Poker Final Table 2013
Just a dollar and a dream.
Growing up in New York, that motto for the N.Y. state lottery was plastered just about everywhere. Talk about perfect marketing. Everyone has a dream. And a dollar. To be able to make that dream come true is motivation enough for millions to be willing to part with that dollar. Or two. Or 10.
The televised final table of the 2013 World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker Main Event has been set and it looks to be a very competitive one. Leading the charge heading into Wednesday is Ryan.
I've often called making the World Series of Poker main event final table a winning lottery ticket. Instead of a buck for a ticket, the field pays a $10,000 entry fee to play the game, and instead of millions of participants with blind hopes, all that stands in your way are a few thousands other hopefuls, all of whom truly believe they can win. They aren't relying on the lottery TV host and those air-filled numbered ball dispensers to make their dreams come true. It's all about the level of their game, honed over thousands of hours at the felt or online. And if you make it to the final table, you've already beaten the odds. You're a November Niner. The worst you can walk away with is $733,224.
- The 2013 World Series of Poker main event has reached a final table after seven days of grueling action for the final nine grinders. At around 3 a.m. Local time in Las Vegas on Tuesday, an official.
- WSOP 2013 Main Event Final Table Review quantity. Category: Available Products Tag: course. Description Jonathan Little reviews 29 hands from the 2013 WSOP Main Event Final Table and discusses how to adjust in order to maximize your equity at the final table.
- The 2013 World Series of Poker ventures out of Las Vegas to New Orleans for the National Championship with eight players, each with final table experience, aiming for the gold bracelet. National Championship 2.
That's a reality for our nine remaining players. At stake for the winner of this final showdown: $8.3 million, the most coveted bracelet in the poker universe, and the title of WSOP main event champion. That's the dream.
The event, which began in July, featured 6,352 runners who each put down $10,000 for a chance to become the next world champion. Play was halted once the final nine remained and that group, the November Nine, will take their seats at the most coveted final table of the year on Monday night, live on ESPN2 (8 p.m. ET). Action will continue until either two or three players remain and the final battle will take place Tuesday night (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET).
Each of the remaining nine players has demonstrated a great deal of skill to reach this point in the tournament. The level of ability in poker has increased so greatly over the past decade that the seldom-playing amateur just can't win anymore. It is highly unlike that there will ever be another amateur story like Chris Moneymaker's. The game has simply evolved, and while luck will always play a role in who gets to the final table, these nine survivors wouldn't be in the position they are in if they weren't some of the best poker players in the world.
From chip leader JC Tran to short stack David Benefield, each of the nine boasts accomplishments in the game of one kind or another. They've had four months to think about this final table appearance and many of them have done everything they can to prepare; working with coaches, watching film, refining their strategy. Each of them understands the potential of one nine-handed table. This is their night. This is their chance. This is their winning ticket.
Here's who you will be watching Monday night (in order of chip count):
JC Tran – The chip leader is by far the most decorated player at this final table. Tran was one of poker's hottest stars during the peak of the boom a few years ago, but life priorities changed. Instead of being a constant grinder, spending 75 percent of the year on the road, Tran stayed closer to his wife and son and played only a few key events over the past few years. Well, the two-time WSOP bracelet winner, World Championship of Online Poker champion and WPT champion is in command of this final table. If there's one certainty on Monday, it's that the bright lights won't intimidate him at all. Been there, done that.
Amir Lehavot – The Israeli-born pro was an engineer with no interests in poker until 2007. He took a year hiatus from his career, stumbled upon online poker and, in spite of himself, found that he had a passion for the game. He has been dominant ever since. Lehavot is already a WSOP bracelet winner with heavy roots in online poker tournament strategy. The father of a 1-year-old is constantly yearning to conquer the next big challenge. This final table fits into that category.
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin – While the commentary about McLaughlin sometimes revolves around the similarities between him and his friend, 2010 WSOP main event champion Jonathan Duhamel, McLaughlin's resume speaks for himself. The entrepreneur has a heavy cash game background to go along with his three top-86 finishes in the WSOP main event since 2009. Similar to David Benefield (ninth), McLaughlin is thorough in making each and every decision.
Jay Farber –Farber, a nightclub promoter, has always had a passion for poker and finally was able to take some time away from work to play in the main event this year. He may not have the most experience at the final table, but his decision-making is excellent and his rail will be filled with many of the game's most familiar faces, including 2011's third-place finisher Ben Lamb. All of Vegas is salivating over a Farber victory after-party.
Ryan Riess – The youngest player at the final table is the 23-year-old kid from Michigan. In less than 14 months, Riess has gone from being a dealer at a casino in Michigan to taking his seat at the biggest final table in the world. Some may question his ability to change gears at the right time, but 'Riess the Beast' is ready and thrilled to have this opportunity.
Sylvain Loosli – Listen, if you're roommates with Bertrand Grospellier, you probably know what you're doing at the felt. Loosli has only a few tournament cashes to his record, but has established himself as a force at the table through unique play and a stone-faced stare. Inspired by the third-place finisher in 2009, Antoine Saout, Loosli is looking to bring the bracelet back to Europe and become the new face of French poker.
Michiel Brummelhuis – Constantly overlooked leading up to the final table, Brummelhuis is looking to become the first Dutch WSOP main event champion. His poker background is extensive, with a dual focus on cash games and tournament play. Even though he hasn't received the most hype here in the U.S., in Europe, in the words of Ron Burgundy, he's kind of a big deal. Just like Lehavot and Tran, Brummelhuis also just became a father and realizes he's playing for more than just himself.
Mark Newhouse – What does the final table mean to Newhouse? Freedom. After rising to the top of the poker world in 2006 thanks to a great run at the cash games and a surprising victory at the WPT Borgata main event, Newhouse's career took a rough turn and left him in bad shape. The money may mean more to him than any other player on Monday night, but his abilities are top tier and he has already proven that he knows how to be patient when the pressure is on.
David Benefield – When those in the industry think of the early online legends, they think of the name 'Raptor.' Benefield found passion in poker and built an impressive bankroll at an early age. He was on top of the online game when he decided to reduce his focus on poker and headed back to school. Well, his East Asian Studies major at Columbia led him to Macau and back to poker. He has been on an incredible run over the past few months and all he needs is one double-up to keep that roll going.
Each of these nine players has already received $733,224, the prize for a ninth-place finish, and one of them will leave the Rio with nothing more to show for their four-month wait. The other eight will continue to fight for the victory, which would mean not only a life-changing cash prize, but will also see them become the next icon of the game.
Every call, every fold, every bluff can alter the course of poker history and mean the difference between a dream shattered and a dream fulfilled. There's no moment in poker like the final table.
Welcome to our World Series.
The 2013 World Series of Poker main event has reached a final table after seven days of grueling action for the final nine grinders. At around 3 a.m. local time in Las Vegas on Tuesday, an official final table of nine was formed after 2001 main event champion Carlos Mortensen was eliminated in 10th on the bubble.
A total of 6,352 players turned out for this year’s no-limit hold’em championship, and some big names are still alive to fight for the $8.3 million first-place prize this fall.
Here’s a look at the chip stacks:
JC Tran — 38,000,000; Amir Lehavot — 29,700,000; Marc McLaughlin — 26,525,000; Jay Farber — 25,975,000; Ryan Riess — 25,875,000; Sylvain Loosli — 19,600,000; Michiel Brummelhuis — 11,275,000; Mark Newhouse — 7,350,000; and David Benefield — 6,375,000.
Tran is by far the most accomplished no-limit hold’em tournament player at the final table. He has won nearly $9 million lifetime in poker tournaments over his career. He is looking for his third WSOP bracelet. He has been deep in the main event before, but never this deep.
Despite being the chip leader, Tran will have to run well to beat the likes of Lehavot, Newhouse and Benefield. Lehavot won a WSOP bracelet in 2011; Newhousea took down a World Poker Tour title in 2006 for $1,519,020; and David Benefield was once one of the toughest high-stakes cash game players on the Internet prior to his decision to focus on school.
2001 Champ Runs Out Of Steam
Mortensen was looking to have a chance at his second main event title, but he fell just short of another piece of poker history. It was Tran who busted him.
Mortensen’s final hand began with him raising to 800,000 from the cutoff. Action was folded to Tran, who called 400,000 more from the big blind. Both players saw a flop of 10 6 3. Tran checked, Mortensen bet the same amount of 800,000, and Tran called.
The 9 fell on the turn. Tran shoved, which put Mortensen all in for about 3.5 million (about nine big blinds). Mortensen thought about it briefly before making the call.
Tran tabled the 8 7 for a straight, while Mortensen exposed the A 9 for a pair and the nut-flush draw. The pair was meaningless, as he could only stay alive with another club.
The 2 on the river ended the tournament for Mortensen. He walked away with $573,204 in prize money for his efforts.
Tran played excellent all day, and even knocked out a player by picking off a huge bluff.
Tran Makes Great Call To Bust Fabian Ortiz in 17th Place
One of Tran’s defining moments of the day began when Fabian Ortiz raised to 500,000 preflop. Action was folded to Tran, and he called. The flop fell K 9 7. Tran checked. Ortiz fired 500,000, and Tran decided to make the call.
The 4 landed on the turn, and action went check-check. The 6 on the river prompted another check from Tran. Ortiz shoved for 2.78 million.
Tran went into the tank before making the call.
Ortiz turned over the A Q for a stone-cold bluff, and Tran exposed the 9 8 for a pair of nines. He took the pot and knocked out Ortiz.
Tran and the other finalists played very well, but they were also aided by a couple of big names bowing out relatively early in the day.
Yevgeniy Timoshenko Eliminated in 22nd Place
Yevgeniy Timoshenko, arguably the most successful player in online poker tournament history, was short when he shoved for for 2,165,000 in the hijack. Next to act was Jan Nakladalt, and he made the call. The two were eventually heads up. Timoshenko flipped over the A 8, while Nakladal had A J.
The flop fell A J 10, putting Timoshenko in horrible shape. The king on the turn gave him some outs for a chop, but the jack on the river sealed the elimination. Timoshenko left with $285,408 and disappointment.
Steve Gee Eliminated in 24th Place
Steve Gee was looking to make the improbable back-to-back final table, but he fell short. His final hand began when he opened to 250,000 from the small blind. Anton Morgenstern, who was the chip leader at the time, raised to 550,000 from the big blind. Gee went all in for 2.93 million. Morgenstern called with pocket eights and was up against Gee’s 10 7.
The board ran out Q 8 2 A 3 and last year’s ninth-place finisher was gone with $285,408 in his pocket, but with another main event disappointment.
Morgenstern used the hand to build a huge chip lead, but he eventually crashed and burned.
Massive Chip Leader With 24 Left Exists In 20th
With close to 30 million with just 24 left, Morgenstern looked like a near lock to make the final table. However, Newhouse got in the way.
Newhouse was relatively short when he doubled up with A-Q versus Morgenstern’s pocket eights. A little bit later, the largest hand of the tournament at that point went down, and it was Newhouse vs. Morgenstern once again. The action began with Morgenstern raising to 325,000 from the hijack. Mark Newhouse called on the button. Everyone else folded.
The flop fell A A 2.
Morgenstern led for 425,000. Newhouse just called.
World Series Of Poker Final Table 2013
The 3 on the turn prompted a 750,000 bet from Morgenstern. Newhouse woke up with a raise to 2 million. Morgenstern made it 3.9 million. Newhouse moved all in for just fewer than 11 million total. Morgenstern called to put the North Carolina native at risk.
Newhouse exposed pocket deuces for a flopped full house, while Morgenstern had A-J for tips. The German was in bad shape, and a 4 on the river didn’t change things.
After the hand, Newhouse had more than 22 million, which was good for the chip lead, while Morgenstern had about 5 million and was one of the short stacks. He exited in 20th.
Stay tuned to CardPlayer.com for a closer look at all the finalists.