World Series Poker Update - Final Recap

[Reno]

The biggest deal on the planet - the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event - This is the final countdown from the final four players as it occurred last night.

The Dance is On!

By dinner break, more than half of the field de-felted, most of them busted by the new chip monster, Jerry Yang, who eliminated four of the five bustees. If he keeps it up, Yang may match Jamie Gold's record from last year.
Yang's first move was against Philip Hilm, who came into the day as chip leader. First, Yang bet $2.5 million to get a call from Hilm in the big blind. Hilm then check-called a $3 million bet on the A

-T

-8

flop to see the 3

turn.
Hilm once again checked to Yang, who moved the rest of his chips into the already-massive pot. Hilm folded, shipping a critical pot to Yang. The next hand moved Hilm from critical to terminal condition.
Yang bet out $1 million, which found a single caller - the ill-fated Philip Hilm, this time in the small blind. The K

-J

-5

flop brought the familiar check-call from Hilm on Yang's $2 million bet to bring the 2

turn.

Watch This Man.

Hilm checked again; but this time it was to re-raise all-in on Yang's $4 million bet. Yang called, showing A

-K

to Hilm's 8

-5

bottom pair and flush draw. The river 6

brought no eight, no five and no diamond, sending Hilm out in 9th place with $525,934 new dollars to console him.
It wasn't long before acclaimed pro and monkey-lover Lee Watkinson moved his chips up against Yang. This time the move was pre-flop, when Watkinson moved for $8 million or so after Yang's $760,000 raise.
Waiting for a definitive count on Watkinson's stack before making the call, Yang flipped up A

-9

to Watkinson's A

-7

. Shock and surprise filled the crowd at the apparently loose - but utterly dominating - call.

Watkinson Bows Out.

The flop brought 6

-4

-2

; and no help for Watkinson - and cut the chop possibilities. The turned K

sent Watkinson's draws down to a seven, which the river J

did not deliver. Watkinson headed out in 8th $585,699 richer; and Yang headed on up to even greater heights of world domination.
The next Yin to find Yang was Lee Childs, who raised to $720,000 from the small blind after action folded around. Yang eventually moved all-in from the big blind to send Childs out of his chair and into the tank.
Childs very slowly called, tabling a dominating K

-J

to Yang's J

-8

; and looked ready to double up on the 6

-4

-4

flop. The turn brought the 8

, however, to send Yang ahead. The river 9

brought no kings and no clubs; and Childs bowed out in 7th place $705,229 richer.

Another Yin Meets Yang.

One might think Yang would take a break from his railing rampage; but then he met Hevad Khan. First, Yang raised to $1.5 million, which earned a pot-committing $6 million total re-raise from Khan in the small blind. The table folded back to Yang, who took a few minutes to finally make the call.
Pot-committed Khan moved all-in in the dark, then saw the K

-4

-2

flop. Yang called with pocket jacks to Khan's A

-Q

- which were left drawing to an ace, queen or runner-runner straight to move ahead.
The turn 3

card made a wheel draw for Khan, which the pairing 3

river card destroyed, sending Khan out in 6th place, with $956,243 worth of multi-tabling money. That brought a pause to Yang's table-terrorizing terminations; but the rail was still hungry.

Runner-Up Ray.

Raymond Rahme raised to $2.7 under the gun to bring an all-in over the top from Jon Kalmar for a total around $10.5 million. Rahme took his time before calling with pocket jacks to Kalmar's A

-K

.
The flop brought T

-9

-6

and very little love for Kalmar. The turned 3

continued to deny Kalmar's draw; and sent the crowd into a frenzy of shouted encouragement for both players. The rivered 3

ended Kalmar's day, with $1,255,069 for his 5th-place finish.
The final four will return from dinner with plenty to fight over. Jerry Yang has an obvious advantage, having moved his stack from $8.45 million at day's start to $71.275 million at mealtime. Yang has positional issues, however, with Raymond Rahme sitting two spots to his left.

The Barnacle.

Rahme's position - combined with his 2nd-place stack of around $33.2 million - means Yang may have difficulty stealing blinds while in the button, with Rahme's potentially-damaging stack sitting in the big blind.
Alex Kravchenko quietly moved from last into 3rd place, with tight play broken by occasional all-in moves. Alex's all-ins (which unfailingly spark fanatical Russian chanting) have earned either folds or doubles each time, earning him the nickname "the Barnacle," for sticking to the tournament with terrific tenacity.
Just behind Kravchenko, with around $11.25 to the Russian's $11.75 million, is the Canadian Tuan Lam. Lam was fairly quiet in the early stages of the day, folding and blinding his stack to half its starting size, but there is plenty of play left - and he has already guaranteed himself $1,852,721.
The afternoon brought the kind of dramatic excitement that can only be found in one place, on one very special day of the year.

 

[beachbum]

nice write up

keep it coming

 

[Reno]

Tuan: Top Notch

Jerry Yang raises to $2.5 million on the button and Tuan Lam moves all-in over the top from the small blind for $11,600,000. Raymond Rahme moves all-in over the top from the big blind and the action is on Jerry Yang, who gets up from his seat and shakes his head as though he's considering a call.
Yang pauses before his chip stack and examines a picture of his children before finally laying down the hand, and Lam turns up A

-5

to Rahme's pocket queens (Q

-Q

). Lam will need to hit an ace or some drawing cards to win this hand and the audience stands as they've done all night to scream encouragement to their favorites.

The flop comes A

-T

-T

to give Lam aces and tens and the lead in this hand. The turn card is the 2

and Rahme needs to spike a queen to send Lam home. The river card is the A

and Lam fills up on the river to double through Raymond Rahme, dropping the Double R into last place on the chip leaderboard and staying alive once again at this final table.

Oh Canada!

Immediately after Lam doubles, the pro-Canadian contingent breaks into a rousing rendition of "Oh, Canada," the Canadian national anthem. The patriotism seems to spark Lam, who sits up higher in his chair and looks to have had his spirits bolstered by so narrowly missing elimination.

• Level: 34
• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $31,790,000
• Players Left: 4
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

The blinds are on their way up so stay tuned for the most ballingest poker action of the 2007 World Series.
Here are the latest updates from the Amazon Room:
Rahme Shoves
Raymond Rahme and Jerry Yang see a flop come 3-3-2 and Rahme open-shoves all-in immediately. Yang folds out and Rahme takes the pot.
Tuan Lam raises to $1.5 million from the button and Raymond Rahme moves all-in again from the small blind. Alex Kravchenko folds out in the big blind and the action is back on Lam, who lays the hand down. Rahme continues to augment his stack by moving all-in.
Nice Pot for Lam
Alex Kravchenko makes it $1.4 million to go from the button and Jerry Yang gets out of the way in the small blind. Tuan Lam calls from the big blind and the flop comes 8-7-4 with two spades. Lam checks to Kravchenko, who checks behind, and the turn is the 8

. Lam bets $3 million and Kravchenko makes the call. The river card is the J

, prompting a check from Lam and a check behind from Kravchenko. Lam shows A-Q and the Barnacle mucks, giving the Canadian a substantial pot.
Lam Chipping Up
Alex Kravchenko limps-in and Tuan Lam checks his option. The flop comes K-Q-8 rainbow and Kravchenko bets out $750,000. The turn is the T

and both players check. The river is the Q

and Lam bets $1.25 million, inducing a fold from Kravchenko and taking down the pot.

• Level: 34
• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $31,790,000
• Players Left: 4
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

Raymond Rahme has doubled-up through Jerry Yang, doing more damage to Yang's waning fortunes while picking himself back up off the mat and back into the game. Here's how it all went down: Fatigue Sets In
Raymond Rahme and Jerry Yang see a flop come A

-Q

-8

and Yang checks to Rahme, who leads out for $2 million while looking close to passing out in his seat at the table. Yang quickly makes the call and the turn is the 5

and both players check. The river card is the 6

and Yang checks. Rahme checks behind and Yang shows pocket nines. Rahme mucks and takes another hit to his already hurting stack.
Rahme Doubles Through Yang
Alex Kravchenko leads out and Jerry Yang raises from the button. The action folds to Raymond Rahme, who moves all-in over the top for $10.8 million from the big blind. Kravchenko gets out of the way as Yang stands and puts his jacket on as he ponders his options. Yang makes the call after a few minutes' thought, showing pocket queens to Rahme's A-K.
The flop comes A

-9

-4

and a roar from the audience accompanies Rahme's flopped pair of aces. The turn card is the 3

and the river card is a 5, doubling up Rahme and putting yet another dent in Jerry Yang's stack.
As after every key hand, the partisans from the winner's country are singing a battle song as Rahme stacks his chips.

• Level: 34
• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $31,790,000
• Players Left: 4
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

After more than seven hours without an elimination we've lost Alex Kravchenko at about 1 a.m. PDT. Here's how it all went down:
More Aggression from Yang
As has become his custom, Jerry Yang raises to $1.5 million UTG. He's made it $1.5 million to go in the majority of the pots he's played at the final table and this time Tuan Lam makes the call in the small blind. On a flop of 8

-10

-7

Yang makes a $3 million continuation bet and it's enough to force the relatively conservative Lam to throw his hand in the muck.
Like he has all day, Yang is picking up pot after pot simply by opening the betting and continuing his aggressive play.
Long Play
Tournament Director Jack Effel just informed the crowd inside the Amazon Room it took 60 hands to get down to four players and since then there have been 102 hands without another elimination.
Kravchenko Wakes Up
After taking the majority of the last few revolutions off, Alex Kravchenko finally spoke up making it $1,750,000 to go pre flop. As tight as he's played lately, he couldn't find a caller and picked up the blinds and antes.
A few hands later Kravchenko moves all in from the big blind and although Tuan Lam ponders the call for a while, he lays it down.

KGB agent Kravchenko: Assassinated.

Kravchenko Goes to Sleep
The very next hand he comes out raising again to $2.1 million from the small blind. Yang moves all in and Kravchenko makes the call, showing A

-K

to Yang's pocket eights 8

-8

.
The flop comes Q

-9

-8

, giving Yang a set of eights. The turn is the 4

and Kravchenko is drawing dead. The river is the meaningless 3

and the Russian will be eliminated in fourth place.
Kravchenko will earn $1,852,721 for his efforts, while the rest of the field is now guaranteed at least $3.05 million.
The final three players are on a quick break.

• Level: 34
• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $42,386,667
• Players Left: 3
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

Jerry Yang raises to $2.5 million preflop and Raymond Rahme re-raises to $6 million from the big blind. Yang makes the call and the flop comes A

-J

-8

. Rahme checks to Yang, who bets out a cool $10 million. Rahme grabs a stack of chips and re-raises all-in. Yang goes into the tank for a good five minutes, eying down Rahme and trying to get a read.
"Just play your hand," says Rahme.
"My decision, huh?" says Yang. "I think you're on a draw."
Finally Yang decides to call and turns up A

-5

. "Weak ace," he says.
Rahme shakes his head and takes a long time to turn up his hand, showing K

-K

. The cowboys are beautiful but behind to Yang's pair of aces, and the crowd roars in approval as the men await the turn.
The turn card is the 3

, which is no help for Rahme, who needs a king and a king only to stay alive. The river card is the 2

and Raymond Rahme has been eliminated in third place.
The South-African will take home $3,048,025 for his tremendous accomplishment, while the Canadian contingent cheers wildly knowing that their horse, Tuan Lam, is still alive and guaranteed at least $4.8 million.

• Level: 34
• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $63,580,000
• Players Left: 2
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

Jerry Yang has dominated the early heads-up action with ultra-aggressive play, taking advantage of the tight play of his opponent. Here's the latest:
Pot for Lam
Jerry Yang raises to $1.5 million and Tuan Lam makes the call. The flop comes 9

-8

-6

and both players check. The turn is the 6

and both players check. The river is the K

and Lam checks again. Yang bets $1 million and Lam calls, showing 10-8 for two pair, eights and sixes. It's good for the pot and Lam rakes it.
Pot for Yang
Tuan Lam limps-in and Jerry Yang raises to $2 million. Tuan Lam makes the call and the flop comes T-3-2 rainbow and Yang bets out $5 million. Lam lays it down and Yang takes the pot.
More for Yang

Jerry Yang limps-in and Tuan Lam checks the option. The flop comes Q

-8

-3

and both players check. The turn is the 5

and both players check again. The river is the 7

and both players check a third time. Yang turns over 9-3 and the pair of treys is good for the pot.

Level: 34

• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $63,580,000
• Players Left: 2
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

We've reached the end of the level, and it can come none too soon for Tuan Lam, who is being completely run over by Jerry Yang in this event. Here's a rundown of the latest:
Hand 12
Jerry Yang raises to $2.6 million and Tuan Lam lays it down.

Hand 13
Tuan Lam lays down the button and Jerry Yang takes the blinds and antes.
Hand 14
Jerry Yang raises to $2.6 million and Tuan Lam makes the call. The flop comes K

-2

-6

and both players check the flop. The turn is the 5

and Lam bets out $3 million. Jerry Yang raises all-in. Lam gives the matter some heavy thought but eventually folds out as Yang's fanbase applauds his trickery.
Hand 15
Tuan Lam lays down the button again. Jerry Yang takes the blinds and antes.
Hand 16
Jerry Yang limps-in and Tuan Lam checks his option. The flop comes Q

-7

-3

. Lam checks to Yang, who bets $1 million. Lam folds and Yang gets the pot.
Hand 17
Tuan Lam is on the button and he raises all-in. Jerry Yang lays it down and Lam takes the blinds and antes.
Hand 18
Jerry Yang raises $2 million and Tuan Lam lays it down. Yang takes the blinds and antes.
Hand 19
Tuan Lam lays it down on the button and Jerry Yang takes the pot.
Hand 20
Jerry Yang is first to act and he limps-in. Tuan Lam checks his option and the flop comes Q-J-7 with two hearts. Lam checks to Yang, who bets $2 million and Lam makes the call. The turn is the 3

. Lam checks to Yang, who bets $2.5 million. Lam lays it down and Yang takes another pot.
Hand 21
Tuan Lam limps-in and Jerry Yang checks his option. The flop comes 9

-9

-9

and Yang bets $1 million. Lam lays it down and Yang takes down the pot.

• Blinds: $300,000/$600,000
• Ante: $75,000
• Average Stack: $63,580,000
• Players Left: 2
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

Hand 22
Jerry Yang raises on the button and Tuan Lam lays it down.
Hand 23
Tuan Lam moves all-in from the button and Jerry Yang makes the call, showing A

-9

to Lam's 4

-3

. Lam is behind going to the flop but at the very least has two live cards. The audience, exhausted, stands and waits silently for the flop.
The flop is quick to come and brings K

-8

-4

, pairing Lam's four and giving him a tenuous lead. Lam's crowd now chants for at trey, but Yang can still put himself back in the lead with an ace or a nine.
The turn card is the 6

and Yang has six outs for the championship. The river is the K

and Tuan Lam is still alive and has doubled through Jerry Yang. The Canadian contingent cheers wildly and tries to storm the stage, much to the displeasure of the security guards charged with keeping $8 million in cash safe.
Lam doubles through Yang but is still far behind his rival, bringing his stack up to $18,100,000 to Yang's $109,000,000.

• Blinds: $400,000/$800,000
• Ante: $100,000
• Average Stack: $63,580,000
• Players Left: 2
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

Hand 25
Tuan Lam raises to $2.25 million and Jerry Yang lays it down.
Hand 26
Jerry Yang is first to act and he takes a long time making a decision. He decides to limp and Lam checks his option. The flop comes 8

-6

-3

and Lam checks. Yang bets out $1.5 million and Lam lays it down. Yang takes the pot.
Hand 27
Tuan Lam raises preflop and Jerry Yang lays it down.
Hand 28
Jerry Yang is first to act and he limps in. Tuan Lam moves all-in over the top and Yang quickly lays it down. Lam takes down the blinds and antes.
Hand 29
Tuan Lam lays down the button preflop.
Hand 30
Jerry Yang raises from the button and Tuan Lam re-raises all-in. Yang asks for a count and the answer is $17,100,000. After about another minute of thought, Yang lays it down and Lam takes another pot.
Hand 31
This is the two-hundredth hand of the final table. For comparison's sake, last year's final table took 260 hands. Due to Harrah's chicanery, we are captive to the radio/video feed as we've been denied an opportunity to watch the final table firsthand as they run commercials.
Hand 32
Jerry Yang calls on the button and Tuan Lam raises another $2 million. Yang lays it down and Lam takes down another pot.
Hand 33
Tuan Lam limps-in and Jerry Yang raises another $2.5 million. Lam lays it down and Yang takes the pot.
Hand 34
Jerry Yang raises $3 million and Tuan Lam lays it down.
Hand 35
Tuan Lam limps-in and Jerry Yang checks his option. The flop comes K-9-2 with two spades and Yang checks to Lam, who checks behind. The turn is the A

and both players check again. The river is the 6

and Yang bets $1.5 million. Lam calls the bet and shows a king for second pair. It's good for the pot and he rakes it.

• Blinds: $400,000/$800,000
• Ante: $100,000
• Average Stack: $63,580,000
• Players Left: 2
• Tables Left: 1

 

[Reno]

The Final Yang Wins

Hand 36
Jerry Yang raises to $1.5 million and Tuan Lam re-raises all-in immediately. Yang calls very quickly and turns up pocket eights to Lam's A

-Q

. The crowd is on its feet and chanting "U-S-A" for Yang, while the Canadian contingent merely hollers. Lam brandishes a Canadian flag as the crowd settles (barely) to wait for the flop.
As shouts of encouragement ring out through the Amazon Room, the dealer turns up Q

-9

-5

sending the Canadian crowd into a triumphant roar. Yang has the 8

and can hit a backdoor flush or a set to win the title, but the 7

on the turn gives him even more outs.
It's a madhouse in the Amazon Room as partisans holler encouragement for their player and the tension is palpable as we wait for the river. Fifth Street is the 6

and this tournament is over! Jerry Yang hits runner-runner to make a nine-high straight and win the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event!
The crowd screams alternately "U-S-A! U-S-A!" and "Jerry! Jerry!" as Yang is mobbed by his family and friends. The Californian by way of Laos earns $8.25 million for his dominant final table performance, with 10% of the winnings having been pledged to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children and the Ronald McDonald House charities. He also wins his first WSOP bracelet and the right to represent the game of poker for the next year and beyond. Oh yeah - immortality doesn't hurt either.
For his runner-up finish, Tuan Lam earns $4,840,981 and a slice of immortality of his own. Congratulations to both finalists and to all who cashed in the Main Event!

• Blinds: $400,000/$800,000
• Ante: $100,000
• Average Stack: $127,160,000
• Players Left: 1
• Tables Left: 1