Joseph Cheong opened for 90,000 under the gun and was met with a three-bet to 225,000 from Stephane Albertini on the button. Both blinds folded, and Cheong asked how much Albertini started the hand with. Upon learning, Cheong moved all in and put the pressure on Albertini. The Frenchman thought for a couple of minutes and then released his hand.
Sergii Baranov had the button and raised to 90,000. Phil Hellmuth was his lone caller from the small blind.
The flop brought and both players checked. The turned and prompted Hellmuth to bet 150,000. Baranov called and the hit the river. Hellmuth checked and Baranov bet 190,000.
"I think you got me here," said Hellmuth. Despite this statement Hellmuth threw out a call and Baranov showed for a rivered pair of jacks.
Hellmuth jumped out of his seat, showing in the process for the second best hand.
"I've got them drawing dead every hand!" continued Hellmuth. "What do they call me with!? Wow. This is so sick. They play so bad."
With this win Baranov is now closing the gap between himself and chipleader Hellmuth.
Sergii Baranov opened for 90,000 under the gun and Phil Hellmuth called from the button. Both blinds folded and it was heads-up action to the flop. Baranov wasted little time in leading out for 115,000, Hellmuth called, and the dealer burned and turned the . Again Baranov bet, this time 210,000, and it proved enough to win the pot as Hellmuth quickly folded.
Welcome back to coverage of the 2012 World Series of Poker Event #7: �10,450 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event. The final four players are back in their seats and cards are in the air. There is approximately 50 minutes left in Level 25, which features 20,000/40,000 blinds with a 5,000 ante.
For TV reasons, the tournament staff has informed the players that they will now take a break until 9:45 PM CET, which is about four hours from now. The final four players will play down to a winner then, and of course we'll be here to bring you all the action along the way.
Joseph Cheong had the button. Phil Hellmuth raised to 80,000 and it was a family pot going to the flop of . Two checks to Phil Hellmuth and he fired 180,000. Joseph Cheong and Stephane Albertini gold and Sergii Baranov called.
The turned and both players checked, prompting the to complete the board. Baranov checked a third time and Hellmuth bet 200,000. Baranov threw out a call.
"I flopped a set," said Hellmuth. He tabled and Baranov mucked.
Phil Hellmuth limped from the small blind and Joseph Cheong checked his option from the big. The flop saw Hellmuth check-call a bet of 60,000, and then he checked dark headed to the river. Cheong bet 110,000, Hellmuth called again, and the completed the board on the river.
This time Hellmuth took the initiative and led out for 190,000, which Cheong called. "Queen," Hellmuth said while tabling , but it was no good against Cheong's flopped two pair.
Jospeh Cheong was first to act and raised to 90,000. It folded around to Phil Hellmuth who called from the big blind.
The dealer produced and both players checked. The hit the turn and the duo checked once more.
The board finished with the and Hellmuth checked. Cheong fired 100,000 and Hellmuth picked up four t100,000 plaques and threw them into the middle for a raise to 400,000. Cheong called.
"Straight," said Hellmuth, showing . Cheong mucked and Hellmuth took the pot.
Stephane Albertini opened for 80,000 on the button and was called by Sergii Baranov in the small blind and Phil Hellmuth in the big. All three players checked the flop, and the Baranov led out for 160,000 on the turn. Only Hellmuth made the call and the peeled off on the river. Baranov led out for 300,000, and Hellmuth snap-called while simultaneously tabling for bottom pair. It was good as Baranov mucked his hand.