The second leg of the Tran Torelli conflict is turning into an epic encounter, neither player giving up much ground.

Though Torelli took the early impetus, Tran has kept up his relentless raising in position, enabling him to claw back a slim lead.

Few pots of note have played out, it is very cat and mouse at the moment, and although Torelli is not being over-run by Tran, he is picking up fewer of the inconsequential pots, enabling Tran to just stay on top.

Tran has had a few hands, although he hasn't received much action with them, flashing Kings and The Big Slick twice when Torelli laid down his Big Blind.

Tran has a small 2.6 million to 2.4 million lead at present, although that could all change in an instant.

Tran Triumphs!

And indeed it has!

Kenny Tran has taken down the World Championship Heads Up!

It all began with the players seeing a flop of Q 7 4.

Kenny Tran bet out $150,000, only to find Torelli popping it to $430,000.

A further raise from Tran to $1,000,000 ensued but Torelli wasn't going to be pushed around, and now moved all-in!

Tran sighed but called, showing down A 8 for the nut flush draw.

I Kenny't Believe It!

Torelli's brave move with just Q-T was shown to be correct, but the poker gods were on Tran's side today and a rivered club completed his nut flush, meaning Torelli is OUT, eliminated in 2nd place, winning $336,896 but Kenny Tran is the Champion, taking down a cool $539,056.

A full interview with the champion will be posted up shortly!

 

Leg two has just started, with Torelli needing to show some mettle if he is to turn round Tran's 1-0 advantage.

Torelli Troubles

An early hand has given Tran the upper hand.

After Alec Torelli popped it up to $72,000, Tran made the call and the players saw a flop of A J 6.

Standing up To Tran

Kenny led for $125,000, only for Torelli to put the pressure on with a raise to $350,000. Tran was not in the mood to pass though, sliding out a call.

The turn fell the 7 and Tran now put in a huge bet of $800,000. It was big enough to persuade Torelli to pass and Kenny had him on the ropes in the early stages.

Tran De-railed

Kenny raised the button as he is prone to do, making it $72,000 to go. Torelli now raised out of position to $270,000. Tran loves to play a pot in position and he didn't let us down, making up the extra $198,000.

The flop came T 5 3.

Both players tapped the table indicating no action and we saw the turn which was the 3.

Again both players checked.

The river was the 9 and now Torelli launched into action, firing $400,000 into the pot. Tran contemplated this and counted out the call, only to quickly much when Torelli showed pocket Tens for a full house!

Nice trap work by Torelli to give him the advantage as we stand.

Current counts are in the region of $2,9 million for Alec Torelli, $2.1 million for Kenny Tran.

 

Play remains close between the two combatants, players routinely picking up each other's big blinds through raising on the button.

Then this beauty of a hand plays out!

Torelli Trumps Tran   

One Up On Tran!  

Alec Torelli popped it up to $100,000 preflop and Tran made the call.

The flop fell K Q 7 and both players checked.

The turn was the K and Tran now led for $200k, whcih Torelli flat called.

The river was the J and Tran continued the aggression, firing out $325,000, only to find Torelli raising to $925,000.

Tran shook his head and eventually laid it down, only for a triumphant Torelli to flip over a stone cold move, showing a pair of fives!!

One up in the psychological warfare for Torelli!

Tip Top Tran

Tran had picked up the aggression soon after this, keeping on top of Torelli and wearing him down before this hand played out.

Tran popped it up to $110,000, as he has been prone to do very often on the button.

Torelli called and they saw a 5 2 9 flop.

Tran continuation bet $150,000, called by Torelli.

The turn was the T and the players checked it through.

The river fell the 3 and Torelli now lead for $300,000, only to find Tran pushing allin!!! 

1.3 million to call, it was an agonizing decision for Torelli but ultimately he passed his hand, giving Tran a large chip lead.

Tran 1 Torelli 0

Leg One Victor!  

Tran has taken down the first leg!

With just 1.4 million in chips, Torelli was not looking in great shape. After Tran raised to $110,000 preflop, he re-popped him to $350,000.

Tran decided he could afford to make the call and did so...

The flop fell 8 4 2.

Torelli moved in and Tran called, Torelli showing A J and Tran A 4!

Great call by Tran with 2nd pair and Torelli was in all sorts of trouble, needing to spike a jack to have any hope.

The 7 on the turn and A on the river were of no use to him, so Tran's the man in leg one and takes an important lead into the rest of the contest.

How will Torelli react to the psychological pressure of having a 1-0 deficit?

Join us shortly to find out! 

 

Both players have played it pretty close to the vest throughout this first level.

The two heads up combatants traded jabs for a long while before they finally got embroiled in a substantial pot in the late part of the first hour.

Torelli had a sight lead and the button when he made it $72,000 to see a flop. Tran re-raised it up to $260,000, but could not shake Torelli, who called him down.

Torelli then shoved for $2.1 million into the 10 9 8 flop and with his match life on the line Kenny went deep into the tank.

He stared down the young Torelli looking for anything he could use, before eventually laying it down.

At the end of the hand Torelli had increased his edge with $3.2 million in chips to the $1.8 million in Tran's stack.

Tran struck back a few hands later when Torelli made it $72,000 from the button again. Tran re-raised to $222,000 and bet out another $200k on the K 10 7 flop.

It was enough to drag the pot in his direction.

Tran then pulled even closer to even by dragging a $300k pot. Tran limped and Torelli bumped it up to $75,000. Kenny made the call and after the A 2 10 flop Torelli led the action with a $130,000 bet. Tran came over the top making it $380,000 and Torelli backed off.

Following the next hand they were within $30k of one another.

We are just mere moments away from the Heads-Up World Championship final where Kenny Tran will be mano-a-mano with Alec Torelli for the $500k+ first place prize and the coveted WSOP bracelet.

Things will get rolling with each player sitting on $2.56 million in chips in a best two out of three format.

Only time will tell who the best heads up player in the world will be, but you can always count on PL.com to bringing you all the action live from the Rio on the way there.

Facing close to a 2-1 chip defecit Vanessa Selbts got deep in hand with Alec Torelli, got her money in good, but failed to prevent Torelli from sucking out for the win.

In the final hand the big money went in on the turn with Selbst's K 10 good for second pair on the J 4 5 10 board. Torelli's K Q up and down straight draw needed help on the river and found it when the 9 fell making his straight.

It will be Torelli vs. Kenny Tran in the final at 7 p.m. while Selbst will be forced to watch from the sideline with her $108,288.

The feeling out process is over and we've seen a couple big hands play out in the second semi final. Alec Torelli has grabbed the lead and will be looking to lean on Vanessa Selbst here paving his own way to the final table where Kenny Tran awaits.

Selbts took the lead after one of the largest pots of the match was deserted by Alec Torelli in the first half of the first level. On the button Torelli made it 30,000 to go and Selbst fired back re-raising to $100k total.

Torelli made the call and but Vanessa did not slow down beting $128k into the K 6 5 flop. Not to be outdone, Torelli bumped it up to $260k, but Selbst wasn't going anywhere and made the call.

The 4 turn was checked by both, as was the 9 river giving Selbts the opportunity to roll over a nine and take the pot.

A little while later Selbst just called from the button, but when Torelli raised it to $47,000 she re-raised another $75k.

Torelli called and the flop rolled out J J 6. Torelli checked, Selbst bet $150,000 and he tanked a short while before cutting out the checks and making the call.

The turn brought the A and Torelli checked it over to Selbst again. She bet out $275,000 and Torelli makes the call, making this the biggest pot of the match so far. The river is the K and it is checked down with Torelli showing pocket nines.

Selbst mucked and Torelli grabbed the lead with $1.6 million to Vanessa's $900k.

Kenny Tran is headed to the final and we are moments away from the start of Vanessa Selbst vs. Alec Torelli.

Tran made a huge call when Jonathan Jaffe shoved into him with K 8 before the flop. Tran took his time about it, but eventually made the call with two jacks and needed only dodge a king or a miracle.

Neither came as the 10 4 4 flop was revealed. The A turn and 8 river ensured Tran would move on to the 7 p.m. final while Jaffe takes $108,288 for fourth.

We've reached the third Level and Kenny Tran is in the lead.

Jonathan Jaffe grabbed the lead from Kenny in the 36th and largest hand of the match so far. From the button Jaffe made it $48,000 to go and Tran came over the top making $143,000 total.

Jaffe made the call sending the two to the K 10 4 flop where Tran lead out for another $175k. Jaffe smooth called and the Q turn forced Tran to slow down. He checked allowing Jaffe to lead out for $175k. Tran counted his chips and made the call before the 10 river fell. Tran passed again, but Jaffe had no more ammunition to throw at him, checking it down.

In the end, Kenny's A-Q was beaten by Jonathan's K-J and the lead had swapped hands.

Tran fought back though and took the lead again without a showdown. Jaffe made it 48,000 to go on the button and Tran re-raised it up to $168k.

Jaffe looked like he was planning a move, but just called. The K 8 5 flop brought a $150k continuation bet from Tran which Jaffe called. The 3 turn didn't slow Tran down a bit as he sent a $250k bet in the middle, forcing Jaffe to fold and relinquish his short live lead.

Jonathan Jaffe came out like a house on fire winning the first seven hands of the match and grabbing the chip lead. However, Kenny Tran got back on track and eventually took 14 of the first 26 hands to build a lead of his own.

The biggest hand of the first level played out right near the end with Jaffe making it $36k on the button. Tran called and checked the K 10 3 flop. Jaffe fired $52,000 at it, but Tran smooth called.
The turn came the 8 and Tran checked again. Jaffe bet out $92,000 this time around, but Tran pulled the trigger on a check raise making it $242,000 total. Jaffe took his time, but made the call and the river fell the innocuous looking 2.

Tran wasted little time sending a $500,000 bet across the line and faced with the biggest decision of the match so far, Jaffe laid it down.

Right now Tran has $1.5 million to Jaffe's $1 million and change.

The World Chapionship Heads-Up semi finals will get going in just a few minutes from now. The plan is to play the first semi at 2 p.m. Vegas time, the second at 4 p.m. and then the final will go off at 7 p.m.

We'll get going with Kenny Tran vs. Jonathan Jaffe and the Vanessa Selbst vs. Alec Torelli match will go second.

Stick with PL.com throughout to see how it all shakes down!