World Series of Poker Live Blog: Duhamel takes world championship bracelet

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 | 7:45 p.m.

Updated Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 | 10:10 p.m.

Duhamel is the champion

Jonathan Duhamel became the first Canadian and the first French-speaking champion in the history of the World Series of Poker Monday night at the Penn & Teller Theater in the Rio.

Down to 15 million chips, runner-up John Racener looked down at King of diamonds, eight of diamonds and called Duhamel's all-in for his championship life. Duhamel had Ace of spades, Jack of hearts and was slightly ahead.

The board ran out 4-4-9-6-5 with only one diamond and Duhamel's friends, most of whom are decked out in Montreal Canadiens jerseys, picked him up in celebration. Duhamel wins $8.94 million and the prestigious World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet.

Racener finishes in second despite putting up a heads-up fight that lasted 43 hands. Racener simply did not have enough chips to work with. He goes home to Port Richey, Fla., with $5.5 million.

Photo opportunities have started now, with Duhamel smiling wide and gripping some of the money he just won. Racener is speaking with his cheering section and gave the new champion a congratulatory handshake.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for a full story and photos.

Duhamel playing aggressive

If John Racener goes out, he wants to do it on his on terms.

That's become apparent since play resumed after a break. In three of the first four hands back, Jonathan Duhamel has announced all-in to put John Racener to a decision for all his chips.

Every time, Racener has folded. He's down to about 15 million chips and entering desperate territory. He's most likely waiting for a serviceable hand, but at some point he's going to have to gamble.

Action should come soon.

Action should come soon.

Racener standing strong

John Racener has not changed his patient, tight style for the heads-up portion of the Main Event.

After playing nearly 30 hands heads-up with Jonathan Duhamel, the chip counts have barely shifted. Racener is at 31 million, one million more than he started the session with, and Duhamel is at 188 million.

Racener has shoved all-in four times and only received one call. He doubled up with pocket Queens, in the hand described below, but Duhamel folded each of the other three times. Duhamel has pushed the action twice and gone all-in. Both were met with momentary pause by Racener and an eventual fold.

The blinds are currently at 800,000-1,600,000, meaning Racener has less than 20 big blinds. With that stack, look for another all-in soon.

Racener finds pocket Queens at right time

John Racener is back in contention now.

A hand after falling to a 10-1 chip disadvantage, Racener doubled up through Duhamel to get about 36 million in chips. Duhamel, who had more than 200 million chips, raised all-in on the button with King-4. Racener immediately called off his last 18 million chips with pocket Queens.

The board of 8-6-Jack-2-7 didn't change anything. Racener still has a long way to go with only six million more than he started the night with. But his cheering section has chanted "double-up" all night and they got their wish.

His prospects looked considerably dimmer the hand before. Racener slid out a river raise that Duhamel quickly called. Duhamel showed two pair, Jacks and 4s, on a board with a spade flush draw and straight possibilities. Racener mucked his hand, conceding the 20 million chip pot.

Racener is up to 36 million, while Duhamel is still sitting with a huge advantage at 182 million.

Duhamel: 3, Racener: 2

Jonathan Duhamel has slightly increased his chip advantage through five hands.

He has taken three of the first five pots uncontested. Racener took the other two, once raising all-in and once betting after a flop of Ace-Ace-8. Duhamel folded both times.

Despite the slow start, Racener's approach still has to be getting his chips in as soon as a favorable situation presents itself. He does not have the wiggle room to do anything else.

Players have taken their seats

After a slight delay at the Penn & Teller Theater, both Jonathan Duhamel and John Racener are at the table and ready to begin heads-up play for the Main Event bracelet.

Tournament director Jack Effel just introduced both of them to loud applause. The dealer is shuffling and the first hand is minutes away.

The Poker Hall of Fame induction of Dan Harrington and Erik Seidel lasted a little longer than anticipated. World Series of Poker Media Director and poker author Nolan Dalla introduced Harrington, while poker legend Doyle Brunson did the honors for Seidel.

Both Duhamel and Racener opted to pay their respects and watch the ceremony instead of mentally preparing for the biggest poker session of their lives.

Pregame

Jonathan Duhamel will become the next world champion of poker tonight at the Penn & Teller Theater in the Rio.

With a 150 million chip lead over heads-up challenger John Racener, the result seems inevitable. That can be dangerous in poker.

If anything was learned during Saturday’s final table session, it’s that nothing is guaranteed in no-limit hold’em. Reporters were already typing stories about Duhamel meeting Joseph Cheong in heads-up play Sunday morning.

It looked like a foregone conclusion, as both had more than 90 million chips to Racener’s 25 million. But Cheong failed to pull off the bluff of the decade and went home in third to catapult Racener into Monday’s match.

Now Racener wants to know why he can’t defy the odds again. The 24-year old from Tampa, Fla., believes he can give Duhamel a game if he doubles up once or twice at the beginning.

To his credit, the 22-year old Duhamel is saying all the right things. The Montreal native says he still has his hands full with Racener and downplays his major chip advantage.

But Duhamel is not hiding his excitement. With $8.9 million so close, it’s hard to. Just like Racener, it’s Duhamel’s dream to win the most prestigious tournament in poker.

Play is scheduled to begin in about a half-hour at 8:00 after the annual Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This year, two-time bracelet winner Dan Harrington and eight-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel will be honored.

Harrington famously won the Main Event in 1995 and also made the final table in 1987, 2004 and 2005. Seidel has the second most World Series of Poker championships, behind only Phil Hellmuth’s 11, and finished second to Johnny Chan in the 1988 Main Event.

Either Duhamel or Racener will join their elite company as poker legends tonight. Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com. We’ll keep you updated until the minute the winner hoists the bracelet.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.