In the 53rd hand of the final table of the 2012 WSOP Main Event, Jake Balsiger (pictured) doubled up courtesy of Rob Salaburu. The two essentially flopped spots on the leaderboard as a result. On Salaburu's overall play thus far at the Main Event final table, PokerStars pro Daniel Negreanu chirped on Twitter, "Salaburu's background in PLO is clearly affecting his game plan, checking back lots of flops/turns with strong hands and playing rivers safely."Sans a bust out by Steve Gee in ninth place, it's been a pretty low-key final table for the last three hours. Balsiger's double up was the first one we've seen from the Octo-Nine and came in a hand where Jeremy Ausmus was the first to act. He raised to 800,000 and Jesse Sylvia asked Ausmus for a count.
Sylvia called behind and Salaburu (pictured) quickly raised to 2.8 million. Antonio Esfandiari commended Salaburu on the 3bet and Balsiger, who anxiously looked at his tablemates, strongly announced, "All-in" and Ausmus and Sylvia folded. Salaburu, whom Esfandiari put on 10-10 or J-J, thought for about 10 seconds and showed queens. Balsiger tabled kings and was an 81% to 19% favorite.The flop came 9-7-A and Balsiger nodded his head while watching the first three cards being dealt. The turn was a 10, keeping Salaburu at two outs, and he shuffled chips as the river was dealt. The final card was deuce and Balsiger doubled to 23 million. Balsiger celebrated with his very vocal rail, which erupted in a sea of high-fives and fist pumps.
On Balsiger, ESPN poker commentator Lon McEachern noted, "That buffalo plaid shirt is working for Balsiger." He is seeking to become the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever. After sitting back down at the table, Balsiger was visibly shaking from excitement and happily stacked his newfound chips.
ESPN then brought in comedian Kevin Pollak for commentary. Pollak was busted from the Main Event this year in a queens-versus-queens hand after his opponent hit a flush.
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