Event 27 - $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship - Live Updates

The three-handed portion of the tournament lasted about 15 minutes before Barry Greenstein was eliminated by Matthew Gallin.

Then, the heads-up match between Gallin and Daniel Idema lasted less than five hands.

Idema went into the heads-up match with a commanding chip lead. He held 3,660,000 to Gallin’s 900,000.

Then, there would be no heads-up double ups and Idema became the new $10,000 Limit Hold’em Champion.

He manages to clinch the title that slipped through his hands last year. In 2010, Idema finished second to Matt Keikoan in this very tournament.

Now he’s managed to clinch the bracelet and win the $378,642 grand prize.

Daniel Idema bested a field 152 players that included the likes of Tom Dwan, Eric Froehlich, Matt Hawrilenko, Jason Mercier, Jennifer Harman, Darren Woods and Isaac Haxton.

Fourteen players survived to play today and only one remained undefeated. Nick Schulman made his third $10K Championship final table this WSOP, but was the first one out, yet again.

He was followed by Richard Brodie and then Isaac Haxton when Steve Landfish got a flush to beat his tens.

Justin Smith was the next to go and then the tournament was left five-handed. Here we saw a tremendous amount of double ups from both Barry Greenstein, Landfish and Domenico Denotaristefani.

Denotaristefani was the first one of the five to bust when Landfish hit a set of nines on the river to be Denotaristefani’s set of fours.

Landfish was next. After hitting a five double ups in a row, Landfish finally met his end when he ran into aces.

Matthew Gallin catches a three-outer on the river to knock out Barry Greenstein.

 

Soon after he was eliminated, Greenstein found himself all in against Matthew Gallin on a 4♦ 4♥ 3♣ flop.

Greenstein showed Q♣ 10♦, ahead of Gallin’s 10♠ 5♠. But the river brought a 5♥ and Greenstein became our 3^rd place finisher, earning $169,512.

Then the micro heads-up match started.

Idema went into the match with a commanding lead and a few hands in, Gallin found himself all in on a 7♣ 3♥ J♥ flop.

Gallin showed a pair of queens, but was trailing behind Idema’s J♣ 3♣. Idema’s two pair held up and Gallin was eliminated in 2^nd place, a finish worth $233,944.

That made Daniel Idema the 2011 $10,000 Limit Hold’em Champion. He will take home his first WSOP bracelet and the $378,642 grand prize.

Steve Landfish has been our new double up master. At one point he found himself with less than one big bet, but has managed to go on an unbelievable streak.  

He has had five double ups this round and came back from the grave to knock out a player.

But like every streak, it would have to come to an end. Landfish found himself eliminated in 4^th place to the hands of the man he’d doubled up through before.

We’re left with our final three players, and Daniel Idema is still in the lead with 2,500,000.

The Landfish.

 

Landfish Multiplying

Landfish found himself all in against Barry Greenstein.

Landfish showed K♥ 10♥ and was up against Greenstein’s A♦ 4♦.

A K♦ came on the flop, giving Landfish top pair. Greenstein hit no ace on the river – or any other street for that matter – and Landfish doubled up.

On another hand Landfish went all in against Matthew Gallin on a 7♠ K♣ 8♦ flop.         

Gallin flipped over queens, but Landfish held the K♥ for top pair yet again. Gallin would not improve his pocket pair and double up Landfish.

Landfish would then double up through Gallin again.

Gallin had A♠ 8♠ and was trailing behind Landfish’s A♦ 10♠.

There was an A♦ on the flop, then the turn brought a 6♥ and a 4♣ came on the river. Gallin’s stack would shrink, and Landfish’s would double again.

Domenico’s Decimation

Barry Greenstein 3-bet a preflop raise and both Landfish and Domenico Denotaristefani called.

The flop came 8♦ Q♣ 4♦ and Greenstein led out. Both players called and a J♥ came on the turn.

Greenstein checked, Denotaristefani bet, Landfish folded and Greenstein made the call.

An 8♥ came on the river and Greenstein put out another bet. Denotaristefani made the call and Greenstein showed pocket aces.

Denotaristefani mucked and was left crippled.

A few hands later Denotaristefani went all in with Landfish on a 5♦ 7♦ 4♣ board.

Denotaristefani showed fours for a set and Landfish showed nines for the overpair. The turn was a J♣, but then the river brought a two-outer, the 9♠.

Denotaristefani was eliminated in 5^th place and earned $94,029.

Landfish Loses

Landfish finally lost an all in.

But not before he won another all in against Barry Greenstein.

After that, he found himself all in against Gallin for a final time.

Gallin, who had just double through Idema, moved all in for 290,000.

Landfish showed A♠ Q♥, way behind Gallin’s A♥ A♦.

The board ran 9♣ 4♥ 7♠ 5♣ 5♠ and, after counting out the chips, the dealer announced that both players had the same amount of chips.

Gallin doubled up and Landfish was eliminated in 4^th place, a finish worth $125,120.

Chip Counts

Here are the final three, courtesy of WSOP live updates.

Daniel Idema – 2,500,000
Barry Greenstein – 1,200,000
Matthew Gallin – 610,000

The long string of double ups has continued. The large limits have caused several all ins and, again, only one player has been eliminated.

We now only have five players remaining with Daniel Idema still in the lead with 1,355,000.

He’s followed closely by Matthew Gallin, with 1,270,000, who’s managed to win several large pots this level.

Barry Greenstein leads the double up record this update, he’s doubled up a minimum of three times. Despite his constant double ups, Greenstein is still fourth in chips with 660,000.

Steve Landfish has also seen his stack slowly dwindle, but he doubled up later when his pocket aces held up against Idema's jacks. He’s now the tournament short stack with 520,000.

Greenstein vs. Smith

Barry Greenstein found himself all in versus Justin Smith.

Smith – Q♣ 10♦
Greenstein – J♥ 9♥

The board ran 3♥ 4♥ A♣ 5♥ 10♥ and Greenstein doubled up with flush.

This left smith short stacked, and both players would find themselves all in again a few minutes later. This time Smith would be the one at risk.

Smith – 8♠ 5♥
Greenstein – A♥ J♦

The board would miss both players but Greenstein still had the better hand.

Smith was eliminated in 6^th place and earned $71,897 for his finish.

A Barry Large Amount of Double Ups

Barry Greenstein continued to double up. After going all in against Matthew Gallin, Greenstein showed A♠ 7♦ and hit an A♦ on the turn.

Later on, he moved all in with A♠ 8♠ and got called by Daniel Idema. Idema held a pair of sevens but Greenstein would hit an ace again.

This time it was the A♦, on the flop.

Chip Counts

Here are the top five chip counts, courtesy of WSOP live updates.

Daniel Idema – 1,355,000
Matthew Gallin – 1,270,000
Domenico Denotaristefani – 800,000
Barry Greenstein – 660,000
Steve Landfish – 520,000

We’re back from our dinner break and the post-dinner bust out magic has barely kicked in.

Several players have gone all in and most have doubled up. Only one player has fallen victim, leaving us with our final six players.

Daniel Idema has taken over the chip lead though, with just more than 1.3 million.          

Steve Landfish has seen his stack take a hit, losing significant pots to Idema and doubling up Denotaristefani.

Isaac Haxton also saw a double up on the very last hand of the dinner break.

He would then double up again, this time through Barry Greenstein.

After going all in preflop, Haxton showed A♦ 4♣ and was up against Greenstein’s pair of tens. But Haxton would an A♠ on the flop and double up.

Matthew Gallin would also see a double up.

Gallin, with a pair of nines, went all in against Daniel Idema, who showed 8♣ 5♥. The board bricked for Idema and he was drawing dead by the turn.

As mentioned before Denotaristefani doubled up through Landfish when his pocket aces held up against’ Landfish’s J♣ 10♥.

But then, after all these all ins, something happened.

We lost a player.

Haxton Hacked

After doubling up right before the dinner break, and once through Barry Greenstein, Haxton finally saw his tournament end.

Haxton went all in with a pair of tens and got called be Steve Landfish. Landfish showed A♦ J♦ and the flop, 2♦ Q♦ 7♣, gave him a flush draw.

Then the 7♦ on the turn gave him the flush.

Haxton became our 7^th place finisher and will take home $55,908.

Chip Counts

Here they are, courtesy of WSOP live updates.

Daniel Idema 1,330,000
Steve Landfish – 825,000
Matthew Gallin – 725,000
Domenico Denotaristefani – 460,000
Barry Greenstein – 300,000
Justin Smith – 120,000

Seven players now remain in the $10,000 Limit Hold’em championship.

Out of the remaining players, Steve Landfish and Daniel Idema have managed to propel themselves to the top of the leaderboard.

Despite losing a few big pots, Landfish has managed to consistently chip his way up by winning even bigger pots.

Nick Schulman, who was short stacked coming into the final table, was our first one out. He will finish his third final $10K championship final table in the same way he finished his last one, in 9^th place.

He was followed a while after by Richard Brodie.

Domenico Denotaristefani was also short stacked near the end of the level but managed to double up twice. The remaining players in our final table are guaranteed $59,908 for their finish today.

The player who outlasts everyone and wins the bracelet, will win $378,642.

Nines for Ninth

Nick Schulman raised and Steve Landfish re-raised on the button. Both Barry Greenstein, from the big blind, and Schulman made the call.

The flop fell 7♣ 4♦ 8♦ and Greenstein bet. Schulman raised, Landfish folded and Greenstein re-raised. Schulman 4-bet and Greenstein threw in another raise, putting Schulman all in.

Schulman made the call and showed a pair of nines for the overpair. But then Greenstein flipped over a pair of sevens for the set.

Schulman caught no nines and finished in 9^th place, earning $35,519.

Landfish Rising

Steve Landfish has managed to win a couple of fairly large hands to propel himself into the chip lead.

In one hand, Landfish managed to chip away at Denotaristefani and raise him out of a 600,000 pot on the river.

Later on, Landfish raised and Justin Smith re-raised. Landfish 4-bet and Smith made the call.

Landfish bet again on the 7♣ K♦ 8♠ flop and Smith called. Both players checked the 8♦ turn and Landfish bet when the 3♥ came on the river.

Smith fold and Landfish continued to stack up.

Doubling Denotaristefani

Domenico Denotaristefani has managed to survive elimination and double up twice this level.

The first time was against Justin Smith. Denotaristefani showed Q♠ 9♥ and was up against Smith’s A♦ 7♦.

The 4♣ K♣ 2♦ 7♣ board wasn’t looking good for Denotaristefani, but a 9♣ spiked on the river, giving him the double up.

A few hands later, Denotaristefani was in need of another double up.

He went all in against Isaac Haxton this time.

Denotaristefani held A♠ J♥ and was in good shape against Haxton’s 10♥ 9♥.

The board brought no upsets and Denotaristefani doubled up once again.

Bye Brodie

Shortly after Richard Brodie doubled up through Isaac Haxton, he found himself all in again.

Brodie and Greenstein went all in preflop and Greenstein showed A♥ 8♣.

Brodie, with Q♥ 4♥, was going to have to improve.

But the board ran 2♠ 9♦ 3♥ 10♠ 8♠ and Brodie would not get the improvement he needed.

Brodie was eliminated in 8^th place, a finish worth $44,207

Chip Counts

Here are the top 7 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP live updates.

Steve Landfish – 1,400,000
Daniel Idema – 1,000,000
Justin Smith – 770,000
Barry Greenstein – 700,000
Matthew Gallin – 415,000
Domenico Denotaristefani – 220,000
Isaac Haxton 170,000

Players are now on a 1-hour dinner break. Play will resume at 8:55 pm.

We’ve reached the $10K Limit Hold’em Championship final table. We’re down to 9 players and we’ve relocated to the main feature table.

The final 9 players are guaranteed a minimum of $35,519 and a seat in the more comfortable, leather-bound feature table chairs.

Leading the final 9 into the feature table is Daniel Idema with 977,000. He’s followed by Steve Landfish with 649,000. This is Landfish’s second final table in one week.

On Tuesday he made the final 14 of the $10K 7-Card Stud Championship as the chip leader and fought his way into a heads-up battle against ElkY.

ElkY and Landfish then played a four-hour heads-up match in which players switched the chip lead every few hands.

Eventually ElkY came up on top and dealt the final blow to Landfish, denying Landfish his first WSOP bracelet.

Landfish is now back at the final table, hoping this one will be it.

Barry Greenstein is also joining the final table, hoping to win his 4^th WSOP bracelet. Greenstein hasn’t won a bracelet since 2008, when he defeated Chris Klodnicki in the $1,500 Razz event.

Nick Schulman is also in the field. This is his third $10K championship final table this year. He finished 5^th in his first and 9^th in his second. We’ll see if the ‘third time’s a charm’ rule applies here.

Elimination City

The population of Elimination City today is currently five.

The first player to take up residence there was Marwan Abdelal.

Abdelal was all in preflop against Nick Schulman and Domenico Denotaristefani, Denotaristefani eventually folded and Schulman showed queens to take the pot and eliminate Abdelal.

Abdelal finished in 14^th place and takes home $24,060 for it.

Next on the chopping block was Matt Hawrilenko. He was eliminated by the hand of Denotaristefani when he hit a set of eights on the flop. He too would earn $24,060 for his finish, but would be the last to do so.

The next player would make the pay jump and make $28,990. That player was Tam Hang. He was followed by Darren Woods, who aside from finishing in 11^th place, would be the pre-final table bubble.

Final table bubble, Hoyt Corkins.

 

Woods was short-stacked and after facing a raise from the small blind he re-raised, almost going all in. He was left with 3,000.

The flop fell 2♦ J♥ 3♥ and Woods threw in his last 3 chips. Woods got called and he showed 6♣ 5♦ and was up against A♣ 7♠.

There was no help on the turn or the river for Woods and he was eliminated in 11^th place.

Players then migrated to the monumental final stage arena.

Here, Hoyt Corkins was the first to fall, making all the other players official WSOP final table-ers.

Corkins and Landfish went all in preflop, Corkins showed Q♣ 9♦ and was up against Landfish’s pair of eights.

The board ran K♣ K♠ 5♠ 2♦ A♦ and Corkins became our final table bubble. For that, he’ll earn $28,990.

Final Table Draw and Counts

Here they are, courtesy of WSOP live updates.

Seat 1 – Nick Schulman – 252,000
Seat 2 – Daniel Idema – 977,000
Seat 3 – Domenico Denotaristefani – 461,000
Seat 4 – Steve Landfish – 649,000
Seat 5 – Justin Smith – 484,000
Seat 6 – Barry Greenstein – 428,000
Seat 7 – Matthew Gallin – 514,000
Seat 8 – Richard Brodie – 384,000
Seat 9 – Isaac Haxton – 409,000

Players are currently on level 21, with 20,000/40,000 blinds and 40,000/80,000 limits.

Day 3 of the $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship is now underway.

There were 152 entrants for the tournament – down from last year’s 171 – to create prize pool of $1,428,000. Aside from winning the bracelet, first place this year will take home $378,642.

Only 14 players have survived to Day 3, including several big names.

Daniel Negreanu, Carlos Mortensen, Maria Ho, Eric Froehlich, David Baker, Tom Dwan, Jason Mercier, Eric Baldwin and Jennifer Harman are some of the players not in the field anymore.

Among the final 14 though, are Nick Schulman, Steve Landfish, Hoyt Corkins, Matt Hawrilenko, Isaac Haxton, Barry Greenstein and Darren Woods.

They start the day guaranteed $24,060. Only 18 players will cash this tournament, four have already done so.

Michael Schneider finished in 18^th for $20,274, followed by Ian Johns in 17^th.

Mikhail Smirnov was next, followed by the chip stacking master Carlos Mortensen.

Mortensen made the first pay jump to $24,060, for his 15^th place finish.

Play will continue for 10 levels or until we reach a new champion. Stay tuned for more championship updates.