2013 World Series of Poker

Event #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
Event Info

2013 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qj
Prize
$518,755
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$2,841,750
Entries
2,105
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Hands 95-100: The Century Mark

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #95: Cada raised to 100,000 from the cutoff, winning the blinds and antes while rebounding a bit from his stumble last hand.

Hand #96: Polychronopoulos raised to 130,000 in the small blind after the action folded to him. Carlton called from the big blind, and the two saw a flop of {10-Spades}{j-Spades}{9-Clubs} which was checked around. On the {9-Hearts} turn, Polychronopoulos fired a bet of 100,000 into the middle, Carlton raised to 225,000, Polychronopoulos called, and the {6-Diamonds} dropped in on the river. After two more checks, Polychronopoulos revealed his {A-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds} for top pair best kicker, taking the pot down.

Hand #97: Taylor won the blinds and antes with a preflop raise from the cutoff.

Hand #98: Polychronopoulos opened for 115,000 from the cutoff, and Mutke called to defend his big blind. The flop of {10-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} was checked around, and the {6-Diamonds} hit the board on the turn. Mutke led out for 150,000, Polychronopoulos called, and the {9-Clubs} completed the board on the river. Mutke bet 325,000 on fifth street, Polychronopoulos called, and both players revealed their straights. Unfortunately for Mutke, his {A-Hearts}{7-Hearts} was beat by Polychronopoulos' {Q-Diamonds}{10-Spades}.

Hand #99: Taylor received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #100: Carlton raised to 115,000 from under the gun, Polychronopoulos called from the big blind, and the two saw a flop of {7-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{5-Spades} come on board. Polychronopoulos led out for 150,000, Carlton popped him to 375,000, and Polychronopoulos quickly mucked.

Hands 90-94: A Walk in the Park

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #90: Carlton raised to 115,000 from under the gun, and Taylor called from the small blind. The flop came {6-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}, and Taylor checked to Carlton, who obliged him with a bet of 90,000. Taylor came along and the turn card was the {7-Spades}, which prompted another check by Taylor. Carlton continued his aggressive line with a bet of 265,000, and Taylor made the call once again, bringing the {10-Clubs} on the river. Both players opted to slow down and check, with Taylor revealing the {8-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}. Carlton showed the {J-Spades}{10-Hearts}, however, for a rivered pair of tens, and the pot was shipped his way.

Hand #91-93: Carlton received a walk in the big blind, as did Cada on the next deal, and Mutke on the hand after that.

Hand #94: Cada opened for 100,000 on his button, Mutke called from the small blind, and Taylor defended his big blind. On the flop of {q-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{q-Diamonds}, the action was checked to Cada, who fired away with a bet of 100,000. Mutke sprung his trap with a raise to 300,000, but Cada called to peel off the {4-Clubs} on the turn. Manuel checked for a second time, and Cada contemplated for thirty seconds or so before betting again, this time for 300,000. Mutke opted to forgo the check-raise on fourth street, flatting instead, and the {6-Diamonds} completed the board on the river. Mutke tapped the table once more, and Cada checked behind. Mutke rolled iver the {A-Clubs}{10-Clubs}

Hands 85-89: Time to Make Your Move

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #85: With a dead button because Taylor was late from break, Mutke opened for 100,000 in the cutoff, and Polychronopoulos called to see the {q-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{10-Spades} fall on the flop. Polychronopoulos then check-called a bet of 125,000, and both players checked the turn ({8-Diamonds}) and river ({7-Spades}). Polychronopoulos opened up {K-Clubs}{10-Hearts} for one pair, and that was good enough to earn the pot.

Hand #86: Taylor opened for 110,000, Polychronopoulos three-bet to 260,000, and Taylor relented. Polychronopoulos flashed the {A-Spades}{9-Clubs} as he dragged the pot.

Hand #87: Mutke opened to 100,000 from under the gun, Taylor popped it to 230,000, and Mutke made the call. A flop of {Q-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{a-Spades} hit the board, and both players checked, as they did on the {8-Clubs} turn. When the {2-Clubs} completed the board on the river, Mutke led out for 175,000, and Taylor called with his {A-Clubs}{9-Spades}, which was best over Mutke's {K-Hearts}{q-Clubs}.

Hand #88: Taylor opened for 110,000 from under the gun, and Mutke called to defend his big blind. An action flop of {q-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{j-Diamonds} was rolled out, and Taylor led out for 125,000, a bet which Mutke called. The turn came {3-Spades}, and Taylor cut out enough chips for a bet of 300,000. Mutke pondered his options for over a minute, before finally moving his last 1.15 million into the middle.

Hand #89: Cada opened for 110,000 holding the button, and Taylor called to see a flop of {9-Clubs}{j-Clubs}{k-Hearts}. After checkes around, the {4-Clubs} dropped in on the turn, and Taylor led out for 125,000. Cada called, and on the {3-Diamonds} river, Taylor fired again, this time for 260,000. Cada couldn't stand the heat, and his hand went to the muck.

Catching Up With Cada

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Joe Cada
Joe Cada

2009 world champion Joe Cada currently ranks third in chips at this final table and is in good position to claim his second WSOP bracelet. PokerNews' Pamela Maldonado chatted briefly with him at the break.

Can you recall any big hands that have helped lead you to where you’re at right now?

Wow. Unfortunately all the tournaments are starting to blend in. But I did just run queens into jacks against Polychronopoulos. The board ran and my queens held to double up. It was a pretty good spot. I mean, it’s one of those cooler situations. In my last tournament I had the exact opposite with jacks against queens for about the same chips and lost. So today, I was very fortunate to pick up chips when I did.

How do you think you rank at the table as far as skill or experience?

I like my chances against any player really. I have a lot of experience with multi-table tournaments and have played thousands of tournaments online. The players on the final table are playing well but I feel good about my game and the decisions I’ve been making.

Would you say that you’re running well or playing well?

For these tournaments you have to have a combination of both. I feel like I’m playing well but at the same time you have to run well, so maybe both have brought me here.

Level: 27

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 5,000

Hand #84

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #84: Athanasios Polychronopoulos limps under the gun, Manuel Mutke calls on the button, and Sam Taylor checks his option. The flop falls {K-Clubs}{8-Clubs}{8-Spades} and Taylor checks to Polychronopoulos who bets. Only Mutke calls and both check the {7-Spades} turn and {9-Spades} river.

Polychronopoulos: {A-Hearts}{5-Hearts}
Mutke: {A-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}

They chopped it up.

Michael Kurth Eliminated in 6th Place ($87,398)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Michael Kurth - 6th Place
Michael Kurth - 6th Place

Hand #83: Action folded around to Mutke in the small blind, and his 80,000 raise was called by Kurth in the big blind. The flop of {8-Hearts}{5-Spades}{5-Hearts} saw Mutke lead out for 65,000, but Kurth was ready to rumble, reraising to 200,000 even. After a minute long tank, Mutke moved all-in to put Kurth to a test for his tournament life. Kurth liked his {3-Hearts}{4-Hearts} enough to gamble, and he was delighted to see Mutke turn over just {Q-Hearts}{7-Clubs} for no pair no draw. Kurth was looking for hearts, or baby cards to catch up, and the {6-Clubs} added even more outs to his arsenal. He would need any heart, deuce, three, or seven to survive, but the {10-Diamonds} on the river missed him entirely.