Monday, June 16, 2014 1:40 AM Local Time
Pierre Milan Wins Event #29 $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em ($536,768)
It took three days of intense play, but a winner has finally emerged in the 2014 World Series of Poker Event #29: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em. After 30 total levels of play, Pierre Milan topped a field of 1,165 players to capture the $536,768 first-place prize and his first gold bracelet.
Interestingly, Milan defeated Justin Oliver heads up to win. Oliver took down the 2013 WSOP Event #38 $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Four Handed for $309,071 and ended up giving that gold bracelet to his dad for Father's Day. Unfortunately for him he was denied his second bracelet on Father's Day.
Day 3 action saw the final 20 players return to Level 21 (5,000/10,000/1,000), and it didn't take long for the first elimination of the day to occur. It happened when Jamie Armstrong opened for 20,000 under the gun and Richard Kirsch called him from the small blind. The big got out of the way and it was heads-up action to the flop. Kirsch was first to act and wasted little time in moving all in for right around 135,000. Armstrong called.
Kirsch:
Armstrong:
Kirsch flopped a flush draw and decided to play it strong. Unfortunately for him it did pan out as the blanked on the turn followed by the on the river. Kirsch became the day's first casualty and took home $16,220 for his 20th-place finish.
From there ten others followed him out the door before the final table was set including William Reynolds (19th - $16,220), Rep Porter (18th - $19,718), Joseph Brattole (17th - $19,718), Justin Kindred (16th - $19,718), Marius Pospiech (15th - $24,277), Grayson Nichols (14th - $24,277), Yong Lu (13th - $24,277), Scott Davies (12th - $30,267), Chris Johnson (11th - $30,267), and David Benefield (10th - $30,267).
After a dinner break, Sam Cohen hit the rail in ninth place after her failed to overcome the of Justin Oliver, and she was followed out the door by British pro Daniel Laming, who had his pocket kings cracked by the ace-queen of Matt Salsberg.
Andy Phan took his leave in seventh when his pocket queens fell to Barry Hutter's big slick when an ace spiked on the river, and then Oliver put a bad beat on Armstrong to send him home in sixth.
After a short-stacked Hutter fell in fifth place, the four-handed battle waged until Thad McNulty and Matt Salsberg, who were the short stacks, fell in fourth and third place respectively. That left Justin Oliver and Pierre Milan to battle heads up essentially even in chips.
Even so, it took just three hands for a winner to emerge. That's because the two played a big pot on the second hand of heads-up play, which went to Milan. One hand later and it was all over.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|
| 1st | Pierre Milan | $536,768 |
| 2nd | Justin Oliver | $332,198 |
| 3rd | Matt Salsberg | $207,842 |
| 4th | Thad McNulty | $150,859 |
| 5th | Barry Hutter | $111,368 |
| 6th | Jamie Armstrong | $83,486 |
| 7th | Andy Phan | $63,502 |
| 8th | Daniel Laming | $48,952 |
| 9th | Sam Cohen | $38,244 |
Congratulations to Pierre Milan, winner of Event #29: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em for $536,768.
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:34 AM Local Time
Justin Oliver Eliminated in 2nd Place ($332,198)
Hand #132: Pierre Milan moved all in from the button and Justin Oliver called off from the big blind.
Milan:
Oliver:
Oliver got it in good, but he would be denied his second gold bracelet as the board ran out to seal the deal for Milan.
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:32 AM Local Time
Hands #130-131: Massive Double For Milan
Hand #130: Justin Oliver received a walk.
Hand #131: Justin Oliver raised to 200,000 on the button, Pierre Milan three-bet to 525,000 from the big blind and Oliver called to see a flop.
Milan continued for 425,000 and Oliver called. The landed on the turn and Milan bet 1,225,000. Oliver raised all in and Milan called immediately with the slightly smaller stack.
Milan:
Oliver:
The river was the and Milan's rail exploded as their man scored the double up. The all-in amount was 3.295 million.
| Pierre Milan | 8,510,000 | 4,205,000  |
| Justin Oliver | 230,000 | -4,205,000  |
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:23 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 4,435,000 | -470,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 4,305,000 | 1,285,000 |
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:22 AM Local Time
Matt Salsberg Eliminated in 3rd Place ($207,842)
Hand #127: Pierre Milan raised to 200,000 from the small blind and Justin Oliver defended the big to see a flop of . Milan continued for 245,000 and Oliver folded.
Hand #128: Pierre Milan raised to 160,000 from the button and Matt Salsberg moved all in for 795,000 from the button. Milan folded.
Hand #129: Justin Oliver raised to 200,000 from the button and Matt Salsberg moved all in for 1.015 million from the small blind. Pierre Milan called from the big blind, and Oliver got out of the way.
Milan:
Salsberg:
Milan had woken up with a monster in the big blind, and Salsberg was in a bad spot. The flop did little to give Salsberg hope, and neither did the turn. The would be the final nail in Salsberg coffin, and he earned $207,842 for his third-place finish.
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:16 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 4,905,000 | 450,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 3,020,000 | 305,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 815,000 | 0 |
| Thad McNulty | 0 | -755,000 |
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:15 AM Local Time
Hands #123-126: Thad McNulty Eliminated in 4th Place ($150,859)
Hand #123: Pierre Milan limped from the small blind, Justin Oliver raised to 225,000 in the big blind and Milan called.
They checked to the river of a board where Milan bet 200,000. Oliver folded.
Hand #124: Matt Salsberg shoved for 795,000 in the cutoff and collected the blinds and antes.
Hand #125: Pierre Milan raised to 160,000 in the cutoff and received no action.
Hand #126: Justin Oliver opened to 200,000 in the cutoff and Thad Mcnulty three-bet shoved for 595,000 on the button. Oliver called.
Oliver:
Mcnulty:
The board ran out , no help to Mcnulty, ending his run in fourth place
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:07 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 4,455,000 | 990,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 2,715,000 | -580,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 815,000 | -140,000 |
| Thad McNulty | 755,000 | -270,000 |
Monday, June 16, 2014 1:07 AM Local Time
Hands #117-122: McNulty Sliding
Hand #117: Pierre Milan opened for 160,000 only to have Thad McNulty moved all in from the small blind. The big folded and so did Milan.
Hand #118: Matt Salsberg moved all in from the small blind for 855,000 and Pierre Milan folded from the big.
Hand #119: Thad McNulty opened for 175,000 from under the gun and Justin Oliver took his time before calling from the big blind. The flop saw both players check, and then the appeared on the turn. Oliver led out for 175,000 and McNulty folded.
Hand #120: Thad McNulty received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #121: Pierre Melin raised to 160,000 from under the gun and Justin Oliver came in with a three-bet to 375,000 from the button. Both blinds folded and Melin gave it up.
Hand #122: Justin Oliver raised to 200,000 under the gun, Thad McNulty called from the button, and the flop came out . Oliver checked, McNulty bet 155,000, and Oliver called to see the turn. Oliver moved all in and McNulty released his hand.
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:56 AM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:41 AM Local Time
Chip Counts at Break
The players are in the midst of a 20-minute break.
| Justin Oliver | 3,465,000 | 15,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 3,295,000 | 240,000 |
| Thad McNulty | 1,025,000 | -450,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 955,000 | 195,000 |
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:34 AM Local Time
Hands #111-116: Milan Closing In on the Lead
Hand #111: Pierre Milan raised to 150,000 in the small blind and won the pot.
Hand #112: Pierre Milan raised on the button and took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #113: Matt Salsberg received a walk.
Hand #114: Thad Mcnulty raised on the button and Pierre Milan called from the big blind. The flop came down and Milan check-called a bet from Mcnulty. They checked down the turn and river and Milan took down the pot
Hand #115: Unknown action
Hand #116: Pierre Milan raised on the button, Thad Mcnulty three-bet from the big blind and Milan folded.
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:27 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 3,450,000 | -435,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 3,055,000 | 580,000 |
| Thad McNulty | 1,475,000 | -35,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 760,000 | -110,000 |
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:26 AM Local Time
Hands #105-110: McNulty and Milan Square Off in Big Pot
Hand #105: Pierre Milan raised to 120,000 under the gun an Thad McNulty called from the small blind. When the flop came out , McNulty checked and Milan bet 125,000. McNulty called and then led out for 155,000 on the turn. Milan folded.
Hand #106: Matt Salsberg moved all in from the small blind and Pierre Milan folded.
Hand #107: Thad McNulty raised to 125,000 under the gun ad took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #108: Pierre Milan raised to 120,000 from the button and Thad McNulty called from the big blind. The flop saw McNulty check and Milan bet 130,000. McNulty announced a raise to 300,000, Milan called, and the dealer burned and turned the , which they both checked. When the completed the board on the river, McNulty bet 250,000 and Milan raised to 780,000. McNulty folded.
Hand #109: Pierre Milan raised to 120,000 under the gun and Thad McNulty three-bet to 300,000 from the small blind. Milan folded.
Hand #110: Justin Oliver opened for 135,000 under the gun, Pierre Milan called from the big blind, and the flop came down . Milan check-called a bet of 150,000, the appeared on the turn, and Milan opted to lead out for 285,000. Oliver folded.
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:17 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 3,885,000 | -400,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 2,475,000 | 325,000 |
| Thad McNulty | 1,510,000 | -165,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 870,000 | 240,000 |
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:16 AM Local Time
Hands #99-104: Back and Forth
Hand #99: Thad Mcnulty raised to 125,000 in the cutoff and Pierre Milan three-bet from the small blind. Mcnulty folded and Milan won the pot.
Hand #100: Pierre Milan raised to 120,000 on the button and Thad Mcnulty called from the big blind.
The flop fell and Mcnulty check-folded to a bet of 125,000 from Milan.
Hand #101: Thad Mcnulty raised to 130,000 in the small blind and Matt Salsberg called in the big blind.
The flop came down and Mcnulty check-folded to a bet from Salsberg.
Hand #102: Pierre Milan received a walk.
Hand #103: Matt Salsberg raised to 130,000 from the button and Justin Oliver called from the big blind.
The flop came down and Oliver checked to Salsberg who bet 150,000. Oliver called, the landed on the turn and both checked to see the river. Oliver bet 200,000 and after a few moments Salsberg called with . Oliver, though, had him just beat with .
Hand #104: Pierre Milan raised on the button, Thad Mcnulty three-bet from the big blind and Milan folded.
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:04 AM Local Time
Hands #93-98: Salsberg Flips for His Tournament Life
Hand #93: Pierre Milan raised to 125,000 under the gun and took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #94: Thad McNulty raised to 125,000 on the button and the blinds both folded.
Hand #95: Thad McNulty raised to 125,000 under the gun and took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #96: Matt Salsberg was first to act and moved all in. The other three players folded.
Hand #97: Pierre Milan made it 120,000 to go under the gun and won the pot.
Hand #98: Justin Oliver opened for 135,000, Thad McNulty called, and Matt Salsberg moved all in for 620,000. Oliver moved all in over the top and McNulty folded.
Salsberg:
Oliver:
It was a classic flip, and much to Salsberg's delight, the proverbial coin came down in his favor after the board ran out a safe .
Monday, June 16, 2014 12:00 AM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 4,285,000 | -40,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 2,150,000 | -10,000 |
| Thad McNulty | 1,675,000 | 440,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 630,000 | -10,000 |
| Barry Hutter | 0 | -380,000 |
Sunday, June 15, 2014 11:58 PM Local Time
Barry Hutter Eliminated in 5th Place ($111,368)
Hand #92: Barry Hutter shoved from the hijack for about 370,000 and Thad Mcnulty called in the big blind.
Hutter:
Mcnulty:
The flop fell to give Mcnulty top pair, though Hutter caught middle pair and a flush draw. However, the turn and river were no help to him, ending his run in fifth place.
Sunday, June 15, 2014 11:56 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Justin Oliver | 4,325,000 | 410,000 |
| Pierre Milan | 2,160,000 | -145,000 |
| Thad McNulty | 1,235,000 | 80,000 |
| Matt Salsberg | 640,000 | -140,000 |
| Barry Hutter | 380,000 | -205,000 |