The 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event is ongoing from the Rio in Las Vegas. Three players remain and, so far, the talk of the town has been Jake Balsiger (pictured), who doubled up courtesy of Jesse Sylvia. The hand, which took place just before 10:00pm ET, saw Sylvia, on the button, raise to 1.2 million pre-flop and Balsiger put in a 3bet to 3.5 million. Syvlia bumped the price of poker to 7.2 million and Balsiger 5bet all-in to 28.3 million. Sylvia didn't waste any time and insta-called, tabling nines.Balsiger showed pocket jacks and the five community cards missed everyone. Balsiger doubled up to 60 million in chips and, at the time of writing, has 61.1 million. Balsiger is seeking to become the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever. He has been wearing the same blue plaid shirt for quite some time now and has largely stood pat since the double up.
Balsiger started the Octo-Nine with the eighth largest stack and has since shot up all the way to second. Meanwhile, Sylvia, who held the chip lead entering the Octo-Nine, is now the short stack with three left. Balsiger was born in 1991.
Greg Merson is gunning for WSOP Player of the Year, an accolade he can only get if he wins the Main Event. On potentially winning Player of the Year, Merson told ESPN, "I think it's kind of cool. I guess I'll get two banners in the Amazon Room, which would be cool. We'll see what happens." The banners of past Players of the Year and Main Event winners grace the ceiling of the Amazon Room. With a win tonight, Merson would get both.
On Merson's demeanor at the table, ESPN's Andrew Feldman Tweeted, "All day yesterday, Greg was sitting upright during play. Today, he's leaning back in his chair, more relaxed looking."
The blinds are 400,000-800,000 with an ante of 100,000. Here are the chip stacks as they currently stand:
1. Greg Merson - 83,300,000
2. Jake Balsiger - 61,175,000
3. Jesse Sylvia - 53,500,000
Among those in the crowd tonight rooting on the action are Phil Ivey and Jennifer Harman, who are railing Merson. Vanessa Selbst is rooting on her student, Sylvia. No three-way pot has occurred through 40 hands. Apparently, a trumpet is in the house, which I'm sure is making for a loud atmosphere. Feldman Tweeted, "We have a trumpet being played... It really is a tournament unlike any other with a crowd like any other. "
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