2012 World Series of Poker › Event 61: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event

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Hand #386: Greg Merson

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

Jesse Sylvia had the button. He gave Greg Merson a walk.

Tags: Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia.

Chip Counts

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6

Chip Counts
Greg Merson			113,300,000	-4,300,000
Jesse Sylvia			84,900,000	4,300,000

Hand #385: Jesse Sylvia

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

Greg Merson had the button, and raised to four million. Jesse Sylvia called.

The flop fell , and both players checked.

The turn was the , Sylvia led for 4.6 million, Merson folded.

Tags: Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia.

Hand #384: Greg Merson

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

Jesse Sylvia started this hand with the button. He gave Greg Merson a walk.

Tags: Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia.

Hand #383: Sylvia Wins First Pot Heads Up

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

Greg Merson had the button, and gave Jesse Sylvia a walk.

Tags: Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia.

Heads-Up Play Begins

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

The cards are in the air for heads-up play. Remember, last year heads-up play lasted for six hours, so we could be in for a long one. Get that coffee brewing and thanks for following along!

Short Break

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

There is a short break while everything gets set up for heads-up play.

Chip Counts

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6

Chip Counts
Greg Merson		117,600,000	24,900,000
Jesse Sylvia		80,600,000	-4,300,000
Jake Balsiger	US	Busted

Jake Balsiger Eliminated in 3rd Place ($3,799,073)

Posted 2012-10-31 GMT-6 • Level 42: 1,000,000-2,000,000, 300,000 ante

Jake Balsiger - 3rd Place

Hand #382:

Jesse Sylvia had the button. He raised to to four million, and Jake Balsiger reraised all in from the small blind for 20.3 million. Greg Merson requested a count on Balsiger's stack from the big blind, and the dealer and World Series of Poker Tournament Director Jack Effel counted it down. Then, Merson called. Sylvia folded.

Merson showed the to dominate the for Balsiger. Balsiger was behind, but still had a flop, turn and river to win the pot.

The flop came down , and Merson's hand held up so far. After the landed on the turn, Balsiger was down to just one more card.

The river card was the , and that officially ended Balsiger's tournament in third place. He left with a shake of his opponents' hands and a standing ovation from everyone in the Penn & teller Theatre. With his elimination, Joe Cada's record as the youngest Main Event winner has held strong, and Merson is now heads up with Sylvia for the title.