Featured Articles Archive - Page 306

WSOP win not the only life-changing experience for Merson

LAS VEGAS -- Greg Merson cried.He stood at the poker table at center stage of the Rio's Penn & Teller Theater, behind stacks of bundled $100 bills that simulated his first-place prize of more than $8.53 million, and let the tears flow.At age 24, Merson, a professional poker player from Laurel, Md., was at the top of the poker world early Wednesday morning...read more

Merson wins WSOP Main Event

LAS VEGAS -- Greg Merson survived 11 hours of three-handed play and then beat Jesse Sylvia heads up early Wednesday morning to win the World Series of Poker Main Event and $8,531,853. Sylvia won $5,295,149 for finishing in second, while Jake Balsiger finished third and won $3,799,073.With the win, Merson also claims the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year title, passing Phil Hellmuth, who won the WSOP Europe Main Event earlier this fall.All three players held the chip lead at some point during three-handed play.Merson began three-handed play Tuesday with 88.35 million in chips...read more

Merson wins World Series of Poker Championship

LAS VEGAS -- Greg Merson of Laurel, Md., 24, is the 2012 champion of the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, earning $8,531,853.Merson was crowned after almost 12 hours of play Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning at Rio’s Penn & Teller Theater.The victory came at 5:35 a.m...read more

Three players to compete for World Series of Poker title and $8.53 million payday

LAS VEGAS -- Greg Merson had a feeling one his five opponents would make a critical mistake.On the 109th hand late Monday night of the World Series of Poker's Main Event at the Rio's Penn & Teller Theater, Andras Koroknai gave Merson an opening.For much of the final table of the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em World Championship, Merson, 24, of Laurel, Md., had been changing the chip lead with Jesse Sylvia, 24, who splits his time between Las Vegas and Martha's Vineyard, Mass.Merson thought Koroknai was his target...read more

Final table of three set; Thomas out in fourth place at WSOP Main Event

LAS VEGAS -- Russell Thomas of Hartford, Conn., was eliminated in fourth place in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker and earned $2,851,537.The action on the 136th hand early Tuesday morning sealed the final three players in the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em World Championship.Greg Merson...read more

Final table at World Series of Poker starts slow, heats up

LAS VEGAS -- Jesse Sylvia got a quick lesson on his opponents, and he used it to his advantage Monday evening at the Rio.Sylvia, 26, who lives in both Las Vegas and Martha's Vineyard, extended his lead early at the World Series of Poker's Main Event, hoping to land one of three coveted spots in today's final table action.Play in the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em World Championship resumed after a 103-day layoff when the remaining nine players out of the starting field of 6,598 began a marathon night, with the winner seeking an $8.53 million payout.Play was slogging along early."It's slower than I expected," Sylvia said during a break in play.Sylvia did take time to check with his supporters who were monitoring the ESPN broadcast, which showed the action on a 15-minute delay...read more

Merson seizes chip lead at WSOP Main Event final table

LAS VEGAS -- Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger are the last three players standing at the World Series of Poker Main Event, and they will play for $8.53 million Tuesday.Sylvia knocked out Russell Thomas with four players remaining more than seven hours after play began Monday evening at the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino...read more

World Series of Poker: Poker player strong at table, home

LAS VEGAS -- Panic set in back in July for Jeremy Ausmus.Immediately after qualifying for a seat at the final table of the World Series of Poker's Main Event, the professional player from Las Vegas realized he might have a conflict.The due date of his second child coincided with the days set aside for determining the winner of the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em World Championship.The conflict was averted, however, when Kai Ausmus arrived six weeks early, though the event brought about a new set of complications...read more

The WSOP final nine: Player profiles

LAS VEGAS -- Profiles of the nine World Series of Poker finalists:Jesse SylviaAge 24Las Vegas43.875 million in chipsSylvia was down his last 4 million chips on Day 7 when he rallied back into contention. By the time the field was cut from 27 to the final nine, Sylvia, who is originally from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., jumped into the chip lead...read more

Pro poker player, 57, seeks to step up intensity in WSOP

LAS VEGAS -- Steve Gee hasn't played much poker since the end of July.What poker he has played hasn't been very profitable.These revelations might seem surprising.Gee, a 57-year-old professional poker player from Sacramento, Calif., is about to embark on his biggest and most high-profile card game since he dedicated his efforts to the activity full time four years ago.After a near four-month break, the World Series of Poker's Main Event resumes Monday afternoon at the Rio's Penn & Teller Theater...read more