2008 World Series of Poker

Day 3 completed

Posted 06-25-2008 03:32 GMT-7

Congratulations to Frank Gary, Event #41 Champion! ($219,508)

Event #41 began three long days ago with a field of 731 entrants. Over the course of 25 levels of play, that number was whittled down further and further until there was just one man left standing.

That man was Frank Gary. Gary outlasted the whole field and a tough final table of nine to capture his first gold bracelet and well over $200,000 in cash money. Gary was by far the tightest player at the final table for the first several hours, contrasting mightily with the loose and aggressive style of dominant chip leader Nick Binger. Gary waited patiently though, only opening up his game when the table got down to four- and three-handed. His rocky style of play payed off, and he was able to come out on top of Jonathan Tamayo in a relatively quick, high-level heads-up skirmish.

Gary is soft-spoken and mild, coinciding nicely with his style of play. We finally got to see him smile though as he was awarded the gold hardware and crowned as the victor. Congratulations to Frank Gary, Event #41 Champion!

Frank Gary Wins Event #41, $1,500 Mixed Hold'em, Jonathan Tamayo Eliminated in 2nd Place ($140,093)

No-Limit Hold'em:

After being crippled on the last hand of the limit portion of this level, Jonathan Tamayo decids he has to make a move and announces all in. Frank Gary takes some time before making the call.

Gary holds and Tamayo has his tournament life on the line with .

The dealer places the flop out on the felt and it comes , pairing Gary's ace and pushing Tamayo closer to the end.

The turn is the , which helps Tamayo to pick up some straight outs.

As Tamayo's crowd yells for the five of hearts to hit the board on the river, the dealer doesn't grant them their wish as he places the on the end of the board.

Tamayo will go home in 2nd place, earning $140,093 for his finish.

Frank Gary wins the event, $219,562, and the coveted gold bracelet!

A Crippling Pot

Limit Hold'em:

On the final hand of the limit level, we saw another big pot. Frank Gary comes limping in, and Jonathan Tamayo jacks it up one more bet. Gary calls the raise.

The flop brings . Tamayo bets out, and Gary pauses for a moment before making the call, always deliberate with his actions.

The turn is the . Tamayo checks and then calls a bet from Gary.

The river shows the . Tamayo bets and Gary laboriously makes the call. The hands are turned up:

Tamayo -
Gary -

Tamayo nailed his ace on the river, but it was not the out he needed. Gary's two pair is enough to take down another big pot, crippling Tamayo all the way down to just 129,000 chips.

Runner, Runner Glory for Gary

Limit Hold'em:

Frank Gary raises on the button and Jonathan Tamayo three-bets it. Gary calls.

The flop comes and Tamayo leads out. Gary calls.

The turn is the and Tamayo bets again. Gary calls, this time after thinking for a minute or two.

The river is the and Tamayo bets. A minute passes before Gary grabs two stacks of tall, pink chips and raises. Tamayo quickly calls and bounces out of his chair when gary turns over for a full house.

Tamayo can't believe it as he walks around the table holding his hole cards, , for the flopped straight.

Tamayo has 429,000 left now.

The Nut No

Limit Hold'em:

Tamayo comes in raising from the button, and Gary three bets it. Tamayo calls. The flop brings . Gary bets and Tamayo calls. The turn comes the , and both players check. The river is the . Gary leads out again, and Tamayo calls.

Gary looks disappointed with the call, and he shows . Good news for him, the pot is split as Tamayo tables his own .

A Good By Tamayo

Limit Hold'em:

Frank Gary limps in from the button and Jonathan Tamayo checks his option. The flop comes and Tamayo leads out. Gary raises and Tamayo calls.

The turn is the and both players check.

The river is the and Tamayo checks. Gary bets and Tamayo calls. Gary shows and Tamayo sees this and slaps on the table for two pair.

Gary Takes Another Little Pot

Limit Hold'em:

Tamayo raises from the button and Gary calls. The flop comes . Gary checks, Tamayo bets, and Gary calls.

The turn is the and both men check. The river is the . Gary leads out, and Tamayo quickly folds.

Though there weren't many bets in the pot, it still contained 500,000 chips, a significant chunk with the high limits they're playing.

Update

Since that last hand, both players have traded pots back and forth without going to a showdown.

Frank Gary - 1,564,000
Jonathan Tamayo - 629,000

Gary Strikes First

Limit Hold'em:

On the very first hand of play following break, the players find themselves in a big pot. Frank Gary raises from the button, and Jonathan Tamayo makes the call.

The flop comes . Tamayo checks it over, and Gary bets and gets called.

The turn card is the . Tamayo leads out this time, and Gary comes right back over the top with a raise. Tamayo flat calls.

The river is the . Tamayo leads out again with another bullet, and Gary looks frustrated. After taking a moment, he does make the call, and the cards are revealed:

Tamayo -
Gary -

Gary's set of nines is plenty good enough to win him a big pot, and vault him well up into the chip lead. He has closed in on the one-and-a-half-million mark.