Every year the World Series of Poker is filled with great stories, and this year is no different. Already we’ve seen some incredible happenings with the reemergence of Phil Ivey in the WSOP, and Thang Luu pulling off the impossible after winning the exact same event two years in a row.
But there are still plenty of great stories yet to be told as you might expect with numerous events still left in the WSOP. Some of these tales played out over the course of the last week, and you won’t believe the accomplishment Jeffrey Lisandro achieved with his latest victory. To catch you up to speed on everything, here is a rundown of events 31 – 45.
Event # 31: With all of the major pros gearing up for the H.O.R.S.E. championship in Event #49, this H.O.R.S.E. tournament is more of an appetizer for the big one. But James Van Alstyne was more than happy to participate in this appetizer as he defeated Tad Jurgens in heads-up play to claim the $247,033 top prize. Noted pro Shannon Shorr also made a run at the title before busting out in 5th place.
Event # 32: New Mexico City resident Angel Guillen came oh so close to claiming a WSOP gold bracelet in Event #13 before falling to online poker stud Kevin Stammen heads-up. However, Guillen was able to rectify the loss by winning this No Limit Hold’em tournament and the $530,548 that came with it.
Event # 33: All of the best Limit Hold’em player were in on the $10,000 World Championship of Limit Hold’em. Quite a few notable players like Maria Ho, Howard Lederer, Ralph Perry, and Daniel Alaei all had strong finishes, but only Greg Mueller was crowned the champion. For his efforts, Mueller earned $460,841 and his first gold bracelet.
Event # 34: A surprising large amount of players bought into this $1,500 No Limit tournament with 2,095 people participating. When the smoke cleared, Eric Baldwin was the champion and he pocketed $521,991 for winning.
Event # 35: This $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event featured one of the more dramatic hands ever in WSOP history. Cliff Josephy, Richard Austin, and Sorel Mizzi were all deadlocked in a huge hand where the tournament would be decided. Mizzi held a pair of aces while Josephy was looking good with a top set, but it was Austin who tabled a flush and eliminated both players in one hand. Austin earned $409,484 for first place while Mizzi grabbed $253,048 and Josephy took home $166,771 for third place.
Event # 36: No-Limit Hold’em tourneys have been big at the 2009 WSOP and this one was no different since the prize pool jumped to $3,084,900. This was much to the liking of Jordan Smith who pocketed the largest share at $586,212 after taking the gold bracelet.
Event # 37: With another World Championship on the line, the best that poker has to offer came out once again to compete in this $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Low tournament. Doyle Brunson, Scotty Nguyen, and Perry Friedman were just some of the notable players to cash while Jeffrey Lisandro was the winner here and picked up his second gold bracelet of this year’s WSOP.
Event # 38: Marc Naalden left little doubt about who was going to win this $2,000 Limit Hold’em as he led pretty much every step of the way. The final table was almost a forgone conclusion since Naalden closed things out to win his first WSOP bracelet.
Event # 39: Another No Limit Hold’em tournament saw another big prize pool with $3,705,975 on the table this time. 2,715 players battled for their share of the money, but in the end it came down to the always formidable Brandon Cantu and Ray Foley. Foley was the winner in this duel and he pocketed $657,696 for the victory while Cantu settled for $403,951.
Event # 40: The World Championship of Pot-Limit Omaha brought in a star-studded crowd with the likes of Barry Greenstein, Erick Lindgren, Marcus Golser, and Howard Lederer all taking part in this event. The finale came down to Vitaly Lunkin and Matthew Graham who were both looking to add to their current bracelet totals. In the end, Graham pushed his slight chip advantage towards a win as he cashed for $679,402.
Event # 41: This No Limit Hold’em Shootout tournament was headlined early on by Phil Ivey’s attempt for yet another gold bracelet. However, those hopes fizzled out just before the final table where he busted out in 8th place. This was all the better for Peter Traply who picked up the win here and cashed for $348,755.
Event # 42: Layne “Back-to-Back” Flack was the only well known player to make it to the final table in Event #42, but he couldn’t haul in bracelet number 7 after being knocked out coincidentally in 7th place. Sergey Altbregin and Jerrod Ankenman were the sole survivors in the end and played heads-up to determine the winner; Ankenman won and pocketed $241,654 after the victory.
Event # 43: Unfortunately, most of the well known seniors didn’t participate in the Seniors No-Limit Hold’em tournament. But that was Michael Davis’ gain as he took first place, and hauled in $437,358 along with his first gold bracelet.
Event # 44: The top story of this year’s WSOP was played out in Event #44’s Seven Card Razz tournament. Jeffrey Lisandro, looking for his 3rd gold bracelet of the 2009 WSOP, pulled off the unthinkable by winning his third Stud-related event of the year. This has Lisandro poised to win the WSOP Player of the Year award.
Event # 45: John Kabbaj survived a marathon playing session at the final table to emerge victorious in the World Championship of Pot-Limit Hold’em. Kabbaj was well rewarded for his efforts too when he cashed for $633,335 and earned his first gold bracelet. Other notables who cashed in this event were Erik Seidel, Vanessa Rousso, Kevin Stammen, and Simpsons producer Sam Simon.