We just had a big hand involving Jamie Robbins, Mohammed Siddiqui, and Jan Heitmann which resulted in one knockout, and if not for a lucky river card would have given us a new chip leader.
The hand began with Robbins open-pushing all in from under the gun for 920,000. It folded to Siddiqui in the cutoff who reraised to 2 million, leaving himself just about 500,000 behind. A couple of folds later it was Jan Heitmann flat-calling the reraise from the big blind, and the flop came . Heitmann went ahead and pushed all in, and Siddiqui called with his remaining chips.
Heitmann:
Robbins:
Siddiqui:
"Now is a good time for my one time," said Robbins upon seeing the hands. Heitmann had the lead with his jacks, and still did after the turn.
Then came the river... the ! "Baaaammm!!!" said Robbins, who had made a set to claim the main pot. Meanwhile, Heitmann gained the side pot (having missed taking it all to move into the chip lead), and Siddiqui was eliminated.
Jason Somerville got lucky not long ago when his nines cracked Eric Buchman's tens in an all-in preflop situation, but it seemed lady luck has turned her back. In a recent hand, Somerville raised to 105,000 from middle position only to have Jacob Balsiger move all in from the big blind. Somerville quickly called off for 840,000 and was a big favorite.
Showdown
Somerville:
Balsiger:
Unfortunately for Somerville, the flop came down and gave Balsiger trips. Somerville needed a queen to stay alive, but it was not to be as the appeared on the turn followed by the on the river.
Somerville, who finished in 69th place for $106,056, did a quick exit interview with Kara Scott in which he was humble, gracious and reiterated that he had a great time.
Nicco Maag opened to 110,000 from early position, Amit Makhija three-bet to 260,000 from middle position, and the action folded back to Maag, who called.
Both players knuckled when the flop fell , and the turn brought the . Maag tossed out two lavender T100,000 chips, and Makhija called.
The completed the board, and Maag led again - this time for 500,000. Makhija called, and Maag tabled for a full house.
Makhija mucked, and Maag is now flirting with 5 million chips.
If you have played a WSOP event, you have likely heard about Shaun The Dealer. Many pros even demand he not leave when it is time to switch dealers. Sarah talks to him about his retirement.
Mazin Khoury was just all in with and seemingly in good shape to double through Jonathan Schoder who held . But the flop came , giving Schoder two pair and the lead. The turn was the and river the , and Khoury took the walk to the cashier's desk, his Main Event run having ended on Day 6.
Jacob Balsiger opened for 100,000 and received a call from Greg Merson. Last year's ninth-place finisher in the Main Event, Sam Holden, then moved all in for 960000. Balsiger made the call while Merson opted to get out of the way.
Showdown
Balsiger:
Holden:
Holden was ahead, but Balsiger held two overs. It was off to the races headed to the flop, which came down . Holden maintained his lead, but the turn gave Balsiger a whole new set of outs as he picked up the better flush draw. The crowd around the ESPN Main Stage was quiet as the dealer burned one last time and put out the on the river.
It was a safe card for Holden, and his dream of making back-to-back Main Event final tables is still alive.
Webber Kang opened for 100,000 from under the gun and got a single caller in Fabrizio "SixthSenSe19" Gonzalez in the cutoff. The flop came . Kang checked, Gonzalez bet 115,000, and Kang called. The turn was the and Kang checked once more. This time Gonzalez bet 475,000, and Kang let his hand go.