Monday, June 2, 2014 1:17 AM Local Time
Ted Forrest Captures Sixth Bracelet in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz ($121,196)
Three days ago 352 players took to the felt in the 2014 World Series of Poker Event #7 $1,500 Seven-Card Razz to compete for their share of a $475,200 prize pool. Today, the eyes of the poker world were on the tournament's final table as Phil Hellmuth looked to capture yet another gold bracelet.
The "Poker Brat" began the final table second in chips, and over the course of play he put on a clinic that showed why he was one of the best. Hellmuth outlasted several bracelet winners and eventually found himself heads-up against Ted Forrest, a five-time bracelet winner himself, one of which came in razz back in 1993.
Forrest had taken a slow and steady approach at the final table, and while he was seemingly flying under the radar, he was also collecting chips. Both he and Hellmuth were looking to join the likes of Huck Seed, Gary "Bones" Berland, and Mike Hart as double razz bracelet winners, but only one of them would obtain the honor.
On the 25th anniversary of his 1989 Main Event win, in a tournament that marked his 101st cash and 50th final table at the WSOP, Hellmuth seemed destined to win, but after an epic heads-up match it Forrest who finished as the last man standing.
Hellmuth is denied No. 14.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|
| 1st | Ted Forrest | $121,196 |
| 2nd | Phil Hellmuth | $74,848 |
| 3rd | Greg Pappas | $48,275 |
| 4th | David Bach | $34,979 |
| 5th | Brock Parker | $25,717 |
| 6th | Brandon Cantu | $19,183 |
| 7th | Yuebin Guo | $14,517 |
| 8th | Kevin Iacofano | $11,143 |
The first elimination of the day came quick when Greg Pappas called the bring-in bet with an showing and Hellmuth completed with a . Kevin Iacofano reraised with a , Pappas called, and Hellmuth pushed back. A series of raises saw Iacofano get his last 28,500 in the pot and he needed to survive against two opponents.
Pappas and Hellmuth actually created a side pot when the former bet both fourth and fifth and received calls from the "Poker Brat." Hellmuth took the lead on sixth, promptly bet, and Pappas called. Hellmuth then bet seventh and Pappas raised him. Hellmuth called and discovered the bad news.
Pappas: /
Hellmuth: /
Iacofano: /
Iacofano finished with a Q-8-6-4-A low, which was no good as Hellmuth and Pappas held a seven-five and six-four low respectively. Iacofano collected his things and exited in eighth place to a nice round of applause.
It took awhile for the next elimination to occur but happened when Yuebin Guo got his tack in early and ended up making a Q-J-6-2-A low, which was no good against Brock Parker 10-8-4-3-2 low. Guo earned $14,517 for his seventh-place finish.
Brandon Cantu, who had finished third in the 2012 WSOP $2,500 Razz, was the next to go after he failed to catch a river against Pappas, and then Parker took his leave in fifth place after being crippled by Hellmuth and finished off by Forrest.
In Level 22 (12,000/24,000/3,000), Hellmuth completed with a and then called when David "Gunslinger" Bach raised with a . Hellmuth then check-called a bet on fourth street before leading out on fifth. Bach raised, Hellmuth reraised, and Bach called off his remaining chips.
Hellmuth: / /
Bach: / /
Bach was ahead with a nine low when the last of his chips went in, but Hellmuth managed to catch an 8-7-6-4-3 low on the river. Bach was drawing live, but when he squeezed out his cards he discovered another deuce to pair. Bach has to settle for fourth place and $34,979. He was no doubt hoping to do better, but notching a fourth-place finish after finishing runner-up in this event last year is an impressive feat indeed.
After Pappas grew short, he played a hand against Hellmuth in which he wound up with a Q-10-8-6-2 low. Unfortunately for him Hellmuth made a Q-7-6-5-4 low and Pappas was out in third place for $48,275.
That left Hellmuth and Forrest to battle it out heads up with the former holding a 2-1 chip lead, but that didn't matter much. The two consummate pros battled for hours, during which time Forrest clawed his way into the lead. Hellmuth would take it back, and the duo would take turns trading it back and forth as the limits continued to increase. Eventually they became so big that every hand was swinging momentum. That is when Forrest caught the right run of cards to chip away at Hellmuth and finally finish him off.
It was no doubt a disappointing finish for Hellmuth, but Forrest took a moment to get on the microphone and offer some kind words to the still thirteen-time bracelet winner. Forrest then celebrated his sixth bracelet win, and Layne Flack, who had been railing the heads-up match, said it best: "Ted Forrest is back."
Monday, June 2, 2014 1:09 AM Local Time
Phil Hellmuth Eliminated in 2nd Place ($74,848)
It's all over, Phil Hellmuth has been denied his fourteenth bracelet by Ted Forrest, who has captured his sixth gold bracelet and second in razz.
In what would be the final hand, Hellmuth brought it in with a and then called off his last 35,000 when Forrest completed.
Hellmuth: / /
Forrest: / /
Hellmuth's last hand saw him make a Q-10-7-3-2 low, while Forrest made a winning 9-7-6-3-A low.
| Ted Forrest | 1,585,000 | 45,000  |
| Phil Hellmuth | 0 | -45,000  |
Monday, June 2, 2014 1:04 AM Local Time
Hellmuth Crippled
Things are looking bleak for Phil Hellmuth.
In a recent hand, Ted Forrest brought it in with a and then raised when Hellmuth completed with a . Hellmuth called and then checked his on fourth. Forrest bet, Hellmuth raised, and Forrest called. Forrest then called a bet on fifth and then bet when Hellmuth checked sixth. Hellmuth called and then check-called a final bet on seventh.
Forrest: /
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
Forrest made a 6-5-3-2-A low and Hellmuth mucked, leaving himself just 45,000 behind.
| Ted Forrest | 1,540,000 | 350,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 45,000 | -350,000 |
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:54 AM Local Time
Hellmuth Hurting
Phil Hellmuth brought it in with a and then raised when Ted Forrest completed with a . Forrest called and then bet on fourth when Hellmuth checked. Hellmuth called and then check-called a bet on fifth before betting sixth. Forrest called and then both players checked seventh.
Forrest: /
Hellmuth: /
Forrest made a 9-6-5-2-A low, which bested the 10-8-6-5-3 low of Hellmuth.
| Ted Forrest | 1,190,000 | 350,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 395,000 | -350,000 |
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:41 AM Local Time
Level 27 started
Level: 27
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:26 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Ted Forrest | 840,000 | -70,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 745,000 | 70,000 |
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:23 AM Local Time
Let's Have Ourselves a Scheduled Break
Level 26 is in the books, and that means it is time for another 20-minute break. We'll have updated counts in a bit.
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:19 AM Local Time
Hellmuth Gives It Up on Fifth
Phil Hellmuth brought it in with a and then called when Ted Forrest completed with a . Hellmuth then called a bet on fourth before folding to one on fifth.
Forrest: (x-x) /
Hellmuth: (x-x) / fold
| Ted Forrest | 910,000 | 110,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 675,000 | -110,000 |
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:08 AM Local Time
"Ohhhhhhh Yeaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
You're no doubt familiar with Grant and Blair Hinkle, the two brothers who won WSOP bracelets in 2008, but you may not be familiar with Mason, the other Hinkle brother. Also known as "Uncle Ron," Mason admits he "lives vicariously through my brothers' poker success."
Indeed, PokerNews has encountered Uncle Ron a few times at the Horseshoe Council Bluffs, which is where his brother Blair has won three WSOP Circuit Main Event in four years!
While neither Blair nor Grant are at this final table, Uncle Ron has decided to rail the tournament and throw his support behind Phil Hellmuth.
"Ohhhhhhhh yeaaaaaaahhhhhh," Uncle Ron says while gyrating every time Hellmuth wins a hand. A few of the hundred or so players in the stands voiced their disapproval, but the majority of spectators were cracking up at the unconventional cheer.
Eventually security informed Uncle Ron that his repeated cheers were a disturbance and that he could not carry on, but the rest of the spectators came to his defense when they started a chant of their own.
"Let him cheer. Let him cheer. Let him cheer," they repeated. The security guard smiled, threw his hands up in the air, and then walked away.
"Ohhhhhhhh yeaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
"Ohhhhhhh yeaaaaahhhh!" - Uncle Ron
Monday, June 2, 2014 12:02 AM Local Time
Back to Even Stacks
Phil Hellmuth brought it in with a and then raised when Ted Forrest completed with an . Not to be outdone, Forrest reraise and Hellmuth called. Hellmuth then bet fourth and Forrest called.
When Forrest took the lead on fifth, he bet and it was Hellmuth's turn to call. Both players then checked sixth and seventh streets.
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
Forrest: (x-x) / /
Forrest ended up with a Q-8-4-3-2 low, which was no good against Hellmuth's J-10-8-7-5 low.
| Ted Forrest | 800,000 | -105,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 785,000 | 105,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:56 PM Local Time
"Worry"
Phil Hellmuth brought it in with a and then called when Ted Forrest completed with a jack of his own. Forrest then called a bet on fourth before betting on fifth. Hellmuth called and then retook the lead on sixth, which he followed with a bet. Forrest called and then bet after Hellmuth checked seventh. Hellmuth called.
Forrest: /
Hellmuth: /
"No," Hellmuth said before shooting out of his chair after discovering his 10-6-5-4-A low was no good against Forrest's 9-8-5-2-A low.
After the hand Hellmuth made his way over to his wife on the rail and said, "Don't worry, baby. Don't worry."
Forrest then looked their way and uttered a single word, "Worry."
| Ted Forrest | 905,000 | 220,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 680,000 | -220,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:49 PM Local Time
Slow and Steady
Ted Forrest brought it in with an and Phil Hellmuth called with a . Hellmuth then bet fourth and Forrest called. Hellmuth slowed down wit ha check on fifth and then folded to a bet from Forrest.
Forrest: (x-x) /
Hellmuth: (x-x) / fold
| Phil Hellmuth | 900,000 | -49,000 |
| Ted Forrest | 685,000 | 49,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:35 PM Local Time
Hellmuth Back In the Lead
After winning a couple small pots, Phil Hellmuth took Ted Forrest for a big one to reclaim the chip lead.
It began when Hellmuth brought it in with a and then raised when Forrest completed with a . Forrest called and then bet fourth. Hellmuth called and then put out a bet of his own when he took the lead on fifth. Forrest raised, Hellmuth called, and it was off to sixth street. Hellmuth maintained the lead and bet, which prompted Forrest to call.
Hellmuth bet on last time on seventh, and it did the trick as Forrest released his hand.
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
Forrest: (x-x) / /
| Phil Hellmuth | 949,000 | 414,000 |
| Ted Forrest | 636,000 | -414,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:22 PM Local Time
Forrest Pulling Away
In the last hand of Level 25, Ted Forrest brought it in with a and then called when Phil Hellmuth completed with a . Hellmuth then checked fourth street, Forrest bet, and Hellmuth woke up with a check-raise. Forrest called and then check-called a bet on fifth. Both players checked sixth and then Forrest bet seventh. Hellmuth folded and showed his two starting cards.
Hellmuth: / /
Forrest: (x-x) / /
| Ted Forrest | 1,050,000 | 210,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 535,000 | -210,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:18 PM Local Time
Level 26 started
Level: 26
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 7000
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:14 PM Local Time
Forrest Gives It Up on Fifth Street
Phil Hellmuth brought it in with a and then raised when Ted Forrest completed with an . Forrest called and then called a bet on fourth before folding on fifth.
Hellmuth: (x-x) /
Forrest: (x-x) / fold
| Ted Forrest | 840,000 | -120,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 745,000 | 120,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:12 PM Local Time
Forrest Looks to Extend Lead
Ten Forrest brought it in with a and then called when Hellmuth completed with a of his own. Both players then checked fourth street before Forrest bet fifth and Hellmuth called. That action repeated itself on the each subsequent street.
Forrest: /
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
Forrest made a 9-8-6-5-2 low and it won the pot.
| Ted Forrest | 960,000 | 60,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 625,000 | -60,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:07 PM Local Time
"You Know What, Take It."
Phil Hellmuth brought it in with a and then called when Ted Forrest completed with an . Hellmuth then bet when he took the lead on fourth, Forrest called, and it was off to fifth street. Hellmuth bet and Forrest simply said, "You know what, take it."
He then showed before folding.
Hellmuth: (x-x) /
Forrest: / fold
| Ted Forrest | 900,000 | -70,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 685,000 | 70,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:01 PM Local Time
One for Forrest
Ted Forrest brought it in with a and Phil Hellmuth just called with a . Hellmuth bet on fourth when he caught a , and Forrest called with his . Hellmuth then check-called bets on fifth and sixth before check-folding on seventh.
Forrest: (x-x) / /
Hellmuth: (x-x) / /
| Ted Forrest | 970,000 | 150,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 615,000 | -150,000 |
Sunday, June 1, 2014 10:53 PM Local Time
Hellmuth Evening Things Up
Ted Forrest brought it in with a and then called when Phil Hellmuth completed with his . Hellmuth then check-called a bet on fourth before taking the lead and betting fifth. Forrest folded.
Forrest: (x-x) / fold
Hellmuth: (x-x) /
| Ted Forrest | 820,000 | -110,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 765,000 | 110,000 |