WSOP Main Event Final Table Recap #1 – Eric Buchman Takes Chip Lead
The final table of the WSOP Main Event kicked off Saturday with our November Nine looking to make their way down to the heads-up. Chip leader Darvin Moon kept his word and did not arrive to the final table with an endorsement from an online poker site. Preliminary ceremonies were conducted by Jack Effel, which included a moment of silence for Hans “Tuna” Lund. Afterwards, the introductions were made and play was underway.
This is how the final nine started final table play:
Seat 1: Darvin Moon (58,930,000)
Seat 2: James Akenhead (6,800,000)
Seat 3: Phil Ivey (9,765,000)
Seat 4: Kevin Schaffel (12,390,000)
Seat 5: Steven Begleiter (29,885,000)
Seat 6: Eric Buchman (34,800,000)
Seat 7: Joseph Cada (13,215,000)
Seat 8: Antoine Saout (9,500,000)
Seat 9: Jeff Shulman (19,580,000)
James Akenhead was the first player all-in and called at this final table. He moved all-in from under-the-gun for just over 4 Million and Eric Buchman made the call. Akenhead held Kc-Qh and found himself dominated by the Ah-Ks of Buchman. The flop of J-2-3 missed both players. The turn fell a king to give both a pair of kings. Akenhead needed a queen only to win the hand. The river fell the Qs to give Akenhead a miracle two pair, and doubles him up to 12.855 Million in chips.
The very next hand, Antoine Saout doubled up through Darvin Moon. Saout raised to 750,000 and Moon made the call. On a flop of Ks-Jh-2c, Moon bet out 2.3 Million and then Saout came over the top for 6.75 Million. Moon then moved all-in and Saout insta-called. Saout flipped over Js-2h for bottom two pair and Moon flipped over a puzzling Ah-4d. Moon needed running cards to win the pot. The turn fell the 3d to give him some outs to a wheel, but the river fell a 2s to give Saout a full house and double him up to 22 Million.
It took 59 hands to lose our first player. James Akenhead was down to his last 4.45 Million in chips and moved all-in pre-flop. Kevin Schaffel made the call and all remaining opponents got out of the way. Schaffel held pocket nines and held a dominating lead to the pocket threes of Akenhead. The flop fell 10c-2c-h and turn the 2s to leave Akenhead with just two outs to win the hand. The river fell the 9d to give Schaffel a full house and send James Akenhead home in 9th place. James Akenhead walks away with $1,263,602 in prize money.
A huge pot developed between Kevin Schaffel and Eric Buchman that resulted in another elimination. Schaffel raised to 1.25 Million from middle position and Steven Begleiter made the call. Buchman then re-raised to 5.75 Million. Action was folded back to Schaffel, who moved all in for 17.2 Million. Begleither moved out of the way and Buchman jumped out of his seat asking for a count. After the count was completed, he made the call but was not happy when he found his pocket kings were behind the pocket aces of Schaffel. Joe Sebok was providing audio commentary online and stated that he felt something was going to happen here. His instincts proved spot on when the flop came Qs-Jh-Ks to give Buchman a set. Schaffel still had outs for a better set or a straight. The turn card ended all doubt as to the outcome when it fell the case king to give Buchman quads. The river card was irrelevant and Kevin Schaffel is eliminated in 8th place. Schaffel received $1,300,231 for his 8th place finish. After the hand, Buchman inched closer to the chip lead with 51.975 Million in chips. Moon had 59.025 Million at this point.
The WTF moment of the table came in a pot between Darvin Moon and Steven Begleiter. Moon raised 1.3 Million from under-the-gun and Steven Begleiter raised to 3.9 Million. Action folds back to Moon who makes the call. On a flop of 3s-4s-2d, Moon checks to Begleiter, who bet out 5.35 Million. Moon then takes his time before raising to 15 Million total. Begleiter thought for a bit before moving all-in for 20.425 Million total, just 6 Million more. Moon went into the tank for a long time while the online audio team asked why Moon was waiting to call. Everyone agreed that he should call since it was just 6 Million more into a 44.175 Million. After a long tank, Moon folded! The crowd, the other opponents, and the announce team did a collective what the f@#k. Phil Hellmuth actually said, “OMG.” With the fold, Moon slipped to third in chips with 42.075 Million. Begleiter moved up to 2nd with 44.175 Million and Eric Buchman took over the chip leadership with 51.825 Million.
Phil Ivey has been steadily hanging around 10 to 13 Million in chips. Steven Begleiter raised to 1.25 Million and Ivey made the call. On a flop of Qh-Jd-Kd, Ivey checked to Begleiter, who bet 1.75 Million. The turn Jc was checked around and the river fell the 3h. Ivey then led out with 2.5 Million and after a long tank, Begleiter folded. Ivey moved up to 16.7 Million in chips, which puts him up to around 30 big blinds. Look out final table.
Seven players remain going into the dinner break. Jeff Shulman is the short stack going into the dinner break with 7.175 Million and Eric Buchman enters the break with 54.725 Million and the chip lead. We will be back later tonight with more updates from the WSOP Main Event final table. See you then.
Related posts:
- WSOP Main Event Final Table Recap #2 – Ivey Eliminated in 7th Players returned from the dinner break to the WSOP Main...
- WSOP Main Event Final Table Recap #3 – Cada vs. Moon for the Bracelet As play approached the 3 a.m. PST on Sunday Morning,...
- WSOP Main Event Final Table Predictions Revisited The final table of the Main Event of the World...
- WSOP Main Event Final Table Heads-Up Recap #1 – Moon Makes Comeback to Pull Stacks Even Heads-up at the final table of the World Series of...
- WSOP Europe Main Event Final Table Recap – Barry Shulman Defeats Daniel Negreanu For Bracelet The final table of the World Series of Poker Europe...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.