In a major hand that cascaded chips around the table at the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table, the board read 6-6-4-K with two hearts and two spades. Jesse Sylvia took about 30 seconds to act and checked, sending the action across the table to Jake Balsiger. The youngster, who is seeking to become the youngest Main Event winner ever, checked behind to bring the queen of spades on the river, putting three of the suit on the board.Cameras panned to Russell Thomas, who was smiling and talking with friends in the audience, and then moved back to Sylvia, who pushed out a stack of red chips for a bet of 9.4 million. ESPN poker commentator Antonio Esfandiari said he'd make that kind of move with a hand like A-K. Balsiger called, showing A-Q for a pair of queens on the river. Sylvia had J-5 of hearts for a missed flush draw.
Balsiger shot up to 68 million in chips, 20 million more than Sylvia, who still had 60 big blinds to work with as the short stack.
Moments later, Phil Ivey returned to his seat on the Penn and Teller Theater's stage, prompting Esfandiari to say, "I don't think I've ever seen Ivey rail a live final table." Also apparently rooting Merson on, although not at the Rio, is decorated U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.
On a board of 3-9-8-4 and the pot at over 17 million, Balsiger stared at the center of the table for about 30 seconds before counting out red chips far to the right of his main stack. He pushed out a bet of 7.5 million and Merson called with the chip lead hanging in the balance.
The river was the six of spades. Balsiger (pictured) once again deliberated, leading Esfandiari to guess he could have a hand like 8-6 or 9-6. Balsiger unleashed just about every red chip left in his stack for a bet of 13 million, bringing those on the Rio's stage to their feet. Merson looked down at his stack of red chips as he shuffled them and announced, "All-in." Esfandiari said, "I love that play. That's what separates the men from the boys." Balsiger folded.Merson held Q-J for a queen-high bluff, while Balsiger had Q-10. ESPN commentator Norman Chad compared Merson to Ivey, who cracked a smile on the sidelines. Merson stacked 110 million, or two-thirds of the chips in play.
Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitter and Like PocketFives on Facebook. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.
