2009 WSOP Events #37-#44: Wrap-Up Reports

by Bodog Poker | Jun 26 2009

The Seven-Card Stud $10K Championships had a final table that featured poker legend Doyle Brunson trying to win his 11th WSOP bracelet. But faith would not smile on Doyle, and instead the tournament was won by seven-stud expert Jeffery Lisandro. Lisandro pocketed $431K for the win, which was his third WSOP bracelet. All his bracelets have come in the seven-stud variation. Second place went to Farzad Rouhani, who just missed winning his second bracelet in as many years. He took home a runner-up check of $266K.

Event #38 Limit Holdem $2K was won by Antwerp, Belgium native Marc Naalden. He was able to beat a field of 446 players to win his first WSOP bracelet. It was worth $190K to him, but more importantly he took home the hardware. Steve Cowley couldn't beat Naalden in the heads-up match and had to settle for second-place money of $117K. Ian Tohms just missed winning his second Limit holdem WSOP bracelet, going out in third place for $77K.

The small buy-in no limit holdem events continue to draw huge playing fields, and the $1500 No Limit holdem Event #39 was no exception. Over 2700 players played for a prize pool worth over $3.7 million, with first place getting $657K. That cash went to Ray Foley, who had his biggest WSOP cash to date and first WSOP bracelet. He beat out Brandon Cantu, who was chasing his second WSOP bracelet. Brandon added $403K to his bankroll for second-place money.

The highly anticipated $10K World Championship Pot Limit Omaha Event #40 wrapped up with Matthew Graham taking home his second WSOP bracelet. The event promised to have a star-filled final table when names like Josh Arieh, Barry Greenstein, Howard Lederer, and David Williams were still around with less than 20 players left to play. Only Greenstein and Arieh made the final table, but it was Graham who got the $679K winner's check. Vitaly Lunkin almost got his third WSOP bracelet, but was unable to beat Graham and had to settle for the $419K second-place prize.

The No Limit holdem Shootout Event #41 was won by Budapest, Hungary's Peter Traply. He beat out 279 other entrants to win $348K. Andrew Lichtenberger finished second for a sweet $215K payday. The final table featured top professionals David Pham and Phil Ivey, but it was the amateurs who were left standing after it was all played out.

The Mixed Event #42 attracted only 412 players playing for a $947K prize pool. Poker author Jarrod Ankenman was the eventual winner after beating out Sergey Altbregin in the heads-up match. Ankenman won $241K, while Altbregin got $149K for being the runner up. Layne Flack made an appearance at the final table but was knocked out in seventh place. He was looking for his eighth WSOP bracelet.

In the Seniors Event #43 Michael Davis took down the $437K first-place money after he beat out Scotty Buller for the WSOP bracelet. Buller got $268K for second, while Davis finally avenged a second-place finish in a WSOP event back in 1994. The $1K buy-in event also drew over 2700 players.

The Seven-card Razz $2500 Event #44 had 313 players playing for over $800K worth of prize pool. Jeffery Lisandro was able to outlast the entire field and take home his second bracelet of the week, and fourth overall. The first-place $188K payday was a lot more than the $116K that went to runner-up Michael Craig.