Bryce Yockey mini-raised to 80,000 from the button, and both David Bach and Nick Binger called from their respective blinds. There was 240,000 in the middle, and off they went.
Three-handed, the flop came , and action checked to the raiser. Yockey continued out with another 190,000 chips, and Bach check-raised the pot. Binger folded, but Yockey couldn't wait to get his chips into the pot. He sloppily shoved them all in, tipping forward a technicolor pile of chips as he simultaneously turned up his cards.
Showdown
Yockey:
Bach:
Bach had flopped bottom two pair, and he needed to fade the last two cards to earn the knockout. The on the turn further improved him to a flush, and it would prove to be a crucial card in the end. The river gave Yockey trips, but his hand was still second-best. The diamonds play for Bach, and he scoops the pot to earn the knockout. It's Yockey who falls out in third place, good for a symmetrical payout of $180,180.
The two men have stepped away from the table to talk a little business, and that's pretty normal.
But there's something a bit abnormal going on, too. The rail has just been completely cleared of spectators as the Main Event finishes bagging up on the other side of the room. There's practically nobody left in here. The two men are talking numbers right now on one side of the stage, and other than that, the room is completely vacant apart from a few members of the floor staff and one dealer at each table. Oh, and us.
After the elimination of Bryce Yockey in third place, we overheard a comment on the rail. It was Michael Binger offering some words of encouragement to his brother: "You've now gone further than any Binger," he said. It's odd timing, too. We were just thinking about the 2008 event in which Nick Binger spoiled a massive chip lead to finish in third place, and he's now bested that previous-best finish by one.
The two men are back in their chairs, and the duel for the bracelet has begun. It's Binger looking for the family's first, while Bach seeks his second bracelet in three years.
Nick Binger limped on the button only to have David Bach exercise his option in the big by making it 120,000. Binger call and the duo watched the flop come down . Bach fired out 225,000, Binger called, and the dealer turned the .
Bach wasted little time in betting 910,000, and Binger threw down his hand. First hand to Bach.
David Bach opened to 120,000 from the button, and Nick Binger three-bet to 360,000. Bach wasted no time calling.
The board ran out , and the two men checked it all the way down to the end. At showdown, Binger tabled , making hands on both ends. Bach spent a long fifteen or twenty seconds studying his hand, then said, "That's good," and slapped his cards into the muck.
After two hands of heads-up play, Binger has netted +15,000 chips.
David Bach raised to 120,000 on the button and Nick Binger called from the big blind. Both players checked the , leading to the turn. Binger pushed out a bet of 150,000, Bach raised to 700,000, and Binger laid his hand down.
Nick Binger opened to 120,000 from the button, and David Bach made the call to see a flop.
It came , and Bach check-called a bet of 150,000. The two of them checked through the river, and the filled out the board. Bach checked one last time, and Binger took his cue to bet 325,000 at the pot. That got the job done as Bach's cards hit the muck without delay.
David Bach raised to 120,000 on the button only to have Nick Binger repot to 360,000 from the big blind. Bach made the call and the was put out on the flop. Binger checked, Bach bet 720,000, and Binger tank folded.
, and action checked to the raiser. Yockey continued out with another 190,000 chips, and Bach check-raised the pot. Binger folded, but Yockey couldn't wait to get his chips into the pot. He sloppily shoved them all in, tipping forward a technicolor pile of chips as he simultaneously turned up his cards.
on the turn further improved him to a flush, and it would prove to be a crucial card in the end. The river 
gave Yockey trips, but his hand was still second-best. The diamonds play for Bach, and he scoops the pot to earn the knockout. It's Yockey who falls out in third place, good for a symmetrical payout of $180,180.
. Bach fired out 225,000, Binger called, and the dealer turned the 
.
, and the two men checked it all the way down to the end. At showdown, Binger tabled 
, making hands on both ends. Bach spent a long fifteen or twenty seconds studying his hand, then said, "That's good," and slapped his cards into the muck.
, leading to the 
, and Bach check-called a bet of 150,000. The two of them checked through the 
filled out the board. Bach checked one last time, and Binger took his cue to bet 325,000 at the pot. That got the job done as Bach's cards hit the muck without delay.
was put out on the flop. Binger checked, Bach bet 720,000, and Binger tank folded.