Dueling Champioins

[user75032]

Stud-8

Ho: X-X / {8-Clubs} {k-Diamonds} X FOLD
Puchkov: X-X / {6-Hearts} {2-Hearts} {5-Spades} {3-Hearts} / X
Kassela: X-X / {10-Hearts} {k-Hearts} {3-Clubs} {q-Diamonds} / X

Konstantin Puchkov and Frank Kassela both have already won a bracelet at the 2010 World Series. Kassela's came in Event 15, $10,000 Stud Hi/Lo; Puchkov won his two days ago in Event 31, $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. The two played a three-way pot recently along with Maria Ho. We came to the table with the action already at fifth street and Ho folding to a bet from Puchkov that Kassela called. On sixth street, Kassela checked and called a bet. It was the same action on the river, with Kassela calling two pair, queens and tens, as he opened {Q-Hearts} {10-Spades} and a third card in the hole. Puchkov silently turned up {4-} {5-} {7-} for a straight-seven and a six-five low. He scooped to climb to 72,000.