Team Americas Win Caesars Cup at 2011 WSOP Europe

The Caesars Cup was decided Wednesday at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe when Team Americas defeated Team Europe to bring the cup home to the Americas.

Team Americas Win the 2011 Caesars Cup

Team Americas consisted of team Captain Phil Hellmuth as well as Ben Lamb, Jason Mercier, Johnny Chan, and Daniel Negreanu.  Team Europe was captained by Bertrand Grospellier and included Gus Hansen, Jake Cody, Max Lykov, and Tony G.

The match was a mixed format NL Hold’em series with the winner having to take three matches out of five to win the cup.

The first matchup was a team event with players alternating on each street of betting.  Jason Mercier and Ben Lamb faced Tony G and Jake Cody.  Mercier put his opponents on the ropes early when he shoved with pocket aces against just a flush draw for Jake Cody.  The flush failed to come and Europe was looking to dig out of a big hole.

The match ended a couple of hands later when Team Americas moved in with Qh-9h and they were able to hold against the 10-8 of hearts for Team Europe.

The second matchup was the same format as the first but this time it was Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth facing Max Lykov and Tony G.  Team Europe made short work of the Americas team to square the match up at one a piece.

Match three was a heads-up match between Johnny Chan and Bertrand Grospellier.  The lead went back and forth between these two until the blinds forced the two to gamble.  Chan woke up with pocket fours, a strong heads-up hand and Grospellier called with Ah-6h and two overcards.  Grospellier was unable to pair either of his cards and now the Americas team led 2 matches to 1.

The fourth match was another heads-up match with Phil Hellmuth battling Max Lykov.  Lykov took the lead early but Hellmuth found a doubled up when his K-J sucked out on Lykov’s pocket fives and Hellmuth had almost three fourths of the chips in play.

The two battled for a while more with Lykov rebounding a bit, but Hellmuth ground him back to 44k before the final hand.  In that hand, Lykov shoved with Kc-9s and Hellmuth made the call with Qc-10s.  The flop fell Qs-9s-5d to give both a pair, but the turn and river both fell babies to give the match to Hellmuth and the Caesars Cup to Team Americas.

When the teams were selected, Team Europe looked to have the clear advantage.  However, the experience of Hellmuth and Chan won out in the end and Team Americas now has possession of the Caesars Cup.  The next Caesars Cup event has yet to be announced, but it will be held in Las Vegas and chances are it will be during the 2012 World Series of Poker.

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