The 2011 World Series of Poker awarded its third bracelet on Friday when Dan Idema captured the gold in Event No. 27 ($10,000 limit hold’em championship). The tournament attracted a talented field of 152 players and at the end of play Idema took home his first gold bracelet and $378,642. Idema came quite close to achieving this same goal in 2010 when he made a run all the way to second place before busting out of the $10,000 limit hold’em event.
“I felt very fortunate to get there last year and this year, as well. Last year, I got very unlucky when we got heads-up. Mind you, I ran very well to get heads-up. I would say it is a surreal experience. It really hasn’t all sunk in yet,” said Idema after the victory. He also had this to say about the high quality of opponents he faced in the tournament, “There were a lot of big-name pros. It was a bit intimidating in such a field on the last day. I was very happy and fortunate to be here.”
Idema defeated Matthew Gallin heads-up for the title and the final table included multiple-bracelet winner Barry Greenstein, Justin Smith, Isaac Haxton, and Nick Schulman.
Here is a look at the elimination hands as featured on CardPlayer.com’s summary reports:
Nick Schulman Eliminated in 9th Place ($35,519)
Nick Schulman started the official nine-handed final table on the short stack and was the first one eliminated. He opened for a raise before the flop, Steve Landfish reraised from the button, Barry Greenstein called three-bets from the big blind and Schulman called the raise.
The flop came 8
7
4, Greenstein bet, Schulman raised, Landfish folded, Greenstein three-bet, Schulman raised all in and Greenstein called.
Schulman showed 9
9
for an overpair while Greenstein showed 7 7 for middle set.
The turn and river were the 4 and the 8, giving Greenstein a full house on the turn. Greenstein raked the pot and moved up to over 500,000 this hand while Nick Schulman was eliminated in 9th place ($35,519).
Richard Brodie Eliminated in 8th Place ($44,207)
Still short after his previous double up with Isaac Haxton, Richard Brodie was all in pre-flop with Q 4 against Barry Greenstein’s A 8.
The board came 9 3 2 10 8, giving Greenstein middle pair on the river. Greenstein moved up to 700,000 this hand while Richard Brodie was eliminated in 8th place ($44,207).
Isaac Haxton Eliminated in 7th Place ($55,908)
Isaac Haxton started the level as one of the short stacks but managed to double through Barry Greenstein about halfway through the level to stay alive. Still short, he opened for a raise before the flop when Steve Landfish reraised and Haxton called all in.
Haxton turned over 10 10 for the lead while Landfish showed A J for the draw.
The board came Q 7 2 7 K, giving Landfish a flush on the turn. Landfish moved up to over 800,000 that hand while Isaac Haxton was eliminated in 7th place ($55,908).
Justin Smith Eliminated in 6th Place ($71,897)
Justin Smith lost a lot of his chips to Barry Greenstein early in the level after Greenstein doubled through by hitting a flush on the turn. The two players essentially traded stacks that hand; Greenstein up to 300,000 and Smith left on the short stack with 120,000.
Shortly after, Smith open-shoved the small blind and Barry Greenstein called from the big blind.
Greenstein lead with A J against Smith’s 8 5.
The board came 10 7 4 10 7, no help to either player as Justin Smith was eliminated in 6th place ($71,897).
Domenico Denotaristefani Eliminated in 5th Place ($94,029)
Domenico Denotaristefani button-raised, Steve Landfish reraised the small blind and Denotaristefani called.
The flop came 7 5 4, Landfish bet, Denotaristefani raised, Landfish three-bet and Denotaristefani called all in.
Landfish turned over 9 9 for an overpair while Denotaristefani showed 4 4 for bottom set.
Landfish was ahead before the flop but Denotaristefani spiked a four for a set. Landfish however hit the 9 on the river to make a better set and Domenico Denotaristefani was eliminated in 5th place ($94,029).
Steve Landfish Eliminated in 4th Place ($125,120)
Steve Landfish was all in before the flop with A Q against Matthew Gallin’s A A.
The board came 9 7 4 5 5, no help for Steve Landfish who was eliminated in 4th place ($125,120).
Barry Greenstein Eliminated in 3rd Place ($169,512)
Barry Greenstein was on the serious short stack with just 3.5 BBs when he got it all in on a flop of 4 4 3 against Matthew Gallin.
Greenstein was ahead with Q 10 against Gallin’s 10 5.
The turn and river were the A and the 5, giving Gallin two pair on the river. Barry Greenstein was eliminated in 3rd place ($169,512).
Matthew Gallin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($233,944)
Daniel Idema started the final level as the chip leader and less than an hour later he was the last one standing. After taking a major hit to his stack in the previous hand, Matthew Gallin made his final stand with Q Q.
Matthew Gallin button-raised before the flop and Daniel Idema called from the big blind.
The flop came J 7 3, Idema checked, Gallin bet, Idema check-raised and Gallin called all in.
Idema turned over J 3 for two pair on the flop and was now ahead of Gallin’s queens. The turn and river were the 8 and the 5, no help to Matthew Gallin who was eliminated in 2nd place ($233,944). Daniel Idema wins the gold Bracelet for Event #27 and the $378,642 grand prize.
