2012 World Series of Poker › Event 18: $2,500 Seven Card Razz

Day 2 completed

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Cantu Leads Final 18; Hellmuth In Great Shape to Make Run at Bracelet #12

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6 • Level 18

Phil Hellmuth

Yesterday, the 2012 World Series of Poker continued with Event #18 $2,500 Seven Card Razz, which attracted 309 players and created a prize pool of $702,975. Over the course of eight levels of play, 174 players hit the felt, leaving just 136 looking to make the money at the top 36; what’s more, each have their eyes set on the $182,793 top prize.

The man best positioned to make a run at the gold bracelet is Brandon Cantu, who finished as the Day 2 chip leader with 298,500. However, he’ll have to contend with some stiff competition such as Phil Hellmuth, who is looking for his 12th bracelet; the 2008 winner of this event, Barry Greenstein; and online pro Jared Bleznik.

Day 2 saw 118 players hit the rail including the Day 1 chip leader, Tommy Vedes; last year’s runner-up, Stephen Su; PokerNews’ own Mickey Doft; 1997 Razz champ Linda Johnson; Kami “Dr. Kamikaze” Chisholm, who started Day 2 second in chips; 2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider; recent bracelet winner Andy Bloch; and former Main Events winners Greg Raymer, Berry Johnston and Tom McEvoy.

While each of those players exited at various points throughout the day, no one experience more heartache than Event #4 $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or-Better final tablist Xuan Liu. With 33 players remaining, just one more needed to hit the rail to make the money.

It was at that point Hellmuth completed with an and Scott Clements raised his . Liu, who was showing made the call, as did Hellmuth, and it was three-way action to the turn. Clements fired another bet, both his opponents called, and then it went check-check after Liu took the lead on fifth. This opened the door for Clements to bet for a third time, and again both his opponent called.

Liu kept the lead on sixth, but this time instead of checking she bet. Hellmuth got out of the way and Clements called.

Liu: / /
Clements: (x-x) / / (x) ()
Hellmuth: (x-x) /

Little did Liu know that Clements had made a wheel, and she proceeded to bet her last 5,900 on seventh. Clements made the call and took down the pot, eliminating Liu on the money bubble.

xxl23 Xuan Liu Gutted to be the bubble girl, 73A6k5T< @BigRiskky's wheel on 7th in 3way pot w/ @Philhelmuth. #edc is punishing me #wsop18 June 09 2012

Speaking of the money, 14 players made their way to the payout desk on Day 2 including Ted Forrest (30th-$4,885), Sam Grizzle (27th-$4,885), Allen Bari (26th-$4,885), Yarron Bendor (24th-$5,904), Joe Tehan (23rd-$5,904) and Vladimir Shchmelev (19th-$5,904).

Here’s a look at the players who’ll be returning on Day 3 with their respective chip counts:

Final 18 Chip Counts

Who will be the next to add their name to the list of Razz Champions?

$2,500 even Card Razz Champions

*Featured $1,500 buy-in.

Tomorrow the remaining 18 players will return at 2 PM PST to battle down to a champion. Check back then for all the latest from Event 18: $2,500 Seven Card Razz.

Tags: Brandon Cantu, Phil Hellmuth.

End of Day 2 Counts

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Chip Counts
Brandon Cantu			298,500	23,500
Brendan Taylor			288,500	58,500
Phil Hellmuth			287,500	37,500
Chris Viox			189,000	17,000
Michael Chow			183,000	108,000
Jeff Misteff			155,000	55,000
David Rosenau			149,000	39,000
Don Zewin			115,500	-14,500
Jeff Mervis			111,500	-23,500
Barry Greenstein	PokerStars Team Pro		94,500	49,500
Scott Abrams			93,000	11,000
Jared Bleznick			91,500	16,500
Scott Fischman			57,500	-102,500
Gerald Ringe			54,500	-20,500
Chris Wallace			54,000	-16,000
Dan O'Brien			50,500	3,500
Calvin Anderson			28,000	-17,000
Scott Clements			20,000	-75,000

Clements Crippled

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6 • Level 18

Before the tournament clock read 0:00, Scott Clements was crippled by Brendan Taylor.

Clements	/ /
Taylor	/ /

Clements led on fourth street, Taylor called, and then Taylor led out on fifth, sixth and seventh, Clements called him down, then mucked when Taylor fanned .

Clements lost another pot to Brandon Cantu, but doubled through Scott Fischman to bring his total to around 30,000 chips.

Tags: Brandon Cantu, Brendan Taylor, Scott Clements, Scott Fischman.

Bag & Tag

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6 • Level 18

The clock has expired and players are now bagging and tagging their chips. We'll grab all the counts in a moment, so stay tuned for those and our recap.

Shchmelev Falls Short of Day 3

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Vladimir Shchmelev

Vladimir Shchmelev completed wand received calls from Jeff Mervis and Michael Chow. When Mervis took the lead on the turn, he bet, Chow called and Shchmelev called off his last 3,000. The rest of the street saw side action between Mervis and Chow, but it became apparent that Shchmelev wasn't going to survive as his hand got progressively worse.

Shchmelev: (x-x) / / (x)
Mervis: (x-x) / / (x)
Chow: / /

Shchmelev was up out of his seat and on the way to the payout desk in 19th place even before Chow revealed his nine low.

Tags: Vladimir Shchmelev, Jeff Mervis, Michael Chow.

Pruitt Busts

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Jeff Mitseff	/ /
JJ Pruitt	/ /
Brandon Cantu	/ /

We caught the action on fifth street, where Pruitt was already all in. Cantu bet, and Mitseff called. Cantu slowed down, check-calling a bet on sixth, and both players checked on seventh.

Mitseff tabled for a ninety-eight, Cantu mucked, and Pruitt fanned for a ten-seven, eliminating him from the tournament.

Tags: Brandon Cantu, Jeff Mitseff, JJ Pruitt.

Spinks Sent Packing

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Jon Spinks

Jonathan Spinks got the remainder of his chips in on third street holding / . Gerald Ringe had him at risk with / . Spinks caught a on fourth street, but then was dealt running kings on fifth and sixth. Ringe made a jack-low by sixth, so Spinks was drawing dead.

Tags: Gerald Ringe, Jonathan Spinks.

Cantu Crosses Quarter Million Mark

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Brandon Cantu started Level 17 with 4,000 chips. At the time, that was four antes, Now, a level and a half later, he's our chip leader.

Incredible.

Brendan Taylor	/ /
Cantu	/ /

When we reached the table on fifth street, Cantu tossed out a bet. Taylor called. Cantu fired again on sixth, Taylor again called, and both players checked on seventh. Taylor showed for a queen-nine low, but Cantu's was best for a queen-six low.

Chip Counts
Brandon Cantu			275,000	80,000
Brendan Taylor			120,000	-25,000

Tags: Brandon Cantu, Brendan Taylor.

Hellmuth Leaves Spinks with 12,000

Posted 2012-06-10 GMT-6

Phil Hellmuth completed and received a call from Jonathan Spinks, who then bet the turn. Hellmuth made the call and both players checked fifth street. "Ah, I thought I had you drawing dead on that one, that's why I checked," Hellmuth admitted in regards to fifth street after Spinks checked sixth. Hellmuth then put out a bet and Spinks made a hesitant call, leaving himself just 12,000 behind

Hellmuth: / / (x)
Spinks: (x-x) / / (x)

Spinks checked for a third time on seventh and watched Hellmuth put out another bet. This time Spinks just shook his head and tossed his cards to the muck. Hellmuth then showed . "You knew I had it," he said as he raked in the pot.

Chip Counts
Jonathan Spinks			12,000	-33,000

Tags: Phil Hellmuth, Jonathan Spinks.