Jesse Sylvia had the button, and there was a dead small blind. Greg Merson opened to one million from the cutoff seat, Sylvia three-bet to 2.6 million, the blinds released, and Merson called.
The flop came , and both players checked. The turn was a third king - the - and Sylvia checked again. Merson fired 2.5 million, and Sylvia called.
The completed the board, and both players checked again. Merson tabled for nut-no-boat, and won the pot.
Russell Thomas started the hand with the button. He opened to one million, and Jeremy Ausmus defended his big blind. The dealer fanned , Ausmus checked, and Thomas continued for 1.1 million. Ausmus released, and Thomas took down the pot.
Jake Balsiger had the button. Action folded to Jeremy Ausmus in the small blind, and he raised to 1.25 million. Greg Merson called in the big blind, and the dealer ran out the flop.
On the flop, Ausmus fired 1.3 million, and Merson made the call to see the land on the turn. Ausmus fired 2.7 million. Merson folded, and Ausmus won the pot.
If Greg Merson wins the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event, then he will also win the 2012 Player of the Year race. Phil Hellmuth, who currently sits in first place in the points standings, finished runner-up last year to Ben Lamb and in 2006 to Jeff Madsen, and is fervently anti-sweating Merson:
, and both players checked. The turn was a third king - the 
- and Sylvia checked again. Merson fired 2.5 million, and Sylvia called.
completed the board, and both players checked again. Merson tabled 
for nut-no-boat, and won the pot.
, Ausmus checked, and Thomas continued for 1.1 million. Ausmus released, and Thomas took down the pot.
flop.
land on the turn. Ausmus fired 2.7 million. Merson folded, and Ausmus won the pot.
