Friday, June 8, 2012 9:44 PM Local Time
Twelve players came back today with the relative same size chip stacks. Thirty minutes into the day Zachary Korick and Jarred Solomon were eliminated and all players were transferred from the Amazon room over to the feature table in the Pavilion room.
Layne Flack came out pretty strong once the final table commenced, and once he eliminated Dylan Horton in 10th place he secured a massive chip lead on the others at the table. The elimination of Dylan Horton brought us to our official nine handed final table. Flack started the final table by dictating a lot of the action, but he didn't always come out on top. In fact he is a big reason Brandon Schaefer got to heads up play. Flack slowly got shorter and shorter, and eventually he was forced to go all in and things didn't go in his way and the six time bracelet winner was eliminated in fourth place.
Layne Flack wasn't the only bracelet holder to make an early exit on us today. Jeff Madsen also came to play. However Madsen never seemed to really pick up any steam though and was knocked out in 7th place.
Once Adam Kagin was eliminated in third we found ourselves in a highly competitive heads up match between Brandon Schaefer and Jonathan Cohen. Schaefer maintained a steady lead for the entirety of the match, but just because he held a lead does not mean it was an easy undertaking. Cohen continually check-raised pots and put Schaefer in tough spots. Schaefer eventually started to pick up on Cohen's tendencies and managed to make a great call. In the end though Schaefer came out on top.
Congratulations to Brandon Schaefer on his first WSOP bracelet. Come back to Pokernews tomorrow and find out who the next great poker champion will be.
Friday, June 8, 2012 9:40 PM Local Time
It all came to an end in dramatic fashion. There was a semi-bluff all-in, a great call and...
Jon Cohen opened the pot to 90,000 and Brendan Schaefer called to see a flop appear. Schaefer check-called a 105,000 bet to head to the turn where he faced a 230,000 bet.
His response was to check-raise all-in. Cohen stood up out if his chair and this caused the rail to pile forward. He hadn't called yet though but that came 30 seconds later. He had 1,800,000 chips when he called all-in.
Schaefer: for a an open ended straight draw.
Cohen: for top pair.
The river came to complete Schaefer's straight. He stood there staring at the board and there was an eery silence that seemed to last for a minute but was more like three seconds. The silence was interrupted by the floor man who confirmed Schaefer the victor. Half the rail wet crazy, half consoled their broken man.
A big congratulations go to Cohen who played a major part in making this a great final table.
| Brandon Schaefer | 4,100,000 | 700,000  |
| Jonathan Cohen | 0 | -1,700,000  |
Friday, June 8, 2012 9:23 PM Local Time
Brandon Schaefer faced a raise to 85,000 that he treated to a three-bet to 225,000. Jon Cohen called but folded to a 300,000 c-bet on a flop.
The very next hand Schaefer opened and faced an all-in shove for 1,550,000 from Cohen. Schaefer stood as if to call but it was a dummy move as he folded.
| Brandon Schaefer | 3,400,000 | 100,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,700,000 | -100,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 9:18 PM Local Time
This time it was Jonathan Cohen who made it 65,000 from the button preflop. A flop was flipped over after Brandon Schaefer called the preflop bet. Schaefer then checked-raised to 210,000 after Cohen bet out 80,000. Cohen's response to all this was to move all in, to which Schaefer instantly folded.
| Brandon Schaefer | 3,300,000 | -600,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,800,000 | 550,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 9:12 PM Local Time
Level: 8
Blinds: 20000/40000
Ante: 5000
Friday, June 8, 2012 9:07 PM Local Time
Brandon Schaefer started out this hand in familiar fashion by making it 65,000 from the button. Jonathan Cohen in the big blind made the call and saw a flop. It was here that Cohen check-raised all in for about 1,250,000. Schaefer quickly folded, and this was the first time we saw Cohen move all in here in heads up play.
Friday, June 8, 2012 8:52 PM Local Time
A bet of 65,000 is becoming quite common in this heads up match, and this recent hand was no different with Brandon Schaefer putting out that standard bet on the button. Jonathan Cohen in the big blind made the call and saw a flop. It was here that both players checked.
A on the turn brought another check from Cohen, and a bet of 75,000 from Schaefer. Instead of simply calling or folding Cohen raised and made it 250,000, and after awhile Schaefer convinced himself he was good and made the call.
The on the river saw a 325,000 bet from Cohen, a bet Schaefer was not sure about. After a minute or so Schaefer did indeed make the call. Cohen instantly mucked and Schaefer showed .
| Brandon Schaefer | 3,900,000 | 550,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,250,000 | -500,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 8:39 PM Local Time
Brandon Schaefer raised to 65,000 from the button and Jon Cohen peeled to see a flop. Schaefer continued for 75,000 and Cohen check-called before he led for 175,000 on the turn. It did the job as Schaefer folded.
That hand would've made Cohen felt better as the hand before his open was three-bet by Schaefer. Cohen called and called a barrel on the flop. The 365,000 barrel on the turn was too much heat for him though.
| Brandon Schaefer | 2,350,000 | -1,100,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,750,000 | 85,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 8:26 PM Local Time
Jonathan Cohen has come back from break with the right attitude, or maybe just the right cards. Cohen has managed to take down the past four pots. The biggest of which was this one where he bet out 65,000 preflop from the button and received a call from Brandon Schaefer. Then on a flop we saw Cohen bet out 85,000 after Schaefer checked. Schaefer completed the call, and it was off to the turn.
The then showed up on fourth street, and it was here that both players knocked the table for checks. A on the river saw a check from Schaefer and a bet of 205,000 from Cohen. After a minute or so Schaefer made the call and was in for a sore sight as Cohen flipped over . This was seemingly good enough as Schaefer threw his cards in the muck.
Friday, June 8, 2012 8:11 PM Local Time
Cards are back in the air. Both players really want this. Who will make dreams come true?
Friday, June 8, 2012 8:10 PM Local Time
Level: 7
Blinds: 15000/30000
Ante: 5000
Friday, June 8, 2012 7:15 PM Local Time
| Brandon Schaefer | 3,450,000 | 150,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,665,000 | -135,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 7:07 PM Local Time
Brandon Schaefer was sitting on the button when he decided to make it 50,000 preflop. Jonathan Cohen in the big blind made the call and the dealer spread out a flop. It was here that Cohen check-called a bet of 60,000 from Schaefer.
A on the turn saw Cohen take charge and bet out 95,000. After a few moments Brandon made the call. A River brought Cohen betting out 555,000. Schaefer sat in silence considering his best move for a few minutes before opting to fold.
| Brandon Schaefer | 3,300,000 | -700,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,800,000 | 650,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:56 PM Local Time
After that big hand Brandon Schaefer had been chipping away at Jon Cohen's stack until the latter got some back.
Schaefer opened to 50,000 from the button and Cohen defended to see an flop. Schaefer continued for 60,000 and Cohen check-called.
Both players checked the turn before Cohen led for 70,000 on the river. Schaefer called and mucked upon seeing Cohen's for two-pair.
| Brandon Schaefer | 4,000,000 | 100,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,150,000 | -150,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:43 PM Local Time
We are only a few hands into heads up and it is easy to see that both these players want it badly. Brandon Schaefer opened this most recent hand by making it 55,000 preflop. Jonathan Cohen made the call and both players were witness to a flop. It was here that Cohen bet out 155,000. After a few moments of pondering Schaefer made the call.
A on the turn brought a massive bet of 400,000 from Cohen. Schaefer had a huge decision on his hands, and right when it looked like Schaefer was going to opt out and fold, he moved all in.
Clearly this was not what Cohen expected, and he didn't bother to hide his mild disgust. After a minute or so Cohen deposited his cards in the muck. Schaefer now possess a strong chip advantage against his opponent.
| Brandon Schaefer | 3,900,000 | 1,328,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 1,300,000 | -1,249,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:29 PM Local Time
All of a sudden two players are heads up for the bracelet and all the glory that goes with it.
Adam Kagin left us in third spot after he and Brandon Schaefer went to war pre flop. Schaefer opened to 55,000 from the button and then moved all-in after Kagin three-bet to 200,000 from the small blind. Call.
Kagin:
Schaefer:
The board ran to make Schaefer two-pair by the river.
He and Jon Cohen have almost even stacks, at more than 100 big blinds each, heading into their heads up battle.
| Brandon Schaefer | 2,572,000 | 1,122,000 |
| Jonathan Cohen | 2,549,000 | 229,000 |
| Adam Kagin | 0 | -900,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:21 PM Local Time
Brandon Schaefer has had the best of three handed action so far. He's picked off a bluff from each opponent and is back into second position.
His latest victory came when he called a small blind raise from Jon Cohen. Cohen led for 55,000 and 90,000 on the flop and turn before both players checked the river. The final board read and Schaefer opened for the pot.
| Jonathan Cohen | 2,320,000 | -380,000 |
| Brandon Schaefer | 1,450,000 | 800,000 |
| Adam Kagin | 900,000 | -300,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:12 PM Local Time
Level: 6
Blinds: 12000/24000
Ante: 4000
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:08 PM Local Time
It was battle of the blinds as Layne Flack in the small blind made it 56,000. Adam Kagin in the big blind moved all in, and Flack made the call.
Flack:
Kagin:
With Flack's tournament life on the line the dealer spread a flop. Flack needed a king or a queen if he wanted to add to his jewelery collection. A on the turn changed nothing, and a on the river sent Flack packing.
Flack came out swinging at today's final table, collecting a large chip stack and mandating action for most of the early levels. After losing a few flips though Flack's stack shrank and shrank, making him the short stack at the table. Flack will be leaving with $87,446 for his efforts today.
| Adam Kagin | 1,200,000 | 440,000 |
| Layne Flack | 0 | -650,000 |
Friday, June 8, 2012 6:03 PM Local Time
Adam Kagin started the action out hot by moving all in preflop from the button after Layne Flack folded from under the gun. Jonathan Cohen then folded the small blind and Brandon Schaefer called for about 300,000.
Schaefer:
Kagin:
A flop was unfolded and Schaefer looked to be in bad shape. A on the turn and a on the river allowed for Kagin to double up again.
| Adam Kagin | 760,000 | 310,000 |
| Brandon Schaefer | 650,000 | -1,010,000 |