story.  He can't believe his luck to double up.
Jake Balsiger eyes tell the story. He can't believe his luck to double up.

Greg Merson had the button to start this hand. He raised to two million, and Jesse Sylvia called from the small blind. Jake Balaisger raised all in from the big blind, and Merson asked for a count. Balsiger was all in for 18.175, and Merson folded. Sylvia looked at the dealer and said, "I call."

Sylvia showed the {A-Clubs}{Q-Spades} to dominate the {A-Hearts}{10-Spades} for the at-risk Balsiger.

The flop came down {J-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}, and Sylvia stayed in front. Balsiger's rail chanted for a ten, and they got their wish as the {10-Clubs} smacked itself down on the turn to give Balsiger the lead. He wasn't out of the woods yet, though, as Sylvia needed a king, a queen or a nine on the river.

The dealer dealt the final card to the board, and it was the {7-Hearts}. Balsiger spiked his double and found himself right back in the game.

Tags: Greg MersonJake BalsigerJesse Sylvia

Hand #251: Sylvia's Full House

Level 39 : 500,000/1,000,000, 150,000 ante
Jesse Sylvia
Jesse Sylvia

Jake Balsiger had the button, and he opened to two million. Jesse Sylvia defended his big blind, and the flop fell {k-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{5-Clubs}. Sylvia checked, Balsiger fired 1.5 million, and Sylvia called. The turn was the {q-Clubs}, Sylvia checked again, and Balsiger slid out 3.5 million. Sylvia called.

The {k-Clubs} completed the board, and Sylvia checked a third time. Balsiger fired four million, and Sylvia tank-called.

Balsiger showed {a-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} for effectively ace-high, but Sylvia had him beat with {k-Spades}{8-Spades} for a full house.

Tags: Jake BalsigerJesse Sylvia