Jumalon Leads Saaskilahti Heads-Up as WSOP Main Event Reaches Heads-Up Battle

A thrilling day’s action in the WSOP Main Event on Day 10 of the Championship and day two of three of the final table saw five players busted in quick succession. The overnight chip leader Lucas Jumalon stayed in the lead throughout, but behind him an intense day of pressure, fortune and gutsy poker saw five players out of the reckoning. In the end, just two players remain in the hunt for $10,000,000 and poker immortality in Las Vegas.

‘Mamba Mentality’

“If I’m going down, I’d like to go down wearing this.”

It wasn’t too long before there was a bust-out and when it came, it was the last cash game specialist who bit the dust. Jamie Shaevel had enjoyed a great run in the world’s biggest poker event but lost with king-six to Jumalon’s king-ten, earning $1.5m in the process.

“I’m definitely very emotional,” Shaevel told Jeff Platt on ESPN. “I’m sad right now, but also it won’t take long for me to appreciate everything that’s happened. It’s been beyond a dream come true. The sheer number of people who’ve flown from all four corners of the country, called, texted, whatever. Every possible method of telling me they’re watching and rooting for me. I’m touched.”

Going almost all the way and wearing Kobe Bryant’s famous L.A. Lakers ‘8’ shirt, Shaevel credited the late NBA legend’s ‘Mamba Mentality’ for getting him so far.

“Growing up and watching Kobe and embracing and appreciating ‘Mamba Mentality’ shaped who I am,” he said. “The jersey I wore was given out at the memorial game after Kobe passed. It’s very special to me, so I thought if I’m going down, I’d like to go down wearing this.”

After Shaevel’s exit, Rami Hammoud departed, the Canadian’s final table going against him. Starting second in chips, his departure in sixth represented a disappointing finish for the Canadian, who was all-in with queen-jack on a flop of 8-6-2 and was called by Jumalon with just ace-five. The board ran dry for the chip leader’s hand to hold, while Hammoud, who won $1.75 million, was left to reflect on a brilliant run to the final table that perhaps was then tempered by a lack of experience.

“[I’m] grateful, a lot of gratitude – what an experience to share this with all my friends and family,” he said. “This will change my life. Imposter syndrome is a big thing for me, [so] to be able to see myself compete at the highest level under the pressure? This is massive for me… and the money’s pretty nice too, man!”

Feng’s Number is Up

“Do you want me to call?”

With five players left, a spectacular hand left just four in the hunt. Han Feng has been one of the best characters at the final table this year and his exit kept with the themes of flamboyance and flair that he has maintained throughout his WSOP journey. Making it 6 million to go pre-flop, Feng saw the Finnish player Lauri Saaskilahti raise it to 50 million.

“Let’s gamble.” The Finnish player said.

Greg Mueller went into the tank with pocket jacks.

“Do you want me to call?” he asked Saaskilahti, before being reprimanded by the dealer for talking during a three-way hand.

Taking off his hat and shades, Mueller was clearly vexed, but eventually folded his ‘fishhooks’, before Feng called for his stack with pocket aces.

Saaskilahti turned over pocket nines. A flop of T-8-3 in diamonds – one of Feng’s suits – looked to have sealed the double-up. But an offsuit jack on the turn didn’t lock up the flush and gave Saaskilahti an open-ended straight draw. It would have given Mueller top set but the Canadian dodged the danger by folding, as a queen on the river gave Saaskilahti and sent a shell-shocked Feng out in fifth place for $2.25 million. On comms, the celebrated duo of Nick Schulman and Ali Nejad called the exit “brutal” and “barbaric” respectively.

“It’s fine, man, it happens. I’m all good,” said a crestfallen Feng as Jeff Platt on ESPN asked the American where he would head next. “[EPT] Barcelona,” he said. “It was already booked.”

Gags and Bags

“There are a lot of lights and cameras and everyone’s really emotional.”

With four players left, the most experienced player at the felt was bad beat from his chance at glory. Michael ‘Gags’ Gagliano was all-in with the best of it, holding king-queen to Jumalon’s king-jack but a jack on the turn changed everything and after a brick on the river, a gutted Gags headed to the rail.

“Obviously, I wish I did a little bit more, but you do what you can with what you’re dealt,” he said. “I don’t think I would have changed any decision at this final table. I was happy with how I played. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”

Asked by Jeff Platt about the longevity of his career, the modest American was happy to delve into his durability.

“It’s taken me a while to get there in poker,” he admitted. “When I’m at the table, I’m just trying to make the best decision in that moment, in that spot, with the hands I’ve been dealt and the action that’s happening. When I focus on that, I have my best results. There are a lot of lights and cameras and everyone’s really emotional, so I [did] my best to keep it level-headed, and I think I did a good job.”

Down to three players, Mueller had laddered all the way from seventh of the seven players remaining to the podium places. But even as Gagliano went to collect his $2.75 million, Mueller looked under pressure and eventually, it told. On a board of A-A-4-J-3, Saaskilahti overbet for all of Mueller’s stack and the Canadian couldn’t resist the call with ten-four. Unfortunately, it was ‘ten-four’ for his hopes in the Main Event, with Saaskilahti holding pocket kings to send Mueller home with $3.75m in third place.

With that hand, the Finnish player’s stack was boosted to 225 million chips. Still behind Jumalon’s stack of 328 million, the American has an advantage, but Saaskilahti is right behind him now and with all the momentum. Asked at the close of play how good his heads-up game was, the chip leader Jumalon was cryptic in his answer.

“You guys are just gonna have to stay tuned and find out.”

In 24 hours, the world will… and poker will have a new world champion.