In a H.O.R.S.E. tournament, especially in one with a high buy-in, you can pretty much count on the final table being extremely tough. The 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #32: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. did not disappoint. The participants in Monday’s final table owned 25 gold bracelets, making it the second-most gold laden final table in WSOP history behind the 2006 $50,000 Poker Players Championship. Winning the whole enchilada was David “Bakes” Baker, now the proud owner of two bracelets and a crisp check for $451,779.
Let’s take a look at the final table lineup. On top to start with 931,000 was John Monnette, who already had one WSOP victory credit to his name in 2012 to go along with one from last year. Then there was the silent assassin, Phil Ivey, an 8-time bracelet winner in already his fourth final table of this Series. In fourth was Phil Hellmuth, who had just won his record 12th WSOP bracelet. One-time bracelet winner Abe Mosseri was in sixth place, followed by Matt Waxman, a World Poker Tour champ. Bringing up the rear was Dan Kelly, who won the $25,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em event back in 2010. For his part, Baker was in the third spot with 842,000 chips.
It took Baker quite a while to get things going and he almost didn’t have the chance, seeing his stack fall to almost 300,000 chips. But finally, about three hours into final table play, he started his ascent. At the close of a Stud 8 level, he doubled through Ivey to climb back up to 620,000 and send the 8-time bracelet winner down to 210,000. By the dinner break, Baker had the second most chips out of the five players remaining. His 1.305 million chip stack was larger than that of Paul Sokoloff, Hellmuth, and Ivey, and 700,000 smaller than Monnette’s.
Less than an hour after dinner, Baker crippled Hellmuth in a Hold’em round. Baker raised pre-flop and Hellmuth defended his big blind. Baker bet the A♦-7♣-8♥ flop and Hellmuth called. They checked the T♠ turn and Hellmuth once again called a bet by Baker after the river Q♦ was dealt. Baker showed Q♣-4♠. Hellmuth was none too pleased to see that, as he had called with K♠-4♥. Hellmuth was down to 195,000 after that, while Baker soared to 1.9 million. Hellmuth was eliminated a few minutes later.
Baker kept the run going and entered heads-up play against Monnette facing a 2.95 million to 2.39 million chip deficit. For a while, Baker was dominating the match, taking a 2.5 million chip lead, but Monnette was undeterred, surging back to turn the tables. But as good as it looked for Monnette, his tournament turned upside-down in an instant. Baker regained the lead within minutes and about as quickly took a 4-to-1 lead, all during a Stud round. He ended it in that same round.
Monnette paid the bring in, Baker completed, and Monnette called. Baker led out on fourth street with a hand of x/x/5♣-Q♣ and Monnette called with x/x/2♥-Q♦. On fifth street, Baker received the J♥ and bet, while Monnette got the J♣. Monnette was dealt the A♥ on sixth street and was first to act, checking to Baker, who bet his 9♣. Monnette called and check-called once again when the final face-down cards were dealt. Baker flipped over his hidden cards – J♠-9♠-7♥ – giving him two pair, Jacks and 9’s. Monnette mucked, leaving himself just 150,000 chips.
Monnette was all-in right away on the next hand, so the cards were revealed. Baker had been dealt 7♣-7♠-4♠, looking good for the moment against Monnette’s 6♠-J♠-8♦. Through sixth street, Baker received 6♣-T♠-K♠ and Monnette was dealt 9♣-A♥-K♣. Monnette had plenty of outs to beat Baker’s pair of 7’s, but seventh street was kind to Baker, as it improved his pair to three-of-a-kind. Monnette’s final card will remain a mystery, as he mucked, reluctantly accepting second place. David Baker was the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. champ and almost half a million dollars richer.
2012 WSOP Event #32: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. – Final Table Results
1. David Baker – $451,779
2. John Monnette – $279,206
3. Paul Sokoloff – $183,784
4. Phil Hellmuth – $134,056
5. Phil Ivey – $99,739
6. Abe Mosseri – $75,511
7. Matt Waxman – $58,093
8. Dan Kelly – $45,360
