All of the pure poker players couldn’t have thought of a better way to kick off the WSOP first open event of the year. Well known poker pros and WSOP bracelet owners Vanessa Selbst, JP Kelly and Andrew Badecker all made the final table. Each was looking to claim the first open tournament of the 2012 series. But when the final card hit the felt, it was another pro named Brent Hanks to take the title. Over 2100 players came into the event, all looking for the coveted gold bracelet.

On day 3 of the event the field had narrowed down to 9 players and the final table was set. Vanessa Selbst was the chip leader most of day two and found herself in excellent position at the final table to win another bracelet. No one had a tougher time than JP Kelly. He was all over the place, doubling up at one point, only to be crippled later. He even quadrupled up, only to be eliminated a few hands later by Brent Hanks! Vanessa Selbst was searching for her 2nd bracelet and after eliminating Michael Kaufman in 7th place. She again became the chip leader. That chip lead didn’t last long as she was pulled back into the group when Hanks made a full-house the same time Selbst made a straight!

Hanks eliminated Abdyl Konjuhi in 6th place and took control of the tournament at that point, as he was the first to $3 million in chips. Jake Bazeley finally woke up with a hand after facing a long drought of bad cards and reduced Selbst to the short stack. Then Badecker decided to get involved as he eliminated Ryan Schmidt in 5th, followed by Selbst in 4th. When 3 handed began, it was Badecker with the most chips, but it wouldn’t matter. After losing a huge hand to Bazeley where he made a full-house, only to lose to Bazeley’s higher full-house, he was crippled. The next hand he was eliminated by Hanks in 3rd place.

Heads up play was back and forth for awhile until the deciding all in pre-flop hand all but secured the victory for Hanks. Bazeley got Hanks all in holding pocket 9′s to Hanks’ A-9. Only 5 cards away from poker glory when the flop yielded an Ace for Hanks, crippling Bazeley. Bazeley was eliminated the next hand when his 10-4 was outkicked by A-10 of Hanks. The former school teacher, turned poker pro was victorious and finally won his first bracelet after making 3 previous final tables. With the win Hanks takes home over $517,000 in prize money and the gold bracelet.

This was the event which Henry Misner played. He lasted over six hours in his first WSOP event after not sleeping for over thirty hours! Congrats to Henry and good luck in any future games.

Stay tuned to averageguypoker.com for continued tournament results.

Mike “Daggum” Krisle – Beat Writer – AGP

The first event of the 2012 WSOP is in the books and took an astonishing two days to complete. There was nearly 21 hours of actual play!

The first bracelet of the year goes to Chiab “Chip” Saechao. He navigated a field of 732 players to claim the championship and the coveted gold bracelet. Saechao played a solid and steady game the entire tournament, avoiding any wild hands and making the final table late last night.

Saechao was the chip leader most of day two, but when the final table was reached, he was 8th in chips. He didn’t let that bother him though. Saechao remained patient, allowing the other players to chip away and take each other out.

The key moment in the tournament came when five players remained. Saechao won back to back coin-flip situations, which included a huge pot against Patricia Baker, the runner up of the event. He never looked back after that.

The final hand played out like this:

The flop came 10-7-2 two, all diamonds. Saechao bet $35,000 and Baker proceeded to call. The turn was a 6 of spades and both players checked. The river card was a 6 of diamonds, making Baker a straight with 9-8 and she moves all-in. Unfortunately for her, Saechao rivered the flush with his J-4 of diamonds and the tournament was over. For the win Saechao took home over $70,800 in prize money.

Stay tuned to AverageGuyPoker.com for more 2012 WSOP tournament results.

Mike “Daggum” Krisle – Beat Writer – AGP