Over 924 players came out for this short-handed event. Short-handed hold ‘em events are unique as they do not feature a full ring of players on each table. In this event only 6 players are on each table at a time. Playing with fewer players on a table brings in a bigger range of hands that can and will be played. In the end it was Simon Charette who would take the event and the WSOP gold bracelet.

When the field narrowed to 18 many notable players were still alive such as Freddy Deeb, Elky Grospellier and Andrew Lichtenberger. Deeb finished 10th and Lichtenberger would finish 8th, just two away from the final table. Grospellier played very well all tournament long, but he was the first to go when the final table was reached. He was gone when his pocket 7′s could not out run the A-K of Luis Cruz. After that elimination the pace would begin to slow down with no one gaining a significant chip lead except Charette, who quietly built up his stack. Foster Hays was next to hit the rail when his 4-5 was no match against the A-8 of Artem Metalidi. Eddie Blumenthal would see the payout desk next. He was feeling good about his all-in because he had A-Q. That is until Charette flipped over pocket Aces! Needless to say, he couldn’t improve and was gone in 4th. Cruz fought hard 3-handed, but eventually lost it all when his pocket 6′s fell to the “dead man’s hand” of Charette.

Heads up play didn’t last very long at all. In fact, it only lasted a few hands. Metalidi met his doom when he went all-in pre-flop with A-2 offsuit. Charette had pocket 6′s and they held to give him the title and the bracelet. It is the first bracelet for Charette and after finishing second last year in an event, this no doubt feels great. He also took home $567,624 for his efforts.

Still more results to come at this year’s WSOP.

Mike “Daggum” Krisle – Beat Writer – AGP