Give credit to Rodawig who was managed his leading chip stack masterfully from eighteen players seems destined to have a star studded final table. The 26-year-old banker from Virginia is a Stud Hi-Lo specialist who has coached numerous players before taking down his first WSOP bracelet and the $42,183 first place prize.
For Hellmuth, he once again got agonizingly close in non NLHE games where he has never one a bracelet. He kept his emotions in check, but with a 3-1 deficit heads-up, he wasn't able to overcome the deficit. He was gracious in defeat, crediting Rodawig for playing very well.
On the final hand Hellmuth held Jc Tc 9h against Rodawig’s Ah 8d 3c. Rodawig’s final board read Ah 8d/3c 2s 2c 3d/ Kd and Hellmuth had picked up Jc Tc/9h 5c 4h 7s. Hellmuth squeezed out 7th street but found the Jh to end his hopes of capturing a 12th Bracelet.
Another impressive showing came from Ali Eslami, who made his third final table of the 2011 WSOP.
1. Eric Rodawig - $442,183
2. Phil Hellmuth - $273,233
3. John Racener - $171,122
4. Ted Forrest - $123,904
5. David Benyamine - $96,836
6. Mikhail Savinov - $77,222
7. Joe Tehan - $62,710
8. Ali Eslami - $51,750
