A total of 925 entrants turned up for the biggest Omaha Hi-Lo tournament in World Series of Poker history. After three long days of play, Chicago’s own Francesco “Cheech” Barbaro claimed the title, along with $262,283 and his first bracelet.
The 37-year-old entered the final day as the chip leader and though he stumbled a bit to start the final table, his stack was never really in any jeopardy. With five players remaining, the former bartender took over and began to dominate.
A flopped straight helped him to take out tournament regular Matt Waxman in third place and he made short work of a short stacked Kostas Kalathakis a few hands later, sealing his victory. Incredibly, this was the first WSOP event that Barbaro has ever entered.
Crowd favorite Humberto Brenes also made the final table searching for his third career bracelet, but couldn’t ride his dwindling chips any further than sixth place. Check out the final table standings below.
1. Francesco Barbaro — $262,283
2. Kostas Kalathakis — $161,675
3. Matt Waxman — $104,770
4. Bradley Helm — $76,673
5. Michael Deveronica — $56,943
6. Humberto Brenes — $42,857
7. Cameron McKinley — $32,654
8. Vladimir Shchemelev — $25,174
9. Travis Pearson — $19,617
Here’s a look at how the final table played out according to Card Player’s live updates.
Travis Pearson Eliminated in 9th Place ($19,617)
Kostas Kalathakis raised before the flop and Travis Pearson called.
The flop came 9
8 7
, Kalathakis bet, Pearson raised and Kalathakis called.
The turn was the 5, Kalathakis checked, Pearson bet and Kalathakis called.
The river was the 10
, Pearson got his last 8,000 in and Kalathakis called.
Kalathakis showed A 2 3 10 for top pair on the river. Pearson mucked a pair of sevens and is eliminated in 9th place ($19,617).
Vladimir Shchemelev Eliminated in 8th Place ($25,174)
Bradley Helm came in for a raise on the button and Vladimir Shchemelev called from the big blind.
The flop came K 7
6, Shchemelev checked, Helm bet, Shchemelev check-raised, and Helm called.
The turn was the 6, Shchemelev bet and Helm called.
The river was the 3, Shchemelev moved all in and Helm called.
Shchemelev showed A K 7 3 for two pair (high) and no low while Helm showed A J 5 4 for a seven-high straight.
Helm scooped the half-million chip pot and Vladimir Shchemelev was eliminated in 8th place ($25,174).
Cameron McKinley Eliminated in 7th Place ($32,654)
On a flop of J 5 2, Cameron McKinley bet, Bradley Helm raised, McKinley four-bet and Helm called.
The turn was the 5, McKinley bet, Helm raised, McKinley three-bet all in and Helm called.
McKinley showed A A 7 2 for two pair and the nut flush draw while Helm showed A 4 2 for a full house.
The river was the 8 and Cameron McKinley was eliminated in 7th place ($32,654).
Humberto Brenes Eliminated in 6th Place ($42,857)
Humberto Brenes raised from the button and Kostas Kalathakis called from the big blind.
The flop came A J 10 , Brenes moved all in and Kalathakis called.
Brenes showed A Q 8 4 for top pair while Kalathakis showed K Q J 3 for the nut straight.
The turn and river were the 9 and the 8 and Humberto Brenes was eliminated in 6th place ($42,857).
Michael Deveronica Eliminated in 5th Place ($56,943)
A severely short-stacked Michael Deveronica raised from under the gun and Matthew Waxman called from the small blind.
The flop came A K 6, and Deveronica got his last 10,000 in.
Deveronica showed Q 10 9 9 while Waxman showed Q J 3 2.
The turn and river were the A and the Q, giving Waxman two pair. Michael Deveronica is eliminated in 5th place ($56,943).
Bradley Helm Eliminated in 4th Place ($76,673)
Bradley Helm came in for a raise on the button and Francesco Barbaro was the only caller.
The flop came Q 8 2, Helm moved all in for 65,000 and Barbaro called.
Helm showed K K 9 7 for an overpair of kings while Barbaro showed Q 7 6 3 for top pair.
The turn was the 7, giving Barbaro two pair and the river was the 6, no help to Bradley Helm who was eliminated in 4th place ($76,673).
Matthew Waxman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($104,770)
Francesco Barbaro raised from the button, Matthew Waxman three-bet from the big blind and Barbaro called.
The flop came 10 9 8, Waxman bet, Barbaro raised and Waxman called.
The turn was the Q, Waxman checkefd, Barbaro bet and Waxman called.
The river was the K, Waxman checked, Barbaro bet enough to put Waxman all in and Waxman called. Waxman showed A K 2 10 for two pair while Barbaro showed A J 10 7 for the ace-high straight on the river. Mathew Waxman is eliminated in 3rd place ($104,770).
Francesco Barbaro Wins Event No. 3 ($262,283)
Kostas Kalathakis Eliminated in 2nd Place ($161,675)
Francesco Barbaro entered heads-up play with a chip lead of over 4,000,000 to 150,000 after eliminating Matthew Waxman in 3rd place.
On the second hand of heads-up play, Kostas Kalathakis opened for a raise and Francesco Barbaro reraised enough to put him all in. Kalathakis called all in and showed A Q 10 6 while Barbaro showed 9 5 5 4.
The board came 7 6 4 7 Q, giving Kalathakis top two pair. Kalathakis doubled up this hand.
Not long after doubling up, Kalathakis got it all in before the flop with J 9 8 7 against Barbaro’s Q Q 3 3.
The board came K 10 9 5 K, giving Barbaro the best two pair. Kostas Kalathakis is eliminated in 2nd place ($161,675) while Francesco Barbaro wins the gold bracelet in Event #3 ($262,283).
