The last time @golferjosh won a @WSOP event was 12 years ago and he beat Chris Ferguson heads-up. Maybe history repeats itself tonight?
— Lance Bradley (@Lance_Bradley)
Back in 2005, Josh Arieh captured his second-career WSOP bracelet when he defeated Chris Ferguson heads-up to win the $2,000 Pot Limit Omaha tournament for $381,600. Since then, Arieh has managed to add four additional final tables and several final table bubbles, but he has yet to capture bracelet number three.
For Ferguson, his last WSOP bracelet came in 2003 when he won the $2,000 1/2 Limit Hold'em - 1/2 Seven Card Stud for $66,220 and his fifth career WSOP bracelet. Although Ferguson took a hiatus from the WSOP, he has rebounded over the past couple of years, capturing 11 cashes this year and 10 last year, including one final table.
Quentin Krueger defended his big blind against a raise to 125,000 by Kate Hoang, who was in middle position. Krueger checked the flop, and Hoang potted 275,000. Krueger shoved all in for 425,000 more, and Hoang called.
Hoang:
Krueger:
Hoang asked for running spades. The turn was an , though, improving her two pair. The river gave Krueger a set, but Hoang had an eight-deuce that played for low.
Jeremy Joseph opened to 150,000 from the hijack, and Josh Arieh called in the big blind.
The flop fell , and Arieh led out for 250,000. Joseph called, and the turn landed the . Arieh checked, Joseph announced a bet of the pot totaling 825,000 to leave himself just 55,000 behind. Arieh deliberated for several minutes, eventually picking up his cards to look at them before throwing them at the muck and relinquishing the pot to Joseph.
As Arieh slips to 1.3 million, Joseph climbs to over 1.7 million chips.
Ray Henson raised to 120,000 from middle position, and Josh Arieh called in the big blind.
The flop fell , and Arieh checked to Henson, who bet 150,000. Arieh called, then checked the on the turn. Henson announced he was all in for 410,000, and Arieh mucked.
Kate Hoang opened to 150,000 in middle position, and Josh Arieh three-bet to 525,000. Hoang checked her hole cards, waiting another three minutes, and then folded her hand to drop to below 2.5 million. Arieh climbed to 1,125,000 in chips.
Kate Hoang made it 150,000 on the button, and Josh Arieh defended his big blind.
Arieh led out for 275,000 on the flop. Hoang thought for a while and potted it for about one million. Arieh counted out his stack. He'd have about 650,000 if he folded. He pushed them all in.
Arieh:
Hoang:
Arieh was in rough shape against two pair with one live over that would only get him a chop. The turn missed him, but the river gave him a winning set.
"No gamble, no future," Arieh said as he counted out his stack. He added that he did not want to leave himself with 10 blinds and figured if he won, he was scooping the whole thing, in any case.
Bryce Yockey limped in from the cutoff, as did Josh Arieh from the button. Christopher Roth completed from the small blind and Quentin Krueger checked his option.
The flop landed and a bet of 125,000 from Yockey was enough to prompt a series of folds behind him.
The action folded to Chris Ferguson in the small blind, and he raised to 180,000. Kate Hoang called in the big blind, and the dealer spread a flop. Ferguson bet 200,000, and Hoang mucked.
flop, and Hoang potted 275,000. Krueger shoved all in for 425,000 more, and Hoang called.
, though, improving her two pair. The 
river gave Krueger a set, but Hoang had an eight-deuce that played for low.
, and Arieh led out for 250,000. Joseph called, and the turn landed the 
, and Arieh checked to Henson, who bet 150,000. Arieh called, then checked the 
on the turn. Henson announced he was all in for 410,000, and Arieh mucked.
flop. Hoang thought for a while and potted it for about one million. Arieh counted out his stack. He'd have about 650,000 if he folded. He pushed them all in. 
river gave him a winning set.
