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

Dani Stern With Binger

Dani Stern and Michael Binger were moved to the same table a while before dinner and we just caught them in a hand together. Binger was in middle position when he opened up the pot with a raise. Only Stern would call from the button and the dealer would spread out a {q-Clubs}{a-Spades}{7-Diamonds} flop. Binger led for 7,500 here and Stern made the call.

On the {q-Hearts} turn, Binger opted to check and Stern would quickly bet 17,500. Binger didn't want to continue, sending his cards into the muck and the pot to Stern.

Stern has had some success at the World Series of Poker in the past, finishing in fourth place in the $40,000 No Limit Hold'em - 40th Anniversary event in 2009 and taking fifth place in the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship in 2010.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Dani Stern us
Dani Stern
390,000
20,000
20,000
Profile photo of Michael Binger us
Michael Binger
132,000
-53,000
-53,000

Tags: Dani SternMichael Binger

Baldy Balling

Eric Baldwin with his Main Event Mustache
Eric Baldwin with his Main Event Mustache

Eric Baldwin has crossed the 400,000 mark on the last hand. We found him surrounded by cameras and on the river of a {Q-Spades} {7-Hearts} {3-Diamonds} {9-Spades} {2-Spades} board. His opponent checked, Baldwin bet 31,000 and his opponent tanked.

After a short while the opponent folded and Baldwin took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Eric Baldwin us
Eric Baldwin
400,000
10,000
10,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Eric Baldwin

Alcober Flirting With a Million

After taking down a few pots with just a preflop raise, the action folded to Benjamin Alcober, who raised to 7,000 from the small blind. The player in the big blind three-bet to 22,000, and Alcober clicked it back (kind of), making it 36,000. The player called.

The flop fell {5-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{q-Spades}, and Alcober led out for 27,800. His opponent folded, and Alcober is getting closer and closer to a million chips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Benjamin Alcober us
Benjamin Alcober
975,000
35,000
35,000

Tags: Benjamin Alcober

Blumenthal Gives One Up

Eddie Blumenthal raised from the cutoff seat and found one caller in the player from the big blind.

The flop came {8-Spades}{K-Hearts}{3-Spades} and Blumethal's opponent check-called a 4,600 from Blumethal.

Both players checked the turn, however, when the {4-Clubs} completed the board, Blumethal's opponent fired 22,300 into the middle. Blumenthal didn't take long to fold and his opponent scooped the pot.

Blumenthal is sitting on 190,000 at the moment.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Eddie Blumenthal us
Eddie Blumenthal
190,000
-10,000
-10,000

New Gang at Feature Table

Kevin Pollak
Kevin Pollak

We have a set of new players seated at the feature table. Headlining this table is actor Kevin Pollak who is sitting on a stack of 171,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kevin Pollak us
Kevin Pollak
171,000
48,000
48,000
Profile photo of Bruno Pereira
Bruno Pereira
152,000
Profile photo of Lance Keating us
Lance Keating
139,100
Profile photo of Thomas Czyszczon
Thomas Czyszczon
94,200
Profile photo of Justin Oliver ca
Justin Oliver
92,200
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Sebastion Saffari gb
Sebastion Saffari
87,800
Profile photo of Jed Dickerson us
Jed Dickerson
72,300
Profile photo of Erik Buxhoeveden gr
Erik Buxhoeveden
55,400
Profile photo of Alejandro Anaya mx
Alejandro Anaya
49,600

Tags: Kevin Pollak

Life for Lester

WSOP bracelet holder Jason Lester has cashed in the WSOP Main Event seven times previously, his best ever showing coming in 2003 when he finished fourth. Lester has been battling with a short stack for most of Day 3, however, and it looked just now as though his Main Event run this year was about to fall shy of the money.

Following a middle position player's opening raise to 6,200, Lester reraised all in from a seat over for his last 55,000 or so. It folded back around, and Lester's opponent tanked for some time before finally announcing he was calling.

Lester shook his head initially at the call while turning over his {Q-Spades}{Q-Diamonds}, guessing he was about to be racing for his tourney life. But when his opponent showed {Q-Clubs}{J-Hearts}, he looked relieved. He looked even more so after the board ran out {9-Spades}{A-Hearts}{9-Hearts}{4-Spades}{3-Spades} to give him the double-up and survival.

"I was hoping for jacks or tens," said Lester with a laugh. Then after pausing a moment, he looked up with a mischievous grin.

"Cocktails!" he shouted.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jason Lester us
Jason Lester
114,000
59,000
59,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Jason Lester

999 Remain

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante

We've fallen under the 1,000-player mark, as just 999 remain. Since the top 666 make the money, that means two out of every three players who have made it this far will be cashing in this year's WSOP Main Event.

Ho Convinces Opponent to Fold

Maria Ho
Maria Ho

We found Maria Ho and an unknown player at a flop of {8-Diamonds} {3-Clubs} {9-Spades}. Ho was in the big blind and checked. Her opponent bet 11,500 and Ho called. The turn came {8-Hearts} and both players checked. The river came {5-Hearts}, Ho bet 17,000 and her opponent folded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Maria Ho us
Maria Ho
315,000
5,000
5,000

Tags: Maria Ho

WSOP Top 25 All-Time Main Event Cashes

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante

WSOP Top 25 All-Time Main Event Cashes

RankPlayer# of Main Event Cashes
1Berry Johnston10
2Humberto Brenes8
Bobby Baldwin
3Mike Sexton7
Jay Heimowitz
Phil Hellmuth
Doyle Brunson
Chris Bjorin
Jason Lester
John Esposito
11Steve Lott6
John Bonetti
Johnny Chan
14Hamid Dastmalchi5
Thor Hansen
Dan Harrington
Jack Keller
Jesse Alto
Hans “Tuna” Lund
Jim Bechtel
Robert Turner
Dewey Tomko
Donnacha O’Dea
Rod Peate
Mel Judah
Peter Hedlund
Mark Wilds
George McKeever
Johnny Moss
Andrew Cunningham
Andrew Brokos

*Chart courtesy of the WSOP Media Guide