fundoopoker.com

04/07/2012

Known in Vegas as "The Magician" Antonio Esfandiari saved his main trick for the final table of the largest tournament in poker history - $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, which he started as the chip leader, closely followed by another big stack holder - Sam Trickett.

We won’t bide time and go straight to business, as the very first bustout took place already on the 23rd hand on the evening. Richard Yong, who came into the day as one of the shorter stacks, announced all-in with and was called by Brian Rast with . Yong was ahead all the way, but the river was the king that gave Rast the winning hand.

Next to go was Bobby “The Owl” Baldwin, the 1978 World Champion, who owns four WSOP gold bracelets. On the 41st hand of the final table he was all in with the and could not beat Guy Laliberté's . He was soon followed by Esfandiari’s closest friend – Brian Rast, who was eliminated by Trickett in an exhilarating hand during Level 21. It all started with Trickett’s raise to 1.2 million from under-the-gun. Rast called from the button, and Esfandiari called from the big blind. On the flop Esfandiari cautiously checked, while Trickett fired 1.8 million. Rast called, and Esfandiari folded. The 10s appeared on the turn, and Sam added to the pot another 3.8 million. Brian was not going to give up and called once again. After the fell on the river, Trickett tanked before moving all-in. Rast snap-called, turned over and soon felt great disappointment, as his opponent showed for quads and took the pot. Unfortunately for Rast, Trickett had not heard of Mikhail Smirnov, who folded quads earlier in the tournament.

Location of the tournament

Laliberté fell in fifth place on the 60th hand of the day when his couldn't out-race the for Esfandiari in a massive clash for over 50 million in chips. This time “The magician” was luckier than a juggler, however, as the Canadian left the stage, he was sent off by chants of "Guy! Guy! Guy! Guy! Guy!" He deserved this standing ovation, as he managed to run project which seemed totally impossible couple years ago.

Next one to leave this historical final table was 13 WSOP bracelets holder - Phil Hellmuth, who was unnoticed for the most part of the evening, and in the end decided to risk his tournament life with . Sam Trickett held and was luckier on the board, eliminating Hellmuth in fourth place.

Platinum Bracelet Big One - tournament trophy

With the tournament down to three players, David Einhorn was the shortest stack of the bunch. Einhorn was the man who had pledged all of his earnings from this event to City Year, an education-focused nonprofit organization, and it became clear that a check of $4.352 million will go their way after Einhorn's could not outlast Esfandiari's in all-in preflop.

A heavy bag with the main prize

The decisive battle turned to be shorter than we could expect and lasted only 16 hands. In the final hand of the night, Esfandiari raised from the button - 1.8 million, and Trickett called to see on the flop. Fireworks started with a small bet from Sam and continued with the series of raises and reraises, which eventually led to all-in and call. Trickett turned over the for a flush draw and Esfandiari held trip fives with the . Trickett was the player at risk with his 36 million on the line. The on the turn had not changed anything, as well as the most expensive river in poker history - .

We congratulate Antonio Esfandiari on this incredible achievement. With his win, Esfandiari earned his second WSOP gold bracelet, over $18.3 million in prize money and has become the number one player on poker's all-time money list. Call it what you want – magic, luck or skill. It does not matter anymore, as Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari is the new $18.3 million champion who will be remembered as the biggest winner in poker history.

Here are the final official results from the Big One for One Drop:

1. Antonio Esfandiari - $ 18,346,673
2. Sam Trickett - $ 10,112,001
3. David Einhorn - $ 4,352,000
4. Phil Hellmuth - $ 2,645,333
5. Guy Laliberte - $ 1,834,666
6. Brian Rast - $ 1,621,333
7. Bobby Baldwin - $ 1,408,000
8. Richard Young - $ 1,237,333