Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:39 PM Local Time
Jared Jaffee Wins Event #58: $1,500 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold'em for $405,428
When Event #58: $1,500 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold'em kicked off on Monday there were 1,475 runners in the room, each hoping to find themselves where Jared Jaffee sits tonight. The longtime pro finally earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet after recording 11 cashes here at the Rio since 2009, and with the accomplishment he also moved one step closer to capturing poker's "Triple Crown." Jaffee took down the World Poker Tour Jacksonville bestbet Fall Poker Scramble $3,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in November of last year, but as every poker player knows, there's nothing quite like grabbing the WSOP gold.
The mixed-max format saw the field play a full first day of nine-handed action and whittle the field down to 181, and on Day 2 the tables shrunk to six-handed for another gauntlet of short-handed poker. Late on Day 2, the final 24 players reconvened at four-handed tables and the pace accelerated until just 10 remained. Jaffee topped the counts entering the third and final day of play, and he quickly went to work building on that advantage.
A crucial cooler of a hand against Brandon Cantu propelled Jaffee into the final four heads-up matches with nearly half the chips in play, as Jaffee's kings were ran down by Cantu's queens, until the river reversed the situation in cruel fashion for the combustible Cantu.
Armed with a massive chip advantage over his heads-up opponent Joseph Alban, Jaffee dispatched him in short order to secure a spot in the finals, where he would face fellow pro Mike Watson. Both players were searching for their first WSOP bracelet, and a lengthy heads-up duel ensued in which Watson fought back admirably from a nearly 2-1 disadvantage when play began. Watson picked off a bold bluff by Jaffee to briefly claim the chip lead, but Jaffee continued to apply pressure with preflop raises and post-flop aggression, winning the majority of pots during the contest.
Eventually, the tide turned in Jaffee's favor and he finished Watson off in stunning fashion, going runner-runner to make a straight and crack Watson's pocket jacks in a preflop clash.
Jaffee collected $405,428 for the first-place finish, pushing over the $2 million live earnings milestone in the process by capturing his third six-figure score in a nine-month span. He now needs only a victory on the European Poker Tour to become the latest member of the "Triple Crown" club, proving that Jaffee's name belongs among the short list of poker's rising stars.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:28 PM Local Time
Mike Watson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($246,068); Jared Jaffee Wins!
Hand #99: Mike Watson limped the button, Jared Jaffee raised to 180,000 in the big blind and Watson reraised all in for about 1.6 million. Jaffee took a deep breath and sighed before he announced a call.
Watson:
Jaffee:
"ACE!!!!!!" yelled Jaffee's rail as everyone stood up in anticipation for what was to come.
The flop came down , keeping Watson well in front with his pair of jacks. Short of an ace, the turn was as good as it gets for Jaffee as it gave him a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw. The river gave Jaffee an eight-high straight to lock up the victory, ending Watson's run in second place.
Jared Jaffee | 6,650,000 | 1,600,000 |
Mike Watson | 0 | -1,600,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:16 PM Local Time
Hands #97-98: Watson Shoves
Hand #97: Mike Watson limped on the button, Jared Jaffee checked his option and the flop fell . Jaffee check-called 100,000 to see the turn where both checked. The river completed the board and both checked again. Jaffee tabled for kings and eights, besting Watson's holdings to win the pot.
Hand #98: Jared Jaffee raised to 175,000 on the button and Mike Watson called three-bet shoved for about 1.45 million from the big blind.
"It's close," said Jaffee, before he folded.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:09 PM Local Time
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:09 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
Jared Jaffee | 5,050,000 | 100,000 |
Mike Watson | 1,600,000 | -100,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:07 PM Local Time
Hands #93-96: Elementary My Dear
Hand #93: Mike Watson opened to 120,000 and Jared Jaffee three-bet to 290,000. Watson studied the situation for a long moment before coolly announcing himself all in for 1.6 million. Jaffee's cards were in the muck before Watson's chips were pushed forward.
Hand #94: Jaffee opened to 125,000, Watson flatted, and the flop fell . Watson checked, Jaffee fired for 165,000, and Watson smooth-called to take the on the turn. Both players checked fourth street, as they did on the river. Watson rolled over and his busted straight draw was good for the winner.
Hand #95: Watson opened to 120,000 and Jaffee flatted, with the flop coming down . Jaffee then check-folded to Watson's 130,000 wager.
Hand #96: Jaffee opened to 125,000, Watson three-bet to 350,000, and Jaffee made the call. After the dealer fanned the Watson checked and Jaffee did the same, bringing the to the table on the turn. Watson then fired out for 360,000 and Jaffee began toying with his chips before cutting out the calling chips and stacking them forward. The river card came and Watson peered ahead into the ether, riffling a stack of chips slowly while studying the board. Finally, he tapped the table and the action moved to Jaffee, who did the same.
Watson:
Jaffee:
Jaffee took the pot down with a turned pair of aces, while Watson's straight and flush draws failed to come through on the river.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:58 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
Jared Jaffee | 4,950,000 | 375,000 |
Mike Watson | 1,700,000 | -375,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:58 PM Local Time
Hands #86-92: Watson Sliding
Hand #86: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson folded his big blind.
Hand #87: Jaffee received a walk.
Hand #88: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson folded.
Hand #89: Watson raised to 120,000 on the button and Jaffee called. The flop fell and Jaffee check-folded to a bet of 130,000 from Watson.
Hand #90: Watson received a walk.
Hand #91: Watson raised to 120,000 on the button and Jaffee three-bet to 295,000 from the big blind. Watson folded.
Hand #92: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson called. The flop fell and Watson check-folded to a bet of 160,000 from Jaffee.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:50 PM Local Time
Hands #80-85: Skirmishing
Hand #80: Jared Jaffee opened for 125,000 and Watson flatted to see the flop. Both players checked and the turn came , prompting Watson to bet out for 150,000. Jaffee eyed the bet and sized Watson up from across the table before making the laydown.
Hand #81: Watson opened for 120,000 and took down the pot without a fight.
Hand #82: Jaffee opened to 125,000, Watson flatted, and the flop came down . Watson tapped the table, Jaffee fired away for 155,000 and Watson folded.
Hand #83: Watson opened for 120,000, Jaffee defended his big blind, and the flop was . Both players checked, and the turn came . Jaffee then led out for 165,000 and Watson called to see the complete the board on the river. Jaffee fired away with a bet of 405,000 and Watson relented to send the sizable pot Jaffee's way.
Hand #84: Jaffee opened to 125,000 and Watson laid down.
Hand #85: Watson opened for 120,000, Jaffee flatted and the flop fell . Jaffee check-folded to Watson's 130,000 wager.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:45 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
Jared Jaffee | 4,575,000 | 1,570,000 |
Mike Watson | 2,075,000 | -1,570,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:43 PM Local Time
Hands #76-79: Jaffee Shoves the River
Hand #76: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the big blind.
Watson checked the flop and Jaffee continued for 160,000. Watson called, the hit the turn and Watson checked. Jaffee bet 310,000 and Jaffee collected the pot.
Hand #77: Watson raised to 150,000 on the button and received no action from Jaffee.
Hand #78: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson called.
They checked to the turn of a board where Watson bet 150,000. Jaffee called, the river completed the board and both players checked. Watson showed , Jaffee tabled and they chopped up the pot.
Hand #79: Watson raised to 150,000 on the button and Jaffee called.
The flop fell and Jaffee checked to Watson who bet 160,000. Jaffee check-raised to 405,000, Watson called, and the landed on the turn. Jaffee fired 780,000, Watson slid in calling chips after about 30 seconds and the river completed the board. Jaffee shoved for 1.885 million and Watson quickly folded.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:31 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 10000
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:23 PM Local Time
Break
The players are in the midst of a 10-minute break.
Mike Watson | 3,645,000 | 1,125,000 |
Jared Jaffee | 3,005,000 | -1,125,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:23 PM Local Time
Hands #71-75: Jaffee and the Cookie Jar
Hand #71: Mike Watson opened to 125,000 and Jared Jaffee flatted. The flop came down and both players tapped the table to bring the to the board on the turn. Jaffee then check-folded to Watson's 150,000 wager.
Hand #72: Watson went for a walk in the big blind.
Hand #73: Watson opened for 125,000, Jaffee flatted, and the flop fell . Jaffee checked to Watson, who obliged with a bet of 130,000, but Jaffee popped it to 290,000 to force the fold.
Hand #74: Jaffee opened to 125,000, Watson flatted, and the two saw the flop come down . Watson then check-called a bet of 165,000 to peel the on the turn. Watson checked a second time and then called when Jaffee continued for 320,000. On the river Watson checked for a third time, and then looked Jaffee up after the latter fired away for 610,000.
Watson:
Jaffee:
Watson's turned two pair was the winner and Jaffee's bottom pair bluff was busted.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:11 PM Local Time
Hands #66-70: Watson Doubles Up Again
Hand #66: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the big blind. They checked to the river of a board where Jaffee bet 140,000. Watson folded and Jaffee picked up the pot.
Hand #67: Watson limped his button and Jaffee checked his option. They checked to the turn of a board where Watson took down the pot with a bet of 60,000.
Hand #68: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button, Watson three-bet shoved for about 1.14 mllion and Jaffee folded.
Hand #69: Jaffee received a walk.
Hand #70: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson three-bet all in for 1.255 million. Jaffee confirmed the amount before he called.
Jaffee:
Waston:
A chop was likely, but the flop fell . Watson still led, while Jaffee picked up a wheel draw. The turn added some chop outs, but the river gave Watson the double up as his six kicker played.
Jared Jaffee | 4,130,000 | -880,000 |
Mike Watson | 2,520,000 | 880,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:05 PM Local Time
Hands #62-65: Minimizing the Damage
Hand #62: Jared Jaffee opened to 125,000 and Mike Watson laid down.
Hand #63: Watson opened to 100,000 and Jaffee flatted, with the flop falling . Two checks later and the turn came , followed by a 130,000 feeler bet from Jaffee. Watson elected to see the river and called to take the , but he folded in the face of Jaffee's 240,000 bet.
Hand #64: Jaffee opened to 125,000 and scared Watson off.
Hand #65: Watson opened to 100,000, Jaffee flatted, and the flop came . Both players tapped the table, as they did on the turn and the river. Watson rolled over for king-queen high, which had Jaffee's beat.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 9:56 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
Jared Jaffee | 5,010,000 | 180,000 |
Mike Watson | 1,640,000 | -180,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 9:54 PM Local Time
Hands #57-61: Jaffee Gets No Action with Big Slick
Hand #57: Mike Watson raised to 100,000 on the button, Jared Jaffee three-bet to 240,000 from the big blind and Watson called to see a flop. Jaffee continued for 220,000 and Watson gave it up.
Hand #58: Watson received a walk.
Hand #59: Watson raised to 100,000 on the button and Jaffee folded his big blind.
Hand #60: Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Watson called.
The flop came down and Watson checked to Jaffee, who bet 140,000. Watson folded, giving Jaffee the pot.
Hand #61: Jaffee received a walk and showed .
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 9:51 PM Local Time
Watson Doubles Up
Hand #56: Jared Jaffee raised to 125,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the big blind.
The flop came down and Watson checked to Jaffee who bet 175,000. Watson check-raised all in for 780,000 and after a few moments Jaffee called.
Watson:
Jaffee:
Jaffee was drawing very slim and found no help from the turn or river, locking up the double for Watson.
Jared Jaffee | 4,830,000 | -810,000 |
Mike Watson | 1,820,000 | 810,000 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 9:51 PM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 25000/50000
Ante: 5000