WSOP Main Event – Key hands and final table action
With the WSOP main event finally behind us we thought we’d take a look at some of the big hands from the way back in July and how things went down at the final table.
Ivey Vs. Akenhead
With a raise and a call from Phil Ivey before him, Akenhead picked up A10 and reraised looking to pick up the pot. The original raiser got out the way with 910 suited but Ivey sensed he could get Akenhead to give up the pot and come over the top with J10. Akenhead thought about it for a moment, but was visibly disappointed not to have picked it up then and there and laid it down.
Ivey Vs. Smith
Towards the end of day 8 the signs of fatigue were started to show in even the best of players. Ivey raised in early position with pocket 8s and was raised by Jordan Smith in the big blind with A9. Ivey called and the flop came Qh 10s 5s with both players electing to check. The turn brought the Qs and yet again both players checked. The river brought the As giving Smith 2 pair but meaning any spade completed a flush. Both players checked yet again and Smith showed down his 2 pair, without re-checking his cards Ivey mucked his 8s, despite holding the 8 of spades which was good enough to take down the pot.
Moon Vs Kopp
Darwin Moon had to get his monster stack from somewhere heading into the final table, and Billy Kopp is certainly someone Moon will have to thank for his extraordinary run. With both players sitting with enormous stacks already, Kopp raised in early position holding 3d 5d and Moon called out of the small blind with Qd Jd. The flop came Kd 9d 2d – with both players flopping the flush there was sure to be fireworks. Moon decided to slow play and check-called Kopp’s 750,000 flop bet. The turn was the 2h and moon checked again, it seemed his trap had worked when Kopp bet 2 million into the pot, Moon raised to 6 million and the rest of the table was stunned when Kopp decided to push all in for over 20 million in chips. Moon pondered his decision and decided his second nut flush was good enough and called, leaving Kopp drawing dead and Moon well on his was to the final table.
The Final Table
After losing a massive hand with AJ to Schulman’s AK, Joseph Cada found himself treading water with the short stack at the table. It was going to take good cards, good fortune or both to propel him to victory from here. It seems fortune was smiling upon Cada as that’s exactly what happened. These are some of the key hands in Cada’s incredible run to WSOP glory.
Cada wins the Game-Changing Coinflip
Cada was sat at 5.8 million when he three-bet shoved over the top of Phil Ivey’s 1.25 million raise holding pocket fours. After a great deal of deliberation, Ivey made the call with A 8 and found himself in a 50/50 situation. Cada’s small pair held up and so he leapfrogged Ivey in the standings to survive and double up.
Cada outflops Shulman
Shulman raised in early position to 1.75 with pocket Jacks and the action folded round to Cada in the small blind holding pocket 3s. With 10.8 million in chips, Cada decided to shove all in and was looked up instantly by Shulman and was looking in bad shape with less than a 20% chance to win the pot. This quickly changed when he spiked a 3 on the flop, crippling Shulman’s stack and doubling up to 22.5 million.
Cada’s small pairs strike again
Down to 3 players, Cada opened the action with a 2.55 million raise and Saout raised to 7.3 million. Cada came back over the top and moved all in for just over 39 million and Saout immediately called and flipped over his pocket queens, Cada, holding 22, once again had over an 80% chance of being eliminated until he flopped yet another set with his deuces.
Cada’s support had barely finished celebrating when 4 hands later, Cada was to find himself in another all in situation. This time however, it was Saout who was all in for his last 40 million chips holding pocket eights. Cada showed his AK and needed to improve to eliminate Saout. The board came down a safe 5h 5c 4s 10d until painfully for Saout the Kc landed on the river sending Cada and Moon into heads up play and ultimately, Cada to WSOP victory.
