Event #5: £10,350 WSOPE Championship No-Limit Hold'em
Day 5 Completed
World Series of Poker Europe 2010
Event #5: £10,350 WSOPE Championship No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 5
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
World Series of Poker Europe 2010
Buy-in
£10,000
Entries
346
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000
![[user4144]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
346 players started this year's WSOPE Main Event, but when the smoke cleared and the dust settled, it was little known James Bord of England who rose above one of the calendar's best pound-for-pound fields to be crowned the Champion.
Some of the world's greatest poker players entered the event such as Tom 'durrrr' Dwan, Patrik Antonius, JC Tran, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, complete with a double-decker bus and 11 Lady Gagas. As the tournament progressed, all eyes fixed themselves on Viktor Blom and Phil Ivey, the two high rollers sending forums into a wild frenzy as they seemed destined for the final table. But as they fell just inches short, Victory Poker CEO Dan Felyshman flourished to take a chip lead into a tough final that included French pro Nicolas Levi and triple crown winner Roland De Wolfe.
Starting the final fifth in chips, Bord was perhaps overlooked as a potential winner, but he had one weapon that no other player could boast: the support of the rail. Heavily cheered throughout, Bord climbed the ladder rung by rung, surviving any all-in showdown he was involved in and battling his way to a heads-up encounter with Fabrizio Baldassari.
Despite his Italian foe boasting a comfortable chip lead, there was something in the air at the Empire, and it just felt as though there was only going to be one winner. On this night, that man was Bord, who after doubling through with Big Slick, finally sealed the deal with tens holding against pocket fives.
The rail exploded like Mount Vesuvius and after the bedlam ceased, a victorious Bord collected his bracelet and officially became the 2010 WSOPE Champion. In conclusion, Bord beamed with pride: "I've got all the boys to say thank you to, you are unbelievable. And I'd like to say a big thank you to Sam Trickett. It's just such a relief to get one!"
Obsrestad, Juanda, Shulman - it's a hellava list to be part of, but Bord's name is now etched into the record books.
Hand #231: Walk for Baldassari, no fuss.
Hand #232: Baldassari on the button now, raised to 225, instantly reraised to a big tower of 25k chips, which turns out to be 855k total. Baldassari assessed his stack, pulling forward lots of towers - 2 mil the bet now. "All in," announced Bord. Call.
Baldassari: 
Bord: 
.
Flop: 
Turn: 
("ONE TIME!" predictably rings out)
River: 
Bord bounced up and down like someone put springs in his trainers, the rail actually collapsed, the hands were in the air like they just didn't care. Baldassari walked slowly to where his fans waited, happy and sad at the same time, and it looked like a riot might be about to kick off! Half a million pounds for second place, a really hard fought heads up to be proud of, and Baldassari will surely be seen again at the live felt soon...
Hand #226: James Bord received a walk.
Hand #227: Bord raised to 180,000, only for Fabrizio Baldassari to three-bet. Before the chips had been counted, Bord's cards were in the muck.
Hand #228: Baldassari raised it up and Bord immediately released his hand.
Hand #229: The button was on Bord who bumped it up to 215,000. Baldassari seem to be considering a raise, but just flat called. The flop rolled out 
. Both players checked to an 
turn, and then a 
river, which triggered a bet of 225,000 from the Italian. Bord called with 
, which was more than enough to scoop.
Hand #230: Baldassari raised to 200,000 and Bord flat called.
Flop: 
Bord check allowing Baldassari to take it down with a continuation bet.
Hand #221: The rail are actually shouting themselves hoarse. A couple of their voices are sounding strained and wispy but they're still giving it a chant. Although god only knows what "Walking in a Bordy Wonderland!" means.
Limp on the button from James Bord, and Baldassari checked.
Flop: 
. Baldassari bet out 125k and Bord called.
Turn: 
. Again Baldassari led for 325k, and Bord called.
River: 
. One more street, one more bet from Baldassari - this time 630k. Bord thought for a while but eventually tapped the table and passed.
Hand #222: Limp-check preflop, and they saw 
. First to act Bord checked, and Baldassari bet 200k which won him the pot immediately.
Hand #223: Walk for Baldassari. Warning that the rail should, "Have fun respectfully."
Hand #224: 200k on the button is enough to make Bord fold his big blind immediately.
Hand #225: Bord limped the button and got to a 
flop with no raise. Baldassari checked, and Bord bet 125k; Baldassari called. Both players checked the 
turn, and Baldassari bet the 
river to the tune of 350k. Call.
for two pair was turned over by Baldassari to take down a medium-sized pot while a Jack made its way into the muck from Bord's losing hand.
Hand #219: James Bord was still stacking his chips when the next hand was dealt, but he found space to limp his small blind. A wounded Fabrizio Baldassari meant business though; he increased the price of poker from the big blind to pick up the pot.
Hand #220: Baldassari continued his aggressive streak with a raise to 200,000 from the button. With chips to play with, Bord made the call and we saw a flop. Bord took control of the pot with a bet of 225,000, but Baldassari was in no mood to lay down. He flat called.
On the 
turn, Bord decided to check, which provoked a bet of 500,000 from Baldassari. Bord instantly waved his hand forward to signify an all-in and returned to his stoic posture.
The Italian sat back in his chair with his arms folded before rubbing his chin pensively. He seemed tortured by the decision and it was obvious he was in somewhat of a quandary. After sizing up his options and offering his foe a piercing stare, he took one last look at his cards (nope, they hadn't changed) and flicked them into the muck.
Cue the local choir:
"Theeeeeeeere's only ooooooooone James Bordy... We're walking along, and singing a song, walking in a Bordy Wonderland!"
Hand #216: Fabrizio Baldassari raised from the button to 215,000. James Bord quickly reraised to 630,000 from the big blind. Baldassari reached for chips, but then paused and took his hand away before thinking for a minute. He then reached back and slid out a big reraise to 2.215 million. Bord folded and Baldassari flashed his cards back at the hole card camera and then slid them face down into the middle, scooping the pot right after.
Hand #217: Baldassari got a walk in the big blind from Bord.
Hand #218: Baldassari limped in from the button before Bord raised from the big blind to 330,000. Baldassari looked at the dealer and then announce, "I'm all in," motioning with his hands. Bord snapped him off.
Bord:
Baldassari:
Despite having the worst of it right now, Baldassari was plenty live going to the flop. There was a long pause and then the dealer was allowed to go ahead. The flop came down 
, keeping Bord ahead, but giving the Italian a gutshot to go along with his live cards.
The turn brought the and didn't do much. It did allow for a chop if a deuce fell off. The river then completed the board with the 
and Bord's hand held. He doubled up to 6.41 million and is now in the lead.
Hand #210: Baldassari on the button gave Bord a rare walk.
Hand #211: Bord responded by raising his button to 250k. Baldassari let his big blind go too.
Hand #212: No two walks in a row; Baldassari raised to 240k and picked up a Bord blind in return.
Hand #213: Bord's button - he raised to 225k. Baldassari reraised to 755k. A headshake later and Bord's raise was forfeited as he threw his hand away.
Hand #214: Baldassari made up the 80k on the button; check. 
the flop, which both of them checked. On the turn Bord bet out 115k and got a call. The river was the . Check-check: 
lost to 
[4] as it turned out, the King high in Baldassari's hand winning this modest pot.
Hand #215: Bord raised to 160k on the button, which took another small pot.