2013 WSOP Asia Pacific Event #3: Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu Lead Final Table
It wouldn't be a true World Series of Poker without Phil Ivey making a final table. On Tuesday, the eight-time bracelet winner absolutely dominated Day 2 of the WSOP Asia Pacific Event #3: $2,200 Mixed Event, and he'll take a comfortable chip lead into the final table Wednesday with his eyes set on a ninth WSOP title. His good friend Daniel Negreanu will be second in chips when the final table gets under way, setting up a must-see event at Crown Casino on Wednesday.
WSOP APAC Event #3 Final Table
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graeme "Kiwi G" Putt | 36,400 |
| 2 | Daniel Negreanu | 129,000 |
| 3 | Phil Ivey | 144,300 |
| 4 | Rob Campbell | 42,600 |
| 5 | Brandon Wong | 86,100 |
| 6 | Kevin Song | 49,600 |
Ivey started Day 2 seventh in chips out the 32 players who survived Day 1. When play began, he was seated with Chau Giang, Negreanu and Chad Brown, and Phil Hellmuth joined the table later during the first level. The talented group lost Brown early on when Ivey took him out during a no-limit hold'em round. Brown put his short stack at risk on the turn with the board reading 3?8?A?5?. Ivey called and tabled the 7?4? for a flush, and Brown was in bad shape with the A?7? for a pair and a flush draw. The A? on the river failed to help Brown, and he was sent out the door short of the money. Ivey chipped up to around 28,000, and that was only the beginning.
Ivey was the first player to cross the 100,000-chip mark midway through the day after taking a big pot off Billy "The Croc" Argyros during seven-card stud. Ivey bet third, fifth and sixth streets before both he and Argyros checked seventh. Ivey was showing a pair of aces and turned over 9?8?7?. His aces ended up being good as Argyros tossed his cards into the muck. That gave Ivey 109,000 in chips and he continued building the rest of the evening.
Negreanu also got off to a blazing start on Day 2. Within the first few minutes he eliminated fellow WSOP bracelet winner Dan Kelly to virtually double his stack to 32,000. According to WSOP.com, Kelly and Negreanu saw a flop of Q?3?2? in pot-limit Omaha. All of the chips went in after a series of betting, and Negreanu's Q?Q?K?9? led Kelly's Q?3?A?5?. The A? turn and J? river couldn't do it for Kelly, who was sent to the rail.
A short while later, Negreanu eliminated Hellmuth in what will surely be one of Kid Poker's highlights of the series. During a limit hold'em round, Hellmuth raised from the button, and Negreanu called from the big blind to see a 3?J?3? flop. A raising war ensued as Hellmuth eventually four-bet all in holding the 6?6?. Negreanu called with the Q?Q?. Hellmuth needed a six to stay alive but the J? turn and 3? river left him waiting another day before he could begin his chase for bracelet No. 14.
Among the notables joining Hellmuth and Brown on the rail on Day 2 were Giang, Eugene Katchalov, Mike Leah, Barry Greenstein, Jonathan Duhamel, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Mel Judah, who busted in 11th place.
With only the top nine finishers getting paid in Event #3, the money bubble approached with just two tables left. The bubble boy was Joe Cabret, who was eliminated by Kevin Song during a limit hold'em round. While Cabret walked out of the poker room empty-handed, the remaining nine were guaranteed AUD$5,158. From there, all focus shifted toward the bracelet and the AUD$51,840 top prize.
After Dale Townsend and Argyros were eliminated in ninth place and eighth place, respectively, Negreanu knocked out Sam Khouiss to secure the six-handed final table. During the stud round, Khouiss committed his short stack showing an ace and Negreanu came along showing a seven. After the final cards were dealt, Negreanu tabled two pair for the winner, sending Khouiss to the rail.
All eyes will be on Ivey and Negreanu on Wednesday as the two battle for the third bracelet of the 2013 WSOP APAC. Ivey will be chasing his ninth career bracelet, while Negreanu will go after his fifth. Stay tuned to PokerNews.com as we bring you all of the highlights from the final table!
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