July 18 2012, Chad Holloway

The 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event has come to an end, at least until October. It took 10 days of intense play, but finally the field of 6,598 was reduced to the final table of nine. Tens of thousands of poker hands were players over that time, but some became more memorable than others. Here is a look at four hands we’d wager will be talked about for years.

Controversial Hand Between Baumann and Koroknai

One of the Main Event hands that has already been debated extensively and that will no doubt continue to be talked about for years to come, happened on Day 5 between Gaelle Baumann and Andras Koroknai. Here’s the hand in question as reported in our Live Blog:

Gaelle Baumann opened for a min-raise to 60,000 from under the gun, and the action folded to Andras Koroknai, who moved all in for what looked like 2 million from the small blind. Gavin Smith folded from the big blind, and thinking that the action was completed, Koroknai mucked his hand.

When he realized his mistake, he pulled back one of his cards, but the other was irretrievable. A floor person was called to the table, and the dealer explained what had happened. Tournament director Dennis Jones was called over to make the ruling, and upon hearing the story, stood silently for half a minute.

Smith, who was standing next to him, began laughing at the difficulty of the decision.

After a moment for thought, Jones informed the table that Koroknai would have to forfeit 60,000 chips to Baumann, but that he wouldn’t be eliminated completely.

“Really?” Smith blurted.

Baumann was also confused with the ruling, so Jones pulled out his iPhone and called Vice President of the World Series of Poker Jack Effel. After a two-minute conversation, Jones hung up, and announced to the table that the original ruling would stand.

“You’re not losing your tournament life,” Jones told Koroknai.

In Jones’ explanation to the table, he cited the “integrity of the tournament” as the major factor in the decision.

According to Smith, Baumann showed two kings.

The ruling in the hand has been both defended and criticized, with many pros saying Koroknai should have been eliminated on the hand. After all, poker is about exploiting your opponents’ mistakes. Koroknai may have gotten off easy, but it wasn’t without an ironic butterfly effect.

Kevin Pollak Eliminated After Losing Queens to Queens

Before the start of the 2012 WSOP Main Event, PokerNews interviewed actor Kevin Pollak, who you may recall from roles in Casino, Grumpy Old Men and The Usual Suspects. Having hosted the first season of Celebrity Poker Showdown, Pollak had some poker knowledge but had never tested it at the WSOP. As such, he decided to play in his first Main Event.

Other celebrities made early exits, but Pollak proceeded to make a deep run. As the days flew by, Pollak became more and more excited. Unfortunately, Pollak’s run came to a heartbreaking end when he lost with pocket queens to an opponent who was also holding pocket queens. Here’s the hand from the Main Event Live Blog:

Poker can truly be a cruel game, and Kevin Pollak knows that more than anybody right now. Kirill Rabtsov raised to 52,000 under the gun, and Omar Saeed called from the button. Kevin Pollak moved all in from the big blind for his last 369,000 and Rabtsov quickly moved all in over the top. Saeed folded, and the cards were tabled.

Rabtsov:

Pollak:

Most of the crowd got a chuckle when they saw the hands, as it looked destined for a chopped pot. However, the flop came down . Rabtsov was now freerolling, as he would win the pot with two more hearts. The hit the turn, and the crown started to groan. Pollak put his hands on his head and was hardly able to look at the river.

River:

The whole mother ship let out a disgusted sigh, and Pollak was left in shock. After a few moments, he let out a laugh, and said “It’s so absurd you have to laugh.” With that, Pollak is sent to the rail, and he left to a nice round of applause. After that hand, Rabtsov is up to 1.651 million.

Pollak had a great showing in his first WSOP Main Event, finishing in 134th place for $52,718. One thing’s for sure, he’ll make for some great TV when new episodes of the WSOP begin to air on ESPN.

A Live Misclick By Gee Costs DiVella Dearly

Every once in awhile a player will make a mistake at the poker table that is more akin to a misclick online, such as calling a bet you didn’t mean, too. On Day 6 of the Main Event, a live misclick occurred when Steven Gee failed to notice an all-in raise from Nick DiVella and tossed in an accidental call. It seemed like a gift for DiVella, but fate had something else in store. Here’s a look at Gee’s mistaken call as reported in our Main Event Live Blog:

Nick DiVella has been eliminated. Like all who are knocked out of the Main Event, he’s probably wondering what might have been, although in his case the last hand in particular is likely foremost in his thoughts.

DiVella announced he was all-in from early position, setting out a stack of orange chips as he did, and the dealer repeated his declaration. It was folding around the table when one player asked how much DiVella was in for, and it was clarified he was all-in for 675,000 total.

It folded to Steven Gee on the button who tossed out 75,000. He’d missed the all-in declaration and had thought the raise was only for 75,000, and he was calling. The floor was called over, and it was determined that Gee had called the all-in raise. The blinds folded, then DiVella showed his . Gee’s hand was turned over to show he had .

The flop came and DiVella was still ahead, but the landed on the turn to pair Gee. The river was the , and DiVella was eliminated.

DiVella ended up finishing in 73rd place for $88,070, and Gee went on to make the Main Event final table.

Koroknai Eliminates Baumann on the Final Table Bubble

Without a doubt, the big story in the final stretch of the 2012 WSOP Main Event was the emergence of Elisabeth Hille and Gaelle Baumann. The two women played superbly and for awhile it looked like poker history would be made as a woman, or perhaps two, would make the final table for the first time since Barbara Enright did in 1995.

The hopes of both making the final table were cut short with just 11 players left as Hille was dispatched, bringing about the unofficial final table of 10.

Baumann entered as the extreme short stack, and despite more than doubling up, she once again became involved in a hand against Andras Koroknai.

Gaelle Baumann moved all in for 5.2 million from the hijack seat, Andras Koroknai called in the small blind, and Michael Esposito folded from the big blind.

Baumann:

Koroknai:

Chants of “Nine! Nine! Nine!” filled the mothership before the flop fell . Baumann could now chop with a three or any running pair cards.

The crowd erupted at the sight of the on the turn, even though it didn’t pair Baumann. The last woman standing could only be saved by a nine (win), a three (chop) or an eight (chop).

The completed the board, and the rail exploded. Those who made the official final table celebrated while Baumann’s French contingent fell momentarily silent. Then, for one last time, the crowd serenaded her with chants of “Gaelle Baumann.”

Hille and Baumann’s accomplishments were amazing, but less sweet for the poker masses as they barely missed out on the final table. What made it all the more bitter, at least for Baumann’s supporters, was the fact that she was eliminated by Koroknai, the man who many argue should have been eliminated when he moved all in on Baumann’s kings and accidentally mucked.

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August 09 2011, Elaine Chaivarlis

The Epic Poker League kicked off its first Main Event on Tuesday. PokerNews is there bringing you updates from all the action, but that’s not the only EPL news we have to talk about. The Pro/Am crowned a winner on Monday and we’ve got the results. We’re also going to tell you about the World Poker Tour heading to Malta and who will be the tournament director for that stop (as if it’s not obvious by the above photo). Keep reading. There’s plenty more where that came from.

In Case You Missed It

Last week, NBC began airing new episodes of Poker After Dark. We told you about this, but just in case your DVR failed to do its job, we’ve recapped the action from the $100,000 Cash Game week.

Last week, Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez was all the rage but not because of his success on the field (remember, he’s recovering from knee surgery). His poker drama got us thinking about athletes and poker in general and why Sports and Poker Don’t Mix.

WPT Headed to Malta

We all know what happened to the Italian Man Who Went to Malta. Soon we’ll know what will happen when the World Poker Tour heads to Malta. According to a press release, the tenth WPT season will be making a stop in Malta. The “3,000 + “30 Main Event will take place at the Casino at Portomaso from Sept. 20 to 24.

“Portomaso in Malta is normally the home of super yachts, but for four days in late September it will be home to WPT Malta. This Mediterranean hotspot already has poker in its veins so we hope that by introducing a World Poker Tour stop we will satisfy the desires of locals and the international contingent looking for some late summer sun,” said Adam Pliska, president of the World Poker Tour.

Matt Savage is confirmed as the tournament director for this event.

If you want to find out more about this event, or pre-register, head on over to WorldPokerTour.com.

An Epic Weekend

The Epic Poker League kicked off Friday with its Pro/Am event. The $1,500 buy-in event attracted 190 players. The final nine each received seats in the inaugural $20,000 EPL Main Event that kicked off on Tuesday, but the official final table of six played for cash, TV time, and bragging rights.

Steve O’Dwyer, 29, finished in the top spot Monday night, taking home $23,810 on top of his $20,000 seat to the EPL Main Event. He beat professional poker player Brandon Meyers heads-up.

Poker pro Andy Bloch was the only EPL card holder to win his Main Event seat in the Pro/Am. Bloch finished third, which was good for an added $7,540.

EPL Final Table Results

Epic Poker League also held its charity tournament over the weekend. The event, hosted by Brad Garrett, attracted 91 players and raised over $50,000 for tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri.

Check out the Epic Poker League Blogs for more on these events, and follow the PokerNews Live Reporting Team as they bring you the action from the EPL Main Event.

FairPlayUSA Adds to Advisory Board

FairPlayUSA announced on Tuesday that it had added to its advisory board. Mike Sexton joined FairPlayUSA and now sits on the advisory board along with Greg Raymer, Internet safety expert Parry Aftab, and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

“Americans should be able to play poker online in the privacy of their homes knowing that the games are safe and fair,” said Sexton. “FairPlayUSA is committed to ensuring a strict regulatory framework for online poker, and I am pleased to be part of its advisory board.”

If you’re not familiar with FairPlayUSA, it is a grassroots coalition that has set out to educate the public and policymakers about online poker.

“We’re honored that Mike has agreed to join our Board of Advisors and help carry our message of the importance of bringing integrity and safety to online poker,” said Marisa McNee, executive director of FairPlayUSA. “As FairPlayUSA grows as an organization, our message of strict regulation, child and consumer protection, and support of law enforcement will continue to resonate with key policymakers.”

Read the press release for more.

WSOP on ESPN

The $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship is the latest episode of ESPN’s coverage of the 2011 World Series of Poker. We don’t want to spoil it for you, so we won’t tell you who won. What we will show you is a preview video from ESPN. Be warned, it’s got a whole lot of Phil in it.

How Did You Recover?

PokerStars knows how to throw a party, and while we’re aware that the PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este is over, a good party video is always fun to watch. Lynn Gilmartin caught up with some of the players to find out what they did to recover from the World Series of Poker.

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