Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Caesars Palace
Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Caesars Palace
Prize Pool
$963,210
Entries
662
Level
34
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000
Level 34
: 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Kevin Calenzo knows the pain of coming up just short. Last season, Calenzo finished second in the WSOP Circuit Main Event at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana, earning just over $60,000 for his efforts. Calenzo came to Caesars Palace with the intention of getting that monkey off of his back and after three long days of poker, Calenzo has done just that, taking home $197,451, the WSOP Circuit goldring and a seat into the season-ending WSOP Circuit National Championship.
When we started today’s play, we had 15 players left and Calenzo was sitting in 10th place. Within two hours of play, we had reached our "unofficial" final table. Amongst the causalities who didn’t make the final table was Rellie Sigua, who was eliminated when his flopped trip threes lost to the runner-runner flush of Jeff Madsen. Joining Sigua on the rail short of the final table was Nicholas Wilbur, who entered the day as the chip leader, but ultimately finished in 11th.
And what a final table it was. The table included three WSOP gold bracelet winners — Dutch Boyd, Jeff Madsen and Sean Getzwiller — and Calenzo, who has over $400,000 in tournament winnings.
The first casualty of the final table was Brandon Riha. He was crippled when he ran his jacks into Getzwiller’s queens and he was eliminated shortly after when his queen-nine couldn't catch up against the aces of Bill Creigo.
Action played nine handed for nearly three hours before the tournament lost another player. That player was James Mordue. He got all his money in preflop with 
, but was crushed by the 
of Jeff Fielder. The flop provided plenty of action, coming 
, but Mordue couldn’t connect on any of his draws, with the 
falling on the turn and the 
on the river.
Madsen wasn’t able to get much going at the final table, either, and he was the player eliminated in eighth place. His 
ran into the 
of Ian Mack, the board ran out king high and Madsen was sent to the rail.
Joe Kuether entered the day second in chips and was looking good at the final table until he ran his kings into the aces of Getzwiller. That knocked Kuether down to just three big blinds, yet he was able to hold on for over an hour before he finally succumbed. Ironically, it was Getzwiller holding aces that did him in, as they easily beat his ace-queen in an all-in preflop confrontation.
Getzwiller claimed another bounty shortly after and this one was Boyd. The two players got the money in preflop in a classic coinflip, with Getzwiller holding the 
and Boyd holding the . Getzwiller flopped a set and Boyd wasn’t able to catch up.
Fielder was the next to hit the rail in a huge hand that propelled Calenzo to his heads-up battle. Criego raised to 200,000 and Calenzo moved all in for 1.2 million. Fielder was next to act and moved all in for 1.5 million. Criego made the call to put them both at risk and was in great shape with the 
against the 
of Calenzo and the 
of Fielder. The flop was safe for Criego, coming 
, but the spiked on the turn to give Calenzo the lead. The 
on the river sealed the hand and Calenzo earned the triple up, while Fielder was ousted.
Just over 10 minutes after that hand, Criego got the rest of his chips in preflop against Calenzo. Criego held the 
, but was far behind the 
of Calenzo. The board ran out 
and Criego headed to the rail.
Mack, Getzwiller and Calenzo were all very even as three-handed play started, with each holding around 4.3 million. Someone had to go down in third place, though, and that player was Getzwiller. After being knocked down to 1.4 million, he got the rest of it in preflop with ace-king against the ace-eight of Mack. The flop was brutal for Getzwiller, coming 
. Getzwiller couldn’t catch the miracle from there, busting in third place.
Calenzo began heads-up play with a 60-40 lead over Mack, but that changed quickly on the second hand of heads-up play. Calenzo flopped bottom two pair, while Mack flopped top two pair. Amazingly, all of the money didn’t get into the middle, but Calenzo did get knocked down to a 3-to-1 chip defecit.
Calenzo crawled back, though. He doubled up once with ace-nine against Mack’s ace-eight, before the most pivotal hand of the tournament. Calenzo got all of his money in on a flop of 
with 
, but was in a world of hurt, as Mack held . The turn gave Calenzo extra outs, coming the 
and the river brought the , giving Calenzo an improbable runner-runner straight, snatching victory from Mack.
Calenzo then finished the deal when he got it all in with the 
against the 
of Mack. The flop came , giving Calenzo top pair, but also giving Mack a flush draw. The hit the turn and Calenzo needed to dodge an ace or a heart to win. He did just that, as the river brought the 
, and it was all over. For his second-place finish, Mack earned some very nice pocket change in the form of $122,183. The title, the gold ring and the lion's share of the cash went to Calenzo, though, as he emerged victorious.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Calenzo | $197,451 |
| 2 | Ian Mack | $122,183 |
| 3 | Sean Getzwiller | $89,617 |
| 4 | Bill Criego | $66,644 |
| 5 | Jeff Fielder | $50,321 |
| 6 | Dutch Boyd | $38,365 |
| 7 | Joe Kuether | $29,686 |
| 8 | Jeff Madsen | $23,271 |
| 9 | James Mordue | $18,474 |
Well, that’s it for us here at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Thanks as always for staying tuned to PokerNews all tournament long and be sure to come back for when the WSOP Circuit makes its next stop in Tunica. Congratulations to all the winners and especially Calenzo. From all of us here at PokerNews good night from Las Vegas!
Photo courtesy of the WSOP.
Calenzo open shoved all in on the button, and Mack made the call. The cards were flipped, and Mack was out in front.
Mack:
Calenzo:
Calenzo had live cards going to the flop, and he caught one of them, as it came . Mack fell behind, but did pick up a flush draw. The turn came the , and Calenzo needed to dodge an ace or a heart to win the title. The river came the , and Mack was eliminated in 2nd place.
It should be noted that Mack was very classy in defeat. He took all of the tough heads up beats with a smile on his face, and he was the first to lead the round of applause for Calenzo. Mack will take hope $122,183 for his efforts.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,400,000
-10,700,000
|
-10,700,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 33
: 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante
Mack and Calenzo are back in their seats, and we have restarted heads-up play.
Level: 34
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 20,000
Level 33
: 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante
Players are on another 10-minute break.
Ian Mack raised preflop to 420,000 on his button and Kevin Calenzo made the call. The flop was . Calenzo checked to Mack and he continued for 800,000. Calenzo moved all in and Mack asked, "Why not?" before he made the call.
Mack:
Calenzo:
The turn was the which kept Mack in the lead but gave Calenzo extra outs. Just one card away from winning the title in just a few minutes, Mack was denied again with the river. Calenzo seemed unsure of what to do as both players were in a bit of shock as the rail reacted to the beat. To Mack's credit, he handled it very well and is continuing to play, as focused as ever despite his short stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,100,000
6,300,000
|
6,300,000 |
|
|
1,800,000
-6,300,000
|
-6,300,000 |
Ian Mack raised his button to 270,000 before Kevin Calenzo moved all in for 2.885 Million. Mack made the call and was officially one pot away from capturing the title.
Mack: 
Calenzo: 
The flop was and both players flopped a pair. The turn was the 
and Mack would need to catch an Eight in order to take down the tournament. The fell quietly on the river though and so we play on...
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,100,000
-3,200,000
|
-3,200,000 |
|
|
5,800,000
3,200,000
|
3,200,000 |
Level 33
: 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante
After limping his button, Kevin Calenzo bet the to the tune of 210,000. After checking, Ian Mack called his opponents bet. The turn was the and both players checked. The river was the 
and Ian Mack checked for a third time. Calenzo fired out 260,000 and Mack let go of his hand. Calenzo took the opportunity to show Six-high for a well timed bluff.
Kevin Calenzo raised to 310,000 preflop and was called by his opponent, Ian Mack.
The flop was and once Mack checked, Calenzo continued for 400,000. Mack made the call. The turn was the and Mack checked again. Calenzo fired 625,000 this time only to be check-raised to 1,625,000. Calenzo let go of his hand and slips back to a dangerously short-stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,300,000
1,900,000
|
1,900,000 |
|
|
2,600,000
-1,900,000
|
-1,900,000 |