Americans Win 2011 Caesars Cup

Thursday, October 20, 2011 : AMERICANS VICTORIOUS IN 2011 CAESARS CUP
 
Phil Hellmuth leads a triumphant US team
 
Two 5-player teams representing Europe and America competed in the 2011 Caesars Cup international competition this week, with the Americans, captained by Phil Hellmuth, emerging triumphant.
 
In the second edition of the event (the first was won by the Europeans) internet and live tourney poker ace Bertrand Grospellier selected and captained a European team that comprised Tony G, Jake Cody, Gus Hansen and Max Lykov, whilst Hellmuth's aces consisted of Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu, Jason Mercier and Ben Lamb.
 
The contestants played to three competitive formats. In the first, two players from each team played against each other using similar chip stacks and hands but with alternating players on each street of action, and blinds going up every 10 minutes. The USA's Mercier and Lamb buttoned that one up.
 
The second phase saw another two players from each team face off with the same chip stacks, but alernate hands, and this section was won by the Europeans.
 
The third and final phase was a heads up format in which Chan faced Grospellier, with the US team member victorious.
 
Hellmuth and Lykov then played heads up, with the American taking the honours, giving Team USA the overall best results and the cup.